CHAPTER 5: CHAPTER 5: THIS MISERABLE?

Paige Sterling suspiciously opened the report, which was filled with ample evidence, while the diagnostic conclusion was: due to severe bites, the patient developed a physical allergy and psychological shadow, resulting in contact disorder.

There was a doctor’s signature below.

Being bitten innocently, and even developed a disorder from it.

If the culprit wasn’t herself, Paige Sterling would feel that the person who did it was utterly despicable.

She was afraid of provoking Julian Hawthorne, so she lightened her tone and cautiously asked, "You really... have a contact disorder?"

The man’s gaze lowered, his long eyelashes casting a shadow, his lips slightly pursed, exuding just the right amount of allure.

Sunshine streamed through the window, landing on him, making him appear shrouded in a layer of melancholy.

His silence felt as if the pain was too intense for him to bring up again.

The room fell silent until a nurse doing rounds pushed the door open and entered.

Paige Sterling pulled the nurse over to Julian Hawthorne, "Go ahead and touch him."

The nurse blushed, "Isn’t this inappropriate?"

But seeing that Julian Hawthorne did not object, the nurse still greedily touched Julian Hawthorne’s hand, and as she touched, she couldn’t bear to let go.

Julian Hawthorne, however, suddenly flung the nurse’s hand away, raising his eyes.

His eyes turned completely crimson, with his pupils even darker and deeper, scaring the nurse into a scream and running out.

Paige Sterling stared blankly at Julian Hawthorne.

He really has an allergy?!

She had never seen such a strange allergy.

After a while, Julian Hawthorne’s eyes returned to normal.

Paige Sterling couldn’t help but also gave his hand a touch.

Yet Julian Hawthorne’s eyes did not change color.

"How come you didn’t react when I touched you?"

Julian Hawthorne’s face was icy, "Ask the doctor."

The doctor, who had appeared at some point, coughed upon hearing this.

"Miss Sterling, it’s like this, Mr. Hawthorne’s condition is inexplicable by current medical science, but Mr. Hawthorne is now allergic to human touch; when allergic, his eyes become bloodshot. If this persists, it will not only affect Mr. Hawthorne’s vision and social interactions, but also cause more serious psychological barriers for Mr. Hawthorne."

Seeing Paige Sterling’s incredulous expression, the doctor also lightly touched Julian Hawthorne’s hand.

Yet Julian Hawthorne’s reaction was quite apparent; his just calmed eyes turned red again.

Julian Hawthorne’s allergy was a fact, but the fact that he’s not allergic to her was also undeniable, and Paige Sterling could no longer deny it.

She pulled a grim face in admission of her fault.

"It’s my fault, I apologize to you deeply, I will surely hire the best doctor to cure you."

Julian Hawthorne’s corners of the mouth twitched, seeming sarcastic, as if he harbored great doubts regarding her character.

The doctor beside him spoke again, "Miss Sterling, frankly, Mr. Hawthorne’s ailment, regardless of how good a doctor you find, is futile, unless..."

Paige Sterling instinctively asked, "Unless what?"

"The bell needs to be unraveled by the one who tied it. It’s you who caused Mr. Hawthorne to become like this, and Mr. Hawthorne is only unaffected by you, so it may require your cooperation in his treatment, to uncover the cause in order to prescribe the right remedy."

Paige Sterling squinted her eyes, sensitive to the scent of a conspiracy, thus she stared at Julian Hawthorne without speaking.

Julian Hawthorne coldly glanced at her, "Miss Sterling, aren’t you willing to take responsibility?"

Paige Sterling asked, "If I don’t take responsibility, what will you do?"

Julian Hawthorne still gazed at Paige Sterling, "Then I have no choice but to discuss this with your father, Chairman of VastReach Group."

He came well-prepared, even digging out her identity.

"Are you threatening me, sir?"

Julian Hawthorne did not respond directly, changing the subject instead, "I am the Hawthorne family’s sole son, responsible for continuing the family line."

Being unable to have physical contact with others is indeed equivalent to ending the family line.

This is a cruel blow for a man.

Given that Julian Hawthorne was made like this and can still remain calm is already quite remarkable.

Paige Sterling, accustomed to being cold-hearted, felt guilty for having doubted Julian Hawthorne just now.

"I sincerely apologize, you can be assured, it’s my responsibility, I will definitely not evade it, I will be responsible for your illness."

Julian Hawthorne took a document from the bedside table and handed it to Paige Sterling.

"Then let’s sign the contract."

Paige Sterling, "...", even a contract was ready?

Julian Hawthorne’s reasoning was quite convincing, "Miss Sterling and I are not acquainted; signing a contract, in black and white, helps avoid unnecessary entanglement later."

These words do make sense.

Paige Sterling looked over the terms, and there was nothing unreasonable, quite fair.

She swiftly signed her name.

Julian Hawthorne took the document and signed his name as well.

Paige Sterling watched his hands, knuckles distinct and fair and slim, and she could feel the stroke of luck emanating from the pen he gripped.

Such beautiful hands used for signing papers are really a waste. If only they were used for clutching bedsheets...

Wait, what name did this damned man sign?

Julian Hawthorne? Isn’t that the name of one of the top three business moguls in the country, the head of Hawthorne Group??

The person reputedly comparable to her dad, Julian Hawthorne?

The wealthy man rumored to have sponsored her in the gossip columns of past lives?

And this mysterious mogul who rarely appears in public is actually a fanatical admirer of her?

Paige Sterling felt somewhat buoyant.

Julian Hawthorne, after signing, put away the contract, and the doctor wore a smile.

"From now on, Miss Sterling you need to wholeheartedly cooperate in Mr. Hawthorne’s treatment, helping him free from psychological shadows and allergy symptoms; the contract terminates once Mr. Hawthorne recovers."

Saying this, the doctor exited the room.

As Paige Sterling snapped back to reality, she heard Julian Hawthorne naturally instructing her.

"I would like to go for a walk now, please help me change clothes, Miss Sterling," he moved his arms slightly, illustrating that any movement would tug at the wounds on his face.

Paige Sterling looked at his pristine white shirt, not speaking.

Julian Hawthorne said nothing as well, merely raised the contract, looking at Paige Sterling.

Paige Sterling suddenly felt as though she was being extorted, staring at Julian Hawthorne for several moments,

"Mr. Hawthorne, are you trying to take advantage of me?"

Julian Hawthorne maintained a business-like tone, "Miss Sterling, you must know, the man you’ve persecuted to this extent is the chairman of Hawthorne Group. Not pursuing legal action against you is already considering Chairman Sterling’s position, and you bite back, is this your principle of conduct?"

So was she taking advantage instead?

Paige Sterling’s doubts still lingered, "You don’t seem to be the sole successor of The Hawthorne Family, right? The matter of continuing the family line..."

Julian Hawthorne’s expression remained unchanged, "My brother was born incapable."

Paige Sterling, "...!"

Are The Hawthorne brothers all so unfortunate?

"Miss Sterling, now is the time to change my clothes," Julian Hawthorne reminded.

Paige Sterling watched Julian Hawthorne for a while, responded with an ’oh’, and rudely grabbed his shirt collar, yanking it open, buttons scattered on the floor, making a clear sound.