Chapter 608: Gerry ran around the house, his mother in hot pursuit. "Please feel free to deal with him as you see fit, Mrs. Hopkins," Caden called out. "I'll go have a word with Mr. Hopkins."

As he headed upstairs, he ran into Cliff descending. Cliff's brows were furrowed in a somber expression, and a conspicuous wet patch marred his gray shirt over his chest. Caden paused, staring at the damp spot. "What happened?"

Cliff glanced at him briefly and tugged at his shirt hem. "It's nothing."

Sensing something was amiss, Caden craned his neck toward the room Cliff had just left. A housekeeper was entering, carrying a white suitcase. "Miss, where should I put your things?"

"Anywhere is fine, thank you," replied a girl's voice, tinged with the sound of recent tears.

Caden raised an eyebrow, casting a suspicious glance back at Cliff. "How old is she? She doesn't sound even eighteen yet."

Cliff, unlike Gerry, wasn't clueless. His military service had exposed him to diverse people. While not having experienced everything, he understood the dynamics among his peers. "That's my cousin," he replied irritably.

Caden laughed, his eyes twinkling. "The cousin who just arrived? Yeah. Oh."

Cliff's face darkened. "Can you stop with that sleazy laugh?" He gestured vaguely at his stained shirt. "She's young and shy. It hasn't been long since her mother passed away. She's been crying a lot and ended up wiping her tears with my shirt."

"I see," Caden said, his amusement still evident in his voice and mischievous grin.

Cliff sighed exasperatedly, rolling his eyes. "Look, I know your tastes are all over the place, but not everyone is as…freaky as you."

"Me?" Caden feigned offense. "Freaky? Wasn't Alicia your ex-sister-in-law once?" Cliff retorted. "You didn't even spare your brother's wife. You shameless rascal."

Caden remained silent.