Chapter 92

Alicia kept her face impassive. “Do you really think I deserve the blame for what happened in the kitchen?”

Joshua’s abruptness surprised him. He couldn’t formulate a retort; the dynamic between them had shifted, and he no longer felt comfortable being harsh with her. “Georgia has worked for my mother for years. She’s practically family; she has her moments. You’re younger—give her a break.”

Alicia touched her wound absently, showing no reaction. She remained silent.

Joshua sighed, leading her to the living room. He pulled out a bandage to gently dress her wound. “Before, when I brought you here, you worked nonstop to make a good impression. It’s just one meal. How tiring could it be?”

Alicia pulled her hand away. “I never said I wouldn’t cook.”

“You broke the pot on purpose. Isn’t that your way of making a statement?”

Alicia was speechless.

“It was Georgia who broke it,” he finally admitted. He seemed convinced he was merely shifting blame. “But ultimately, it’s still your fault. You already have a special position here. I’m not around much. Can’t you tolerate a little more to make things easier for me?”

Alicia remained silent. A moment before, she had been furious, but Joshua’s absurd comments had settled a strange calm over her. At some point, her feelings for him had faded. Nothing he said elicited any emotion. This was indifference.

“You can’t stand to see me idle, can you?” he said flatly. “Okay. I’ll go help Georgia. If my blood ends up in your food, it’s your problem.”

Joshua frowned. “Alice, there’s no need for sarcasm.”

Alicia remained silent, preferring not to engage. If it weren’t for unfinished business, she might have slapped him. The air thickened with tension. Alicia knew Joshua cared too much about appearances to approach her.

After showering, he locked the door and accessed the file Caden had sent. It required a password, allowing only one incorrect attempt before locking permanently. Alicia wouldn’t risk it. After ensuring privacy, she called Caden. The phone rang for a while.

A groggy voice answered, as if roused from a nap. “What’s happening?” The tone was almost a lover’s murmur. Having been intimate, Alicia’s heart skipped a beat.

“The file needs a password. What is it?”

There was a pause. Caden had opened his eyes to the night. He didn’t remember falling asleep, only that he felt utterly calm. After Alicia left, he’d planned to rest on the couch. The persistent cold and sleepless nights had led to deep, restful sleep. He felt strangely satisfied, though he couldn’t explain why. It had been peaceful, dreamless.

After a moment, he replied, “The password is my birthday.”

Surprised, Alicia asked, “And when is that?”

Caden’s stubbornness flared. “Look for yourself.”

Alice sighed. “Really? You can’t tell me?”

“No,” he replied curtly.

Alice was speechless. She would have to find it herself. Unsure of the password’s length, she kept the call active. She quickly searched Caden’s details online. “How many digits is the password?”

There was a rustling sound, like fabric shifting, followed by footsteps. “It’s six digits.”

“But your birthday has eight. Do I include the first two?” Alicia asked.

“Correct,” Caden confirmed.

Alicia entered the password. The file unlocked quickly. She was about to hang up when she heard the unmistakable sound of a zipper being undone. Recognizing the sound from past encounters, her heart leaped.

“What are you doing?” Alicia asked, startled. Could he really be that desperate?

Caden paused. “Why? Are you curious?”

Alice’s instincts warned her against this. She was about to refuse when she heard the distinct sound of running water. She couldn’t comprehend his actions.

Caden said casually, “Did you hear that? I’m urinating.”

Alicia cursed under her breath.

“I didn’t expect you to be interested in this,” Caden said, his tone utterly nonchalant, as if she were being inappropriate.

Alice rubbed her forehead, foregoing a reprimand. Without missing a beat, he added curtly, “It sounds like your urination has a bifurcation problem. Maybe you should see a doctor. Men’s health problems only get worse the longer you ignore them.”