The unwanted wife’s unexpected comeback

Chapter 40:

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Alice had also begun to notice that someone had been discreetly helping her behind the scenes.

His first instinct was to call Monica.

When Monica answered, she sounded frustrated. “I hired trolls to trash Lilliana online,” she admitted. “But I don't have the money to censor searches. Those things cost a fortune, and my dad blocked my credit card. “I’m sick of him.”

Alicia thought about Monica's words, and only one other person came to mind: Gerry.

Without delay, he called him, and his suspicions were confirmed.

Feeling a little uncomfortable, Alice said quietly, “It's just gossip, people talking behind my back. It's not like they're physically harming me. You really didn’t need to waste your money on this…”

Gerry, comfortably lying down, put her on speakerphone but didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked at Caden, who was sitting across from him.

Caden, his long legs crossed casually, had his eyes glued to his phone, scrolling mindlessly. He gave no sign of joining the conversation.

Undeterred, Gerry turned his attention back to Alicia. “I didn't spend that much,” he finally replied. “The real help came from another big shot.”

Alice frowned, confused. “Who is this mysterious benefactor?”

Once again, Gerry's gaze shifted to Caden, but he didn't reveal the answer right away, instead choosing to mock her.

“Are you free?” he asked, smoothly moving on to another topic. “Come on. “We can chat, have some fun, and I’ll introduce you to this ‘big fish.’”

Alice took the hint immediately.

She had always had a good working relationship with Gerry, and now that she was in a bind, he was helping her out by offering her the chance to meet someone powerful. That was how things worked: mutual benefits, carefully cultivated relationships.

"What's that big fish like?" she asked. "I'd like to give him something."

Hearing this, Gerry's eyes sparkled with mischief. "He's… well, let's just say he's not as strong as he used to be. Maybe you could get him some Viagra."

Alice was momentarily speechless, and then replied with dry humor: 'Mr Hopkins, do you happen to have any shady side business?'

Gerry couldn't help but laugh. "If they ever come to an agreement, it will be a miracle."

understanding flashed in

was hinting at, could

lick his lips and smile. "I'm really curious, Caden. Why did you suddenly

few seconds of

eyebrow, intrigued. “What do you mean

Just then, a light knock on

“Mr. “Ward, Mr. Hopkins, your drinks have arrived.”

but didn't leave right away. Instead, they slid gracefully into the

of the girl next to him, pulling her close as she giggled, taking a sip of her drink from him. He leaned back in

the girl sitting next to

as if he were studying her rather than savoring the moment. The girl, unaccustomed to such a distant welcome,

in a soft, hopeful tone, “would

with irritation. “No need,” he said flatly, turning his head away as if his presence repulsed him.

clearly surprised by his sudden

Caden didn't come along every day, and she wasn't

moving closer despite her reluctance. “Tell me

at her, an uneasy tone

girl's eyes lit up with eager anticipation, nodding quickly, confident that her persistence was

open again and Alice stepped in. The air in the private room was filled with emotion as she took in the

were leaving, one of them especially distressed, wiping her eyes with trembling hands as she let out silent

curiosity piqued, her eyes scanning the

his lips curling into a subtle

Caden. “He was the one who bullied her

eyes naturally shifted

that clung to his sculpted torso, making even the most mundane

a charm that was hard to resist. Despite his coldness, he had an

of the surveillance footage flashed through Alicia's mind, those intimate moments when Caden's touch seemed so matter-of-fact, so devastatingly skilled. A strange emotion stirred within her as a thought crossed her

did he use those same skillful hands with other

mischief in her eyes as she took

his voice. “Impotent men tend to compensate by

head, his gaze locked with

tried her best to seduce him, and what did Caden do? “I have forced her to stay and

popped out of

his mouth twitched, and

his tone quiet and eerie. “There are

felt a lump in her