Chapter: 506

If he refused to accept her simple apology, then what did he want?

A meal? Some other form of compensation? That didn't seem like Caden's style.

Before she could dwell on it, his deep, smooth voice cut through the silence. "Are you really sorry?"

Even over the phone, the weight of his tone sent a shiver down her spine.

She felt light-headed, as though she were teetering on the edge of a trap she hadn't seen coming.

"Yes," she replied, though a bit dubious. "But... even though I didn't like you, it's not like you were affected, right?"

So, shouldn't a verbal apology be enough?

Caden let out a low chuckle, but it was anything but amused. “You say you're sorry, but you're so quick to back away."

At this, Alicia fell silent.

Guilt gnawed at her, though pride made her insistent on proving her sincerity. "Then... How do you want me to prove just how sorry I am?"

His scoff echoed in her ear, making her wince.

“Don't you already know?"

Alicia froze.

In that instant, she understood what he wanted.

Her first instinct was to hang up on him.

But Caden, calm as ever, added, "I won't force you. No need to be so scared of me."

"Who says I'm afraid of you?" she snapped, though her voice trembled just enough to give her away.

“Even your breathing's changed."

Being exposed so easily, she instinctively held her breath, but his knowing silence only made things worse.

Caden, not wanting to waste time, got straight to the point. "You don't have to come to me. Just give me an hour of your precious time and stay on the phone."

Her gut twisted.

This was a trap-and she had walked straight into it.

Though they'd had sex before, this was the first time she found herself having phone sex.

Caden took the lead, guiding her into something much more intimate.

He drew her in, his control absolute, leaving no room for shame.

Halfway through, Caden's voice broke the rhythm. “Answer three questions, and I'll cut the call short by twenty minutes."

Alicia, whose mind was spinning from the smutty conversation just now, fell silent.

She couldn't even think straight, let alone say something cohesive.

But somehow, her befuddled brain figured that answering his questions wouldn't do her any harm.

"Go ahead..." she murmured, her voice soft.