Chapter 404:

The man’s irritation was evident. “What are you implying?”

Alicia began to respond, but a commanding voice cut her off. “Exactly what she said. Is that so hard to understand?”

Startled, Alicia turned to see Caden. He stood imposingly in a black shirt, his tall figure already casting a shadow over her as he approached. The man, recognizing Caden, froze. He quickly realized his mistake, seeing Caden defend Alicia.

His voice trembled. “Mr. Ward…”

Caden’s response was cold. “You recognize me? Am I qualified to touch this screen?”

The man visibly shook. “Mr. Ward, I didn’t realize she was your…”

Caden interrupted sharply, “My what? Did she say anything about me before coming in?”

The room was filled with influential figures; Alicia had earned her place among them through her own merit. As the tension escalated, the man appeared close to tears. Fortunately, the event organizer intervened.

“Mr. Ward! Mr. Ward…” The organizer hurried forward, attempting to defuse the situation. “I apologize for the poor service. Please don’t be upset. We’ve been understaffed recently, and this person was mistakenly hired. He will be let go immediately!”

Caden’s attention shifted to the high-end screen. He turned to Alicia. “Do you like it?”

Understanding his intentions, Alicia replied immediately, “No. Don’t buy it.”

Caden then addressed the organizer. “Is it for sale?”

The organizer’s face tightened. “There’s no need to buy it. It’s a gift for you, Mr. Ward. We’ll have it delivered to your headquarters in Warrington.”

Alicia was surprised. Caden, a capitalistic giant, acted like a self-serving rogue.

Caden scribbled an address and handed it to the organizer. “Send it here. It’s for my pet to watch cartoons.” The address was for his apartment.

Alicia was speechless. Caden’s actions were unreasonable, yet she couldn't afford to lose her composure.

Outside, she lowered her voice. “Why did you spend so much on that?”

Caden raised an eyebrow. “It’s my money, Ms. Bennett. There’s no need for you to be concerned.”

Alicia had no retort. He was right. Besides, it was for his pet. His reasoning was impeccable.

An awkward silence followed.