The unwanted wife’s unexpected comeback

Chapter 12:

? ? ? ? ?

Caden's gaze shifted to Hank, his eyes hard as steel. The silence that followed was suffocating, seeing into every corner of the room like a thick fog.

Hank could feel the tension tightening in his chest, and a chill ran down his spine. Swallowing, he straightened his posture and stammered,

"I'm sorry, Mr. Ward. It was my mistake. You have full authority to handle this as you see fit."

Caden's lips moved in a slight, scornful smile.

“Hmm, no end-of-year bonus for you, Hank. Good thing, since I’ve been thinking about upgrading my car.”

Despite the cold comment, Hank kept his composure and obediently launched into his brief report on the day's failed meeting.

He lowered his voice as he got to the fine details.

"Mr Joshua Yates, however, sent some rather generous gifts and deposited a hefty sum into our account. He said it was just a small gesture to ensure that Lilliana's future is safe and sound."

Joshua's obvious attempt to secure a favor made Caden chuckle quietly.

It also reminded him of the look on Alice's face before she left that morning. What could she be up to now?

A glint of anticipation flashed in Caden's eyes as he finally spoke again.

"This woman, Lilliana..."

I have paused deliberately, giving Hank a meaningful look.

Hank, ever attentive, obediently acknowledged.

«She made her debut in show business thanks to the financial support of her family. For a while she remained unnoticed, but last year she hit the jackpot with a hit song and shot to fame overnight. Since then, her popularity has continued to grow. I will compile all the details about her career and send them to you by email shortly.»

Caden remained impassive, almost bored.

"Since you've already bought your ticket, I won't waste the opportunity. Tell Joshua: I'll make sure his precious lover is well taken care of."

Now that she had the ring, Alicia took Monica out for a lavish dinner at one of the city's finest restaurants. The two clinked crystal glasses together merrily, the crackling sound echoing throughout the room.

Monica wrinkled her nose in disgust.

“I would never have imagined that Lilliana would stoop so low as to become someone’s mistress.” She rolled her eyes before adding: “And getting pregnant before getting married? If her fans find out, there will be a full-blown scandal!”

Alicia took a measured sip of her drink and a slight, knowing smile curved her lips.

“She's playing with fire,” he mused quietly. “And she'll get burned in the end. She got pregnant too early. When she gives birth, it will be impossible to hide it. Sooner or later, she’ll slip up.”

However, Monica was still seeing things with indignation, her eyes shining.

"Are you really going to let those two bastards get away with this?"

Alice, however, had long since left any desire for revenge behind. Her voice was calm, her words measured.

"I couldn't care less about their relationship, but Lilliana drugging me is a different story. I won't forgive that so easily."

Monica clenched her fists and rolled up her shirt sleeves, as if she were preparing for a fight.

"Say it and I'll gather some of my men to deal with you."

“No need.” Alice gave a small laugh, shaking her head. “I have my own ways of dealing with things.”

Monica, seeing her friend so composed in the face of adversity, couldn't help but sigh in admiration. It reminded her of the old days.

“You've changed a lot since you decided to leave that jerk. When you were fighting with Caden, you were so alive, with your fiery spirit and your competitiveness. “Now it seems like the old Alice is back.”

Alicia couldn't help but giggle at Monica's words, immediately thinking of her little plan from earlier that day.

If everything went according to plan, those present in the meeting room would have been in for a big surprise. Caden's expression must have been priceless, dark as a storm cloud, no doubt.

He couldn't help but smile at the thought.

“What's so funny, Alice?” Monica's eyes narrowed in curiosity.

Alice quickly recovered her composure, suppressing the mischievous smile that had threatened to give her away.

"Oh, nothing. It just seemed funny to me while I was eating, that's all."

Monica blinked in confusion.

"Wait, are you eating with your armpit now?"

Before Alicia could respond, her phone buzzed in her hand. She looked down to see a text from Caden. It said,

"Nice photography skills."

Alice snorted, rolling her eyes.

Another message appeared almost instantly:

"Satisfied with the size?"

Even through the text, I could imagine his trademark smirk. How infuriating!

Alice moved her lips and quickly typed a reply.

"Too small. Honestly, it's an eyesore."

He paused and another message appeared on his screen:

“Oh yeah? Well, it's still better than my pathetic brother. “It took me two minutes to break what he couldn’t after two years.”

Her fingers froze and her eyes widened as she realized the double meaning.

Her heart skipped a beat and a rush of heat rushed to her face.

With a huff of frustration, she dropped the phone onto the table, but the words remained in her mind. Her pulse quickened in irritation as she picked up the phone again and typed furiously.

"Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Ward. I've had hymen repair surgery."

Caden, lounging in a dimly lit booth at a chic bar, chuckled as he read her response.

The amber glow of his whiskey glass reflected off his sharp features and his lips curved into a devilishly charming smile.

Gerry Hopkins, his ever-inquisitive friend, raised an eyebrow from across the table.

"What the hell are you looking at now? You've put on that seductive smile again."

Caden just shook his head, closing the phone and setting it aside with an amused glint in his eyes.

"I'm just flirting with a married woman," he replied lazily, as if he were talking about something as trivial as the weather.

Gerry sat up suddenly, his eyebrows raised in disbelief.

"Since when are you so desperate?"

Caden didn't bother to respond, instead opting to empty his glass of liquor in one motion.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, giving him a raw, magnetic appeal that was hard to ignore.

Yet despite his striking appearance, women rarely stayed by his side. His aloof nature made him seem untouchable: cold, distant, like a demon carved from ice.

Piqued by curiosity, Gerry leaned slightly towards him.

"And whose wife was charming enough to get through that… peculiar condition of yours?"

Caden's expression remained unreadable, his voice flat.

"Maybe I was never sick to begin with."

The idea of ​​romance had never entered his mind. To him, it was a mere whim for which he had neither the time nor the desire.

Alice was in the right place at the right time.

Soon the bar came to life as the night crowd filled the room, mostly beautiful women.

With Caden's good looks, he instantly became the center of attention, whether he liked it or not.

A stunning woman with wavy hair approached, her gaze lingering on him as she offered him a flirtatious smile.

"Do you mind if I have your number?"Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Caden's gaze slid up to meet hers. He could appreciate her flawless face and the graceful curve of her body, but he had zero interest in her.

"I'm sorry, but I already have a partner."

He left the poor girl alone, pointing lazily at Gerry.

The woman blinked, surprised written all over her features, before quickly apologizing and leaving.

Gerry let out a long sigh.

"Who are you calling 'partner'? You really are something else, Caden, using me as an excuse for your… impotence."

Caden gave him a look but couldn't muster the energy to argue.

Instead, I have offered his friend a form of compensation.

"Your new movie is coming out next month, right? I'll ask Lilliana to write a song for free."

Gerry's outrageous expression softened and a smile played at the corner of his lips.

"That's better."

But there was something strange about it all. Lilliana, the rising star whose song had catapulted her to fame last year, hadn't produced anything noteworthy since.

Gerry couldn't help but wonder, lowering his tone suspiciously,

"Do you think Lilliana really wrote that song?"

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