Chapter 718
Alicia’s heart twisted with confusion. Did he truly trust her? His strained voice, heavy with unspoken burden, suggested otherwise. Yet, she didn't resent his doubt.
“Please, Caden. Just let me get the checkup.”
His response remained unchanged: “It’s unnecessary.” Her remaining strength ebbed, and she closed her eyes, the weight of the moment pressing down. Caden’s trust, far from bringing relief, suffocated her, an unseen force tightening around her chest.
Caden remained at her side until she slept, watching her features soften. Only then did he close his eyes, but exhaustion gnawed at him relentlessly. Drained after days and nights of relentless work, he’d barely slept in forty-eight hours. Even a man of steel would falter under such pressure, yet sleep eluded him. Whether his eyes were open or closed, the hotel scene haunted him, replaying in excruciating detail, each thought sending a sharp pain through his chest.
Once Alicia was asleep, Caden found Hank waiting in the hallway. Hank lowered his voice:
“All reporters are handled. Recordings and photos are confiscated. The Moss family helped suppress the news. This morning’s incident won’t reach the public.”
“The Moss family?” Caden questioned.
“Yes, Mrs. Moss offered assistance. However, Yolanda orchestrated the entire setup against Mr. Langstaff and Ms. Bennett.”
Caden’s face remained impassive, so composed it seemed the incident hadn't occurred. But Hank knew better; he saw the torment simmering beneath the stoic facade.
“Mr. Ward, the proposal caused quite a stir,” Hank said carefully. “This isn’t the right time. It endangered Ms. Bennett, leading to this.” It had made Alicia a target, triggering a chain of events culminating in this tragedy. For once, Caden didn’t rebuke him. His eyes were stormy, unreadable, carrying a weight only he knew.
After a long silence, Caden spoke, his voice measured: “Since the matter is under control, we won’t escalate it. For the next two days, station more bodyguards around Alicia. I don’t want to be disturbed.”
Hank’s face creased in confusion. “Are you saying we should forget about Yolanda’s actions, Mr. Ward?”
Caden’s expression remained calm, unreadable. “No, Hank. I have my own way of handling it.”