Kiss Me if You Can Novel Completed - Chapter 99

The next day, the security team was bustling from early morning. It was the day Chase was scheduled for a regular check-up with Steward. Although it was a routine examination, the previous terrorist attack made the security even more thorough.

“It’s a relief there are more of us than last time,” Mark said, and Seth added, “They wouldn’t be foolish enough to use the same method again, but you never know.”

Josh agreed with Seth, but there was no harm in being careful. He silently followed instructions, moving his body. As he busily checked the car and confirmed locations, Laura subtly approached him and spoke.

“Josh, can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Yes, what is it?”

He looked down, puzzled, and Laura quickly replied.

“The medicine you picked up last time, Josh, you received it, right? You confirmed the exact quantity then, correct? A month’s supply.”

Josh nodded. “Yes. We decided to gradually reduce the medication, so the amount would be less than before… Is it not enough?”

He asked, puzzled, but Laura shook her head, saying, “No, it’s the opposite. There’s too much medicine left.”

To a startled Josh, Laura continued with a serious expression. “It seems Mr. Miller is skipping his medication. Roughly counting, he’s only taken about half of it… So, you’re certain the number of pills was correct?”

“Absolutely correct.”

When he answered with more emphasis, she said, “I see,” and fell into thought for a moment. Seeing Laura rub her forehead as if she had a headache, Josh suggested, “If Mr. Miller hasn’t shown any particular abnormalities despite skipping the medication like that, couldn’t we tell Mr. Steward and stop the medication entirely? After all, he said he’d gradually reduce and then stop after observing the progress.”

“That’s right… I should show him the remaining medicine and tell him that too.”

Laura spoke somewhat distractedly, still furrowing her brows, and turned back. Left alone, Josh returned to his work, but his mind was already filled with thoughts of Chase and the medicine.

<“It’s not good to stop suddenly; there could be withdrawal symptoms.”>

Recalling Steward’s warning after they decided to reduce the medication, his heart became even more complicated.

I clearly told him not to skip it.

Josh, who had suddenly felt annoyed, remembered that Chase had often skipped his medication even when he was with him. Even that he only took it when Josh specifically reminded him. That meant, conversely, if no one reminded him, he wouldn’t take it.

Surely nothing bad will happen.

Josh comforted himself with a reluctant feeling. He hadn’t even known Chase was skipping the medication until now. And extreme Alphas aren’t easily addicted to drugs anyway…

Until then, he hadn’t been keen on Chase receiving treatment from Steward, but after learning about the medication, he felt a sense of urgency. What conclusion would Steward reach? Would he stop the medication, or…

“Josh, we’re leaving.”

At Mark’s call, he hurried to the car. Chase must have already gotten in, as a faint sweet lingering scent remained in the air.

Feeling a slight flutter, Josh got into the car, and a moment later, they headed to the hospital, leaving a few security guards behind.

The hospital wasn’t much different from the last time he’d been there. After Chase finished his simple examination and went into the consultation room with Laura, Josh waited in the hallway with the other security guards, scanning the hospital corridor where he stood. It was still a desolate place. He felt like he’d go crazy if he stayed there for just a few hours in the profound silence where not even a breath could be heard, to the point where he wondered how the staff here managed to endure it.

Come to think of it.

Josh, recalling the last time he was there, soon remembered an uneasy face. Grayson hadn’t shown his face since then. Thinking about how he’d beaten Grayson up after hearing about Chase back then, he suddenly wondered.

He’s not plotting something, is he?

The quiet was good, but he couldn’t help but suspect if something was being planned. Remembering his promise to Chase to kidnap him, Josh thought seriously.

Should I invite him to the wedding and then just lock him up?

It didn’t seem like a bad wedding gift. It would just take some time. More importantly, they hadn’t even decided when or how to get married, or what to tell those around them.

What should I tell Pete?

Just as he thought that, the door to the consultation room opened, and Laura appeared. Everyone expected Chase to come out next, but only Laura emerged.

“Josh.”

She looked around at the security guards once, then fixed her gaze on Josh. “Could you go in for a moment? Mr. Steward said he has something to ask you.”

