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

big shot Gerry was hinting at,

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

a few seconds of silence, he replied haughtily, “It's not help.

eyebrow, intrigued. “What

then, a light

Mr. Hopkins, your drinks have arrived.” Behind him followed a number of strikingly attractive women, all of

Instead, they slid gracefully into the seats next to

close as she giggled, taking a sip of her drink from him. He leaned

acknowledge the girl

studying her rather than savoring

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

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

faltered, clearly surprised by his sudden change

Caden didn't come along every day,

she said, moving closer despite her reluctance.

an uneasy tone

with eager anticipation, nodding

and Alice stepped in. The air in the private room was filled with emotion as

especially distressed, wiping her eyes with trembling hands as she

her eyes scanning the

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

Caden. “He was the one who bullied her and

eyes naturally

to his

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

the surveillance footage flashed through Alicia's mind, those intimate moments when Caden's touch seemed so matter-of-fact, so devastatingly skilled. A strange emotion

he… did he use those same skillful hands with other

glint of mischief in her eyes as she

mocking tone in his voice. “Impotent men tend to compensate by getting a little… creative,

raised his head, his gaze locked with his eyes, his eyes

“That's exactly what happened! That girl tried her best to seduce him, and what did Caden

popped

mouth twitched, and he grumbled,

“There are far more

a lump in her

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