Chapter 17:

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Alicia was shocked. She looked at Caden, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

Caden's expression remained inscrutable as he spoke briefly on the phone. His actions were always decisive and efficient, and this time was no different.

“Mr. “Ward?” Lilliana blinked, coming out of her daze in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

The commotion had already attracted the attention of passers-by, and a small crowd of curious onlookers was beginning to gather.

Lilliana tried to get out of the car, but Joshua grabbed her wrist, pulling her back.

“Stay in the car. There might be paparazzi lurking around here.” He rolled up the car window, keeping his gaze fixed on Alicia and Caden through the glass. “I’ll handle this.”

Lilliana was still irritated. She had planned to humiliate Alicia but she hadn't expected Caden to be there. How did the two of them know each other?

Lilliana put her sunglasses back on, muttering under her breath in frustration, “That bitch! It hasn’t even been that long since your divorce, and she’s already with your brother!”

Joshua's face darkened at his words. As much as I have hated to admit it, Lilliana's comment stung.

He clenched his jaw, unbuckled his seatbelt, and got out of the car.

The first thing Joshua noticed was how Alicia was holding Caden's jacket around her shoulders. She stood behind Caden, seemingly expecting him to protect her from everything.

The sight fueled Joshua's anger, and his expression grew grimmer with each step he took toward them.

"Caden," he acknowledged, then reached for Alicia's hand.

“Give him back his jacket,” Joshua snapped. “I’ll take you home.”

Alice didn't even give him a chance to touch her. She pulled her hand away, her face indifferent as she asked, "Who are you?"

Caden remained impassive, his face showing no emotion. The confrontation between Joshua and Alicia seemed insignificant to him, but he stood firmly between them, a silent barrier.

“Stop being so stubborn,” Joshua said through gritted teeth. “Your clothes are soaked. You need to come home with me, right now.”

your dreams," Alice

her point, she grabbed Caden's sleeve and clung to

delicate fingers. When he looked up again, he

take me home, Mr. Ward?” she

respond. “Why the hell are

surprise, he reached out and wrapped his arm around Alicia's waist, pulling her into his embrace. He looked at his brother with a smile. “You should mind your

car behind them, reminding

clenched into fists, his frustration

drove up next to them. Without another word, Caden put Alicia in his car and they

door slammed shut, Alicia let

smoothed the wrinkles from his sleeves where she had grabbed him. “You're

straight with her legs pressed together and her hands in her lap. “Not at all. I just know you have an aversion to women. “I didn’t want

After a moment of reflection, he pulled out his phone and wired

asked, his eyes narrowed at the

coffee stains on it. “You probably don’t want it back, so I’ll

his phone.

by his audacity.

much exactly?" she

thousand

of second-hand jacket costs

tone lazy. “If you don't have the money, then you don't need

when Alice replied, "Thank

turn to be

"Why don't you be so

Without a word, he unlocked his phone and accepted the money

let out a

then, she tugged at the collar of her shirt to

carried a change of clothes

extra shirts and

how to feel about his offer. “It's okay. “I’ll take a shower as soon as I

knock me out,” Caden replied flatly,

bastard trying to insult her, or had she suddenly sworn off

closed the partition, blocking Hank's view of the backseat. Alicia

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