Chapter: 381
Her jaw tightened, and she let out a frustrated breath through her nose.
She thought to herself, “The sooner this is done, the sooner he'll be out of my hair."
With a resigned sigh, she fetched the tie and stepped in front of him, her fingers deftly working to knot the fabric around his neck.
The tie was in place in the blink of an eye.
However, before she could step back, Caden's hand wandered, caressing the curve of her butt. His tone softened, not as playful as before.
"Does it really hurt that much?"
Alicia stiffened, her heart giving a small jolt at the sudden shift in his mood. The unexpected tenderness caught her off guard.
“It's. I mean, I'm fine," she stammered, clearing her throat as she brushed his hand away. “As long as you don't touch it, it doesn't hurt."
But Caden refused to pull away.
If anything, his hand lingered, gently rubbing her butt as though to comfort her.
Alicia bit her lip, shifting her weight closer to him. "I'm fine now," she added softly, hoping he'd take the hint.
His eyes darkened, his gaze locking onto hers with a different intensity. Without warning, his hand slipped beneath her clothes, his hot fingertips grazing her skin. "I'll be busy this afternoon," he murmured, his voice low, almost intimate. "Might be back late tonight, so you'd better not fall asleep. Wait for me."
Alicia didn't give him a direct answer.
She pushed him aside, turned on her heel, and walked away.
Even with her quick steps and composed face, Caden could see everything from his height, including the way her ears turned red.
Her true feelings weren't hidden at all.
He smiled, straightened the creases in his shirt from her touch, and left the room.
When Alicia returned to the living room, her heart still pounded. She couldn't settle down, no matter how long she waited.
Something felt different.
However, she couldn't figure out when the shift began.
Shortly after Caden left, the clothes arrived.
Alicia was caught off guard.
It wasn't just one dress; it was an entire collection of clothes, bags, jewelry, and more.
Every season seemed accounted for.
As the cloakroom was filled up with items, Alicia called Caden. "Why did you suddenly buy me all of this?"
“They're gifts from business partners. Instead of letting them sit around in the company warehouse, I figured you could use them.”
Alicia didn't know how to respond.
His explanation made sense, but something still felt strange.
Still, his intentions seemed good.
With that in mind, Alicia said, "I can't let you spend on everything. I'll handle the other living expenses."