Chapter 162 Thank You
Arthur returned to the office, his fingertips still carrying the chill from touching the car door earlier, but his mind kept dwelling on Jasper's illness. The sudden low-grade fever had caught him off guard, leaving an inexplicable tightness in his chest.
He pressed his hand against his forehead and called his assistant, his tone cold and serious. "Look into the recent health situation of the kids at Starlight Preschool, and find out the specific cause of Jasper's cold. The more detailed, the better."
If someone had done this deliberately, he would never let Aria and the child suffer any more grievances.
The assistant was highly efficient. By evening, he delivered the investigation results, standing respectfully. "Mr. Grant, we've found out that several children at Starlight Preschool have caught a viral cold these past few days. It's cross-infection among the kids. The young master's symptoms and progression are exactly the same as the other children's—nothing unusual."
Arthur gripped the investigation report, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. His eyes scanned over the words "cross-infection," and the doubts in his heart gradually eased, though a sense of frustration took their place.
He had been so worried that he'd overthought even a simple childhood illness. But thinking of Aria's cold, rigid back as she held the child, and the little one's feverish, confused whimpering, the bitterness in his heart still churned.
After a moment of silence, he looked up and instructed, "Get the best children's cold medicine and fever patches on the market, and have them delivered to Aria's place. Don't say they're from me, and don't disturb her and the child."
The assistant left, and Arthur was alone in the office. The sky outside gradually darkened. He gazed at the traffic flowing past the glass window, his mind replaying the complex, indecipherable emotion in Aria's eyes when she watched him bustling about at the hospital.
He knew that his concern now might seem like nothing more than unwanted interference to her, but he still couldn't let go.
Even if it meant just watching silently from afar, just quietly protecting them, he wanted to keep the mother and child safe.
Meanwhile, Aria sat by the bed, reaching out every so often to check Jasper's forehead. The little one's fever had subsided somewhat, his breathing gradually steadying, and his little furrowed brow relaxing.
She gently wiped the light sweat from the child's nose, the weight finally lifting from her heart. She thought that once Jasper fully recovered, she'd take him for a proper rest. She had no idea that an undercurrent was quietly stirring in Sophie's schemes.
Sophie received a follow-up message from the man in black, learning that Jasper's illness was just ordinary cross-infection. A flash of impatience crossed her eyes, but she quickly curved her lips into a cold smile.
It was just a little cold—merely an appetizer. She had plenty of ways to make Aria panic step by step, to turn Arthur's concern into the weight that would crush Aria.
Her fingertip traced across the photo on her phone of Arthur bustling about at the hospital. The sinister look at the corner of her mouth deepened. She lightly tapped the screen and sent another message to that unknown number.
"Keep watching. Tell me immediately if there's any movement."
Night deepened.
Arthur's car was parked downstairs from Aria's place, the passenger seat holding warm food—light soups and grilled chicken breast from an organic restaurant, plus chicken noodle soup and scrambled eggs specially prepared for the child.
He hesitated for a long time but finally pushed open the car door and went upstairs, raising his hand to knock lightly on the door.
After a moment, the door opened. Aria's hand on the doorknob froze, her eyes full of surprise as she looked at the person outside, her tone carrying some confusion.
"Arthur? What are you doing here?"
She had heard the knock and thought it was property management or a neighbor. She wasn't at all prepared to run into him. Her brow furrowed unconsciously, and the air around her turned a few degrees colder.
Arthur looked up at her, his gaze catching the weariness beneath her eyes. He pushed the food container forward slightly, his voice extremely soft, afraid of disturbing the child inside. "I figured you spent all afternoon taking care of Jasper and probably didn't have time to eat. I brought some light food and soup the child can have."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jasper's soft voice came from the bedroom. "Mommy, I want some water..."
Aria had been about to refuse, but her heart tightened at that moment. She couldn't be bothered to argue with him anymore. She stepped aside from the doorway, her tone carrying some impatience yet helplessness. "Come in, but don't make noise and wake the child."
Arthur responded and stepped inside with the food container, placing the meal on the table.
He didn't dare say much more, just followed her to the bedroom door. There he saw Jasper leaning against the headboard, his little face still slightly flushed, blinking his moist eyes at Aria.
"Jasper, be good. Mommy will get you water."
Aria turned to go to the living room, but Arthur immediately stepped forward. "I'll go. You stay with the child."
Before she could refuse, he had already picked up the water cup from the table and walked toward the kitchen. He poured warm water with gentle movements, even carefully testing the temperature with the back of his hand before carrying it back to the bedroom.
Jasper looked at the water cup held out to him, then at Arthur, and said softly, "Thank you, sir," before holding the cup and taking small sips.
That word "sir" was like a fine needle, lightly pricking Arthur. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He just crouched by the bed and asked gently, "Are you still feeling bad? Do you want to eat something? I brought some porridge."
Jasper tilted his head and looked at Aria. Seeing that his mother didn't object, he nodded lightly.
Aria watched as Arthur skillfully opened the food container, ladled the porridge into a small bowl, and carefully cooled it spoonful by spoonful. The meticulousness in his movements made her heart pause slightly, but she still looked away and reached for the spoon. "I'll feed him. You go sit in the living room."
Arthur didn't argue. He silently stood up and retreated to the living room, laying out all the food. Everything was warm, light, and suitable—just right for someone taking care of a sick person.
He sat on the sofa, but his gaze kept drifting involuntarily toward the bedroom, listening to the soft conversation between mother and son inside. His heart felt both bitter and warm. Even just watching from afar like this made him feel settled.
In the bedroom, Jasper drank half a bowl of porridge and felt a bit better, leaning against Aria and playing with his little hands.
After feeding the child, Aria remembered Arthur in the living room. She got up and walked out, looking at the table full of food. After a moment of silence, she said, "Thank you for the dinner. You can leave now. Jasper needs to rest."
Arthur looked up at her, a hint of pleading in his eyes, but in the end he just nodded. "I know. Keep this food. When you're hungry, just heat it up. If the child's fever comes back during the night, call me anytime. I'll be downstairs."
He didn't say more, afraid of annoying her. He got up, tidied the empty containers, and tiptoed out the door. The moment he closed it, he couldn't help but look back toward the bedroom before gently pulling the door shut and returning to his car downstairs.
He reclined the car seat and sat there, looking up at that lit window, not leaving all night.
Late at night, Aria saw his motionless car from the window. Remembering his words, her expression was complicated, and she too stayed awake all night.