Chapter 2:


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    Alicia snapped out of her daze as soon as she met the icy gaze of Joshua, her supposed husband.


    His expression remained unchanged, cold and indifferent as always, as if he were looking at a stranger. The only thing out of ce was the love bite on his lips. Was the kiss I shared with another person that intense?


    A wave of disgust washed over her, and it was all she could do not to gag. She tightened her grip on the phone and turned it off with a soft sigh. “It''s nothing.” Without waiting for a reply, she started walking inside.


    Joshua frowned and grabbed her wrist. “Alice, what’s with that attitude?”


    He seemed pretty unhappy with her this time, which was kind of odd, considering how rarely he bothered toe home.


    Normally Alice would have weed him with open arms, a sh of joy lighting up her tired features. But today she looked exhausted, almost empty.


    She did not resist his grasp, but looked at him with a calmness that disconcerted him.


    "Haven''t I always been like this? Obedient, sensitive, making sure the house is in order, that you arefortable, willing to give your best at work."


    A small, bitter smile yed across his lips. “Isn''t that what you like most about me? It makes things easier for you, doesn''t it? It frees up time for your other… “special someone.”


    Joshua''s eyes darkened at the veiled usation.


    Denial floated across his lips, but he didn''t bother. Why would he? He let go of her hand and said abruptly, "Actually, that''s why I''m here. We need to talk."


    Alice rubbed her wrist vigorously, as if trying to erase his touch.


    "So, are you nning to finally go public with her?"


    Joshua’s expression instantly twisted, his calm fa?ade cracking. “What do you know? Did you have stalked me by a private investigator or something?”


    Alice gave a soft, humorlessugh. “Is that necessary? You spared no expense in making her happyst night. “A blind man could see that you are mad about her.”


    He stared at her, taken back by her icy tone.


    It was still her voice, it was still Alice, but there was something different about her now. For some reason, he felt inexplicably hurt, as if a thorn had prickled his heart.


    Maybe it was the way she looked at him: her eyes, once warm and full of love for him, were nowpletely empty.


    There was no anger, no pain, just… nothing. It was a stark contrast to the woman who used to look at him like he was her whole world.


    For reasons he couldn''t exin, seeing her like that awakened something in him: an unknown dissatisfaction. Annoyed by his own reaction, Joshua decided to hit her back, now in a harsher voice.


    "She''s pregnant. It''s a delicate pregnancy, so I bought her something to cheer her up."


    Alice''s fists clenched before she could stop them.


    Pregnant?


    So the nights she had spent awake waiting for him toe home, he had been with another woman, working diligently to start a new family?


    Seeing Alicia shudder slightly, Joshua felt a sh of satisfaction.


    “It''s not that I don''t want to sleep with you,” she said, her voice condescending. “You''re about as exciting as watching paint dry. “No man would want that.”


    His cruel words cut through Alice like a jagged de, but she managed to outwardly maintain herposure.


    It wasn''t that she avoided intimacy, but that she didn''t initiate it. Did that make her so undesirable? Was it a sin not to be seductive enough?


    Breathing slowly and evenly, Alice forced herself to remain calm.


    “Okay,” he replied quietly. “Then let''s get a divorce. You can give him whatever title you want.”


    The word “divorce” made Joshua’s eyelid twitch involuntarily.


    He scoffed, eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Is this another one of your games?”


    Convinced that she was right, her voice grew colder, more biting. “Alice, for two years you have been doing all kinds of childish things, begging for my attention. Aren''t you tired yet? Because I am.”


    He paused, letting his disdain sink in. “You say you love me so much. Could you really walk away from me?”


    Alice couldn''t help the bitterugh that escaped her.


    Love him? Did he even understand what that meant?Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    When Joshua''s business copsed, leaving him with nothing but debt and broken dreams, it was Alicia who emptied her savings to bail him out.


    Out of gratitude, or perhaps out of obligation, he had married her.


    For two long years, she had been the dutiful wife, supporting him as he wed his way back to sess.


    And what had Alice received in return? She had been discarded as a useless relic, while another woman carried her child.


    His love, his loyalty, had be dirt beneath her feet. To continue caring for this man would be masochism.


    In a firm voice, Alicia said, “Draw up the divorce agreement. “I’ll agree to whatever terms you want.” And with that, she turned and disappeared through the door, leaving Joshua alone in the hallway.


    For a moment he followed her with his gaze, but then a cold, mocking smile appeared on his lips.


    Well, she can y the martyr. I doubted she could keep this up for long.


    Leaving the house, Joshua headed straight to the apartment where his lover, Lilliana Green, was waiting for him.


    “Well, that was quick,” he scoffed upon hearing that Joshua was getting divorced, raising an eyebrow. “Looks like I wasn’t as tough as you said.”


    Joshua pulled her into his arms, squeezing her waist possessively. “She''s sneaky,” he murmured, suspicion creeping into his voice. “I don''t know if she''s really okay with the divorce or if she''s just messing with me.”


    Lilliana sat on hisp, her arms around his neck, her gaze radiating a seductive mischief.


    “Rx, Joshua,” she purred, brushing his ear with her lips. “Even if I change my mind, it''s toote.”


    Joshua frowned. “What do you mean?”


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