Chapter 37: Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Half Alive

Vicky’s surgery was scheduled for three days later, and Byron returned to the office to hand over his shift to Doctor Orson, who would be filling in for him for half the day.

“You got up late, huh?” Harry asked while sizing him up.

Noticing that he seemed exhausted, he reckoned that Byron must have over-indulged.

In fact, Byron wasn’t in the mood for it.

He was just restless and couldn’t sleep.

“I didn’t get up late. Just had some private matters to take care of.”

“You’re pretty romantic towards your new love.”

Candice tried to hide it but to no avail because Byron’s fervor was too strong to hide.

Byron took off his coat and asked, “Are there any beds available at the gynecological department?”

Pers

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“Is she pregnant?”

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“Vicky has an upcoming surgery,” he said with a frown.

“She showed up again?” Harry asked in astonishment.

“She isn’t pregnant. She was just using her friend’s ultrasound image.”

“Why did she fake her pregnancy?” Harry asked in disbelief.

Robert was a powerful businessman who had experienced all schemes and conspiracies in the business world. Lying to him was an act of courting death.

Where did Vicky get the guts to do that?

Byron’s dominance would falter when it comes to Vicky. Once she apologizes to him seductively, he would force himself to forget her mistakes.

Enos once said that Vicky was the queen of all unforgettable lovers and the only one whom Byron would pamper her unconditionally.

He believed that love is free and those who choose to give up the entire sea for a single fish would be setting themselves up for heartbreak.

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“She did that to make Robert give her a sum of money as compensation for the loss of her youth,” Byron said as he opened the drawer and took out his uniform.

Harry came to a sudden realization that Vicky’s desire for money was so crazy that she would resort to all acts of absurdity. Trapping a man with a baby was definitely something she would do.

Since she couldn’t become his lawful wife, she would extort a large sum of money from him. She was an absolute gold digger.

However, her most outstanding forte was manipulating the hearts of men.

Even a high-level player and top elite like Byron was actually willing to let her manipulate him. She was clearly impeccable.

Candice had really lost badly. However, she didn’t blame Vicky for it because she really wasn’t that good at charming

men.

“Have you made things clear with Vicky?”

Recalling the scene of Candice standing outside the gynecology apartment with her face as pale as a sheet, he couldn’t help but feel worried.

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He came back to his senses and continued doing his buttons.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“You’ve only dated her for a few days and you’re playing her again?”

Again.

What a hurtful word.

It was no wonder that Candice would look so disappointed.

“We didn’t get into a relationship.”

“You were living together. Yet, you refuse to admit it?” Harry asked furiously.

He had been a jerk for a period of time too. After getting dumped by his first girlfriend, the forensic scientist, he had seven or eight casual relationships.

Although they called themselves his girlfriends, Harry only treated them as rebound “female friends” whom he didn’t see a future with.

However, no matter how heartless he might be, he would stay away from pure and clean women like Candice.

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He was afraid of traumatizing her for life.

It would be too great a sin.

“She stayed at my place so that she could conveniently change her dressing. We didn’t sleep with each other.”

Byron walked across the room and began to attend to the patients.

Harry, who was on duty next door, followed suit.

“Vicky is a player who’s used to on-again, off-again relationships but Candice isn’t like her. You’d better know your limits and not sink too far. There’s no pill for regret,” he said while giving Byron a pat on his shoulder.

Byron stopped in his tracks.

However, he soon put it at the back of his mind.

During lunch break, Doctor Harvey came in with an empty sack and asked, “Doctor Byron, where’s the seafood feast? It’s Friday.”

Byron stared at his sack for a while and Doctor Harvey quickly explained, “Oh, I’d like to pack some home for my wife and children. Everyone in our department is aware of

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this habit of mine. I’m a family man.”

The sack was huge.

“Fantasy Restaurant. Put it on my tab.”

He didn’t have time to go since Vicky was waiting for him at home.

