Chapter 503:


    Then, everything changed overnight.


    Her father pushed her relentlessly, burying her under impossible expectations.


    Harsh scoldings and constant pressure weighed heavily on her, leaving her struggling to breathe.


    “You’re a disgrace, Alicia!”


    “You don’t deserve to be my daughter.”


    “You should just disappear!”


    Alicia woke with a start, drenched in cold sweat, her limbs trembling.


    The familiar fear closed in around her, suffocating her.


    She instinctively reached for support, but the space beside her was empty—Caden hadn’t returned.


    Tears stung her eyes, and as she wiped them away, she realized her cheeks were already wet.


    A soft sob escaped her lips.


    Her dog, Cade, heard her and rushed over, jumping onto the bed to nuzzle her, offeringfort.


    Alicia leaned into the dog, grateful for the quietpanionship.


    After a moment, she nced at her phone and noticed several missed calls.


    She had missed them while the phone was on silent.


    Taking a steadying breath, Alicia called ke back.


    “What’s up?” Her voice came out hoarse.


    ke’s tone wasn’t urgent, but there was a weariness in it.


    “So, you already know?”


    Alicia’s heart sank.


    “Know what?”


    ke assumed Alicia had seen the news, thinking her tears were merely a reaction to the situation.


    He hesitated, unsure how to begin, but Alicia sensed something was wrong despite her exhaustion.


    “Just tell me,” she said quietly.


    ke struggled with his words.


    “I miscalcted.


    Dorian didn’t me Corey; instead, he helped him through the review process.


    He’sbeled the mannequin as a standard product, and now it’s set for mass distribution.”


    Alicia’s chest tightened as ke continued, his voice hardening.


    “Dorian’s connections are terrifying — far beyond Caden’s.


    With his backing, outrageous projects pass without scrutiny.


    He hasn’t acted this recklessly in years; this is clearly targeted at us.


    Alicia, we need to get Caden back.”


    Alicia’s shoulders slumped.


    “What good would that do? Dorian’s only going this far because he’s set on Caden.” Her voice broke with a bitterugh.


    Her confrontation with Corey had been driven by impulse, but Dorian’s ruthlessness was far beyond anything she had imagined.RêAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Caden had once expressed his respect for Dorian, citing his strong ties to the Ward family.


    Having been a close friend of Caden’s mother, Dorian now disgusted her with his behavior, all to indulge his daughter.


    The thought of what Caden had always fought to protect being so trivialized left a deep ache in her heart.


    “What can we do?” Alicia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.


    “We’re working on it,” ke replied, though doubt weighed down his words.


    Alicia’s regret was immediate.


    “It’s my fault.


    I shouldn’t have confronted Corey.”


    ke took a pained breath.


    “It wouldn’t have mattered.


    Ynda went to him long before you.


    Ignoring them won’t stop them from trying to tarnish Caden’s mother.” Silent tears streamed down Alicia’s face as ke continued.


    “Are you going to beg them to stop? Alicia, you know they’ll never pity you.”


    The storm Dorian had unleashed was inevitable.


    Alicia ended the call, staring at the empty bedroom.


    She missed Caden intensely, aching for his presence.


    He would never let her cry like this.


    Just then, her phone vibrated, startling her.


    She quickly wiped her tears.


    It was Caden.


    .


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