Chapter 45

As Caden waited for the elevator, his phone buzzed. It was Hank.

"Mr. Ward, your father's condition has stabilized. The Yates family is discharging him and will return him to Yates Mansion for recovery," Hank reported.

Caden took a long drag from his cigarette. “Let them handle it. It's none of our concern.”

Hank sounded surprised. “Aren't you going to monitor him?”

"No," Caden replied curtly.

“Should we postpone our operation then?” Hank asked.

"Yes."

Hank was increasingly perplexed by Caden's recent behavior. Something felt different. Previously, Caden meticulously followed through on every plan, never wavering. Now, his focus seemed elsewhere.

“Should we keep an eye on the Yates family?” Hank asked.

“Take care of it. I have other matters to attend to,” Caden replied.

"Mr. Ward, if anything needs doing, leave it to me," Hank offered.

Caden chuckled, his voice raspy from the smoke. "This isn't something a man like you can handle," he said.

Curiosity overriding caution, Hank pressed, “What's wrong, Mr. Ward? Why the secrecy?”

"It's a medical issue," Caden responded vaguely.

Hank was taken aback. “But hasn't he been on medication?”

“I was, but I stopped; it wasn't effective,” Caden admitted.

A family of three approached. Caden ended the call, briefly glancing at the six-year-old boy. He calmly extinguished his cigarette, depositing the butt in a nearby trash can. Even these small actions highlighted his dignified presence and effortless charm.

A captivated observer, the girl's mother couldn't help stealing glances. She continued to steal glances even inside the elevator. After Caden exited, her husband spoke sharply.

"You like him that much? Why not get his number?"

The woman smiled slyly. “What are you talking about? He looked familiar.”

"Do all handsome men look familiar to you?" he retorted.

"Don't be jealous. It's nothing serious."

When Caden reached home, he went straight to the shower. The hot water cascaded over his toned body, filling the bathroom with steam. He closed his eyes, allowing the memories of earlier to fill his thoughts, stirring his senses. That night at the club had left him unsatisfied. But now, the atmosphere felt right. Water dripped from his long, well-defined fingers. He possessed power, yet wielded it with control. His fingertips seemed to instinctively locate every vulnerable point on Alicia's body. She moaned, barely able to contain herself.

Alice awoke abruptly from her dream. The dim bedroom was bathed in a soft orange glow, highlighting the light sheen of sweat on his face. She lay still, lost in thought, before cautiously pulling back the blanket to examine herself. His eyes scanned the room. It had all been a dream.

Shame burned her face. She quickly rose and washed. Sleep eluded her. Every detail of the dream remained vividly etched in her mind. Desires she wouldn't dare acknowledge in daylight had run rampant, unrestrained.

Alice buried her face in her arms, overwhelmed by frustration and conflict. She'd never denied her own desires. With Joshua, she'd even tried to explore them, but to no avail.

For a long time, Alice believed something was wrong with her—perhaps she was frigid, or too young for such emotions. But why was it so easy to lose control with Caden? It was maddening. It was like being drawn to something dangerous, yet irresistible. The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became.

Her phone rang, a message from Monica.

“Alicia, have you seen the news? Bigail's founder's affair has been exposed; it's the only thing anyone's talking about. No one's focusing on you anymore.”

Alice replied distractedly, "Isn't that common in the industry? Why is this one blowing up?"

Monica responded swiftly: “Because the lover isn't a woman. He's an innocent university student.”

Alice was stunned.

"Hahaha, who would dig up something so twisted?"

Alice took a deep breath. Who else could it be? Caden, of course. The Bigail founder held a grudge against him; this scandal served as both revenge and a boost to Alicia's standing. Caden never acted without expecting something in return; such an expenditure suggested a double reward.

The more Alice considered him, the more uneasy she became. She couldn't understand the intensity of her feelings, nor his true motives. What had last night's kiss meant? Was it merely physical attraction? If so, why hadn't he gone further?

She picked up her phone, uncertain. “Monica, is it possible to be attracted to someone you despise?”

"Absolutely not. If I hated someone, I'd tell them off immediately."

"But what if there's perfect physical compatibility? You dislike them, but still want to sleep with them. Is there a scientific reason?"

Monica replied mockingly, "Who's got you so flustered?"

Alice was silent a moment.

Monica gasped. “What the hell? Don’t tell me you’re talking about Joshua!”

Alice sighed.

"No. Someone even more dangerous than Joshua."