Kiss Me if You Can Novel Completed - Chapter 73

“You’re going to pick up his medicine?”

Josh asked back at Laura’s words, spoken in the middle of filming. Was Chase still unable to manage without his medicine? Curious, he suddenly realized he hadn’t seen Chase take his medicine recently. If so, there should be quite a bit of medicine left; couldn’t she pick it up later? Josh thought, but Laura, unaware of the situation, nodded.

“Yes, it’s almost time for him to run out. Would you mind giving me a ride, if it’s okay? My car has a flat tire.”

Laura smiled apologetically. It was a kindness he could easily offer, but the problem was Chase. Josh could easily imagine Chase misunderstanding and getting jealous if he went out alone with Laura, so he quickly put on his usual smile.

“How about I just go by myself instead?” 

“What? Would that be alright?”

Laura asked, surprised. Josh nodded, saying, “Yes.”

“I just need to pick up the medicine, right? Then I think I can go by myself.”

He also wanted to ask about reducing the medication dosage, if possible. He still couldn’t fully trust that doctor, Steward, but what other choice was there? Unaware of his thoughts, Laura brightened and said,

“Of course I’d be grateful if you did that… Honestly, I’ve been so preoccupied with a troublesome matter lately.”

Josh looked at her, puzzled, as she frowned and pressed her forehead as if she had a headache.

“What… Is it something related to Mr. Miller?”

Was it about the schedule? Josh guessed, but he was wrong. Laura shook her head and complained in a tired voice.

“We’ve been sued. Um, you remember when Mr. Miller caused trouble again last time, right?”

Josh had to quickly search his memory. It wasn’t just one or two incidents that came to mind. Fortunately, Laura provided the answer first.

“You know, the incident where he bit the other actor’s tongue… Fortunately, the surgery went well, but they say it’ll take a few months to fully recover. During that time, they’re demanding compensation for treatment and damages. They say they’ll sue if we don’t comply.”

Laura continued to complain.

“So I contacted Nathaniel Miller, and he said he was too busy right now to deal with this trial and told us to just give them whatever they asked for and end it… It must be because of that loud murder case he’s involved in right now. He just hung up the phone in less than five minutes. I was flustered, so I contacted Grayson Miller.”

Somehow, Josh already knew what she was going to say next. Laura added, with a sigh in between.

“He said, ‘What can I do if the lawyer won’t defend him?’ and told me to just give them whatever they asked for because it was annoying. Whatever they demanded.”

Just as he expected. As Josh felt a complicated mix of emotions, Laura continued.

“I couldn’t believe it, so I told him the amount they wanted, and he got annoyed… and said it would cost more than Nathaniel Miller’s retainer fee. Which is true. But still, to say it so easily… And the film company is also demanding compensation because production was delayed, and he said to just give them whatever they asked for that too.”

“Good heavens,” Laura sighed again. Laura had always handled things professionally for them, but when she suddenly felt the wall of reality like this, she would deeply ponder what life was all about. Haah, she sighed and mumbled.

“I’ll probably never know what the lives of rich people like them are like.”

Josh replied casually.

“Don’t worry, they’ll never know what our lives are like either.” 

“That’s true.”

Laura burst out laughing. Josh also looked down at her with a smile on his lips. After laughing, as if the tension had eased, Laura spoke with a much lighter expression.

“Then I’ll leave it to you, Josh. I’ll call Steward.” 

“Yes, understood.”

After a brief greeting, Josh checked the time. Seth was going to be on set in the afternoon, so he figured he could go and come back during that time. He also needed to ask about the medicine. He shouldn’t stop the medicine abruptly, but it would be fine to consult about reducing it. Considering the trouble Chase caused by overdosing before, it was a matter worth considering. Josh calculated the time in his head and pondered how to speak to Steward.

As soon as there was a short break, Chase immediately looked around for someone. Laura, who quickly approached to check on his condition, asked, puzzled.

“Do you need anything?”

Chase’s gaze then turned to her. His unpleasantly furrowed brow gave her a bad feeling. Laura watched him nervously, feeling uneasy.

“No, nothing.”

Fortunately, Chase spoke dismissively and turned his head away. Laura visibly sighed and quickly spoke.

“It’s almost time for your medicine to run out, isn’t it? If you have any discomfort, please tell me. Josh is going to pick up your medicine today.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Chase’s gaze turned back to her. Startled, Laura heard Chase speak.

“Joshua?” 

“…? Yes, I was supposed to go, but my tire went flat. I asked him to give me a ride, but he said he’d go by himself.”

There was no need to tell him all this, Laura belatedly realized, but she had already spilled everything. The good thing was that Chase’s expression softened a little after hearing the story. Laura didn’t miss the opportunity and continued.

“How was the medicine changed? Was there any discomfort? Should I ask for the same one again?”

The answer to her rapid-fire questions was disappointingly short.

“Do as you please.” 

