Chapter 18

Caden saw through Alice's ruse. “Fooling them, are we?”

Alice looked at him. "What else should I be doing?"

Caden chuckled. “Platonic marriages must be really interesting.”

Alice's lips pressed together in frustration. Just then, Caden's phone rang. He answered and put it on speakerphone.

Lilliana's voice came through: "Mr. Ward, why were you at the café with Alicia earlier?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Out of curiosity, were you two discussing business?"

Before Caden could answer, Alicia stood and walked over to him, straddling his lap without hesitation. His eyebrows furrowed. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Alice remained silent, putting her arms around his neck. Up close, Caden's sharp features filled her vision. His chiseled face was flawless; even more striking than she'd imagined. He seemed sculpted by the gods themselves. Driven by anger, Alicia placed a hand on his face and leaned in, seeking his lips.

Caden turned his head. “What are you trying to do?”

Alice squeezed tighter, preventing him from dodging. She knew it was reckless, hurting them both, but she couldn't stop. This opportunity, against Caden—Joshua's nemesis—was too tempting.

Leaning closer, she whispered, "Didn't you say I was too shy to express myself? Let's be more direct, then."

Caden's eyes darkened. “And what exactly do you have in mind?”

A sly smile touched Alice's lips. "Can you moan?"

Caden's gaze dropped to her lips. “And who exactly is supposed to moan?” he asked, leaning in with heated passion.

Alice knew she might be overstepping, but pressed on. "You."

Caden let out a quiet laugh, amused by her boldness. Just then, Lilliana interrupted, "Mr. Ward… Mr. Ward? Are you still there?"

Caden looked into Alicia's eyes, holding her waist tightly. Alicia shifted, making room for him, seeming to appreciate the closeness. His voice was hoarse, though unintentionally so. "Are you serious?" He lifted his face, brushing his nose against her cheek. The cold touch sent shivers down her spine.

Alice's eyelashes fluttered; anxiety rising. She swallowed, gathering her courage, and kissed him. "Keep up the good work, and I'll pay you for your trouble."

A dangerous light flashed in Caden's eyes. The intensity of his gaze drew Alicia in. With each passing moment, passion grew. She kissed him wildly, licking and biting his lips.

Caden applied pressure, guiding her legs around his waist as he gripped the back of her neck. He opened his mouth, taking control, showing her what a real kiss felt like.

Overwhelmed, Alice let out a soft moan.

Caden laughed. “Looks like you already know how to moan.”

The heat became unbearable for Alice. She struggled to pull away. Caden released her readily. The tension vanished the moment he let go.

“The call ended a while ago,” Caden said. “Too bad I didn't hear anything.” Joshua, having parked the car, had missed everything. He took a moment to compose himself.

Silence stretched in the car. Finally, Lilliana spoke. "I can't believe it. What would Caden want with Alicia? She's too boring to be fun to mess with."

Joshua's expression darkened. He reached for a cigarette without answering.

Lilliana glared. “Are you serious? I'm pregnant. You can’t smoke in here.”

Joshua pretended not to hear and lit the cigarette. Lilliana angrily snatched it away.

Joshua turned, growling, “Shut your mouth!”

Lilliana froze, shocked by his sharp tone. Anger and tears welled in her eyes. “Joshua, you scoundrel. How dare you speak to me like that?”

A cry of pain escaped her, a sharp pain in her abdomen. Her face paled. "Joshua… the baby…"

Joshua stopped, realizing what happened. He quickly composed himself and rushed her to the hospital.

In the other car, silence hung in the air. After the kiss, Alicia felt awkward. She wired money to Caden. “We didn't quite get what we set out to do, but thanks for playing along. I’ll pay you the standard rate for your time.”

Caden looked at her. “Standard fare, huh? Are you that familiar with this kind of thing?”

Alice dodged the question. “Just take the money. No need for unnecessary courtesies.”

Caden saw the amount: one hundred dollars. How generous. For someone worth billions, a hundred dollars seemed ridiculous, but he took it.

"Don't forget to call me next time you need something like that," he said.

Alice was speechless. Caden's gaze remained fixed on her. “Did you and Joshua avoid kissing when you were together?”

Alice felt the sting but kept her expression firm. “We kissed every day. Three times a day, without missing a beat.”

Caden chuckled. “Really? Because your technique is terrible.”

Alicia remained calm, though stung. “We've been fighting a lot, and we haven't kissed in a while. I just don’t have enough practice.”

“Oh yeah?” Caden laughed harder.

Alicia held back her frustration. "We're even. You're not exactly a kissing expert either."

Caden didn't dispute that. Soon after, he received a call from Lilliana's agent. The agent informed him that Lilliana had a minor problem at the hospital and would need a few days to recover.

Without showing concern, Caden replied, “For late endorsements, follow the contract. Process the compensation accordingly.”

The agent hesitated, clearly surprised by the lack of sympathy. Dealing with ruthless businessmen meant no compassion could be expected.