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."

of understanding

Gerry was hinting at, could it

help but lick his lips and smile. "I'm really

eyes never leaving the screen. After a few seconds of silence, he replied haughtily, “It's not help.

raised his eyebrow, intrigued. “What do

then, a light knock on the door interrupted their

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

Instead, they slid gracefully into the seats next to

pulling her close as she giggled, taking a sip of

acknowledge the girl

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

in a soft, hopeful tone, “would you like

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

smile faltered, clearly surprised by his

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

closer despite her reluctance. “Tell me

at her, an uneasy

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

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

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

scanning the girl before

asked, his lips curling into a subtle

It was Caden. “He was

naturally shifted to

shirt that clung to his sculpted torso, making

no emotion, but his presence alone radiated a charm that was hard to resist. Despite his coldness,

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

he… did he use those same

mischief in her eyes as she

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

his gaze locked with his eyes, his eyes glinting

Gerry's boisterous laughter broke the silence. “That's exactly what happened! That girl tried her best to

popped out

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

“There are far more wicked

a lump

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