Chapter 494:

“Do you think Corey is behind this?” Blake asked.

Alicia nodded firmly. “He must have paid someone within Caden’s firm. Given the complexity of replicating Caden’s mother, they needed a precise template to pull it off so quickly. I need to dig deeper.”

“Yolanda,” Blake immediately suggested.

Alicia furrowed her brow.

“The Moss family was involved when Caden worked on the robot Lina,” Blake continued. “Now, with Yolanda collaborating with Corey, who else could be behind this?”

Alicia stood stunned, the pieces falling into place. She remembered a dinner with Caden where Yolanda’s gaze had been full of malice. Her intentions were now clear: to ruin Alicia and show Caden no mercy.

“Absolutely despicable!” Blake cursed, his voice laced with fury.

It was the first time Alicia had heard such anger in his voice. His face was flushed, his neck strained, and his rage was palpable. Overwhelmed, Alicia nodded.

“I need to confront Corey,” she said.

“I’ll accompany you,” Blake offered, noticing her determination.

“We need staff at the gallery,” Alicia countered.

“Take a day off,” Blake insisted. “Money isn’t an issue.”

Alicia reluctantly agreed, her anger simmering. She felt it building, threatening to consume her.

Meanwhile, Corey, smiling, exited a social event with a client, their conversation seemingly amicable.

“Mr. Hampton, I quite like the gift. Do you use one yourself?” the man chuckled vulgarly, his cheeks trembling.

Corey dismissed it as a seasonal gift for an employee. “Certainly, I use it. Why else would I gift it?” he replied, smiling.

The man laughed heartily. “I hadn’t pegged you as someone who liked married women. That must be why you’re still single. Married women can be quite the handful.”

Corey’s demeanor shifted. “Married women?” he repeated, considering the implication.

Just then, Yolanda entered, the click of her heels sharp against the floor. Her confident smile mirrored her stride.

“Mr. Hampton is just modest, sir,” Yolanda said, poised and innocent. “Please don’t tease him. Here’s to fruitful cooperation.”

Once the man left, Corey turned to Yolanda. “What exactly did you give him?”

Yolanda smirked, arms crossed. “You’re so preoccupied with Caden’s data, haven’t you noticed recent trends?”

Before Corey could question further, he checked his phone. The trending topic had already been suppressed. Yolanda inwardly scorned Alicia’s swift action, but it mattered little; the products were already sold.