“Doctor Byron, where’s that medical insurance girl? I saw her running out of the inpatient wing in tears this morning,” Doctor Harvey asked after sitting down.

“She was in tears?”

“Yeah, she was crying really badly.”

Byron frowned without saying anything.

Doctor Harvey could sense that they had probably broken up, so he knew better and left.

After seeing a bunch of patients in a row, Byron freed up time to call Candice but he couldn’t get through.

She had blocked his number.

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What a resolute decision.

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Byron was so upset that he went straight to consultation room 2 to look for Harry.

“What’s her Whatsapp username?”

Harry was prescribing medication and didn’t look up as he answered, “Charming Fox.”

“What’s yours?”

“Wonderful Man.”

Byron squinted.

He would let it go for the time being.

He managed to add her on Whatsapp.

He sent her three text messages in a go.

–[Are you mad at me?]

–[I’ll give you a sum of money as compensation. Name your price.]

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–[Reply me.]

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He was blocked before the third text could be delivered.

The image of her delicate and soft body as well as her stubborn and tear-stained face flashed through his mind.

She may look intimidating but she was as rational as ever.

Byron came home in the evening, and when he entered the living room, the air was filled with a special and unusual fragrance.

Vicky held up the bottle of perfume and hugged him from the front.

“This is a gift I picked out. The bitter notes of coffee suit you well.”

He looked down with an indescribable expression and said, “You’re really different from her.”

“Who?” Vicky asked with a sullen expression.

Byron knew that she was displeased.

The way he smiled and moved were incredibly s**y, with lust and power pouring out of his pores.

“No one. You’re the only one,” he said, holding her in his

arms.

He opened the door of the bedroom and his face turned grim the next second.

“You changed the sheets?” he questioned.

“I hate the scents of other women.”

She opened her palm to reveal a strand of dark brown hair, which obviously didn’t belong to her since her hair was burgundy in color.

That strand of hair belonged to Candice.

How meticulous of her.

“Are you bothered by her?”

“What do you think?”

She dropped the strand of hair on the ground and crushed it with the sole of her shoe.

“I’m very repulsed by her existence.”

Byron unbuckled his belt and went into the bathroom to take a shower. He deliberately took out the shower gel that Vicky had bought previously, which he had put away when Candice stayed over.

She preferred subtle and clean scents or strong smells of alcohol and tobacco.

On the other hand, Vicky’s preferences were as liberal and spontaneous as herself. She liked flamboyant and mysterious scents that were unconventional.

When he came out of the bathroom, Vicky leaned against him but he wasn’t feeling it today.

With his hand on her waist, he asked, “Aren’t you tired?”

Vicky planted a kiss on his Adam’s apple, turning him on instantly.

He was aroused by her rich and luscious scent.

It was too intense.

Her impactful and compelling charm and beauty could not be put into words.

However, beauty that was clear at a glance would take away

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the fun of exploration.

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In contrast, Candice was like ancient Egyptian jasmine, exuding a distant mystery, coupled with ethereal allure and pure desire.

She had once dressed in sultry and racy clothing, and tried to seduce him in New Century Bar to teach Rufus a lesson.

Candice couldn’t beat Vicky’s beauty but her subtle, pure and youthful appearance was incredibly seductive.

He wanted to tear her skin and see the purity of her soul and bones beneath her radiance.

Hugging him, Vicky said, “Byron, I’m going back to the playhouse but I won’t sleep with the investors.”

Byron smiled faintly and asked in disbelief, “Is that so?”

“There’s a play scheduled for the end of the year and a B- list actress took my spot as the lead.”

Vicky was very good at seducing him and teasing him to the point that his muscles tensed up uncontrollably.

“Are you going to invest in it?”

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Byron propped himself up and looked down at her.

“Is that why you’re doing this?”

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“As my boyfriend, it’s only right that you support me.”

Her words had dampened his spirits completely. He turned away to have his back facing her, and began smoking.

Like a beautiful serpent, Vicky wrapped herself around him from behind.

