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.”

dreams," Alice replied defiantly.

point, she grabbed Caden's sleeve and clung to it like a petulant

delicate fingers. When he looked up again, he

me home, Mr.

exploded before Caden could respond. “Why the hell are you

around Alicia's waist, pulling her into his embrace. He looked at his brother

them, reminding Joshua that there was a

into fists, his frustration

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

shut, Alicia

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

her hands in her lap. “Not at all. I just know you have an aversion to women. “I didn’t want to upset

of reflection,

asked, his eyes narrowed at the notification from

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

hardened as he stared at the screen of his phone. “This isn't nearly enough. “That

stunned by his audacity. Why was he being

exactly?" she asked,

me another thousand

widened. "What kind of second-hand

in his seat, his tone lazy. “If you

barely finished speaking when

Caden's turn to be

She continued: "Why don't you be so kind and

word, he unlocked

let out a little

uncomfortable. Every now and then, she tugged at the collar of

for her, Caden always carried a

his extra shirts and tossed it to

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

replied flatly, without even looking at her. “It's

her, or had she suddenly sworn off coffee forever? Still, she felt

Caden closed the partition, blocking Hank's view of the backseat. Alicia carefully removed her jacket. “Can

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