Chapter 235

Jeffery eyed Joshua. "Enjoy your smiles while you can. You won't have them when you see Mr. Ward."

Joshua dismissed the warning with a mocking smile, unconvinced by the threat. Could Caden truly despise him enough to kill him? If so, he would have acted long ago. Joshua wouldn't yield, not until the situation became dire.

When the car stopped, two men resembling bodyguards approached. Joshua assumed Caden had, at the very least, sent escorts.

To his astonishment, upon exiting the car, each man viciously kicked his knees.

Pain lanced through his legs, nearly sending him sprawling, but he remained upright, seething. "What the hell—"

One bodyguard replied coldly, "It's a welcoming gesture from Mr. Ward. He sends his regards."

Joshua gritted his teeth. A welcoming gesture? It was a blatant insult, intended to humiliate him. His knees felt shattered as he stumbled forward, almost falling.

Regaining his balance, he saw Caden calmly playing golf on a nearby lawn. With a precise swing, Caden sank the ball. Joshua approached, his steps labored with pain.

Despite the agony, Joshua stood tall, refusing to appear weak. He projected an aura of strength, but Caden's height, imposing presence, and inherent authority were undeniable. Caden's dominance wasn't inherited from Jerald; it was innate, a Ward family birthright.

Removing his sunglasses, Caden fixed his icy gaze on Joshua, his expression unreadable yet brimming with indifference. "Mr. Yates," he said calmly, yet chillingly, "you have kept me waiting."

Joshua's expression hardened. "If you plan to do something, do it. Stop acting."

Immediately, a bodyguard delivered another brutal kick, forcing him to kneel. Humiliation burned as his pride crumbled.

Caden looked at him with disgust, a sneer twisting his lips. "Hit three more balls," he ordered coldly.

The bodyguards wasted no time, dragging Joshua away, binding his hands and feet, and hanging him from a pole. From a distance, he resembled a helpless scarecrow.

Caden took his golf club and swung with calculated precision. The ball flew like a bullet, striking Joshua directly in the right eye.

The impact was devastating. Joshua's vision blacked out, and blood flowed from the wound.

Undeterred, Caden wiped his club and turned to someone nearby. "Mrs. Bennett has arrived."

"We have contacted her. She's on her way," came the reply.

Caden didn't respond, striking again, sending the second ball into Joshua's other eye.

Joshua screamed, his voice filled with rage and desperation. "Caden, this will be your downfall!"

But his defiance was fleeting, like dust in the wind.

Caden impassively handed his club to someone else and walked away, his cold demeanor unwavering. He left the last ball for Alicia.

Moments later, Alicia arrived, accompanied by a fierce-looking dog—slender, menacing, with razor-sharp teeth. A professional handler controlled it, though its intensity was palpable.

Caden glanced at the dog but didn't question its purpose, focusing instead on Alicia, teaching her to swing the club. Alicia had played golf before, but it had been over two years. Under Caden's guidance, she quickly regained her form.

Soon, she approached the hole, her strokes smooth and deliberate. She looked at Joshua, whose bloody eyes were hidden beneath thick bandages.

Unaware of what transpired, Alicia asked, "Why are his eyes covered?"

Caden raised his head, his tone carefree yet cold. "I feel sorry for you. Seeing us so close would break her heart."

Alicia was speechless. Caden's ruthlessness was undeniable. Gripping the club tighter, she hesitantly asked, "Do you want me to hit him with the ball?"

Caden's deep voice echoed near her ear. "Yes. Where would you like to hit him?"

Alicia's gaze swept over Joshua. Finally, she said, "No matter where I hit him, it won't change his bad temper."

Caden chuckled, a low, chilling sound. "Why show mercy in a game where the rich play by their own brutal rules?" He found her hesitation strangely endearing.

He decided for her. "How about you aim for his groin?"

Alicia blinked, confused. Understanding, she hesitated. "I don't want to do that."

Caden moved closer, his long fingers enveloping hers around the club. His presence was overwhelming. "If you want to protect yourself, you have to face harshness head-on and get used to it," he said firmly. "If Joshua isn't your target, someone else will be. Do you prefer it to be him or someone else?"

Alicia was breathless. She understood his intention—to harden her against the cruelties of her world—but she tried to negotiate. "Give me some time to prepare," she said quietly.

Caden's expression turned serious. "Joshua gave you time to prepare." He held her gaze. "Hit him. I'll take care of the consequences."

Alicia pursed her lips, inhaling deeply. She knew she lacked the strength to truly harm Joshua alone. But with Caden's unwavering support, she realized Joshua wouldn't escape unscathed.

Then, sensing her hesitation, Caden gave the final push. "You remember? He tried to attack Monica."

Alicia's pupils narrowed, anger replacing her hesitation. Caden, sensing the shift, guided her hand, helping her swing with force.

The ball flew with precision. From that moment on, Joshua's manhood was a thing of the past.