Chapter 203:
Alicia’s stubbornness surpassed Caden’s expectations. He scoffed. “You can’t even ensure your own safety, yet you fuss over trivialities.”
“If I can’t live, so be it,” Alicia responded, her voice raspy as she clutched the blanket tightly. “What’s the point of living if I’m always under someone’s control?”
She turned away, unable to stop the tears that burned her cheeks and fell onto his arm. Embarrassed, she pushed him away.
Caden made no move to touch her again, and a heavy silence settled between them.
After a pause, he broke the silence coldly. “Alicia, your feelings are too cheap. What do you see in me?”
Alicia’s complexion paled. “Maybe,” she whispered, contemplating her constant emotional turmoil even after a disastrous marriage. She had come to believe that if something went wrong, it wasn’t the ingredients, but the chefs at fault.
In this day and age, wearing one’s heart on their sleeve was foolishness.
“Caden, if you expect me to depend on you, prove you can handle me,” she said flatly. “If not, it’s best we go our separate ways.”
“If I really tried, could you handle it?” Caden shot back sharply.
“You’re just looking for a partner in bed,” she retorted. “You feel nothing for me. What’s the point of all this talk? Do you even care if I can’t handle it?”
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Caden’s expression darkened, storm clouds gathering in his eyes.
Losing patience, he tossed aside the blanket and got out of bed. “You’re planning to open a gallery, right? I’ve arranged for someone to set it up. Once the paperwork is ready, talk to Gerry.”
Alicia’s throat tightened at his icy tone.
“No.”
“Whether you like it or not, it’s yours to manage now. I’ve reaped the benefits these past few months, and that’s your compensation,” he declared, standing tall.
His silhouette merged with the light, leaving a chilling impression behind.
“When you leave tomorrow, don’t forget your stupid dog,” he added coldly. Alicia stood frozen.
He had made his stance clear. With that, they were on the verge of becoming strangers.
His mention of the gallery seemed to erase every trace of their recent history, leaving no room for reconciliation.
Alicia tensed slightly as she heard the door close behind him. She paused, taking a moment to collect herself, then reached for her phone to arrange for movers. Soon after, she began packing her belongings.
In the living room, Caden sat smoking. He watched her silently, his expression unreadable. He made no move to intervene.
Alicia had only been here a few months. Their days had been filled with shared meals and intimacy, yet she had very little to show for her time here. After packing, including some of Cade’s things, all her belongings barely filled one suitcase.
Despite feeling weak, Alicia composed herself, determined to not show any vulnerability. Her hands trembled as she prepared to leave with the suitcase.
Caden noticed her effort to remain composed, and it only fueled his irritation. He took a deep drag from his cigarette, the smoke harsh in his throat.
“Would it really be so bad to stay one more night?” he asked.
Facing away from him, Alicia felt a surge of resentment. “I don’t want to be in the way.”
The movers arrived downstairs promptly. The driver called up impatiently, “Why aren’t you down yet? It’s freezing out here!”
“Just a moment, I’ll be right there,” Alicia replied softly.
When the driver realized she was a woman, his tone softened. “Do you need help with your things?”
“No, there’s no need,” Alicia answered.
Cradling Cade in one arm and holding her suitcase in the other, she exited the apartment.
Caden forcefully extinguished his cigarette, snuffing out the ember.
The cigarette was extinguished, but the emotional turmoil inside him only intensified.
Alicia understood Caden well. She knew he meant every word he had spoken that night. He wasn’t the type to beg or plead. He had tolerated the situation for only so long before reaching his breaking point. Resolved, Alicia decided she would sever all ties with him. The hotel she had initially booked felt unsafe, prompting her to switch to another one. As she lay in bed, thoughts of Caden invaded her mind.
Her heart ached, a tingling sensation filled her nose, and silent tears streamed down her face. Joshua, who had been part of her life for years, brought feelings of gratitude and guilt, but they paled in comparison to the heartache Caden had caused. Thinking of Caden felt like an endless downpour, chilling her heart without reprieve. She spent the entire night awake.
When her alarm sounded at dawn, Alicia turned it off mechanically and rose to prepare for the day. Her sleep had been restless, and her stomach ached, but missing work wasn’t an option.
As she exited the bathroom, her phone rang unexpectedly—it was Caden.
Hesitant, she answered but remained silent.
Caden spoke with detachment. “You left something in the cloakroom.”
Leaning weakly against the table, Alicia listened as he reminded her of the clothes, jewelry, and bags he had bought, none of which she had used.
“I haven’t opened any of them. Do with them as you please.”
“I’ll dispose of everything,” he said coldly, his voice sending a shiver down her spine.
He ended the call abruptly.
Clutching her phone, Alicia was overwhelmed by the memories of shopping trips with Caden, feeling a numbing sense of loss.
Lost in her thoughts, she eventually regained her composure and took a painkiller to ease her discomfort.
