Chapter 72:


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    When Alicia entered the room with Raquel, she immediately noticed the scene unfolding before her. A beautiful woman, who was shyly showing something to Caden on her phone, was being ignored by him. He kept his head down, appearing totally disinterested and distant. It was enough to make anyone feel frustrated. Gerry, visibly annoyed, addressed the woman in a dismissive tone.


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


    The woman looked surprised, clearly shocked by his audacity. Gerry, unable to hide his jealousy, continued: “Yes, I am in a rtionship with Mr Ward. “I am his partner.”


    Only then did Caden look up, giving Gerry a cold nce but making no furtherment.


    Meanwhile, Alicia caught Caden''s eye as she approached. He narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched her approach, his expression unreadable.


    Nearby, Randolph, with his arm around Rachel, greeted them cheerfully. “Mr. Ward, Mr. Hopkins!”


    Alicia leaned closer to Rachel, feeling morefortable in herpany. Dressed in a loose sweater and subtle makeup, Alicia struck a bnce that was eye-catching without being overbearing.


    She couldn''t help but notice that Caden looked exhausted, as if he''d spent a sleepless night filled with more than just restlessness. He looked drained and disheveled, possibly from a passionate and stormy encounter the night before.


    As they settled in, Gerry, finding amusement in the situation, beckoned Alice. “Eat here, Alice. “Sit with us.”


    His attitude towards her was casual and tonic. However, Randolph interpreted it differently, casting a meaningful nce at Alicia. It was something she wanted to avoid, especially since Randolph was close to Joshua. She couldn''t risk Randolph''s words getting back to him.


    To keep her distance and avoid any misunderstandings, Alice excused herself and sat further away.


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Hopkins, I''ve recently caught a cold. It''s best to keep your distance so as not to infect you."


    Gerry, unfazed by the mention of his cold, asked curiously, “Have you caught a cold too?”


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


    “It''s not me. It’s Caden,” Gerry said, cocking his head. “He''s been sick for three days and he hasn''t recovered. “He’s been increasingly irritable, almost as if he’s lost something personal.”


    Alicia''s heart raced. When she looked at Caden, she noticed a faint mark on his lips. She realized it was her fault. She remembered how intensely they had kissed that day. Did she give him the cold? she thought, silently panicking. Feeling guilty, she rubbed her nose, pretending nothing was wrong.


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


    Caden gave a small sigh and, in a nonchnt tone, replied, "It''s just a cold. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Gray."


    Randolph, sounding thoughtful, added, "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. Maybe he can give you a checkup. How about that ?"


    Caden frowned slightly at the mention of traditional remedies. The idea of ??bitter herbs didn''t sit well with him.


    Before he could refuse, Gerry, always eager for something new, intervened on his behalf: “Sure. Let him take a look at you right away.”


    Randolph got up to go find his friend.


    Caden, still feeling ill, remained dejected. After exchanging a few words, Randolph and Rachel left him alone.


    Alicia noticed the affection between Randolph and Rachel. She wanted to get closer to Rachel, but it wasn''t the right time. Maybe she would find an opportunityter.


    After watching them for a while, Caden''s voice broke into his thoughts. In a mocking tone, he said, "So, Miss Bet, is Mr. Gray your type?"


    Alice turned to him, speechless.


    Caden looked 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.”


    Alice smiled at him. “Has the cold gotten to your head? “Sometimes it’s better not to talk.”


    Gerry joined in the joke: “You have nothing to say. Don’t you like married women?”


    Caden replied, “Sometimes it’s better to keep quiet.”


    Just then the man 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 hear you''re not feeling well," he said.


    Caden hadn''t expected the man to actuallye, but out of respect for his elder, he hid any displeasure.


    In a calm voice, Caden replied, “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 you get him 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.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    The doctor sat down and, with a kind smile, said, "Mr. Ward, let me take a closer look at you. You seem a little under the weather. Have you had trouble sleepingtely?"


    His words hit home. The weather had been gloomy with rain for days, and the change of seasons, along with the humidity, had disturbed Caden''s sleep for quite some time.


    “Go ahead,” Caden replied.


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


    After taking her pulse for a moment, the doctor''s smile faded, reced by a more serious expression. The atmosphere in the room became tense.


    Gerry, craned his neck, asked, “What''s wrong?” Is he dying or something?”


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