Chapter: 218
Monica's question immediately brought Caden to the forefront of Alicia's mind. Their earlier encounter replayed in vivid detail-how he'd done unspeakable things to her.
It wasn't something she could easily forget, and just thinking about it made her cheeks flush.
Monica noticed the change immediately and her curiosity flared. “Oh- ho! Look at you! Who's got you blushing like that? Some dashing rogue stealing your heart?"
Alicia tried to wave it off, fanning her reddened cheeks. "It's nothing like that! I just had a lot of errands to run."
“Errands, huh? What kind of errand would make you turn as red as a tomato?" Monica teased, her suspicions only growing. She leaned forward with a conspiratorial grin. "Come on, spill the beans. Who's the lucky guy? I've never seen you so horny, not even with Joshua."
Alicia gasped, taken aback by the comment. “Horny? What on earth are you talking about? I'm not horny!"
She quickly rubbed her cheeks, as if that would erase the telltale blush.
Monica crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow in disbelief, like a parent catching their child in a lie.
Feeling cornered, Alicia finally caved, her voice defensive. “After I parted ways with Rachel, I met up with Caden. He said he had something I wanted, and things got a bit heated. That's why I'm late."
Monica's sharp gaze softened noticeably when Caden's name slipped into the conversation. "So, it was Caden who held you up?" she asked, her tone Lightening.
Alicia's heart fluttered unsteadily, beating in time with the sudden nervousness gripping her chest. "Yes," she squeaked guiltily.
Monica leaned in, her tone tinged with concern. "Did he give you a hard time?"
Alicia caught the shift in Monica's demeanor the moment she mentioned Caden. It was as though his name alone had the power to dispel Monica's earlier suspicions.
How remarkable, she thought. Almost too convenient.
“He wasn't exactly cruel," Alicia admitted, “but he didn't make things easy for me either."
Monica let out a long sigh, her tension easing away. “That explains it. You were acting so oddly, I thought you'd fallen head over heels for some idiot again."
Alicia was rendered speechless, but now that Monica stopped teasing her, she felt relieved.
Yet, something about Monica's reaction sparked her curiosity. "You didn't suspect Caden at all?" she asked cautiously.
Monica blinked, her lips twitching with amusement. “Suspect him of what? Being involved with you?"
Alicia nodded.
Monica laughed aloud, the sound ringing out with genuine disbelief.
"You and Caden? That's like me dating Joshua. What would you make of that?"
Alicia grimaced internally.
What an awful comparison.
After parting ways with Monica, Alicia found herself on Sunset Road, picking up one of Joshua's favorite snacks. The whole time, her mind buzzed with conflicting thoughts.
When she returned home to the Yates Mansion, she discreetly crushed the medicine she had brought and mixed it into the snack before presenting it to him.
Joshua's brow furrowed in displeasure the moment his eyes landed on the takeout. "Didn't I just say I was craving your food?"
Alicia kept her voice even as she replied, "Cooking takes time, you know. Just have a little of this while I prepare something."
The tension in Joshua's posture eased slightly.
He was always picky, rarely finding food that satisfied him, and few people remembered his specific tastes-but Alicia did. She always had.