Chapter 201
At the office, Aaron was the first to notice something off about Edward's face.
"Are you sick?" He asked.
"No," Edward replied flatly.
"You should see for yourself." Aaron thrust his phone camera in front of Edward's face.
The screen reflected back a handsome but deathly pale face.
Edward's brows furrowed slightly, his expression hardened. He rarely looked in mirrors and had never realized how cold his expression actually was.
He fell into contemplation.
"Now that you've finally figured out you're sick, why even come to work? Go to the hospital already."
Edward suddenly asked, "Do you think I'll scare Adeline looking like this?"
Even he thought his expression looked terrible.
He looked older somehow.
Aaron stared at him in disbelief. "Edward, your face looks absolutely awful right now, and you're worried about scaring Adeline?"
If Aaron were being honest, Adeline barely acknowledged Edward's existence.
Why would she care what expression he wore day to day?
Of course, Aaron didn't dare say this out loud.
"Fine, skip the hospital if you want, but just stay in your office today. Don't wander around, and speak up immediately if you start feeling worse."
"Got it. You talk too much," Edward grumbled.
Here he was trying to be helpful, and Edward was being impatient with him.
Aaron turned and left the office, just in time to see Adeline entering in her wheelchair. He suddenly remembered they had a small meeting scheduled for today.
A smile crept across his face.
"Ms. Turner."
"What is it?" Adeline turned to face him.
She was popular here—about 30% of the staff were her fans, and she was always surrounded by people asking her questions whenever she visited.
Aaron squeezed through the crowd with difficulty.
"I have an important matter to attend to, so I'll need to step out for a bit. During today's meeting, could you please keep an eye on Edward for me?"
Adeline looked surprised. "Keep an eye on him? Why?"
"Just watch him for me, and call if anything happens."
Aaron's explanation was vague at best before he hurried away.
Adeline stood there, completely confused.
Why would he ask her to watch Edward?
Once outside, Aaron sighed deeply. He really did worry too much.
Now he was playing wingman for Edward's love life.
The meeting dragged on for two hours.
After it ended, everyone gradually filed out of the conference room. Adeline was preparing to leave when Edward suddenly blocked her path.
Nico, who had reached the doorway, paused mid-step.
Curious.
Edward asked bluntly, "Why were you staring at me the entire time?"
Did he have to be so direct?
Was she that obvious?
Adeline adjusted her mask nervously. "I wasn't staring at you."
"Yes, you were."
"No, I wasn't."
"Yes. You were," Edward stated with absolute certainty.
Adeline felt cornered. She turned and spotted Nico standing at the door with an expression that screamed gossip.
Like seeing a lifeline.
"Nico, didn't you mention wanting me to join you for that voice recording session..."
"Did I? No, I didn't. Don't make things up," Nico quickly denied, already feeling Edward's icy gaze boring into him.
Adeline pressed, "Don't you remember?"
Before the meeting, Nico had definitely mentioned it!
"I have work to do. I'm leaving. You two enjoy your chat."
Not only did Nico leave, but he thoughtfully closed the door behind him.
Adeline fell silent.
Edward remained standing before her, his eyes fixed on hers. "Throughout the entire meeting, you looked at me exactly 32 times."
He counted that precisely?
"Why were you staring at me?"
Adeline's staring had made him nervous during the meeting. He'd almost made mistakes while trying to listen to employee reports while maintaining his composure.
Before she could answer, he said, "If you want to look at me, you can do it openly."
Adeline bristled. "Who wants to look at you?"
"You do."
Adeline was speechless.
"I was watching you because Mr. Robinson asked me to keep an eye on you before he left."
Adeline now wished she could go back two hours in time.
She should have worn sunglasses to the meeting.
Edward frowned. "He asked you to watch me, and that's the only reason?"
"What else would it be?"
Surely he didn't think she couldn't help herself?
Adeline sighed. "Vice President, the meeting is over. I need to go now. Would you mind stepping aside?"
Edward silently moved out of her way.
Adeline maneuvered her wheelchair toward the door, but she heard no movement behind her. After a moment's hesitation, she glanced back.
That one look stopped her in her tracks.
In the break room, Edward leaned against the headboard with his eyes closed. His handsome face was drained of color, his brows furrowed as if in discomfort.
Adeline handed him a hot towel.
"If you're not feeling well, you should go to the hospital."
Edward took it and placed it directly over his face. The heat from the towel opened his pores, seemingly dispersing some of his discomfort.
"Not going." His voice was muffled.
He sounded like a petulant child.
"Mr. Thomas, how old are you this year?" He was acting like Lily when she pouted.
"Not yet 30."
Adeline blurted out, "Aren't you turning 30 this year?"
The towel slipped from Edward's face, revealing dark, intense eyes.
"How do you know that?"
Adeline faltered, avoiding his gaze. "I heard it from other employees."
"My birthday hasn't arrived yet, so I'm not 30."
So men could be stubborn about age too.
Was Edward afraid of growing old?
But 30 wasn't old for a man—it was the prime of life.
"How are you feeling? If you're a bit better, I should head back now."
Edward just looked at her without speaking.
His gaze made Adeline uncomfortable, as if it contained some unspoken reproach.
"What is it?"
"I'm sick, and you want to leave? What if I die here afterward? Whose responsibility would that be?"
Edward was being difficult.
Adeline sighed. "Then let's go to the hospital."
"No."
Great, they were back where they started. Half an hour of conversation with zero progress.
Eight years ago, Adeline would have dragged Edward to the hospital by his ear without a second thought.
Unfortunately, she no longer had that right.
She could only remain silent.
Edward opened his eyes to study her quiet profile, suddenly realizing something.
His Adeline used to be playful and talkative.
Now, she had changed.
Become quiet, more reserved.
It was the quiet demeanor of someone weathered by life.
But he preferred her as she was before. Even eight years ago, when she was giving false testimony, she had been more vibrant than she was now.
Edward suddenly softened his tone. "Ms. Turner, I'm feeling dizzy and want to rest for a while. Could you..."
Adeline looked up.
Meeting his calm gaze.
"Stay."
Adeline froze.
As if possessed, she stayed.
Later, watching Edward sleep, she couldn't help questioning herself.
Why had she softened? Why had she stayed?
She was disabled—even if she remained, she couldn't take care of him.
But she had to admit, at that moment, she'd caught a glimpse of the Edward from eight years ago.
Edward hadn't always been like this.
He hadn't been so composed and cold, hadn't possessed methods that struck fear into people's hearts.
He had just been a poor kid, studying hard every day, striving to better himself.
His personality had been somewhat quiet, not talkative.
He would even...
Act cute with her.
It was hard to imagine what a man standing nearly 6'3" looked like when he was being adorable.
Like a large dog.
No matter how fierce he appeared on the outside, he always showed his gentle side to Adeline.
Only Adeline got to see it.