Chapter 203

Alice's stubbornness surpassed Caden's expectations. "You can't even guarantee your own safety, and yet you worry about trivial things," he scoffed.

"If I can't live, so be it," Alice replied, her voice hoarse. She gripped the blanket tightly. "What's the point of living if I'm always under someone's control?"

Tears streamed down her face, and she pushed him away, embarrassed. Caden didn't touch her again; a heavy silence fell between them.

After a pause, he spoke coldly. "Alice, your feelings are too cheap. What do you see in me?"

Alice's face paled. "Perhaps," she whispered, reflecting on her emotional turmoil even after a disastrous marriage. She'd come to believe that in any failure, the problem lay not with the ingredients, but the cooks. In this day and age, wearing your heart on your sleeve was folly.

"Caden, if you expect me to depend on you, prove you can handle me," she said flatly. "If not, we should separate."

"If I really tried, could you handle it?" Caden snapped.

"You're just looking for a bed partner," she retorted. "You have no feelings for me. What's the point of this? Do you even care if I can't stand it?"

Caden's expression darkened. Losing patience, he threw aside the blanket and got out of bed. "You're opening a gallery, aren't you? I've arranged for its setup. Talk to Gerry once the paperwork's ready."

Alice felt a lump in her throat. "No."

"Like it or not, it's yours to manage now. Consider it compensation for the past few months," he declared, his silhouette stark against the light.

"When you leave tomorrow, don't forget your stupid dog," he added coldly. Alice froze. He'd made his position clear: they were becoming strangers. His mention of the gallery erased their recent intimacy, leaving no room for reconciliation.

She tensed as the door closed. Composing herself, she called the movers and began packing.

In the living room, Caden smoked, watching her silently, his expression unreadable. He didn't intervene. She'd been there only a few months, sharing meals and intimacy, yet her possessions were few; even Caden's belongings barely filled a suitcase.

Despite feeling weak, Alice maintained her composure. Her hands trembled as she prepared to leave. Caden noticed her struggle, fueling his irritation. He took a deep drag on his cigarette.

"Would it really be so bad to stay one more night?" he asked.

Alice turned her back, resentment evident. "I don't want to get in the way."

The removal men arrived downstairs. The driver called impatiently, "Why aren't you downstairs yet? It's freezing!"

"Just a moment," Alice replied softly. His tone softened when he saw her. "Do you need help?"

"No, thank you," she said, cradling her dog, Cade, in one arm and her suitcase in the other as she left.

Caden forcefully extinguished his cigarette, but the emotional turmoil within only intensified. Alice understood; he wasn't one to beg. She'd reached her breaking point, resolving to cut ties. Unsure about her initial hotel booking, she changed to another. Lying in bed, thoughts of Caden tormented her. Her heart ached, tears flowed silently; the pain far outweighed the gratitude and guilt she felt for Joshua, a man who'd been in her life for years. The thought of Caden was a relentless downpour, chilling her to the bone. She lay awake all night.

When her alarm rang at dawn, Alice turned it off and got ready. She'd slept poorly, her stomach ached, but she couldn't miss work. As she left the bathroom, her phone rang: it was Caden.

He spoke hesitantly, then casually. "You left something in the closet."

Leaning weakly against the table, Alice listened as he listed the unworn clothes, jewelry, and handbags she'd bought.

"I haven't opened any. Do what you want with them."

"I'll get rid of everything," he said coldly, his voice chilling her. He hung up abruptly.

Clutching her phone, Alicia was overwhelmed by memories of shopping with Caden, a numb sense of loss washing over her. Regaining her composure, she took a painkiller.