Chapter 949:
Alicia rolled her eyes, suppressing a laugh. She realized it wasn’t that Caden wouldn’t get jealous, but he hadn’t encountered anyone who would stir a crisis within him before. His comments, usually so precise, now came out tangled and misdirected.
Ignoring his comments, Alicia continued scrolling through Brysen’s details. “If he’s not your client, then why are you digging into his profile?”noveldrama
“He’s a friend of Dr. Ramos,” Caden explained. “His son’s turning one month old soon. Dr. Ramos is attending the celebration next month before she performs my surgery. Brysen had extended an invite to me, so naturally, I looked him up.”
For them, a party was never just a social event. It was an opportunity to mingle within their elite circle.
Alicia’s brows furrowed. “Wait, if that’s the case, why are we headed to Jonio? Shouldn’t we be going to the Shaw family’s big party instead?”
Caden’s expression hardened. “I’m not interested in attending that party.”
Alicia raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised. “But he personally invited you! Isn’t it rude to just ignore it?”
“Let him be offended,” Caden retorted sharply.
Alicia smirked, slipping into a mock teacher tone. “Mr. Ward, take a closer look at his background—former Secretary-General, heir to a thriving family business, just a few years older than us, and already wildly accomplished. And you think it’s fine to just decline his invitation without a second thought?”
Truthfully, Caden had intended to go. Brysen’s wife was, after all, the renowned orthopedic surgeon who had designed prosthetics for Blake. But his resolve faltered when he noticed the way Alicia’s eyes lit up while scrolling through Brysen’s profile. The idea of her meeting Brysen in person gnawed at him. What if she admired Brysen even more face-to-face? The thought irritated him more than he wanted to admit.
Reluctantly, Caden conceded. “Fine, I’ll send Hank to represent me.”
Alicia narrowed her gaze, studying him closely. “Caden, are you scared I might go?”
Her question struck a nerve. Caden’s expression turned blank as he replied, “Why would I be scared? He’s married, has a kid, and he’s eight years older than me. What could I possibly fear?”
Alicia gave him a knowing look, her voice tinged with amusement. “When someone’s lying, they tend to repeat themselves. It’s a classic way to hide guilt.”
Her observation caught Caden off guard. For a moment, he was silent, clearly thrown by her directness. He couldn’t stand being called out, especially not by her. Despite his reservations, he resolved to attend the party after all.
The Shaw family’s celebration was nothing short of extravagant.
Alicia had carefully chosen the perfect suit for Caden. It fit him flawlessly, accentuating his broad shoulders and lending him an air of effortless sophistication. She herself was radiant in a strapless gown, the fabric’s hue complementing Caden’s attire.
As the driver opened the car door, Alicia delicately lifted the hem of her dress to step out. Caden was already by her side, offering his arm with quiet confidence. She took it, their movements perfectly in sync.
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