Alicia was relieved that her physical condition was holding up well, as her menstrual cramps faded quickly. She gathered her strength and continued to teach her students with dedication over the next several days. At the same time, she was busy preparing for the Christmas performance.

The school had high expectations, and Alicia invested a lot of effort, often practicing with her students until late. That evening, after her last student had left with their parents, Alicia chose to linger in the empty piano room, playing a piece just for herself.

The piano’s melodious tones seemed to gnaw at her heart, like a beast. Ultimately, she felt only emptiness.

When the music ended, she sat silently, deep in thought. It was then that Monica called her.

Alicia took several deep breaths to steady herself. “Alicia, it’s so late,” Monica said softly. “I’m at the school gate. Come out!”

Alicia checked the time and saw it was already after ten. The Warrington winter was biting cold.

Upon seeing Monica, Alicia took her hands and smiled. “Well? Feeling warmer now?”

Monica’s hands were cold, chilled from waiting outside. She chuckled as Alicia warmed them. “You had me so worried.”

Alicia feigned confusion. “What did I do?”

Monica gazed at her intently.

In just a few days, Alicia had visibly lost weight. She appeared unchanged at a glance, but her intense dedication in the classroom hinted at an underlying issue. Monica could see that Alicia had truly fallen for Caden.

“Let’s go, I’ll treat you to something delicious,” Monica suggested, linking arms with her. “I bought a car! I covered it with shiny film and even embedded pink diamonds on the license plate. You’re the first to ride shotgun with me!”

Your next story begins at galnovels . com

Alicia glanced at the car and couldn’t help but compliment its impressive appearance.

That night, Monica kept the conversation flowing endlessly. She didn’t stop talking the whole time. Alicia sensed that Monica might be hiding something, so she played along as best as she could. However, secrets can’t be kept forever.

While they dined, the restaurant’s screen displayed the news. Earlier in the day, Caden had returned to town and was spotted at the airport with a young woman. The camera hadn’t caught the woman’s face, but her poise hinted at wealth and status. She stood close to Caden, quite comfortably.

The series of photos focused on them. Caden held her hand as they walked down the steps, and then he swept her off her feet and into the car. Their closeness was undeniable. Although the pictures were blurry due to being candid shots, this blurriness somehow made them seem even more intimate.

Alicia turned her attention away and continued eating, pretending she hadn’t noticed anything. Monica watched her with concern.

“Alicia, are you alright?”

Alicia reassured her, “Caden and I were never serious. We were just using each other. That’s all. I’m okay.”

Monica, who had never experienced a romantic relationship, wasn’t sure how to comfort Alicia. She took out a card and handed it to her.

“This is all the money I’ve saved, plus some help from my dad. Use it to get your business off the ground,” Monica insisted firmly. “I know you’ve been focusing on this lately. You can’t say no to me!”

Alicia accepted the card, her eyes welling up with tears. Caden had selected the prime spot in Warrington, prepared all the documents, and even secured clients and investors for her. But she had rejected it all. She was determined to build something from scratch.

The initial phase of starting a business would be challenging, but Alicia was determined to face any obstacles. She didn’t want to drag Monica into this. “I’ll repay you as soon as possible,” she promised.

Monica wasn’t happy with that. “Don’t worry about repaying me. If I need money, I’ll just ask my family.”

It was quite late when Monica finally dropped Alicia off at the hotel.

“Make sure to call me if you need anything,” Monica reminded her. “I’m available anytime these days.”

Alicia nodded. “Have a safe drive.”

Outside the hotel, a figure lurked in the shadows, making a phone call.

“He said, ‘Mr. Yates, she’s on high alert. I can’t get close to her at all!’”

Meanwhile, Joshua was on the phone, keeping an eye on the live news broadcast. The news about Caden was making headlines.

Joshua smirked. “Why the hurry? Just give it time.”

With Caden involved with someone new, Alicia was now in the background. How long could she fend for herself? Rushing her demise would only spoil the fun.

Joshua instructed, “Lay off her for now. Wait for my signal.”

Shortly after he ended the call, Lilliana entered.

She sneered, “Caught the news?”

Joshua, reclining in his chair, was enjoying a massage. He appeared refreshed.

“I looked into that woman. She’s from the Moss family, an excellent match for Caden. This isn’t just a casual affair.”

Lilliana scoffed. “Alicia was merely a brief fling for a few months. I must’ve overestimated her. So that’s her angle! How dare she be so arrogant before?”

Lilliana grew impatient. “Can we take action now?”

Joshua’s gaze remained inscrutable.

“There’s someone else who deserves to die more than she does,” he said coldly.

“Who?” Lilliana asked, intrigued.

“Monica,” Joshua replied, his tone icy. “The drug Alicia used on me was supplied by her.”

At this, Lilliana’s smile turned wicked.