Chapter 32
Serena’s POV
He sat me down first before taking his seat across from me. As if anticipating his arrival, the chefs appeared almost immediately, setting down platters of food that looked more like a royal feast than a typical lunch.
The table was adorned with roasted meats, fresh salads, warm bread, and desserts that looked too perfect to eat. My stomach growled in response, but I hesitated.
“This…this is all for us?” I asked, glancing at him.
He grinned, leaning back in his seat. “Yep. Eat to your heart’s content.”
I couldn’t help but marvel at the spread. I’d spent most of my life eating simple meals to get by. This? This was luxury. My fingers hesitated over the cutlery, overwhelmed by the choices before me.
Caiden chuckled, watching me. “What, never seen food before?”
I glared at him, but my lips twitched into a small smile despite myself. “I’ve just never had anything this…extravagant.”
“Then dig in,” he said, motioning to the food.
As I began to eat, savoring each bite, I felt his gaze on me. It was steady, almost contemplative, but I ignored it.
“You look cute,” he said suddenly.
I choked on my food, coughing violently as I tried to process his words.
“Whoa, I’m sorry!” He quickly handed me a glass of water, his expression genuinely concerned.
I shook my head, taking a sip and letting the cool liquid soothe my throat.
Once I settled, he leaned forward slightly. “Why did you really choose Aeson’s pack over mine?”
I set my fork down, meeting his gaze. “I already told you. It’s what’s best for me and my family.”
His jaw tightened, and he almost rolled his eyes. “Is it because you’re crushing on him? Like some of the girls who can’t tell him because his…you know… betrothed?”
My eyes widened. “No!” I said, too quickly. But deep down, I argued with myself. Aeson was admirable in ways I didn’t want to admit.
Caiden sighed. “I didn’t like your decision, Serena. It hurt me, but it’s fine.”
“I’m sorry.”
He grinned, his playfulness returning. “Don’t sweat it.“/
I relaxed, the tension easing.
“So…do you have a boyfriend?” he asked casually, catching me off guard.
I coughed again, shaking my head, “No.”
He smirked. “It’s okay. I can be your boyfriend.”
I froze, staring at him in shock. His serious expression made my heart skip a beat.
But then he smiled, leaning back. “I’m joking.”
1/2
Chapter 32
The tension in the air was palpable, leaving me unsure of whether to believe him.
The silence stretched between us, thick and charged, as I sat across from Caiden in the cafeteria. The food was still rich and foreign to me, but the heaviness in the air had my appetite wavering. I watched as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his playful smirk softening just enough to make me wonder if this was a glimpse of the real him.
“Don’t think too much about what people say,” Caiden said suddenly, his tone light but carrying an undertone of seriousness. “They don’t matter. You do.
I blinked, taken aback by the unexpected sincerity. “I try not to, but it’s hard. People always have something to say.”
He shrugged as if it were the easiest thing in the world. “Then let them talk. Their opinions don’t pay your bills or change who you are.” His gaze pinned me in place, his voice dropping slightly. “I’ll still do my best to make sure you’re taken care of–your parents too. Even in Aeson’s pack.”
I frowned, my fork pausing mid–air. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I will,” he said, his voice firm. “I’ll do anything for the one that’s mine.”
My heart skipped a beat. The one that’s his? What did he mean by that?
I set my fork down, my palms suddenly clammy. “How do you mean?”
He leaned back, crossing his arms with a casual shrug. “Don’t think too hard about it, Serena. Just know I keep my word.”
There it was–that elusive, unreadable side of him again. It left me both curious and wary. Still, his words stayed with me, warming a part of me I hadn’t even realized was cold.
Chapter Comments
1
POST COMMENT NOW
SHARE
