h4Chapter 402: Tired/h4

    "Come on, Mel. Your parents aren’t here right now, and I’m waiting for them, aren’t I? In the meantime, we can explore the city. Is that really too much to ask?"

    "I really want to, Cadence," she said softly. "But I’m not feeling well. My periods are here, and..."

    Cadence froze. For a moment, he simply stood there, the words sinking in. Then, almost automatically, he thought of what he should do—make some warm brown sugar water for his girlfriend, maybe find a hot pack to ease the cramps. Yes, that was what a good boyfriend would do. He nodded to himself, ready to turn toward the kitchen and be the dutiful one as always.

    But then Mnie’s voice called after him, stopping him mid-step.

    "If you really want to go," she said casually, "I can ask Max to take you. He knows the city well. He can show you around."

    The effect was immediate. Cadence froze in ce, the words striking him sharper than they should have. Max. She wanted iMax/i to take him?

    He turned around at once, his reaction almost too quick, and said, "Yes. Do that. Please. I’ll... I’ll go get you a hot pack until then. It’ll help with the pain."

    He didn’t wait for her answer. His steps were quick now, almost brisk, as though he had to focus on something else before his mind spiraled in the direction it was threatening to go.

    Mnie watched him disappear down the hallway, a small grin spreading across her face. He had fallen faster than she’d expected.

    Honestly, she had thought his obsession with "Melody" would hold him back longer. She had prepared herself for more resistance, more hesitation, maybe even a hint of guilt on his part. But no—Cadence’s possessiveness over what he considered his own was far stronger, far more tangled up in Dr. Jung than in anything else.

    Which was good.

    It meant she could finally catch a break.

    ***

    "You really had to be a light bulb, didn’t you?" Max muttered as he mmed the car door shut after seeing off is Jung. "I nned to take Elias on my bike, increase some skinship, but now-thanks to you-I have to drive the car."

    Cadence didn’t even flinch at the usation. He turned his head slowly, meeting Max’s re with calm indifference. "A car is a morefortable and safer means of conveyance than a motorcycle," he said evenly, as though the logic of it alone was enough to shut the conversation down. As if anyone would believe that nonsense in this context.

    Max snorted. "Comfortable, sure. Safer, maybe. Fun? No! Intimate? No. And then, you could’ve at least sat in the back. Let Elias take the front seat. He was supposed to ride with me, not... whatever this is."

    Cadence tilted his head slightly, eyes flicking toward the passenger seat he now upied. "My legs are long," he replied simply. "I cannot sit in the back."

    Max tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "Elias is taller than you," he shot back, his voice a little sharper this time.

    Cadence didn’t miss a beat. "Dr. Jung had to attend the conference," he said, his tone still controlled, almost too polite. "It would have been rude to let you sit in front while I sat in the back. Appearances matter. You don’t want to be pereceived as a chauffeur, do you?"

    Max rolled his eyes so hard it was a wonder he could still see the road. "With the way you’re behaving," he muttered under his breath, "anyone would think you’re Elias’ possessive boyfriend. Not his friend."

    That one hit a mark. Cadence’s fingers stilled on his phone screen. He turned his head sharply, mouth opening as though ready to fire back. But then, for reasons even he couldn’t quite exin, he shut it again.

    The car fell into a tense silence, broken only by the hum of the engine and the faint buzz of Cadence’s phone as he scrolled through it with far more focus than necessary.

    Max smirked to himself, satisfied that he had at least gotten under the man’s skin. Leaning back in his seat, he pulled out his phone, intending to make a call. But before he could scroll through his contacts, the screen lit up with an iing call.

    Grinning, he swiped to answer. "Hi, baby," he said, his tone immediately softening in that teasing,zy way of his.

    He didn’t have to look up to know Cadence’s attention had shifted to him. He could feel it—a tiny change in the air, the faint stillness from the other seat. Max kept his expression easy, his voice deliberately rxed.

    "No, I’m busy today," he said into the phone, drawing the words out. "I won’t be able to join in the fun tonight."

    There was a pause on the other end, and Max chuckled low under his breath. "Really? I know, I know. Your parties are always exciting, always tempting..." He let the words trail off for effect, eyes flicking briefly toward Cadence before returning to the windshield. "But this time, I’m afraid I have better ns."

    He shifted in his seat, grinning wider now. "Yeah... I met someone interesting. Very interesting, in fact. And a beauty at that." He leaned his head back against the seat, voice dropping into an almost conspiratorial drawl. "I n to spend the next few nights with him. He’s from out of town, so you understand... priorities."

    Max let theughter from the other side of the call fade before speaking again. "Yes, yes, there will be exploration," he said, drawing out the word. "Exploration of the city? Sure... but personally, I’m much more interested in exploring something else entirely, if you know what I mean. I’ve got a room booked..."

    "Alright, baby. You got it," he said finally, amusement stillcing his tone. "Bye, baby. I’ll see youter."

    He ended the call with an easy swipe of his thumb, slipping the phone back into his pocket as though he hadn’t just tossed half a dozen deliberate hints into the air for Cadence to hear and seethe about.