The water wrapped around Alicia like a tender embrace, its warmth so luxurious that she almost wondered if she was dreaming. Drowsiness overtook her, making it impossible to keep her eyes open. She managed to glimpse Caden through the haze, her voice barely above a whisper as she asked, “Are you done showering?”

Her senses were still dulled, and she wasn’t fully aware of the situation, her guard completely down. The softness in her tone, the delicate vulnerability in her gaze—she seemed like a petal drifting on a calm breeze. Caden’s lips curled into a subtle smile, barely noticeable, as he gently pressed his fingers against her skin.

“You still awake?” he whispered.

Alicia flinched at the gentle pressure, her foot jerking reflexively and sending a small splash across the water. The sudden jolt cleared the fog from her mind. Realizing where she was, she instinctively wrapped her arms around herself, her pulse quickening. “What’s happening? Why am I here?”

Hadn’t she been waiting outside for him to finish just now?

“You dozed off,” Caden replied, his tone casual, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “So I carried you in.”

Alicia blinked in shock. Had she fallen into such a deep sleep that she hadn’t felt a thing? Her gaze dropped to her bare body beneath the water, and her cheeks flushed with sudden heat. “Did you… take my clothes off?!”

Caden’s eyes briefly shifted to the soaked dress strewn on the floor. Earlier, when he stepped out of the shower, he found her curled up, shivering in the cold, her lips tinged with blue. He didn’t think twice; he scooped her up into his arms, knowing she’d catch a terrible cold if he hadn’t helped her into warm water.

“Yeah,” he admitted without hesitation.

Alicia’s face burned a deeper shade of red. “Why didn’t you just wake me up?” she demanded, her voice rising in embarrassment.

“I couldn’t,” Caden said, his tone still unbothered. “Why else did I wake you up like that?”

Next chapter at g𝕒𝓵𝓃ov𝕖𝓵𝓼.cоm

“Like what?” Her brow furrowed in confusion.

Instead of answering right away, Caden’s fingers grazed her knee again, the touch sending an unexpected jolt through her.

“Hey!” Alicia gasped, the sudden pain startling her into kicking her legs beneath the water. The movement sent ripples across the surface, briefly revealing glimpses of her smooth skin.

Caden didn’t even pretend to look away. Noticing his bold stare, heat rose to Alicia’s cheeks. She quickly sank deeper into the water, her arms instinctively wrapping around her chest in a feeble attempt to shield herself.

Caden’s gaze lingered, his eyes dark and unapologetic. His voice was low, almost teasing as he spoke, “Why bother covering up? I’ve already seen it all.” The words stunned her into silence.

Even with the subtle tension crackling between them, she knew he wouldn’t dare make a move—at least, not here.

When he stood, his towering form cast a shadow over her. With a lazy smirk, he said, “Go ahead and wash yourself up.”

Alicia hurried through the bath. Less than twenty minutes later, she limped out, her skin flushed and damp. Caden was waiting, lounging in a chair draped in nothing but a dark robe. In his hand, he held a small bottle of ointment.

Earlier, he had taken a moment to check her injured knee. Thankfully, the bruise wasn’t serious. The ointment would be enough to soothe it.

Without hesitation, Alicia accepted the bottle. She poured a bit of the cool liquid into her palm before gently rubbing it into the sore spot.

Outside, the weather had taken a turn for the worse, rain drumming steadily against the windows. Yet inside, the room glowed with the soft amber light of the lamps. Despite the brooding atmosphere, the warmth of Caden’s presence unexpectedly made her feel safe, as if he could keep the darkness at bay.

He didn’t speak, his attention fixed on the brewing storm outside. His expression was distant, unreadable. Minutes ticked by, the silence between them growing heavy.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning slashed across the sky, followed by deafening thunder. Startled, Alicia’s gaze flew to Caden.

It was only then that she noticed the slight tremor in his tightly clenched fists. Her breath caught in her throat.

For all his usual composure and arrogance, Alicia would never have guessed that the domineering Caden could be rattled by something as ordinary as a thunderstorm. Normally, she might have teased him for it, but tonight, with the storm crashing around them, she bit back the words.

Because she, too, was afraid of thunder.

It was a fear she had carried since the night her parents died. Every crack of lightning and gust of wind seemed to mock her, taunting her loneliness. Wrapped tightly in blankets, she had spent countless nights staring into the blackness, hoping for some comfort that never came. No one had been there to whisper, “Don’t be afraid.” So, she’d seal her eyes shut, willing herself to endure until the light of dawn.

As another flash of lightning sliced through the dark sky, Alicia called out, “Caden.”

He slowly turned his head toward her. His eyes carried a deep, chilling coldness, almost impenetrable. But in a heartbeat, that icy exterior softened, settling into a calm and composed demeanor. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice a low, magnetic rumble.

She watched as his hands gradually relaxed, his clenched fists loosening.

“You were doing so well abroad,” she began, her curiosity getting the better of her. “Why did you come back?”

Caden’s response was nonchalant, almost dismissive. “For the inheritance.”

Alicia’s brow arched slightly. “But you don’t seem to be fighting for it.” Such an obvious thing hadn’t escaped her notice.

The dark glint in Caden’s eyes dissipated, replaced by a wanton smile.

“Why the sudden interest?” he asked, his tone dripping with playful suspicion. “Are you gathering intel for Joshua, or are you planning to team up with me against him?”

Alicia’s lips curved into a small, amused smile. “Just asking,” she replied casually, but her true motive lingered beneath the surface. She only wanted to divert his attention, keep him occupied, and shield him from the storm raging outside.

“I could ask you the same question.”

Not one to let things go easily, Caden pressed, “What’re you doing here with the Yates family?”

She brushed off his question with a shrug. “I don’t want to struggle anymore. I’m here to enjoy life under Joshua’s protection.”

Caden’s grin widened, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “What if I beat him? The Yates family will be mine… and so will you?”

Alicia’s mouth twitched.

He was being roguish again, and for a moment, Alicia allowed herself to forget the scared child she had seen in him just moments before. She quickly pushed aside the fleeting sympathy and capped the ointment bottle in her hands, setting it aside with a soft thud.

“I’m leaving,” she announced, her voice firm.

She moved toward the door, pausing briefly to check the hallway. Satisfied that no one was nearby, she hobbled out, leaning against the wall for support.

But as she rounded the corner, her heart leapt into her throat.

Standing directly in her path was Shelia, her insincere smile as sharp as the daggers her eyes threw at Alicia. Shelia had clearly been waiting there for a while.

“Alicia,” she purred, her voice dripping with false concern. “What were you doing alone in a room with Caden for so long?”