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 tMrs. Reyes played 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 other ladies only played 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, plain 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 Bennett, 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 the ladies even ventured: “Giving up for such a small loss, Mrs. Bennett? 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.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Let's take a break,” he said, rising gracefully from his seat. “I need to freshen up. “We can continue when | get
back.”
He needed a moment to compose himself and cup with a strategy. There had to be a way to turn the tables.
Just as | 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 were coming 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 black suit that accentuated his broad shoulders
and long legs, he carried himself with an effortless elegance that spoke of a calm authority. His healthy
complexion, 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 glances, excitement shining in their eyes. After all, who wouldn't be captivated by a
man like that? Caden was one of the most handsmen 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 particular, 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-in-law.”
There was a stunned silence. Everyone knew Joshua was Caden's half-brother. As for Alicia... Well, she was
actually Caden’s ex-sister-in-law.
Yet there they were, sitting together so naturally, their proximity comfortable, yet somehow unsettling. The
tension was palpable, although no one could pinpoint its source. Unspoken questions lingered in the air, but
Caden's commanding 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?”
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 played 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's cin.” “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! | kissed you because | needed your help, not
your lectures. You might as well have stayed out,” she thought, silently seeing.
The tension in the room rose, but a
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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.
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Of course, Caden's sharp gaze turned
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As soon as he left, Caden casually took the vacant seat. Mrs. Reyes, clearly surprised, asked tentatively, “Mr.
“Ward, do you play cards, too?”
I have shrugged nonchalantly. “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 planning on dancing Alicia out after all. Mrs. Reyes allowed herself to relax slightly—her
advantage still intact.
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However, Caden's unexpected
participation had shaken up the
dynamics. He wag RO YitBdt 3
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cautiously. Despite this, the round
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chapter there!
Alicia watched intently, her brow furrowed in frustration. Caden, despite his nonchalance, 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?”