Chapter 460:
He had forgotten all about it the moment he saw Alicia’s face. He grabbed his phone and checked the call duration; it had been over ten minutes. Had Gerry overheard their scandalous conversation? Caden immediately ended the call, feeling sheepish.
At first, Alicia was angry and embarrassed. But upon reflection, she realized Caden was at a greater disadvantage. After all, he was notorious for being aloof and celibate, the epitome of a cold, domineering CEO. Who would have thought he was capable of such obscene pronouncements? Soon, her anger morphed into amusement.
“Oh, no,” she chuckled. “Considering Gerry’s a blabbermouth, everyone will be talking about your plans to be a gigolo by tomorrow morning.”
Caden seethed, unable to speak. His lust unceremoniously doused, he sat back with a huff, pulling her close. Without a word, he took one of the snacks she’d brought and began to eat. Though not her own baking, they tasted delicious, and they enjoyed the food nestled in each other’s arms—a warm, cozy moment between lovers.
Then, Caden’s phone buzzed. An entertainment news alert appeared. Alicia reached for it first.
“Wow, did Gerry really spread rumors about you?” she teased.
She tapped the notification; a photo appeared. Alicia’s smile froze; the color drained from her face. Caden, noticing her reaction, instinctively reached for his phone. The headline blazed across the screen: “Breaking Sensation from Hampton Group: Code Q Humanoid Robot—Personally Endorsed by Mr. Hampton as a True Human Substitute.”
An accompanying image showed a lifelike robot in clothing, wearing a mask, with flowing hair and a delicate, almost human face. It was unsettlingly realistic, yet it didn't resemble Caden’s mother.
The office fell silent as they exchanged a look, a shared understanding passing between them.
“The chip you handed to the Moss family ended up with Corey,” Alicia said, her voice measured, though a tremor of frustration crept in. “He’s claimed it as his own and put your unreleased model on the market under his name. It might not have your mother’s face, but everything else screams your design. It’s a bold copycat move. And to think I once believed Corey was trustworthy!”
Caden squeezed her hand, studying the image intently. “Corey could never have designed something so close to our prototype in such a short time. The likeness might fool some, but those pupils don’t lie. He definitely got his hands on the chip.”
With the crucial chip now in his grasp, building a humanoid model would be a simple task. Success was merely a matter of time.
After venting her frustration, Alicia sensed a deeper meaning in Caden’s earlier words. “What are you getting at?”
Caden remained calm. “If he has the chip, why not perfect it before going public? The wealthy demand top-notch quality, but he seems oddly unconcerned. That kind of behavior points to something deeper.”