Chapter 83:
Alicia had grown accustomed to Caden’s peculiar behavior, so she didn’t feel the need to argue. Deciding to take the high road, she went ahead and ordered groceries for delivery.
“What do you want to eat?” she asked, trying to keep it simple.
Caden, his eyes closed, lazily replied, “Whatever. I don’t care.”
Even though he claimed to be indifferent, Alicia knew him well enough by now.
“How about fish soup and a light beef stir-fry?” she suggested.
Just as she anticipated, Caden, ever the picky eater, dismissed her idea. “I don’t like fish soup.”
“Then how about beef?” she offered.
“I don’t want beef either.”
Alicia was taken aback by his response. She tried to keep her patience intact as she said, “You’re sick, and your throat’s sore. How about something easy to digest? Maybe a light soup?”
“I’ll get hungry again too quickly. I have work later,” he replied nonchalantly.
“In that case, eat something heavier,” she countered.
“That’ll just make me run to the bathroom more. It’s too much trouble.”
Alicia was getting increasingly annoyed.
“What do you think about pasta? It’ll go well with mushrooms,” she suggested.
“I hate the taste of mushrooms,” Caden replied flatly.
ᗰσ𝓇𝑒 υ𝐩𝓭𝑎𝓉𝑒𝓈 ι𝐧 ɢ𝒶𝐥𝓷𝑜𝐯𝑒𝓁𝓈.𝒸𝑜𝓂
Through gritted teeth, Alicia asked, “Then what the hell do you want to eat?”
Caden lightly tapped his forehead and answered, “Anything’s fine.”
This time, Alicia couldn’t hold back her frustration. She snapped, “Eat whatever the hell you want. I give up!”
At that moment, Caden’s phone rang. He picked it up calmly, answering, “Hello?”
Hank’s voice came through clearly. “Mr. Ward, there’s a meeting scheduled for this afternoon. Will you be joining online?”
Without missing a beat, Caden casually responded, “Oh? Do you have more information about what Randolph did?”
Hank felt a wave of confusion wash over him. He had no idea what his boss was referring to.
Alicia looked at Caden, puzzled. “Who are you talking to? I never mentioned Randolph,” she thought, confused by the sudden shift in the conversation.
As she glanced in his direction, Caden rubbed his forehead in irritation. “There’s no need for that. I’ve changed my mind; I don’t want them anymore.”
Hank, still bewildered, asked, “What do you mean?”
Alicia stood up, clearly frustrated. “What about shrimp? I can whip up some scrambled eggs for you too.”
Hank, hearing the voice of a woman in the background, quickly turned up the volume, eager to catch more of the conversation.
Caden ended the call with a satisfied smile creeping onto his face. “I can live with that.”
Alicia was once again left speechless. How annoying!
Caden chuckled inwardly, fully aware of her silent irritation, but he chose to remain quiet. Before long, the groceries arrived at the door, and Alicia carried them into the kitchen.
Every now and then, she could hear Caden cough softly from the other room. Glancing back, she noticed he was already seated at his desk, engrossed in his work.
When he stayed quiet, he looked quite handsome. It was a shame he had such a sharp tongue.
Alicia peeled a pear and set it in a small pot. She sprinkled a bit of sugar over the fruit, thinking it would serve as a good source of nourishment for him, especially since the doctor had mentioned that he was feeling weak today.
After covering the pot, she looked around and discovered that the cupboards were completely bare. It was as if no one had ever lived in the apartment.
She pulled out her phone and ordered a variety of items. The cost added up quickly, and her total left her a bit stunned.
“Caden, you’re going to reimburse me for everything I bought, right?” she asked, a little exasperated.
Caden raised an eyebrow. “How much was it?”
Alicia glanced at the receipt, her eyes widening. The total came to over three thousand dollars.
“Three hundred and ninety thousand dollars!” she exclaimed.
“What on earth did you buy, gold?” Caden asked sarcastically.
“Are you saying you can’t afford it?” she retorted.
“Correct,” he replied nonchalantly.
Alicia found herself at a loss for words. He was incredibly stingy.
As Alicia peeled the shrimp, Caden set aside his work and approached her to supervise. She had just finished washing the shrimp when he stepped closer.
Alicia used scissors to snip off the fins of the shrimp, her movements precise and quick. Before long, she had a pile of shrimp, their shells completely removed. Alicia was impressive. Whatever task she undertook, she excelled at it, whether it was studying or competing. No matter where she was, she radiated confidence.
Even the simplest chores took on a warm and inviting atmosphere because of her gentle, calm presence. Alicia had never had anyone oversee her before. She looked up from her task and asked, “Are you hungry?”
The softness in Caden’s gaze shifted slightly, his tone becoming more serious. “I just want to remind you that I have OCD. I can’t have even a tiny piece of shell around.”
She found herself speechless.
Caden moved closer to the table and pointed at the peeled shrimp. “Do you see that? It’s a shell,” he complained. “Do it again.”
Alicia, growing frustrated, snapped, “Caden, what the hell is the matter with you?”
Caden, using his illness to push his luck, responded, “Shells really ruin my appetite.”
Alicia, her patience wearing thin, shot back, “I could poke you in the eyes. If you can’t see, it won’t bother you.”
Not long after, a bubbling noise emerged from the kitchen. The pear soup was boiling. Alicia quickly reduced the heat and lifted the lid to take a look. A lot of the water had evaporated, so she realized she needed to add more.
Caden loomed over her, his presence impossible to ignore. “What are you making?”
The sweet, refreshing scent of the pear broth filled the air. Alicia replied without looking up, “Take a look for yourself.”
Caden understood that it had properties that could help soothe a cough. He smiled but chose not to press the matter further.
Alicia fetched some water, and then, an idea struck her. She paused, then swiftly gulped the water down. Concealing the disposable cup behind her, she said to Caden, “Keep an eye on the stove for me. I need to grab something.”
Caden noticed her subtle move. “Sure.”
Once Alicia was sure Caden wasn’t watching, she quietly slipped into the bathroom. She lifted the toilet lid and filled the disposable cup with water.
As she stared at the clear liquid, a mischievous grin spread across Alicia’s face.
“You’re always so picky about food, constantly criticizing everything,” she thought. “Enjoy this toilet surprise. Maybe it’ll improve your appetite and make you more willing to eat anything.”
Discreetly, she concealed the cup and quietly moved toward the bathroom door. She then glanced toward the kitchen, only to find Caden nowhere in sight. Perhaps he had stepped out to the balcony to work. Alicia took a few cautious steps forward, stretching her neck to peek at the desk, but no one was there.
Just as she was about to turn back, a cool voice interrupted from behind her. “Ms. Bennett, who are you searching for?”
