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.

have guests today. Dress appropriately

dressed in modest and discreet clothing, doing her best to go unnoticed, to please

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

softness of her skin and the

Joshua saw her coming down the stairs, he stood

look more seductive than usual. Or maybe it was the color of her cheeks, as if

Passion? Sex?

heart tightened in his

could have slept with her? He must have

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

movements synchronized as they walked towards the

great hall was bustling with life, relatives filling the space

around her, but for some reason, as soon as Alice

room. With his legs crossed and his dark shirt unbuttoned to reveal a sliver

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

her attitude

One word escaped

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

their paths had crossed for the first time when they were both barely ten

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

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

accepted defeat, settling into the role of

But not Alice.

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

on her from the very beginning, and Alice, stubborn to the core, refused to back

relentless battle waged both openly and in the shadows. Their final showdown took place at university,

into that moment, her sights set on perfection. And she achieved it, getting a perfect score. But Caden, ever the snake, had bribed the judges, twisting the results in his

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

were rushing back from Itrubisite

leaving her an orphan in this

that day, he had not challenged Caden again.

inheritance," Joshua

continued, “With a family empire as large as ours, an

His brow furrowed slightly.