Chapter 95:
Caden questioned her, “Are you afraid of him?”
Alicia didn’t deny her fear. “Randolph isn’t a good man. Many people fear him.”
In her vulnerable state, it seemed anyone could exploit her.
Her ability to resist was not yet strong.
Caden, speaking calmly, noted, “You’re terrified just thinking about meeting them. Do you really think you can assist Joshua with his issues?”
Alicia was taken aback, having momentarily forgotten her fabricated story.
She hesitated. “Bravery isn’t constant—it varies with circumstances.”
Caden chuckled knowingly. “So, fear has overtaken you now.”
“Yes,” Alicia admitted, trying to maintain her composure. “Fear isn’t permanent. You might overcome it soon,” Caden assured her. “Relax, Randolph isn’t going to devour you.”
Alicia remained silent.
Both were quiet, yet the call continued.
Alicia sensed an unresolved issue lingered but struggled to articulate it.
Caden also stayed silent.
Eventually, Alicia broke the silence. “What’s with the quiet?”
Caden, losing patience, stated bluntly, “I’m waiting for you to plead with me.”
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She paused, taken aback. “Who said I was going to plead?”
“You’re indecisive because you need my support at the Grays’, correct?” Caden pointed out sharply. “Randolph might be aware of something, so he poses a threat. You’re looking for protection, right?”
Alicia responded defiantly, “You were the one who informed me about him. If he’s out for revenge, you can’t just step away.”
Caden laughed off the seriousness. To him, Randolph was irrelevant. “Yes, he’s a dangerous man. I’m utterly petrified,” he said sarcastically.
Alicia was left speechless, her anxiety palpable as she fidgeted with the bedsheet. Caden had hit the mark precisely.
Alicia found herself at a loss for words.
Caden offered kindly, “Should I ask Joshua to accompany you?”
Alicia quickly interjected, “No!”
“Why not? What’s the harm in letting him see your efforts?”
“I want it to be a surprise. He shouldn’t know yet.”
Caden mocked gently, “How touching.”
Embarrassed, Alicia felt the conversation should end. Why had she even called him? She knew he wouldn’t just offer help.
“I’m hanging up,” she muttered.
Unbeknownst to her, her tone sounded charming to Caden.
Caden’s hearing seemed momentarily dulled.
He grabbed a bottle of strong wine from the bar counter and drank it quickly.
The alcohol seared his throat and ignited a warmth in his heart.
He was unable to quell the inner turmoil.
Meanwhile, Joshua stepped out of the shower in another house.
Lilliana wrapped her arms around him.
“Why are you home so late these days?” she questioned. “You’re always at work, and you come home too late. We hardly spend time together,” she lamented.
Joshua playfully pinched her.
“You’re pregnant, try not to get too worked up.”
Lilliana hit his chest lightly. “I’m not worked up. I just miss you,” she said.
Joshua was feeling the absence of intimacy.
He couldn’t seek comfort with Alicia, and Lilliana’s pregnancy complicated things. His mood was visibly downcast.
Lilliana noticed his distraction. “What’s on your mind? Thinking about someone else?” she teased.
Joshua hesitated, then dismissed the idea.
“Someone else? Hardly.” He quickly changed the subject.
“We’re running low on my father’s medicine. It’s rare, and only certain individuals, like Caden, can get it.”
Lilliana sensed an underlying issue. “Is Caden causing trouble again?”
“He’s always a potential problem as long as he’s around,” Joshua confessed.
Lilliana soothed him by tracing patterns on his chest. “Don’t fret about the medicine. My father can arrange something if Caden becomes difficult. It’s manageable.”
Joshua relaxed, reassured by her support.
“Lilliana, you always know what to say.”
Lilliana’s eyes were sultry.
Just a few months into her pregnancy, Lilliana and Joshua had kept their physical intimacy in check after a few close calls that nearly jeopardized the baby’s safety. Consequently, they had adopted a more cautious approach lately.
“Joshua, I’ve taken care of you so many times already. Isn’t it your turn?” she murmured, nestling closer to him. Typically, Joshua would not hesitate under such circumstances.
However, today, as he reached under Lilliana’s clothes, he recoiled suddenly.
This unexpected reaction took him by surprise, causing him to gasp.
Lilliana was taken aback.
She was aware of her allure and knew Joshua was enamored with her physique, which made his current reaction all the more baffling.
“Are you repulsed?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. “Joshua, does my pregnancy repel you?” she demanded, her anger rising.
Joshua was just as perplexed by his own reaction. He couldn’t understand why he felt such a sudden change. Lilliana’s temper flared, and she made a move to leave the bed.
Joshua, concerned for her well-being and that of their unborn child, quickly assured her, “I’m merely tired today and not feeling myself. It has nothing to do with disgust.”
In her frustration, Lilliana slapped him sharply across the face.
