Chapter: 553

He accepted the breakfast delivered by the innkeeper.

Noticing Caden's energy, the innkeeper was astonished. "You've got impressive stamina, young man!"

She was amazed that after such an intense night, he was already up and about.

He was quite a rarity.

Caden didn't bother with false humility. "It's the perk of being young," he said.

At twenty-five, even an all-nighter wasn't much of a challenge for him.

After breakfast, he sat by the window to work online. In the afternoon, a beam of sunlight fell onto the keyboard, creating a soft glow.

He Looked up.

He was pleasantly surprised by the rare sunny weather for this time of year.

It felt like an unexpected blessing.

Then he turned his gaze to the woman sleeping on the bed and smiled.

A phone call broke the moment.

He answered, saying, “What's up?"

Gerry's voice was laced with concern. “Are you okay?"

They had spoken on the phone a few days earlier, and Caden had reassured him everything was fine, asking them not to visit. But after a few days, Gerry's worry prompted him to call again.

"Yes. We'll be back in a couple of days."

Gerry breathed a sigh of relief but picked up on something unusual in Caden's tone. "It's already afternoon. Why do you sound like you just woke up? Did you sleep in?"

"Yeah, I slept in a little today," Caden replied, sounding upbeat.

Gerry teased, "Did Alicia put some kind of spell on you? Your time is usually more valuable than gold, yet here you are, lingering in bed."

Caden chuckled. "That's pretty accurate."

Gerry was caught off guard by Caden's honesty and couldn't help but make a sound of surprise.

“But it's Thanksgiving Day the day after tomorrow. Aren't you coming back? You're really going to spend it at the foot of that mountain?"

Caden wasn't concerned with such traditions.

"Yeah."

"Come on, join us. Bring Alicia along," Gerry said. He was eager to see Caden's soft spot for Alicia, as he had never seen Caden act this way toward anyone. "Come back. Let's hang out. I'll even cover the whole night."

Caden replied coldly, "No. I'm ending the call."

Gerry pleaded, "Come on! I'm practically begging here."

Caden paused.

"Do you have a thing for me?" he asked bluntly. "Not in this lifetime. I only like women. Maybe in the next life."

Gerry was momentarily speechless. "Thanks, but no. Even if you liked men in the next life, I wouldn't be into you."