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

looked down at the bag and remembered the countless times she had visited the mansion dressed in modest and discreet clothing, doing her best

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

touches accentuated the softness of her skin and the delicacy of her features, giving her

coming down the stairs,

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

Passion? Sex?

tightened in

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

the Yates mansion, the two slipped into

her arm through Joshua's, their movements synchronized

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

for some reason, as soon as Alice crossed the threshold, a

gaze immediately drawn 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 arrogance and

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

in her attitude and, frowning, asked, “What’s

breath caught. One word escaped

his name sent a chill down his spine. To her, Caden was the embodiment of

families' friendship, their paths had crossed for the

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

was always one step ahead. He edged her out by the smallest of

accepted defeat,

But not Alice.

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

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 showdown took place at university, just before graduation, in the

And she achieved it, getting a perfect score. But Caden, ever the

for his

Donna, who were rushing back from Itrubisite to attend the graduation, perished in a tragic

her an orphan in

Caden again. Caden then left Warrington to build

Joshua muttered, his voice barely

as she continued, “With a family empire as large as

His brow furrowed slightly.