Chapter 103:


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    At the gaming table, Alice was outmatched by Mrs. Reyes.


    As if that were not enough, Mrs. Reyes was not her only opponent; the others had subtly and unequivocally formed an alliance against her.


    Tensions mounted as round after round slipped through his fingers, and his losses numbered in the hundreds of thousands.


    Alice squeezed her cards tightly, realizing that she couldn''t rely on her skill alone to beat them.


    His eyes narrowed as he shifted his attention from the letters to Mrs. Reyes herself.


    It was absurd how Mrs. Reyes seemed to win every hand.


    Not even the luckiest person could have won so many times in a row.


    Alicia''s keen eyes soon picked up on a pattern. Every time Mrs. Reyes yed a card, she would casually raise her hand to support her head, twisting her jade bracelet in a practiced, almost mechanical motion.


    Once or twice it might have been a coincidence, but it always happened without fail.


    And what was more revealing: the otherdies only yed their cards after Mrs. Reyes made this peculiar gesture.


    Before long, Mrs. Reyes was back to sweeping the table, a smug smile on her lips as she carried off the winnings.


    It was a trap, in and simple.


    Alice''s gaze fell on her dwindling chips, frustration simmering beneath her calm exterior. If this continued, she would be out of every penny.


    "Mrs. Reyes," Alicia said, her tone cold but determined.


    Mrs. Reyes’s eyes sparkled, as if she had been expecting it. She offered Alicia a sweet smile. “Miss Bet, have you left yet?”


    Alice didn''t respond immediately.


    Mrs. Reyes, feigning a look of understanding, leaned forward with a hint of feigned sympathy. “You''ve already lost enough. If you’re short on funds, we could stop.”


    One of thedies even ventured: “Giving up for such a small loss, Mrs. Bet? Please don''t spoil the fun. Why don’t you call your ex-husband to bail you out?”


    The taunt hit like a well-aimed arrow, but Alice wasn''t about to give up that easily.


    They may have conspired to rob her, but she wasn''t going to give them the satisfaction of seeing her defeated.


    “Let’s take a break,” he said, rising gracefully from his seat. “I need to freshen up. “We can continue when I get back.”


    He needed a moment topose himself ande up with a strategy. There had to be a way to turn the tables. Just as I prepared to walk away, the murmurs in the room grew louder.


    "Mr. Ward?"


    Rachel''s voice cut through the din, surprised and excited. She ran to the door. “Randolph said he was inviting you to dinner. He knew you wereing and booked the most exclusive private restaurant. In fact, he’s still busy organizing everything.”


    All eyes turned to the door as Caden entered. Dressed in a sleek ck suit that entuated his broad shoulders and long legs, he carried himself with an effortless elegance that spoke of a calm authority. His healthyplexion, contrasted against the dark fabric, only enhanced his striking masculinity. His deep eyes were sharp and insightful, so if he could see things no one else could.


    “No need,” Caden replied softly, his voice calm but authoritative. He stepped forward, his gaze fixed solely on Alicia. “I can eat anywhere,” he added casually.


    Alice, who had just risen from her seat, found herself instinctively sitting back down, her pulse quickening unexpectedly. With her back to him, she still felt the weight of his presence and each beat of her heart grew louder in her chest. She thought he wouldn''t appear.


    The other women exchanged nces, excitement shining in their eyes. After all, who wouldn''t be captivated by a man like that? Caden was one of the most handsome men in Warrington, and his good looks aroused the admiration of women of all ages. They toyed with the idea of ??flirting with him, with a thousand thoughts, although none dared to voice them out loud.


    Rachel, in particr, was eager to greet him, but Caden ignored her. He walked past her, his steps determined, and sat down next to Alicia without hesitation. Alicia sensed his presence immediately, although she kept her face impassive, moving her chair slightly away from him.


    Caden raised an eyebrow at his subtle movement. Curiosity got the better of Mrs. Reyes. “Mr. Ward, do you know Alicia?”


    Without even looking at Mrs. Reyes, Caden coldly replied, “She’s my ex-sister-inw.”


    There was a stunned silence. Everyone knew Joshua was Caden''s half-brother. As for Alicia… Well, she was actually Caden’s ex-sister-inw.


    Yet there they were, sitting together so naturally, their proximityfortable, yet somehow unsettling. The tension was palpable, although no one could pinpoint its source. Unspoken questions lingered in the air, but Caden''smanding presence silenced them all.


    Without warning, Caden extended his leg, hooking it around the leg of Alicia''s chair and pulling her towards him with firm precision.


    Alicia blinked in surprise, momentarily speechless. Caden remained unfazed, his tone dry as he asked, “You''re still as stubborn as ever. How much have you won?”N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Instinctively, Alice moved her hand to protect the drawer, a reflex gesture that only seemed to amuse Caden even more. She was too slow. With quick efficiency, Caden reached the drawer first and opened it to look inside. His eyes scanned the scattered chips and a smug smile yed on his lips as he chuckled.


    “Someone broke into the drawer?” he joked, raising an eyebrow. “Where are all your chips?”


    Alice huffed in annoyance, crossing her arms defensively. “No one''se in.” “I lost them.”


    Caden''s smile deepened. “With your level of brilliance, even tic-tac-toe seems like a challenge. Why bother with this?”


    Alice clenched her fists under the table, biting back a retort. “Idiot! I kissed you because I needed your help, not your lectures. You might as well have stayed out,” she thought, silently seeing.


    The tension in the room rose, but augh from one of the women broke the air. “Mr. Ward, you havee at the perfect time. It seems that Mrs. Bet''s luck has run out. Care to throw some chips at her?”


    Mrs. Reyes quickly kicked the woman under the table, giving her a piercing look. Teasing Alicia was one thing, but provoking Caden? That was dangerous territory.


    Of course, Caden''s sharp gaze turned to the woman, causing her to freeze momentarily. After an awkward pause, she forced a tight smile and quickly excused herself. “I’m going to go get some water.”


    As soon as he left, Caden casually took the vacant seat. Mrs. Reyes, clearly surprised, asked tentatively, “Mr. “Ward, do you y cards, too?”


    I have shrugged nonchntly. “Not really, but if someone is desperate enough to throw money at me, why not take it?” His gaze slid to Alice, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Don''t you agree?”


    Alicia narrowed her eyes and pressed her lips into a thin line before silently uttering, “Idiot!” Her obvious discord seemed to reassure Mrs. Reyes.


    It seemed Caden wasn''t nning on dancing Alicia out after all. Mrs. Reyes allowed herself to rx slightly—her advantage still intact.


    However, Caden''s unexpected participation had shaken up the dynamics. He was now without an ally and had to y his cards more cautiously. Despite this, the round ended in his favor and he took an important victory.


    Alicia watched intently, her brow furrowed in frustration. Caden, despite his nonchnce, was eerily calm. Was he really just here to take her money? Something about the situation didn''t add up.


    Unable to resist, Alice gave him a discreet kick under the table.


    Caden gave him a questioning look. “Why did you kick me?”


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