NOVEL NEXT Chapter 740: Did I make your heart skip a beat?
Reese closed the file slowly before putting the drawer of his desk.
Arwen had reached out so that he could help her understand it all. How could he not tell her?
"No matter how difficult it is to explain, it's what needs to be done. I will explain it to her in a way she could handle," he said, standing up.
Cathleen thought for a moment and then nodded. "Yes, it would be only right if she knew it all. After all, it's the truth she is after. Only knowing it will make her be at ease."
Reese nodded. "Thank you for your hard work today, Cathleen," he said appreciatingly.
Cathleen shook his head. "It was my job, Dr. Calvin. It was only right for me to come and help you out."
Reese offered her a kind smile before checking the time on his watch. "It's quite late already," he said, "It's not safe for you to drive alone. Let me take you back."
She also checked the time on her watch. After thinking for a second, she nodded and agreed. "I guess I would have to trouble you."
"It's fine. It's on my way, anyway." Reese replied.
Cathleen smiled. "Let me go, grab my bag, then. I will meet you outside."
Reese nodded, and Cathleen left his office. After she was gone, Reese didn't leave the room immediately. He took a moment for himself before finally exiting the room.
When Cathleen slid inside the car, he started the engine to drive off.
Reese wasn't too extroverted, and knowing this, Cathleen didn't start any conversation. However, halfway through, her curiosity got the best of her.
Just when they were about to reach, she turned and looked at Reese to ask, "Can I ask you something, Dr. Calvin?"
Reese's gaze flicked to hers for a brief second before he turned back to look at the road, giving a small nod.
Cathleen hesitated for a second before finally asking, "How do you know, Ms. Quinn?"
When Reese gave her a second glance, she quickly explained the reason behind her question, "I mean, in all the years we have known you, we never saw you the way you are around her. She seems different to you. So, I was just curious."
He understood what she meant around those lines; however, he didn't give her the answer.
Cathleen waited for a few minutes, and when she saw him turn towards her, she expected him to answer.
But instead, he jutted his chin towards the door and informed, "We are already here. Go back and rest. Tomorrow, you need to compensate your family for staying at work today."
Cathleen pressed her lips before nodding. Pushing the open, she stepped out of the car before closing the door. But before leaving, she leaned a little peek through the car window. "Dr. Calvin, don't get us wrong. We don't want to intrude on your life. But after knowing you for so many years, we would be happy to see you settling down. After all, more than one person together creates a family. Staying alone for too long is not good."
Reese smiled and nodded. "Good night!"
"Good night, Dr. Clark."
And with that, Cathleen waved for the last time before finally turning to leave. Reese watched her enter the apartment, and once sure she was inside her house, he drove away from there.
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The next day —
At the breakfast table, Arwen was having breakfast. And like always, Aiden was making sure she had it well.
Morgan was liking the peace as well. He didn't plan to stretch his stay there, but with such peace, he was feeling better staying around the kids.
"I was planning to stay a few more days. Hope I am not causing any disturbance here," Morgan said, setting his glass of juice down after taking a small sip.
Arwen smiled and was about to shake her head when Aiden spoke before her.
"Even if you are not, then too, it's only right for you to ask. After all, that's how people stay at others' places."
Morgan exchanged a gaze with Arwen, who couldn't help but give an embarrassed smile to him. She elbowed Aiden and whisper-chided him. "Can you not make me look bad here?"
Aiden turned and blinked at her, almost looking clueless. "Did I say something wrong here?" Arwen stared at him as though she couldn't find a way to deal with him. "This house belongs to you. Even I have to seek your permission if I want to stay here."
"Okay, I got your point, husband. Can you now please shut up?" she said it through a grin that definitely didn't carry any humour.
When Aiden finally agreed to cooperate, she turned to Morgan and said, "Grandpa, please don't embarrass us by asking that. We would be more than happy to have you with us. Please stay with us. As for him, …" she side-eyed Aiden, "don't bother with him."
"I have stopped getting bothered with him a long time ago," Morgan simply said, eyeing Aiden.
Aiden was about to speak, but before he could, Arwen placed her hand over his.
"He is your grandfather. You won't suffer any loss if you even lose a few conversations with him."
"Why should I lose when I could win?"
Arwen eyed him as if asking him if he was serious. "Because he is your grandfather and you are his grandson. That reason should be enough to make you give in to him at times like these."
He looked at her as though he was not convinced. But before Arwen could convince him, her phone rang on the table.
Her attention shifted as she checked the caller ID. The moment she saw Dr. Calvin's name flash on the screen, her expression changed. She paused before setting down the fork and knife.
"I need to take this call. Please excuse me." And with that, she excused herself.
Pushing the chair, she got up and walked a distance away to take the call.
"Good morning, Dr. Calvin," she greeted, before asking, "Has the blood report been prepared?"
Reese hummed on the other side of the line. "Yes, and that's why I am calling you early in the morning."
Arwen's heart beat against her chest in slight anxiousness. But she tried her best to keep herself composed. "Were you able to find anything?"
Calvin didn't respond immediately. Pausing for a moment, he said, "We found it, but it can't be explained over a call."
"I understand, Dr. Calvin," Arwen said almost immediately. "It's fine. I can wait. I will come to meet you tomorrow at your clinic."
"Tomorrow?" Reese asked. He thought she would be more eager to know, and he could even tell how anxious she had gotten when he told her he was able to find the reason behind it all.
"Yes, I can wait," Arwen spoke slowly. "I already took your time yesterday. I can't bear to have another day of your rest. I can visit you tomorrow. You can then explain it to me."
Reese smiled when realized her reason. He asked again for confirmation. "Are you sure? If you want, we can even meet today."
Shaking her head, Arwen refused. "No, Dr. Calvin. I am sure. I can wait for a day. I will ask my secretary to get me your appointment tomorrow, if that's fine with you."
"Ask her to reach Ivy," Calvin replied. "She would help."
Arwen hummed politely before hanging up the call. No matter how badly she wanted to know the truth, she knew asking Dr. Calvin too much wasn't the right thing. So, she restrained herself.
"It's fine. It's just a day. Tomorrow, I will be able to find out," she muttered to herself.
And just then, Aiden's voice came from behind, "What will you find out tomorrow?"
She stiffened a little and turned to look. When she saw Aiden there, looking at her, she didn't falter. Instead, smiling, she replied, "I have been looking for some answers. I might find them tomorrow. Now, don't ask me what answers I was looking for because I am not going to tell you that."
Instead of lying, she chose to take a more direct approach. Not just to dispel his suspicion, but because she didn't like lying to him even for the simplest things.
"Is it something really important?" Aiden asked, and pausing for a moment, she nodded.
"Very important."
"You want me there with you?"
She smiled and shook her head. "You are always there with me. I don't need you to be present with me physically because I always have you here with me." She pointed at her heart.
Aiden followed her gesture, and something shifted in her eyes. His gaze burned when he looked back into her eyes.
Before Arwen could react, he leaned in and kissed her lips. It was slow but passionate.
At first, Arwen gasped, but slowly she adapted to that kiss, savouring it just as much as Aiden did.
When it was finally over, she teased, "Did I make your heart skip a beat?"
He didn't answer, but she knew it did. And that kiss was just his way of conveying it to her.