Chapter 530

“Mr. Ward, I’m afraid I have some bad news. Would you like to hear it?”

Benedict, no stranger to setbacks, felt confident that whatever Jasmine had to say wouldn't faze him. “Go ahead,” he said steadily.

Jasmine took a deep breath. “Master Caden just called to say they won’t be coming for lunch.”

Benedict fell silent.

“But don’t worry,” Jasmine quickly added, sensing his frustration. “He won’t be back for a few days.”

Benedict remained speechless, unable to articulate his feelings. He understood Caden's decision; bringing Alicia to Joy Mansion would be unwise. Benedict had always disapproved of her, and her presence would only cause trouble. Furthermore, Caden wouldn't subject Alicia to an uncomfortable situation if she wasn't ready.

Jasmine had earlier mentioned Benedict's meticulous preparation of a lavish dinner, only to be significantly disheartened by Caden's absence.

Caden chuckled into the phone. “Ignore him.” He added, a touch of amusement in his voice, “Who told the old man to act like a king the moment he returned from overseas?”

As he hung up, Alicia, enjoying her ice cream, smirked. “So, were you such a troublemaker as a kid that your uncle constantly scolded you?”

Caden raised an eyebrow, memories flooding back. He recalled his youthful escapades: diving in forbidden areas, playing with fireworks, joyriding, and even scaling off-limits cliffs—each adventure teetering on disaster. Benedict, each time, had raced to his rescue, delivering a stern lecture afterward. The punishment often included a spanking that left his backside burning.

“Not so bad,” Caden said with a faint smile. “He cared about me a lot.”

Alicia’s unexpected question followed: “So, are you obedient to him?”

“That depends on the matter,” Caden replied.

“On big things,” she pressed, her tone shifting, “like marriage, for example.”

Caden looked at her. Alicia avoided his gaze, nervously shoving the entire ice cream cone into her mouth, nearly choking before pulling it away. She chuckled awkwardly, wiping cream from her lip.

Caden raised an eyebrow. “What? Do you still want to marry me?”

Alicia’s cheeks flushed crimson. She knew he wasn't the marrying type, leaving her feeling deflated. She shrugged, forcing a laugh. “No, I was just asking.”

She attempted to change the subject, but Caden’s gaze and firm presence held her captive. He remained silent, making it difficult for her to gauge his feelings. Marriage, she mused, was often seen as the end of romance, yet she still dreamt of it. What could she do?