Chapter 105:


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    Now it was Raquel''s turn to turn pale.


    Mrs. Reyes, relieved that she was no longer on the hook, quickly intervened: “Mrs. Gray, we''ve been going on about this for ages, and you''ve only just remembered now? It’s clearly your mistake.”


    Rachel blinked, momentarily stunned. She hadn''t expected Mrs. Reyes to turn on her so quickly. Mrs. Reyes'' smile was cold and knowing. In her eyes, Rachel was nothing more than an acquaintance, not a friend. And when millions of dors were at stake, loyalties shifted easily.


    Rachel''s heart sank, a heavy weight settling on her chest. The entire n had been her idea, but now she was facing the consequences, and it hurt. But losing millions of dors? It was a sum she couldn''t easily dismiss.


    Randolph had always been a tightwad, and most of the funds in her ount had been hard-earned by herself. The thought of leaving with so much money made her stomach turn.


    Mrs. Reyes had powerful connections and Rachel knew she couldn''t afford to alienate her. There was only one person left: Alicia.


    Rachel took the path of least resistance. She forced a small, tight-lipped smile. “Mrs. Bet, everyone makes mistakes. Don’t you think you’re being too harsh?”


    Alice''s eyes glittered with cold amusement. “What''s the problem? You can’t afford it?” She paused, letting her words sink in, before adding sharply, “No problem. You can draw up a promissory note and we’ll calcte the interest ording to bank rates.”


    Rachel''s smile faltered and her expression soured. “Mrs. Bet, do you really have to be so aggressive? Mr. Ward joined us and won quite a bit. It’s not like I have suffered losses.”


    “It''s money he earned. What does it have to do with me?” Alice asked, cocking her head in mock confusion. Then she turned her gaze to Caden and asked dryly, “What makes you have to support me financially? Are you my son?”


    Caden’s eyes narrowed, irritation barely concealed. Alicia, you''re so ungrateful, he thought, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes. I''m here to help, and you turn it against me?


    Sensing an opportunity, Raquel quickly said, “Okay, let’s leave it. “Ms. Reyes didn’t mean to single you out.”


    Alicia scoffed, her patience running thin. “If Caden hadn''t stepped in and noticed, Mrs. Reyes would have had me ying for hours. I was losing tens of thousands of dors with every round. How much would I have lost after all that time? How is that not aiming?”


    Rachel raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. “You could have given in or just walked away. No one forced you to continue ying the game.”


    Mrs. Reyes, never one to miss an opportunity to make fun of it, added with a sly smile: “Exactly. If you were losing so much, why didn''t you just leave?”


    Alice''s smile didn''t reach her eyes as she straightened up. “Fine,” she said coldly. “But don''t me me for whates next.”


    She nudged Caden in the arm with a defiant look. “Call the police, Mr. Ward.”


    Caden''s expression hardened, his voice dripping with disdain. “Why are you ordering me around? Does he really think I’m his son?”


    Alice''s lips pressed into a thin line, speechless for a moment. She red at him, mentally cursing the man. How infuriating!


    Rolling her eyes, Alice pulled out her phone and called the police.


    Seeing how serious Alicia was, Rachel intervened, trying to calm the situation. “Mrs. Bet, that’s enough!”


    Caden, his expression grim, kicked a nearby chair. The chair skidded across the grass, blocking Rachel''s path.


    Alicia, unfazed, let the call go through. “Hello? Is this the police?”


    Rachel''s eyes widened, her thoughts racing. If this went any further, Randolph would have her head. With a heavy sigh of resignation, she muttered, “Fine. “I’ll pay.”


    Alicia looked up with a small, victorious smile, nonchntly disying the screen of her phone. “Rx,” she said, her tone sweet and calm. “I didn''t actually call the police.”


    Rachel gaped, staring at her in disbelief. With a falsely innocent expression, Alice added with a shrug: "I wouldn''t take it that far. It''s only a small amount of money, after all."


    Raquel''s face hardened as she gritted her teeth. Now that she had spoken, she couldn''t go back on her word.


    Reluctantly, I have transferred half the amount, unable to part with the full sum.


    Rachel then turned to look at Mrs. Reyes, indicating that she had to pay the other half.


    Of course, Mrs. Reyes didn''t want to do it, but she couldn''t make a scene, so she reluctantly transferred the money to Alicia.


    Alice checked her ount bnce, her fingers tapping the screen leisurely. Every penny was there.


    Caden, for his part, frowned silently as he saw her eyes light up with satisfaction. She had been through so much, she had fought tooth and nail, and yet this small victory seemed enough to make her shine.


    “Are you sure you counted it right?” Caden''s voice cut through the moment,ced with icy disdain. “Maybe there’s an extra two dors in there somewhere?”


    Alicia blinked, surprised by his suddenment. She put her phone back into her bag and frowned slightly. Why was he asking her that all of a sudden?


    “I''ve already checked,” she replied, bewildered. “Everything is in its ce. Why?”


    Caden''s lips twisted into a cold smile. “For all the fuss you''ve made, how much have you really spent and how much have you actually earned? “Miss Bet, it seems your time ising rather cheap.”


    Alice''s eyes widened as she realized what she meant. Her moment of triumph suddenly felt hollow, a slight bitterness bubbling in her chest.


    Their eyes met. He didn''t need to say anything else, she understood the message.


    In a silent exchange, Alice''s eyes seemed to ask, Can I push them even harder?


    Caden’s gaze flickered with subtle challenge, his eyes silently conveying, “It’s up to you.”


    Alice asked silently, Will you support me?Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    He didn''t answer, just cocked his head, resting it on his hand and rubbing his temple in that familiar, carefree way. It wasn’t exactly a “Yes,” but she understood it.


    Before Mrs. Reyes could slip away, Alicia stopped her dead.


    Mrs. Reyes''s irritation red. "What more do you want?"


    Alice''s lips curved slightly, but her words were sharp. “You and Mrs. Gray conspired against me. How do you intend topensate for the emotional distress you have caused me?”


    Mrs. Reyes’ eyes widened, momentarily surprised. “Why, you…?”


    Alice didn''t give him a chance to finish. Her voice was cold, almost boring. "Apologize to me."


    Caden, watching the scene, raised an eyebrow, looking at Alicia with a mixture of exasperation and disbelief. It''s hopeless, he thought, shaking his head inwardly.


    Mrs. Reyes''s apology was stiff, her face tense with barely suppressed frustration, but she muttered the words before storming off.


    Raquel followed closely behind her. The two women whispered hurriedly as they hurried away.


    Alicia exhaled, feeling a small surge of satisfaction. She plopped down next to Caden, letting out a sigh. “If you hadn''t shown up when you did, I might have been left with nothing.”


    Caden sneered, his tone scathing. “Weren’t you so harsh just now, telling me we wouldn’t cooperate again?” Alicia hesitated for a moment, caught off guard.


    "You''rete. I thought you weren''ting."


    “And if I hadn''t shown up, would you have just let them trample you?” Caden leaned in slightly, his voice quieter but no less intense. “Why do you alwayse at me with such fire when you can''t even stand on your own?”


    Alice looked away, her voice softening. “You''re different from them. I just wanted to push them a little. If I really offended them… I’d be the one to suffer.”


    Caden let out a soft snort, shaking his head in disbelief. Different? How could it be different?


    The thought crossed his mind, but he quickly pushed it away. Without saying a word, he pulled out his phone and transferred the money he had earned earlier into Alicia''s ount.


    Alice blinked in confusion. “Why are you giving me money?”


    He didn''t look at her, just shrugged. "That money passed through your hands. It''s bad luck."


    This time, she was the one who was left speechless.


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