Rose walked upstairs and laid on the bed. She wanted to talk to Caden, laugh with him, watch one of his games again. She would give anything to see him happy again, even her life. She knew she couldn't do anything to help him at all, but she really wished she could. Wishing isn't going to fix him. Her mind thought, not even intentionally. She sighed and curled into a ball. He wrapped his arms around her before pulling her close. "I love you so much." "I don't doubt it, love." She said, folding into him. Her mind spun, remembering.

Caden sat there, the cold ground pressing into his back as his mind spiraled further into disarray. The weight of everything felt suffocating. His hands trembled as they rested against his face, and despite the silence around him, his thoughts were deafening.

The images of his work, the pressure to succeed, the demands from everyone around him, all blended with the sting of Dr. Hamilton’s words. You’ve always known what you want... It echoed in his head like a cruel joke, a reminder of everything he had tried to push aside.

He hadn’t wanted to confront any of it. He hadn’t wanted to think about the way she made him question his own intentions, his choices. His thoughts swam in circles, confusing and overwhelming. He couldn’t even recognize what he wanted anymore.

Caden’s breath hitched, and a soft, strangled sound escaped his throat. He hated this feeling. Hated how helpless he felt. How lost. How disconnected from everything he had once been so sure of.

What was he doing? What had he become?

His mind raced back to all the things that had led to this moment. The failed relationships, the sleepless nights, the endless projects that never seemed to end. He had worked so hard for everything he had, built up from nothing, but it all felt hollow now. Was it worth it? Was any of it worth the constant pressure, the isolation, the gnawing feeling of inadequacy?

Caden squeezed his eyes shut, trying to push the thoughts away, but they only grew louder. The anxiety clawed at him from all sides, his chest tightening, and for a moment, it felt like he couldn’t breathe at all. The weight of it all crushed down on him, and the tears—those damn tears he never allowed himself to shed—came faster.

But this time, he didn’t try to hold them back. He let them come, feeling the sharp sting of vulnerability he had spent so long avoiding. The loneliness was suffocating. The sense that no one understood, that no one could see the cracks he had buried so deep inside.

He wiped his face, his hands shaking from the effort, but the tears kept coming. They felt endless, like a flood he couldn’t control, drowning him in his own self-doubt. The whiskey he had taken earlier had done little to numb the pain, only serving to heighten it. He hated how powerless he felt, how everything was slipping through his fingers like sand.

For what felt like an eternity, Caden sat there, motionless, on the cool grass under the dark sky. The weight of his own thoughts pressed him further into the earth, and his mind raced through a hundred different scenarios. Was he failing? Was it all just a lie—this life he had built, this facade of control and success? Could he even go on pretending that everything was okay when it clearly wasn’t?

The silence of the night seemed to mock him, as if the world itself knew just how broken he felt. There was no escape from it. He couldn’t outrun the anxiety, the guilt, the endless pressure. He couldn’t outrun himself.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Caden rose shakily to his feet, his legs weak beneath him. He staggered toward the bottle he had abandoned earlier, picking it up and staring at it for a long moment. His hands were still unsteady, and he didn’t know if it was the alcohol or the overwhelming emotions that made him feel like he was about to shatter.

He didn’t even care anymore. He didn’t care about the consequences, or how he was supposed to be stronger than this. He just needed something—anything—to stop the flood of thoughts, to silence the chaos in his mind. With trembling hands, he opened the bottle again and took another drink, this time more desperately than before. It burned as it slid down his throat, but it didn’t help. Nothing helped.

Caden took a few shaky steps back toward the house, the weight of his body feeling heavier with each movement. His head was spinning, his mind still a blur of fragmented thoughts and emotions. He didn’t know what was real anymore, didn’t know if he even cared.

As he made his way inside, he didn’t bother to turn on the lights. He walked straight to the couch, collapsing onto it with a groan. The fabric felt foreign beneath him, but he couldn’t summon the energy to move.

He wanted to sleep. He wanted to escape.

But the exhaustion in his body didn’t match the storm still raging in his head. His eyes fluttered shut, and for a brief moment, he almost wished for everything to just end—wished for the silence to take over.

But that wasn’t going to happen.

Caden squeezed his eyes shut, trying to silence the voices in his head, but they only grew louder.

And, as sleep finally claimed him, he found himself caught between exhaustion and an endless sea of doubt, unable to escape the weight of everything that had built up.

