Alicia gestured toward a large vase nearby. “I’ve been here for a while, just hiding behind that.”

Caden, amused, commented, “You’re quite the expert at hiding. You could probably join the CIA.”

As he split the mangosteen in half, he was interrupted by Alicia, who took one half and asked, “You didn’t share our chat logs with Joshua, did you?” Given Joshua’s nature, he would surely have mentioned it by now.

“Are you worried he might find out?” Caden asked.

Alicia savored the mangosteen, enjoying its sweetness, and playfully reached for the piece near Caden’s mouth.

Caden was momentarily lost for words.

Alicia, eating confidently, said, “You heard Joshua earlier. My relationship with him has evolved, and I don’t want any misunderstandings.”

Caden chuckled softly. “Have you actually agreed to be his lover?”

Alicia grimaced slightly at the question but nodded in agreement.

Caden watched her closely, his expression unreadable. He remembered how Alicia had recoiled when Joshua had touched her hand earlier in the courtyard.

Yet, Caden chose to remain silent, not revealing her true reasons for visiting the Yates Mansion.

Alicia, looking at the remaining fruit, remarked, “Why are these mangosteens so good? Aren’t you going to have some?”

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“If you need me to peel them for you, just ask,” Caden replied.

“What’s wrong with peeling a few more for me? You still owe me from earlier,” Alicia countered.

Caden picked up another mangosteen, carefully peeled it, and offered it to her.

As Alicia took it into her mouth, Caden reminded her, “So, the meal you promised me is still on.”

This nearly made Alicia choke, but Caden quickly covered her mouth, gently ensuring she swallowed.

After enjoying the juicy fruit, Alicia commented, “It’s funny how both you and Joshua are always thinking about food.”

“Do you cook for him often?” Caden asked with raised eyebrows.

“There must be something off with him. He once offered to pay me a hefty sum just to cook for him monthly,” Alicia replied, her voice laced with sarcasm.

Caden’s sarcasm deepened. “You seem to speak quite harshly of your sugar daddy.”

Caught off guard, Alicia quickly popped a grape into her mouth, disguising her slip with a playful lie. “It’s all in good fun.”

Caden teased, “Do you talk to him like that in bed too? You were always so quiet with me, barely making a sound.” With a knowing smirk, he added, “Oh, that’s right. The two of you were married for two years and never slept together.”

Alicia’s cheeks flushed with anger, aware that arguing with him would be futile.

Changing the subject, Caden remarked, “Don’t worry about cooking for me. If it’s something Joshua likes, it probably isn’t very good.”

Alicia scoffed under her breath.

She hadn’t even agreed to cook for him, and yet he was already criticizing.

She left the side hall just as guests began to arrive.

A maid approached with a tray of pastries and drinks.

“Mr. Ward, please let us know your preferences since you’ve just returned and we’re unfamiliar with your tastes.”

Glancing at a cup, Caden thought of Alicia and requested, “Brew some coffee, please.”

Jerald, feeling unwell, had retired to his room after lunch. Once the guests had departed, Shelia found a quiet corner to confront Joshua.

“Didn’t you and Alicia get divorced? Why is she here today?”

Joshua, lighting a cigarette and inhaling deeply, responded tersely, “Mom, keep out of this. It’s my business.”

Understanding the subtext, Shelia, once a mistress herself, quickly grasped the implications. “Do you intend to keep Alicia by your side?”

Joshua was candid. “It’s safest to keep her at the Yates Mansion. It gives her a reason to stay under the pretense of caring for Dad, and even if Lilliana finds out, we have a reasonable explanation.”

He clarified that his stay wouldn’t be permanent. “I’ll only see Alicia occasionally when I’m here to visit Dad.”

Shelia strongly disagreed. “You and Lilliana have just stabilized your relationship. Keeping Alicia is like holding a bomb. Don’t risk everything you’ve worked for.”

Joshua’s gaze was deep and inscrutable. “Health is essential, and lately, I’ve needed some relief,” he admitted.

“Finding a temporary companion is simple. You can have as many as you want without issues, if you’re careful. But Alicia is different, isn’t she?” Shelia instinctively knew Alicia could be problematic. “She’s not naive. If she turns against you, it’ll be troublesome.”

“I’ve known her since childhood. We were married for two years. I understand her well,” Joshua responded, visibly annoyed.

Alicia had become increasingly vulnerable after her parents’ accident. When pressured, she would comply without resistance.

Joshua had planned to make efforts to soften the memories of their strained marriage. He had developed ways to ensure a woman’s complete loyalty.

Shelia noticed his frustration and chose to ease off. “Please think this through carefully. I’ll make sure the relatives keep quiet about this so it doesn’t reach the Green family.”

“Okay,” Joshua agreed curtly.

He then extinguished his cigarette and declared, “I’ll stay here tonight.”

Shelia looked at him thoughtfully, pondering what it was about Alicia that still captivated him after all these years.