Chapter 96

Joshua was stunned. Lilliana was too. Instinctively, she reached out to touch his face, a gesture of remorse. Despite his strong character, he understood the weight of masculine pride and regretted his impulsive behavior. It had been a momentary lapse.

Joshua's face darkened, and he pushed her hand away. Fighting to control his anger, he managed, "If you don't listen to me, fine. I'm exhausted. I'll sleep in the living room tonight."

Lilliana, still angry, turned away, refusing to speak. “If you leave now, don't bother coming back!” she declared. Joshua left, ignoring her warning.

The door slammed shut. Lilliana bit her lip, frustrated. Furious, she threw a pillow at the door and shouted, "Joshua, go to hell!" Tears welled up. Once she had calmed, she reflected on recent events. Something didn't feel right.

Since his divorce from Alicia, Joshua had become less attentive, less passionate. Was he tired of her? Or was there someone else? Her suspicions grew. It was time to investigate.

Days passed quickly. Alicia kept the evidence Caden had provided in a safe place. The transaction records were insufficient to seriously damage Joshua's reputation; she had given him the money willingly. Even if publicized, some might call him a profiteer, but that wouldn't matter much. Given his influence, he could easily silence any dissent.

Alicia remembered something Caden had mentioned: major disagreements with Randolph, resulting in almost six months of silence between them. What were these disagreements about? Considering Randolph's influence, it must have been significant. Solving this mystery could be a turning point. Rachel would be the perfect ally. With renewed determination, Alicia resolved to accept the Gray family's invitation.

Worried about his safety, she thought of Caden. Though known for his cunning and playful banter, he had a knack for making her feel safe in serious situations. This time, however, he seemed unwilling to help. Reluctant to ask him again, Alicia decided to acquire some self-defense items.

At Blizzard Group headquarters, Caden was in a meeting. Within the first hour, Hank noticed him repeatedly checking his phone. Leaning over, Hank quietly asked, "Mr. Ward, is something urgent?"

Caden, maintaining a composed demeanor, simply replied, "No." His mind, however, awaited a message from Alicia, though it wasn't strictly urgent. The Gray family visit was scheduled for the next day, and he expected Alicia to attend. He wondered why he hadn't heard from her.

As the meeting concluded, Caden still hadn't heard from Alicia. He rose to leave. Hank, following, asked, "Any plans tonight, Mr. Ward?"

“Why do you ask?” Caden replied.

Hank suggested, “There’s a social event that might interest you.”

Caden nodded, then paused, recalling past events. “Didn’t Randolph extend several invitations after the last banquet?” he asked, pondering the connection.

Hank confirmed, “Yes, and you declined.”

“Tell him I’ll be visiting his house tomorrow,” Caden stated.

Hank was surprised. “Randolph? Really, Mr. Ward? Considering your status?”

After a pause, Caden said, “You think it’s quite a sacrifice, too, don’t you?”

“Absolutely. A visit to his home would be a great honor for him.”

“Then have Alicia come too,” Caden suggested.

Hank was surprised again. "Why Miss Bennett?"

Caden didn't answer, walking into his office. "I need to see her in half an hour," he declared.

Hank immediately understood the urgency. “Half an hour? What if Mrs. Bennett is busy? It’s not easy to invite her.”

“Twenty minutes,” Caden cut him off.

Hank was speechless. Understanding the gravity of the situation, he lost no time in calling Alicia directly. Luckily, she was available.

She answered. “Hello? How can I help you?”

Hank knew a direct approach might cause Alicia to refuse. Threats wouldn't work either. He tried a different tactic. “Mrs. Bennett, Mr. Ward has chosen a strip show, and he'd like you to attend. Are you interested?”