Chapter 55: Take Care of Him
Vivian Lowell recognized the person in the photo.
She had just seen her last night in Grandma Faulkner’s room; it was Julian Faulkner’s mother.
However, in this photo from Julian’s medicine box, Julian’s mother looked noticeably younger. Additionally, there had originally been someone else standing next to her in the picture.
Julian’s mother and that person must have been holding hands when the photo was taken.
But that half had been torn off.
The photo, which originally featured two people, had been forcefully torn down the middle, leaving only Julian’s mother.
Looking at the torn edge and the yellowed corners, Vivian figured the photo had been ripped a long time ago.
"Why was it torn?" she wondered.
It didn’t look like an accident.
The background of the photo was Disney. Vivian couldn’t tell if it was the one in Althea or abroad.
Inside the medicine box, there was also a compartment meant for candy, labeled "White Rabbit milk candies." However, it was completely empty.
"How strange!" she thought.
"Did you find it?" Julian’s voice soon called out from the sofa.
He didn’t seem to realize she had seen the photo. Vivian slipped it back into its original place, closed the medicine box, and walked over to him with the fever reducer.
"Here." Vivian handed the medication to Julian and poured him a glass of water.
Since he was lying down, it was awkward to take the pills, but he lacked the strength to sit up on his own. Vivian had to gently support his weight to help him up.
"Careful," she said.
The moment Vivian’s hands touched his shoulders, she flinched from the heat.
He was burning up!
The scorching temperature made her slightly uncomfortable. As her heart fluttered, Julian’s head tilted toward her. His hair brushed against her neck, tickling her.
"Hey, sit up straight," she urged.
Unaccustomed to such close physical contact with Julian, Vivian quickly got him seated upright on the sofa and fetched him a throw pillow.
"Take your medicine first," she prompted.
Julian didn’t stall. He took the pills with a sip of water and swallowed them down.
After taking the medicine, he leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes to rest. Driven by curiosity, Vivian asked, "Julian, your medicine box looks so unique!
"It’s definitely different from the generic stuff I buy online!"
"..."
Hearing Vivian mention it, Julian opened his eyes to look at her and explained, "That medicine box belonged to my mother. She had it custom-made when I was little."
Julian suddenly recalled memories from his childhood.
He had a strong constitution as a kid, but on the rare occasions he did get sick, his mother would prepare all his medication in advance and store it in that box. She would label small plastic baggies with Velcro tags and give them to him to take to school.
Afraid that he would find the medicine too bitter, she always slipped two White Rabbit milk candies inside.
Julian used to complain that the candies were too sweet, but his mother had always loved their flavor.
Later—
His mother passed away. Julian kept her medicine box, but the candies she had bought eventually expired. He couldn’t bear to throw them away at first, but they soon spoiled entirely. Left with no choice, he was forced to toss them out.
He actually tried buying White Rabbit milk candies himself later on, but they somehow never tasted the same as the ones his mother used to buy.
After that, he stopped buying them altogether.
The compartment in the box meant for the candies remained empty ever since.
"Oh, so your mother prepared it for you!"
Unaware of the heavy history behind it, Vivian noticed Julian’s somber expression and playfully ruffled his hair, putting on a big-sister persona.
"It’s okay, don’t be sad! Julian, even though you don’t have milk candies anymore, you have me! It’s not bitter, just be a good boy and take your meds!"
Julian fought the urge to roll his eyes at her.
What kind of nonsensical gibberish was that?
However, just as the thought crossed his mind, he realized Vivian was looking at him with an incredibly gentle gaze—one that strikingly resembled the look he used to see in his mother’s eyes. It was that unique, inherently feminine look of tender affection, full of a desire to nurture and protect.
Julian fell silent.
Whatever.
It was just a fever reducer. It wasn’t even bitter to begin with, so there was nothing to be afraid of.
The medication made Julian drowsy again, so Vivian helped him back to his room to sleep before heading downstairs to cook him a meal.
A sick person needed light but nutritious food!
As she descended the stairs, her mind wandered back to the torn photograph. Since Julian hadn’t mentioned it himself, she didn’t want to pry.
Regardless of why the photo was ripped, the fact that whoever tore it hadn’t taped it back together meant they didn’t want to. There was definitely a painful story behind it.
It was best not to ask.
Julian was already sick; digging up unpleasant memories wouldn’t do him any good.
On the first floor.
The moment Vivian reached the bottom of the stairs, Grandma Faulkner, who was watching TV on the sofa, immediately looked over. "I heard from Shaw that Julian is sick? How is he? Is it serious?
"Should we call the private doctor?"
Grandma Faulkner was clearly worried.
Earlier, Vivian had actually wanted to ask Ms. Shaw to summon Julian’s private doctor, but since Julian refused, she hadn’t insisted.
Hearing Grandma Faulkner’s concern, Vivian replied, "He still has a bit of energy. He took some fever medication and went back to sleep.
"I took his temperature just now. It’s thirty-eight degrees Celsius, so it’s not a dangerously high fever. If the medicine works, he should be fine in a little while. If the fever persists, then we can call the private doctor over.
"Don’t worry, Grandma. He’s always had a strong immune system. He should be fine."
Grandma Faulkner felt much more at ease upon hearing this. Looking at Vivian, she asked, "Are you going back up to take care of him, then?"
"Mhm!" Vivian nodded. "I want to make him something to eat. Since he’s sick, he shouldn’t have anything too greasy, but it can’t be too bland either. I want to cook something specially for him!"
Grandma Faulkner was deeply gratified by her response. She smiled and said, "Alright, go on then, but don’t tire yourself out. It must be hard work taking care of Julian and cooking for him!"
"It’s no trouble at all!" Vivian waved her hand dismissively.
"After all," she thought, "Julian gave me five million to start my company. That practically makes him my investor!"
As the investee, it was absolutely necessary to properly repay her investor through small acts of service like this! She would just consider it as paying off the interest!
With that in mind, Vivian headed into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and got to work.
Ms. Shaw came over to lend a hand, offering to help with minor prep work like chopping vegetables and gathering ingredients to lighten Vivian’s load.
Vivian didn’t refuse.
She knew that Ms. Shaw was a deeply responsible person whose genuine desire was to care for the family. Naturally, she wanted to pitch in.
Not long after they started bustling about in the kitchen, the sound of the front door opening drifted in.
Rachel Faulkner bustled in from outside. The moment she entered the house, she asked frantically, "Grandma, I heard Julian is sick? How is he? How did he suddenly fall ill when he was perfectly fine before?
"I brought a doctor with me. Let Dr. Miller take a look at him!"