Chapter 72:
When Alicia entered the room with Rachel, she immediately noticed the scene unfolding before her. A beautiful woman, shyly showing Caden something on her phone, was being ignored by him. He kept his head down, appearing utterly uninterested and distant. It was enough to make anyone feel frustrated. Gerry, visibly annoyed, addressed the woman with a dismissive tone.
“You’ve got the wrong target. Mr. Ward isn’t into women,” he said.
The woman looked surprised, clearly caught off guard by his boldness. Gerry, unable to hide his jealousy, continued, “Yes, I’m in a relationship with Mr. Ward. I’m his partner.”
Only then did Caden look up, giving Gerry a cold stare, but making no further comment.
Meanwhile, Alicia caught Caden’s eye as she walked closer. He squinted slightly at her approach, his expression unreadable.
Nearby, Randolph, with his arm around Rachel, greeted them cheerfully. “Mr. Ward, Mr. Hopkins!”
Alicia stuck close to Rachel, feeling more comfortable in her company. Dressed in a loose sweater and subtle makeup, Alicia struck a balance that drew attention without being too imposing.
She couldn’t help but notice that Caden seemed off—exhausted, as though he’d had a sleepless night filled with more than just restlessness. He looked worn and disheveled, possibly from a passionate, stormy encounter the night before.
As they settled down, Gerry, finding amusement in the situation, beckoned to Alicia. “Come here, Alicia. Sit with us.”
His demeanor toward her was carefree and platonic. However, Randolph interpreted it differently, casting a meaningful look at Alicia. This was something she wanted to avoid, especially since Randolph was close to Joshua. She couldn’t risk the potential repercussions of Randolph’s words getting back to him.
To maintain distance and prevent any misunderstandings, Alicia excused herself and moved to sit farther away.
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“Sorry, Mr. Hopkins, I’ve caught a cold recently. It’s better to keep my distance so I don’t pass it on to you.”
Gerry, unperturbed by the mention of her cold, asked with curiosity, “You caught a cold too?”
Alicia, taken aback, confirmed, “Yes, I have.”
“It’s not me. It’s Caden,” Gerry clarified, tilting his head. “He’s been sick for three days and hasn’t recovered. He’s been increasingly irritable, almost like he’s lost something personal.”
Alicia’s heart raced. When she glanced at Caden, she noticed a faint mark on his lips. The realization hit her—it was her fault. She remembered how intensely they had kissed that day. Did I give him the cold? she thought, silently panicking. Feeling guilty, she rubbed her nose, pretending nothing was wrong.
Randolph, hearing about Caden’s cold, showed concern. “Three days now and you’re still not better? Is the medicine not helping?”
Caden gave a small cough and, with a casual tone, replied, “It’s just a cold. Thanks for the concern, Mr. Gray.”
Randolph, sounding thoughtful, added, “Mr. Ward, you work so hard. You need to take care of yourself. As it happens, I have a friend here today who specializes in traditional medicine. Maybe he can check on you. What do you think?”
Caden frowned slightly at the mention of traditional remedies. The thought of bitter herbs didn’t sit well with him.
Before he could decline, Gerry, ever eager for something new, chimed in on his behalf, “Sure. Let’s have him take a look right now.”
Randolph stood up to go find his friend.
Caden, still feeling out of sorts, remained downcast. After exchanging a few words, Randolph and Rachel left him to be on his own.
Alicia noticed the affection between Randolph and Rachel. She wanted to approach Rachel, but the timing didn’t feel right. Maybe she’d find an opportunity later.
After watching them for a while, Caden’s voice broke through her thoughts. With a mocking tone, he said, “So, Ms. Bennett, is Mr. Gray your type?”
Alicia turned towards him, at a loss for words.
Caden seemed to be in better shape, but his expression remained sharp. “It’s fine if you like older men,” he added, “just be careful when they’re married.”
Alicia shot him a smile. “Has the cold gone to your head? Sometimes it’s better not to speak.”
Gerry joined in, teasing, “You’ve got no room to talk. Aren’t you fond of married women?”
Caden shot back, “Sometimes it’s better to stay quiet, you know.”
Just then, the man who specialized in traditional medicine arrived.
“Mr. Ward,” he greeted. The man, who appeared to be in his fifties, smiled warmly, carrying himself with a gentle humility. “I heard you haven’t been feeling well,” he said.
Caden hadn’t expected the man to actually come, but out of respect for his elder, he hid any displeasure.
In a calm voice, Caden responded, “My cold hasn’t gotten better because I haven’t taken any medicine. There’s no need for a checkup.”
Gerry quickly interrupted. “It’s probably best if you check him anyway. It’s more than just a cold. He might even have a bit of facial paralysis. Since you’re here, why not see if you can help?”
Caden remained silent, caught off guard by Gerry’s insistence.
The doctor sat down and, with a kind smile, said, “Mr. Ward, let me take a closer look. You seem a bit unwell. Have you had trouble sleeping lately?”
His words hit the mark. The weather had been gloomy with rain for days, and the shifting seasons, along with the dampness, had disturbed Caden’s sleep for quite some time.
“Go ahead,” Caden replied.
“I’ll check your pulse first,” the doctor said.
After feeling his pulse for a moment, the doctor’s smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. The atmosphere in the room grew tense.
Gerry, craning his neck, asked, “What’s the deal? Is he dying or something?”
