The Triplet Alphas' Forbidden Temptation

”I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” She hinted at Aevia, and Kaden’s gaze darkened.

”I’m glad you didn’t fall for it...” Eloise beamed at Kaden, completely oblivious to his discomfort with the topic. ”I suppose the rumours might be true after all. Maybe Xavier really is interested in her.”

Kaden’s lips pressed into a thin line. Eloise tilted her head thoughtfully.

”I mean, I can understand why someone might notice her. She looks like Aevia, after all. Maybe she inherited that particular charm from her sister too.” She brought up Yuki’s looks again, a bitter edge colouring her tone.

Kaden’s expression darkened. Hearing everyone constantly bring up Yuki’s appearance was starting to get on his nerves. Eloise continued, her voice carrying more curiosity than approval.

”But Xavier? That’s what I don’t understand. He’s so difficult. Why would he suddenly take such an interest in Yuki?” Kaden remained silent, and Eloise kept talking. ”Even he isn’t spared from her charms,” she chimed.

Kaden’s jaw clenched. He could feel the irritation crawling higher with every word, but Eloise was too absorbed in the rumour to notice his silence. She kept filling the quiet between them, moving from one piece of gossip to another as though she were solving some amusing puzzle.

”I wonder if they actually...” she drawled.

That was it. Kaden couldn’t keep quiet anymore.

”When did you become so nosy?” His voice cut her off. The irritation in his tone was so sharp that it left her stunned.

Eloise stopped mid-sentence. She looked up at him, startled by the sudden interruption. Kaden finally turned his head towards her. His expression was cold, his patience clearly gone.

”What?” she asked, blinking.

”You’ve been talking about Xavier and Yuki since we left the hospital,” Kaden hissed, barely contained annoyance sharpening every word.

Eloise’s brows pulled together. ”I was only telling you what I heard,” she blurted, hurt creeping into her voice. ”I am worried about Xavier. I don’t want him being tricked.”

Kaden gave a humourless scoff. ”Xavier doesn’t like her,” he deadpanned. The certainty in his voice made Eloise pause.

”How do you know?” she asked.

Kaden clicked his tongue in annoyance, remembering Xavier’s deliberate attempt to get under his skin. ”Because I know him,” he finally spat out. His answer was curt.

Eloise stared at him for a moment, but Kaden had already looked away.

”Stop spreading rumours,” he added, his voice lower.

”I wasn’t spreading anything,” Eloise protested. ”I was just saying that maybe...”

Kaden’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t let her finish. ”Just don’t...” He released a long breath, closing his eyes as a dull ache throbbed in his skull.

Eloise fell silent. For a few seconds, they stood there with the sounds of passing vehicles and distant hospital activity filling the space around them. Kaden then reached down and removed her hand from his arm. The gesture wasn’t rough, but it was firm enough to make Eloise stare at him in surprise.

Before she could respond, he turned and walked away. Eloise remained standing near the hospital entrance, watching him leave with a confused expression. She hadn’t noticed how irritated he had become. Her fist clenched for a moment as she just stared blankly at the place where he had disappeared.

Before she could ask what was wrong, Kaden turned and walked towards the car park. Eloise remained where she was, watching him disappear. Her fingers curled into a fist at her side. She couldn’t understand what had just happened. Kaden had never spoken to her like that before. It was only a conversation about Yuki. So why had he reacted as though she had touched a wound?

It took several moments before Eloise finally snapped out of her thoughts. She hurried towards the car park, her heart beating faster with every step. She didn’t know why she suddenly felt afraid.

Kaden wouldn’t leave her behind. He never had. Yet the thought that he might have already driven away made her stomach twist. Her eyes moved frantically across the rows of parked vehicles until she finally spotted the familiar custom SUV. Relief washed through her so quickly that her shoulders sagged. Kaden was still there. He sat behind the steering wheel, waiting.

Eloise hurried towards the passenger side and opened the door. The familiar scent of amber and black pepper filled her senses the moment she climbed inside. She glanced at him. His hands rested on the steering wheel, his expression unreadable as he stared through the windscreen.

Of the three triplets, Eloise had always believed Kaden was the one who genuinely loved her. He had always been there. Whenever she wanted something, no matter how unreasonable the request seemed, Kaden found a way to give it to her. Even when his brothers questioned her demands, he rarely did. He had never lost his temper with her. That was why his sharp tone had unsettled her so badly. He was angry.

Kaden started the engine without saying anything. Eloise waited for him to speak. He didn’t. The drive to the Beta residence was filled with an uncomfortable silence. Kaden kept his attention on the road, his thoughts tangled in everything that had happened at the hospital.

Yuki. Xavier. The arranged marriage. Every time Yuki’s name entered his mind, that strange pressure returned to his chest. He hated it. He didn’t understand it. He only knew he wanted it to stop.

The SUV eventually turned through the gates of the Beta residence and came to a stop. Kaden shifted the gear into park.

”We’re here,” he announced quietly.

He glanced towards Eloise and froze. Tears were running down her cheeks. For a second, Kaden simply stared. He hadn’t noticed.

”Eloise?” he asked, his voice immediately changing. ”What happened? Why are you crying?”

A sob escaped her.

”You’re only just realising?” Her voice cracked.

Before Kaden could respond, Eloise pushed open the door and rushed out.

”Eloise!”

Kaden was out of the vehicle almost instantly. She had barely made it several steps before he caught up with her. His arms wrapped around her from behind, stopping her before she could reach the entrance.

”Let go of me!” Eloise screamed through her tears, struggling against his hold. ”You don’t love me anymore!”

Kaden’s chest tightened.

”Stop,” he pleaded, tightening his arms when she tried to pull away. ”Eloise, listen to me.”

”You don’t even care anymore!”

”That isn’t true.”

”You snapped at me because of her!”

Kaden closed his eyes. Panic had begun clawing through his chest. He didn’t know what to do with the sight of her crying. His instincts screamed at him to hold on, to make sure she didn’t leave, even though another part of him was still trying to understand why the sight of her tears wasn’t easing the strange discomfort that had followed him since the hospital.

”I still love you,” he said firmly.

Eloise’s struggles weakened. ”You were just angry at me,” she cried out.

”I was tired,” Kaden explained, his voice strained. ”Everything has been getting on my nerves lately.”

”Because of her?” she questioned.

Kaden’s jaw tightened. ”Yes,” Kaden admitted. Eloise went still. ”I hate hearing her name,” he admitted, frustration creeping into his voice. ”Everyone keeps talking about Aevia’s sister. The wedding is coming, and I don’t want to hear anything about Yuki anymore.” He swallowed. ”I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

Eloise’s tears continued falling, but she no longer struggled against him. After a moment, she turned within his arms and looked up at him.

”So you really were just angry because of the wedding?” Eloise whispered.

Kaden nodded. ”Yes.”

Her eyes searched his face. ”Do you love me?” she asked quietly, and Kaden didn’t hesitate.

”Yes.”

The answer came immediately because it was the only answer he could give her. Eloise watched him for several seconds. Then her expression softened.

”Prove it, Kaden,” she whispered.

Kaden’s brows drew together.

”Eloise...”

She reached up before he could finish. Her lips touched his. The contact lasted only a moment before Kaden’s stomach churned violently. His entire body stiffened. Something about the kiss felt wrong. Not unfamiliar. Wrong. The sensation twisted through his gut so sharply that he almost recoiled, and for one horrifying second, the only image that flashed through his mind was the sight of Yuki after the rejection.