“Are you mad?”

“Why did you come back?”

“Because I love you, and I’m just as crazy about you.”

Byron snuffed his cigarette and exhaled. The smoke from his mouth evaporated in her face.

“You love me?”

Laying on her back on his lap, Vicky said, “I love their money and power but I love you for you and your body.”

She sat up and pinned him down beneath her as she

Hall Alive

Naters

continued, “I’m even more by the way you’re obsessed and in love with me.”

Byron pushed her away and said, “I have something to do. I’m going to the study.”

On the other hand, Candice was unemployed and in recovery.

Rufus had taken half of her life while Byron took the rest.

She had only dated Byron for two months but in a certain way, he was her “first love” who had taken her virginity.

She had never experienced those emotions of novelty, misery, struggles, uncertainty, and madness.

It was passionate and forbidden.

Hence, the aftermath was intense.

Even Monica was flabbergasted to see her.

“Did you get poisoned?” she asked in horror.

Candice didn’t deny that Byron had poisoned her, and it was true that she was still intoxicated.

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She would probably take at least a couple more weeks to get over him.

Monica was lying on the sofa while her young boyfriend fed her some watermelon. That scene made Candice

subconsciously think of Byron and Vicky. She reckoned that he probably pampered Vicky to bits.

He’d probably feed her with his mouth.

Candice exhaled with all her might and asked, “Are there any updates regarding my job application?”

“Yeah, my friend’s company offers great employee benefits and operates on a large scale. If you apply for it, you’ll definitely be hired as a senior executive.”

“Cut the cr ap.”

“Rufus would be my boss if I lied to you!”

“Which company is it?” Candice asked, laughing in

amusement.

“I’ll text you,” Monica said before ending the video call.

Candice was apprehensive about it but in the afternoon, Monica really texted her to inform her of the interview.

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It was at 38 Park Avenue.

The skies were gloomy and Candice took a cab to the office instead of driving. As soon as she alighted, Percy honked at her. It seemed that he had been waiting for her.

She crossed the road and asked, “Are you here for business?”

“I was here to discuss a deal for a project.”

“Did you clinch it?”

“It went well.”

Candice didn’t think much of it at all and rubbed her hands. together while remarking, “I realized that it’s always raining or really windy whenever I bump into you.”

Percy laughed and said, “Is it safe to say that you’ll run into me, rain or shine?”

“Yeah, it is. Please give me a ride. I have an interview to attend,” she said as she pulled the car door.

In the car, he turned on the heater while asking, “Are you afraid of the cold?”

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“After catching a cold in elementary school, I got such a high fever that I almost died. I’ve been really scared since then.”

Percy’s heart trembled a little.

Stacy too, was afraid of the cold and would suffer badly whenever she got a fever.

She should have been laying in his arms when she was 24 years old.

However, she passed away, which caused Percy to live in regret until now.

Everything is fated.

“Did Monica h o o k you up for this interview?”

“Yeah, her friend did…” Candice murmured.

However, she came to a sudden realization and was stunned.

Percy smiled and said, “Her friend, yeah. And?”

“Are you that friend?”

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He turned around and drove towards Fortune Group.

“Are you very surprised?”

She sat up straight and faced him.

“Since when did you and Monica become friends?”

“I had a favor to ask from her.”

“You asked her for a favor?”

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Percy freed one hand to fasten Candice’s seatbelt for her.

“She’s a very enthusiastic matchmaker.”

It was obvious what he meant.

Pretending not to hear him, she asked, “Is your company in need of a senior executive?”

“Yeah.”

“PR manager? Or marketing director?”

“A little higher than that.”

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“Deputy President?”

He rested his hand on the steering wheel casually and said, “Are you that afraid to make a bolder guess?”

“Even higher… Wouldn’t that be the president?”

Percy coc ked his head to the side, his eyes still and as deep as the ocean.

“How about the president’s wife?”

buchen

The car stopped at the traffic light and he stared at Candice for a long time without saying anything.

