Chapter: 289

She had a strong suspicion that his comment had a double meaning.

The way he said it made her almost certain of it.

She handed him the last piece of grapefruit. His eyes were now on the TV, appearing completely engrossed in what was playing.

Alicia followed his gaze and noticed the scene. The couple on the screen was kissing.

The sudden intimacy between the characters made her feel awkward.

They had just been crying and arguing only a moment ago.

Now, they were suddenly kissing and getting close. The shift left her feeling uncomfortable and confused.

There wasn't even any background music playing. The only sound in the living room was the exaggerated smacking of the couple's kiss on the TV. The uncomfortable silence made Alicia feel uneasy. She quickly reached for the remote, wanting to change the channel.

Caden remarked, “Their kissing skills are pretty average, but still better than yours."

Alicia's Lips twitched in annoyance. “Why are you even comparing them to me?" she asked.

Caden gave her a calm look. "I'm just being honest," he said.

Alicia rolled her eyes, deciding to respond just as bluntly. "Maybe his kissing skills are better than mine, but yours are definitely worse. How about that?"

Caden raised an eyebrow, amused by her response. "I see," he said.

"It seems like I need to practice a bit more."

His words had caught Alicia off guard.

Then, without missing a beat, Caden added, “Since you claim your skills are better, why don't you teach me?"

Alicia choked on her own breath, stunned by how blunt he was.

She glared at him. He wasn't being innocent; he was definitely up to no good.

Alicia refused to fall into his trap. "I'm not interested in teaching anyone," she said sternly.

Caden remained calm. He spoke slowly. “Just admit that your kissing skills aren't that great. We know each other well enough, and I won't make fun of you for being honest."

Alicia was easily provoked most of the time.

But she stood her ground this time. “Laugh all you want. It won't change my mind. I'm not teaching you anything."

"Fine. I understand. You're just used to being second best." Caden was provoking her again.

Alicia's head snapped up at his words. She took the bait without hesitation. “What do you mean by that?"

Caden kept his expression serious, making his ridiculous statements sound almost believable. "When it comes to kissing skills, that male lead on TV is first, and you're second. It's just like our old competitions. For over a decade, you were always second place."

Alicia stared at him, completely speechless.

Caden had successfully ignited Alicia's anger. He made no effort to calm her down. Instead, he sat back, watching with amusement as she slowly lost her temper.

Alicia couldn't hold herself back any longer. She leaned forward and bit his lips.

At first, her actions were filled with fierce determination. But as the moment stretched on, she felt embarrassment bubbling up, mixed with a surge of nervous excitement. Her resolve began to falter, and she wanted to pull away.

Before she could do so, Caden wrapped his long arms around her and lifted her onto his lap. He used just enough strength to keep her close, making any escape impossible.