Chapter 64

Ethan The breakfast table was calm on the surface, but beneath the quiet clinking of cutlery and casual conversation, something simmered. I sat back, taking in the dynamic around me, though my attention kept drifting to the silent exchanges between Caden and Lila. It wasn’t obvious. Not the kind of interaction anyone who wasn’t paying attention would catch. But I was paying attention. I always paid attention. Caden’s sharp gaze flicked to Lila’s more often than necessary. And her subtle reactions—a twitch of her lips, the slight tilt of her head—were enough to confirm my suspicions. There was something between them, something they thought they could hide. I swirled the wine in my glass, feigning disinterest, but every stolen glance, every fleeting expression, fueled my unease. How was I supposed to pursue someone whose heart held another? It was like setting up myself for trouble and heartache. Caden was back in Silver Lake to take a rest from work. At least, that was the official stor