Kayden truly didn’t care about the incident anymore-it was Ryder’s fault, after all. Ryder had tried to drug Emma, intending to turn her into his puppet. In Ryder’s twisted mind, Emma wasn’t even a person. After administering the drug, he likely had some depraved plans for her.
As the drinks were poured, Ryder turned to Mr. Steele and said, “Mr. Steele, I’ve always heard that people from prominent families have impeccable manners. Surely, you wouldn’t embarrass me like this. No, to be precise, you wouldn’t embarrass Emma’s family.”
It was painfully obvious that Kayden was deliberately making things difficult for Ryder.
If Ryder thought he could be friends with Kayden, he was sorely mistaken. Sharing a drink with Kayden was already a once-in-a-lifetime privilege for someone like Ryder.
“Stop being ridiculous!” May scolded Kayden angrily. “Are you trying to corner Mr. Steele? The fact that he’s even drinking with you is a huge gesture. And here you are pushing your luck! If I’d known this earlier, we wouldn’t have meddled in your business. We should’ve let you fend for yourself!”
May shot Kayden an exasperated glare, then turned to Mr. Steele with a polite smile. “Mr. Steele, drink as much or as little as you like. Don’t mind him. This guy has no manners whatsoever.”
Ryder chuckled. “Well, I’ll just take a small sip for courtesy.”
He raised his glass but barely touched the wine to his lips before setting it down.
Despite his outward composure, Ryder mentally noted Kayden’s actions. To him, this was yet another reason to bring about Kayden’s downfall.
“Let’s just put today’s earlier incident behind us,” Ryder said with feigned generosity. “We’re still friends, after all. Don’t worry, I’ll help Mr. Scott with his job as I promised. Emma spoke to me about it, and I’d never refuse her request.”
Ryder turned to Kayden with a smug grin. “Mr. Scott, as I said earlier, report to my company on Monday. Clean up the offices, and I’ll pay you $600 a month, with food and lodging included. Do a good job, and there’s room for a raise-you could even make over $1, 000 a month someday.”
This was power in its purest form. Kayden’s pride meant nothing in the face of wealth and status.
May, quick to flatter, chimed in, “Mr. Steele, you’re so generous. Truly a man of great vision!”
“Hey, you,” May turned to Kayden, her tone sharp. “Are you out of your mind? Hurry up and thank Mr. Steele. $600 a month is no small amount. That’s $6, 000 to $7, 000 a year-more than enough for someone like you.”
John Baker added softly, “She’s right, Kayden. You’re not exactly drowning in options right now. Just take the job at Mr. Steele’s company. With Emma there, she can even keep an eye on you. $600 a month might not be a fortune, but it’s not bad either.”
Emma glanced at Kayden, thinking to herself, I’m not going to babysit him.
Kayden understood John Baker’s good intentions. From John’s perspective, Kayden was a discarded scion of the Scott family, drifting in the Western Frontier due to his unyielding pride.
“Mr. Baker,” Kayden said firmly, “I may no longer be part of the Scott family, but I’m not as desperate as you think. As for the job, let’s talk about it some other time. I may be unemployed, but I don’t lack money.”
“Don’t lack money?” Ryder repeated in surprise, then smirked. “Well then, Mr. Scott, I suppose you really don’t need the $600 job.”
John Baker was momentarily stunned. “Don’t lack money?” he echoed, frowning. “Kayden, this isn’t about pride. You need to face reality.”
“Enough, John!” May interjected impatiently. “Why waste your breath? He clearly doesn’t appreciate your kindness. Didn’t he just say he doesn’t need money?!” She let out a cold laugh. “He won’t starve to death, anyway. The Alfredson family would never let someone die on their doorstep.”
John Baker had first encountered Kayden outside the Alfredson family estate. When he told May and Emma about it, they’d assumed Kayden was there begging for help-seeking charity to survive. Even John privately believed this but refrained from voicing it.
“The Alfredson family? Charity?” Kayden repeated with a faint smile. He recalled Zack Alfredson’s reputation in the Western Frontier and said, “You’ve misunderstood. I wasn’t there seeking their charity. I was there to treat their patriarch’s illness.”
His words left John Baker and his family visibly shocked.
“Treat an illness?” John Baker asked, astonished. “Are you a doctor?”
Kayden nodded slightly. “More or less. But not entirely.”
Indeed, he wasn’t just a healer-he also possessed impressive combat skills.
John Baker seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding. “As long as you have work to do, that’s what matters. I was just worried you wouldn’t have a means to get by. If you know medicine, at least you won’t go hungry.”
Kayden gave a small nod. “Hunger isn’t an issue, Mr. Baker. You’re overthinking it.”
“How did it go with Mr. Alfredson’s treatment? Did you cure him?” John Baker asked, his curiosity piqued. “Mr. Alfredson is a good man-he does so much charity work in the Western Frontier. He doesn’t deserve to suffer. If you’ve cured him, your name will surely spread far and wide. Even the Scott family might come back to you if they hear about it.”
Kayden nodded casually. “He’s cured. It was just a minor illness.”
“Pfft!” Ryder couldn’t hold back his laughter and nearly spat out his drink.
Everyone turned to look at him, and Ryder quickly feigned an apologetic expression. “Sorry, sorry, I couldn’t help it. Mr. Scott is just… hilarious.”
Ryder’s voice turned mocking. “Mr. Scott, you’re quite the comedian. Not only do you enjoy accusing others, but you also love concocting these wild fantasies and spinning obvious lies.”
“What do you mean, Ryder?” Emma asked, puzzled.
Ryder sneered. “Mr. Alfredson’s illness is infamous. He’s been suffering from the same strange condition for years. No hospital has been able to diagnose it, let alone cure it. Plenty of self-proclaimed miracle healers have tried, and none succeeded.
“Mr. Scott, if you’re going to boast, at least make it believable. I know the details of Mr. Alfredson’s condition better than most. Are you claiming to be more skilled than the world’s top hospitals?”
Ryder’s words made John Baker’s family’s expressions shift dramatically.
John Baker, who had just begun to feel hopeful for Kayden, now looked utterly disappointed.
Kayden, it seemed, was still too proud for his own good.
And sometimes, pride brings nothing but unnecessary suffering.