The unwanted wife’s unexpected comeback

Chapter 19: ????? The sleek black car stopped in front of the old apartment complex.

Alicia got out without looking back, her heels clicking softly on the pavement as she drove away. Inside the car, Hank watched her retreating figure.

With a wry smile at the corner of his lips, he broke the silence. "Mr. Ward, you like Miss Bennett, don't you?" Caden's face remained impassive, his expression as unreadable as ever.

"Have you been drinking? What's this nonsense about?" Hank cleared his throat awkwardly, sensing a change in the atmosphere. "But if you didn't like her, then why did you kiss her?" A slight crease formed between Caden's brows as he turned his head just enough to catch Hank's gaze in the rearview mirror. "If the moment called for it, I could kiss anyone, even you." Hank blinked, completely caught off guard. "Huh?" Caden, uninterested in Hank's confusion, looked away at the weathered building before them.

The place was old, not exactly rundown, but far from comfortable, with peeling paint and windows that had looked better days. Compared to Joshua's luxurious villa, it was a stark contrast, a far cry from the life Alicia had known. It was clear she had left with nothing but her pride, and this apartment was the bitter reminder.

Typical Joshua. He never left anything for those he discarded.

Leaning back in his seat, Caden's fingers drummed rhythmically on the armrest, his expression cold and distant. "Let's go." At the hospital, Lilliana lay in bed, stiff with worry.

She rested her hands on her small belly, her breathing was labored, and she barely dared to move. Fear for the baby consumed all her thoughts.

Joshua hovered over her, obedient and attentive. He catered to her every whim, making sure the press never found out where they were. Every detail was handled with precision: not a single photograph could be allowed to leak to the media.

As evening fell, fatigue settled upon him like a heavy burden. He exhaled slowly, finally finding a moment of peace, although it was far from restful. Lilliana, whose earlier anger had been softened by his efforts, still refused to look at him.

The tension between them persisted, stubborn as ever, until Joshua began to gently coax her. Slowly, she slowed and let him hold her, though a shadow of warning still lingered in her eyes.

"If you yell atlike that again," he muttered, his voice low but firm, "I'm leaving you." Joshua fell silent, his gaze contemplative.

A soft ring from his phone broke the silence.

Joshua shifted in his seat, avoiding Lilliana's curious gaze as he checked the message.

"Mr. Yates, Mr. Ward dropped Ms. Yates off at the apartment complex and left shortly after. We have maintained close surveillance throughout the night and no one else has entered Ms. Yates' home." Without a word, Joshua deleted the message, his expression unreadable.

When Lilliana was finally discharged from the hospital, the first thing she heard was news about the thsong contest.

"Alice?" he muttered, his eyebrows furrowing in disbelief. Had he heard correctly? A sneer spread across his lips. "Do you want to compete with me?" Gerry, with an amused smile, nodded. “Yes, that's right. Alicia, Joshua's wife." Lilliana's expression hardened, her nails digging into her palm as she gritted her teeth. "They're already divorced." "Really?" Gerry arched an eyebrow innocently. “I hadn't heard. "I thought you were still keeping your marriage a secret." The comment grated on Lilliana's nerves, making her wonder if Gerry held sunspoken grudge against her. But she quickly dismissed the thought, deciding it was just her overactive imagination.

"I don't care if Alicia competes against me," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Rest assured, Mr. Hopkins. "I won't let you down." Gerry couldn't help but burst out laughing, his howls filling the entire room.

"Oh, I'm betting on Alice," he said, his voice casual but cutting.

Lilliana's smile faltered, a chill running through her veins.

"But don't take it too hard," she added with a chuckle. “Caden supports you. "I'm just doing it for the thrill of the challenge." Internally, Lilliana scoffed at Gerry's apparent lack of taste. Alice? Really? As soon as she left, she quickly took out her phone and called Joshua.

"Can you still locate that composer, Iris?" he asked forcefully.

Joshua, worried, absentmindedly replied, "Who is...?" "The artist who wrote my song last year," Lilliana blurted out, quickly lowering her voice as she looked around to make sure no one was listening. "You know, the ghostwriter. Find her for me. "I need another song." Joshua barely looked up from his task. “You're working with Caden now," he replied flatly. "Don't cheat; "you'll just get caught." "But I'm in the middle of a competition!" Lilliana's eyes flashed with fierce determination. "I'm competing against Alicia. "I have to completely outshine her." However, beneath her bragging tone was a trace of unease.

Her recent rise to fhad been rapid, but her new songs? They lacked the spark that had propelled her to stardom.

He needed to crush Alice, but composing his own music was impossible.

Joshua hesitated, Alicia's nmaking him waver, and he finally turned his attention away from his work.

"What do you mean, 'compete with you'?" he asked slowly, his voice tight with curiosity. "Why would he do that?" "Why else?" Lilliana sneered disdainfully. "She's jealous of me, overestimating herself, as usual.” Joshua stared into space, lost in thought. Was Alicia going after Lilliana because of him?

"Okay, I'll find Iris for you," Joshua said, snapping out of his trance and adopting a cheerful tone. "But no mere ghost singing.' If you get caught, Caden will destroy you." "As you wish," Lilliana rolled her eyes, dismissing his warning.

Joshua pulled out his phone and quickly looked up Iris's contact information. I have offered the srate as last time, confident that she would accept.

But Iris's response was swift and forceful. "It's been a long time. My rates have changed." "Then nyour price." "Five million." Joshua's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Last year, you only made three hundred thousand!" "Do you want my services or not?"

His jaw tightened. Spending that amount on Lilliana's behalf was not part of the plan tritated, I called out to Lilliana, his tone impatient. "You'll have to write the song yourself."

"I haven't written in ages," she stammered, nervously tugging at her sleeve. "I'm out of practice and my voice isn't what it used to be. Five million is fine, but she has to sing it to me. "Like last year." Joshua's lips curved into a mocking smile. "Lilliana, why are you so afraid of Alicia?"