Chapter 4

Just then, Kayden spotted Brian. Kayden was upset because Charlotte left, and he couldn't help but complain, "Daddy, what took you so long? The pretty lady is gone!" When he saw Kayden visibly disappointed, Brian decided to let it go. Maybe he had been mistaken. Charlotte had vanished six years ago without a trace. No matter how hard he searched, there had been nothing. How could she suddenly show up now? After snapping out of his thoughts, Brian looked down at Kayden. "What pretty lady? The one you mentioned on the phone? The so-called miracle doctor?" Kayden nodded, still glancing in the direction Charlotte had gone. He looked genuinely sad. He wondered if he could still catch her if he ran fast enough. Brian, missing the point entirely, shrugged it off. "If she left, so be it. It's no big deal." He didn't believe Kayden had really met a miracle doctor. Besides, the woman he glimpsed had looked young. She couldn't possibly be that skilled in medicine. Besides, he had already obtained the contact information for the real miracle doctor from the hospital director, who was a far more promising lead. But Kayden wasn't having it. He scrunched his face in frustration. "How can you say that?" he huffed. Kayden had worked so hard to convince the woman to help. Besides, she left because Brian arrived late. Now, he was acting like it didn't matter at all. Kayden was so angry that he stomped off down the hallway. Brian couldn't understand why Kayden was throwing a tantrum. He frowned and asked, "What are you upset about?" "You don't even care about the miracle doctor! You think the pretty lady isn't capable, don't you?" Kayden grumbled. In frustration, he added, "You have to believe me! I asked around. She's really amazing! She just finished a hard surgery that no one else could do!" Still, Brian wasn't convinced. He kept his voice calm, trying to soothe Kayden. "I'm not saying I don't believe you. I just know my own condition better than anyone. It's not something any regular doctor can fix. That woman you met—she may be skilled, but that doesn't mean she can help." What puzzled Brian more than anything was how attached Kayden had become to this stranger. Over the years, countless women from wealthy families in Marindale had tried to cozy up to him, hoping to become Kayden's stepmother. He thoroughly rejected every single one of them. Even Lydia, who had close ties with the Norman family, was barely tolerated. This earned Kayden a reputation for being mean, and everyone in Marindale knew about it. This was the first time Brian had seen Kayden so taken with a woman. He couldn't help but wonder if this woman had approached his son with ulterior motives. It was best to nip this in the bud if that were the case. "I already got the contact for the real miracle doctor. Mission accomplished for today. Let's go home and stop making a fuss," Brian said firmly. Kayden felt his heart sink when he heard that the woman wasn't the miracle doctor Brian was looking for. That also meant he might not see her again. Even though he had just met her once, Kayden really liked her for some reason. She hadn't been gone for long, and he already missed her. He really longed to see her again. "I've decided I'm going to look for her!" he vowed to himself. If she couldn't heal Brian's sickness, she could become Kayden's mother instead. The thought sparked something in him, wiping away all the earlier gloom. … After leaving the hospital, Charlotte went straight home. Her mind was a mess; no matter how long she sat with her thoughts, they wouldn't settle. Although she had been divorced from Brian for six years now, and any feelings she'd once had for him were long gone, the thought of Kayden still stirred something she couldn't ignore. Kayden looked about the same age as Amber—which meant Brian had a child with someone else not long after they separated. She wondered if it was with Lydia. The idea almost made her laugh. When she and Brian were married, she'd mentioned wanting a baby several times. He'd shut it down every time. He never had any intention of becoming a father. In fact, after every time they were intimate, he'd make her take birth control. However, the Norman family's plans were the opposite of that. For years, she'd been pressured and belittled by Estelle, all because she couldn't get pregnant. Brian never knew about this. Then, the moment they divorced, he suddenly decided he wanted a child. There was nothing left for Charlotte to guess—Brian never hated the idea of children. He just didn't want to have children with her. When she thought about it, Charlotte couldn't help but curse him under her breath. That man was nothing but a bastard. Right in the middle of her internal tirade, Ivy Shaw, her best friend, called her. Charlotte took a deep breath to collect herself before answering. "Hey, Ivy, what's up?" Ivy's cheerful voice came through, "Hey, Char! Are you done for the day?" "I've just wrapped up. I'm heading home now," Charlotte replied. Ivy immediately protested, "What do you mean home? You're in Marindale, so you had better have a meal with me! Besides, you just did surgery all day. You need some real food!" Charlotte chuckled at her words. "Alright, fine. You're treating. Send me the address, and I'll meet you there." "Alright! Come to Clarke's Table. I'm waiting!" With that, Ivy hung up. Charlotte slipped her phone away and leaned forward to speak to her driver, Shane Brown. "Shane, I won't be eating at home tonight. Take me to Clarke's Table." "Yes, Ms. Howard," Shane replied and started the car. Half an hour later, Charlotte met up with Ivy at the restaurant. They hadn't seen each other in two months. When she walked in, Ivy spotted her and came rushing over with arms wide open. "Char, you're finally here!" Ivy grinned mischievously and hooked a finger under Charlotte's chin. "Why do you keep getting prettier? Seriously, it's not fair. The universe gave you looks and talent. I'm so jealous I could scream." Charlotte kept a straight face and replied, "First of all, the looks are thanks to my parents. Second, the talent is a born gift." Ivy burst out laughing. "You narcissist!" Charlotte couldn't help but burst out laughing, too.