Caden saw right through Alicia’s little game. “Misleading them, are we?”

Alicia glanced at him and asked, “What else should I be doing?”

Caden chuckled at that. “Platonic marriages must be really interesting.”

Alicia pressed her lips together in frustration.

Just then, Caden’s phone rang.

He tapped the screen and put it on speaker.

On the other end of the line, Lilliana asked, “Mr. Ward, why were you at the cafe with Alicia earlier?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I’m just curious. Were you two discussing business?”

Before Caden could respond, Alicia stood up and approached him.

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Caden’s eyes followed her movements. He was caught off guard when she straddled his lap without hesitation. His brows furrowed as he asked, “What do you think you’re doing?”

Alicia stayed silent and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Up close, Caden’s sharp, handsome features filled her vision. His chiseled face was flawless from any angle. It was even more striking than she had imagined. It was as if his looks were carved by the gods themselves. Driven by anger, Alicia placed one hand on his face and leaned in slowly, aiming for his lips.

Caden turned his head to the side. “What are you trying?”

Alicia pressed harder, refusing to give him a chance to avoid her.

She knew this was reckless, and it harmed herself as much as it would hurt him, but she didn’t stop. This opportunity was far too enticing to let go, considering Caden was Joshua’s nemesis.

Alicia moved closer and whispered in his ear, “Didn’t you say I was too shy in expressing myself? Let’s be more direct, then.”

Caden’s eyes darkened. “And what exactly do you have in mind?”

A sly grin spread across Alicia’s face. “Do you know how to moan?”

Caden’s gaze dropped to her lips, locking onto them. “And who exactly is supposed to be moaning?” he asked, leaning in with heated passion.

Alicia knew she might be pushing too far, but she didn’t back down. “You.”

Caden let out a quiet laugh, entertained by her boldness.

Just then, Lilliana interrupted from the other end of the line. “Mr. Ward—”

“Mr. Ward? Are you still there?”

Caden looked straight into Alicia’s eyes, tightening his hold on her waist. Alicia shifted her body slightly, making space for him as if to welcome the closeness.

His voice came out hoarse, though he hadn’t intended for it to. “Are you serious?”

As he spoke, his face lifted just enough for his nose to brush against her cheek. The cold touch sent shivers through her.

Alicia’s eyelashes trembled, and her anxiety began to rise. She swallowed hard and, summoning the courage, kissed him. “Go along with this, and I’ll pay you for your troubles.”

A dangerous light flashed in Caden’s eyes. The intensity of his stare drew Alicia in.

With every passing moment, Alicia felt a growing passion. Her body responded to his presence as she kissed him wildly, licking and biting his lips with reckless abandon.

Caden applied pressure, guiding her legs around his waist while gripping the back of her head. He opened his mouth, taking control, and showed her what a real kiss felt like.

Overwhelmed by the intensity, Alicia let out a soft whimper.

Caden chuckled at her reaction. “It seems like you already know how to moan.”

The heat between them became unbearable for Alicia. She no longer wanted to continue, and she struggled to pull away.

Caden released her without resistance. The moment he let her go, the tension between them evaporated as if it had never existed.

“The call ended a while ago,” Caden said. “Too bad he didn’t hear any of it,” he added. Joshua had, in fact, missed it all. He had already parked the car and took a moment to compose himself.

The silence in the car stretched on. Finally, Lilliana spoke.

“I can’t believe it. What would Caden even want with Alicia? She’s too dull to be fun to mess with.”

Joshua’s expression darkened as her words sank in. He reached for a cigarette without responding.

Lilliana glared at him and grunted, “Are you serious? I’m pregnant. You can’t smoke in here!”

Joshua acted as though he didn’t hear her and lit the cigarette.

Because of that, Lilliana angrily reached out to snatch it away.

Joshua turned to her and growled, “Shut the hell up!”

Lilliana froze, shocked by his sharp tone. Her anger flared as tears filled her eyes. “Joshua, you rascal! How dare you talk to me like that?”

Suddenly, she gasped in pain, a sharp discomfort shooting through her abdomen as her emotions overwhelmed her. Her face drained of color.

“Joshua… the baby…”

Joshua stopped dead in his tracks. Realizing what had happened, he quickly composed himself. Without another word, he rushed her to the hospital.

In the other car, silence hung in the air.

After the kiss, Alicia felt awkward, unsure of where to look. She grabbed her phone and quickly transferred money to Caden. “We didn’t accomplish what we set out to do, but thanks for playing along. I’ll pay you the standard rate for your time.”

Caden leaned back in his seat, glancing at her. “The standard rate, huh? Are you that familiar with this kind of thing?”

Alicia dodged the question. “Just take the money. No need for any unnecessary politeness.”

Caden looked down at the amount—one hundred dollars.

How generous of her.

For someone worth billions, being paid a hundred for his time felt ridiculous. Yet, he accepted the money.

“Don’t forget to call me the next time you need something like this,” he remarked.

This time, Alicia was left speechless.

Caden’s gaze remained fixed on her. “Did you and Joshua avoid kissing when you were together?”

Alicia felt the sting of his question but kept her expression steady. “We kissed every day. Three times a day, without missing a beat.”

Caden let out a chuckle. “Really? Because your technique is terrible.”

Alicia remained calm, though his comment stung. “We’ve been fighting a lot, and we haven’t kissed in a while. I’m just out of practice.”

“Is that so?” Caden laughed harder, clearly entertained.

Alicia held back her frustration, refusing to let his words bother her any further.

“We’re even. You’re not exactly an expert at kissing either.”

Caden didn’t argue with that remark.

Not long after, he received a call from Lilliana’s agent. The agent informed him that Lilliana had a minor issue at the hospital and would need a few days to recover.

Showing no concern, Caden replied, “For the delayed endorsements, follow the contract. Handle the compensation accordingly.”

The agent hesitated, clearly surprised by the lack of sympathy.

Dealing with ruthless businessmen meant no compassion could be expected from their end.