Chapter 271:

Caden's gaze shifted to his busy hands, his brow furrowed. He was clearly packing. Wasn't he planning on leaving again?

Before he could ask, Alicia raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I have to book a hotel just to take Cade to the groomer?" It took her a moment to realize he wasn't preparing to leave; he was packing the pet carrier, not his luggage. Everything she carried was for Cade.

With a dry chuckle, he removed his coat and entered the room. "Can't you wash him at home?"

Her eyes flickered with sarcasm. "Unless you've suddenly become an expert at bathing and trimming dogs, then sure, we can do it at home."

Caden paused, conceding defeat with a small nod. "Forget what I said."

At that moment, Cade, the little rascal, trotted in and playfully tugged at his pant leg. The small sounds of Cade's antics highlighted the awkward silence between them. Despite their earlier argument, Alicia hadn't left, surprising Caden. She seemed remarkably calm, as if nothing had happened in Averibon.

Alicia finished packing and picked up Cade. "Will you be back for dinner?"

Caden looked at her, a swirl of emotions in his gaze. "Yes."

"What would you like to eat?"

The simple question made her stomach growl, a stark reminder of how unpleasant things had been lately. The food in Averibon had been disgustingly sweet, and he hadn't had much of an appetite. He cleared his throat and offered some suggestions, though he harbored little hope. Alicia's cooking was notoriously unpredictable, ranging from successes to utter failures depending on her mood. Last time, she'd served him celery, his least favorite. Still, even that seemed appealing in his current state.

Alicia started for the door with Cade, but Caden grabbed his car keys. "I'll take you."

"No need," she replied firmly. "I can drive myself."

His hand froze. He turned, looking at her profile. "Alice," he began, his voice calmer, "when you said you were on a business trip, it wasn't Averibon. Was it really a coincidence that we met that day?"

Her back stiffened, subtly but noticeably. As she held Cade closer, the weight of what she'd done for him—things he likely wouldn't appreciate—felt unbearably heavy.