Chapter: 812

Alicia knew he was joking, but it still caught her off guard.

Midway, Caden confidently pulled into a store to grab some pre- ordered clothes.

When Alicia saw two bags, she asked, puzzled, "Why are they packed separately?"

Caden's eyes lit up. "I got two sets, one black and one white, to switch between."

Alicia went quiet, not a fan of chitchat in bed. She didn't like talking when being intimate with Caden on the bed. She just focused on having fun with him and didn't ask anything about his trip this time.

It wasn't until things calmed down and she was wrapped in the sheets, starting to drift off, that she casually asked, "Hey, did you finish your work in Devarlton?"

Caden murmured softly, "Yes, all done."

Alicia pressed on, "Why didn't you ask how I knew you went to Devarlton?"

Caden looked into her half-closed eyes and chuckled softly. "You're getting smarter."

Alicia didn't want to tiptoe around the issue. "You should explain it to me."

She needed to know why he lied to her and what the deal was with the photo Blake saw.

After all, she was his girlfriend now. She deserved to know.

Caden gently ran his hand along her smooth waist, his voice low and husky from their earlier moments together. "I didn't want to tell you until it was all set, just in case things didn't work out."

Alicia frowned and asked, "What were you up to?"

"I gave Lina's chip to Dorian."

Alicia tensed up. "You... But that's years of your hard work, right?"

Caden pulled her close, looking totally unfazed. "If I don't risk it all, that debt won't get paid off. I hate being controlled."

Alicia felt a chill run through her.

He was so decisive.

The Blizzard Group was up and running in no time, and its success came from countless sleepless nights.

The Lina robot was his crowning achievement, but once it was handed over, it became the Moss family's property. If Caden wanted to make another one, he'd have to get Dorian's approval.

And he would never create a fake version of the Lina robot.

So, they were right back where they started.

Alicia said softly, "You're really cautious about the Moss family."

Caden smirked. "Oh, are you throwing shade at me?"

Alicia met his gaze and said, "I'm just surprised by how powerful the Moss family is and your choice to make the deal." Then she added playfully, "You've really grown up."

Caden smiled faintly.

"Grown up" had never been something he asked for.

But losing his mother and being abandoned by the Yates family had left him no choice. When he returned to the Ward family, he'd been forced to grow up faster than he could keep up, relying only on his instincts and raw talent. It had been a rough journey.

His calm acceptance now was a hard-earned gift from a painful past.