Chapter 274 - 32: The silence between
Kayden dried his hands on a towel as he leaned against the kitchen counter, his gaze fixed on Shawn’s retreating figure. The omega had been quiet ever since he spilled the rice. Too quiet.
There was a distance in his eyes that had nothing to do with fatigue. Kayden wasn’t sure what triggered it—his stupid joke, his presence, or something else entirely—but he couldn’t shake the feeling that Shawn was about to crumble. And he was worried about him like crazy.
What was that just now? Kayden asked himself. Shawn had frozen like someone hit pause on him. Kayden couldn’t help but wonder why.
He turned to check on the curry, now simmering peacefully on the stove. The warm scent should’ve made the space feel more comforting, more like a home, but instead, the air was thick with everything left unsaid.
Dinner came, and they sat across from each other. A soft clinking of spoons and the occasional shift of plates were the only sounds that filled the space.
Kayden didn’t mind silence, but this one felt heavy—like it might collapse if he moved too suddenly.
On the other hand, Shawn barely touched his food, his fingers idly pushing the chicken to one side. His gaze was unfocused, drifting toward the floor or the darkened window. Kayden noticed how his brows furrowed, lips pursed in thought. He knew Shawn wasn’t with him right now. His mind was somewhere else.
Someone else, Kayden corrected in his head. His mood soured. He put the spoon and fork down and sipped water.
He remembered the look on Shawn’s face when he mentioned the ’newlyweds’ joke earlier. The tightness in his shoulders, the brief pause—it wasn’t embarrassment. It was pain. And Kayden had a feeling he knew the reason.
Shawn stood up suddenly. "I’ll wash the dishes."
Kayden watched as the omega quietly gathered their plates and moved to the sink. He heard the faucet turn on, water flowing, and dishes clinking.