Chapter: 711

Knowing the strain between Alicia and Caden, she didn't dare to give too much away. "I'm not certain... probably not for a month or so."

A shadow of impatience crossed Caden's face just as Gerry arrived.

Before he could even ask anything, Caden spoke, his voice cold and casual. “Don't bother. She's not here.”

Gerry blinked, at a loss for words.

Caden had originally booked a dinner reservation for the evening, but the thought of going now felt pointless.

With a dismissive wave, he handed the reservation off to Gerry, then returned to his empty apartment, placing the bouquet he had bought in a vase.

The vibrant petals, still full of life, was a painful reminder of Alicia's absence from his life.

Lately, the distance between them had become more than just physical.

Months had passed with more silence than conversation, more space than closeness.

Now, with another month of absence looming ahead, it was obvious she was slipping further away from him.

For the first time, Caden felt suffocated.

First, it was just a month. Then two. Then six. Obviously, she was testing how long she could endure this separation-until eventually, she might not return at all.

A sharp ache twisted in Caden's chest, an unfamiliar tightness he couldn't shake.

His jaw clenched as his resolve hardened. Without a second thought, he snatched his car keys and left.

Getting a hold of Alicia's itinerary was easy. By evening, Caden had already landed in Bechorion, determination etched into his features.

It didn't take long to find her hotel, and after pulling a few strings, he gained access to her room.

But nothing was as Caden had imagined.

Alicia wasn't there.

The room had been booked under her name, her details were all correct, but she was nowhere to be found.

After asking around, Caden discovered the check-in had been a decoy.

She knew he'd come after her, and she had purposely led him astray.

Obviously, she really didn't want to see him.

She'd gone to great lengths to avoid him, and that stung.

Caden let out a bitter laugh. Instead of storming out, he took a long, hot shower in the room she'd used to trick him. Later, he stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the sprawling skyline of Bechorion, the flickering city lights reflecting his restless thoughts.

He smoked a few cigarettes, one after the other, the bitter taste matching his mood.

It felt awful to be played like this. He knew Alicia resented him, but still, he couldn't help but try to win her back.

It was pointless, and he was determined to not let it bother him.

But his resolve only lasted a second before Alicia consumed his mind again.

What could he do?

He'd wronged her first, and then he had fallen head over heels for her-now he was paying the price, trapped in a game he couldn't win.