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.

Dress appropriately

times she had visited the mansion dressed in modest and discreet clothing, doing her best to

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

touches accentuated the softness of her skin and the delicacy

Joshua saw her coming down the stairs, he stood still

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

Passion? Sex?

heart tightened in his

still his wife. Who else could have slept with her? He must have thought too

mansion, the two slipped into their usual roles, easily disguising

through Joshua's, their movements synchronized as they walked towards the

to receive anyone, the great hall was bustling with life, relatives filling the space

reason, as soon

end of the room. With his

met hers, a familiar, commanding gaze pinned her to the spot. Her mind raced and her emotions

noticed the change in her attitude and, frowning, asked,

caught. One word escaped her

his name sent a chill down his spine. To

the first time when they were both barely

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

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 perpetually stranded in second

defeat, settling

But not Alice.

into the once-prestigious Bennett family, she grew up under 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

as if he had his eye on her from the very beginning, and Alice, stubborn to

than a decade, a relentless battle waged both openly and in

on perfection. And she achieved it, getting a perfect score. But Caden, ever the snake, had bribed the judges, twisting the results in his favor. Alicia was forced, once

his anger to subside and asked quietly, “I'll be graduating soon. “Will you be back?” Her mother, Donna, had always been her gentlest comfort. She comforted Alicia that day, promising that they

Donna, who were rushing back from Itrubisite to attend the graduation,

apart, leaving her an orphan in this

day, he had not challenged Caden again. Caden then left Warrington to build

Joshua muttered,

sidelong glance as she continued, “With a family empire as

His brow furrowed slightly.