A kiss

Andrew coaxed Madelyn into taking her medicine.

Even though she had become much more cooperative, convincing her to take her medicine was still a battle. The nighttime dose was especially a struggle as it was extremely bitter. She often refused to take

1. it.

At the sight of her scrunched–up face, Andrew sat down with her in his arms. He popped a fruit candy into her mouth.

Madelyn’s eyes lit up as soon as she tasted it.

“Orange flavor?” ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Andrew nodded gently.

“The rock sugar didn’t have much taste before. This one should be better.”

“It is better!”

Madelyn’s frown relaxed. The orange flavor always brought a sense of joy, significantly lessening the bitterness in her mouth.

Andrew had prepared various fruit–flavored candies–peach, mint, lemon–to mask the medicine’s taste. After holding her for a while, Andrew patted her head.

“How are you feeling now?”

“I want another one,‘ Madelyn said while chewing the candy in her mouth.

She had never realized how good fruit candies tasted. She enjoyed this flavor, which she had never had before.

When she was young, the Miller family worried about her teeth, so they denied her requests for candy, leaving her with only rock sugar to counter the taste of medicine.

Andrew shook his head at her request.

“No way!”

Madelyn looked up.

“Why not?”

“Too much candy is bad for you.”

“I hardly had any candy growing u

sily frustrated.

1. up. What’s wrong with having one more?” Madelyn grumbled, feeling

She knew he cared for her, but felt that his overbearing behavior was too much.

Andrew sighed..

“I didn’t let you have it before because I feared you’d overdo it.”

When it came to raising kids, Andrew was certain to nip things in the bud and be decisive.

Madelyn’s lips twitched.

“But you can’t just not let me have any. Don’t you know have low blood sugar?”

“Who said that?”

‘The doctor. He told me to eat more candy.”

“What kind of logic is that?”

Andrew ignored her pleas for more candy and scooped her up to carry her upstairs.

After her bath, Madelyn still wore a sullen expression as Andrew placed her on the bed.

“You’ll have plenty of chances to eat candy. Why the rush?”

She knew she’d get three candies a day if she needed to take her medicine. Madelyn felt comforted at that thought.

As she snuggled into his arms, she felt Andrew instinctively look at her from above. He smiled.

“You can have an extra one in the morning.

Since blood sugar levels were stable in the morning, Andrew allowed her the extra treat.

“Really?”

Madelyn looked up, hopeful.

“Really.”

Andrew nodded. He had been strict with her before, which made her fixation on candy understandable. He thought that he should perhaps ease up a little. But then he remembered her involvement with Easton and felt uneasy.

The next morning, Andrew woke up at 6:00 am to find Madelyn still looking sleepy.

“Weren’t you eager to start work? Get up!”

“Huh? Work?”

Madelyn instantly became alert at those words. She quickly scrambled out of bed, but her mind was still groggy. She looked at Andrew, confused.

“Where am I going to work?”

“Rowan stayed up last night setting up your studio. It’s up to you now.”

‘That fast?”

Madelyn was surprised. She had only mentioned it yesterday afternoon, and Rowan had already set it up overnight. She thought that his efficiency was impressive.

“Why? Don’t you want to go? If not, then come with me to the company, and I’ll have Rowan close the studio.”

“No, no. I’m up!”

Madelyn quickly