Caden was jogging on the treadmill, fresh from a cardio session. His damp hair clung slightly to his forehead, and the sheen of sweat made him look even more confident and undeniably attractive.

Because he was focused on running, he didn’t notice them.

Alicia quickly turned her head, lowering it as she said, “Let’s just eat. Stop staring.”

Still taking a moment to admire him, Monica finally asked, “Alicia, you and Caden haven’t seen each other in years. There can’t be any hard feelings left, right?”

Alicia recalled the recent encounters. “There are still a few. He still hates me.”

Monica sighed. “Maybe we should think about finding a different lawyer.”

“Why?”

Monica decided to avoid making Alicia uncomfortable and brushed it off. “Never mind. I talked to my dad, and we won’t be able to hire Mr. Benson.”

Knowing that this could happen, Alicia nodded and said, “It’s alright. We’ll figure something out.” She then calmly returned to her meal.

Monica’s eyes wandered back to the gym across the street.

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“Honestly, Caden’s body is something else.”

Alicia didn’t respond to that. Instead, she just turned her gaze toward Caden.

His workout clothes fit tightly around his broad shoulders and well-defined muscles, showing off his strength and giving a sense of security that seemed effortless.

His waist was lean, with firm muscles that added to his athletic appearance.

His long legs only enhanced the image, giving him a balanced and powerful presence.

Everything about his physique was almost flawless, from top to bottom.

While Alicia was still admiring him, Caden seemed to pick up on her gaze. He then looked right at her.

Alicia felt her heart skip and quickly averted her gaze. She cleared her throat, trying to sound indifferent. “He’s alright, I guess.”

Monica leaned in and whispered, “You know how men like him look so proper all the time? Every photo of him in the news, all buttoned up and composed. I bet someone like him is wild when he’s out of the spotlight. What do you think?”

Alicia paused for a moment.

Mild?

That wasn’t quite the right word. His moves weren’t anything out of the ordinary.

But there was no denying his strength was… overwhelming.

Monica smirked, and her eyes gleamed with mischief. “I heard a man with a strong nose is usually well-endowed. So, what do you think? How big do you reckon he is?”

Alicia found herself speechless once again.

Would this conversation ever end?

She rested her chin on her hand, refusing to respond. Monica murmured, “Judging by his build, I’d say he’s about this big.”

She extended her hand in an exaggerated gesture.

Alicia blinked, completely taken aback. “That’s ridiculous! He’s not that big!”

Monica burst into laughter, realizing her own exaggeration.

But then, she realized that Alicia had said something interesting. Narrowing her eyes, she asked, “Wait, how would you know he’s not that big?”

Alicia froze for a second.

She had measured it.

“Just a wild guess,” she replied, blushing slightly. “You went way overboard.”

Thankfully, she managed to steer Monica away from the truth.

After all, who would ever suspect that she and Caden had slept together?

Alicia took another bite of her meal.

But for some reason, the food didn’t taste as good anymore.

The plate of food was steaming, but a strange chill went down her spine.

She had the odd feeling that someone was watching her. When she turned to check, her eyes landed on a familiar figure standing by the door of a private room.

It was Joshua.

The recognition was immediate. He hadn’t changed much physically, but something about him felt different. His eyes carried a strange mix of resentment and longing. It was a contradiction she’d never seen in him before.

Memories of the past came rushing back, but the things he had done over the years had eroded any feelings she once had. She didn’t linger on him. With a calm, detached expression, she turned back to her plate and resumed eating.

Joshua had stepped out to grab something.

Joshua walked past the area and first noticed Monica, causing him to pause for a moment before his eyes landed on Alicia.

Alicia looked exactly the same as before, showing no signs of change.

However, the way she looked at him had grown much colder.

There was a clear sense of disdain in her expression.

In response, Joshua gave a subtle smirk.

He quickly turned his attention away and headed back to his room without another word.

Inside his room, Lilliana was seated comfortably.

She was dealing with some intense pregnancy cravings and had requested something particularly flavorful to eat. After consuming a large meal and feeling extremely thirsty, Joshua had just stepped out to bring her favorite drink.

Lilliana immediately noticed the slight shift in Joshua’s behavior.

“Are you alright?” she asked. “Did you encounter someone you recognize?”

Joshua glanced downward. “No.”

Since the incident, Lilliana had become more vigilant and mistrustful.

Her actions started to become unpredictable as well. He felt exhausted from trying to manage her suspicions and preferred to keep her away from Alicia.

Nevertheless, Lilliana’s sharp instincts kept her on edge.

“Have you seen Alicia around?” she asked bluntly.

Joshua responded with a frown, “Stop making things harder for yourself.”

Convinced he was hiding something, Lilliana countered, “Just answer me. Why are you so evasive? After everything that’s happened, are you still thinking about her?”

Joshua knitted his brows again.

He looked down at her flat stomach and said, “Lilliana, you’re still in your first trimester. Stressing yourself will only make things worse.”

Hearing his detached tone, Lilliana felt a sudden unease. She realized she had been too demanding recently, and Joshua’s patience was running thin.

Her parents had just advised her that in her current situation, she was at a disadvantage and needed to be more patient.

Everyone had a limit. And if she pushed him too far, it would end badly for both of them.

To avoid that, she softened her approach, leaning into Joshua’s embrace. “Alright, I won’t ask anymore.”

Joshua embraced her tightly.

At that moment, a loud disturbance erupted outside. Joshua’s instincts told him Alicia was involved, so he stood up to investigate.

As he had anticipated, a group of intoxicated men were harassing Alicia and Monica.