Chapter 74

Caden despaired of drinking hot water, but his throat was too uncomfortable to care. It quickly became dry again. He signaled a waiter for another glass.

Meanwhile, Alicia hadn't found a chance to approach Rachel, so she stood aside, idly watching. When Caden approached, she remained where she was, offering a polite smile. “Mr. Ward.”

Caden replied, equally insincerely, “Miss Bennett.” An awkward silence followed. Alicia glanced at him.

The room was crowded, yet Caden's striking appearance still commanded attention. His illness had paled his face, but this only heightened his captivating aura, not diminished it. Their eyes met briefly, their expressions distant; neither too close nor too far, his gaze devoid of warmth, as if they were strangers. It was a stark contrast to the passion of the previous night.

Unease washed over Alicia. She glanced around the room, then decided to get dessert from a nearby table. Before she reached it, Caden's hand swiftly intercepted hers, grabbing the cake.

She paused, turning to him. “Why are you eating sweets with a cold?” Her tone was more annoyed than concerned.

His response was merely to calmly take a bite. “Why shouldn't I?”

“Eating sweets when you’re sick can cause inflammation,” she retorted. “You don’t want a high fever.”

Caden stared at her. Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, she added, “I’m not expressing concern, merely observing.”

He didn't reply, instead tossing the untouched cake into a nearby trash can. This unexpected action unsettled Alicia. She didn't understand his sudden niceness; something felt wrong.

After wiping his hands, he commented coldly, “It looked horrible.” The dessert had been excessively sweet, leaving Alicia speechless. She knew his behavior wasn't a result of heeding her advice—she doubted he ever had in the past.

He took a sip of water, then turned to her. “Since sweets are out, what should I eat?”

Alicia picked up a biscuit, looking at him curiously. “Do you really need to eat something?”

“I can’t taste anything,” he complained. “Why can’t you think of something?”

Alicia looked at him in surprise. “And why should I?” She wasn't his caregiver, after all.

“Miss Bennett, have you forgotten it was your fault I caught this cold?” Caden retorted.

Alicia, momentarily speechless, muttered defensively, “You kissed me first that day.” She looked around nervously, worried someone might overhear. People passed by, glancing at them curiously, but he kept his voice low.

Caden remained unfazed. “I doubt one kiss could make me this sick,” he said firmly, moving closer, his hand reaching for the cookie on her plate. Their clothes brushed.

To an observer, it might have seemed normal, but Alicia knew Caden was toying with her. “Only a deep kiss could do that, right?” he teased, playing with the cookie, his eyes fixed on her increasingly flushed face. “And it must have lasted quite a while. Miss Bennett, do you remember how soft you were? How much of your sweet saliva I tasted?”

Her heart raced, fearing further provocations. “Please be quiet,” she quickly cut him off, her plea barely a whisper.

Caden smiled, a cat toying with a mouse. Just then, a man approached.

“Mr. Ward,” the man greeted. “It really is you! I thought I was mistaken. I am…”

After introductions, they clinked glasses. Caden effortlessly shifted to a serious demeanor, engaging in polite conversation. Watching, Alicia admired his seamless role-switching; he was truly exceptional. The man gave Caden his business card and left with a bow.

Seizing the opportunity, Alicia attempted a discreet exit, but Caden blocked her path. “Leaving without taking responsibility?” he asked.

She felt frustrated. Knowing his difficult nature, she realized direct confrontation wouldn't work. A different approach was needed. “Okay,” she finally agreed. “I’ll get you something to eat.”

He intentionally chose bland appetizers. He smiled. “It’s too dry. I can’t swallow it.”

Irritated, she searched for something else.

He indicated another dish. Caden examined it. “Fried food will worsen my condition.”

“How about this?” she asked, frustrated but persistent.

He examined it. “It doesn’t look very appetizing.”

Unfazed, she offered another option. “What about this?”

Caden shook his head. “Does this sound appetizing?”

His continued refusals silenced her. As her excuses grew increasingly irrational, she finally gave up. “Are you going to eat or not?”

Without hesitation, “No.”

Alice refused to give in. Frustrated, she deliberately stepped on his toe. It was well known that people, like vending machines, responded predictably to stimuli. But Caden remained completely calm, unbothered.

Suddenly understanding, Alicia changed her tone. “Caden, you have a cold and can’t taste anything. What you really want isn’t snacks at all, is it?”