Chapter 293:
Their interactions had fleeting moments of warmth, but the underlying reality was harsh. Their arrangement had been purely transactional.
Alicia closed her eyes, her body completely relaxed. Silently, she began to undress. Caden watched, his gaze growing increasingly cold. Before she could finish, he pulled her close and kissed her fiercely. Alicia grimaced, a whimper escaping despite her efforts to restrain it. The whimper was almost a scream. A severe constriction tightened Caden's chest as his behavior escalated, becoming more aggressive. A sudden surge of suppressed desire overwhelmed him; his intensity was unrelenting, his actions devoid of empathy.
As their encounter ended, Alicia was too overwhelmed to speak. Tears trickled down her neck. Noticing her cold sweat, Caden sensed something was wrong. He switched on the light and saw faint bloodstains on the sheets. Frowning, he gently examined her, discovering a small injury.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were hurt?” he demanded. “Are you putting yourself at risk just to defy me?”
Alicia remained still, her face pale. He tenderly cleaned her wound with warm water, applied ice to reduce the swelling, and carefully dressed the injury. Alicia lay on her side, watching him with vacant eyes.
“Would you like more?” she whispered softly.
Caden’s anger flared at her defiant tone, even in her weakened state. He clenched his jaw and draped a blanket over her. “Why the hurry? You owe me a great deal. One night won’t suffice,” he said coldly. Looking down at her, he added, “There’s plenty of time to settle our debts.” The door clicked shut, leaving a heavy silence.
Alicia caught a mocking smile reflected in the ceiling mirror. She rested the entire day before venturing outside. Her wound throbbed slightly, but Cade scratched at the door, eager for a walk. Alicia bundled him in a heavy coat and took him for a stroll through the neighborhood. He frolicked joyfully, his excitement evident. After a while, she found a bench and sat, using her legs to keep Cade close.