Chapter: 5

Joshua pulled her into his arms, his fingers gripping her waist possessively. "She's cunning," he muttered, the edge of suspicion creeping into his voice. “I don't know if she's actually agreeing to the divorce or just playing me."

Lilliana perched herself on his lap, her arms draping lazily around his neck, her gaze smoldering with seductive mischief. "Relax, Joshua," she purred, her lips brushing his ear. "Even if she changes her mind, it's too late."

Joshua's brow furrowed. “What do you mean?"

Lilliana's eyes flickered with shadowy intent, her lips curling into a faint smile.

She wasn't foolish enough to show her cards now, so she waved it off with an effortless excuse. "During your two-year marriage, she has lived quietly in the shadows as a mere housewife, disconnected from your world. When you're assertive, would she dare to say a word?"

Joshua pursed his lips into a hard Line.

During the past two years, Alicia had indeed done everything for him given him support and solace.

She had loved him fiercely, but at the end of it all, what value did love truly hold?

Against all odds, he had clawed his way to the top, and he'd finally grasped the power he craved.

That success, however, hadn't come easy, and it wasn't love that secured his position-it was alliances with the powerful.

The prestige of the Green family daughter, that title alone, was worth far more than Alicia's devoted love.

As these thoughts plagued his mind, Lilliana suddenly pressed her luscious, red lips against his. "Joshua," she purred, her voice Like velvet, “congratulations on escaping the grind. Shall we celebrate?"

For a moment, Joshua's gaze flickered down to her, but Alicia's indifferent face suddenly flashed before his eyes.

Since leaving the house earlier, Alicia hadn't once called him to ask for his whereabouts.

Before, if he had been upset with her, she would've called him in a panic.

A sharp, inexplicable irritation surged within him. Without thinking, he pushed Lilliana back, his voice gruff. "You're only a few weeks pregnant. Be careful.”

Lilliana, sharp as ever, sensed he was distracted. "Joshua, what's wrong?" she asked gently. "Don't you want to get divorced?"

Joshua's response was instant. "Of course I want to divorce her."

Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. "Then why don't you seem very happy?"

Joshua offered a quick excuse, his voice steady but distant. "My father's condition has worsened. He doesn't have much time left, and Caden returned last night. He's likely here to claim his inheritance. I need to figure out how to handle him."

Lilliana blinked, momentarily thrown. “Caden? Your brother from your father's first marriage? He doesn't even carry the Yates name anymore. What right does he have to fight you for the inheritance?"

Joshua's expression darkened.

It was true-but at the end of the day, he was still the son of a home-wrecker.

All these years of relentless effort had not only been to carve out a name for himself in the Yates family, but to push Caden into the shadows where he belonged.

One way or another, Joshua was hell-bent on winning.

Meanwhile, Alicia stirred from her sleep, the weight of fatigue still heavy on her limbs. Darkness had already fallen, yet she felt even more drained than before.

It was because her dreams revolved around that stranger, his touch still Lingering on her skin.

She couldn't tell if it was the lingering effect of the drug or if that man was just so good in bed.

Even now, fully awake, she still felt like she was floating on cloud nine, which made her blush uncontrollably.

Only when her phone buzzed with a call from Monica did she snap out of her daze. “H-hello?" she stammered.