The unwanted wife’s unexpected comeback
Chapter 103

Chapter 103:

At the gaming table, Alicia found herself outmatched by Mrs. Reyes.

As if that were not enough, Mrs. Reyes was not his only opponent; the others had subtly and unequivocally formed an alliance against him.

The tension increased as round after round slipped through his fingers, and his losses numbered in the hundreds of thousands.

Alicia gripped her cards tightly, realizing that she couldn't rely on her ability alone to defeat them.

Her eyes narrowed as she shifted her attention from the cards to Mrs. Reyes herself.< /p>

It was absurd how Mrs. Reyes seemed to win every hand.

Not even the luckiest person could have won that many times in a row.

Alicia's sharp eyes soon caught a pattern. Each time Ms. Reyes played a card, she casually raised her hand to support her head, twisting her jade bracelet in a practiced, almost mechanical motion.

Once or twice it might have been a coincidence, but it always happened without fail.

And what was most revealing: the other ladies only played their cards after Mrs. Reyes made this peculiar gesture.

Soon, Mrs. Reyes returned to sweeping the table, a smug smile on his lips as he took the winnings.

It was a trap, plain and simple.

Alicia's gaze fell on his every time. tighter chips, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior. If this continued, she would be left without every last cent.

Mrs. Reyes, Alicia spoke, with a cold but determined tone.

Mrs. Reyes's eyes shone, as if she had been waiting for him. He offered Alicia a lovey-dovey smile. Miss Bennett, you've already left him.

Alicia did not respond immediately.

Mrs. Reyes, feigning a look of understanding, leaned forward with a hint of mock sympathy. You've already lost enough. If you're short on funds, we could stop.

One of the ladies even ventured: Quitting for such a small loss, Mrs. Bennett Please don't spoil the fun. Why don't you call your ex-husband to pay bail?

The mockery hit like a well-aimed arrow, but Alicia wasn't going to give up so easily.

They might have given up. conspired to rob her, but she wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of seeing her defeated.

Let's take a break, she said, rising gracefully from her seat. I need to cool off. We can continue when he returns.

He needed a moment to collect himself and strategize. There had to be a way to turn the tables. Just as he prepared to walk away, the murmurs in the room grew louder.

Mr. Ward

Rachel's voice cut through the din, surprised and excited. He ran towards the door. Randolph said he was inviting him to dinner. He knew he was coming and booked the most exclusive private restaurant. In fact, he's still busy organizing everything.

All eyes turned to the door as Caden entered. Dressed in an elegant black suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and long legs, he carried himself with an effortless elegance that spoke of quiet authority. His healthy complexion, contrasted with the dark fabric, only enhanced his striking masculinity. His deep eyes were sharp and insightful, as if he could see things no one else saw.

No need, Caden answered softly, his voice calm but authoritative. He took a step forward, his gaze focused solely on Alicia. "I can eat anywhere," he added nonchalantly.

Alicia, who had just risen from her seat, found herself instinctively sitting up again, her pulse quickening unexpectedly. With her back to him, she continued to feel the weight of his presence and each beat of her heart grew stronger in her chest. She thought he wouldn't show up.

The other women exchanged glances, excitement shining in their eyes. After all, who wouldn't be captivated by a man like that? Caden was one of the most handsome men in Warrington, and his attractiveness aroused the admiration of women of all ages. They toyed with the idea of ​​flirting with him, with thousands of thoughts, although none of them dared to express them out loud.

Rachel, in particular, was eager to greet him, but Caden ignored her. He walked past her, with a determined step, and sat down next to Alicia without hesitation. Alicia sensed his presence immediately, although she kept her face impassive, moving her chair slightly away from him.

Caden raised an eyebrow at her subtle movement. Curiosity got the best of Mrs. Reyes. Mr. Ward, meet Alicia.

Without even looking at Mrs. Reyes, Caden coldly replied: She's my ex-sister-in-law.

A stunned silence followed. Everyone knew that Joshua was Caden's half-brother. As for Alicia… Well, she was actually Caden's ex-sister-in-law.

Yet there they were, sitting together so naturally, their proximity comfortable, but somehow unsettling. The tension was palpable, although no one could locate its source. Unasked questions lingered in the air, but Caden's commanding presence silenced them all.

Without warning, Caden extended his leg, hooking it around the leg of Alicia's chair and pulling her toward him. him with firm precision.

Alicia blinked in surprise, momentarily speechless. Caden remained unfazed, his tone dry as he asked: Are you still as stubborn as ever. How much have you won?

Instinctively, Alicia moved her hand to protect the drawer, a reflex gesture that only seemed to amuse Caden even more. It was too slow. With quick efficiency, Caden reached the drawer first and opened it to look inside. His eyes scanned the scattered chips and a smug smile spread across his lips as he giggled.

Someone forced open the drawer, he joked, raising an eyebrow. Where are all your chips

Alicia huffed in annoyance, crossing her arms defensively. Nobody has entered. I lost them.

Caden's smile deepened. With your level of brilliance, even tic-tac-toe seems like a challenge. Why bother with this

Alicia clenched her fists under the table, biting back a retort. Idiot! I kissed you because I needed your help, not your lectures. You might as well have been left out, she thought, silently fuming.

The tension in the room rose, but a laugh from one of the women broke the air. Mr. Ward, you have arrived at the perfect time. It seems Mrs. Bennett's luck has run out. Would you like to throw her some chips

Mrs. Reyes quickly kicked the woman under the table, giving her a penetrating look. Teasing Alicia was one thing, but provoking Caden. That was dangerous territory.

Of course, Caden's sharp gaze snapped toward the woman, causing her to freeze momentarily. After an awkward pause, he forced a tight smile and quickly excused himself. I'm going to get some water.

As soon as she left, Caden nonchalantly took the seat that had been vacated. Mrs. Reyes, clearly surprised, asked tentatively: Mr. Ward, do you play cards too?

He shrugged indifferently. Not really, but if someone is desperate enough to throw money at me, why not take it. His gaze slid to Alicia, eyes bright with amusement. You don't agree

Alicia narrowed her eyes and pressed her lips into a thin line before silently uttering: Idiot! Their obvious disagreement seemed to put Mrs. Reyes at ease.

It seemed that Caden wasn't planning on posting Alicia's bail after all. Ms. Reyes allowed herself to relax slightly: her lead was still intact.

However, Caden's unexpected participation had shaken the dynamic. Now he was without an ally and had to play his cards more cautiously. Despite this, the round ended in her favor and she took an important victory.

Alicia watched carefully, her brow furrowed in frustration. Caden, despite his nonchalance, was eerily calm. He was really just here to take the money. There was something about the situation that didn't add up.

Unable to resist, Alicia discreetly kicked him under the table.

Caden threw him an inquisitive look. Why did you kick me

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