Chapter 639

The car pulled away from the restaurant at a steady pace, gliding through Berlin’s streets now washed in the glow of night. City lights shimmered across the windows, reflections flickering like restless thoughts-but inside the car, the atmosphere couldn’t have been more different. It was far too quiet for what should have been an easy, relaxed ride after dinner.

Lydia sat beside Cale, her body angel slightly toward him, though there was nothing comfortable about the way she leaned. Her arms were folded tightly across her chest, her gaze fixed on the window, as if the passing lights could distract her from everything she’d been holding back since they left.

“I didn’t even get to see the dessert,” Lydia murmured at last. Her voice was soft, but it cut cleanly through the silence. She didn’t turn, her eyes still tracing the city’s reflection in the glass. “I’d been looking forward to it the whole time.”

Andrew, seated in the front, glanced at her through the rearview mirror. His expression remained polite, though curiosity flickered beneath the surface. “Was something not to your liking, Mrs. Lydia? You returned earlier than I had scheduled.”

Lydia drew in a breath, trying to keep her tone light. “No. The place was nice. The food was good.” She paused, then added more honestly, “We just… had to leave early.”

“For something urgent?” Andrew asked carefully.

Before Lydia could answer, Cale spoke. “There’s nothing you need to worry about. We’ll proceed with tomorrow’s schedule as planned.”

His voice was flat, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

Andrew gave a small nod, accepting that without pressing further. “Understood, Mr. Cale.”

Lydia flicked a glance toward her husband. “That’s it?” she asked quietly.

Cale didn’t look at her right away. “What were you expecting?”

“At least an explanation,” Lydia replied, her tone sharpening just a touch. “We just walked out. No clear reason.”

Cale exhaled shortly, his eyes still fixed ahead. “I told you-it’s not our concern.”

“Everything becomes our concern when it happens right in front of us,” Lydia shot back. “She was obviously not okay.”

“And you don’t even know who she is.”

“I don’t need to know her to see she needed help.”

“You also don’t know who those three men were,” Cale cut in, finally turning his head. His gaze was calm, but something restrained lingered beneath it. “And that alone should be enough to make you stop.”

Lydia fell silent for a moment, then shook her head faintly. “You’re being strange. You’re not usually like this.”

Cale didn’t respond.

And somehow, that silence only made her irritation spike higher. “Fine,” she continued, leaning back again. “If you don’t want to talk about it, then at least don’t act like I’m not even here.”

Lydia opened the door first, not waiting for him, and stepped out with quick, purposeful strides. Cale followed a few seconds later, his gaze briefly lifting to the dark Berlin sky before settling again.

“Thank you, Andrew,” he said shortly.

“You’re welcome, Mr. Cale. See you tomorrow.”

They entered the hotel without saying another word. Lydia’s pace was slightly faster, as it she were trying to outrun the conversation left hanging between them. Cale walked behind her-not stopping her but not quite letting her get too far ahead

Chapter 693

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either.

The elevator doors slid shut. And for the first time since they’d left the restaurant, neither of them said a single word.

But beneath Lydia’s silence, something had shifted. And Cale knew it-knew that once the door to their room closed… he wouldn’t be able to delay it any longer.

“Go get some rest first, my love,” Cale said quietly, just after Lydia stepped inside the room.

“What?” Lydia frowned, confusion knitting her brows. “Why should I sleep first? Where are you going?”

A faint smile touched his lips. “Nowhere. I just need a little space to talk to someone.”

“I’m not allowed to hear it?”

Cale held her gaze for a long moment. This woman-this one person who had managed to pull his entire world off its axis- looked back at him with a mixture of sadness, disappointment, hope… all of it tangled together in a way that made it impossible for him to refuse her outright.

“It’s just…” His voice dropped, quieter now, more deliberate. “Don’t come to any conclusions… before I’m done.”