Alicia knew she could never escape the depths of her love for him.

“I will come back and cook for you,” she said. “It will take me only twenty minutes by car.”

Caden smiled knowingly. “Alright,” he replied.

He was actually just teasing her.

At that moment, he believed he was the luckiest man alive. His fatigue disappeared entirely, replaced by a thrilling sense of anticipation. He slipped on his coat and prepared to go home. The roads were congested, turning the usual twenty-minute drive into a much longer journey.

When Alicia finally pulled up, Caden stood waiting at the door, checking the time on his watch.

“You’re late,” he said with a playful tone.

She handed him her bag and knelt down to change her shoes. “I hit a traffic jam on the way. Didn’t you get caught in it?”

“Nope. They built a special road just for me,” he replied with a smirk.

Alicia rolled her eyes at him. He was such an idiot.

As she moved to wash up and start cooking, Caden wrapped his arms around her. He gently caressed her back through the sweater before slipping his fingers underneath it.

She couldn’t help but shiver as a chill ran through her. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

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“I ordered a gourmet meal. It should arrive soon.” He knew she had been busy all day, so he didn’t want her to cook. He pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her lips. “We can enjoy some time together before dinner comes.”

Alicia gazed into his eyes, noticing the intense and unsettling desire swirling within them.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she whispered, “Have you forgotten what day it is?”

Caden’s thoughts drifted elsewhere. It took a moment before he was able to speak. “What day? Is it the anniversary of our first night together?”

Alicia found herself at a loss for words.

“Really? Is that how you want to play this?” she thought.

Instead of speaking, she pulled him in for a passionate kiss.

Just as Caden felt himself losing control, he hit an unexpected wall. He stopped for a moment, breathing heavily as he gazed into her eyes.

Alicia looked back at him with wide, innocent eyes. “What’s the matter, Mr. Ward?”

Caden’s face revealed nothing. “Are you on your period?”

“Yes, it’s the first day,” she admitted.

Caden swallowed hard, feeling the tension build in his forehead.

“Then why are you trying to seduce me?”