Chapter 73:


    ? ? ? ? ?


    Caden stared back, his expression nk and void of emotion. Gerry, interpreting Caden’s calm as confirmation of his suspicions, shouted excitedly, “When did this start? Is it in the early orte stages?”


    Caden remained silent, resisting the urge to start a conversation. Why bother talking to a moron?


    The doctor, for his part, pressed his fingers harder against Caden''s wrist, frowning in concentration. “I assumed your paleplexion was due to general weakness, but it seems you’re under significant stress.”


    Gerry breathed a sigh of relief, d to know that this was not a fatal disease.


    Without wasting a second, the doctor asked, “Is your sex life normal?”


    His tone was so casual it seemed like he wasmenting on the weather.


    Caden replied just as coldly. "Forks."


    Gerry''s eyes nearly popped out of his head. Had I heard wrong?


    Hank, standing nearby, looked equally stunned. Caden? A normal sex life? Since when?


    The doctor''s fingers twitched slightly, a shadow of skepticism crossing his face. “How often?”


    Caden nced in Alicia''s direction, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “At least once a day.”


    Alice''s heart sank. Once a day? she thought, her mind racing. Why is he looking at me like that? I''m not part of this equation!


    Finally, the doctor released Caden''s wrist, his expression unreadable.


    Gerry, ever curious, continued, “So what’s wrong, Doctor?”


    The doctor sighed. “You''re not being entirely honest, so I can''t give an urate diagnosis. Thest time I felt a pulse like that, it was from someone who had never been intimate with anyone.”


    Caden stiffened, his calm exterior wavering for a moment. “Really, Doc?” I have cursed inwardly. “There’s no need to expose myself like that.”


    Gerry''s lips curled into a grimace. “Why are you lying to the doctor, Caden? “Answer his questions.”


    Without missing a beat, Caden turned the tables, his voice firm. “How many times a day do you do this, Gerry?”


    Gerry was silent, momentarily speechless.


    Caden didn''t stop there. "At least I''m not a virgin. What about you, Mr. Hopkins? At what age did you finally lose yours?"


    Gerry’s face flushed with frustration, his eyebrows furrowed in agitation. “There''s ady here! Keep your voice down,” he snapped, trying to regain control of the conversation.


    Unfazed, Caden smiled and sneered, “Your reaction says it all. You’re still a virgin, huh?”


    Gerry was left silent by the blow. He opened his mouth, but no words came out as he turned hastily to Alicia, his face a mixture of shame and despair. “She''s just talking nonsense. Don’t pay attention to her.”


    Alicia, with a cold and serene expression, simply nodded as if she hadn''t heard anything. As if nothing had happened, her phone rang an rm and she quickly brought it to her ear to "answer it."


    She walked away, pretending to be talking to someone on the phone to put more distance between herself and the awkward scene. However, despite her outward calm, her little act was far from perfect. The tension in her posture gave her away.


    The doctor, amused by the exchange,ughed softly. “Mr. Ward, you don''t have to worry. It''s nothing serious. Just make sure you get plenty of rest. As for sex,” he added with a knowing smile, “you''re an adult. You can do it whenever you want. Don’t hold back, or you could cause some trouble.”


    Caden briefly noted, his expression unreadable as he adjusted his cufflinks with precision. His bearing remained polished andposed, exuding the elegance normally reserved for royalty.


    The doctor offered again: "I can prescribe you some medicine for that cold."


    ?It is not necessary.


    As Alicia walked away, Caden''s eyes followed her subtle movements. He casually picked up a ss, scanning the room until his gazended on Rachel.


    Gerry noticed, too. He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “When did Alice be so friendly with Randolph and Rachel?”


    Caden, who knew the answer perfectly well, simply shrugged. “No idea.”


    Gerry mused out loud: “Maybe he’s thinking about joining the bank? It’s absurd that he wouldn’t want to work with me, opting for something less professional instead.”


    Caden nced at him, his tone dry. “Maybe it''s because you''re ugly and you talk too much.”


    Gerry balked. “Ugly? Are you serious, Caden? Look at me. Sure, I may not outshine you, but I’m definitely better looking than Randolph.”N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Caden smiled with satisfaction. “If you''re not ugly, why are you still single?”


    Gerry straightened up, feigning seriousness. “I haven''t found anyone worth my time yet. Unlike you, I have standards. “I don’t chase every woman whoes into the club.”


    Hank, who had been listening in silence, looked startled. When did this happen? He hadn''t heard anything about it. And who was the woman in question?


    Gerry, suddenly remembering something, turned to Caden. “By the way, did you actually call anyonest time? “I asked the boss and he said no.”


    Instead of answering, Caden took a slow sip of warm water.


    But Gerry, persistent as ever, leaned forward with a sly smile. “So, who was the woman you were spooning with that night?”


    Caden gave him a dark look, as if the question itself was beneath him. There had only been three people involved that night. Was it really that hard to figure out?


    "Why don''t you try using that head of yours and find out?"


    Gerry frowned thoughtfully. Caden, for his part, took another sip. The water was warm and unpleasant now, a stale reminder of his current misery. His illness only made it worse; his throat throbbed with each swallow, and the water tasted awful. Annoyed, he set the ss down with a frown.


    Suddenly Gerry''s face lit up and he practically shouted, "I''ve got it!"


    Caden gave him a half-hearted look, his voice dry and dismissive. “You took long enough.”


    With a smirk, Gerry dered, “You bribed the boss not to tell me, didn''t you? “You didn’t want me to know.”


    Caden stared at him, dumbfounded. He turned to Hank with a raised eyebrow. “Are all virgins this clueless?”


    Hank blinked, unsure of how to respond. Not all of them, surely…


    Caden smirked. “Oh, right. “I forgot you’re a virgin, too.”


    Hank was speechless, mentally rolling his eyes. Caden had no right to brag.


    "If Alice hadn''t been drugged, you''d still be one, too," Hank thought with a silent scoff.


    Finally, Gerry gave up guessing, sinking back into his chair.


    He looked around the room, watching the people mingling and exchanging empty pleasantries. The whole event seemed pointless to him, a tedious obligation with no real substance.


    She sighed. “Since when do you care about these meaningless social gatherings? Randolph is just a deputy director. You don''t owe him anything, and yet you''re here, sick, no less. What’s the point?”


    Caden didn''t respond. Instead, he picked up his ss and stood up.


    Gerry frowned. “Where are you going?”


    Caden nced back over his shoulder, his voice level. “Anywhere that''s far from you.”


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