Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Byron unzipped his jacket, revealing a gray and blue striped shirt underneath. “None of your business.” He was a little annoyed, but also felt there was something else he wasn’t entirely clear about. If he considered her to be stupid, then a lot of things were coincidences. And if he considered her to be smart, then she messed up too often to hold his interest.

But he felt that maybe if he wasn’t so used to the expert level then her tricks might be considered pretty good.

Unintentional, innocent, accidental. Three strong tactics.

A woman with a fixed hand of cards was predictable and could be handled by a man. Candice played her cards all out of order, and he didn’t know how to deal with her. “I’d like to remind you that since Doctor Roger treated your mother, we‘ re even now.”

Candice tilted her head in surprise. His face was

emotionless, but his tone was full of meaning. She could understand what he was implying.

Byron was so distant that she really struggled to deal with him. She really just wanted to be free, but she knew that if she didn’t muster up her courage in this moment she’d never have a chance to.

She took a deep breath. “Doctor Wilson, I want to pursue you.”

Byron casually opened a book. “Who do you think you are, to pursue me?”

“I can cook, I’ve very loyal, and I can-

“I don’t want you.”

Candice froze, then blurted out, “What’s wrong with me?”

“Everything.”

“But that woman last night…”

Byron felt his patience rapidly deserting him. “You’re not as good as her.”

Her palms were clammy. “I can learn.”

He finally looked directly at her, and she said, “I’ll learn as soon as you promise to be my boyfriend.”

Byron tapped his fingers on the table. “You’re doing a good job with your scheming, Candice.”

The way he said her name left her heart cold.

“You didn’t leave much of an impression on me that day, hardly a memorable one. I’m not very interested in falling in love with you.”

Candice could deal with the flirtations and jokes, but his blunt refusal was hard to swallow. She couldn’t continue any longer and choked out an apology. “I’m sorry to have bothered you, Doctor Wilson.”

Byron watched her fleeing back. He had never been compassionate or forgiving.

Candice had bet wrong. She couldn’t get anything from him. At best, she had established a flirtatious atmosphere, so he could tease her.

Love. It was so whimsical.

She went to the bathroom to wash her face, taking some time to calm down. She recalled Byron’s attitude toward her, which was a little stronger than his previous indifference.

Although he was still suspicious, they at least had more conversations. Maybe his temper was due to so many women throwing themselves at him. The more who tried, the colder he became. But there were still women who didn’t fear the cold, and as long as he didn’t hate them there was

hope.

Byron really wanted to make a clean break with her, but it shouldn’t be that way.

Candice made up her mind, then bribed Harry. He was all too happy to cooperate, reporting on Byron’s whereabouts to her and encouraging her to adjust his mental outlook.

Doctor Wilson was an interesting man. He didn’t care about the women who chased after him. When he was in a good mood he could be pleasant, but if he was tired then forget it.

She found his contrasting nature beautiful.

Candice asked what kind of style Byron liked.

Harry didn’t even have to think about it. “A style like Vicky’s.”

A glamorous star.

That was too risky a style for her to try. If it didn’t go well, she’d be shooting herself in the foot. A man might fight with himself over conflicting emotions, swinging from nostalgia to hate, and it would be hard to find peace. If he was in a nostalgic mood it would be an easy road, but if he swung to hate it could be dangerous.

And Candice had her pride. Even if he didn’t want to be with her, she wouldn’t try to prevent it by mimicking another

woman.

“Not that. What else does he like?”

“Nothing.”

Byron was extremely stubborn.

Harry sent Candice home and then texted Byron: “She’s obsessed with you too.”

Byron quickly replied: “Who?”

“That woman.”

That was Candice’s code name. Byron didn’t reply again.

Harry got curious and decided to see what was going on. He had a feeling that the two of them would get up to something interesting.

***

At 9 PM, Candice entered the New Century Bar. She went straight to the card table. The crowd was huge, and she couldn’t make out who was who in the blinding lights. She

continued to look around, unaware that he had already spotted her.

The neon lights flashed, and in the myriad of swaying shadows, he looked straight at the person who didn’t seem to belong.

Candice was still looking around, unaware of his gaze. Each woman in this place was more dazzling than the last, but she was the only one who felt like a breath of fresh air. From the loose strands of hair around her face to the artfully draped skirt, there was only innocence without any scheming in her eyes. There was nothing slutty about her, only cute sweetness from head to toe.

Byron smiled for no reason.

“Are you drunk?” Enos asked him when he saw this.

