The man's familiar scent wafting into Avery's nostrils made her feel safe. As she wrapped her arms around his neck, the scent of his refreshing cologne helped to quash her fears.
Although Avery didn't feel this way earlier, seeing Cayden show up suddenly caused all her grievances to pour out of her heart like a broken dam.
“Cayden...” she murmured.
Cayden held her tightly as he took a seat on a bench, allowing her to sit on his lap.
There was a look of pain in his eyes as he glanced at the marks on her neck.
At the same time, his ebony eyes were filled with frustration and wrath.
Avery subconsciously covered the marks with her hand, not wanting him to see how hideous they looked.
Yet, Cayden leaned closer, tucked her hair behind her ears, and held her by the chin.
“I leave you alone for one second, and you end up getting hurt like this. How am I ever going to feel safe letting you go out on your own?”
Avery let him hug her as he pleased.
With her ear pressed against his warm chest, she could hear his heart beating wildly.
Cayden was calm and collected by nature.
Yet, from his heart rate, it was obvious how distressed he now was.
“That cat suddenly went berserk and tried to attack Rory, so I jumped in without a second thought. I just find it really weird. The cat was so well-behaved when we ate together. Why did it suddenly lose its mind like that?” The more Avery thought about it, the more perplexed she became.
Cayden caressed her head. “Don't worry. I'll be sure to look into this.”
His eyes flashed coldly as he glanced at the dying feline.
There's no way it would've gone mad without any reason. Someone must've drugged it.
Meanwhile, Jacob was in the midst of soothing Zachary and Rory.
He clearly had more experience dealing with children compared to Cayden.
After all, the little imp of his back home feared no one else but him. Having engaged in countless battles of “wits and courage” with his son all these years, Jacob now had his own way of pacifying children.
Besides, Zachary and Rory were such good-natured kids that it didn't take him much effort to make them laugh again.
Stephanie gazed at the children with guilt before turning to her pet on the ground.
With anguish washing over her, she knelt before the creature and picked up its stiffening body.
Beads of tears trickled down her cheeks and onto the cat's fur.
Then, she looked up and froze for a brief moment after inadvertently making eye contact with Jacob. The man looked especially charming due to his tall and thin stature. Not only that, but the black shirt he wore fit him so well that there was an indescribable model-like elegance to him.
The fine diamonds on his cuffs sparkled.
Stephanie's heart skipped a beat as she met his eyes, for she realized that he seemed to be scrutinizing her too.
Curiosity flashed in Jacob's eyes.
Clad in a blue attendant's uniform and with her hair tied neatly, the woman looked remarkably beautiful.
She had clear, silky skin, and those eyes of hers could captivate anyone who looked into them. The tears brimming on the corners of those doe-like eyes that threatened to spill at any moment made her look all the more ethereal.
Stephanie felt slightly uncomfortable being stared at like that.
She didn't understand the way Jacob looked at her, but one thing she was certain of was that he made her feel anxious and afraid.
Her instincts told her that this man was extremely dangerous.
Turning away awkwardly to avoid his gaze, she desperately wanted to take her beloved cat to the veterinarian.
Unfortunately, she couldn't leave until this incident had been addressed. She didn't even know what compensation Avery would seek.
Meanwhile, Xander rushed over immediately after hearing the news. He looked a tad weary while holding half a cigarette.
Behind him was a middle-aged composed-looking doctor in a white robe carrying a medical kit, along with two high-level managers who were sweating profusely.
Azure Royal was popular not only because of its unparalleled ambiance, but it was also due to its exceptional service. For instance, the clubhouse provided a skilled personal doctor in the event that calamity struck any of its guests.
Xander stubbed out his cigarette before walking toward Cayden and Avery.
“I'm terribly sorry, Avery,” said the man who had a face that looked prettier than the average woman's. “I never expected something like this to happen here, and I take full responsibility. I'll be sure to make it up to you. Dr. Wilkinson, please take a look at her injuries.”
“Don't worry about it. It was just an accident. I'm fine as long as the kids are.” Avery smiled at Xander kindly, not paying much heed to her wounds.
Avery was a natural beauty especially when she smiled, and a mere curl of her red lips was capable of sending ripples across one's heart.
It was only then that Xander understood why Cayden—a lonesome man who never gave any woman the time of day—had fallen for Avery.
A distinctive and kind woman like her was exactly what men like them needed in their cold, extravagant lives. She looked like the most picturesque view with her radiant smile. In fact, Xander believed that he, too, would have fallen for her if she weren't already taken.
The doctor walked up to Avery and began to examine her wounds.
He inhaled sharply at the sight of the deep claw marks. “These are some pretty serious cuts, miss. You'll need to get vaccinated or else you might contract cat scratch disease. It's where your lymph nodes become infected and you start getting tiny bumps or cysts around your wounds—”
“Well, what are you waiting for? Give her the jab right now!” Cayden interrupted before the doctor could finish his sentence.
A chill ran down the middle-aged man's spine as he noticed the rage in the former's eyes.
Yet, whenever Cayden turned to the woman in his arms, there was nothing but tenderness and affection in his gaze. The stark contrast was all too blinding.
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