Chapter 5

That day, Derrick had also gone to the hospital for a full body check-up. Much like on previous occasions, the doctor respectfully advised him to relax and take his time to recuperate. Hearing the same words time and again annoyed Derrick immensely. Renard had barely wheeled Derrick out of the consultation room when a small figure abruptly ran into him. The young girl slowly raised her head, revealing a pair of beautiful eyes that were currently misty with tears. "Mister, could you please help me with something?" Derrick frowned as he observed the young girl before him. Her head had been shaved bald, her face was pale, and she was dressed in a patient's gown. Frowning, he was about to refuse, yet the words that left his lips were, "Sure. What do you need?" The young girl immediately shoved something into his chest. Subsequently, Derrick felt something soft and furry crawling over his hand. His eyes widened at the sensation, and he snapped his head down to look, barely managing to hold back his scream in time. It was a rat! He didn't dare move a muscle as he gazed down at the rat, who stared right back at him. The young girl smiled sweetly at him. "Mister, help me protect Tizzy, okay?" "Louisa! I just want to bring the rat home." Melanie came running over. When she spotted Derrick from afar, her voice gradually grew softer, as her heart clenched in her chest. She had to struggle to control the fear that instantly coursed through her. She honestly hadn't expected to run into him here at the hospital. She hastily jogged over to pull Louisa away and shot an apologetic look at Derrick. However, the moment she noticed the rat in his lap, she almost fainted on the spot. Back when she was memorizing his likes and dislikes, one thing stood out—he hated any living creature with fur. Recalling that fact, Melanie hurriedly reached out to grab the rat. Yet, it was a smart creature and immediately started scampering all over Derrick's body to avoid her hand. With no other choice, Melanie had to chase after it and grab it wherever it went. Derrick's thigh, abdomen, and chest—for every place that Melanie touched, Derrick stiffened just the slightest bit more. As her hand moved across his body, copping a feel here and there, her cheeks grew progressively redder. She wished that a hole would open up in the ground and swallow her whole. In her mind, she was screeching, "Tizzy, you sure know how to pick where you hide!" In the end, the exhausted Tizzy sprawled out on Derrick's lower abdomen. Not daring to blatantly make a grab for it there, she looked up at Derrick and smiled sheepishly at him. "Mr. Quinton, Tizzy is just an animal and doesn't know any better, so please don't mind it." Derrick scoffed, his expression darkening further as he growled through gritted teeth, "If you still don't take it away, I'll toss both you and the animal off the fifth floor." He had a fear of rats and thought they were absolutely disgusting. At that moment, it was as though he had been placed under a spell as he froze there, not daring to even move a muscle. When Louisa heard that, tears spilled down her cheeks like pearls from a broken string. She sobbed, "Mister, you're a bad man! You promised to help me…" Derrick didn't know what to say in response to that. Melanie quickly comforted the upset young girl. "Mr. Quinton is a good man, so he won't toss us." "Really?" "Yeah." "Why?" Louisa questioned, her expression one of curiosity. "Because he can't move." A pitying look appeared on Louisa's face before she walked over to Derrick and patted his leg. She also used that opportunity to pick up Tizzy and hold it close to her chest. "Mister, since you're so pitiful, I'll forgive you!" Derrick seethed, "Melanie York!" Melanie's lips twitched as she turned to Renard with a silent plea for help. Renard said to Derrick in a low tone, "Mr. Quinton, you still have work later in the afternoon. How about we head home first?" Derrick glared at him, but before he could say anything, Louisa took his hand. Looking down, Derrick noticed her hand was skeletal and so pale it was nearly translucent. He couldn't even see any blood vessels. It was an inexplicably heartbreaking sight. "Mister, my mommy made me chicken broth. Would you like to come eat with us?" Louisa blinked her large doe eyes adorably. However, Melanie tugged her away and said meaningfully, "Louisa, don't bother Mr. Quinton. He still has to work." Hearing that, Derrick knitted his brows together and responded icily, "You already got to grope me, so can't I even get some chicken broth in compensation?" Melanie flushed red. "...Of course you can… It's just that I'm worried your delicate stomach isn't used to such food…" Derrick gave her a smile that looked more like a baring of teeth. "Since you know I have a delicate stomach, how dare you still make me go hungry! Can you handle the consequences if I get gastric pain? Where's her room?" Unable to retort and not daring to either, Melanie had no choice but to lead him to Louisa's room. On their way there, Louisa chatted with Derrick while carrying Tizzy. "Mister, this is a fancy rat. It's really cute and affectionate. Won't you pet it?" Derrick stiffened, a cold look entering his eyes. "Mister, are you scared? "Mister, why can't you move? Is it because you're sick, like me? "Mister, are you the ridiculously handsome employer that Mommy speaks of?" Louisa's voice was sweet and soft as she chattered away. However, her last sentence had Melanie almost tripping over her own feet. Derrick glared at Melanie's back as he thought, "I was right! This crone is lusting after my body, yet she refuses to admit it to my face!" He called out, "Melanie, has your daughter always been this talkative?" Although Melanie didn't answer him verbally, in her mind, she retorted, "You're one to talk! She's exactly like you!" Beside him, Louisa let out a dainty scoff. "Mister, it's called being bubbly. Ever heard the word?" Derrick refused to sink to the level of arguing with a child. In no time at all, they arrived at Louisa's room. Melanie had always given it her all when it came to caring for Louisa. Naturally, this meant that she used only the best ingredients to cook Louisa's meal. That meant the food prepared that day was chicken broth, mashed potatoes, and applesauce. She had cooked quite a bit this time, so even with Derrick joining them, there would be enough to go around. Once Melanie had served them both, she settled down beside him. The sight of the two of them sitting together caused an inexplicable wave of bitterness to wash over her. Raymond had known all along that Louisa wasn't his, so he had always disliked her. He was cold toward her, oftentimes even speaking to her harshly. Despite being a "family", he had never had a meal at the same table as her. Nonetheless, Louisa was incredibly understanding and would always comfort Melanie. She would also do her best to please Raymond and apologize to him, despite not having done anything wrong. Oddly enough, she had never met Derrick before, yet she was exceptionally relaxed around him and showed no fear of him. Melanie wondered if this was the power of blood ties. Renard hadn't entered, so the task of feeding Derrick naturally fell upon Melanie. Yet, she had barely started when Louisa abruptly turned to the side and vomited everything she had just eaten, shocking Derrick. The young girl slumped over the table, her body trembling violently as she heaved. This position made the protrusions of her spine glaringly obvious, especially since she was practically skin and bones. Melanie hastily steadied Louisa while stroking her back soothingly. Clearly, this wasn't the first time this had happened, as Melanie's actions seemed practiced. Children weren't all that strong to begin with, so after emptying her stomach, Louisa was completely sapped of strength. She lay limply on the bed, looking almost lifeless. Nevertheless, it was vital that Louisa had some food in her, so Melanie poured a cup of applesauce and sat by the bed, slowly feeding her tiny mouthfuls and completely forgetting about Derrick. But then Louisa said, "Mommy, go look after that mister. I'm just a little tired and want to sleep." The more thoughtful and understanding she was, the more heartbroken and guilty Melanie felt. At that moment, Derrick called for Renard to come inside before saying, "We're heading back. Take good care of your daughter." "Thank you, Mr. Quinton." When she looked over, Derrick saw her red-rimmed eyes, and something stirred low in his abdomen. Damn it!