Pretending to be calm, she chastised, “Percy, stop it. I’m a divorced woman who is scarred for life and can’t take a joke.”

She had obviously evaded his question.

Percy complied, “Okay, I’ll stop.”

Candice’s heart was pounding and her palms were sweaty.

She felt giddy just now.

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She reckoned that no woman could resist Percy’s mature and profound gaze.

It was incredibly s**y and melancholic.

Candice and Percy had dinner at the restaurant on the ground floor of Fortune Group.

He didn’t mention anything about the job so she didn’t ask about it either.

After the meal, he sent Candice home personally.

Percy called out to her at her apartment complex.

“Are you not willing to accept the job because of me?”

Candice turned sideways and Candice turned sideways and asked, “Does the Fortune Group really lack senior executives?”

Under the dim street lamp, Percy answered with a smile, “No.”

She smiled too, stepping on their intertwining shadows on the ground. Sometimes, their shadows would separate too. It was just like their relationship.

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“I need a female driver.”

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“I suck at driving… Are you sure you want to put your life at risk?”

The wind was blowing hard and Percy subtly moved out of the way to block the wind for Candice.

He was tall and broad, so he easily shielded her and blocked her shadow.

“I can fend for myself.”

Candice smiled with her head low.

In the end, she didn’t give Percy an answer, and just said that she would consider it.

Working at Fortune Group was a good idea but she cared about ties.

Byron was very hostile to Percy, and she didn’t want to get involved because of her relationship with him.

If she were to take up the job, it would seem as if she was trying to get under his skin to get revenge on him.

It would make her look like she couldn’t get over him.

On the night of Vicky’s surgery, Byron was supposed to accompany her by her bed, but she refused because she felt that she looked haggard without make-up and did not want to see him.

Hence, he hired a caretaker and went to the clubhouse to look for Enos.

With one leg crossed over the other, Enos stood up for Candice.

“How unfortunate of Candice to have met someone like you.”

With a glass of wine in hand, Byron said, “Does your heart ache for her?”

Enos glanced at her from the corner of his eye and said, “Why did you mess with her when she’s clearly not cut out for games?”

“It has nothing to do with you anyway,” he said, leaning against his seat after taking a sip of wine.

“I don’t get it. Does she count as your ex?”

“No, it was a pseudo relationship.”

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What a jerk.

He actually made up something as absurd as a pseudo relationship.

“What counts as real?”

Byron ignored him.

It would be real if it was acknowledged and since it wasn’t, it was considered pseudo.

However, he was also clear that he was at fault for the incident with Candice. If she was a good woman, he must be a bad man.

“What’s wrong with Vicky?”

“Inflammation.”

“You don’t mind?”

Given this degree of tolerance, he really didn’t have a bottom line.

Byron was particular about loyalty but more so in terms of emotions.

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When he received Vicky’s wedding invitation a year ago, he chu gged an entire pack of beer at a bar at midnight.

“The mere thought of her in another man’s bed…” He pointed at his chest without going on further.

His heart would ache.

Enos felt sad for him when he heard it.

He didn’t take pity on Byron for the heartbreak he had to suffer. Rather, he took pity on Byron for having to go through pain and agony every single time Vicky had a new

man.

“Inflammation has nothing to do with her sex life,” Byron said calmly.

“If other women are down with this illness, something else could be the reason. But for Vicky, it’s definitely because of her promiscuous ways.”

Byron’s expression was as cold as ice.

Enos fell silent immediately.

He went to the bathroom as an excuse to avoid him.

At this moment, someone stood up from the corner of the table. Enos was too drunk to see clearly, but when he got closer, he recognized it to be Percy.

His aura was too powerful, and he was in a high-end club, where there were men in suits indulging in lust and discussing business.

Percy was the only one who stood out. He was particularly eye-catching as he remained poised and dignified.

Enos hurried back and sat down next to Byron before reminding him, “Your brother is coming towards us.”