Chapter 484:


    Caden held back, gripping ke’s arm before firmly shoving it away.


    “Get.


    Out.”


    ke stayed silent, watching as Caden turned and strode toward the CEO’s office.


    As Caden reached the door, ke smirked at him, as if daring him to speak.


    “Go on, say whatever you want.


    She’s already tense.


    Push her a little, and my opportunity wille.” But Caden shut the door without a backward nce.


    ke edged closer, peeking through the window—only for the blinds to snap shut in his face.


    “Childish,” ke muttered to himself.


    Inside, Caden tossed the bag he’d been holding onto the sofa, his voice cold and sharp.


    “There’s always something unpleasant around here.”


    Alicia kept her head down, resisting the urge to react.


    She pretended not to notice him.


    Caden moved closer, his gaze lingering on her face.


    “So, you can chat andugh with ke, but you go silent when I’m around?” he taunted, his voice low.


    Alicia tightened her grip on the folder in her hands and then looked up, her expression calm but her tone biting.


    “Is there a problem?”


    Caden’s expression remained unreadable.


    “I wanted to catch you in the act—and here we are.


    What do you think?”


    Alicia’s lips twitched with irritation.


    Jerk, she thought.


    She tried to stayposed, but as soon as she began to speak, her frustration leaked out.


    “Catch what, exactly? Mr.


    Langstaff just came by to ask what I wanted for dinner.”


    “With him?” Caden’s tone was mocking.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    Alicia’s annoyance red.


    “I was going to agree, but your timing ruined it.”


    Caden sneered.


    “So you’d actually eat with him? Haven’t you been thinking about me all afternoon?” His smugness was infuriating.


    Fury shed in Alicia’s eyes.


    So, he’d left her waiting all afternoon on purpose?


    How many more times would he keep ying this game? The frustration and doubt that had been building all day turned to ash, weighing heavily on her heart.


    Her face hardened as she reached for her handbag, preparing to leave.


    But before she could step away, Caden reached out and pulled her into his arms.


    “Let me go, Caden!” she protested, hitting him and trying to break free.


    She could feel her emotions unraveling, betraying her.


    Once she started speaking, it was like a thread being pulled, and all her grievances spilled out uncontrobly.


    Turning her face away, she refused to let him see the tears welling in her eyes.


    Caden held her tightly, his expression softening as he saw her vulnerability.


    He swallowed the harsh words he had prepared and, in a gentler tone, said, “I wasn’t with Ynda today.


    I went to meet her parents to make ns.


    I wanted to announce our rtionship over dinner tonight.”


    Alicia, still seething, barely registered his words.


    “What rtionship are you even talking about?”


    Caden’s expression became hard.


    “You tell me.


    What do you think this is?”


    She red at him.


    “I don’t know.


    All I know is, whatever this is, it’s worse than being friends with benefits, worse than even being a mistress.


    At least then, if you treated me like this, I could just go and find someone else to have fun with!”


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