Chapter: 140

Yet, no one seemed to notice her discomfort.

Georgia, still upset, lamented, “I don't understand what I did to upset Ms. Bennett. I asked her for help, and she pushed me into the pond and mocked me. Mrs. Yates, you have to defend me."

Shelia dismissed her. "Enough. You know how Alicia is. Why bother? You are much older than she is."

Alicia, realizing Shelia was indirectly validating Georgia's words, spoke gently. "Mrs. Yates, I was only trying to help. I didn't push Georgia."

Georgia, seething with anger at Alicia's feigned innocence, glared at her. "You're lying! Don't you worry about karma?"

As she finished speaking, the sky suddenly split with a bolt of lightning, quickly followed by a thunderous clap.

Rain fell in heavy sheets, pounding the ground with each drop.

A sudden burst of thunder made Georgia shriek, her hands clutching onto Shelia out of instinct.

The foul smell of dog poop still clung to her, and Shelia's expression twisted in disgust.

With a shove, Shelia pushed Georgia away.

Caden laughed softly. “Why are you screaming, Georgia? Alicia's the one in trouble. That thunder sounds like nature giving her a warning."

Alicia shot him a cold glare.

The rain only grew stronger, and Shelia, fed up, pushed Georgia aside and hurried inside to clean herself up.

Another rumble of thunder echoed overhead.

For a moment, Caden's face darkened as he turned his eyes towards Alicia.

For reasons unknown, Alicia had darted into the pond, her hands frantically moving as if searching for something.

The heavy rain blurred the view, making it hard to see what she was up to.

Caden walked closer, his brow furrowed. "What exactly are you looking for?"

Alicia lifted the hem of her skirt as she continued to feel around in the water. She mumbled, "I think I dropped my phone in here."

Caden glanced down, skeptical.

Seeing his hesitation, Alicia urged, "Don't just stand there. Help me find it."

Caden wasn't fooled. "Is this another one of your tricks? Like what you pulled on the maid?"

Alicia snorted in response. "Believe what you want."

She continued her search, moving a few steps to the side.

Suddenly, she let out a loud cry. “Ah! I found it Caden squinted through the downpour. It was hard to make out what she was holding, but it looked Like something. Alicia wiped the rain from her face, her hair sticking in wet strands to her cheeks. She glanced up at him and said, “Give me a hand. Pull me up."

Seeing how drenched and miserable she looked, Caden reluctantly extended his hand.

But just as Alicia's hand about to grasp his, she quickly changed to the other hand.

Without warning, she placed something into his palm.

Caden froze. He didn't know what it was at first, but the slimy texture told him everything he needed to know.

It was a toad. A toad!