Chapter 40:

? ? ? ? ?

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

shot Gerry was hinting at, could it

"I'm really curious, Caden. Why did you suddenly

leaving the screen. After a few seconds of silence,

eyebrow, intrigued. “What do you

didn't answer, his expression unreadable. Just then, a light knock on the

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

leave right away. Instead, they slid

without wasting any time, wrapped his arm around the waist of the girl next to him, pulling her close as she giggled, taking a sip of her drink from

didn't even acknowledge the girl sitting next

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

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

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

clearly surprised by

wasn't about to give up that easily. Clients as wealthy as Caden

so cruel,” she said, moving closer despite her reluctance. “Tell me

an uneasy

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

door creaked open again and Alice stepped in. The air in the

women were leaving, one of them especially distressed, wiping her eyes

piqued, her eyes scanning the

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

was Caden. “He was the one who bullied her and

naturally

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

but his presence alone radiated a charm that was hard to

Alicia's mind, those intimate moments when Caden's touch seemed so matter-of-fact, so devastatingly skilled. A strange emotion stirred within her as a thought crossed

he… did he use those same skillful hands with other

glint of mischief in her eyes as she

“Impotent men tend to compensate by getting a

his gaze locked with his eyes, his eyes glinting

That girl tried her best to seduce him,

popped

mouth twitched, and he grumbled, “That’s… really

quiet and eerie. “There are

felt a lump

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255