Chapter 1016:
Alicia’s lips twitched. “When did I ever care about him?” She might’ve felt a twinge of sympathy, but it wasn’t enough to actually care. Besides, this whole thing was just their way of testing Corey’s real intentions. If Corey had gone through with kidnapping Alicia and taking her heart, it would’ve been clear he was beyond saving, and Caden wouldn’t have hesitated to finish him off. But Corey backed off when the anesthesia didn’t work, and that moment of hesitation ended up sparing his life. Alicia looked at Caden, poking his palm with her finger. “Caden, you get why I’m playing these games with Corey.”
Caden locked eyes with her, sensing the sincerity in her gaze. After all these years together, all those intimate nights, how could he not know what she was planning?
“Yeah, I get it,” he said, nodding.
Caden understood it all. The loss of their child wasn’t entirely on him. Corey had a hand in the mess too. Even with Gemma keeping Corey in check now, his actions in Terriland were still beyond what most could accept.
Corey had killed, broken laws, and still strutted around at home like he was untouchable. It was because he was his own strongest shield. If it ever came to a full-blown clash, Caden would lose more than he could afford.
Alicia didn’t want that. She didn’t want Caden to be hurt or to make any reckless moves. That was why she chose to make peace with Corey.
Feeling uneasy, Alicia leaned into Caden, her voice tinged with unease. “This is my fault.” If her blood type wasn’t so rare, none of this would’ve happened.
Caden pulled her closer, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “Funny, when you were fighting me for first place, you weren’t this sweet.”
Alicia’s cheeks turned pink. Even she found her earlier behavior a bit odd. She still couldn’t believe how easily she’d let her guard down, acting like a timid little rabbit and giving him the chance to tease her.
Trying to regain her footing, she shot back, “Why should I be sweet? I have the skills to take you down.”
Corey headed to the restaurant first to secure a private room before stepping out to meet Alicia and Caden.
Trailing behind Corey, his secretary couldn’t hold back his discontent. “Do you really need to pick them up yourself?”
Corey shot him a glance and replied coolly, “Do you think you could get them here instead?”
The secretary pressed on, grumbling, “Earlier, you opened the car door for them, and now you’re fetching them. What do they think you are?”
Corey halted briefly, his tone turning frosty. “And why didn’t you have the guts to confront Caden earlier?” Caught off guard, the secretary awkwardly lowered his head and coughed to cover his discomfort.
Learning from past encounters, Corey decided it was best to endure for now, hoping to resolve the situation sooner rather than later.
As Corey stepped out of the restaurant, he noticed Caden’s car pulling up.
The driver exited, reaching to open the door for Caden but then hesitated, awkwardly withdrawing his hand and standing aside.
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