Chapter: 517

Memories began to flood back.

Scattered images from the past resurfaced.

He suddenly remembered the day he had an argument with Alicia.

"Hank." Caden spoke out of the blue. "Did Alicia ever gift me a scarf similar to this?"

Hank was taken aback, momentarily unsure.

He examined the bag closely. "I believe so- It's been some time. That was the last day Ms. Bennett was here."

Caden remained silent, realizing the connection.

The conflict had escalated quickly, and they had parted ways under strained circumstances. He had carelessly thrown the scarf aside, unaware of where it might end up.

However, Yolanda had found it and flaunted it in front of Alicia before he discarded it into the bin.

If his memory served him correctly, that scarf was the first significant gift Alicia had presented to him.

He queried Hank, "Do you recall the look on Alicia's face when she last visited?"

Hank remembered vividly. "She was ecstatic. Her eyes were shining brightly, much like stars. I even joked if she was planning a date with you after work."

Caden felt a tightness in his chest, a weight of regret pressing down on him.

He knew Alicia had feelings for him and could only imagine the high hopes she had when preparing the gift.

Yet, he had tossed her heartfelt gesture away as if it were mere trash.

Caden's expression soured as he tossed the scarf to Hank. “Here, take this," he said, his voice cold.

Hank caught the scarf awkwardly, feeling its weight Like a hot potato.

“But sir, Miss Moss bought this specifically for you."

“I don't want it," Caden retorted sharply. “If it's of no use to you, then throw it away or use it for cleaning."

Frustration welled up inside him as he considered that Alicia's unusual behavior the previous night might have stemmed from these misunderstandings.

She was usually quick-witted, yet she chose to remain silent in crucial moments.

If she felt jealous or hurt, why couldn't she just say so?

Instead, she insisted on opposing him at every turn.

Determined not to indulge her any longer, Caden decided to put the matter behind him.

Following Caden's instructions, Hank made a reservation for dinner at a trendy new restaurant.

As they drove, Caden glanced at the map and instructed Hank to take a detour.

Hank's curiosity piqued. “Are we stopping to pick something up, sir?"

Caden replied indifferently, "No, there's hardly any traffic on this route."

Hank glanced at the navigation screen. "But the recommended route isn't congested either, and taking your suggested path adds about twenty minutes."

Caden gave him a sharp look. “Do I need to repeat myself for you to understand?"