Alicia briefly closed her eyes, bracing herself for horror.

She expected to feel revulsion at the gruesome scene unfolding before her. Yet, as Joshua’s anguished cry pierced the air, an unexpected surge of joy coursed through her.

The betrayal, the deceit, the years of manipulation, and his cold-heartedness had weighed on her for far too long. In that moment, it was as if those burdens were stripped away.

She couldn’t fully comprehend the depth of her hatred for Joshua at that instant. The more he suffered, the stronger her urge to laugh became.

A small chuckle escaped her lips, though tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

Caden pulled her into a firm embrace. She was trembling, her body unable to hide the storm of emotions within her.

If she were to learn that her parents had also been victims of Joshua’s cruelty, would she be driven to kill him?

Most likely.

Killing him wouldn’t change anything. Joshua deserved every ounce of suffering, and justice—however brutal—was finally being served.

If her hands became stained with blood, Caden would clean them for her.

He had never cleaned up such a massive mess for anyone before, but as he held the trembling woman in his arms, he found himself ready to do so now.

It took time, but Alicia eventually regained her composure.

Caden kissed her cheek softly.

“Go inside and rest,” he said, wiping the perspiration from her hand. “Your blood sugar’s low. Have something sweet.”

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Alicia stubbornly claimed she was fine, but her deathly pale complexion told a different story. She turned to leave but paused after a few steps.

“I still have something left to do,” she said firmly.

Caden stepped forward, wrapping an arm around her waist. “Wasn’t earlier enough?”

Alicia gestured toward the fierce dog she had brought along.

“That dog took a piece of Monica’s calf,” she said, her voice tight with pain at the memory. She straightened her back as if steeling herself. “I want Joshua to lose a piece of flesh too.”

Caden’s lips curled into a soft laugh, his amusement tempered by admiration for her resolve.

He looked at her and said, “I thought you brought the dog to enjoy the show.”

Alicia shivered, dizziness threatening to overwhelm her again.

Noticing her state, Caden motioned for a bodyguard to bring a piece of candy. He unwrapped it and gently placed it in her mouth.

She frowned immediately.

Catching her reaction, he asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Strawberry-flavored candy is too sweet,” she replied.

“If you don’t like it, spit it out,” he said dismissively, guiding her into the lounge with his hand still firmly on her waist. “I went through the trouble of feeding you, and you’re still complaining.”

Alicia rolled her eyes at him, her annoyance clear. Glancing at the plate nearby, she asked, “Do you have any grapefruit-flavored candy?”

“There’s a meat-flavored one,” he teased with a smirk. “I have it. Want to try?”

Alicia blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. Then, her competitive streak kicked in, and she refused to back down. “Sure. I want it freshly made. Will you get it for me?”

Caden smiled knowingly.

As they opened the door to the lounge, the two bodyguards inside exchanged amused looks.

Alicia froze, realizing the playful banter between her and Caden had been overheard. Embarrassment washed over her, and she wished she could disappear on the spot.

The bodyguards coughed awkwardly before bowing their heads and leaving the room.

Caden didn’t enter the lounge immediately. Instead, he turned to address the “unfinished business” Alicia had mentioned earlier.

Joshua had been subjected to two hours of unrelenting torture before being sent to the hospital. By the time he left, his condition was pitiful.

Alicia, however, had been consumed by work obligations and couldn’t stay with Caden any longer. She had left earlier.

After wrapping up his tasks, Caden sat in the back of his car on the way home, a cigarette between his fingers. His eyes, cold and distant, reflected a maturity and indifference far beyond his years.

As the car moved through the dark streets, he began watching a video on his device. It was footage of Joshua enduring his injuries, every moment meticulously captured.

With a flick of his finger, Caden forwarded the video to Jerald.

Then, he turned off the device, leaned back, and took a slow drag from his cigarette. The faint glow of the embers illuminated his expression, one that held no remorse or hesitation.

The bodyguards observed Caden with unwavering respect. Despite the severe falling out with his brother, Joshua, he maintained a composed and commanding presence. He was undoubtedly a man destined for significant achievements.

Caden suddenly broke the silence. “Get some grapefruit-flavored candy for the lounge.”

The bodyguards responded promptly, “Yes, Mr. Ward.”

But Caden paused, reconsidering.

“Forget it.”

The bodyguard quickly interjected, “It’s no trouble. We can have someone go out and get it.”

“There’s no need.”

Caden realized he shouldn’t be spoiling her. If he catered to her request for grapefruit-flavored candy, she might eventually expect him to prepare elaborate meat dishes for her.

He casually flicked the ash from his cigarette. Moments later, disliking the lingering smell, he decided to quit smoking it entirely.

Meanwhile, after viewing the video, Jerald was overcome with rage. His already fragile condition worsened.

Shelia, distraught, threw a tantrum, crying and demanding answers from him.

Jerald lay in bed, his heart weighed down by concern for Joshua. Yet, even in his worry, he was forced to approach the situation cautiously. Each breath came with difficulty.

“What does Caden want, exactly?” he gasped, frustration dripping from his voice. “What the hell does he want?!”

Shelia, sobbing uncontrollably, shouted, “What else? He wants Joshua dead! How could he do this to his own brother?”

Her voice cracked as her tears left her exhausted.

Jerald fell silent, lost in thought.

Ever since Caden’s return, it felt as though everything was slipping through Jerald’s fingers. Caden was like a starving wolf, relentless in his attacks. But who was he attacking?

An incident from years ago flashed in Jerald’s mind. His face paled, his body seized by a sudden wave of fear.

He grabbed his chest, his voice hoarse with panic. “Pill! I need my pill!”

Noticing his deteriorating state, Shelia wasted no time. She rushed to retrieve his medication, her hands trembling as she handed it to him.

As Jerald waited for the pill to take effect, his eyes remained tightly shut, his breathing uneven.

Shelia’s voice pierced through his haze of pain and fear. “Jerald, will you help Joshua or not?”

He finally spoke, his voice weak but resolute. “If that bastard is bold enough to do this, he must be prepared. I can’t act blindly when I don’t know the extent of his capabilities.”

Shelia’s face twisted in disbelief. “What are you saying?” she demanded. “Are you just going to let this slide? Do you want to see Joshua dead?”

Jerald lost his patience. “Calm down, will you? Is this something that can be resolved overnight?”

A flash of anger crossed Shelia’s eyes.

She had stood by Jerald for years, enduring countless storms by his side. She knew him better than anyone—his habits, his flaws, and most of all, his tendency to vanish when problems arose.

Jerald was self-centered and unreliable, traits she could no longer tolerate.

Shelia clenched her teeth, her voice trembling with restrained fury. “Jerald, if you refuse to get involved, fine. I’ll protect Joshua myself. He’s my son.”

Her resolve hardened as she continued. “If necessary, I’ll confront Caden directly—even if it means we both go down together!”