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

Gerry was hinting at, could it

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

eyes never leaving the screen. After a few seconds of

“What

unreadable. Just then, a light knock

warm smile and announced, “Mr. “Ward, Mr. Hopkins, your drinks have arrived.” Behind him followed a number of strikingly attractive women, all of

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

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 his chair, obviously enjoying the

however, didn't even acknowledge the

moment, cold and distant, as if he were studying her rather than savoring the moment. The girl, unaccustomed to such a

a soft, hopeful tone, “would you like something to eat? “I can

irritation. “No need,” he said flatly, turning his head away as if

girl's smile faltered, clearly surprised by his

up that easily. Clients as wealthy as Caden didn't come along every day, and she wasn't about to

cruel,” she said, moving closer despite her reluctance. “Tell me what you like, I can do

an uneasy tone in

nodding quickly, confident

in the private room was filled with emotion as she took in the

one of them especially distressed, wiping her eyes with

curiosity piqued, her eyes scanning the girl before

harassed her?” he asked, his lips curling into a

clearly amused. “Not me. It was Caden. “He was the one who bullied her and

naturally

his signature black shirt that clung to his sculpted torso, making even

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

surveillance footage flashed through Alicia's mind, those intimate moments when Caden's touch seemed so matter-of-fact, so devastatingly

those same

blinked, a glint of mischief in her

mocking tone in his voice. “Impotent men tend to compensate by

locked with

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

eyes nearly popped

mouth twitched, and he grumbled,

his tone quiet and eerie. “There are far more wicked things, Miss Bennett. “Perhaps next time I’ll show

a lump in her

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