The unwanted wife’s unexpected comeback

Chapter 4:

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Alicia's only concern now was leaving Joshua, so she ignored his question and asked flatly, "Are the divorce papers ready yet?"

That word again: “divorce.” Irritation flashed in Joshua’s eyes.

“Why the rush?” she snapped, her voice cold and cutting. “My father is finalizing his will, and if word of my divorce gets out, it will ruin my position. Now, gather your things, we will dine at the Yates mansion this evening.”

With Caden's return, the family was organizing a welcome dinner for him.

They also hoped that by doing so, it would lift the spirits of Jerald Yates, Joshua's father.

However, maintaining the farce of a happy marriage was the last thing on Alice's mind.

"I'm not going," he announced curtly. "Just finalize the divorce and stop wasting my time."

Joshua laughed, a sound that held no warmth.

“Oh, come on, Alice. Stop pretending. You hid the ring because you don't really want to leave me, do you? “You can’t stand the thought of being without me.”

He leaned toward me, smiling, and added, “You've worked hard these past two years. Even if we get divorced, I'll still take care of you, as long as you make me happy.”

Alice's eyes widened, disbelief turning to anger.

Did he hide the ring?

Couldn't stand being without him?

His arrogant words sounded like nails on a blackboard to Alice's ears. With a sharp sneer, she replied,

“Oh, Mr. Yates, how could I make you happy? Don't worry, I'll give you back the ring; you wouldn't want this plain Jane bothering you, would you? Once you have it, we’ll finalize the divorce immediately.”

But Joshua was unfazed by her venom.

He thought he knew her too well, convinced that it was just another ploy to get her attention.

Without thinking twice, he threw a bag at her.

guests today. Dress

and remembered the countless times she had visited the mansion dressed in modest and discreet clothing, doing her best to go unnoticed, to please him and his

the role of obedient wife. After putting on her suit, she carefully applied just enough makeup to enhance the glow of

and the delicacy of her features, giving

down the stairs, he stood

to Alicia's graceful curves, making her look more seductive than usual. Or maybe it was the color of her

Passion? Sex?

tightened

his wife. Who else could have slept with her? He

slipped into their usual roles, easily disguising the

their movements synchronized as they

was too ill to receive anyone, the great hall was

all around her, but for some reason, as soon as Alice crossed the threshold, a sharp chill prickled

of the room. With his legs crossed and his dark shirt unbuttoned to reveal a sliver of collarbone, the man exuded arrogance

commanding gaze pinned her to the spot. Her mind raced and her emotions emerged

change in her attitude

One word escaped her lips, barely

chill down his spine. To her, Caden was the embodiment

the first

year, moved to her school and, from that moment on, Alicia's perfect world began to fall

how hard she tried, no matter how late she stayed up studying, Caden was always one step ahead. He edged her out by the smallest of margins—a point, maybe two—leaving her

would have accepted defeat, settling into the role

But not Alice.

the suffocating weight of living up to her name. Excellence wasn't just a goal, it was the currency with which she could win her parents' affection. Failure wasn't an option, and

as if he had his eye on her from the very beginning,

more than a decade, a relentless battle waged both openly and in the shadows. Their

perfect score. But Caden, ever the snake, had bribed

ranking. Alicia, accustomed to his tirades, said nothing. She waited for his anger to subside and asked quietly, “I'll be graduating soon. “Will you be

life had other plans. Phil and Donna, who were rushing back from Itrubisite to

world fell apart, leaving her an orphan in this

again. Caden then left Warrington to build his

the inheritance," Joshua muttered, his

gave him a sidelong glance as she continued, “With a family empire as large as ours,

His brow furrowed slightly.