Chapter 391:

Ciara voiced her concern for Ray. "He's quite thin," she noted. "It was freezing outside, and he was only wearing a T-shirt and shorts. He must have been terribly cold."

Just as Caden started toward the stairs to check on Ray, Ciara stopped him. "I forgot to mention," she said, "Alicia baked some pastries. I've saved a few for you."

Caden's heart quickened at the mention of Alicia's pastries. He adored her cooking. Alicia's culinary skills were as visually appealing and aromatically delightful as she was herself; her dishes always held a certain allure, their flavors irresistibly memorable. Lost in anticipation, he missed the knowing glint in Ciara's eyes. The pastries included two of Caden's favorite flavors.

"Alicia really cares about you," Ciara said earnestly.

Caden knew this, but he still sought confirmation. "How so?"

There were eight pastries in total. Four were his two favorite flavors; the remaining four were unique varieties. Coincidence, or deliberate?

Caden grinned. The pastry melted deliciously on his tongue, but it was his heart that felt truly satisfied. Ciara's expression softened as he finished.

"Are you full?" she asked.

Caden wiped his hands, then realized he might have overindulged. "A little," he admitted.

Ciara laughed softly. "You usually stop at about seventy percent full. But today, you had a large lunch, and now you've eaten four pastries. Even when your stomach said 'no,' you kept eating as if worried they'd vanish." She concluded, "Caden, you're clearly obsessed."

Caden wiped his mouth, offering a half-smile. "I guess so."

Ciara's face brightened. "Are you thinking of marrying her?"

Caden's response was noncommittal. "If she agrees, I will."

Meanwhile, Alicia had just learned that Ray feared the police. Though unsure of the reason, she avoided mentioning them, instead encouraging him to eat. Ray gazed at her intently, his expression earnest and questioning, as if wondering why she was so kind.

"I brought you here," she explained, "so it's my responsibility to look after you." She offered him warm soup. "You seem well cared for, so you must have relatives. Did you come to Warrington alone to find them?"

Ray remained silent, his eyes fixed on the soup as he swallowed hard. Alicia spooned some soup, cooled it gently, and brought it to his lips. He opened his mouth immediately. After feeding him a few spoonfuls, she handed him the bowl to finish. Even then, he didn't reveal his family. His face displayed a mixture of stubbornness and resentment.