Rosaline's POV: Caden's sudden, domineering kiss caught me completely off guard. It felt like he was stealing my breath away, leaving me gasping for air, on the verge of suffocation. We had shared countless intimate moments before, but never had I felt this overwhelmed—this mixture of passion and humiliation. My heart pounded wildly. I couldn't let this continue. Summoning all my strength, I pushed Caden away, my brows furrowing as I demanded, "Caden, what do you think you're doing?" Sensing my resistance, he finally stopped. His deep, intense gaze locked onto mine. Desperate to change the subject, I quickly said, "Didn't you say there was an urgent matter with the Azure Bay project?" "Yeah." Caden finally shifted his focus and said in a low voice, "Come with me." With that, he turned and walked toward the study. I hesitated for a moment before following him. Caden opened his laptop and pulled up an email. His long fingers tapped the screen as he explained, "Tomorrow at ten a.m., there's a bidding meeting for the Azure Bay project. Here's an overview of the process. You're coming with me." "That's it?" I glanced at the screen. It was just a meeting. I wasn't sure why this was considered an emergency. Caden's lips curled slightly as he said coolly, "This meeting is important. BPL's CEO, Everett, will be attending." Everett? A fleeting image of a man in a charcoal-gray suit with tanned skin flashed through my mind. If Caden was placing so much importance on this meeting, it meant he was eager to meet BPL's elusive CEO. "Got it," I nodded. "I'll be there on time. If there's nothing else, I should get going."I turned toward the door, ready to leave. "Rosaline." Caden suddenly stood up, his long legs closing the distance in an instant as he blocked my path. I pressed my lips together. "What now?" "It's already late. Stay here tonight." His dark eyes studied me as he spoke. I shook my head. "I'd rather go home." That kiss earlier had shaken me more than I wanted to admit. It had been so intense that, for a brief moment, I had nearly lost control—nearly given myself to him. I couldn't let Caden have it that easy. Seeing the guarded expression on my face, his handsome features darkened slightly. "Relax. I promise I won't do anything to you." "Fine." I gave in. I was exhausted anyway, and I just wanted to rest. Lying on the familiar bed in the guest room, I felt a wave of nostalgia. Everything here remained the same, yet my heart was no longer what it used to be. Caden's actions tonight made it seem like we had gone back to how things were before. But Heidi—she was still the insurmountable chasm between us. Heidi ... I rubbed my temples as her cunning face surfaced in my mind. Maybe I should provoke her. Push her to the edge. Make her show her hand. As long as Heidi made a move, I was confident I could find her weakness and expose her completely. I spent the entire night lost in thought, so I didn't sleep well at all. The next morning, I woke up with dark circles under my eyes. After a quick wash, I headed downstairs. The aroma of breakfast filled the air. Glancing toward the kitchen, I saw Caden cooking.The sight was so familiar. I still remember the time when Caden had told me, "Rosaline, as long as you like it, I'll make breakfast for you every day—for a lifetime. No, actually, for this life, the next, and every life after that." The memory echoed in my mind, stirring something deep inside me. "Rosaline, you're up?" Caden turned when he heard my footsteps, his deep eyes carrying a warmth that only appeared when he looked at me. "Yes." I snapped out of my thoughts and nodded. "Give me a few more minutes—breakfast will be ready soon," Caden said, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. A few minutes later, he placed breakfast on the dining table, carefully serving a bit of everything onto my plate. "Try it," he said in a low voice. "Thanks." I lowered my head to see that every dish on my plate was something I loved. Picking up my fork, I dug in without hesitation. The taste was just as I remembered—exactly to my liking. As I focused on eating, Caden suddenly reached out and touched my lips. I froze mid-bite and looked up. "What are you doing?" "Don't move." Caden chuckled. "There's a bit of sauce on your lips. I'll wipe it off." So that was all it was. A small wave of embarrassment washed over me. The warmth of his fingertips brushed against my lips, sending a tingling sensation through my entire body as if a current had just run through me. It felt sweet. Familiar. Comforting. Just then, the sound of the doorbell shattered the moment. "Caden, are you home?" Heidi's voice rang out. Caden's brows furrowed slightly. I, too, felt a bit annoyed. What was she doing here this early in the morning? Did she visit him like this often?The doorbell kept ringing. With a sigh, Caden stood up and walked to the front door. As he opened it, Heidi stood there holding a thermos, her face adorned with a bright smile. "Caden, I'm so glad you're home. I made breakfast and brought some over just for ... " Before she could finish, her eyes landed on me sitting at the dining table. Her smile instantly faltered. "Why is Rosaline here?" Sensing the hostility in her voice, an idea popped into my mind. Instead of staying passive, I decided to strike first. I got up, walked over to Caden's side, and raised a brow. "Why wouldn't I be here?" Heidi's gaze darted between Caden and me, her teeth sinking into her lower lip. "You two ... you ... " I gently hooked my arm around Caden's and curved my lips into a sweet smile. "We spent the night together."