Chapter 864:
Alicia paused, conflicted. Rejecting his plea proved difficult.
“Alright, Ray, I’ll be there.”
Ray exhaled, his relief palpable.
“Thanks.” His voice carried a tremble of gratitude.
Alicia sensed something amiss and asked, “Ray, are you alright?”
He replied quickly, “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Choosing not to delve deeper, Alicia hung up.
Ray remained standing, casting a glance at Caden beside him.
Caden eased his hold on Ray’s neck, his tone nonchalant. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to harm you. But you’re sweating.”
Ray was too intimidated to speak.
After living two years with Ciara, they had grown close, almost like family. But Caden was a different story.
Ray always felt tense around him.
Caden had coerced Ray into making the call, disguising it as a friendly suggestion. Now, having achieved his goal, he feigned kindness, which only intensified Ray’s silent frustration.
“I would have invited her even without your coercion,” Ray said.
Caden quirked an eyebrow. “My coercion? Am I pressuring you?”
Feeling cornered, Ray replied hesitantly, “No, that was just a firm neck massage. You weren’t trying to choke me.”
Caden adjusted Ray’s head. “Your spine seems off. You might want to have that looked at in a hospital.”
Ray’s birthday celebration was set in a luxurious five-star hotel nearby. Naturally reserved, he had limited the guest list to the Ward family, resulting in a gathering primarily of relatives.
Alicia drove into the parking lot just as Caden emerged from the hotel, his suit impeccable, his features sharply defined. With every step, he captured the gaze of many bystanders.
Suddenly, a border collie darted from behind him. The dog sprinted toward her. Alicia instinctively bent down to greet the excited animal.
Cade had noticeably grown in the two years since then, his hair thick and glossy. As he jumped into her arms, his enthusiasm nearly toppled her.
Cade nestled into her, his whimper conveying a deep longing for her presence. His vigorously wagging tail expressed his sorrow. Alicia felt a blend of warmth and melancholy as she stroked his head.noveldrama
Grinning, Caden lifted a gift from her car. “Most of the guests have arrived. Will you be keeping grandma company?”
Preferring to avoid a confrontation on such occasions, Alicia simply nodded.
At that moment, another luxury car arrived. As the window lowered, a well-dressed woman and her daughter emerged, calling out cheerily, “Caden!”
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