?<strong>Chapter 798:</strong>


    Alicia stared at the wall, her silence stretching into an unbearable eternity. Caden loosened his grip slightly and gently cupped her face, his eyes searching hers for any sign of forgiveness.


    He gazed into her eyes, desperately searching for a trace of the love she once held for him, even if it wasced with sorrow or hesitation. But there was nothing. All he found was a profound emptiness that sent a wave of fear crashing over him.


    Caden’s heart pounded as he tenderly stroked her face, his voice a soft murmur.


    “Lucky, I’m begging you.”


    Alicia’s eyshes quivered faintly, a small, almost imperceptible reaction. Her voice was devoid of emotion as she finally replied, “Okay.”


    Caden felt no relief from Alicia’s agreement. The woman he once knew seemed lost, reced by someone he could barely recognize. She had changed so much. Her days were filled with endless tasks, her demeanor quieter than ever, and her presence distant.


    Driven by a mix of curiosity and concern, Caden had secretly checked her calendar. Every trip listed was to a tech conference—none involving the art gallery that had once been her passion. It was as though she had abandoned her old lifepletely, leaving behind the things that once defined her.


    Sitting alone in his office, Caden found himself trapped in abyrinth of his own thoughts. He stared nkly into space, his mind weighed down, until a knock on the door interrupted him.


    “Come in,” he said, quickly masking his inner turmoil with his usual detached expression.


    He expected Hank, but to his surprise, it was Alicia who entered. She wore a simple white outfit that matched her calm but distant aura. Without saying a word, she approached his desk and ced a small stack of photos in front of him.


    Caden’s eyes shifted from her face to the photos—snapshots of Alicia taken from a distance.


    “Why would you do this?” she asked, her voice quiet but piercingly direct.


    Caden frowned slightly. He had hired a private investigator to take those photos, and there was no point in denying it.


    “Without someone following you, it feels like you’re a ghost I can’t even catch sight of,” he admitted. His tone was low, carrying an undercurrent of usation that he couldn’t suppress.


    Alicia’s face remainedposed, though her eyes flickered with an emotion he couldn’t quite discern.


    “If you wanted to see me, you could have just told me, Caden. You didn’t need to hire anyone to follow me around.”


    “Don’t I deserve some privacy?” Alicia’s voice was calm, yet it carried a hint of reproach.


    Caden’s intense stare softened.


    “How about dinner tonight? A family meal?”


    Ciara had been calling him multiple times a day, her concern for Alicia’s well-being evident. Caden knew that if Alicia didn’t attend, Ciara would worry herself sick.


    Alicia’s gaze faltered briefly before she gave a small nod. After a moment of silence, she said, “Alright. Six o’clock. I should be free by then.”


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