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.

today. Dress

she had visited the mansion dressed

of obedient wife. After putting on her

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

Joshua saw her coming down the

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

Passion? Sex?

tightened in his

slept with her? He must

two slipped into their usual roles, easily disguising

arm through Joshua's, their movements synchronized as they

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

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

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 arrogance

commanding gaze pinned her to the spot. Her mind raced

in her attitude and, frowning,

word escaped her lips, barely

sent a chill down his spine. To her,

crossed for the first time when they were both barely

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

hard she tried, no matter how late she stayed up studying, Caden was always

would have accepted defeat, settling into the role

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

her from the very beginning, and Alice, stubborn to

both openly and in the shadows. Their final showdown took place at university, just before graduation,

it, getting a perfect score. But Caden, ever the snake, had bribed the

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

had other plans. Phil and Donna, who were rushing back from Itrubisite to attend the graduation, perished in a tragic

her an orphan in this

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

the inheritance," Joshua muttered, his voice

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

His brow furrowed slightly.