Chapter 72

When Alicia entered the room with Raquel, she immediately noticed Caden seemingly ignoring a shy woman who was showing him something on her phone. He appeared disinterested and distant, a frustrating sight. Gerry, visibly annoyed, dismissed the woman curtly.

"You're missing the point," he said. "Mr. Ward doesn't like women."

The woman looked shocked by his audacity. Unable to hide his jealousy, Gerry continued, "Yes, I am in a relationship with Mr. Ward. I am his partner."

Only then did Caden look up, giving Gerry a cold glance. Alicia caught Caden's eye as she approached; his expression remained unreadable. Nearby, Randolph, arm in arm with Rachel, greeted them cheerfully: "Mr. Ward, Mr. Hopkins!"

Alicia felt more comfortable near Rachel. Dressed in a loose sweater and subtle makeup, Alicia presented a balanced, appealing appearance. She noticed Caden looked exhausted, as if he'd endured a sleepless night, perhaps following a passionate encounter.

Gerry, finding amusement in the situation, gestured towards Alicia. "Eat here, Alice. Sit with us." His demeanor was casual, but Randolph interpreted it differently, giving Alicia a meaningful glance. She wanted to avoid this, especially since Randolph was close to Joshua.

To maintain distance, Alicia excused herself. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hopkins, I've recently caught a cold. It's best to keep my distance."

Gerry, unconcerned, asked curiously, "Have you caught a cold, too?"

Alicia confirmed, "Yes, that's right."

"It's not me. It's Caden," Gerry corrected. "He's been sick for three days and hasn't recovered. He's been increasingly irritable, almost as if he’s lost something personal."

Alicia's heart raced. She noticed a faint mark on Caden's lips – a reminder of their intense kiss. Had she given him the cold? Feeling guilty, she subtly rubbed her nose.

Randolph, hearing about Caden's illness, expressed concern. "It's been three days, and you're still not better? Is the medicine not working?"

Caden sighed nonchalantly. "It's just a cold. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Gray."

Randolph suggested, "Mr. Ward, you work very hard. You need to take care of yourself. I happen to have a friend here today who specializes in traditional medicine. Perhaps he can give you a checkup?"

Caden frowned at the mention of traditional remedies; he disliked bitter herbs. Before he could refuse, Gerry readily intervened. "Sure. Let him take a look at you right away."

Randolph left to find his friend. Caden, still feeling unwell, remained dejected. After a brief conversation, Randolph and Rachel departed.

Alicia observed the affection between Randolph and Rachel, wishing to connect with Rachel later. Caden's voice interrupted her thoughts. In a mocking tone, he asked, "So, Miss Bennett, is Mr. Gray your type?"

Alicia was speechless. Caden, appearing somewhat recovered, continued, "It's fine if you like older men, just be careful when they're married."

Alicia smiled. "Has the cold gotten to your head? Sometimes it's better not to talk."

Gerry joined in, "You have nothing to say? Don't you like married women?"

Caden retorted, "Sometimes it's better to keep quiet."

The traditional medicine practitioner arrived. The man, appearing to be in his fifties, greeted Caden warmly. "I hear you're not feeling well."

Caden, though surprised by the man's arrival, maintained composure out of respect. "My cold hasn't improved because I haven't taken any medicine. There's no need for a checkup."

Gerry quickly interjected, "It's probably best you get checked out anyway. It's more than just a cold. He might even have a bit of facial paralysis. Since you're here, why don't you see if you can help?"

Caden remained silent, surprised by Gerry's insistence. The doctor sat down, smiling kindly. "Mr. Ward, let me take a closer look at you. You seem a little under the weather. Have you had trouble sleeping lately?"

His words resonated. The gloomy, rainy weather and the seasonal change had disrupted Caden's sleep.

"Go ahead," Caden replied.

"I'll take your pulse first," the doctor said.

After taking his pulse, the doctor's smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. The atmosphere grew tense. Gerry leaned forward. "What's wrong? Is he dying or something?" …