Chapter 171

As Hank settled into the car, he grumbled, "Warrington is colder than anywhere I've ever been." In other cities, winters brought endless snowstorms; the snow piled so high that venturing outside meant disappearing up to your shoes. But Warrington was different. Elsewhere, the cold was dry and bearable; here, sleet soaked everything, leaving a damp chill that penetrated to the bone.

Caden wiped raindrops from his coat and stared out the window, his expression distant. “I don't find anything attractive about this city,” he said. “Not the people, not the weather.” If not for his late mother, he would never have returned.

Hank chuckled. “That's a little unfair. Isn’t Mrs. Bennett quite nice?”

A hint of softness flickered in Caden's eyes, but he quickly frowned. “She’s quite demanding,” he muttered.

Hank noticed the indulgence in Caden's tone, despite his stern expression. Though Caden complained, it was clear he tolerated and listened to Alicia. Hank chuckled. “Isn't that nice? She challenges you and scolds you, but she also stirs up your emotions and makes you happy. It’s better than burying yourself in work all the time.”

“Who says I'm happy?” Caden replied.

“You're not?” Hank pressed. “Yesterday, when Mrs. Bennett picked you up at the airport—you knew she was coming, didn't you? You were excited from the moment you stepped onto the plane. I’ve never seen you so excited about a business trip.”

Caden remained silent. His excitement hadn't stemmed from Alicia's arrival; it had been a surprise. But he refused to admit it, keeping his gaze fixed on the window.

Suddenly, Caden remembered something important. He pulled out his phone and called Alicia.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

“I got a new bed. Has it been installed yet?” Caden asked.

“The workmen have just arrived and are putting it up now,” Alice replied. “How are the long underwear? Are they comfortable? The workmen's hands are red from the cold. Is it very cold today?”

Caden furrowed his eyebrows. “No,” he replied.

"Really? So it's not cold, or are you warm because of your long underwear?" Alice persisted.

Caden closed his eyes, unsure how to respond. He ended the call.

Hank couldn't resist asking, "Didn't you just change the bed in your apartment? Did it break after just one night?"

Caden glared at him. “Did you pick that bed?”

“Yes,” Hank replied. “I thought about choosing one of our company's products, but I figured you'd get bored with it. So I picked one with the best reviews on the market for you to try.”

Caden replied coldly, “Among all the people I know, your taste is the worst.”

Hank was speechless. He was amazed a brand-new bed could break after one night. Could things have been that intense between them? If so, Alicia must have been quite remarkable. The bed didn't survive, but she did. She really did seem like the perfect match for Mr. Ward.

After their meeting with Mr. Wade, it was noon. Caden and Hank decided to grab a quick bite at a nearby restaurant. Before they started eating, Caden arranged for extra food to be delivered to the apartment.

Hank glanced at him with a sly smile. “That’s very thoughtful of you, Mr. Ward,” he commented.

Caden didn't respond. Alicia had cooked for him countless times, but today it was takeout. It wasn't the most considerate gesture, and the restaurant food wasn't as good as Alicia's.

Later, the sky clouded over. Surprisingly, a jewelry advertisement on a huge screen captivated Caden. He looked at it several times. Exquisite pieces—pink diamond necklaces, jade pendants, sparkling diamond rings—were displayed in glass cases. Under the bright lights, each piece seemed to tempt passersby. Caden noted the prices, ranging from $80,000 to $5 million. To him, these amounts were insignificant; anything worth his attention cost at least $10 million. He believed Joshua had barely bought Alicia anything of real value during their two years of marriage; a few hundred dollar ring was practically worthless.

“Bag up all the bestsellers over a hundred thousand dollars,” Caden ordered, handing his card to the clerk, making no attempt to conceal his wealth.

The shop assistant was momentarily stunned, but her enthusiasm quickly took over.

Delivery boxes piled up outside the apartment, forming a small mountain. Alicia wasn't home; she was at her self-defense class.

After finishing his work, Caden went to the studio and found her engaged in a sparring match. He watched silently. Her opponent was a man a head taller, with suspicious eyes. They bowed, and Alicia immediately attacked.

Despite her slight build, Alicia quickly mastered her techniques, accurately targeting her opponent's weaknesses. She quickly gained control. With a decisive blow, the man collapsed, groaning.

Shocked, Alicia rushed to him. “I'm sorry, did I hurt you?” she asked.

The man lunged, choking her. Unable to break free, Alicia struggled. Her face paled; others quickly intervened, pulling the man away.

Alicia staggered to her feet, coughing, her eyes red from the effort. She put a hand to her chest, lost in thought. Something clearly bothered her.

Caden raised his hand and knocked on the window. Alicia looked up, meeting his gaze. He noticed the redness in her eyes.

She was surprised to see him.

“Caden?” she asked, her voice soft.