Chapter 16 Bone Marrow

“Checkup?” Alexia blinked in surprise. “But I was just…”

“It’s up to me.” Chaim’s face became serious.

He needed to make sure that she was in the best physical condition before the bone marrow donation, so she wouldn’t have any complications after.

Knowing he was unhappy with her, Alexia shrank back and nodded, “I understand.”

His expression eased a little before he spoke again, “I have something to do this afternoon so you will find your own way home.”

“Will you be home tonight at least?”

Chaim frowned without answering. The thought of Chaim not being home again that night upset Alexia, but she did her best to keep a calm demeanor. “I’ll leave now.”

“Ok,” Chaim mumbled.

That afternoon, the secretaries brought Alexia a large stack of accounting records from the past few years, asking her to sort them all out.

Not wanting to upset Chaim and also wanting to make up for the mistakes she’d made, Alexia took the job. She worked diligently on it until she finished and was one of the last to leave the office that evening.

At 9 p.m., Alexia finally returned to the villa, finding the whole place silent and Aunt Song nowhere to be seen. Alexia looked around the living room and noticed a slip of paper on the coffee table. That’s when Alexia remembered Aunt Song had gone home.

“Of course she’s not here. I’m already so tired and hungry.” Alexia muttered, before sighing and rolling up her sleeves.

Seeing as it was already so late, Alexia decided to make something from her childhood, buttered noodles.

Unknowing to Alexia, not too long after she started cooking, Chaim arrived home. The sounds coming from the kitchen surprised him, and the idea of food caused his stomach to growl. Who would cook this late?

Chaim put his briefcase down before heading for the kitchen. He stopped in shock when he saw who was standing in the kitchen. It was Alexia. She was busy working near the stove, watching a pot on a burner. Her head was bowed as she stifled a yawn, revealing her long and slender neck. Her fair skin glowed under the light.

Chaim stared for a moment, his Adam’s apple sliding up and down, and a heat spreading from his core.

He couldn’t believe this woman was arousing him for a third time!

Unable to understand anything about the situation, Chaim tugged at his tie in annoyance and his deep voice boomed in the kitchen. “Alexia!”

Alexia was taken aback and almost dropped the spoon she’d been holding.

A smile grew on her face as she turned to face Chaim. “You’re home.” She worried he wouldn’t come home again.

“Mm hmm,” Chaim replied indifferently as he looked at the pot behind her, “What are you cooking?”

“Noodles, I haven’t had dinner yet.” Alexia said as she wiped her hands on the apron.

Chaim frowned, “Where’s Aunt Song?”

“Aunt Song is on leave. She goes back to see her granddaughter every week.” Alexia explained as she placed the noodles in a bowl.

Chaim leaned against the door frame, “Just buttered noodles? Nothing else?”

The way Alexia added butter and used a bit of the left over pasta water to make an emulsified sauce impressed Chaim.

“There’s no other food left in the fridge.” Alexia smiled embarrassedly, having discovered that herself when digging through the fridge for dinner.

“Did Aunt Song not prepare anything before she left?”

Alexia clasped her fingers together and twiddled her thumbs. “It’s not her fault. I’ve been so busy these days that I forgot to give her money.”

“Why are you giving her money?” Chaim asked, narrowing his eyes.

Alexia looked at him in bewilderment, not understanding why he was suddenly angry. “If I don’t give Aunt Song money, she won’t be able to buy any food.”

“Nonsense. Aunt Song is the servant of the Lancaster family. Her salary and your living expenses are directly transferred to her account. How could there be no money?”

Was Alexia playing a cruel joke on him?

“I haven’t received any money. You can ask Aunt Song if you don’t believe me!” Alexia said, her expression both serious and a bit worried.

Chaim’s anger grew before he remembered that he hadn’t been to the villa after the wedding, nor had he explained any of this to his accountants. So, naturally, no one had transferred money.

“You paid for everything yourself for the past three years?” Chaim clenched his fists.

“Not everything, I just need to pay for the food and utilities.” Alexia shrugged.

Seeing her expression, guilt wracked through Chaims heart, “Why didn’t you tell me?” Although he didn’t like Alexia, he didn’t want her to live in want either.

“I didn’t think it was necessary. It’s not a lot of money. By the way, have you eaten?”

Chaim rubbed his temples as he replied with a faint weariness, “Not yet.”

“Then how about I cook a bowl of noodles for you?” Alexia proposed cautiously.

Chaim looked at her expectant gaze and didn’t refuse.

Alexia’s eyes sparkled with happiness. Though her clothes and hair were plain, the whole world seemed to glow from her pure and flawless smile.

After eating the noodles in silence, Chaim went upstairs to the study. Not too long after, Assistant Chiao arrived to speak with Chaim.

After the men had been upstairs for a while, Alexia decided she would make them some coffee. Once the coffee was ready, she poured two cups and placed them on a tray before heading for the study.

“Mr. Lancaster, you’ve been in contact with Ms. White for so many days. Haven’t mentioned it to her yet?” Assistant Chiao said, his words reaching Alexia as she approached.

Alexia wasn’t sure what the men were discussing but it involved her and she had a knot forming in the pit of her stomach. Against her better judgement, instead of knocking, she placed her ear against the door to listen in.

“I don’t know how to tell her,” Chaim said, aggravation in his voice Assistant Chiao sighed, “Ms. Evelyn can’t wait much longer. Dr. Hardy has explained numerous times that if she doesn’t have the surgery within two months, her disease will progress too far and all the following surgeries will fail.”

Chaim’s voice rose, “I won’t let the surgery fail!”

“Then why are you still hesitating? You’ve already prepared the operating room, and Ms. Evelyn’s body has been conditioned for surgery. The only thing missing is Ms. White’s bone marrow.”