Chapter: 471

Ciara watched him closely. "You don't usually get this upset."

Caden frowned.

"Stop worrying about me."

Ciara replied, "If you don't want me to worry, then don't show it so clearly. Your feelings are obvious from your expression. I can't just overlook it."

After making her point, she smiled, somewhat pleased. “That girl really gets to you, huh?"

Caden's face turned even colder.

He turned and walked away, unwilling to stay any longer with Ciara.

Everything Ciara did or said seemed only to annoy him.

Yet, no one annoyed him quite as much as Alicia.

Merely thinking about her infuriated him for reasons he couldn't pin down.

She had feelings for him and didn't want to leave, yet she always resisted him.

She was very determined and hardheaded.

He fantasized about confining her and being intimate until she was too spent to argue.

It was late after dinner, and he had no intention of going out. He decided to spend the night.

Ciara had a room ready for him.

It was complete with everything necessary.

“Let's see if you can manage to sleep alone tonight," Ciara teased.

“You're not scared of the dark, are you, my dear grandson?"

Caden was momentarily at a loss for words.

He responded dryly, “I'm not scared of the dark; it's the incessant talking I can't stand. No talking after nine. It's irritating."

Ciara laughed softly.

She then hummed a tune as she left to care for her flowers.

Caden settled onto the sofa to watch TV.

He was distracted and clueless about what was on the screen.

Then, his phone, which he had carelessly thrown aside, began to vibrate.

It was Gerry, sounding thrilled.

“Get out here and have a drink, Caden!"

Caden wasn't feeling it. "I have stopped drinking."

"Sure you have. I'm texting you the address. Come join us. It'll be fun."

The loud music playing in the background on Gerry's side was overwhelming.