The unwanted wife’s unexpected comeback

Chapter 181:

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Caden stared at Joshua with an unreadable smile. “Mr. Yates, your problems can’t be too bad if you still feel inclined to notice women,” he commented.

After speaking, Caden entered the room with long, determined steps. Mr. Wade immediately stood up and pulled a chair out for him. He then cast a sideways glance at Alicia. She lifted the hem of her dress as she entered the room and sat down on the chair. Mr. Wade was momentarily taken back, glanced at her once more before turning around and leaving the room with a meaningful look.

Joshua had been watching the whole scene and said sarcastically, “Well done, Alicia. “You’ve managed to win over a man like Caden.”

Alice understood exactly what he meant. “You are giving me too much credit. Mr. Ward is helping me out of kindness,” she replied. She smiled and added: “When you are with Miss Green you are so low and obsequious. In that respect Mr. Ward could never compare with you.”

Caden narrowed his eyes. Who was he attacking with that comment?

Joshua slowly clenched his fists. He didn't really believe Alicia could win Caden over, but now he seemed to care. Even if it was nothing more than a fleeting romance, the connection between Alicia and Caden fueled Joshua's fury.

The more Joshua contemplated the situation, the angrier he became. They had barely entered the room and he already felt an overwhelming urge to leave. He pushed back his chair and stood up abruptly.

Caden watched Joshua's sudden movement and asked, "What's wrong? Have you decided you don't want me to lend you the money after all?"

His pride wounded, Joshua replied, “That’s none of your business.”

Just as he was about to leave, Alice intervened: “Why the rush? If you are not interested in the loan, perhaps we can talk about the painting.”

Joshua knew he had done something wrong, but he showed no sign of guilt. “When you married me, didn't you say that everything you owned was mine? You loved me so much then. Naturally, I thought it belonged to me.”

Alice couldn't believe his shamelessness. Even at this point, I have dared to bring up the past. "Promises are just words. Nowadays, I prefer to handle matters legally," he replied coldly.

Joshua wasn't going to let a small loss turn into a bigger one. "Mr. Wade has the painting. You should ask him for it."

"What about the deposit? When do you plan to return it?" Alice asked sharply.

The deposit in question amounted to fifty million dollars. In the past, an amount like fifty million would have meant nothing to Joshua. However, his situation had changed.

Caden had orchestrated the bank to impose strict controls on Joshua's accounts, allowing only withdrawals. That fifty million was long gone.

Joshua's expression hardened. “I will transfer the funds back to the original account before the end of the day,” he declared.

Alice pressed her lips together tightly.

Without wasting a second, Caden coldly interjected, “That's too long. You have ten minutes.”

Joshua noticed that Alicia was hesitant.

He said, “Let’s get one thing straight, Caden. The painting belongs to Alice. What authority do you have here?”

Caden's lips curved into a subtle smile, but his eyes remained cold, a hint of danger lurking in them.

Sensing Caden's growing impatience, Alicia looked at him and said, "Caden is handling the painting now. He makes all the decisions."

Hearing that, Caden relaxed slightly.

Alicia grabbed Caden's wrist firmly and looked at her watch. “Your ten minutes start now,” she announced.

Joshua stood there, momentarily speechless. He knew full well that he couldn't come up with the money in such a short time.

Driven by pride, Joshua felt compelled to try to repay the money on time, despite his empty pockets. I picked up the phone and started making urgent calls. As the minutes passed, his brow furrowed.

Caden, for his part, tapped his fingers on the table, seemingly unfazed.

"If it's too much pressure, don't bother. Just say so and I'll lend you whatever amount you need," he said with a smile.

Joshua gritted his teeth. “You bribed Randolph and schemed with Mr. Wade to get me, all because you wanted to see me humiliated, didn't you? I'll give you your deposit back, Caden. Even if it doesn't hit your account in ten minutes, there's nothing you can do about it. Resorting to such petty tactics to get me to bless? You underestimate me.”

Caden's smile widened, though his eyes remained cold. “Oh? And what methods would you consider sophisticated?” He continued in a measured tone, “Perhaps you mean the funds Alicia poured into your startup, or perhaps those illicit dealings you’ve been orchestrating behind the scenes?”

Joshua frowned. “What are you implying?” he asked, his voice tense.

Caden stared at him. “I mean the actions you have taken,” he replied, his tone heavy with meaning.

A tense expression crossed Joshua's face. “You claim that Alicia invested money in me. Do you have any proof to prove it?”

“Randolph is essentially under my control now,” Caden said with a confident smile. “Where do you think the evidence lies? Of course, that alone isn't enough to bring down someone like you. But don't worry, I have plenty more up my sleeve. Shall I list the taxes you evaded during your startup years, the funds you embezzled, and the officials you bribed?”

With every word Caden said, Joshua's expression darkened.

He had never realized how deeply Caden had dug into his affairs, uncovering secrets he believed were well hidden. How had Caden managed to conduct such an extensive investigation in such a short time?

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