He moved his glass away. “That’s all that matters.”

“Yeah.”

Byron was a very unusual drinker. If he wanted to be drunk, it only took him one glass. But if he didn’t, his tolerance was bottomless. He was the best drinker in Enos’s social circle.

Once some of the guys in the company had been skeptical and decided to give him a hard time at a party. Byron gladly.

attended, mixing red and white and drinking wine like water without showing a single sign of inebriation. His fame spread and nobody tried to get him drunk again.

Byron didn’t mess around. When he had been with Vicky, he was happy to be there for her. He rarely stayed out late. But when it turned out she was just after his money, he deliberately brought other women home and left evidence around in order to make her jealous. Even a smart man can do stupid things in the grip of love.

Enos noticed that Byron seemed a little distracted. He glanced over and saw Candice.

She had on light makeup and her hair was secured in a low ponytail with amber barrettes. She wore a black halterneck dress over a plain white lace blouse. It was obvious that she had put some time into her appearance, and the color suited her well, but she couldn’t bear to show as much skin as everyone else there.

Such a conservative look really stood out. She was like a plate of crisp vegetables next to greasy sausages, so much more visually appealing.

Enos and Byron clinked glasses. “It’s so rare to see a woman as kind as her.”

“Yeah.” Byron’s response was perfunctory.

“She really didn’t say anything to her ex–husband. If it had been Vicky, she would have run away so many times instead of staying.”

“Do you have a point?” Byron was triggered as soon as Enos mentioned Vicky.

Enos smiled. “A slip of the tongue.” He glanced at Candice. “She’s left him.”

“You’re well–informed,” Byron told him.

“She committed adultery. How could they not divorce? Her ex–husband is even worse than you,” Enos lamented. “What are you planning?”

Byron pursed his wine–stained lips. “I don’t have any plans.”

“I wasn’t asking about later. I want to know about tonight.”

Byron looked back at him.

“What do you think a lonely divorced woman needs?”

Byron didn’t respond, but Enos hadn’t really expected him to answer. “Warmth to soothe her heart.”

Byron stared calmly at the dance floor. “She wants a

relationship with me.”

Enos nearly choked on his wine. “A formal arrangement where she gets to call you her boyfriend sort of thing?”

Meanwhile, Candice, who had searched with no luck, turned sideways and found Byron near the bar. But she no longer recognized him.

Even though she had seen him so many times, tonight he was completely different. He wore a fuchsia satin shirt with a silver and white pattern embroidered on the collar and cuffs. His top three buttons were undone, revealing a firm chest. He was half wanton flirtation and half calm

composure.

He really attracted quite a few women. When he noticed one looking, his expression remained cold and he didn’t smile. He rarely said much. But if he looked at the other person for more than a few seconds, they would be delighted.

This man was suffocating and poisonous wherever he went. He was surrounded by money and luxuries, but he had never fallen for any of them.

Candice straightened her clothes and approached him. “Doctor Wilson.”

He tilted his head, part mocking and part sincere. “You’re

quite persistent. You won’t stop until you get what you want, will you?”

Sensing that he wasn’t happy, Candice explained. “I’m here with a friend.”

Byron decided not to push the issue. “Oh. Where’s your friend?”

Candice hadn’t expected him to call her out on her bluff so quickly and was momentarily speechless.

A man suddenly stood up from the bar. “Bryon, woman?

he drunkenly slurred.

Enos shoved him. “You can tell if she’s a man or a woman.”

The man looked annoyed. “I was asking if she’s Byron’s

woman.”

Byron took a sip of wine. “If you’re interested, go for it.”

Don’t make waves, just deal with it.

The man put his arm around Byron’s shoulders and smiled at Candice. “Are you falling in love with our Doctor Wilson?”

Candice snuck a peek at Byron’s face. He looked calm, the

light of the card table shrouding his features in mystery. She averted her eyes again and felt her ears reddening. “I like him. I’ve decided to pursue him.”

Liking and love were two different things. Byron would find it frivolous if she said love so rashly.

The man smiled more openly. “How many boyfriends have you had?”

Candice was too embarrassed to reply.

Byron changed the subject. “Let’s open another bottle of wine.

The man still wanted to tease. “Drink up.”

Candice wasn’t clear if Byron was standing up for her or if he just didn’t want to be involved. But it was clear his group of friends respected him and they settled back down.

“Should I stay?” Candice asked.

“What do you think?” Byron replied coldly.

Candice gave up on pride. “I wasn’t looking for you, and you weren’t looking for me.”