?<strong>Chapter 911:</strong>


    Hisposed response left Alicia at a loss for words. This wasn’t the fiery, impulsive man she once knew. His maturity was unsettling, even unnerving. Could two years really change someone this drastically?


    Alicia watched him pack up the ingredients he had been preparing. Her chest tightened. “What are you doing?”


    Caden’s tone was calm but distant. “I’m too upset to eat. No dinner tonight.”


    Alicia scrambled to find the right words. “Then should I not eat either?”


    “Didn’t you text me earlier saying you’d already eaten?” Caden replied evenly.


    Her casual lie from earlier came back to bite her, leaving her flustered. “I… I was talking nonsense. Why did you stille when I told you not to?”


    Caden’s lips quirked into a faint, humorless smile. “You’re right. I shouldn’t havee.” He dried his hands and added lightly, “Sorry for crashing your time with Corey.”


    Panic red in Alicia’s chest. Her words stumbled out. “Don’t say that. You know better than anyone what kind of person Corey is.”


    Caden turned to her, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “Are you stopping me from leaving because you’re afraid I’ll misunderstand?”


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    “Of course!” Alicia replied without hesitation.


    Caden pressed, stepping closer, his voice low and steady. “Then tell me, what status do I hold that makes you care so much about my opinion?”


    Alicia froze, her throat tightening. He was demanding rity—amitment she wasn’t ready to give. He wanted to erase the foolishness of their past and jump straight to iming her as his own.


    Alicia turned her face away, her voice barely above a whisper. “It doesn’t matter what status you have. I just want to tell you there’s nothing between Corey and me. If it were anyone else here today, I would exin it just the same.”


    A noise erupted from the bedroom as her words hung in the air.


    Caden looked up just in time to see Corey sauntering out, freshly showered, casually wrapped in a towel with water dripping from his hair.


    “Babe, why did you call me? Wasn’t I—” Corey’s voice faltered when he seemed to finally notice Caden standing there. His lips curved into a smirk as he continued, “Oh, we have a guest. Hello, Mr. Ward!”


    Alicia’s expression hardened as she remained silent. Unbothered, Corey tossed the towel he used to dry his hair and strolled toward Caden with infuriating ease. “If you were nning to drop by, you should’ve told me, Mr. Ward. I could’ve booked us a bar for drinks.”


    Alicia’s voice was cold and steady. “Corey, you’d better leave now.”


    Ignoring her, Corey draped an arm over her shoulder with feigned affection. “Why are you teasing me in front of Mr. Ward? You’re making himugh at us.”


    Alicia shrugged off his arm and shoved him away. But Corey seized the opportunity to grab her hand, only to be met with a sharp p across the face.


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