She quickly prepared a plate of pasta, which Caden devoured. The evening then took a more intimate turn; this time, Caden was gentle, taking his time. Alice experienced intense pleasure, more than once. Exhausted, she curled up in his arms and quickly fell asleep.

The next morning, a noise woke her. Opening her eyes, she saw Caden, fully clothed, standing tall with his back to her. It was an impressive sight. Alice watched him a moment before instinctively rubbing her waist, expecting the usual soreness, but to her surprise, she felt much better.

She murmured in confusion. They had been passionate for hours, and she had succumbed to sleep from sheer exhaustion. Why wasn't she tired?

As Caden buckled up and turned to see her clutching the blanket and staring at him, he asked, "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing," she replied, meeting his gaze. "I feel unexpectedly revitalized."

She stood, straight and confident. Caden looked at her questioningly. "Revitalized for what, exactly?"

"I feel invincible!" Alice declared proudly, her energy palpable. "I've never recovered so quickly. No matter the intensity, I seem to wake up energized after a good night's rest," she boasted, laughing. She exuded the aura of a heroine ready to conquer the world.

Caden was momentarily speechless. Then he nodded toward the bedside table. "You're overthinking it. You're not tired because I applied some ointment last night."

Alice looked at the bottle, puzzled. He picked it up, noticing a label that caught his eye. The ointment's ingredients were particularly rare, which explained its powerful effect.

"When did you apply this?" Alice asked.

"You were fast asleep," Caden replied, buttoning his shirt. "Come here, help me with my tie," he requested. Alice was quite skilled at tying ties.

For a brief moment, their interaction felt warm and effortless, almost as if they were a long-established couple. Caden looked at her and casually mentioned, "I have to pick out an outfit to meet a friend in a few days. Can you help me?"

Alicia looked up, her dark eyes meeting his. "What style are you thinking of?"

"I'm catching up with an old friend. It's up to you," he said.

"Okay," she agreed.

Caden smiled. "You're being very cooperative."

Alice felt a strange sensation at his comment. Her eyes did not reflect genuine gratitude. She continued, "Don't wait up for dinner. Organize something for yourself." Instinctively, she asked, "Where will you be?"

Caden, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, joked, "Are you watching me now?"

Alice paused, uncomfortable, and replied, "I'm not the one watching."

Realizing she had a late start, Alice quickly got ready before heading out.

Caden, relaxed as he prepared for his review, paused as he saw several drafts on a cabinet. He picked them up to take a closer look. They were sketches for a gallery. "Is Alicia planning to open a gallery soon?" he wondered, putting the papers in his notebook.

After her appointment, she received a call from Hank regarding an urgent company matter. Caught up in work, Caden forgot to give Ciara a medical report and stuffed it in a drawer. Later, Alicia had lunch with Monica.

Ever since Monica learned about Alicia and Caden's relationship, she was full of questions. Alice patiently answered each one.

"You responded like an AI, answering everything I ask you," Monica joked, amused by Alicia's compliance. This reminded Alice of a task she still had to complete.

"I have to visit Caden's company later. There's a new product I'm working on that's not finished yet," she explained.

Monica narrowed her eyes playfully. "Really? Are you sure it's not a date?"

Alicia shook her head. "It's strictly professional. He has rewarded me, and I see it as work." Given Caden's generosity, Alice felt compelled to reciprocate.

Changing the subject, Monica joked, "What's your sex life like?"

Alice blushed, concentrating on her food. "Good."

Monica smiled, teasing further. "It must be amazing, huh?"