Chapter 617: Cadens face darkened at her sudden remark. He had already planned to propose, though he hadn't told anyone. Alicia's concerns were understandable; having a child out of wedlock wasn't ideal for a young woman.

"I'll get the pills later," Caden finally said.

A thick silence fell in the car. Alicia felt deflated, like a punctured balloon. Listless, one thought echoed in her mind: Caden didn't seem to want to marry her.

After a while, Alicia realized they were far from home. "Caden, where are we going?"

His eyes flickered. "I'm taking you to buy jewelry. Are you up for that?"

More than the jewelry, Alicia valued spending time with him. He was often busy, and their free time was usually spent in bed. Going out to eat, let alone shopping, was a rare treat. They had yet to go on a proper date.

Once they reached the mall, Caden took the wheel. "Don't you trust your own product?" Alicia teased.

"I'm in the car too," he replied, raising an eyebrow, "so I have to consider my own safety."

"When I tire of you," he said with a shrug, "I'll activate the autopilot and see where it takes me. Maybe in eighty years, maybe in eight, maybe in eight days. Who knows?"

Alicia chuckled dryly. They pulled into the parking lot. Caden opened her door, but instead of getting out, Alicia grabbed at the air near him.

"What's wrong?" Caden asked, bewildered.

Alicia held up a closed fist. "There was a mosquito, but I caught it. Check if it's dead. Come closer."

Caden knew she was up to something, but he leaned in. Alicia opened her hand, and slapped him in the crotch.