"You look,gorgeous." He complimented,taking her by the arm. "Thanks, handsome." She said, smiling up at him. Rose felt a tear roll down her cheek. "Any idea where we're going,pretty lady?" He asks as he speeds into the city. "Not really." She admits. "But I trust you."

Caden stood there, his mind swirling as Dr. Hamilton moved closer, her presence filling the space around him, making him feel like he couldn’t breathe. She was close now, her eyes intense, her touch deliberate. Every instinct in him screamed to push her away, to get out of the situation, but his body had betrayed him. He was frozen, trapped between his desire to break free and the overwhelming pressure of the moment.

“You’re not fine, Caden,” she whispered, her voice smooth and coaxing. “And you don’t have to pretend like you are.” Her eyes never left his as she stepped into his personal space, her fingers sliding to the back of his neck, holding him in place. Her breath was warm against his face, and his pulse raced in his throat.

“I’m fine,” he muttered, more to himself than to her, but his voice wavered, betraying his uncertainty. His heart pounded as panic started to claw at him. Get away. Go back to Rose. This isn’t you, Caden. Don’t do this. But his body wouldn’t listen. She pulled him closer with a force that felt too strong to fight, her hand sliding to his chest, keeping him locked in place.

“No,” he whispered under his breath, his body rigid with tension as her lips brushed his. The world around him felt like it was closing in, and the chaos in his mind was deafening. He wanted to pull away, but it felt like he couldn’t move. Rose. Think about Rose. Stop this. Don’t let her do this to you.

Her lips pressed more urgently against his, coaxing him into the kiss. For a brief moment, his mind went blank, everything fading into the background except for the pull of her presence. But just as quickly as the fog settled, his thoughts snapped back to reality. His heart clenched as he remembered Rose, the guilt of being here, caught in this moment, suffocating him.

That thought, that realization, was all it took.

With a surge of panic and frustration, Caden pushed her away. His hands shoved her shoulders, his grip firm as he finally broke the contact between them. Dr. Hamilton stumbled back, surprised by the force of his reaction, but she didn’t fight it.

Caden’s chest heaved as he stepped back, his breath ragged. His mind was a storm of conflicting emotions—fear, guilt, anger, frustration. The pounding in his head made it hard to think straight, but one thought screamed through the noise: You need to get out. Now.

“You need to leave,” he said, his voice hoarse, but there was no mistaking the finality in it. His body was still shaking with adrenaline, his pulse pounding in his ears. He couldn’t stand it anymore. The tension, the manipulation, the overwhelming desire to just escape—he couldn’t stay in this house for another second with her.

Dr. Hamilton opened her mouth as if to protest, but Caden didn’t wait. He took a step forward, his hand gripping her arm with a force that surprised him.

“I said, leave,” he repeated, his voice stronger this time. His entire body was on edge, his muscles tight with the need to push her out of his space, to regain some control over the situation.

Her eyes widened, but she didn’t resist as he guided her toward the door. She didn’t say anything, but the look in her eyes was enough to tell him that she wasn’t happy with being dismissed.

Caden’s grip on her arm tightened, and he was almost sure he could feel her trying to pull away, but he didn’t let go. With a final, firm push, he swung the door open, standing in the threshold of the apartment, forcing her out.

“Don’t come back,” he said, his voice cold, the anger mixing with the relief that he had finally pushed her away. His hands shook as he closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment as the silence of the mansion enveloped him.

He turned and slid into a sitting position on the wall,holding his head in his hands as he wiped his mouth off.

He sat there for what felt like an eternity, his chest still heaving, trying to process the rush of emotions that crashed over him. His mind screamed for him to make sense of what had just happened, but all he could focus on was the quiet that had returned to the space. The tension had finally broken, and it was in that moment that he realized just how desperately he needed it to be over.

Finally, Caden turned away from the door, his mind still racing, but now with one single thought: I need to find a different position,I guess.

Rose eventually walked downstairs and grabbed a redbull. She saw Caden, but didn't say anything as she walked back upstairs

Caden heard her but didn't look up,just sat there for hours.Eventually he got up and went into his study,working on the project for even more time.

Rose walked back downstairs after a while and knocked on his study doors

Caden was half asleep,about to drift off when he heard the knock.He jumped slightly,walking up and unlocking it,opening it to see Rose.His face was tired,shadows under his eyes,eyes red. "Yes?" He croaks tiredly.

"I was just coming to check on you. Need anything?" She asked quietly, not meeting his eyes

"No," He says,starting to shut the door.