Alicia curled her lips into a satisfied smile as she accepted the money. Her bank account had seen a noticeable boost, and she beamed with pleasure.

Caden observed her closely, his thoughts drifting. He remembered the extravagant lifestyle of the Bennett family, where even their dog sported a gold chain. Then she married Joshua. Now, she was thrilled over such a paltry sum.

Alicia’s mind raced back to a thought. “You had to have known Mrs. Reyes was cheating, didn’t you?”

Caden simply nodded.

Curiosity piqued, she asked, “So, how were you able to win?”

“I possess the skill to alter the cards.”

Alicia’s eyes widened in surprise. “You mean you can perform magic? Like turning a two into a three?”

Caden gave her a sidelong glance. “Are you really taking me at my word?”

Of course, he couldn’t change the cards. He had simply figured out how the women were cheating and calculated the odds, managing to win a few rounds by chance.

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With a blank expression, he advised Alicia, “You should consider seeking some help.”

Alicia was left speechless, her frustration simmering beneath the surface. Clenching her jaw, she muttered a few curses under her breath and stormed off, clutching the hem of her dress.

Meanwhile, Rachel, eager to make things right, had gone to great lengths to prepare lunch, using only high-quality ingredients. Randolph returned, eager to share a drink with Caden.

“Mr. Ward, it is your first visit here. What do you think? Did you enjoy yourself?” Randolph asked.

Caden declined the drink offered to him. With a neutral expression, he remarked, “Mrs. Gray is both admirable and shrewd in business. I’ve gained valuable insights today.”

At first, Randolph didn’t pick up on the sarcasm. His hand, still holding the drink, lingered in the air until the realization hit him.

He shot an accusatory glare at Rachel, whose expression had soured. “What did you do to Mr. Ward?”

Rachel’s nerves were evident. “Randolph, it’s all a misunderstanding.”

Realizing he had indeed upset Caden, Randolph slapped her with determination.

Alicia hadn’t anticipated Randolph’s explosive reaction. Her grip on the fork tightened instinctively. She couldn’t help but glance at Rachel, who was struck by her husband in front of a crowd, covering her face as tears of humiliation flowed down her cheeks.

Randolph, however, remained unfazed. He continued to praise Caden while downing a glass of wine in a single gulp.

Caden frowned slightly. “Mr. Gray, please enjoy your meal. Don’t worry about me.”

The onlookers whispered among themselves, the tension palpable.

Alicia took a few bites of her food. Once Randolph and Rachel moved away, she slid into the seat next to Caden, leaning in to whisper, “You’re significantly younger than Randolph. Why does he seem so intimidated by you?”

Caden replied with a detached air, “He’s not truly afraid of me. He just sees this as an opportunity to inflate his ego by belittling a woman.”

Alicia recognized the pattern. Most men behaved that way. Rachel’s affection only served to swell Randolph’s pride, making him feel like royalty. He genuinely believed he was something special.

“You know what Randolph is like. Why would you provoke them?” Alicia asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Caden cast her a sideways glance. “Are you sympathizing with Rachel again?”

Alicia shook her head. “I find you rather unkind.”

“If I’m not unkind, then I’m naive,” Caden responded coolly. “Don’t forget the real reason you’re here today.”

Alicia was taken aback. “How did you find that out?”

Caden placed some food on his plate and ate with poise, his expression unreadable. “What do I really know?”

Alicia was left speechless. Though Caden didn’t elaborate, his cunning expression made her wonder if he was aware of everything. Could he have figured out that she was trying to get close to Rachel to uncover secrets about Randolph?

With a puzzled look, Alicia asked, “Did you study psychology overseas? The kind that lets you read people’s thoughts just by observing them?”

Caden replied with a perfectly straight face, “I mastered the art of mind reading.”

Alicia fell silent. She was half-convinced and mentally cursed herself.

Then she challenged him, “So, what was I just thinking?”

“You referred to me as a foolish jerk.”

Now, she felt a sense of admiration. “Mind reading really does exist, after all.”

He had read her thoughts accurately, not missing a single detail.

Caden remained unbothered as he gestured for a nearby maid to come over.

The maid approached, asking, “Mr. Ward, how may I assist you?”

“Is there anything here that could enhance intelligence?” He glanced at Alicia. “This lady might require quite a bit.”

Alicia clenched her teeth and kicked him under the table. Caden didn’t flinch. His body was as solid as iron, leaving her with a throbbing toe.

She gasped, her lips twitching at the corners.

Noticing the maid frozen in uncertainty, Alicia said, “Why don’t you whip up some kebabs for me? Cook them thoroughly, and make sure they’re loaded with chili.”

However, a plump child snatched the kebabs away. Alicia recognized Ted and didn’t feel like arguing.

“That’s Mrs. Reyes’s son. He’s fiercely protective of her,” Alicia commented, smacking her lips. “Those kebabs smell delicious. What a shame.”

Caden glanced over. Ted was seated next to Mrs. Reyes, relishing the kebabs. Mrs. Reyes held him in her arms and cast a look in their direction.

Seeing Alicia enjoying her food so heartily, Mrs. Reyes gritted her teeth in envy.

“Ted,” Mrs. Reyes began, “if someone were to bully me, would you defend me?”

Ted responded earnestly, “Absolutely, Mommy! You’re my favorite!”

She leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Then…”