Caden stared at Joshua with an unreadable smile. “Mr. Yates, your problems must not be too severe if you’re still inclined to notice women,” he remarked.

After speaking, Caden strode into the room with long, purposeful strides. Mr. Wade immediately stood up and pulled out a chair for him. He then cast a sideways glance at Alicia. She lifted the hem of her dress as she entered the room and seated herself in the chair. Mr. Wade was momentarily surprised, glancing at her once more before turning away and leaving the room with a meaningful look.

Joshua had observed the entire scene unfold and said sarcastically, “Well done, Alicia. You’ve managed to win over a man like Caden.”

Alicia understood exactly what he was insinuating. “You’re giving me too much credit. Mr. Ward’s helping me out of kindness,” she replied. She smiled and added, “When you’re with Miss Green, you’re so groveling and subservient. In that regard, Mr. Ward could never compare to you.”

Caden narrowed his eyes at her. Who was she attacking with that remark?

Joshua slowly clenched his fists. He didn’t truly believe Alicia could win over Caden, but she seemed to matter to him now. Even if it was nothing more than a fleeting affair, the connection between Alicia and Caden ignited Joshua’s fury.

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The more Joshua contemplated the situation, the angrier he became. They had barely entered the room, and already, he felt an overwhelming urge to leave. He pushed back his chair and stood up abruptly.

Caden observed Joshua’s sudden movement and asked, “What’s the matter? Have you decided you don’t want to borrow the money after all?”

With wounded pride, Joshua retorted, “That’s none of your business.”

Just as he was about to make his exit, Alicia interjected, “Why the rush? If you’re not interested in the loan, perhaps we can discuss the painting instead.”

Joshua knew he had done something wrong, but he showed no sign of guilt. “When you married me, didn’t you say everything you owned was mine?” he replied smugly. “You loved me so much back then. Naturally, I thought it belonged to me.”

Alicia couldn’t believe his shamelessness. Even at this point, he dared to bring up the past. “Promises are just words. These days, I prefer to handle matters legally,” she responded coldly.

Joshua wasn’t about to let a small loss turn into a bigger one. “Mr. Wade has the painting. You should ask him for it instead.”

“And what about the deposit? When do you plan to return it?” Alicia asked, her tone sharp.

The deposit in question amounted to fifty million dollars. In the past, an amount like fifty million would have meant nothing to Joshua. However, his situation had changed.

Caden had orchestrated the bank to impose strict controls on Joshua’s accounts, allowing only withdrawals. That fifty million was long gone.

Joshua’s expression hardened. “I’ll transfer the funds back to the original account by the end of today,” he declared.

Alicia pressed her lips together tightly.

Without missing a beat, Caden interjected coldly, “That’s too long. You have ten minutes.”

Joshua noticed the hesitation flickering across Alicia’s face.

He stated, “Let’s get one thing straight, Caden. The painting belongs to Alicia. What authority do you have here?”

Caden’s lips curled into a subtle smile, but his eyes remained cold, with a hint of danger lurking within them.

Sensing Caden’s growing impatience, Alicia glanced at him and said, “Caden is handling the painting now. He makes all the decisions.”

Upon hearing that, Caden eased up slightly.

Alicia clasped Caden’s wrist firmly and glanced at his watch. “Your ten minutes begin now,” she announced.

Joshua stood there, momentarily at a loss for words. He knew full well he couldn’t produce the money in such a short amount of time.

Driven by pride, Joshua felt compelled to attempt repayment within the allotted time, despite his empty pockets. He retrieved his phone and began making urgent calls. As each minute passed, a scowl deepened on his face.

Caden, meanwhile, tapped his fingers calmly on the table, seemingly unbothered.

“If it’s too much pressure, don’t strain yourself. Just say the word, and I’ll lend you whatever amount you need,” he said with a grin.

Joshua gritted his teeth. “You bribed Randolph and schemed with Mr. Wade to trap me—all because you wanted to see me humiliated, isn’t that so?” he retorted sharply. “I’ll return the deposit, Caden. Even if it doesn’t reach your account in ten minutes, there’s nothing you can do about it. Resorting to such petty tactics to make me bow down? You underestimate me!”

Caden’s smile widened, though his eyes remained cold. “Oh? And what methods would you consider sophisticated?” He continued in a measured tone, “Perhaps you’re referring to the funds Alicia poured into your startup, or maybe those illicit deals you’ve been orchestrating behind the scenes?”

Joshua frowned. “What are you insinuating?” he asked, his voice tight.

Caden met his gaze steadily. “I’m referring to the actions you’ve taken,” he replied, his tone laced with meaning.

A tense expression crossed Joshua’s face. “You’re claiming Alicia invested money in me. Do you have any evidence to support that?”

“Randolph is essentially under my control now,” Caden said with a confident smile. “Where do you think the proof resides? Of course, that alone isn’t enough to bring someone like you down. But don’t worry, I have plenty more up my sleeve. Shall I list the taxes you evaded during your startup years, the funds you embezzled, and the officials you bribed?”

With each word Caden spoke, Joshua’s expression grew darker.

He had never realized how deeply Caden had investigated his affairs, uncovering secrets he thought were well-hidden. How had Caden managed to conduct such an extensive investigation in so little time?