The unwanted wife’s unexpected comeback

Chapter 102:

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Mrs. Reyes let out a shrill scream.

She spent no time fixing her smudged makeup and immediately rushed to help her son, Ted, who was sprawled across the soft grass.

Her breathing hitched as she knelt beside him, her hands quickly but gently feeling for any signs of injury. “Are you okay?”

The grass beneath him was more forgiving than anything else, but Ted's flushed face was a storm of anger. His round cheeks, red from embarrassment or frustration, puffed out as he glared at Alicia. “It's all your fault, you stupid girl!”

Alicia blinked, her eyes widening slightly at the outburst. Ted was only eight, face still chubby, brow still furrowed, but the sharpness of his words stung.

Mrs. Reyes, who had already pulled Ted to his feet, turned to Alicia with a hard look.

"Alicia, if anything happens to Ted today, I won't let you go so easily," he said, his voice warning.

Alice responded to the boy's gaze with a slight smile, not of amusement, but of complicity.

He understood that such petty disputes as that could spiral out of control if given the chance.

Instead of fanning the flames, he turned his gaze to Rachel, the host of the meeting.

“Mrs. Gray,” Alice began softly, her tone deliberately calm, “surely you can tell me… have I done anything wrong here?”

Rachel, ever serene, let out a soft sigh, her expression one of gentle reproach.

“Miss Bennett,” he said, his voice lilting like the wind brushing through the trees, “why argue with a little girl?”

Alicia hesitated, her smile hardening as Rachel walked past her, reaching out to smooth Ted's tousled hair with motherly tenderness.

“I was just messing with you,” Rachel continued lightly. “Why didn't you just play along? Do you really think a child could hurt you?”

Alice's smile disappeared, replaced by a shadow of disappointment that crossed her features.

She studied Raquel for a moment, waiting for some flash of understanding, but Raquel's attention had already wandered elsewhere.

and gently invited Ted

join the others, gave Alice a devilish grin and waved her off. “Wait,”

peacemaker, dispelled the tension with a gentle pat

dampen your spirits, okay?

hand, her voice soft but firm. “If you say

but now, she could see that Rachel was the one who had gotten caught in this web of superficial pleasantries.

They were from different worlds, after all. Alicia was beneath her in every way.

air began to dissipate as everyone slowly returned to

Reyes' makeup was running down her face, making her look like a soaked rat. Rachel, ever the gracious hostess,

Mrs. Reyes gritted her teeth. “No wonder no man wants her. With that attitude, she deserves everything that

on Mrs. Reyes’ face. “Do you

as she caught the insinuation in Rachel’s tone. She was not alone in her disdain. “Do you have any

curved into a subtle smile. “Oh, yes I do. But unlike her, we won't stoop to crude

with time to kill before dinner, Rachel set up a few

previous dispute had never happened. With a warm smile, Rachel invited her. “Mrs. Bennett, do you play

immediately sensed the trap,

there was no

wanting to be drawn into

eyes sparkled with false delight. “Perfect! Mrs. Reyes can

silent,

Good.

to do things

powerless against a force that left

minutes passed and it was

at her watch. Was Caden coming

her smile almost predatory. "What's wrong, Mrs. Bennett? Are you

"Mrs. Reyes,

with satisfaction. “Not much. Just

twitched. Three thousand dollars? She should

in enough high-stakes games to know the rules of the table: one bad round and you could lose tens of thousands in an instant. And these women – smiling behind their perfectly manicured facades – were professionals

Bennett? Is it too much for you? I thought Mr. Yates would have left you plenty of money

you must teach

smile. “Oh, no problem. “I’ll be happy to