Chapter 134:
Alicia felt a sense of relief upon hearing his question. She was relieved that this was the only thing Joshua was concerned about. She had feared he might ask, “Why did you conspire with Caden against me?”
Keeping her emotions in check, she replied, “Why would you ask me that?”
Joshua’s tone was firm as he answered, “Just give me a straightforward answer. Yes or no.”
“No,” she responded flatly.
But Joshua wasn’t convinced.
“Mrs. Gray has already left, but before she did, she mentioned that you and Caden were very close while at the Gray family’s home.” His expression darkened. “Don’t you find it a bit coincidental that you were both there at the same time? After you got hurt, why was it Caden who saved you and took you to the hospital?”
Alicia remained silent, her gaze fixed on him.
In his eyes, she could see not only anger but also a flicker of resentment. There was perhaps even a hint of fear, though it felt like an exaggeration. Alicia understood Joshua too well; his interest in her was always fleeting. He wouldn’t truly fear losing her.
Now that she had gathered enough evidence, she felt no need to maintain her facade any longer. She realized it was time to sever her ties with him.
“There is, in fact, something happening between Caden and me,” she said, a smile slowly creeping onto her face.
Don’t miss fresh updates on gαℓησν𝑒ℓs․cøm
Joshua flinched at her smile.
Her words ignited his fury, and her calm demeanor only intensified his frustration.
“Then why did you deny it earlier?” Joshua demanded, his voice agitated.
Alicia shrugged, her indifference clear. “You asked if we were involved.”
“Is there really a difference?” she replied, her smile still lingering.
“Absolutely. Caden asked me if I wanted to be with him, but I haven’t agreed to anything yet.”
She spoke whatever came to mind, regardless of how ridiculous it sounded.
Then, she let out a sigh and lied through her teeth. “He claimed he’s better than you, and that if I were with him, all my problems would disappear.”
Alicia was completely making this up.
But, surprisingly, Joshua believed her.
The reason was simple—he understood Caden’s intentions from their private conversations.
His heart began to race. “What do you think?”
“Nothing,” she replied with mockery, her tone laced with sarcasm. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”
She truly didn’t have a say in the matter.
Who would win her over was entirely up to them.
Joshua knew he had no chance of winning, but his competitive spirit flared. Clenching his fists, he declared, “Caden is no match for me.”
Alicia laughed at his remark.
“Those who have nothing to lose aren’t intimidated by those who have everything at stake. He’s single now and has no attachments. What about you? Lilliana is pregnant. Aren’t you concerned about that?”
Joshua’s expression soured. “Alicia, are you siding with Caden to mock me?”
“No,” she replied with a shrug. “I’m just speaking the truth. You’re impulsive, and I’m simply reminding you not to jeopardize the bigger picture over minor issues.”
Lilliana represented the bigger picture. Alicia was merely a trivial matter.
Joshua needed to understand that.
Joshua saw right through her.
“Are you planning to leave me to be with Caden?” he asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.
Alicia hesitated before answering, “I won’t be with anyone, but as long as I’m staying at the Yates Mansion, I’ll always pose a risk to your relationship with Lilliana. You should really reflect on that.”
Joshua dismissed her hypocritical words with a wave.
He took her hand and firmly stated, “Caden wants you just to compete with me. If you accept him, it won’t end well for you. Do you understand?”
Alicia flinched at his grip and struggled to free herself.
Believing she was trying to escape, Joshua lifted her and carried her to the bedroom. Then, he locked the door.
“What are you planning to do to me, Joshua?” Alicia asked, her voice filled with worry.
He pushed her onto the bed and placed a firm grip around her neck. “What are you thinking? Have you forgotten why I brought you to the Yates Mansion?” he growled. Then, he began taking her clothes off.
Alicia held onto her shirt, firmly resisting his attempts to undress her.
She knew Joshua had taken the drug, so he wouldn’t physically react. However, Caden had left marks on her skin.
She couldn’t let Joshua discover them.
This bastard was a brutal man.
Fury surged through Alicia, and she slapped him hard across the face.
The impact startled Joshua, and for a moment, he stood frozen.
With a stern expression, he grunted, “You really don’t want to give yourself to me?”
Alicia’s eyes burned with anger. “Why should I? Have you forgotten how you threatened me back then?”
Joshua paused, thinking about the past.
How had he threatened her? He had told her that if she didn’t comply, he would walk away, leaving her vulnerable to those drunks who would drag her into a secluded area and assault her.
Trembling with fury, Alicia shouted, “You’re no different from a rapist!”
Joshua’s body went rigid at her words.
He locked eyes with her.
It was true—she had changed.
She was no longer the Alicia he once knew.
The eyes before him were no longer gentle and smiling. They were filled with anger and defiance.
He had been trying to compel her to stay with him, but now, for the first time, he felt a wave of defeat wash over him. Frustrated by his unresponsive body, he released her and turned to light a cigarette.
Seconds later, his phone rang. It was Lilliana.
He answered the phone, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
“What’s going on, honey?”
In a sweet voice, Lilliana asked, “Are you finished with work? Do you mind joining me for a stroll?” Joshua glanced at Alicia.
She had already smoothed out her clothes and was standing at a distance, deliberately avoiding his gaze.
“Yeah,” he replied flatly. “I’ll be there soon.”
After hanging up, Alicia spoke. “Nothing stays hidden forever. Your company is about to go public, and Lilliana is planning her return to work. Do you really want to risk losing everything because of me?”
Joshua knew exactly what mattered most.
He valued power too much to risk it all over a woman. Still, he had no intention of letting Caden have Alicia without a fight.
He didn’t respond directly.
Instead, he grabbed her phone from the bed and started walking out.
Alicia’s expression tightened. “What do you think you’re doing, Joshua?”
