After confirming the unit was indeed Avery's place, Cayden knocked on the window. His low voice echoed in the
dark. “Ary? It's me. Can you open the door for me? Or the window?”
Despite Cayden's several attempts at calling for Avery's attention, there was no reply from within the unit.
That made Cayden's heart lurch. Did something happen to Avery?
That thought had crumbled Cayden's calm. He passed by the balcony and continued his climb toward the bedroom
window. Luckily, the window wasn't locked, and he swiftly let himself into the room.
No warm air greeted him when he stepped into the room as he expected. Instead, the temperature inside was
frigid. It was comparable to the air outside. His body shuddered at the coldness.
The bedroom was dark and quiet, as if it was vacant. The ominous feeling in his heart grew by the second. He
hurriedly opened the bedroom door and crossed into the living room.
Right then, his gaze landed on Avery, who only wore thin pajamas, silently curled up on the couch.
She seemed immersed in her thoughts as she didn't even notice that Cayden had trespassed into her house.
That emptiness and silence clenched his heart.
Cayden unwittingly walked over to her and got down to her level. He gently pulled her into his embrace and felt the
unusual heat burning on her forehead. The lashing he was about to give her turned into a resigned call. “Ary.”
Immediately, Avery's bleary gaze snapped back into focus. She was shocked to see Cayden in front of her. After the
initial shock had passed, indifference overtook her.
She looked at him through blurry vision and interrogated, “How did you get in? What are you doing here?”
Looking at Avery in that state, a flash of resignation flitted through Cayden's dark eyes. “Why didn't you turn on the
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtheater on such a cold day? Don't you know your body gets cold easily? How could you be so foolish?”
“Go away! I don't need you to care about me!” Avery had a lot of pent-up frustration she had kept bottled up. She
struggled to break free from his hold through her feverish haze.
As Cayden felt her feverish forehead with his palm and noticed the flush on her face, he let out a resigned sigh.
Grabbing her flailing hands, he went into her bedroom to retrieve a down jacket and forcibly slipped it over her
body. “Quit playing. You're sick. I'm going to take you to the hospital.”
“I don't need your concern. Who are you to me? This is my business, so you don't have to worry about me. Go
away! I don't want to see you—” Avery choked up. Her voice sounded nasal from her stuffy nose.
Cayden lifted Avery into his arms and wrapped her into a cocoon with layers of coats, ignoring her protest before
carrying her outside.
When they were descending the stairs, they ran into Deborah, who was on her way back from poker.
Seeing Avery being carefully carried by a handsome young man as though she was something precious, Deborah
curled her lips distastefully.
Once they passed her by, disdain crept up Deborah's face. She's just a home wrecker. Is there such a need to treat
her so dotingly?
Deborah scorned Avery because she had a daughter close to Avery's age. Her daughter was interning at a huge
news organization as a reporter. Even though she was still an intern, Deborah figured her daughter had a better
prospect than Avery.
Hence, when Deborah talked with her neighbors and friends, she always bragged about her daughter. She deemed
her daughter better than everyone else's children. However, the fact that her daughter still didn't have a boyfriend
worried Deborah.
Deborah thought her daughter could surely get a rich husband. Hence, even though she was anxious, she didn't
urge her daughter to date.
Deborah spotted an expensive car parked in front of the residential area when she was on her way back. Despite
the dim lighting, her snobbish eyes brightened at the luxury car.
I saw him come here in that car the last time. It vexes me that a homewrecker like Avery can get such a guy. This
guy isn't that bad. He has the looks and the money. At that thought, Deborah decided to introduce her daughter to
Cayden if there was a chance.
With my daughter's looks, surely she can get him to fall for her.
Meanwhile, Avery was the only one in Cayden's sight and heart. He didn't even notice the arrogant Deborah
standing on the side and was oblivious to the fact that he had become the prime candidate as her son-in-law.
He carried Avery to his car parked outside the residential area and set her down on the passenger seat.
Avery wrapped her arms around her shoulder and quietly curled up against the seat. Her gaze was glassy the entire
time. They had lost their usual brightness.
Seeing that Cayden was about to start the engine, Avery suddenly opened the door to escape. She didn't want to
stay in the same space as him.
However, before she could take a step out of the car, a steely grip circled Avery's arm, yanking her back in place.
Cayden locked the door and turned her to face him. “What's wrong with you, Ary?”
Avery broke free from his hold and kept a detached look on her face. “I don't want to be alone with you.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
Anger filled Cayden when he saw that she would rather look out the window than at his face.
He clenched the steering wheel tightly and said, “Avery, I understand that it was my fault last night, and I already
apologized to you. I don't know what else I can do to douse your anger.
Avery shut her eyes softly and ignored him. Her hand continued to pry open the door, but it was locked. She turned
to him with a deadpan look. “Let me out, Cayden.”
There are too many misunderstandings between us. His action and words last night hurt me badly. Besides, if a
single sorry can soothe all the pain, can one imagine all the chaos that will erupt in this world?
Avery tried pushing at the door again with all her might, but it wouldn't budge. She turned to him and demanded,
“Let me out!”
Seeing Avery's flushed face from the fever and aggravation, Cayden narrowed his eyes at her when her coughing
wouldn't stop.
He helped Avery clasp her seat belt and pulled the car away from the driveway. “I'll take you to the hospital first.
Let's talk after we get back.”
Avery slumped against her seat as though all her strength had left her body. At that moment, her face was a mask
of calm.
I know this man well. He doesn't accept rejection. There's no point banging heads with him.
Sitting in the fast-moving car, Avery didn't want to face him, so she turned her head to look out the window.
Cayden's eyes darkened at the sight. He stepped on the pedal, accelerating to the maximum limit.
When they arrived at the hospital's parking lot, Cayden carried Avery out of the car and rushed through the
entrance.