Chapter 90:


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    The ampoule contained a drug that could cause loss of appetite, drowsiness and, above all, a significant decrease in sexual desire.


    “This is an improved version developed by my mentor,” Monica exined with a knowing smile. “It''s designed for patients who have… difficulties controlling themselves. The side effects are mild, but it works like a charm. And the best part? It’s almost impossible to detect.”


    Alice was curious. “Patients? Do people really struggle to control their sexual impulses?”


    Monica, well versed in the oddities of human behavior, shrugged as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. “You wouldn''t believe how many weird things there are out there. It''s hard to keep up. My mentor and I have been researching these topics, and we’ve made impressive progress over the past two years.”


    Alice was both impressed and a little embarrassed. “You’ve worked so hard, and here I am using your work for… less noble purposes.”


    Monicaughed, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Oh, don''t worry. Doing justice to assholes like Joshua is as noble a pursuit as ever. Honestly, I wish I could whip up a pill that would turn him into a patheticpdog. Then, when you''re in a bad mood, you could kick him, and when you''re feeling generous, you could feed him shit.”


    Alice couldn''t help butugh, the image disturbing but strangely satisfying.


    Being with Monica was a very nice escape, but he couldn''t afford to waste time. He sighed, painfully aware that time was running out.


    Monica realized that he was hesitant to leave. “Stop acting like you miss me so much. “If you really did, you’d think about me more often.”


    Alice smiled weakly. “I''ve been busy today. “I didn’t avoid you on purpose, you silly thing.”


    Monica raised an eyebrow. “Busy with what exactly? “You’ve been tied up all day.”


    Monica''s question immediately brought Caden to the forefront of Alicia''s mind. Their previous encounter reyed itself in vivid detail: how he had done unspeakable things to her.


    It wasn''t something she could easily forget, and just thinking about it made her cheeks blush.


    Monica noticed the change immediately and her curiosity was piqued. “Oh-ho! Look at you. Who made you blush like that? Did some handsome rogue steal your heart?”


    Alice tried to cover it up, fanning her flushed cheeks. “It''s nothing like that! “I just had a lot of errands to run.”Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    “Errands, huh? What kind of errand would make you turn red like a tomato?” Monica scoffed, her suspicions growing. She leaned forward with a knowing smile. “Come on, tell me. Who''s the lucky one? I’ve never seen you so…”


    "So horny? Not even with Joshua."


    Alicia gasped, surprised by thement. “Horny”? What the hell are you talking about? “I’m not horny.” She quickly rubbed her cheeks, as if that would erase the telltale blush.


    Monica crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow in disbelief, like a parent who catches her child in a lie.


    Feeling cornered, Alicia finally slowed down, her voice defensive. “After I split up with Rachel, I met up with Caden. He told me he had something I wanted, and things got a little heated. That’s why I’mte.”


    Monica''s sharp gaze softened noticeably when Caden''s name slipped into the conversation. “So, it was Caden who held you up?” she asked, lightening her tone.


    Alice''s heart fluttered unsteadily, beating in time with the sudden nervousness gripping her chest. "Yes," she squeaked guiltily.


    Monica leaned over to her, her tone concerned. “Did he give you a hard time?”


    Alicia caught the change in Monica''s demeanor the moment she mentioned Caden. It was as if his name alone had the power to dispel Monica''s previous suspicions.


    How extraordinary, I thought. Almost too convenient.


    "He wasn''t exactly cruel," Alice admitted, "but he didn''t make things easy for me either."


    Monica let out a long sigh, her tension disappearing. “That exins everything. “You were so weird I thought you had fallen in love with an idiot again.”


    Alicia was speechless, but now that Monica had stopped teasing her, she felt relieved.


    Something about Monica''s reaction piqued his curiosity, though. "You didn''t suspect anything about Caden?" he asked cautiously.


    Monica blinked, her lips twitching in amusement. “Suspected of what? Of having an affair with you?” Alicia agreed.


    Monicaughed out loud, the sound ringing with genuine disbelief. “You and Caden? That''s like me dating Joshua. What would you think of that?”


    Alice grimaced internally.


    What a horribleparison.


    After parting ways with Monica, Alicia found herself on Sunset Road, picking up one of Joshua''s favorite snacks. All the while, her mind was buzzing with conflicting thoughts.


    When he returned to the Yates mansion, he discreetly crushed the medicine he had brought and mixed it into the sandwich before presenting it to her.


    Joshua''s brow furrowed in disgust as his eyes fell on the takeout. “Didn’t I just say I was craving your food?”


    Alice kept her voice even as she replied, “Cooking takes time, you know. Have some of this while I prepare something.”


    The tension in Joshua''s posture rxed slightly.


    He had always been a picky eater, rarely finding food that satisfied him, and few people remembered his specific tastes, but Alice did. She always had.


    It was the same as before.


    Joshua''s gaze lingered on her and his voice softened. “Sunset Road is more than forty minutes away. Did you get a taxi?”


    Alice vaguely nodded. “Yes,” she said, not wanting to dwell on the details. She didn''t want to dwell any further on their tense dynamic than necessary.


    Unexpectedly, Joshua stepped forward and put his arms around her, pulling her close. “Thank you. You still care about me a lot. After our divorce, I even began to doubt that you really loved me. It seems I was thinking too much.”


    Alice remained silent, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes.


    He thought bitterly, "Overthinking? No. I just needed you close enough to drug myself with your food.


    The feel of his body pressed against hers made her skin crawl, and she instinctively tried to push him away. But Joshua only tightened his grip, refusing to let go.


    Memories of their two years of marriage flitted through her mind like unwee ghosts. He had always been busy, under pressure, and his demands, especially in the bedroom, had been relentless. At first, he had tried constantly to seduce her, but her shyness and awkwardness had only fueled his frustration.


    At the end, he gave in and left her untouched. And then came Lilliana, who was bold, daring, and more than willing to satisfy his needs.


    Lilliana was everything Alicia was not: exciting, self-assured, and skilled in the art of seduction.


    But even the sexiest of women lost their appeal over time. Now that Lilliana was pregnant, she had be insufferably arrogant and unpredictable, adding more stress than excitement to her life.


    Now he desired the same Alice he had previously found repugnant.


    Men like him always grew tired of their own decisions, endlessly chasing the next fleeting thrill.


    Alicia''s stomach turned at Joshua''s familiar, disgusting smell, so she subtly held her breath. "I can''t cook like this," she muttered.


    Joshua, ignoring her protest, buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply.


    “There''s no hurry to eat,” she whispered.


    At that moment, the sound of footstepsing down the stairs made them stop.


    Shelia appeared in the doorway, her eyes narrowed at the scene. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice full of disdain.


    Joshua reluctantly released Alicia, frowning.


    Shelia''s gaze moved from one to the other, settling on Alicia with a sneer. "Are you really that horny?" she mocked.


    "Can''t you at least wait until you get out of the kitchen?"


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