Dear sweetheart novel (Rayna and Julian) novel Chapter 724

“I don't know,” Cassidy said softly as her thoughtful gaze fell on the open window diagonally across from them.

Rayna did not see Cassidy at dinner that night, so she asked Yasmin, who had just arrived down the stairs. “Where's Cassidy?”

“Ms. Cassidy said she's not hungry, so she's not eating.” Yasmin arrived at the table and stood beside Rayna, who had yet to take her seat.

“Is she unwell?” Rayna grew worried at Yasmin's report. She was about to head upstairs when she saw Curtis emerge from the kitchen.

“Why aren't you eating? Didn't you say you were hungry?” Curtis undid his rolled-up sleeves as he walked toward Rayna.

“Cassidy is not joining us,” Rayna explained.

Curtis turned to Yasmin, who was already seated at the dining table. “Did Yasmin tell you that?”

“Mmm.” Rayna nodded. She tugged his sleeve when she saw the cold glint in his eyes. “Don't frighten the child.”

Curtis lowered his gaze, which twinkled with amusement. “I was just going to ask.”

“Not you.” Rayna kept a firm grip on Curtis. “You'll scare her with your deadpan scowl.”

“Have Yasmin summon her, not you.” Curtis wrenched himself free of Rayna's grip. He walked to the dining table and was about to pull out a chair for her when he saw her turning to leave.

Curtis grabbed her swiftly. “Eat. The food's getting cold.”

James, who was already seated, turned to glance at Yasmin. “Where's Ms. Cassidy?”

“She's upstairs, and she says she's not hungry,” Yasmin explained while waving her fork before turning to Rayna. “Don't go, Ms. Belle. Ms. Cassidy will come down when she feels hungry.”

“Did you hear that? Eat.” Curtis pulled Rayna over, pressed her down onto the chair, and placed the fork in her hand. “Try these ribs.”

Rayna gazed at the ribs on the serving platter, gulped at the scent, and took a bite. “It's delicious. You're getting better at cooking.”

Despite not cooking over the past two days, Rayna noticed a marked improvement in Curtis' dishes.

“Have some more if you enjoy it.” Curtis sat beside Rayna. Upon hearing her praise, his heart leaped with joy.

One of the best moments of the day was when Rayna finally regained her sight.

During their meals over the past few days, he was worried that she would eat lesser when she could not see and, as a result, grow emaciated.

The initial tenseness in his heart gave way as he watched her dine with her usual voraciousness.

Rayna went upstairs after dinner, deciding to drop by Cassidy's bedroom for a chat. Ultimately, she decided against disturbing the latter when she arrived at the door and returned to her own bedroom instead.

Upon entering her bedroom, she found the balcony light turned on. Wondering if she had left it on, she decided to turn it off as she was not going out there.

Arriving at the balcony door, she noticed a red fruit on the ground. It looked just like the one the child who looked like Yasmin had offered to her that afternoon.

Rayna bent down and picked it up. As she weighed it in her hand, Cassidy's voice sounded behind her, “Where did you get that from?”

Turning around, Rayna found Cassidy approaching her. Before she could process what was happening, the latter took the red fruit from her.

“This is what the child brought earlier today,” Rayna explained as she gazed at the fruit in Cassidy's hand.

“She gave this to you?” Cassidy asked.

Rayna nodded. “I think so. I thought she was Yasmin, so I made some small talk. She said this is for me.”

Suddenly, Cassidy crushed the fruit in her hand. The red juice seeped through her fingers.

Rayna turned her confused gaze from the red juice on Cassidy's hand to her face. “What's wrong with this fruit?”

“This isn't fruit.” Cassidy threw the squashed remnants into a bin before grabbing a piece of tissue from the marble table to wipe her hand. “This is a drug.”

Rayna froze. “A drug? Are you sure it isn't a fruit?”

It does look especially like a peach.

Cassidy threw the tissue in her hand and glanced at Rayna before turning her attention back to the river across them. “This is a drug. It just looks exactly like a fruit.”

Rayna was nonplussed. “Why would that child deliver a drug to me?”

“That is a question I cannot answer.” Cassidy turned to regard Rayna. “Having come once before, that child might return a second time.”

“She differs from Yasmin by how her left ear protrudes at this place. If you happen to see her, pay attention to her left ear,” Cassidy added as she indicated her own. “Aside from Curtis and me, maybe including your people, never touch or consume anything given by anybody else. This includes Yasmin.”

Rayna stood beside Cassidy as they gazed at the flow of the river. “Got it.”

“I've given you enough medicine for two weeks. Take them on time when you return,” instructed Cassidy as she produced a silver cicada from her pocket. “Keep this with you.”

Rayna took it. There was a length of string attached to it, which she surmised went around her neck.

“Remember to touch the edge of the bowl with this silver cicada when you take the medicine. If you find anything unusual, don't consume the medication,” she said softly.

Rayna stared at Cassidy. Though she was confused, she nevertheless promised, “I will remember that.”

“By the way, how goes the matter of the cook?” Rayna could not help being worried about Cassidy's living conditions.

I'm afraid they'll exact vengeance on Cassidy when we leave.

“Hasn't your man made arrangements to investigate it? I'm sure he will inform you if he finds anything,” Cassidy said as she leaned on the balcony railing. “It's how things go in small places like this. When some big shot comes in with some capital, everybody here will grab the opportunity to earn themselves their fortune. Though it seemed they had struck gold, the investors would have made even more money by exploiting the local resources.”

Rayna heard the implicit meaning behind Cassidy's words, but she barely understood them and did not know what Cassidy was referring to.

“Didn't you once say that the cook is a high achiever?” Rayna recalled Cassidy mentioning it once when she was describing the cook's background.

“That's right.” Cassidy remembered what she had told Rayna before adding, “The world is changing. Girls going to school is no longer about getting a good job and improving their lives but also about taking shortcuts. Sometimes, their resumé becomes a stepping stone.”