Chapter: 25

Caden put the bottle of water down with more force than was necessary.

“Mr. Ward," Hank continued, his curiosity already piqued, “who do you think-uh... The man in that photo is?"

The corners of Caden's eyes twitched ever so slightly, but he said nothing.

It didn't escape Hank's notice, though. Shuddering with fright, he bravely forged ahead and asked, "Was it you, Mr. Ward?"

"No," Caden replied blandly. “It's not me."

Hank finally allowed himself to relax. "Of course not. It's just as I thought. You have issues in that regard, so you couldn't possibly achieve the alarming state that was depicted in that photo."

Just like that, Caden's fury flared back up again.

That moment was still vivid in his memory. They were in this very same office, and Alicia had merely brushed her delicate fingers against his member. Her touch had been so brief, it didn't even count as teasing in his books.

And yet, his body's reaction had been immediate and intense. Looking back at it now, he could only lament the utter disgrace he had felt.

Caden's gaze shifted to Hank, his eyes hard as steel.

The silence that followed was suffocating, seeping into every corner of the room like a thick fog.

Hank could feel the tension pressing down on his chest, and a shiver snaked down his spine. Swallowing hard, he straightened his posture and stammered, "I-I'm sorry, Mr. Ward. This was my mistake. You have full authority to handle it however you see fit."

Caden's lips twitched into a faint, dismissive smile. "Hmm, no year- end bonus for you, Hank. Good thing, too, since I've been thinking of upgrading my car."

Well...

Despite the cold remark, Hank maintained his composure and dutifully launched into his brief report of the day's failed meeting.

His voice lowered as he reached the more delicate details. "Mr. Joshua Yates, however, sent quite a few rather generous gifts and deposited a hefty sum into our account. He said it was just a Little gesture, to make sure Lilliana's future is safe and sound."

Joshua's obvious attempt at securing favor made Caden chuckle under his breath.

It also brought to mind the look in Alicia's eye before she had left that morning.

What was she up to now?

A flicker of anticipation sparked in Caden's eyes as he finally spoke again. “This woman, Lilliana..."

He paused deliberately, shooting Hank a meaningful look.

Hank, ever quick on the uptake, nodded obediently. “She made her debut in the entertainment industry thanks to her family's financial backing. For a while, she floated under the radar, but last year she struck gold with a hit song and rose to fame overnight. Her popularity's been climbing ever since. I'll compile all the details on her background and email it to you shortly."

Caden's expression remained impassive, almost bored. “Since they've bought her way in, I won't waste the opportunity. Let Joshua know- I'll ensure his precious lover is well taken care of."

Now that she had the ring, Alicia whisked Monica away to a lavish dinner at one of the city's finest restaurants.

The two clinked crystal glasses gleefully, the crisp sound echoing across the hall.

Monica wrinkled her nose in disgust. "I never would have guessed Lilliana would sink so low as to become someone's mistress." She rolled her eyes dramatically before adding, “And getting pregnant before marriage? If her fans ever find out, there'll be a full-blown scandal!"

Alicia took a measured sip of her drink, a faint, knowing smile curving her lips. “She's playing with fire," she mused softly. “And eventually, she'll get burned. She got pregnant far too early. Once she gives birth, hiding it will be impossible. Sooner or later, she'll slip up."

However, Monica still simmered with indignation, her eyes flashing.

"Are you seriously going to let those two scumbags get away with this?"

Alicia, however, had long since let go of any desire for revenge.