?Chapter 230:


    The expensive medicine worked its magic.


    After two days of applying it, Alice''s pain hadpletely subsided.


    Still, Caden was not hasty.


    He joked that it felt like being in a candy store but not being able to touch a single piece, though he understood his own strength.


    One wrong move could cause a lot of damage, and so he held back.


    A few more days wouldn''t hurt.


    That night they sat together in the small room, half-watching a film projected on the wall, but neither of them was really concentrating on it.


    Outside, the rain was falling hard, apanied by lightning.


    Alicia noticed how restless Caden seemed with the storm outside.


    She calmly closed the curtains to block out the shes of light.


    Caden was talking on the phone, asionally answering with a simple, “OK.


    ” Alicia leaned closer and turned down the volume on the movie.


    “Did the money arrive?” Caden asked.


    “Okay, thanks.


    ” The conversation ended.


    Alice asked, "What kind of money is so important that it would attract your attention, Mr.


    Ward? Are we talking about tens of billions?"


    Caden pulled her into his arms, a slight smile on his lips.


    “It’s not that much.


    Just a little over fifteen million dors.


    ”


    Alice sensed his deep concern about money, and her curiosity grew.


    “Is thepany in trouble?”


    Caden replied, “It’s not my money.


    It belongs to you.


    ”


    Alice was momentarily stunned.


    “Mine?”


    If it really belonged to him, that amount would be a fortune.


    “Is this from the product I worked onst time?” His eyes lit up.


    “Did I get a bonus?”


    Caden replied, “If it was a bonus, it would be a lot bigger than that.


    ”


    "So what money are we talking about?" asked Alice, piqued by curiosity.


    Caden raised an eyebrow.


    “Do you really think I’m just going to give you the answer like that?”


    Without hesitation, Alice leaned in and pressed her lips to his.


    Caden craved more than just a quick kiss.


    He grabbed the back of her neck and deepened the kiss, losing himself in the moment.


    After what seemed like an eternity, he finally pulled away, his voice low: “This is the first payment into yourpany’s ount since you opened your gallery.


    ”


    Alicia was surprised.


    “But I had an ident and I didn’t do the paperwork.


    How is that possible?”


    “I took care of everything for you,” Caden replied, his eyes genuine.


    “This money is yours, earned through your hard work.


    It may not be a huge amount, but there are more projects on the way.


    Be patient.


    ”


    Alicia smiled, her eyes shining with unshed tears.


    She hadn’t gotten this far alone.


    Her stubbornness to save face and past betrayals had made her distrustful of men.


    But Caden understood her, and that understanding had guided his approach to supporting her toward financial independence.


    As they watched the movie, the thunder outside grew louder.


    Caden, feeling uneasy, seemed reluctant tomit to anything given the storm.


    Alice tried to calm him down.


    Without words, she took his hand and rubbed it gently before putting her arms around him.


    She talked about happy things, trying to distract him and take his attention away from the storm.


    Caden understood her intentions.


    “It’s just thunder.


    It’s nothing serious,” he assured her.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Alice stared at him.


    “I know what you’re afraid of.


    ”


    The thunderstorm urred on the day his mother passed away.


    That memory had haunted him ever since, leaving asting impact on his life.


    Caden kept his expression neutral.


    “Focus on the movie.


    It’s almost finished and you haven’t seen a single moment of it.


    ”


    Alicia bit her lip and settled into hisp, her body rxed against him.


    Caden looked at herzily, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips.


    “Does your back still hurt?” Caden asked, his tone soft.


    Alice''s cheeks flushed and her gaze shifted.


    "I don''t like rainy days either.


    After my parents'' ident, it rained constantly.


    "


    “What’s wrong with you? Can you only talk when you’re sitting on myp?” he teased, though he hadn’t meant to pressure her.


    His charm was hard to resist.


    She knew he was dealing with his own inner turmoil.


    Alice remained silent, but leaned down and pressed her lips against his.


    Caden couldn''t resist and kissed her back, increasing the heat between them.


    With new courage, Alice whispered, "Caden, I want him.


    "


    Caden looked into her clear, serious eyes, feeling a tightness in his chest.


    “Why do you suddenly feel capable of this?”


    Alice knew he could sense the change in her.


    So she asked, “Is this something you want, too?”


    Caden paused for a moment before replying pointedly, “Not really.


    Miss Bet, show me what you got.


    ”


    Alicia was shocked, her mind racing.


    She looked down, her hips swaying slightly as she looked down.


    “You’re going to jump out of your pants,” he joked, a yful smile on his lips.


    “Don’t you want this, Mr.


    Ward?”


    "No," he replied calmly.


    Alice forced a smile, quickly sliding off hisp and heading for the door.


    Caden frowned, confused.


    “Where are you going?”


    Alice was not angry.


    She was simply looking for the innkeeper.


    Caden stood by the door, watching her as she entered the innkeeper''s room.


    He noticed that she stayed inside for over ten minutes before she finally emerged, wrapped up tightly in her coat.


    Caden was curious.


    “Did you get any advice?”


    Alice slouched a little as she walked back inside.


    Once the door closed, she removed her coat, revealing the dress she was wearing underneath.


    His gaze darkened with intensity as he watched her.


    Alicia''s smoothplexion made her look stunning in anything she wore.


    Even a simple, yful outfit exuded charm.


    She tried to look confident, but a slight blush appeared on her cheeks.


    “She sells these, so I picked one that fits me well…” she said, pulling out a headband adorned with cat ears and cing it on her head.


    “What do you think?” she asked, nervously tugging at the hem of her dress.


    “Do you like it?”


    Caden remained silent, his expression tense as he closed the door.


    His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, a sign of his growing tension.


    Alice braced herself, knowing her teasing had taken it too far.


    Unsure of her ability to use seductive words, she wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, "Do you like it?"


    Caden’s voice was low, with a hint of frustration.


    “You’re driving me crazy, you hussy.


    ”


    Alicia pressed her face against his neck, feeling the warmth of his skin under her lips.


    Outside, the storm was raging: rain, snow and thunder mixed together to create a charged atmosphere.


    Inside, the room seemed to grow warmer by the moment.


    Alice spoke softly, between shallow breaths: “From now on, when there is thunder and rain, I want to be the only one on your mind.


    ”


    Caden paused, finally understanding why he had been so daring tonight.