Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Joshua needed to understand that.
Joshua saw right through her.
“Are you planning to leave me to be with Caden?” he asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.
Alicia hesitated before answering, “I won’t be with anyone, but as long as I’m staying at the Yates Mansion, I’ll always pose a risk to your relationship with Lilliana. You should really reflect on that.”
Joshua dismissed her hypocritical words with a wave.
He took her hand and firmly stated, “Caden wants you just to compete with me. If you accept him, it won’t end well for you. Do you understand?”
Alicia flinched at his grip and struggled to free herself.
Believing she was trying to escape, Joshua lifted her and carried her to the bedroom. Then, he locked the door.
“What are you planning to do to me, Joshua?” Alicia asked, her voice filled with worry.
He pushed her onto the bed and placed a firm grip around her neck. “What are you thinking? Have you forgotten why I brought you to the Yates Mansion?” he growled. Then, he began taking her clothes off.
Alicia held onto her shirt, firmly resisting his attempts to undress her.
She knew Joshua had taken the drug, so he wouldn’t physically react. However, Caden had left marks on her skin.
She couldn’t let Joshua discover them.
This bastard was a brutal man.
Fury surged through Alicia, and she slapped him hard across the face.
The impact startled Joshua, and for a moment, he stood frozen.
With a stern expression, he grunted, “You really don’t want to give yourself to me?”
Alicia’s eyes burned with anger. “Why should I? Have you forgotten how you threatened me back then?”
Joshua paused, thinking about the past.
How had he threatened her? He had told her that if she didn’t comply, he would walk away, leaving her vulnerable to those drunks who would drag her into a secluded area and assault her.
Trembling with fury, Alicia shouted, “You’re no different from a rapist!”
Joshua’s body went rigid at her words.
He locked eyes with her.
It was true-she had changed.
She was no longer the Alicia he once knew.
The eyes before him were no longer gentle and smiling. They were filled with anger and defiance.
He had been trying to compel her to stay with him, but now, for the first time, he felt a wave of defeat wash over him. Frustrated by his unresponsive body, he released her and turned to light a cigarette.
Seconds later, his phone rang. It was Lilliana.
He answered the phone, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
“What’s going on, honey?”
In a sweet voice, Lilliana asked, “Are you finished with work? Do you mind joining me for a stroll?” Joshua glanced at Alicia.
She had already smoothed out her clothes and was standing at a distance, deliberately avoiding his gaze.
“Yeah,” he replied flatly. “I’ll be there soon.”
After hanging up, Alicia spoke. “Nothing stays hidden forever. Your company is about to go public, and Lilliana is planning her return to work. Do you really want to risk losing everything because of me?”
Joshua knew exactly what mattered most.
He valued power too much to risk it all over a woman. Still, he had no intention of letting Caden have Alicia without a fight.
He didn’t respond directly.
Instead, he grabbed her phone from the bed and started walking out.
Alicia’s expression tightened. “What do you think you’re doing, Joshua?”
Outside the room, Georgia and Shelia had been listening to the entire situation unfold.
Alicia tried to catch up with Joshua, but without hesitation, he shoved her back.
He handed her phone to Georgia. “Don’t let her leave until I return.”
Georgia didn’t hesitate to follow his orders. She grabbed the phone and stashed it away. “Yes, Mr. Yates!”
Alicia made a desperate attempt to retrieve her phone, but Joshua pushed her back into the room and slammed the door shut, locking it behind him.
She pounded on the door, shouting verbal threats, but no matter how loud she yelled, Joshua ignored her. He had bigger issues on his mind, and this was something he felt he had to do.
Keeping her locked up for a day or two didn’t seem like a problem. It wouldn’t change anything, but it allowed him to release some of the frustration that was boiling inside him.
Lilliana noticed the red mark on his cheek as soon as he entered. “Who slapped you?” she asked.
Joshua had almost forgotten about the handprint on his face.
He touched his cheek, quickly coming up with an excuse. “My dad.”
“Why would he hit you?”
“It was just a small disagreement. He’s been unstable because of his illness, so I didn’t take it personally.”
Lilliana studied the mark carefully. Whoever hit him had delicate fingers. The handprint looked more like a woman’s than a man’s.
Although she still had her suspicions, Lilliana hid them well and gently rubbed his cheek. Nearby, Gina excused herself.
But Lilliana gave her a quick instruction. “Bring me a glass of hot water first.”
Gina nodded in response, and the water had just finished boiling. It was still dangerously hot when she brought it in.
As Gina handed her the glass, she reminded Lilliana, “Miss Green, the water is very hot, so be careful.”
Distracted by her own thoughts, Lilliana didn’t pay attention to Gina’s warning. After massaging Joshua’s face, she grabbed the glass, only to let out a sharp cry as the heat burned her hand.
Joshua took her hand and kissed it gently. “Didn’t she just tell you the water was hot? Be more careful.”
Already frustrated by the burn, Lilliana became even more irritated by Joshua’s comment. “Who said the water was hot?”
“Calm down. Let me cool it down for you,” he said.
Lilliana was still fuming from the burn, so she angrily called for Gina to return.
“It’s boiling hot! How do you expect me to drink this?” she shouted.
Gina bowed her head. “I’m sorry, Miss Green. The water just finished boiling, and I did warn you.”
“Stop making excuses!” Lilliana snapped.
She couldn’t tolerate being disrespected in any way, so she demanded that Gina drink the boiling water right then.
Gina’s face turned pale. “Miss Green, please…”
Even Joshua felt this had gone too far. “Just let it go. Why don’t you have her grab your favorite coffee and leave it at that? Calm down!”
However, Lilliana had made up her mind. “Fine, but she still has to drink it first.”
Gina begged, “Miss Green, the water is far too hot. It’ll burn my throat.”
“Oh, now you’re concerned? What if I had drunk it? Does my throat not matter?” Lilliana shot back.
Gina nervously fidgeted with her fingers, too afraid to move forward.
Lilliana’s irritation grew as she watched Gina stand there, helpless and afraid. She hated how Gina always played the victim, as if everyone owed her something. The longer she stared at Gina, the more her anger intensified.
“Drink it right now, or you’re fired!” Lilliana demanded.
Gina refused to move from her spot.
Her silent refusal felt like open defiance to Lilliana. It was the first time Lilliana had ever seen Gina stand up to her.
Lilliana taunted, “What’s the matter? Did Harley die? You still need money for her medical bills, don’t you?”
At those words, Gina looked up immediately. Her eyes were burning with hatred.
She could endure any insult, but she refused to let anyone curse Harley.
Lilliana sneered. “Don’t bother glaring at me. It doesn’t faze me. I’m the one keeping you and Harley alive. I pay you twenty thousand dollars a month. No one else would do that for you. So, what’s it going to be? Your pride or Harley’s life?”
Joshua remained silent.
He let Lilliana behave however she pleased.
The light in Gina’s eyes dimmed until it was completely gone. Still, she didn’t move.