Chapter 377:
Caden leaned in slightly, his tone deceptively casual.
“Then why not answer my question directly? She’s stunning, isn’t she?”
Blake felt a rush of tension, sensing he was being cornered.
A nagging instinct told him that Caden was wielding a metaphorical gun, ready to pull the trigger at any moment.
Caden had a knack for veiled threats, his words cutting like a knife.
Taking a steadying breath, Blake replied, “Of course.
She’s very beautiful.”
“Good to know you can see that,” Caden said, his smile unwavering.
“Now, go home, look in the mirror, and think about whether you truly deserve someone as beautiful as her.”
Blake shot back, “And who are you to her?”
Without hesitation, Caden responded, “I am the love of her life.”
Blake’s skepticism was evident.
“She said that to you?”
Caden sneered, leaning in with a smug air.
“You couldn’t handle the details, trust me.
If you’re smart, you’ll know better than to provoke me.”
Blake remained silent.
Time had shown no mercy.
Back when they were kids, Blake had assumed Caden’s aloofness meant he was simply ahead of his peers, destined to be some kind of genius.
In truth, Caden had proven exceptional, though not always in the ways Blake had expected.
Without prolonging the conversation, Blake turned and walked away.
A short distance off, Alicia emerged, holding her purse in one hand and gathering the hem of her dress with the other.
Blake noticed her from the corner of his eye and stopped.
He hadn’t planned on saying anything, but Caden’s smug demeanor had rubbed him the wrong way.
“Ms.
Bennett?” Blake approached Alicia with a composed smile.
“It’s still early.
I was wondering if you’d allow me the pleasure of visiting your gallery tonight?”
Caden let out a quiet, dismissive scoff.
Stepping closer, he glanced over at Madison and casually said, “Mrs.
Hopkins, isn’t it time for the fireworks?”
The subtle tension in his words broke Alicia’s train of thought, and her eyes instinctively met Caden’s.
Madison smiled warmly.
“I’ve already arranged everything.”
As if on cue, a loud boom reverberated through the air, followed by a spectacular burst of color that lit up the night sky.
The villa, perched on the hillside away from the city’s hustle, provided the perfect vantage point for the display.
The fireworks bloomed against the wide-open sky, vibrant purple sparks reflecting in Alicia’s eyes.
While the crowd marveled at the sight, Caden kept his gaze fixed solely on her.
Madison sighed with appreciation.
“Caden, you are so considerate.
These fireworks are truly a luxury—something not easily arranged, no matter the cost.
You’ve really gone out of your way.”
Caden smiled.
“I’m glad you like them.”
Alicia’s heart skipped a beat.
The way he looked at her when he spoke made her feel as though the words were meant for her alone.Belonging to .
She quickly turned her gaze elsewhere, an uneasy feeling twisting in her chest, and a sharp pang of bitterness settling deep inside.
The fireworks continued to light up the sky, their colors and sounds filling the air.
But Alicia couldn’t stay.
Without a word, she quietly slipped away, leaving the display behind her.
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.
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