Half an hour later, Caden emerged from the study, his brow furrowed with worry. "Why did you leave the hospital?" he asked, his voice low and tense.

Alicia offered a soft smile. "I left on my own," she said, "so don't blame your bodyguards."

Caden sighed, too weary to even consider reprimanding anyone. The exhaustion of the day weighed heavily on him as he embraced her, pulling her close. "Just let me rest a moment," he murmured, leaning against her.

Alicia gently stroked his hair, a wave of sympathy washing over her as she felt his tension. She started to speak, then hesitated. Even with his eyes closed, Caden sensed her unease. "What is it?" he asked, his voice rough with fatigue. "Something on your mind?"

Alicia's throat tightened. Taking a shallow breath, she softly asked, "Caden, do you like children?"

A hint of amusement touched his lips as he opened his eyes halfway. "Why, Alicia? Feeling pressured to start a family?" His voice held a teasing warmth. "Why the rush?"

He'd always assumed Alicia, with her career-focused spirit, would wait until her thirties to consider children.

Avoiding his gaze, Alicia felt compelled to speak. She swallowed hard and began, "Caden, I need to tell you…" But the sharp ring of a phone interrupted. Alicia fell silent, holding her breath as Caden checked the screen. His expression subtly shifted, a shadow darkening his features.

"It's Blake," he said, watching her closely.

Alicia searched his face for clues, finding none. Caden stepped back, releasing her, and answered the call. The room felt constricted, charged with unspoken intensity.

"Caden, I need to see you. We need to talk about last night," Blake's voice, strained and urgent, crackled through the phone.

Caden's reply was ice-cold: "There's nothing left to discuss. It's done."

His controlled tone was unsettling, sending a chill through Alicia's heart. Blake's voice, urgent and pleading, pressed on. "What do you mean it's done? This is about Alicia's reputation, Caden. She's your fiancée now. If you don't clear this up, it looks like you're admitting it's true. Are you really going to let those Moss family schemers get away with setting us up?"

Caden didn't answer. He slammed the phone onto the coffee table and lit a cigarette. Alicia watched him silently, the bitter ache in her chest intensifying.

He didn't trust her, not fully. The tension in his posture, the bulging veins on his hand—all spoke of a silent struggle. It was a slow, agonizing pressure, weighing heavily upon her.