Monica blinked curiously, her expression showing clear confusion. “Alicia, how come you don’t seem worried at all?”

Alicia responded without hesitation, “What is there for me to worry about?”

“You mentioned that Joshua always finds a way. I’ve been thinking about it, and you’re right. He always seems to be one step ahead, and he probably has some kind of backup plan. Does that mean everything we’ve done so far will amount to nothing?”

Alicia smiled. “But I’ve almost gathered all the proof I need. Even if he makes it public, it won’t change a thing. I will still bring him down.”

Watching how calm and composed Alicia was, Monica felt her own anxiety ease.

Unable to resist, Monica offered a compliment. “You’ve really changed lately. You’re so much more composed and steady.”

Alicia felt a bit flustered, a touch of shyness creeping in. “Is it because of him?” Monica asked, her tone curious.

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Alicia was caught off guard. She immediately knew who Monica was referring to. She parted her lips, ready to explain, but the words seemed tangled in her thoughts.

How could she introduce Caden?

Their connection was strictly contractual. Once Joshua was brought down, their partnership would end. “Perhaps,” Alicia replied, her uncertainty palpable.

Recently, she had truly found a sense of calm.

Caden was undoubtedly the reason for this newfound feeling of safety.

The evidence she had gathered seemed trivial when confronted with the influence of those formidable players. If Joshua chose to escalate the situation, she could be in serious trouble. Yet, with Caden as her steadfast support, the situation felt entirely transformed.

Monica beamed at her, choosing not to pry further. As long as Alicia felt content, nothing else truly mattered.

On the day Caden was set to return, he reached out to Alicia ahead of time.

“Are you available tonight?” he messaged.

Having just wrapped up her class, Alicia began to gather her belongings and responded, “Absolutely.”

Caden replied, “I’ll be landing tonight at eight. Be at the apartment when I get there.”

Alicia stared at the screen for a moment, took a deep breath, and then powered off her phone.

The thought crossed her mind that the music teacher sitting beside her might catch a glimpse of the screen, but fortunately, the teacher was too caught up in conversation to notice anything odd. Alicia responded here and there, though her thoughts were already elsewhere.

Caden had been out of town on a business trip for several days. The time apart had stretched long enough that she was certain a sleepless night awaited her.

When they arrived at the school gate, the music teacher waved enthusiastically toward Alicia. “Goodbye, Ms. Bennett. I need to grab a birthday present for my husband.”

Alicia smiled and returned the wave.

The thought crossed her mind—should she be planning something for Caden as well? He had been there for her in so many ways ever since they began working together. Cooking was starting to feel repetitive, and she couldn’t contribute much to his work. She chewed on her lip, her thoughts wandering.

She struggled to think of something Caden might truly appreciate. After what felt like forever, an idea finally dawned on her, and her face brightened.

This is perfect!

Once Caden stepped off the plane, he glanced at his phone.

A message from Alicia sat unread: “I have planned something special for you.”

His imagination started to drift, wondering what she could be up to. He had clearly instructed her to wait at the apartment earlier. Now, she mentioned a surprise.

What else could it possibly mean?

His thoughts spiraled, leading him to vivid assumptions about what might be waiting for him. He imagined Alicia stepping out of her usual comfort zone, dressed in something he always admired, her delicate frame enhancing the allure in his mind… A rush of anticipation hit him, catching him off guard. With the airport bustling around him, he had to keep himself in check, making sure not to let any of it show. He straightened his trench coat, masking his thoughts, and called out to Hank, “Grab me a bottle of water.”

With suitcase in hand, he casually shot off a message to Alicia: “Just landed. Where are you?”

Her response came almost immediately: “Exit A.”

Caden raised an eyebrow, squinting in mild surprise. “You’re that forward?” he texted back, half disbelieving. His mind was already brimming with enticing visions.

Meanwhile, standing at the exit, Alicia glanced at his message with a confused look, unsure what he was expecting. Although she had planned a surprise, it wasn’t anything particularly daring.

“Come quickly! It’s really cold out here,” Alicia texted, impatiently waiting.

Caden slipped his phone into his pocket and started making his way toward the exit. When Hank returned with the water, he stood there, confused, glancing around. Where had Caden disappeared to?

Outside, the area was crowded, full of people coming and going, creating a constant buzz of activity. Caden’s eyes swept over the crowd, but Alicia was nowhere to be found among the sea of faces. Despite the crowd, Caden’s tall frame and commanding presence made him stand out easily.

Alicia spotted him almost immediately. She rushed over, calling out, “Sir!”

Hearing her voice, his heart gave a sudden jolt. Turning toward her, he saw her approaching. She was sporting two neat braids, bundled up in a long black cotton coat, her face partially hidden behind a mask. With playful energy, she raised a cardboard sign high in the air.

“Sir, looking for a place to stay?” she asked with a grin beneath the mask.

“Our cozy, family-run inn is just a short ten-minute walk from here! For just 500 dollars a night, you can enjoy all-inclusive perks like soothing massages and even a gaming room!”

Caden stood there, speechless.

He locked eyes with her, those sparkling eyes gleaming behind the mask, holding his gaze far longer than he intended as he tried to process what was happening.

This was her big surprise.

Role-playing. Her grand idea for a surprise was… role-playing.

What in the world… role-playing?

Caden’s earlier anticipation quickly vanished.

Just as he opened his mouth to say something, Hank appeared, rushing over. “Mr. Ward.”

Hank glanced at Alicia but didn’t recognize her, mistaking her for someone trying to advertise. He waved her off politely. “We’re not interested. Thank you.”

Alicia stood her ground, undeterred. “Two people get fifty percent off!”

Hank froze in his tracks, clearly taken aback.

Hank’s eyes locked with Alicia’s for a brief second, and then the realization hit him.

Without missing a beat, he glanced at Caden, then wisely stepped back, taking the suitcase off his hands.

Caden stayed put, eyeing Alicia with a deadpan expression. “Do you have any romance-themed rooms? I’ll book one of those.”

Alicia blinked, momentarily stunned, unable to find the words.