Chapter 19

Lila As soon as Caden stood up and left, it took everything in me not to follow him. The tension in the dining room was unbearable with him across the table. Every time our eyes met, it felt like my heart skipped a beat, and when I brushed against his leg earlier, I could barely keep my composure. I’d wanted to burst out laughing, but it wasn’t just amusement; it was something deeper, more intense. I shook my head and forced myself to focus on my dinner, knowing that if I left now, Ronan would get suspicious. Still, the idea of sneaking away to join Caden wherever he’d gone was tempting, but I couldn't. My brother had hawk eyes and instincts and even though he trusted me, I knew he'd notice if I disappeared right after Caden. Everyone knew that he was a playboy afterall. Besides, I had more pressing matters to deal with—like my school project, which was due soon, and I hadn’t even started. The conversation dragged on. Ethan continued to ramble on about diplomacy and pack politics, whil