Chapter 278:

Alice smiled. "There's a jewelry auction in a few days. Are you interested?"

Monica didn't particularly like luxury items, but she believed all women had a weakness for jewelry. She couldn't stop looking at the display. Finally, pointing to a pink necklace, she exclaimed, "Alice, look at this!" It was identical to the one Caden had shown Alicia in a photograph. Alicia was at the auction specifically for him.

Alice asked, "Do you like it?"

Monica's eyes lit up. "It looks like it was made for you! It's beautiful. You should buy it and keep it."

Alice smiled. "If you like it, I'll buy it for you."

Monica shook her head. "I'm always in the lab and rarely go out. If it were mine, it would just sit there collecting dust." She added with a wistful smile, "If I were a man, I would take over my father's business and spoil you, buying you nice things every day to keep you smiling."

Alice shook her head. In the past, Caden had enjoyed giving her jewelry, and she had cherished it. But now, whenever she liked something, she preferred to buy it herself.

In the auction room, Alice and Monica sat in the middle; the front seats were reserved for VIPs. Caden arrived fashionably late, immediately engaging in conversation with other executives. His presence commanded attention.

Monica gasped, nudging Alicia's arm. "Caden's here. Why didn't you two arrive together?"

Alicia looked at Caden. Their eyes met, holding for a tense few seconds. Alice looked away, saying indifferently, "You are more important. I prefer to go with you."

Caden sat down as if nothing unusual had happened, their interaction strangely distant.

Monica, sensing tension, whispered, "Did you two fight?"

Alice replied, "No."