Husband With Benefits

Cai sat back with a satisfied smirk, letting the weight of his words linger while Rafe could feel his heart sink. Dam* this man. "So, Rafe," Cai said, his tone casual but his eyes gleaming with curiosity, "am I getting warmer? Or do you have a fourth possibility that you’d like to enlighten me with?"Rafe’s jaw tightened, his silence becoming heavier with every passing second. Cai, still unbothered by the lack of response, tilted his head slightly, as if considering his next move. "Are you really going to keep quiet?" Cai asked thoughtfully, his voice calm but layered with challenge. When Rafe didn’t budge, Cai merely shrugged, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Alright then," he continued, leaning forward slightly, "I guess I’ll just keep going. Now that we’ve narrowed it down to a few possibilities, it shouldn’t be too hard to compile a list of women around you who could’ve caught your attention."

Rafe’s breath hitched, his pulse spiking as he stared intently at Cai. The calm yet calculating demeanor of his friend sent a fresh wave of unease through him. He had no doubt now—Cai had figured it out, or at least suspected the truth, and was merely toying with him. But what unnerved Rafe even more was the question of Cai’s reaction. Was he angry? Disappointed? It was impossible to tell.

Rafe couldn’t forget Cai’s manipulation when he discovered what Kael had done to Dora. The memory of Cai nearly punching Kael flashed vividly in his mind. And this... this situation was much worse. At least Kael and Dora had been dating and claimed to be in love later, Rafe and Arabelle, on the other hand, had shared only a fleeting, reckless moment—one he had been trying, and failing, to remedy ever since. Every attempt to get close to her, to explain or apologize, had been thwarted by her deliberate avoidance.

As Rafe’s mind spiraled with all sorts of thoughts swirling in his head, Cai continued his methodical analysis, making him panic even more. "You don’t have anyone you’ve been in love with—or even a one-sided infatuation. That much I know. Unless," Cai paused, a note of mockery creeping into his tone, "we count the mistake you almost married out of guilt. But even you admitted that was never about love. So, this person... she’s either new in your life or someone you’ve known for a while who has suddenly caught your attention."

Rafe felt his throat tighten. Cai’s words were cutting dangerously close to the truth. He clenched his fists, willing himself to stay composed, though the effort was Herculean.

"But you’re not someone who meets new people often, are you?" Cai mused, tapping a finger against his chin as though deep in thought. "You keep your circle small. And given that you specifically mentioned she’s ’trustworthy,’ I’m going to assume she’s female—just to rule out any surprises." He smirked, his gaze flicking briefly to Rafe, who sat rigid in his chair. "Now, the female staff in direct contact with you... there are only two, and both are old enough to be your mother. And you’re not into that sort of thing as far as I can guess."

"That narrows things down to outsiders—journalists, diplomats, or perhaps someone you’ve crossed paths with recently," Cai continued, his tone as measured as ever. "But even that seems unlikely, considering how little you engage with people outside your usual circles these days—and how many of them are filtered out before they even get close."

"So," Cai said, his voice dropping to a more pointed note, his gaze sharpening, "are you going to tell me yet?" The shift in his tone sent a jolt through Rafe. Gone was the friendly teasing; now Cai’s eyes held something more calculating.

Rafe hesitated, his mind racing for an out. "Cai... That... Umm... Look, it’s nothing. Really. If I do go ahead with something, I’ll definitely let you know." He forced a strained smile, hoping the evasion would be enough to satisfy his friend.

But Cai’s knowing smile in response sent a fresh wave of panic coursing through Rafe. This time, he was certain—Cai had pieced it all together. The man wasn’t guessing anymore; he knew.

And then, just as Rafe braced himself for the inevitable confrontation, Cai did something unexpected. He changed the subject.

"You know my Uncle Gabe, right?" Cai asked casually, as if they hadn’t just been locked in a tense game of cat and mouse moments ago. "He’s my second uncle."