Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Lilliana quickly took the coffee from Hank. “Let me handle it, Hank.”
Hank hesitated but eventually handed over the cup and left the room.
Lilliana set the coffee down next to Caden and, in a sweet tone, said, “Mr. Ward, enjoy some coffee.”
Caden remained expressionless. “You may leave now.” His blunt demeanor left Lilliana briefly stunned. Knowing Caden was always serious while working, she didn’t press her luck and exited after a quick greeting.
The office fell silent for a few moments.
Caden called Hank back into the room with a stern look on his face.
“Throw that fucking cup away,” he grunted. “If a woman touches my belongings again, you’ll find yourself in the trash along with that cup.”
Realizing his mistake, Hank quickly disposed of the coffee and asked quietly, “I’ve noticed Miss Bennett has been spending more time with you. So, is your condition improving?”
Caden shot him a sharp glance.
“Are you probing into my personal life?”
Hank almost nodded but quickly shook his head when he saw the look on Caden’s face.
“It’s Mrs. Ward who keeps asking about you,” Hank said cautiously. “You know she’s getting on in years and is very concerned about your health. Since you never answer her calls, she messages me every day.”
Caden frowned.
“Keep matters regarding Alicia to yourself. Do not let my grandmother find out,” Caden ordered firmly.
Hank nodded in understanding. Due to Caden’s unusual illness, Ciara Ward, his maternal grandmother, had become overly concerned and often tried to push women toward him. If she discovered that Alicia had slept with Caden, she would stop at nothing to ensure they were tied together.
“Sir, the madame said that…” Hank began but stopped short when he noticed a mark on Caden’s face. His curiosity piqued, he asked, “Mr. Ward, what happened to your face?”
Caden maintained a neutral expression. “I was scratched by a stray cat.”
“But, sir, that doesn’t look like a scratch. It looks more like a bite mark,” Hank replied, his concern growing.
Caden’s eyes narrowed, sending a clear warning that made Hank shudder. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Hank quickly sealed his lips and left the office.
The following day, Hank reported that Joshua had doubled his investment in promoting Lilliana’s song.
Caden smirked. “Then we’ll match that amount.”
Hank immediately understood the plan and set to work. Once they doubled their investment, Joshua responded by increasing his funding again. The rivalry escalated, each striving to outdo the other.
Within hours, Lilliana’s song soared to the top of various entertainment charts, becoming a sensation overnight. Her fan base exploded, and her popularity skyrocketed. The entire internet buzzed with excitement, eagerly anticipating the release of her song.
The outcome exceeded all of Lilliana’s expectations, and she couldn’t resist boasting to Joshua for an extended period. Joshua, however, sat in his quiet office, showing little enthusiasm.
“By the way, Joshua, has Iris sent you the song yet?” Lilliana inquired. “We only have three days left to report to Gerry. Don’t screw this up.”
Joshua replied casually, “She mentioned she would deliver it to me tomorrow.”
Lilliana dismissed the concern with a wave of her hand, shifting all the responsibility onto him. “Just keep an eye on it for me.”
“Sure,” Joshua replied, growing accustomed to Lilliana’s carefree demeanor. He was no longer bothered by it.
Lilliana settled on his lap, wrapping her arms around him affectionately. “Thank you, darling. I didn’t expect you to invest so much in my song.”
In addition to the promotion, various other expenses piled up, reaching astronomical figures.
Joshua let out a soft chuckle.
He decided against revealing his secret rivalry with Caden to Lilliana. Instead, he reassured her, “What matters most is your happiness, no matter the cost.” He knew the Green family would ultimately cover the expenses.
Lilliana, still enchanted by him, radiated joy. “It’s still early in the day. Abigail just released a new line of haute couture dresses. Would you join me to pick one out, Joshua?”
Joshua readily agreed with a nod.
As they drove to the boutique, he held Lilliana close, feeling content.
