Chapter 434:

Without warning, Caden picked her up and carried her back to the bed.

For a long while, they just lay there, his hands caressing every inch of her body he could reach.

“Do you have anything you’d like to ask me, Alicia?” he suddenly asked.

“Do you have anything you want to tell me?” she countered.

Caden realized then that she already had a rough guess about his plans.

He said nothing more, and they both drifted to sleep.

The next morning, Caden left.

Alicia stayed at Joy Mansion, planning to catch up on some work online.

The gallery had been receiving significantly more orders ever since Blake became her assistant, and Alicia’s workload had lightened considerably.

Eventually, Alicia decided to offer him a partnership, so they could run the business together, on equal ground.

Blake hesitated at first, since he wasn’t from Warrington, and he still needed to send his brother back to school.

Without batting an eye, Alicia quickly took care of those concerns on his behalf.

She valued Blake’s talent and was willing to invest in him in every way possible.

In light of this, Blake made a special trip to Joy Mansion to discuss the matter.

When he arrived, Alicia was teaching Ray to play the piano.

Set against the orange glow of the setting sun, they painted quite a magnificent scene.

Blake paused in his tracks, mesmerized by the sight before him.

Alicia’s beauty was truly beyond words.

It was no wonder that Caden had taken a liking to her.

Or that Blake himself found himself at a loss whenever he faced her.

His feelings for Alicia had grown without him noticing, and by the time he realized it, he was already falling for her.

When the piece ended, Alicia pinned her long hair up and stepped out of the room.

“Blake,” she exclaimed in surprise when she saw him standing in the hall.

“What brings you here?”

Blake quickly schooled his features and hid his burgeoning emotions.

“I was thinking maybe we could discuss your proposal.

If I agree to this partnership, would Caden agree?”

Alicia chuckled.

“I don’t need his approval.

I have the final say when it comes to the gallery.”

“I see.” Blake nodded distractedly, realizing that he had been overthinking.

“I’ll think it over.

Please give me some time.”

Just then, Ray ran over and grabbed his hand.

“Blake!” Between these siblings, grudges never lasted long.

Ray was already back to being clingy and affectionate with Blake.

Blake reached down and ruffled the boy’s hair.

“Do you like Alicia?”

“I do,” Ray answered, his cheeks turning red.

Then, in a soft whisper, he added, “What about you, Blake? Do you like her, too?”

Blake crouched down to meet his eyes.

“Well, I really like the music Alicia plays.

It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”Property © of .

Ray found his brother’s response a little strange but said nothing more, running back to the piano.

He struck a loud, discordant chord, slamming his fingers on random keys.

“Alicia, do you know where Caden has gone this time?” Blake asked, catching her off-guard.

His voice was soft, almost inaudible, as if afraid to ask the question.

But Alicia noticed the flicker of emotion in his eyes.

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