“Ah, yes…”

Laura’s voice trailed off in embarrassment. During the 30-minute break, Chase usually checked his makeup or costume for the next scene, but today, there wasn’t much to touch up, so he had a lot of time left. He sat in the prepared chair and pulled out a cigarette, putting it in his mouth. The sight of him slowly inhaling the smoke was always breathtakingly beautiful, instantly captivating her gaze. Even after hearing all sorts of harsh words from him and seeing him at his worst, at times like this, Laura would forget everything and stare at him spellbound. Hoo, Chase exhaled a long stream of smoke. His pale cheeks were completely devoid of color. His gaze, staring blankly into the distance, looked so empty, as if he might disappear at any moment. Laura always wondered why Chase Miller had such empty eyes. Wasn’t he a man who had everything—wealth, fame, and good looks? Again, unable to find an answer, she just watched him when Chase spoke.

“I need to ask the head of the security team something. Tell him to come here.” 

“Understood.”

Laura quickly turned and made a call. Suddenly, she saw Naomi walking towards them. Soon, the dial tone sounded, and Laura quickly conveyed the message to Mark.

“Chase, can you spare a cigarette?”

Naomi, who had approached readily, asked. Chase silently took out a metal case from inside his suit jacket and offered it.

“Thanks, I just ran out, you know?”

Naomi smiled brightly, took one out, put it in her mouth, and returned the case.

“Something on your mind?”

Chase looked up at Naomi’s question, exhaling smoke. Naomi smiled at Chase, who was looking at her with a frown.

“You look down.” 

“Mind your own business.” 

“I’d like to, but if your condition isn’t good, it affects me too. It’s a relief if it’s nothing serious.”

Chase fell silent again. Naomi glanced at him and then subtly broached the subject.

“Is it perhaps about what you mentioned last time? That someone with a partner slept with you?”

Suddenly, Chase’s head snapped up. It was clear his true feelings had been exposed, but he didn’t seem to try to hide them. Naomi, inwardly flinching at Chase’s gaze, which glared at her with a pale face, nonchalantly put the cigarette in her mouth.

“It’s not a difficult guess, is it? Still, it’s surprising. To make someone from the Miller family a two-timer, whoever it is, they must be amazing.”

Naomi laughed, as if amused. Chase said nothing and turned his head. Naomi looked down at him, smoking with a serious frown, and spoke.

“Is he married?” 

“Shut up.”

 “Must be.” “…”

Chase inhaled the smoke nervously, one puff after another, and then exhaled roughly.

“He has a child, but he’s not married. …Probably.”

The last part was added without confidence. Naomi felt a strange sensation watching him nervously run his hand through his hair. Though brothers, Grayson and Chase were too different. It was almost unfair to Chase to compare him to that playboy who always smiled and got on people’s nerves. At least this one was more human. Grayson, come to think of it, even his smile seemed fake. Naomi inhaled the cigarette smoke with a frown. Chase’s crown came into view. It wasn’t a common experience to see the top of a man over six feet tall. His thick, abundant hair somehow looked cute. Oh my, I must be crazy. Surprised at herself, Naomi spoke.

“Propose to him.”

Suddenly, Chase’s head shot up. Naomi flinched but continued as if nothing had happened.

“You’ll find out if he’s married or not if you do.” 

“What if he’s married but pretends not to be?”

“Oh?” Naomi blinked. “You’re quite sharp.” She smiled, her eyes narrowing.

“If he has feelings for you, he’ll get a divorce. Either way, he’ll have no choice but to make a decision if he receives a proposal. Then it’ll be easier for you to make up your mind, won’t it? If you still like him even if he’s married, then you’ll just be walking into hell on your own.”

Chase said nothing. He just smoked, inhaling puff after puff with a serious expression. Naomi watched his reaction with interest, and just then, his bodyguard hurried over. Laura also appeared behind him.

“Mr. Miller, what’s going on?”

Chase looked up at Mark’s question. It was a shame, but it was time to leave. Naomi pretended not to notice and left. She glanced back and saw Chase asking Mark something. Curious, Naomi walked away. Who on earth was this married woman who had toyed with Chase Miller?

“What?”

Mark blinked in surprise. He couldn’t understand why he had been called all the way here just to be asked this. But the man in front of him was serious.

“Is it true that Joshua has a child?”

The repeated question was no different from before. Mark nodded, bewildered. Immediately, the color drained from Chase’s face. He hastily brought a cigarette to his mouth. His faintly trembling fingers removed the cigarette from his lips, and smoke billowed out. Hoo, Chase exhaled smoke and spoke.

“…Then, is he married too? A wife, or something?”

He managed to hide the faint tremor, but he couldn’t help the broken words. Mark looked at his unusually pale face with concern and replied.

“Uh, no. I only know that he had a child. It seems like it’s been a few years since he lost contact with the child’s mother, but I don’t know the details very well…” 

“…” 

“Uh, Mr. Miller?”

When Mark cautiously called him, Chase put the cigarette in his mouth and raised a hand as if to say that was enough. Left alone, Chase discarded the shortened cigarette and picked up the case. He tried to take out a new cigarette, but his unsteady hand dropped it to the floor. With a clatter, the metal case opened, and the cigarettes scattered onto the dirt. Laura’s assistant, who had been watching from a few steps away, rushed over to pick them up. Chase just watched silently.

“Propose to him.”

Naomi’s voice echoed eerily in Chase’s ears, like a siren’s song.