Chapter 24
Chapter 24
N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.
The words she had spoken hung in the air, leaving him with a slight difort in his chest. Who else
had she deemed these “normal matters” suitable for?
Gwendolyn retreated to the sanctuary of her kitchen, catching her breath before she methodically
ced the herbs into the mortar. She hesitated before tossing in an extral handful, a silent debate
ying out in her mind.
Dragging a chair over, she propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her hands, musing
over Howard’s bruised ego. She knew his pride was as fragile as the morning dew, and his reaction
stemmed from the sting of embarrassment.
Mr. White had once told her that men often get irritable when dealing with personal ailments, which was
up to the healer to show understanding.
Her phone buzzed insistently in her pocket. Fishing it out, she saw a flurry of messages in the ss
group chat, her name mentioned several times. Scott had issued an open invitation.
“Dinner’s on me at Pte Paradise. Let’s make it a night to remember,” Scott had announced, tagging
everyone.
“Pte Paradise is the holy grail of Bayridge City dining. Scott, you’re pulling out all the stops!
Gwendolyn ising, right?”
“Scott is loaded and got his future all set after graduation. Envious is an understatement.”
Gwendolyn nced at the screen, tempted to shut it off, but her old roommate Mamie had sent her a
private message. “Come on, Gwendolyn, it’s ourst hurrah before we all scatter. You’re not going to
bail, are you?”
After a moment of hesitation, Gwendolyn replied, “I’ll be there.”
She set her phone aside, turning her attention back to the simmering concoction for a full hour before
pouring it into a bowl.
On the bedroom terrace, Howard lounged with a book, soaking up the sun, his features a perfect blend
of intellect and allure.
“Your tonic is ready.”
Bncing the bowl in her hands, Gwendolyn approached him, the light bitterness of the brew mingling
with the fresh air.
Howard nced up, his gaze lingering on her before he closed his book. “Did you add the extra
herbs?”
“Yes,” she confessed, her tone reminiscent of a child owning up to a minor mischief.
Hisughter caught her off guard, a sound as rich as the timbre of a well–yed cello. With elegant
fingers, he took the bowl and downed the contents in one go.
14:18
Chapter 24
“Sorry about earlier.” Howard said, admitting his earlier fault. If the doctor said he was under the
weather, then that was that.
Observing him, Gwendolyn curled her lips into a smile. “Mr. Chadwick, you must be the most.
cooperative patient I’ve ever had. As a reward, I’d like you to make a donation in my stead to the Ster
Crescent Foundation.
She pressed the half–million–dor check into his hand.
The air held a chill from the tail end of spring, but she was wrapped in a cozy white sweater, her
smooth hair cascading freely, her eyes shining with an earnest light.
“I know it was you, Mr. Chadwick.”
He was the ray of light in her life, the founder of the Ster Crescent Foundation, the reason she hadn’t
dropped out of school early. She had confirmed it with Marina during her potion brewing.
“Do you feel you owe me, then?” The words danced on his tongue before he voiced them.
Perhaps it was the effect of the tonic, but as he met her clear gaze, filled with a purity of warmth and
the musings of a grown man, he felt a stirring within.
“Of course, I’ll make sure you get back on your feet,” Gwendolyn said, oblivious to the subtle probing in
his words.
Howard gave a small nod, his lips parting slightly. “I’m also your patient. Since Valor has added your
contact, don’t you think you’re ying favorites?”
Gwendolyn retrieved her phone, disying the ount for him to add the contact. “I’ll be out in a
couple of days for the ss gathering. If you need anything, you can reach me anytime.”
With his sharp eyes, Howard caught a glimpse of her unread messages, surprised at her poprity.
“Alright.”
He added her as a contact, his curiosity piqued about what nickname she might have given him.