The sound of the door opening woke Alicia from her light sleep. She rubbed her eyes and looked up. “Why are you here?” she asked.

Caden, still suffering from a migraine caused by his hangover, didn’t respond immediately. The sleepless night he had, coupled with going an entire day on an empty stomach, left him in a foul mood. Anyone could tell he was fuming.

“When did you get back?” he asked, his voice sharp.

“A few minutes ago. I was just about to sleep,” Alicia confessed, her voice soft.

Caden’s expression hardened further as he quietly changed his shoes and walked off to wash his hands. The atmosphere in the room felt cold and unwelcoming. Alicia could practically feel his impatience hanging in the air. Confusion tugged at her, but her exhaustion outweighed everything else.

After jumping from the second floor last night and injuring her ankle, she had spent hours at the hospital, waiting for the swelling to subside. The night had felt endless, and with nowhere else to turn, she found herself back here, unsure of what to do. Alicia had assumed Caden stayed at the office all night and hadn’t expected him to return at seven in the morning. She watched him silently as he turned his back to her.

Once he washed his hands, he poured himself a glass of water. His tall frame radiated a harsh, unapproachable air. After finishing the water, he walked over and removed his coat.

Not wanting to leave room for misunderstandings, Alicia spoke up. “I went to the Yates Mansion yesterday—”

Before she could say more, Caden tossed his coat onto the sofa. That was when she caught the faint scent of alcohol.

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And then, there was something else—a woman’s perfume. This fact surprised her. Had he stayed out all night because he was with another woman?

Caden started unbuttoning his shirt without a word. “So? What happened next?”

Alicia felt a surge of bitterness rise within her, and she pressed her lips tightly together. “Nothing,” she muttered.

Caden glanced over at her. She was wrapped in a thin blanket, but he noticed that she had changed her clothes. Light marks on her neck caught his attention. They were barely visible, but enough for Caden to notice. At first glance, they looked like hickeys.

Caden scoffed.

He couldn’t help but picture what might have happened, and the thought ignited a spark of anger in him. “Didn’t you say Joshua was impotent?” he asked, his voice dripping with accusation.

Alicia stared at him in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

Caden suddenly realized how absurd his thoughts had become, and he let out a bitter laugh. “You’ve really outdone yourself,” he sneered. “Impressive.”

Alicia remained silent. When she understood the accusation behind his words, her heart sank. “Caden, what is the matter with you?” Did he actually see something? He didn’t even know enough to make accusations!

Caden stayed composed. “Did you at least shower? I don’t want my sofa tainted.”

Alicia’s eyes reddened with anger, and she bit her lip, glaring at him. “Do you really think I spent the night at the Yates Mansion, sleeping with Joshua?”

Caden’s expression remained indifferent. “What else am I supposed to think? Are you still playing innocent with him? At this point, what’s the point of pretending?”

Alicia had thought she could depend on him. And with everything she knew, what was left for her to be afraid of?

What Caden didn’t realize was that it was those very things that gave her the courage to confront Joshua the previous night. Unlike him, she couldn’t afford to assume victory. She had to carefully weigh every decision.

She had planned to explain everything, but now it felt pointless. Swallowing her grievance, she spoke with quiet disappointment. “Believe whatever you want.” She tossed the blanket aside and stood up. “Sorry for ruining your sofa. I’ll replace it.” With that, she turned to leave.

Caden’s voice hardened. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“None of your damned business!” Alicia growled.

“Make breakfast before you leave.”

Alicia leaned against the back of the sofa, her eyes reddened with anger as she glared at him. “Why should I? I cooked for you because I wanted to. Do you really think I’m your maid?”

Caden’s tone turned even more cutting. “Because of our agreement. We’re partners, not me helping you for free. If you can’t offer anything in return, why shouldn’t I treat you like a maid?”

Alicia’s fingers trembled slightly, but she didn’t respond.

Caden chuckled darkly. “What’s the matter? You’re not interested in keeping up your end of the bargain anymore? Are you feeling guilty for what you did with Joshua?”

In a lighter tone, he added, “Seems like he did quite a number on you last night, considering how easily you’ve changed your mind.”

At that, Alicia lost her composure. Tears began to form in her eyes.

Seeing her like this, something twisted in Caden’s chest. He had never seen her cry, except after their encounters. Were his comments really that cruel?

His headache, combined with the pressure building in his chest, was unbearable now.

Still, he didn’t hold back.

Alicia stayed silent for a moment, but when she finally spoke, her voice wavered. “I must have been completely out of my mind to ever trust you, Caden!”

He had always been cruel—he had taught her that lesson over and over again, from childhood up to now—but she never learned.

She had brought this on herself.

Alicia wiped away the tears threatening to spill and spoke with clarity. “You’ll never taste my cooking again!”

“Eat shit, asshole,” she growled inwardly.

Her anger was so intense that she didn’t even notice the pain in her ankle as she stormed toward the door.

Just as her hand reached the handle, Caden’s voice cut through the air. “So, I guess that means our deal is over.”