The unwanted wife’s unexpected comeback

Chapter 22:

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As soon as Caden finished speaking, Gerry's eyes snapped open. It took him a few seconds to process that Caden was standing next to him.

Eyes wide, Gerry removed his headphones and asked, confused, “When did you get here?”

"Right now, actually."

Caden had arrived late, so Alicia had already finished recording the song. There was no way she was going to perform it again just because he had walked in. Not that it mattered, Caden wasn't particularly interested in music. He was there to have fun, nothing more.

But Gerry's reaction was something else entirely. "It's exactly what I imagined; in fact, more than I expected. No wonder he can compete with you for the top spot. He's very talented, Caden."

Caden studied him, intrigued. Gerry, a man rarely impressed, especially when he came to other artists, seemed unusually enthusiastic.

“Oh, yeah?” Caden replied, his tone deliberately nonchalant. “I guess I’m going to lose our bet.”

“You better get that groundwork ready for the handover,” Gerry joked with a smirk as he handed the lyric sheet to Caden. “Don't feel too bad about missing the recording session. Here, check out his lyrics instead. Maybe you can learn a thing or two from his lyrics.”

Caden picked up the piece of paper and scanned the page silently. He let out a sigh, raising an eyebrow. “I thought your movie was about Transformers fighting zombies. Why are the lyrics so… heartfelt?”

“What?” Gerry's mood changed instantly. His bright eyes narrowed, irritation creeping into his tone. “Zombies”? Really? It's a heartwarming sci-fi movie. Didn't I send you a copy? Haven’t you seen it?”

“Oh, I don't watch cartoons,” Caden replied nonchalantly.

It's not a cartoon. “I spent a

door creaked

recording booth spilled into the room, casting a

calm but tired. “Mr. Hopkins, let's wrap things up for today.

this, Gerry looked at his

booked a spot at an exclusive rooftop restaurant downtown. Would you like to

would not sit well with her

city center, was a thirty-minute drive away. Gerry settled into the passenger seat, while Alicia and Caden shared the backseat. Without saying anything to each other, they gravitated toward their respective windows, the space between them just wide enough to

looking for photos of expensive and hard-to-find properties. Smiling brightly, he even showed a few to Caden. “What do you think

disdain, his tone cold. “Why don't you go get

get it, I'll take it,” Gerry joked without missing

one of these,” Gerry

“Careful. You don’t want to count your chickens

caught Caden's attention. He turned his head, his gaze sharp. She quickly stiffened, pretending to be absorbed in the scenery outside. Her long, wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, partially obscuring her face.

didn't say anything, but his gaze lingered for a moment before returning to the

at the restaurant, Caden and Gerry quickly left. Alicia, however, remained in her seat. “Mr. Hopkins,” she called with an apologetic smile, “come in. “I need to

much women cared about their appearance, simply agreed. “There's no hurry. When you're ready, tell the concierge to bring you up. Use my

"Thank you."

quick glance before heading to the entrance. Beside him, Gerry strolled casually, recounting

stopped dead in his

I left my phone in the

glance at the