Chapter 20
Chapter 20:
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Lilliana felt Joshua's words hit her deeply, but she forced herself to keep her composure. "I'm not afraid of him. I just don't feel like writing the song myself."
Joshua replied, “Just compose something and get it over with. Alicia has been married for two years, sitting at home cooking and taking care of everything. She has forgotten everything. She is nothing special. Why bother with her?”
Lilliana pouted, clearly dissatisfied. “Are you really not willing to spend the money on me? Fine, I’ll do it myself.”
In a firm tone, Joshua replied, “Lilliana, you know I would spend anything on you. It's not that I don't want to, but in this case it's not worth it. Stop acting like that.”
Lilliana bit her lip in frustration. She knew how much Joshua had pampered her over the past two years. He had spent millions on her without a second thought.
“Okay,” Lilliana agreed, although it was clear she wasn’t entirely happy.
That same night, when Joshua returned home from work, something unexpected awaited him. As soon as he walked through the door, a gentle figure threw herself into his arms.
The room was dark, but the strong scent of perfume filled the air, with an intoxicating effect that quickly awakened something inside her.
He clung to Lilliana, kissing her roughly as his hands roamed her body with clear intent. Knowing exactly what he wanted, Lilliana responded eagerly.
"Turn on the lights. I want to see you, hubby."
The word “hubby” sparked something in Joshua’s mind, making him remember his early days with Alicia. He remembered how she had shyly called him “hubby,” her eyes filled with sincerity and love. Back then, Alicia’s emotions had been raw and real. All she had ever wanted was his affection.
Caught in a flood of memories, Joshua suddenly grabbed Lilliana by the neck. His voice was harsh. “Don't light up. “We’ll do it my way.”
Equally driven by her own emotions, Lilliana responded with a breathless plea: “Just be careful. Remember the baby’s safety…”
Joshua later transferred $5 million in cash to Iris. Along with the money, he left a note that read: “Don't fail me.”
"I'll give it to you in ten days," Iris replied.
Hearing this, Lilliana was outrageous. “Have days? The movie is coming out next month, and Gerry gave me ten days! Isn’t that too little?”
Frustrated and exhausted, Joshua ignored Lilliana's complaint. "Good things come to those who wait. Rushing will only result in inferior quality."
After that, Lilliana stopped arguing. “Okay. Just make sure it’s ready before the deadline,” she said.
Lilliana had faith in Iris's abilities. "When I get the company to create a fantastic marketing campaign and release another hit song, my market value will skyrocket. And when I become famous, I will personally deliver the first signed copy to your ex-wife. I want to see her face when she sees it."
Joshua merely gave her a superficial answer. At that moment, he couldn't care less about Lilliana's rise to stardom. What excited him most was imagining Alicia's reaction once she was eclipsed.
He relished the thought of his humiliation, knowing that when it came, he would have no one to turn to help.
This thought remained in his mind as he returned to the company to work, curious to know if Alice would ever ask him for help.
That same afternoon, his assistant came in with some food. “Mr. “Yates, it’s time to eat.”
Joshua frowned at the greasy smell of the food.
Lilliana, having grown up in a well-off home, did not know how to cook and had become accustomed to taking out or dining in restaurants.
But before that, Alicia had always cooked for Joshua. She worked hard to gain his favor, always taking care of him in every way, even through the meals she prepared.
Joshua now realized how much his cooking had influenced his refined palate. He hadn't realized it at the time, but those seemingly trivial moments had become an integral part of him.
Later, Alicia was walking down the hall with some shopping bags when she saw Joshua leaning against the wall, smoking.
His tailored suit and dapper appearance seemed out of place in the building, a stark contrast to his former frantic post-divorce persona.
He let out a puff of smoke, looking mature and sophisticated.
“Have you eaten yet?” I have asked.
Looking at him as if he were a stranger, Alice replied coldly: "What do you want from me?"
"Relax. You don’t have to be so suspicious of me,” Joshua said with a soft smile. “I didn't come here to do anything bad. “I just wanted to see you.”Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.
Alice scoffed, clearly unconvinced. Without answering, she walked past him and up the stairs.
Joshua followed her, his eyes fixed on the groceries in her hand. “Looks like you haven't eaten yet. Mind if I join you for lunch?”
Hearing his words, Alice pulled out her phone, her expression cold. “Get back or I’ll call the police!”
Joshua put out his cigarette and looked into her eyes. “Alicia, I have a proposition for you. “I just want you to keep cooking for me and I’ll pay you a hundred thousand a month.”
Alicia did not hesitate to dial a number.
Unfazed by her action, Joshua raised an eyebrow. “A hundred thousand isn't enough? Fine, I'll double it. You can even negotiate the price, and I’ll accept it!”
His offer made Alice bitterly laughly. When they were married, Joshua had always looked down on her. But now, after their divorce, he suddenly seemed so generous.
Was she really just asking for food? Of course not. Alice wasn't that naive.
I have picked up the phone and let the ringtone ring. “If you're not scared of the police, you're probably terrified of Lilliana, right?”
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