Craving My Godfather: Desire Beyond Control

Chapter 3: The Man Who Never Cared, Cares Too Much

The soft hum of the airplane engines filled the cabin, blending with the occasional rustle of a passing flight attendant. The long-haul flight from the U.S. to Manila stretched endlessly, but Rafael barely noticed. His attention was fixed on the woman beside him, Cathy.

She had fallen asleep hours ago, her head tilted slightly to the side, her breathing soft and steady. He had spent too much time stealing glances at her peaceful face, tracing the delicate curve of her features with his eyes. It wasn’t like him to linger on anyone. In fact, he had spent years making sure no one got close enough to matter. But with her, it was different.

She made him care. And that terrified him.

A quiet sigh left his lips as he shifted in his seat, turning his gaze to the darkened cabin ahead. Sleep didn’t come easy for him, not when his mind was too busy dissecting every damn thing he was feeling.

Then, beside him, Cathy stirred.

Her eyelashes fluttered as she slowly sat up, groggy and dazed. Rafael turned his head, already holding out a cup of coffee.

"Here. You slept for a while." His voice was softer than usual, almost careful.

She gave a weak smile, accepting the cup. But something wasn’t right. He noticed it immediately the unnatural flush creeping up her cheeks, the slight tremble in her hands as she held the cup.

His eyes darkened.

"Are you okay?" He leaned in slightly, his tone no longer casual.

Cathy opened her mouth as if to respond but hesitated. Instead, she shook her head lightly. That’s when he saw it, the faint sheen of sweat on her forehead. His stomach clenched.

Without thinking, Rafael reached out, pressing the back of his hand to her cheek.

"s**t," he muttered under his breath. "You’re burning up."

The warmth of her skin sent a jolt through him, not because of the fever but because of the sudden realization that he actually cared. A lot.

He didn’t hesitate. Digging through his bag, he searched for medicine. Nothing. Just travel essentials, but no fever meds. His frustration simmered as Cathy leaned back against her seat, looking paler by the second.

No. He wasn’t just going to sit here and do nothing.

Rafael slammed the call button for the flight attendant. It didn’t take long before a woman in uniform appeared, her polite smile faltering the moment she noticed Cathy’s state.

"Sir, how can I assist you?"

"She’s running a high fever. Do you have any medication on board? Fever reducers, pain relievers, anything?" His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it, a silent urgency he wasn’t even trying to hide.

The flight attendant’s expression turned serious. "Let me check our medical kit. I’ll be right back."

As she walked away, Rafael turned his full attention back to Cathy. She was shivering now, despite the warmth of the cabin. He didn’t think twice before shrugging off his jacket and gently draping it over her shoulders.

"Hang in there," he murmured. "They’ll bring something soon."

Cathy let out a faint, tired chuckle. "Didn’t peg you for the caring type."

He scoffed, but there was no bite to it. "Yeah, well… don’t get used to it."

But even as he said the words, they felt hollow. Because the truth was, he wasn’t just caring, he was worried sick.

When the flight attendant returned with a small packet of medicine and a bottle of water, Rafael wasted no time.

"This should help. It’s ibuprofen. We also have cold compress packs if needed."

"That’ll do. Thank you." He took the medicine, shaking out two pills before turning back to Cathy. "Here, take these."

She didn’t argue, simply taking them with slow sips of water. He watched as she swallowed, then helped her adjust her seat, making sure she was comfortable.

"Try to sleep. I’ll wake you if you need anything."

Cathy sighed, exhaustion weighing her down. As she closed her eyes, Rafael leaned back, but his gaze stayed on her.

Why the hell did this bother him so much?

He had never been the kind of man to fuss over anyone. If someone was sick, they dealt with it. If someone was weak, they picked themselves up. But this wasn’t just anyone, this was Cathy. And seeing her like this made something in his chest twist so tight it was suffocating.

An hour passed.

Rafael reached out, pressing his palm against Cathy’s forehead again. His jaw tensed. She was still burning up, worse than before. Her small body trembled violently beneath the blanket, and his stomach knotted with something unfamiliar.

Helplessness.

He wasn’t used to feeling this way. He was a man of control, of action. Yet now, he felt utterly powerless.

With a frustrated sigh, he hit the call button again. The flight attendant arrived within seconds, her brows furrowing the moment she saw Cathy’s worsening state.

"Sir, is everything alright?"

"No, it’s not," he snapped, running a hand through his hair. He wasn’t trying to be harsh, but the frustration, the worry, it was suffocating him. "Her fever’s not going down. She’s shaking so bad I can’t even keep her warm. Do you have anything stronger?"

The flight attendant nodded. "We have cold compresses and electrolyte packets. I can also bring some ice packs."

"Bring everything." His voice left no room for discussion.

When she returned with the supplies, Rafael took the cold compress first, carefully pressing it against Cathy’s forehead. The moment the icy cloth touched her burning skin, she flinched slightly but didn’t wake.

"Damn it, Cathy," he muttered under his breath. "You don’t get to scare me like this."

Adjusting the compress, he reached for the electrolyte packet, mixing it into a bottle of water. Then, with painstaking gentleness, he lifted her head just enough.

"Cathy, you need to drink this," he murmured, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "Come on, just a little."

She barely stirred. Her lips parted slightly, and he tilted the bottle, letting a few drops slip into her mouth.

"That’s it," he coaxed, his fingers brushing against her cheek. "Just a little more."

It was slow, frustrating, but he didn’t stop. He had never cared for someone like this before, never had to. Yet now, the thought of losing her, of not being able to help her, made his chest ache in ways he didn’t understand.

The flight attendant hesitated. "If she worsens, we can request an emergency landing."

Rafael didn’t argue when the flight attendant mentioned the possibility of an emergency landing. He just nodded, his jaw tight as he looked at the woman in his arms.

The flight attendant cleared her throat and glanced at them again, her voice professional despite the curiosity in her eyes. “Sir, if her fever doesn’t go down soon, we’ll have to request an emergency landing. The captain needs to be informed in advance, so please monitor her closely. We have basic medical supplies on board, but nothing advanced.”

Rafael barely looked at her. “Just bring whatever you have.” His voice was clipped, his attention focused on the burning skin beneath his palm.

As the flight attendant walked away, her colleague smirked. “You’re staring again.”

The first attendant sighed, leaning slightly toward her friend as she whispered, “I can’t help it. He’s not just hot, look at how he’s holding her. He actually cares. You don’t see that every day.”

“You need to stop daydreaming. They’re probably married or something.”

The first attendant huffed but didn’t stop glancing back. It wasn’t just his looks that caught her attention, it was the way he held the woman, like she was the most important thing in the world. And that? That was rare.