Chapter 210

Three people were in the elevator. Alicia and Caden were lost in thought, while Gerry remained oblivious to the tension. Approaching Alicia, he asked, "Alice, what's wrong? You look flushed. Are you hot? Your face is very red."

Alicia felt Caden's mocking gaze intensify. Trying to deflect the awkwardness, she touched her cheek and forced a smile. "Oh, yeah? I hadn't noticed."

Fortunately, the elevator reached the first floor shortly after. Alicia quickly exited. Gerry, misinterpreting the situation, turned to Caden. "What have you done to her? She doesn't seem to like being around you."

Caden ignored him and began gathering bags. Gerry, attempting to help, lifted some of the bags, then noticed something unusual. "Do you have a boner?"

Caden's expression remained impassive. "It's that time of day."

Puzzled, Gerry persisted, "What time?"

"It usually happens around this time," Caden replied firmly.

Gerry stood speechless, bewildered. Meanwhile, Alicia, having arrived by taxi, was offered a ride by Gerry. "Come with me, Alice. It's not safe to carry such a valuable painting alone at night."

Grateful, she accepted. As they loaded the painting into Gerry's car, Caden approached Alicia with a tube of ointment. Recognizing it, she realized it was the same ointment he'd used earlier to soothe her bruises—expensive and rare.

Caden said indifferently, "It works for other bruises too. I don't need it. If you don't want it, just throw it away. Whatever you decide."

Alicia paused, remembering a forgotten bruise on her knee. The pain seemed insignificant now. After a moment's hesitation, she took the ointment. It felt warm, as if Caden had been holding it. This sparked a fleeting, complex emotion, subtly shifting the atmosphere.

Seeking to escape the tension, Alice turned to Gerry. "Mr. Hopkins, can we go now?"

Gerry, sensing the end of their conversation, closed the trunk. "All set," he announced.

As Caden walked away, Alice found herself watching him. Their relationship had been intense but lacked a solid foundation. It was over. Their shared history seemed erased, leaving only a deep sense of loss. She only looked away when he disappeared completely.

Turning, she found Gerry watching her, his expression worried. Surprised, she listened as he said bluntly, "So you have feelings for Caden too. I thought he was the one stalking you."

With a bitter smile, Alicia replied, "We're talking about Caden Ward. I'm sure countless women want to be with him."

"Why aren't they together then?" Gerry asked, puzzled. "Is there still resentment from that last competition?"

Alice looked down, unsure how to respond. Gerry, sensing her hesitation, asked, "Joshua told you that Caden bribed the judges at that competition, right?"

Alice, startled, sensed something was wrong. "Mr. Hopkins, what exactly are you implying?"

Gerry clarified, "You were the rightful winner. Even Caden was surprised when the results were altered. He confronted the judges, who revealed the decision was influenced by organizers who favored the powerful Ward family, not Caden."

Alice felt a tightness in her chest, stunned by the revelation. The matter had been painful, but her recent interactions with Caden had lessened the sting. Hearing Gerry confirm her suspicions, however, was a shock.

Her inquisitive look prompted Gerry to continue. "Caden was outraged and confronted the organizers. But given the tension between you, he didn't feel he could tell you and left the country. This misunderstanding allowed Joshua to slander him. You know their animosity. Alicia, it was naive of you to believe Joshua."

The weight of past misunderstandings pressed heavily on Alice. She replied bitterly, "That year, my parents had an accident. It clouded my judgment."

She wrestled with the painful realization that she had misjudged Caden, her direct competitor. "So why didn't you clear things up when you came back?" Her voice trembled.