?Chapter 454:


    But was she truly in a position to demand him, especially when he was betrothed to another woman before their marriage?


    Exhaustion.


    Kaiden only caught onto the blunt remark. Was she weary of him?


    “Because of whom?” Kaiden gently caressed Ellie’s temples but mocked, “Howard?”


    “What does it have to do with him?” Ellie was puzzled about Kaiden bringing up Howard out of the blue.


    “Are you siding with him now?” Her words seemed like a defense of Howard to Kaiden.


    Howard, being influential, had admired Ellie for years, and they were of simr age.


    Kaiden sneered. Indeed, Howard was more intriguing than he, who was much older.


    “What nonsense are you talking about?” Ellie retorted. “You brought him up first.”


    “And speaking of which, weren’t you the one siding with…”


    Avoiding the subject of Carole, her voice trailed off. Voicing it would make Ellie appear jealous.


    “Forget it. There’s no need to argue.”


    Ellie tilted her head to gaze out of the window. She feared losing control if she persisted in confronting him. Ellie had to acknowledge that Kaiden’s efforts on behalf of Carole to resolve the scandal and the engagement were affecting her.


    Resolute stubbornness and indifference remained on Ellie’s face. Kaiden, consumed by anger, left abruptly.


    The creaking of the bedroom door opening resonated distinctly in Ellie’s ears, almost like a gentle tap on her heart. Ellie instinctively turned around.


    Kaiden, who had abruptly exited, returned with a brisk stride. Before Ellie could respond, Kaiden halted in front of her, leaning over suddenly. Thispelled her to lean back, steadying herself with one hand behind her back.


    Concealed anger etched across his face, he gripped Ellie’s chin firmly, exerting force as if he werepelling her, with a touch of coaxing.


    “Ellie, be good. Say somethingforting. I’ll let go of what transpired tonight.”


    He would forgive her if she apologized for her slip of the tongue that suggested he should look for another woman.


    The notion of leaving the room and returning within less than half a minute didn’t strike Kaiden as sensible. He deemed himself irrational.


    “Kaiden, that’s not how we solve our issues,” Ellie said, feeling a tinge of sadness.


    They never resolved their issuesprehensively. Instead, they allowed conflicts to umte. Simr to their current actions, conflicts could erupt at any given moment.


    She was unsure how to handle it.


    Kaiden chuckled softly, as though mocking her.


    Releasing Ellie, he departed hastily.


    She noticed his shirt dampened in the bathroom, adhering to him and outlining the contours of his muscles.


    After a brief moment on the bed, Ellie rose and approached the bedside. Concealing herself behind the curtain, she pondered whether to step onto the balcony.


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