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 appropriately and don't

looked down at the bag and remembered the countless times she had visited the mansion dressed in modest and

horizon, Alice no longer cared about playing the role of obedient wife. After putting on

the softness of her skin and the delicacy of her features, giving her a certain

the stairs, he

than usual. Or maybe it was the color of her cheeks, as if she had just experienced the most passionate sex of

Passion? Sex?

heart tightened

could have slept with her?

of the Yates mansion, the two slipped into their

their movements synchronized as they walked

was too ill to receive anyone, the great hall was bustling with

her, but for some reason, as soon as Alice

to the figure lounging casually at the other end of the room. With his legs crossed and his dark shirt unbuttoned to reveal a sliver of collarbone, the man exuded

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

her

breath caught. One word escaped her

down his

families' friendship, their paths had crossed for the

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

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

have accepted defeat, settling

But not Alice.

under the suffocating weight of living up to her name. Excellence wasn't just a goal, it was the currency with which she

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

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

Caden, ever the snake, had bribed the

the hardest blow came from her father, Phil Bennett. Over the phone, his voice dripped with disappointment at his 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

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

apart, leaving her

again. Caden then left Warrington to build his

for the inheritance," Joshua muttered, his

a family empire as large as ours, an

His brow furrowed slightly.