Chapter: 799

Alicia chuckled. "I don't need his approval. I have the final say when it comes to the gallery."

"I see." Blake nodded distractedly, realizing that he had thought too much. "I'll think it over. Please give me some time."

Just then, Ray ran over and grabbed his hand. "Blake!"

Between these siblings, grudges never last long. Ray was already back to being clingy and affectionate to Blake.

Blake reached down and ruffled the boy's hair. "Do you like Alicia?"

“I do," Ray answered, his cheeks turning red. Then he added in a whisper, “What about you, Blake? Do you like her, too?"

Blake crouched down to meet his eyes. "Well, I really like the music Alicia plays. It's beautiful, isn't it?"

Ray found his brother's response rather odd, but he said nothing more and ran back to fiddle with the piano.

There was a loud, discordant noise as he slammed his fingers on random keys.

“Alicia, do you know where Caden has gone this time?" Blake asked, catching her off-guard. His voice was soft, almost inaudible, as if he was afraid to ask the question.

But Alicia noticed the flicker of emotions that flashed across his eyes. "I don't know," she said calmly. “He doesn't need to report the details of his business trips to me."

Blake straightened up. "So, he said that it was a business trip?"

"Yes."

Blake's brows creased. He couldn't help but feel aggrieved for Alicia.

"He lied to you," he blurted out without thinking.

Ray's playing seemed to grow more chaotic then, matching the turmoil in Alicia's heart.

“What do you mean?" she asked.

Not wanting to keep her in the dark, Blake spoke honestly. “Even though I didn't interact much with Caden when we were kids, everyone knew about his betrothal to Yolanda. It was arranged by both families. I know it rarely gets mentioned now, but everyone in our circle knows. Before I came here, a mutual friend of ours told me that Caden was seen at the Moss family's residence today."

"He is there to attend to family obligations," Alicia said.

Blake's eyes widened. "You knew?"

Alicia's face was as serene as ever. "Yes, I knew."

"Then why did you tell me it was a business trip? Did you know all along, and just pretend not to? Are you letting Caden take advantage of you?"

“How is this any of your concern?" Alicia finally snapped.

Blake's expression shifted slightly. "I apologize," he said softly, sounding awkward and embarrassed. "I overstepped."

Alicia let out a long exhale and shook her head. “I know you mean well, but I have my own way of handling things between Caden and me."

Blake pressed his lips into a thin line.

It was plain to see that Alicia was the weaker party in her relationship with Caden. Even if she sought to play mind games with the man, she was only going to lose.

Blake knew that he would be risking their friendship, but he decided to tell her the truth, anyway.

"The reason I was so agitated earlier is because Yolanda posted a photo with Caden on her social media," he began. "Her caption... The implication Well, used words that could easily lead to several misunderstandings."

Alicia didn't bother to ask Blake to show her the photo. She knew Yolanda's nature all too well. The woman had enough cunning to turn white into black.