Chapter 26

Lila As I sipped the last of my wine, I let my eyes wander around the restaurant, careful not to let them land on him again. But it was impossible to resist. The moment my gaze met Caden’s cold, piercing eyes, my heart betrayed me, skipping a beat. The glass in my hand trembled slightly, and I quickly reached for my water, trying to steady myself. Why is he looking at me like that? I took a long sip, hoping to calm my nerves, when I noticed something that sent a chill down my spine. Caden was heading straight toward us. His long strides made him seem even taller than usual, his white shirt crisp under the restaurant’s soft lighting. He wore a tailored black jacket that framed his broad shoulders perfectly, and his dark jeans added an effortless edge to his polished look. The kind of look that made people stop and stare. The kind of look that made it so fucking hard to breathe when he was near. I watched as he approached, the air growing heavy with anticipation. Ethan, sitting across fr