Chapter 894:
Late into the night, Caden coaxed her into bed with a mix of gentle urging and playful insistence.
They simply slept, nothing more.
After a stressful day, Caden quickly succumbed to sleep, comforted by her presence.
Alicia, on the other hand, lay awake, too worried to fall asleep.
She shifted uncomfortably, turning away from Caden, and felt something hard under her pillow.
Reaching beneath the pillow, she found a thin picture frame.
Extracting it, she saw it was a photograph of herself, alone.
In the image, she wore a dark green camisole, crouched in the sunlight, holding and blowing bubbles toward the camera.
Her smile was wide, her eyes crescent-shaped, and her expression was bright, full of life.
The photo showed signs of frequent handling, each mark a silent testament to Caden’s deep longing for her.
Tears welled up in Alicia’s eyes, blurring her vision. She realized that she had once loved Caden with a depth she had never fully acknowledged. Even a simple photograph seemed to encapsulate the intensity of her feelings.
She had thought she hid it well, but deep down, she knew it had always been there. From childhood, they had competed in everything, even love, always cautious not to show too much investment. Yet, she had already given her heart away.
Alicia stared at the photo until Caden shifted closer, pulling her back to the present. She carefully placed the frame back where it belonged.
Caden nestled his head into her neck, his breath slow and rhythmic. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?” His voice was drowsy, almost dreamlike.
Startled, Alicia paused before responding, “I’ll sleep soon. Don’t worry.”
Caden gently turned her to face him. He opened his eyes just enough to look at her, his gaze weary and tinged with redness.
Alicia’s heart clenched, and she whispered in reply. Caden closed his eyes again, only to open them once more, his gaze intense, as if making sure she was really there.
Alicia didn’t pull away when his lips met hers. The kiss started softly, but as he sensed her acquiescence, he deepened it, his tongue seeking more.
The kiss lasted a long time, though he stopped short of going any further. Exhausted, Caden fell asleep with his hand still resting gently on her face, stroking it softly.noveldrama
In the dim light, Alicia studied his features. He hadn’t aged much physically, but the youthful bravado had shifted into a calmer poise in just two years.
She reached out to caress his prominent nose, then smoothed the worry lines on his brow. Quietly, she shifted his hand aside, slipped out of bed, and made her way to the study.
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