Chapter 71: Nobody Likes to Suffer

Cheyenne handed Iker a cup of warm water and his medicine.

"Okay, take your medicine quickly. I need to go back!" The black capsule looked extremely bitter and smelled even worse.

Iker wrinkled his brow at the scent and resisted. "How about you go back first? I'll take it later."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course! I'm not a child. Do you think I'm afraid of taking medicine?" His behavior seemed to belie his words.

She squinted her crescent-shaped eyes and leaned close, her gaze fixed on his face. "Are you…afraid of taking medicine?"

"Nothing like that. Don't make assumptions!"

This was the first time anyone had directly asked him this, and his expression worsened.

Cheyenne crossed her arms. "If you weren't afraid, you'd just take it."

"Why do you talk so much? No wonder your ex-husband divorced you—you're too noisy!"

The words hung in the air. Iker felt a chill, a rare sensation of having said something wrong. But how could the proud Master Iker admit fault to a woman?

He looked up to see Cheyenne's smile falter. Unease rose within him. Her smile hid underlying sadness.

"You're right," she said softly. "I was with him for three years, but he couldn't stand me for even a day."

Damn it! He'd expected anger, a retort he could parry. Instead, her admission mirrored his own discomfort.

Iker bit his lip, looking deeply into Cheyenne's serene profile before saying, "I'll take them." He swallowed the capsules with the water in one gulp.

Tanner, at the door, nearly fell over. Master Iker had always been afraid of medicine! Miss Lawrence had achieved the impossible!

"I'm done," Iker said calmly. "Miss Lawrence, I'm not afraid of taking medicine!"

Only he knew the bitter taste remained; sheer willpower alone prevented him from vomiting.

"Stop pretending! Nobody likes bitter stuff!" Cheyenne's mood lifted at his childish gesture. She saw through his facade instantly.

She produced a piece of candy.

Iker pursed his lips. "Childish!"

"Do you want some?" Cheyenne asked.

"When I was young, I took more medicine than you do now. In medical school, I injected myself daily and tested countless drugs. I always kept candy on hand; my classmates coveted it, but I rarely gave any away."

She'd only shared it with a select few.

"No, thanks! What grown man eats candy?" Iker coldly rejected her. But his eyes lingered on her hand holding the candy.

Damn, he thought she was cute.

Cheyenne pouted. "Fine," she said, pulling back her hand. But he grabbed it.

"However, I'll give you face and try it," Iker said, taking the candy.

He peeled the wrapper. It was his first candy. The sweetness washed away the bitterness.

He felt better, his expression softening slightly.

"How is it? Sweet?" Cheyenne asked, propping her cheek with her hand, her watery eyes making her look adorable.

"Meh… it's okay. Don't eat too much junk food, or you'll get sick." He clicked his tongue.

Cheyenne snorted and stood. "I'm going home."

Iker didn't want her to leave. "It's not even three o'clock; why are you leaving so early?"

"My task is complete." A loud clap of thunder interrupted her. Lightning illuminated the sky, followed by torrential rain.

The plants on the balcony swayed violently. Iker ordered Tanner, "Tanner, quickly bring back the mimosa pudica."

"Yes, Master Iker."

Cheyenne raised an eyebrow at the mimosa pudica. She looked at the rain with a depressed expression; her umbrella would be ruined.

"Miss Lawrence, you're busy, aren't you? You can leave now," Iker said, his voice deliberately taunting.

She felt goosebumps. "I…"

"Tanner, please bring Miss Lawrence an umbrella. Miss Lawrence, you don't have to be too grateful!" Iker gloated.

Cheyenne was speechless. Tanner, moving the plants, smiled wryly.

(Remove the FindNovel.net advertisement)