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 flashed in Alice's

Gerry was

Gerry couldn't help but lick his lips and smile. "I'm

leaving the screen. After a few seconds of silence,

eyebrow, intrigued. “What do

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

smile and announced, “Mr. “Ward, Mr. Hopkins, your drinks have arrived.” Behind him followed

right away. Instead, they slid gracefully into the seats next to

as

didn't even acknowledge the girl sitting

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

she said in a soft, hopeful tone, “would you like something

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

clearly surprised

to give up that easily. Clients as wealthy as Caden didn't come

her reluctance. “Tell me what you like, I can do anything to

looked back at her, an

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

in. The air in the

leaving, one of them especially distressed, wiping her eyes with trembling hands

piqued, her eyes scanning the girl

asked, his lips curling into a

clearly amused. “Not me. It was Caden. “He was the

eyes naturally shifted

that clung to his sculpted

a charm that was hard to resist. Despite his coldness,

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

he use those same skillful

of mischief in her eyes as she

voice. “Impotent men tend to compensate

locked with his eyes, his

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

popped out of their

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

his tone quiet and eerie. “There are far more wicked things, Miss Bennett. “Perhaps next

lump in

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

Comments ()

0/255