Soraya's POV

As I reached for the spoon, Darius caught my wrist gently.

“Hmm, hmm,” he teased. “Medicine first, then food.”

I let out a dramatic sigh but didn’t argue. My stomach growled in protest, reminding me that I really needed to eat. And so, I picked up the bottle from the nightstand, held my nose, and gulped it down in one go. The moment the bitter liquid hit my tongue, I regretted every life decision that led to this. My face scrunched up as I forced it down, trying not to gag.

The second I dropped the bottle, I gasped, “Rice, rice, rice, rice, rice!”

Darius burst out laughing,...