Outcast Queen: Her Return from Hell novel Chapter 496

"What would you like to drink?" Caleb's gaze dropped slightly, seemingly avoiding her eyes on purpose.

This subtly evasive reaction made Zoe feel somewhat uneasy.

The two of them had known each other for years; his current awkwardness seemed far too distant.

But thinking of the grudge between her aunt and the Prescott family, she silently understood.

Perhaps their two families were destined never to be as close as they once were.

"Whatever is fine."

"Waiter, please get this lady a cappuccino."

A glimmer of surprise flashed in Zoe's eyes, and she looked up. "Caleb, how did you know I liked this?"

Caleb's lips curled into a faint smile. "Back when I was stuck in that wheelchair with nothing to do, I developed a habit of observing my surroundings."

"So, you were observing me all this time?" The moment the words left her mouth, Zoe realized they sounded a bit inappropriate, and the atmosphere instantly took on a subtle, ambiguous tension.

Caleb, however, appeared perfectly calm. He lowered his eyes, slowly stirring his coffee with a silver spoon.

"When my body couldn't move, my only pastime was watching people. I guess it was a way to prove that even though I was crippled, my mind was still sharp."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up." Zoe lowered her head apologetically, then let out a bitter laugh. "Actually, sometimes I really envied the way you were back then."

"Oh?" Caleb stopped stirring and looked at her in surprise. "Why would you say that?"

Zoe shook her head, a trace of helplessness washing over her round face. "Because sitting in a wheelchair meant I wouldn't have to be reduced to a bargaining chip for the family, forced to marry people I don't even like."

She paused, her voice dropping lower. "Like recently, the Vaughan family is in a tough spot. My dad is running around trying to set me up on blind dates, hoping to find a well-matched family to support us."

Hearing this, Caleb's knuckles turned slightly pale as he unconsciously gripped his silver spoon tighter.

"Forget it, let's not talk about such depressing things." Zoe let out a long breath, forcing a relieved smile. "Being born into a wealthy family, this is just my fate. Since I've enjoyed the wealth and luxury the family provided, I have to pay the corresponding price."

Caleb snapped his head up, his gaze burning intensely as he stared at her, his expression more serious than she had ever seen. "Then... what do you think of me?"

"Huh?" Zoe froze completely, her mouth falling open in shock. "Caleb, why are you suddenly making a joke like that?"

The man before her was extraordinarily handsome, and having shed his youthful edge, he was now even more reserved and mature than Julian ever was.

And yet, here he was, openly confessing his feelings to her.

Was she really worthy?

She used to humbly try to please Julian, only to be met with undisguised disgust and berating.

Romantic declarations as deeply cherished as these were something she wouldn't have dared hope for even in her wildest dreams.

It all felt so surreal, as fragile as a soap bubble that would pop at the slightest touch.

"Zoe, you might find this unbelievable, or even suspect that me suddenly saying all this... comes with an ulterior motive." Caleb didn't try to sugarcoat the situation, choosing total honesty instead. "I won't lie to you. I do have a selfish motive."

"The Prescott Group is facing a crisis right now, and we desperately need an alliance with the Vaughan family to stabilize the situation."

"But my feelings for you are completely genuine. I never showed them in the past because I knew your heart was entirely set on Julian. I didn't want to interfere, so I just hid my feelings in the dark."

He laughed at himself. "But now, I feel like this is probably the one and only chance I'll ever get in this lifetime."