Chapter 112 Pull Over
ARDEN
The ride back to the Callahan estate was quiet.
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The village celebration had ended with polite smiles, but there was a heaviness in the air no one wanted to address, especially not after the question about Bethany having Viremia settled among those present.
We had left before dessert was served.
Now, only the distant hum of the engine filled the silence. Cade was behind the wheel, his grip light, but his brows furrowed. I kept my gaze on the window, watching trees blur past us, but my thoughts were far from the road.
“You already knew,” Cade said quietly.
I nodded, letting out a slow sigh. “I found out when she visited us.”
There was no point hiding this from Cade. “When she went out to the balcony and I followed. her,” I added. “She tried to hide it, but I saw her blood–tinged hands. That’s when I knew.”
Cade didn’t respond for a moment. “I see,” he finally muttered.
“You’re not surprised?”
He shook his head, gaze still trained forward. “Not really. You’ve been quite close lately. And Bethany visits us often…. I figured there was more to it. I think she has a soft spot for you.”
I turned my head slightly to look at him. “You think?”
I wanted to smile, but I couldn’t bring myself to. Not after what I saw that night. Not after realizing that every conversation with Bethany was now something finite.
“I really like her,” I admitted instead. “Though… I don’t know. It still feels like she has a wall around her.”
“She does,” Cade said. “But she lets you closer than most.”
I sank further into my seat.
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“Besides,” he continued, “it’s already a rumor among the United Factions.”
I glanced at him. “Bethany’s illness?”
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He nodded. “I just didn’t think it would be released publicly like that. I should’ve known.”
“It’s Winters,” I said bitterly, my voice sharper than I intended. “It’s got him written all over it.”
Cade exhaled, jaw tightening. “He’s trying to discredit Bethany’s support for my candidacy. If he can convince the wolves of Fenra that she’s no longer of sound judgment…”
“…then it taints everything she’s done, including standing beside you,” I finished for him, heart sinking. “He’s playing on their trust in her. He’s making them second–guess it.”
“He’s too predictable,” Cade muttered, echoing my thoughts.
“It’s still effective though, “I muttered, shaking my head. “Bethany has influence. She’s admired. A lot of the places we visited welcomed us because they respected her. If they start doubting her, they’ll start doubting you, too.”
“But, Bethany’s illness hasn’t progressed to her brain, I believe. She’s still smart and very much sound. Probably even more than Winters. She’s even doing her duties well despite her illness. So, I don’t know why this is relevant to the campaign.”
Cade let out a deep breath. Then, reached up to loosen his collar, the wind from the slightly open window tousling his hair.
“If only we could expose him now,” I muttered, “and make people see who he really is.”
“He’s too protected,” Cade said. “Even my parents are having a hard time getting the cabinet members to support me because they’re all associated with Winters.”
I leaned my head against the window, the cool glass calming me just a little bit. “So what do we do?”
“There’s one way,” Cade said slowly, “to expose him. For good.” –
I looked at him. “What is it?”
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He didn’t look back, but his voice held a firm certainty. “We catch him in the act of something irrefutable.”
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My breath caught. I sat up straighter. “You mean… like actually witness him doing something unethical?”
“Hmm,” Cade hummed.
“Then that’s what we do. We bait him. No, not bait–watch. We watch closely. We find the right time. Maybe someone he trusts. Or a deal he’s planning to make. If we have proof, we could turn everything around.”
I was rambling now. My hands were moving, and my thoughts tumbled out so fast I didn’t realize how animated I’d become until I saw Cade glance over at me.
His lips twitched.
Then he shook his head slightly and pulled the car to the side of the road, tires crunching softly against gravel.
I frowned. “Why are we-?”
“Shit,” he muttered, parking.
“What?”
He turned to me fully, eyes crinkling slightly with warmth, and said with absolute sincerity, “You’re so cute.”
My face flushed. “What?”
Cade leaned closer, a grin breaking out across his lips. “Seriously. You get this wide–eyed look. when your brain starts spinning. It’s adorable.”
I stared at him, completely off guard, heart thudding. “You–what–why did you pull over? This is a serious conversation, Cade.”
“I had to,” he said with a laugh. “You’re too distracting. I might crash the car.”
I blushed and turned to the side, scratching the back of my neck. “We should go then. The roads will get dark soon.”
However, instead of starting the engine again, he reached across the console and tugged ar the lever on the side of my seat. My chair reclined with a soft click, tilting me back before I could process what was happening.
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“Cade, what are you-”
But I didn’t get to finish my sentence.
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Because his lips were suddenly on mine.
His mouth pressed against mine with hunger and heat, catching me off guard. I gasped, and that was all the invitation he needed. He deepened the kiss instantly–his hand cupping the side of my face as he leaned in, tilting his head to taste me fully.
It wasn’t slow or teasing.
It was urgent.
His tongue brushed against mine, and I tried to follow–messily at first, but eager. I clutched the front of his shirt, grounding myself as he kissed me harder, his lips molding against mine in a way that left no space between us.
I moaned softly into his mouth, completely lost in him.
The kiss turned deeper, wetter, and sweeter.
My fingers twisted into his collar. I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until we finally broke apart, gasping slightly, eyes locked.
My lips were swollen and tingling.
I looked at him with wide eyes. “What… was that for?”
He was breathing heavily too, but grinning like he’d just won something. His thumb brushed the corner of my lips, wiping away the trail of our kiss. A string of saliva came with his thumb, and my blush deepened even more.
“You just…” he said, slightly breathless, “look so freaking cute when you talk like that. All passionate and fired up. I couldn’t help myself.”
I instinctively smacked his chest with the back of my hand. “You can’t just pull over and kiss someone like that!”
“Yes, I can,” he replied smugly. “And I did.”
I turned my face away, trying to hide the flush spreading from my cheeks to my ears. “Let’s just go.”
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He chuckled, then leaned over and planted a quick, chaste kiss on the side of my jaw. “Got you, baby.”
I shot him a look, but he just winked and put the car back into drive.
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