Chapter 272:

Why bother? He needed nothing. Without looking at him, she stroked Cade's head, murmuring, "I had business in Averibon. I was resting there that night. Don't worry; I have better things to do than stalk you."

Caden pursed his lips. Stalking? That wasn't what he'd thought. It seemed too coincidental; his instincts told him Yolanda was involved. But Alice didn't linger. She left without another word.

After dropping Cade at the barber shop, she gave the staff an address: "Please drop Cade off here afterward. Thank you."

By mid-afternoon, Caden was back at the Joy Mansion. He didn't delay when things turned serious; Dorian needed to hear about Yolanda's condition directly. Caden handed him a sleek white business card, saying firmly, “This is a contact for a high-level doctor in Averibon. He's highly qualified. I've reviewed the treatment plan; if Yolanda follows it, she has a seventy percent chance of recovery.”

Dorian had seen his daughter that day. Faint traces of her allergy remained, but something else was there: she seemed quieter, more withdrawn, as if hiding something. Caden's bluntness sparked suspicion. "What exactly happened between you and Yolanda?"

Caden's response was cold, almost indifferent. "If you want the full story, ask him yourself. You are his father; communication should come naturally."

Dorian frowned, sensing something deeper. "Does this have anything to do with Alice?"

Caden's gaze sharpened, a dark edge entering his eyes at the mention of Alice's name. "Tell me, Dorian: are you worried about Yolanda, or are you more interested in Alice?"

Dorian's eyebrows rose, surprised by Caden's shift in demeanor. The icy look was disconcerting, but more troubling was the insinuation. Him? Interested in Alice? Absurd. He shook his head, sighing in exasperation. “I’m too old to be her father! I only ask because you three are such a mess of drama!”

Caden's jaw tightened, though he never believed Dorian was interested in Alice. His worry lay in what Dorian would do for his daughter. “I’ll take care of it,” Caden said firmly. “What you need to focus on is calming Yolanda down. And moving out of Joy Mansion—soon.”

Dorian blinked, momentarily stunned by the cold finality. The cruelty wasn't entirely unexpected, but it still shook him.