Chapter 488:


    While the party of three collected themselves, Caden ushered Alicia to the table and pulled out a chair for her.


    “Mrs.


    Moss, this is Alicia,” he introduced simply, “my girlfriend.” None of the Moss family spoke.


    They couldn’t even muster a smile.


    The affection between the couple was evident in their gestures and the looks they exchanged.


    It would have been a pleasant sight under any other circumstances, but not here, in the presence of Ynda.


    Caden’s actions had driven a figurative stake through Ynda’s heart.


    Seeing her in such pain was equally distressing for her parents.


    Regina was the first to recover.


    “Ms.


    Bet,” she greeted, offering a smile, “you’re even more beautiful than the rumors say.


    You and Caden make a lovely couple.”


    Thepliment shattered Ynda’sposure.


    She leapt to her feet, pushing her chair back with so much force that it toppled to the floor.


    “What is the meaning of this, Caden?” she demanded.


    Dorian frowned and moved to intervene, but Regina grabbed his hand, stopping him.


    They might as well let Ynda vent her frustrations.


    Caden raised an eyebrow,pletely unperturbed.


    “What do you think?”


    Ynda’s eyes shed with anger as she pointed a finger at Alicia.


    “Why did you bring this woman to our dinner?”


    “We’ve been dating for a while,” Caden replied smoothly.


    “I thought it was time for her to meet my friends.


    Is there a problem with that?”


    Ynda’s chest heaved with emotion.


    Her head was spinning, and she had to lean against the edge of the table to steady herself.


    She was both furious and heartbroken.


    “Did you even consider my feelings before you decided to bring her here?”


    Caden’s lips curled into a sneer.


    “As a matter of fact, I did.


    That’s exactly why I brought her with me.


    To make you see the truth and convince you to give up on me once and for all.”


    He cast a nce at the Moss couple and continued, “In Alicia’s absence, everything you heard could be discounted as hearsay.


    But she’s here now, so our rtionship should be clear to everyone present.


    If not, let me make this in — if Ynda ever pesters me again or crosses any boundaries, I will no longer entertain her and will treat her like an interloper.


    Do you have any objections, Mr.


    and Mrs.


    Moss?”


    Dorian, humiliated, wisely kept quiet.


    “We have none,” Regina said firmly.


    “I’ll make sure Ynda is disciplined properly when we get home.”


    Every word spoken between Caden and Regina only fanned the mes of Ynda’s rage.


    “I’m an adult!” she roared.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    “I don’t need you to keep me in line! And you, Caden!” She turned on him with a vicious expression.


    “If you were going to bring her along, why did you go shopping with me in the first ce? You led me on and betrayed my trust! Are you enjoying seeing me suffer?”


    Caden looked at her dismissively, as if she were a child.


    “You paid for your clothes, and I paid for mine.


    What exactly is the big deal?”


    Ynda nced at Alicia and suddenly remembered the dress Caden had been eyeing at the mall.


    He had bought that dress for Alicia.


    A bitterugh escaped Ynda as tears of hatred streamed down her cheeks.


    “We’ve known each other since we were kids,” she choked, her voice trembling.


    “I followed in my father’s footsteps and studied hard to keep up with you, just for the chance to be close to you.” She sobbed, her body shaking.


    “What did I ever do wrong?”


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