Upon entering the store, something familiar caught his eye. He stopped abruptly, recognizing Alicia in the crowd.
Gerry brought Alicia along at the last minute to help her choose a dress.
She wasn’t familiar with high-profile events and felt unsure of what to pick, so she relied entirely on the store clerk’s suggestions.
Eventually, they selected a snow-white mermaid gown decorated with silver thread, as pure as freshly fallen snow.
The store clerk smiled and said, “Miss Bennett, with your figure, anything would suit you perfectly. This dress is special, though. It’s a limited edition, and for the next three months, it’s the only one in Warrington. It would look incredible on someone like you.”
Alicia felt a little embarrassed by the compliment.
“Alright, I’ll try it on.”
Just as she reached for the gown, a hand grabbed it before she could.
“Is this really the only one in Warrington?” Lilliana asked with a smug expression. “I’ll be taking it, then.”
Alicia stared at Lilliana, clearly confused. She kept her tone composed.
“Miss Green, I was here first.”
Lilliana’s smile barely changed. “I like it. I’ll pay more for it.”
The store clerk froze, unsure of how to handle the tension between them.
“Miss Green, we do have other dresses that could fit your tastes. I could even arrange a custom one for you.”
Even so, Lilliana insisted that she wanted the dress that Alicia had her eyes on.
In a harsh tone, she stated, “I told you that I’m willing to pay extra for it. Didn’t you hear me?”
The clerk paused to take a look at the men behind them. One of them was Joshua Yates, and the other was Gerry Hopkins.
These men were so powerful that nobody would dare try to cross them.
Meanwhile, Alicia fell silent.
Joshua observed her briefly before saying, “Mr. Hopkins, I’ve spoiled Lilliana. She always gets what she wants. Would it be possible for Miss Bennett to choose a different dress?”
Lilliana smiled at Alicia, clearly feeling victorious.
Alicia’s face remained unchanged.
He felt the urge to roll her eyes.
Gerry smirked and said, “Miss Bennett? That’s quite formal, isn’t it? It hasn’t been that long since you two got divorced, and you’ve already changed the way you address her.”
Joshua’s lips twitched, but he stuck to the topic at hand. “This really is an unfortunate coincidence. If it’s alright with you, I’ll buy Miss Bennett’s dress too, as an apology from Lilliana.”
Alicia’s lips curled slightly.
What a hypocrite.
She responded, “First come, first served. I want this dress, and I won’t settle for another.”
The two men standing behind them remained silent. One watched with an unreadable expression, while the other looked amused, eager to see how things would unfold between Alicia and Lilliana.
Not wanting to lose, Lilliana turned to the clerk. “What’s the price of this dress?”
The clerk responded, “Miss Green, it’s priced at 660,000 dollars.”
Lilliana scoffed. “I’ll offer a million.”
She cast a scornful glance at Alicia after speaking. Since marrying Joshua, Alicia hadn’t received a cent from him. There was no way she could pay that.
“I’ll give you two million for it,” Alicia countered.
Gerry’s eyes lit up with excitement at her response.
“Alicia, you’re covering the cost, right?” he asked.
Alicia nodded, smiling calmly.
Joshua’s face darkened, irritated by the needless competition with Lilliana.
Not willing to be outdone, Lilliana raised her offer. “Three million.”
Alicia spoke without hesitation. “Five million.”
Lilliana’s expression tightened. “Eight million!”
Alicia paused for a moment. Her gaze briefly landed on the dress again.
Confident she had won, Lilliana looked at the clerk and said, “Pack it up. It’s mine.”
Alicia stepped forward, stopping Lilliana in her tracks. After taking a deep breath, she spoke in a quiet but firm voice. “I’ll pay ten million for the dress.”
Lilliana sneered, unable to hide her disbelief.
“Can you really afford ten million?” she asked.
Alicia bit her lip slightly before replying, “But Miss Green, I really want this dress. I’ll even add another million if you’ll let me have it.”