Chapter 351:

Raw panic seized him at the sight of the office scene. Alicia's care terrified him to lose; the thought of her affection fading away was unbearable. He couldn't let that happen. He had to keep her.

His eyes hardened. Gripping the wheel, he pressed the accelerator, speeding toward Alicia's apartment. He found her window dark; she wasn't home.

Beside him, Ciara shifted, her nausea worsening from the speed. "You'd better make amends yourself," she sighed, her annoyance replaced by sickness. "I need to go home before I throw up."

"I'll have Jasmine pick you up," Caden offered.

Ciara nodded, her expression softening. "Go upstairs and check on her," she urged. "Remember, communication is key."

Caden nodded stiffly. Ciara sighed inwardly; comforting women clearly wasn't his forte. "Be sincere, Caden," she said bluntly. "Control your attitude. And if necessary, kneel and apologize."

Disbelief flickered across Caden's deepening frown. Ciara raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with kneeling? Even my grandfather, a general, knelt to apologize."

Caden's expression tightened, then he deflected. "I'll call Jasmine to take you home first."

Unaware of Caden's search, Alicia sought solace in a dimly lit bar. She didn't drink, but the noise—the laughter, the clinking glasses, the youthful energy—was comforting. It reminded her of her early days with Caden—intense, impulsive, fresh. It had felt like love then—profound and consuming.

A bitter smile touched her lips. How could she have mistaken desire for love? His cold actions tonight shattered any remaining illusion. He didn't care for her at all.

A soft, bitter laugh escaped her as she stared at her water. As the bar thinned, she settled her bill and stepped outside. The crisp night air carried the scent of rain. She pulled her coat tighter, noticing Caden. He stood there, hands in his pockets, his coat billowing slightly. His dark eyes locked onto hers, unwavering, as if he'd been waiting.