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

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

longer cared about playing the role of obedient wife. After putting on her suit, she carefully applied just enough makeup to enhance the glow of her already flawless

accentuated the softness of her skin and the delicacy

her coming down the stairs, he stood

the way the dress clung to Alicia's graceful curves, making her look more seductive than usual. Or maybe it

Passion? Sex?

tightened in

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

of the Yates mansion, the two slipped into their usual roles,

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

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

some reason, as soon as Alice crossed

gaze immediately drawn to the figure lounging casually at the other end of the room. With his legs crossed and his dark

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

change in her attitude and, frowning,

One word escaped her lips, barely audible.

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

had crossed for the first

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

tried, no matter how late she stayed up studying, Caden was always one step ahead. He edged her out by the

would have accepted defeat, settling

But not Alice.

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 option, and yet Caden had the audacity to take everything she'd worked away from

his eye on her from the very beginning,

waged both openly and in the shadows.

score. But Caden, ever the snake, had bribed the judges, twisting the results in his favor. Alicia was forced, once

but 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 back?” Her mother, Donna, had always been her gentlest comfort. She comforted Alicia that day, promising that

and Donna, who were rushing back

her an orphan in

Caden again. Caden then left Warrington to build

back for the inheritance," Joshua muttered, his voice barely

continued, “With a family empire as large as ours, an eldest son like him wouldn't give

His brow furrowed slightly.