Chapter: 26

Her voice was calm, her words measured.

“I couldn't care less about their relationship, but Lilliana drugging me is a different story. That, I won't forgive so easily."

Monica's fists clenched as she rolled up her sleeves, as though revving up the engines of war. "Say the word, and I'll round up a few of my guys to take care of things for you."

"No need." Alicia chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "I have my own ways of dealing with things."

Monica, seeing her friend so poised in the face of adversity, couldn't help but sigh with admiration. It reminded her of the good old days.

"You've really changed since you've decided to dump that jerk. Back when you were locking horns with Caden, you were so alive, with your fiery spirit and competitiveness. Now, it feels like the old Alicia is back!"

Alicia couldn't help but chuckle at Monica's words, immediately thinking about her little scheme from earlier that day.

If everything went according to plan, the people in the meeting room would've gotten quite the surprise today.

Caden's expression must have been priceless-dark as a thundercloud, no doubt.

She couldn't help but smirk at the thought.

“What's so funny, Alicia?" Monica's eyes narrowed at her curiously.

Alicia quickly composed herself, suppressing the mischievous grin that had threatened to give her away. “Oh, nothing. I just. hit my funny bone while eating, that's all."

Monica blinked in confusion. “Wait, you eat with your armpit now?"

Before Alicia could respond, her phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced down to see a message from Caden.

It read, "Nice photography skills."

Alicia snorted, rolling her eyes.

Another message popped up almost instantly. "Satisfied with the size?"

Even through the text, she could imagine his signature smug grin.

So infuriating!

Alicia's lips twitched, and she quickly typed out a reply. "Too small. Honestly, it's an eyesore.”

A pause, then another message flashed on her screen. “Oh? Well, still better than my pathetic brother. Took me two minutes to break what he couldn't after two years."

Her fingers froze, her eyes widening as the double meaning sank in.

Her heart gave an unsteady thump, and a wave of heat rushed to her face.

With a frustrated huff, she slammed her phone down on the table, but the words lingered, his implication twisting in her mind. Her pulse quickened in irritation as she snatched the phone back up and typed furiously. "Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Ward. I've undergone hymen repair surgery."

Caden, lounging in a dimly lit booth at a sleek bar, chuckled as he read her response.

The amber glow from his glass of whiskey reflected off his sharp features, his lips curving into a devilishly charming smile.

Gerry Hopkins, his ever-inquisitive friend, raised an eyebrow from across the table. "What the hell are you looking at now? You've got that seductive smirk on again."

Caden simply shook his head, locking the phone and setting it down with an amused gleam in his eyes.

“Just flirting with a married woman," he replied lazily, as though he was talking about something as trivial as the weather.

Gerry sat bolt upright, eyebrows raised in disbelief. "Since when did you get so desperate?"