Chapter: 515

She tried to console herself, to distance herself, to convince herself it didn't matter.

Yet, when Caden touched her, her facade crumbled.

She pressed her lips together, looking away as she said, “I'm sure you don't want the others to get the wrong idea, Mr. Ward."

Caden's sneer followed her words.

“What wrong idea?" he retorted coldly.

Alicia was at a loss for words, her lips still pressed tightly.

She was haunted by the memory of his concern for Yolanda and how he had dismissed her gift as if it were nothing.

Standing before him now, she felt utterly humiliated.

Trying to leave, Alicia turned to get into the car.

Caden caught her wrist, pulling her back sharply.

“Are you this two-faced, Alicia?" His dark eyes, filled with disapproval, bore into hers. "You act like a stranger when we aren't in bed," he accused.

His grip was painful, yet her heart felt nothing.

Desiring no confrontation, she replied softly, “We've made our position clear. What is it that you don't understand?"

"I understand. But do you?" he countered. "If you wanted to end things, why reach out to me afterwards?"

Alicia paused, struck by the question, then realized her mistake.

Avoiding his gaze, she confessed, "I wanted to apologize to you."

Caden's sneer deepened, his disbelief evident.

His smile sent a chill through her.

He clearly doubted her sincerity.

Regret for the past and guilt over her past disdain for him had filled her that night. So she had reached out to apologize.

Why would he believe her sincerity?

In his view, she was merely a source of pleasure, and any minor interaction was bound to lead to sexual encounters.

She was not Yolanda, and that difference loomed large between them.

Caden considered Yolanda his equal in status and skill, calling a marriage to her "a bargaining chip" in his candid moments.

Tears filled Alicia's eyes as she spoke softly. "I was wrong. Making that call was a mistake, and I shouldn't have faltered and spoken so irrationally with you for so long."

Caden's face was expressionless, his emotions hidden.

Tension filled the air.

She gathered her courage and faced him.

“What are we going to do?" she inquired. "Do you want another intimate encounter? I'll agree this time, and you can choose what happens. But after that, we go our separate ways. Is that acceptable?"

A spark of anger flashed in Caden's eyes, not of desire but of rage.