Chapter: 403

“Why are you laughing?"

The sensation of her lashes tickled him, warming his heart.

He tightened his embrace. "I'm laughing at your silliness. I'm just tired, not helpless. What were you trying to achieve? Did you want me to lie completely on top of you? Considering your petite frame, are you certain you can handle that?"

Alicia hesitated before saying, "I just..."

All she wanted was for him to be more comfortable. She hadn't considered whether she could physically support him.

Feeling too shy to express this, she quickly changed the subject.

"Just go to sleep."

With the traffic at a standstill, it would be at least another hour before they reached home.

Caden settled her on his lap.

He nestled his face into her neck and took a deep breath, savoring her fragrance.

For a moment, he was utterly enchanted.

Despite his exhaustion, he was typically vigilant and rarely slept soundly.

But now, it seemed like he had taken a sedative, and he fell asleep almost immediately.

Alicia listened to his regular breathing.

Without thinking, she began to gently stroke his hair.

She couldn't explain why she felt compelled to touch him.

Upon realizing this, she became flustered and quickly pulled her hand back.

She consciously avoided further contact or even looking at him and gazed out the window.

Hank noticed that Caden had dozed off.

This was the first time he saw Caden so relaxed, asleep in the car with a woman cradled in his arms. He felt a mix of relief and concern.

"Mr. Ward has been on a business trip for three consecutive days. He only managed to catch two or three hours of sleep each day, and even then, he was easily disturbed by any noise."

Alicia was taken aback and said in a lowered voice, "Was he that overwhelmed?”

“The foundation here isn't as solid as it is overseas, and it's not just the workload. Other issues are weighing on him too."

He left it vague, and Alicia understood it was best not to probe further.

They finally reached the apartment garage.

Hank discreetly exited the car without disturbing Caden.

As sleep eluded her, Alicia opened his laptop to address a persistent product issue.

Although she had Limited experience, her ability to learn quickly was evident. After analyzing several case studies, she formulated a new strategy based on her insights.

Once she completed the task, she sent it off.

The buzzing of his phone roused Caden from his sleep.