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Chapter 32
Chapter 32
The medicinal bath was ready. Howard, with an air of authority that brooked no argument, commanded, “Towel me off and help me get dressed.”
“Mr. Chadwick, are you wearing boxers?” Gwendolyn was laced with professional concern.
A snort of derision escaped Chadwick, “I’m your patient. Does it matter? Are you not going to help me up if I’m not?”
Gwendolyn found herself at a loss for words, clutching the towel as she moved to assist him out of the tub. Spotting the black fabric around his lower half, she silently breathed a sigh of
relief.
With a dedication that went beyond her duties, she cleaned his body, removing traces of the brown medicinal liquid, before wrapping him up in a cozy bathrobe.
“Mr. Chadwick, what are those red spots on your neck?” Gwendolyn asked, noticing the splotchy redness against his skin, worried about an allergic reaction.
A thin veil of annoyance rose within Chadwick, and he scoffed, “Just some bruising, it’s nothing
serious.*
Bruising, indeed. It was the mark left by Gwendolyn who had insisted on drinking, leading to the hickeys.
Gwendolyn nodded in understanding, “It looks minor and should fade in a couple of days.”
A burst of laughter echoed from the doorway.
There stood Nathan, leaning cool against the doorframe, clearly enjoying the show. He couldn’t help but grin. “Didn’t mean to rain on your parade,” he quipped.
“Mr. Thomas,” Gwendolyn greeted.
“Hey, Gwendolyn,” he responded with a casual nod.
Howard’s gaze turned icy, but Nathan raised the portfolio in his hand, “I’ve come to deliver some goods.”
“Hand it over.”
With a helpful demeanor, Nathan presented the portfolio, “I’ve finalized the selection for the auction. It’s got the pieces you were interested in.”
Recognizing they had serious matters to discuss, Gwendolyn excused herself, “I’ll go check on the herbal remedy in the kitchen.”
“No need to leave, we’re all family here,” Nathan chimed in.
Gwendolyn hesitated but stayed put.
Howard shot her a glance and commanded, “Come, take a look with us.”
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“Alright.” As Gwendolyn approached, she watched as his long fingers flipped through the auction catalog. Each item was extravagantly precious, far beyond her means. Suddenly, her eyes locked onto a particular piece, sparking a yearning within her.
She glanced at Chadwick, who casually set the catalog aside.
“Gwendolyn, I personally sought out these items for the auction as per Howard’s instructions,” Nathan said with a teasing smile.
Gwendolyn couldn’t be sure of her suspicions.
“Enough chit–chat, is there anything else?” Howard’s impatience was evident and he clearly didn’t want to dwell on the auction.
Nathan straightened up, his tone becoming more serious, “Bainbridge and Vivien are an item now, flaunting it. They’ll be at the auction too.”
“Birds of a feather,” Howard remarked sarcastically.
Gwendolyn stole a glance at him. Vivien was once his fiancée, and the circumstances of their split must have been humiliating for Howard.
“Bainbridge is just looking for an excuse to showboat, especially with the upcoming
groundbreaking event,” Nathan explained. The Utopia Skylines Project had been transferred to Bainbridge and he wanted to make a splash at the inaugural event, inviting all the elites to witness his glory.
Nathan snickered, “It’ll be hilarious if he ends up shooting himself in the foot. Let him fumble if he wants to make an impression. Howard, did you have any devious plans for the auction?”
Amid the conversation, Gwendolyn’s phone buzzed insistently in her pocket. Both men turned to look at her.
She pulled out her phone, checked the caller ID, and her expression darkened. “Mr. Chadwick, I need to take this call outside.”
Howard narrowed his eyes. Was it that Scott again? Had he missed a contact to block?
Nathan nudged Howard playfully, whispering mischievously, “So how wild was last night? Come on, Howard, spill the beans.”