Public Restroom
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You'll find out in a moment." Caden smiled and snapped his fingers toward the reception desk.
The PA system turned on.
"Mr. Caden had requested this song especially for Miss Alison, wishing her happiness and love every day."
"Alison, come on. Let's have a toast." Caden said with a smile.
The reddish-brown liquid swayed gently in the clear stemmed glasses as the two savored the fine wine.
Jack turned his head and glared at Caden.
Caden had come to provoke him again.
Just as he turned to walk toward Alison, Gwendolyn called out to him. "Jack, where are you going?"
While he stood there frozen, Gwendolyn spotted Alison and Caden not far away.
She walked toward them and asked, "You must be Alison, right?"
She scrutinized Alison from head to toe, muttering to herself. "You really do look a lot like me. If you didn't look like me and hadn't had Jack's child, he would've dumped you long ago."
Alison looked at Gwendolyn and pushed her wine glass toward the hand that had been pointing at her. "Miss, who are you…?"
"I'm Gwendolyn Hawthorne. You may not know me, but I know you. You're Alison. Jack told me everything. The truth is, he doesn't like you at all."
"You're such a flirt. Can't keep your hands off my man?" Alison sneered.
"You...you dare call me that?" Gwendolyn's face turned dark.
"Should I rephrase that?" Alison rubbed her forehead, then laughed. "Total thot behavior."
"You..." Gwendolyn couldn't force a smile anymore.
If there hadn't been so many people around, she would have lashed out at Alison by now.
Ignoring her, Alison turned to look for Jack, only to find that he had vanished.
Was he feeling guilty?
She chuckled, then turned to Gwendolyn. "Oh, and by the way — if I'm not mistaken, you slut, you've been begging my man to stop by, but it never quite works out, does it? Has he even used you once yet? No? Hmm. Guess he finds you distasteful. Caden, you smell that? Skank stench."
Caden stood beside Alison and backed her up, "Alison's right. This stench is making me nauseous. I might actually hurl. C'mon, let's bounce — I'd rather breathe in a public restroom than this."
The two worked together seamlessly, which sent Gwendolyn over the edge. "Alison, you...just you wait!"
She grabbed the dishwater from the table and flung it at Alison.
Alison was quick on her feet, though, and dodged Gwendolyn's attack with a slight sidestep. "Oh, I wonder what Jack would think if he saw the look on your face right now? Caden, hurry up and send me the photo you just took. If this gets posted online, it'll definitely cause a sensation, and then Miss Gwendolyn will be a celebrity."
Onlookers surrounded them, many holding their phones.
"You...you better delete that right now!" Gwendolyn panicked and reached out to snatch Caden's phone.
Caden dodged her hand. "You think you can touch me? You're not worthy."
He took Alison's hand and walked toward the restaurant exit. "Come on, I'll take you home."
The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only Gwendolyn standing there in a daze.
"Jack..." She turned and roared in anger, only to realize that Jack had long since vanished.
Although she'd never actually been with Jack, he'd always been generous, giving her whatever she wanted.
Wasn't that kind of love?
No, I had to get my revenge.
Alison, just you wait!
After leaving the restaurant, Alison shook off Caden's hand. "Don't hold my hand anymore."
"It's no big deal. You'll get used to it after a while," Caden said nonchalantly.
"But I just don't like it," Alison said through gritted teeth. She certainly didn't want him to take advantage of her.
"All right, then. So, when are we going to pay a visit to that old lady?" Caden asked.
"I'll call you," she said, then stepped into the elevator.
She had to get home before Aidan.
The man behind her stopped at the elevator door.
Alison glanced back over her shoulder.