To the puzzled gazes of the security guards, Josh said nonchalantly, “I was the one who picked up the medicine last time.”

Soon, Mark and the others seemed to understand and said nothing more. Josh immediately walked into the consultation room.

Thud.

The moment he heard the door close behind him, he suddenly felt as if the space had been isolated. The silence remained, but why did the consultation room feel so comforting? Even though the suspicious Steward was in this space.

The answer came immediately. Chase, who was sitting in the chair, smiled at him. Josh deliberately gave a brief, businesslike nod, trying not to show his emotions. In contrast, Steward stood up with a visibly welcoming expression to greet him.

“Welcome, Mr. Bailey. It’s been a long time.”

Steward extended his hand for a handshake and continued, “How have you been? I’ve been wondering what happened afterwards.”

“Just the same every day.”

When he ended the conversation curtly, Steward paused. It was only a few seconds of hesitation, but Josh could read his thoughts. He clearly wanted to ask about Grayson. Steward stroked his chin thoughtfully, and sure enough, he opened his mouth as if to probe.

“Someone had a fight in my consultation room before. So I wanted to know what happened afterwards.”

“Why don’t you ask the person involved?”

Josh avoided answering again. He had nothing to say, and he thought that if Steward was so curious, he could just ask Grayson. Unexpectedly, Steward gave a wry smile.

“I wish I could, but I haven’t been able to reach him since. I suppose I’ll have to wait until the next consultation. Well then, shall we return to the topic of Chase?”

Judging that further questions were pointless, Steward immediately changed the subject. Josh silently waited for him to speak. He glanced at Chase and saw no sign of discomfort. Turning his gaze back to Josh, Steward began.

“He hasn’t taken his medicine for a long time. He said he hasn’t touched it at all for the past three days.”

Josh instinctively turned to Chase. He answered boldly, “It’s true.”

“Cha— Mr. Miller.”

When Josh quickly corrected himself, Chase paused for a moment, then continued speaking to Steward. “I don’t have sleep problems anymore, and I don’t feel any discomfort even without taking the medicine. So can’t I stop taking it now? We were planning to gradually reduce it and then stop, weren’t we? Look, I’m perfectly fine like this.”

And he declared, looking straight at Steward, “I don’t need a prescription anymore.”

“…”

Josh silently stared at Chase. Hearing those words, he realized that Chase had intentionally not taken his medicine. Steward also realized it but didn’t point it out. The important thing was what to do next.

There was some truth to what Chase said. Josh thought. Even if it wasn’t planned, if Chase was perfectly fine after stopping the medicine, couldn’t he just stop taking it now? No one had even noticed that he wasn’t taking his medicine.

After taking so much medicine.

Josh unconsciously let his expression soften, not realizing it, and looked down at Chase. Steward, who had been quietly watching him, spoke.

“No, you can’t.”

At Steward’s firm words, not only Chase but also Josh froze for a moment. Josh took his eyes off Chase and looked at Steward. His usual cheerful face was gone, replaced by an unusually serious expression as he continued.

“Didn’t I tell you? Stopping the medication immediately is extremely dangerous. There could be withdrawal symptoms, and in the worst case, he could die from shock.”

“…Are you trying to scare us now?”

Josh asked on behalf of the silent Chase. Chase merely looked at Steward. Josh placed a hand on Chase’s shoulder as if to reassure him. Then Chase raised his hand and gripped Josh’s. His grip was so strong that Josh’s fingers tingled, but Josh maintained a poker face. It was natural for him to be this wary, still unable to shake off his suspicion of Steward. Steward continued speaking, whether he was aware of Josh’s feelings or not, without any particular reaction.

“Actually, it’s not certain. The risk is just an assumption. However, the side effects of the medication have already been revealed through experiments, and we don’t know what the result will be when all those side effects are combined.”

After speaking so seriously, he suddenly smiled faintly. “Of course, if you insist on experiencing it firsthand, I won’t stop you.”

Josh barely swallowed a groan boiling deep in his throat. To hold someone’s weakness and then pretend to give them a choice, he was truly a despicable bastard.

Chase, who had been silent until then, spoke for the first time. “Then what am I supposed to do from now on? Do I have to keep taking the medicine?”