Now, Alicia was at her breaking point.

It was getting harder and harder to think straight.

Despite everything, she was still able to hold onto her consciousness.

“You don’t have to do that. I didn’t do anything to make you feel good. You’re the one who did everything,” she stammered.

Caden let out a soft chuckle, his voice muffled against her.

“I appreciate your concern for me,” he said, drawing her closer and inhaling the scent of her hair deeply. Alicia felt paralyzed and too flustered to respond.

Caden then asked, “Do you hate it?”

Though the question was casual, his gaze burned with intensity.

It was as if he wouldn’t allow her to say yes, but he didn’t seem worried if she did.

Alicia found herself unable to lie, but she also couldn’t bring herself to admit the truth, so she turned her head away to focus on something else.

Caden took the opportunity to push further.

“If the answer is no, then think of me when you’re unable to sleep.”

Think of him while doing what?

They both understood the implication.

However, they couldn’t bring themselves to say it out loud.

Alicia felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her.

“Just be quiet.”

Once they were done, she couldn’t bring herself to look at Caden and quickly found an excuse to head to the bathroom.

Lɒtєst ϲh𝒶ptєrs ιn g𝓪lnovеℓ𝓈.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Caden leaned back in his chair, seeking a moment of respite.

He didn’t have a habit of smoking, so there were no cigarettes in the house. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to relax while waiting for his heartbeat to steady. His shirt was half-unbuttoned, revealing a sheen of sweat on his muscular chest, which was rising and falling with each breath.

After what felt like an eternity, Alicia emerged slowly from the bathroom.

She stood a few feet away, attempting to act as if nothing had happened.

“Where’s the thing I asked for?”

Caden slowly opened his eyes.

He looked deep into her eyes before walking to his desk.

Alicia followed closely behind.

She positioned herself at the edge of the desk.

After leaning against it to steady her shaky legs and slightly trembling waist, she tried to find her balance.

Caden handed her the remaining third of the documents. He then retrieved a sealed envelope from the drawer.

“Inside this envelope are some photographs,” he explained, tapping the envelope. “Randolph doesn’t want anyone to know about them. They’re of no use to me, but you might find them valuable.”

Alicia glanced at his hand for a brief moment.

His hands were clean, with distinct and slender fingers.

It was impossible to tell what unsavory things they had done just moments ago.

Caden noticed her lingering gaze and smirked. “What’s on your mind? Do you want to do it again?”

Alicia covered her mouth and coughed softly.

Then, she discreetly accepted the envelope from him. “I didn’t mean it that way. I was just curious. Why do you put up with all this trouble?”

Last time, even though she had been drunk, she hadn’t held back. If he had truly crossed a line with her, she wouldn’t claim he was forcing her.

As for just now, she had refused him verbally, but her body had told a different story.

What could she have done if he had been more assertive? From a man’s perspective, she reasoned that Caden had no need to pretend to be a gentleman.

Caden stated bluntly, “We can continue now if you want.”

She shook her head vigorously.

There was no need for that at all.

As she was holding the envelope, she hesitated to leave.

“If you have something on your mind, just speak up,” he said.

Alicia leaned in slightly and whispered, “Caden, do you have some kind of secret illness?”

Caden was momentarily speechless.

Then he pressed his lips together and replied casually, “You’re right.”

Alicia was shocked.

“What the hell?” she exclaimed inwardly.

“What is it?” she asked.

Caden let out a snort as he glanced at his “cure.” “Why don’t you take a wild guess?”

Alicia’s mind raced with all sorts of wild ideas. The more she thought about it, the more outrageous those thoughts became.

“Well, just take care of yourself,” she said.

Alicia could feel the intensity of his gaze. It was as if he wanted to eat her alive. Deciding it was best to leave quickly, she turned to go.

Caden watched her retreating figure, slowly leaning back in his chair.

Would he really give up the chance to sleep with her again?

No, he definitely wouldn’t.

However, he wasn’t in a rush. He could wait for the right moment.

By then, his prey would be even more enticing.

As Alicia opened the door to leave, a thought crossed her mind, and she turned back to him.

“Do you need me to take out the kitchen trash?” she asked.

Caden was momentarily taken aback.

“No?” Alicia responded casually.

Caden found himself at a loss for words.

Meanwhile, Jerald was at the Yates Mansion. He now required several meals throughout the day, including one at four in the afternoon. When he was awake, Shelia personally attended to his daily needs, eager to win his favor.

Upon carrying the food to the study, she said, “Take a break, Jerald. You’ve just recovered. Don’t wear yourself out. Let Joshua handle these tasks.”

Jerald let out a snort.

He didn’t want Joshua taking on too much responsibility, which was why he insisted on working even while unwell.

“Set it down and leave,” he said, irritated by her nagging.

Shelia understood his temperament. He was accustomed to being a chauvinist and carried insecurities from his past as a live-in son-in-law, making him quite patriarchal.

She knew that saying too much would only provoke his anger.

With that in mind, she opened the door and stepped out.

As Shelia stepped out, she recalled Jerald’s medication schedule. Worry gnawed at her, prompting her to open the medical kit and rattle the bottle.

To her dismay, only a small quantity of medicine remained.

This particular medication was effective but not easily obtainable by ordinary means; only Caden had the resources to acquire it.

Jerald always assumed it was Joshua who had been supplying him with the medicine.

Shelia preferred to let Joshua receive the credit for such a thoughtful act. She had no intention of revealing Caden’s capabilities to Jerald.

In her effort to maintain the facade, she resorted to buying counterfeit medicine, passing it off as the genuine article.

Since the effects were similar, she believed Jerald wouldn’t notice any discrepancies.

At worst, he might experience a slightly slower recovery.

Just as Shelia was in the process of mixing the real medication with the counterfeit, she heard Joshua’s voice suddenly call out from behind her.

“Mom, what are you doing?”