Chapter 285:

He had once wished Alice to be considerate, docile, and obedient—a traditional wife dependent on him. Now, it seemed he was getting his wish. Alice wasn't jealous, refused to spend her money, and was less difficult. Yet, this bothered him. She no longer reacted sarcastically to the mention of Yolanda; she barely raised an eyebrow. The more Caden considered this changed Alice, the more distressed he became. He couldn't bear the frustration and stormed out.

Alice, meanwhile, finished her shopping and returned to the gallery, immersing herself in her work. Everything appeared normal; no one noticed his odd behavior. Except for brief trips home to feed Cade, she practically lived at the gallery for the next few days.

Caden, avoiding his empty apartment, began having dinner at the mansion with Ciara. But things weren't as he expected. Previously, Ciara would scold him for infrequent visits. Now, with his increased presence, she complained incessantly, even to the point of dismissing him.

“Why are you still here? You should be sharing meals with Alice,” she chided.

Caden, suppressing his turmoil, calmly took another bite. “I came to eat with you, and you’re complaining?”

Ciara’s eyes narrowed, her insight sharp. “So you haven’t groveled and begged Alice for forgiveness?”

“Why would I?” Caden scoffed. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Alice isn’t unreasonable. She likely has a good reason to be upset. Am I wrong?” Ciara's words stung, but Caden's temper flared. “Stay out of this.”

It wasn't until Yolanda completely moved out of the Joy Mansion that Caden finally agreed to reside there. One night, after showering, he noticed several new paintings in the halls. He later learned Ciara had purchased them from Alice's gallery.