Chapter 40:

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Alice had also begun to notice that someone had been discreetly helping her behind the scenes.

His first instinct was to call Monica.

When Monica answered, she sounded frustrated. “I hired trolls to trash Lilliana online,” she admitted. “But I don't have the money to censor searches. Those things cost a fortune, and my dad blocked my credit card. “I’m sick of him.”

Alicia thought about Monica's words, and only one other person came to mind: Gerry.

Without delay, he called him, and his suspicions were confirmed.

Feeling a little uncomfortable, Alice said quietly, “It's just gossip, people talking behind my back. It's not like they're physically harming me. You really didn’t need to waste your money on this…”

Gerry, comfortably lying down, put her on speakerphone but didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked at Caden, who was sitting across from him.

Caden, his long legs crossed casually, had his eyes glued to his phone, scrolling mindlessly. He gave no sign of joining the conversation.

Undeterred, Gerry turned his attention back to Alicia. “I didn't spend that much,” he finally replied. “The real help came from another big shot.”

Alice frowned, confused. “Who is this mysterious benefactor?”

Once again, Gerry's gaze shifted to Caden, but he didn't reveal the answer right away, instead choosing to mock her.

“Are you free?” he asked, smoothly moving on to another topic. “Come on. “We can chat, have some fun, and I’ll introduce you to this ‘big fish.’”

Alice took the hint immediately.

She had always had a good working relationship with Gerry, and now that she was in a bind, he was helping her out by offering her the chance to meet someone powerful. That was how things worked: mutual benefits, carefully cultivated relationships.

"What's that big fish like?" she asked. "I'd like to give him something."

Hearing this, Gerry's eyes sparkled with mischief. "He's… well, let's just say he's not as strong as he used to be. Maybe you could get him some Viagra."

Alice was momentarily speechless, and then replied with dry humor: 'Mr Hopkins, do you happen to have any shady side business?'

Gerry couldn't help but laugh. "If they ever come to an agreement, it will be a miracle."

flash of understanding flashed in Alice's

big shot Gerry was hinting at, could

the call, Gerry couldn't help but lick his lips and smile. "I'm really curious, Caden. Why did you suddenly decide

the screen. After a few seconds of silence, he replied haughtily, “It's not help. Consider it a

raised his eyebrow, intrigued. “What do you

his expression unreadable. Just then, a light knock on the

drinks have arrived.” Behind him followed a number of strikingly

in and served drinks, but didn't leave right away. Instead, they slid gracefully into the seats next to Caden

his arm around the waist of the girl next to him, pulling her close as she giggled, taking a sip of her drink from him. He leaned back in

even acknowledge the

gaze lingered on her for a moment, cold and distant, as if he were studying her rather than savoring the moment. The girl,

Ward,” she said in a soft, hopeful tone, “would you like something to eat?

flatly, turning his head away as if his

surprised by his

Clients as wealthy as Caden didn't come along every day, and she wasn't about to let him

Ward, don't be so cruel,” she said, moving closer despite her reluctance. “Tell me what you like, I can do

at her, an uneasy

lit up with eager anticipation, nodding quickly, confident that her persistence

stepped in. The air in the private room was filled

women were leaving, one of them especially distressed, wiping her eyes with trembling hands as she

curiosity piqued, her eyes scanning the girl

asked, his lips

“Not me. It was Caden. “He was the one

naturally shifted to

was dressed in his signature black shirt that clung to his sculpted torso,

devilishly handsome face showed no emotion, but his presence alone radiated a charm that was hard to resist. Despite his coldness, he had an inexplicable magnetism

Caden's touch seemed so

he use those same skillful

glint of mischief in her eyes as she took her

he said softly, a mocking tone in his voice. “Impotent men

raised his head, his gaze locked with

escalate, Gerry's boisterous laughter broke the silence. “That's exactly what happened! That girl tried her best to seduce him, and what did Caden do? “I have forced

popped

of his mouth twitched, and he grumbled, “That’s…

are far more

lump in

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