The Scent of 378
The Breaking Point of Love
Chapter 378
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Celeste quickly nodded to Zachary, then turned to Caleb and said, âSorry, I canât go to the cafeteria with you.â
Caleb responded gently, âItâs okay.â
With that, Celeste left.
Caleb watched as she and Zachary walked away and then went to the cafeteria by himself.
He hadnât taken a break in a while, and two days after meeting Celeste, his official leave began.
During those two days, he hadnât seen her again.
When he returned home, no one in his family knew he was on leaveâeveryone was busy with their own things and not at home.
When Jorge heard he was back, he asked him out for a meal
While they were eating, Xavier couldnât help but gossip to Caleb.
âDidnât expect that Ms. Locket, the woman Jorge likes, turns out to be Cayden Sweeneyâs student. Sheâs really something.â
Caleb wasnât familiar with the AI development and didnât know who Cayden was.
Xavier knew that Caleb wouldnât know. He himself hadnât known either, until recentlyâthanks to Jorge, heâd learned a little.
Caleb normally had little interest in these kinds of topics.
But after a moment, as if recalling something, he suddenly asked, âBetween Cayden Sweeney and our countryâs Mr. Zachary Newman, who has more influence in the AI field?â
Xavier wasnât sure.
But Jorge knew. âMr. Newman.â
Zachary had once singleâhandedly achieved multiple innovative breakthroughs in AI, and led a team that broke through various foreign technological blockades imposed on Ceravelle in the AI industry.
He had paved the way for the countryâs current advancements. He had become someone the international community deeply respected and even feared.
It could be said that Ceravelleâs success in AI today owed much to Zachary.
Cayden might be impressive, but he still fell short compared to Zachary.
Even though Jorge wasnât fond of Matthias, he could separate that from his respect for Zachary-
Zachary was Zachary, Matthias was Matthias.
Caleb rarely asked about things that had nothing to do with him. So, it was a little unusual for him to ask something like this today.
Still, considering Zacharyâs reputation and their familiarity with him, neither Jorge nor Xavier found the question odd.
After that topic ended, Jorge suddenly chuckled and said, âA while ago, when I had dinner with my mom and your mom. Your mom mentioned she was picking out a blind date for you. Now that youâre back, I doubt youâll be able
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Chapter 378
to avoid it this time.â
Caleb was of marriageable age. His family had started bringing it up at the beginning of last year.
Back then, he didnât object and didnât really care either. 1
But nowâ¦
He lowered his gaze and didnât respond.
That evening, after barely spending any time with his family, Caleb received a call. His leave was abruptly cut short, and he rushed back to the base.
He didnât know if Celeste had already left the base, or was just off on some other task.
Three days later, after completing a mission, he returned to the data center but Celeste was not there.
Two more days passed. He checked the data center againâstill no sign of her.
It wasnât until four or five days later, after coming back from another mission, that he finally saw Celeste again- this time, in the cafeteria.
He paused when he saw her sitting there, head down, quietly eating.
A moment later, he walked over and sat across from her.
Seeing him, Celeste smiled faintly. âYouâre back?â
âMm. Just got back.â Looking at her, Caleb added, âI didnât see you last weekâthought maybe youâd already left the base.â
Celeste replied, âNo, Iâve been here. I just havenât been spending all my time in the data center.â
Caleb nodded and then asked a question that had been on his mind, âWhen are you leaving the base?â
Celeste thought it was just small talk and didnât think too much of it. âTomorrow.â.
Caleb paused. âThat soon?â
âItâs not. Iâve been here for over ten days already.â As she said this, she finished eating.
She wiped the corners of her lips and said, âIâm done eating. Take your time. Iâll just-â
Before she could finish, Caleb suddenly asked, âMs. Rodriguez, do you have a boyfriend?â
Celeste was stunnedâshe hadnât expected that at all.
2
Before she could react, Caleb continued, âIf youâre single, what do you think of me?â 2
He knew it was a bit abrupt of him to suddenly say that to her. But with how busy they both were, and how rarely she seemed to come to the base, opportunities to talk like this were few and far between.
Who knew when theyâd even meet again?
Besides, someone else might make a move before him.
Thatâs when Celeste finally realizedâthis was a confession
Seeing her surprised expression, as if the thought had never even crossed her mind, Caleb said, âYou donât have to answer right away. I just wanted to let you know if you ever want a relationship, or to get married and have a family, I hope youâll consider-â
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Chapter 378
âIâm sorry.â Celeste came back to her senses. With a hint of awkwardness, she gently interrupted him.
âThank you for your feelings, but Iâve already been marriedâ
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Chapter 379