Back in the hospital room, Linda had just finished eating. She had lost quite a bit of weight over the past few days. "Where did you two go?"
Mikayla's face showed her annoyance. "Ran into Cassius."
Linda's eyes darted between them, imagining a melodramatic love triangle. She let out a dramatic "Wow" directed at Mikayla.
Mikayla lightly patted her on the back, making Linda feign pain. "Ouch, you're bullying a patient!"
"Stop pretending. I didn't even hit you that hard." She angrily tidied up the bowls and spoons. "I'll come to see you again tomorrow evening."
After saying goodbye to Linda, Mikayla and Cayden walked through the hospital's small garden. The midday sun was a bit harsh, making her squint. The cicadas were noisy in the trees, and the bougainvillea by the wall was in full bloom, with purple leaves and flowers intertwined. A gentle breeze made the branches sway, their vibrant clusters of red flowers hanging beautifully.
"Summer is almost here…"
"Yeah."
Mikayla turned to look at Cayden. He was wearing a loose black shirt over a T-shirt today, which made him look younger than usual.
"Don't you… have anything you want to ask me?"
Cayden gazed into her bright almond-shaped eyes and shook his head slightly. "When you're ready to tell me, I will naturally know."
Mikayla opened her mouth, wanting to say something but not knowing how. "Alright then."
Cayden took her hand at that moment. His palm was dry and warm, and Mikayla looked at him, puzzled.
"Can't I hold my wife's hand?"
Oh, still a little jealous, huh? Mikayla turned her head but didn't refuse, letting him lead her forward. When they reached the hospital entrance, she pointed to a small cart at the corner of the street. "I want some pineapple."
"Let's go buy some."
That night, Mikayla lay comfortably on her soft bed after a shower, chatting idly with Linda.
"My dear, what did that jerk say to you this morning?"
"He said he wants to pursue me again…"
"What!!! He must be crazy!" Linda was more emotional than Mikayla herself. "I'm telling you, you can't choose him. After observing for these past few days, I think Cayden is eight hundred times better than him!"
"…My dear linda, I'm already married. How could I possibly reconcile with Cassius?"
"No way, no way. Swear to me, you will never get back together with Cassius!"
Mikayla sighed, "I'd rather reconcile with a dog than with him."
"This time, I'm rooting for Cayden. He's handsome, rich, and so considerate of you. I'm officially a fan of your pairing now."
Mikayla laughed, "Did he pay you to say that?"
"I'm such an upright and selfless person. How could I do such a thing?"
After their banter, Mikayla was about to fall asleep when her phone buzzed with a friend request notification. The message read only "Mikayla."
Just then, Cayden finished his work in the study and came into the bedroom. Lately, he had been so busy that he only got to bed after Mikayla was already asleep, and they hadn't been intimate for a while.
Mikayla quickly turned off her phone out of guilt. Cayden grabbed his pajamas, getting ready for a shower. He looked at her in slight surprise, "Still awake?"
"Yeah." "Yeah." She buried her face in the quilt, her bright eyes peeking out at him.
He walked over and patted her head, "Wait for me to sleep together."
Watching Cayden walk to the bathroom, Mikayla took out her phone again.
"Mikayla."
"Please add me back."
"Please..."
"I have something very important to tell you."
One after another, the messages popped up, annoying Mikayla. She replied in the friend verification box, "If it's important, you can say it here."
"Please, please, add me."
Why is he still so shameless? Without hesitation, Mikayla blocked this account as well. She looked at the stars outside the window and fell asleep unknowingly.
It was like returning to that midsummer rainstorm, where she stood under an umbrella outside the cold iron gate, waiting for someone who would never come back.
When Cayden returned, Mikayla was already asleep. He carefully lifted the quilt and lay down beside her, holding her as he drifted into dreams.
He would protect all her dreams.
