Chapter 111

Alicia had been hit several times and had struck her head, but her injuries were minor. Leaning against a wall, she slowly descended the stairs, searching for Caden. She finally spotted him at the party on the lawn.

As he approached, a strange feeling washed over her. Caden stood amidst the crowd, exuding an intimidating presence. No one dared approach, as if his aura commanded distance. The crowd fell silent, watching him. Mrs. Reyes stood at the forefront, her eyes filled with concern.

Alicia found an empty chair and sat, aligning herself with the crowd's gaze. Before Caden, a group of children from the earlier incident stood in a line, awaiting his instructions, hanging on his every word.

“Channel all your strength into defeating the others,” Caden announced. “Whoever loses will be punished. The last one standing will earn a reward from me.”

His voice held a blend of lightness and authority; he seemed a general leading troops into battle. Alicia watched the children, once swaggering bullies, now standing as timid as lambs, completely subjugated by Caden's imposing presence. Their obedience stemmed not from respect, but from fear—a fear everyone, even children, understood.

Caden subtly shifted his gaze to Alicia. He frowned momentarily, then the expression vanished. The children erupted into chaos, fighting amongst themselves.

Alicia, uninterested in the spectacle, felt a wave of dizziness as she moved toward Caden. "Uh..."

Without looking up, Caden pulled up a chair. “Yeah?”

Alicia struggled to move her chair closer, each movement triggering dizziness, though manageable. Composing herself, she studied his face. “What's wrong with them? Why do they listen to you so easily?”

Caden replied clearly, “The incident caused quite a scene. Randolph wanted to avoid police involvement, so he asked me to handle things discreetly.”

“Why you?” Alicia asked instinctively. Shouldn't she decide what happened? After all, she had been hurt. She reassured herself her question sprang from genuine curiosity, not malice.

Caden's expression remained stern. “You were unconscious. As your ex-husband’s brother, I was granted temporary authority to make decisions for you.”

Alice slowly agreed. “Thank you,” she said sincerely.

Caden scoffed. “Luckily for me, I had some time today, but next time, you handle it.”

Alice stared, speechless. After a moment, she murmured, "I wasn't blaming you."

Caden remained silent, watching the children fight. Ted stood out, the strongest and yet the most terrified, fighting fiercely to subdue the others. Their mothers rushed to break up the chaos, pushing Ted aside while Mrs. Reyes protected him. Soon, adults joined the fray, escalating the situation.

Alice felt a small satisfaction. “Your methods are still as ruthless as ever.”

Caden watched indifferently, regarding it as mere spectacle. Alicia hadn't approached for casual conversation; she intended to explain her call to Joshua while unconscious. But looking at his face, words failed her.

In her dream, she'd felt deep compassion for the boy. His mother had died, his father showed no interest, and his younger brother, born the same year, had compounded his pain instead of offering comfort. She understood this suffocating pain; she'd lost her parents.

Alice opened her mouth. “Caden…”

His face remained unreadable. “Go ahead.”

Alice scratched her palm, searching for words. "Were you the one who saved me?"

“It was nothing,” he replied distantly.

Alice persisted, “Then why did you act so coldly afterward? It seems like you held a grudge.”

Was it because she'd called Joshua in her dream? She didn't dare ask; the thought of being wrong was too embarrassing. She waited for his answer.

Caden replied icily, "Don't you realize we might both hold deep grudges against each other?"

Alice was speechless. Caden added, “I saved your life. That means you owe me.”

Again, she had no answer. She knew she was overthinking. Maybe she shouldn't have sought him out.

At that moment, Ted raised his hands victoriously. “I won! I beat them!”

Alicia glanced at him, frustrated. “He was the one who pushed me, thinking he could get away with it because he's underage. I—"

Caden interrupted, “You couldn't even handle a child? Are you proud of that?”

Alice's head throbbed. "I was ambushed."

Ted ran to Caden, excitement in his eyes. “Sir, I've won! Where’s my reward?”

Mrs. Reyes pulled Ted back uneasily. “Ted, we don't need a reward. I was joking.”

Ted shook his head stubbornly. "No! He promised me! I want my reward!”

Caden's gaze fixed on Ted, menacingly intense.

“You fought well. You deserve a reward,” Caden said, turning to Alice. “Arrange it for him.”

Alice winced, trying to ease the pain in her head. His words stunned her. “What?”