Chapter 179:
Alicia slipped her phone back into her bag, her face unreadable. “Keeping your mouth shut won’t kill you.”
Caden shrugged. “If you were this interested, you should have mentioned it sooner. I know a lot of great guys who would be perfect for you.”
Alicia remained quiet. Just listening to him was suffocating. She felt incredibly uncomfortable around him.
With a firm decision, she turned and walked away.
Monica hurried over and took Alicia by the arm. “I know a few of my dad’s friends who could be useful. Come with me and meet them. They might be able to help with your gallery opening.”
Alicia’s face brightened into a smile.
Mr. Wade approached Caden and murmured, “Mr. Ward, Mr. Yates has arrived.”
Caden gave a nod, swirling his wine. “Proceed as planned.”
“Got it.”
Joshua entered the art exhibition with Lilliana. He engaged Mr. Wade in business talk, while Lilliana wandered the area outside. As a member of the Green family, she stood out in the crowd.
Lаτєѕτ chɑρτєrѕ ιn g𝒶lɳovєlѕ.ϲoм
When she saw Alicia talking to some people, Lilliana moved closer to taunt her. “What’s the matter? Did your sugar daddy ditch you? You seem desperate.”
Alicia was on the verge of lashing out but stopped when she noticed Lilliana’s noticeable bump. She chose to hold her tongue—the baby was innocent, after all.
“Miss Green, hello. How are you?” Alicia asked. “I see you’re expecting. It hasn’t been long, right? Do you think it’ll affect the wedding plans?”
She had struck a nerve.
Lilliana fixed a cold stare on her. “Don’t worry. You’ll definitely get an invite to the wedding. It’ll be a spectacle.”
Alicia’s smile didn’t waver. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. It’s my ex-husband’s second attempt, after all.” She glanced at Lilliana’s bump. “Is the baby’s one-month celebration going to coincide with the wedding?”
Lilliana snapped, her patience worn thin. “My personal life is none of your business.”
“I’m not worried, just intrigued. It’s fortunate to have two happy occasions at once,” Alicia said with a harmless smile.
A friend of Lilliana stepped forward, pointing accusingly at Alicia. “Enough with the sarcasm! You’re just jealous because Mr. Yates is marrying Lilliana. If you can’t hold onto a man, that’s on you. It’s always the unloved woman who gets called the mistress!”
She attempted to strike Alicia, but Monica was quick to slap her hand aside.
“Mistress? Who said anything about a mistress?” Monica said loudly. “No one called Lilliana a mistress.”
The expression on Lilliana’s friend’s face shifted awkwardly. “I was trying to say…”
“Right, right. Isn’t it true that Joshua was unfaithful during his marriage and got Lilliana pregnant before he ended his first marriage? It’s common knowledge. Let’s not dwell on it,” Monica added sharply.
Lilliana’s friend was left speechless and quickly turned to Lilliana. “Lilliana, I didn’t mean it like that…”
The onlookers nearby began to whisper more intently. Lilliana’s expression darkened, and she shot her friend a fierce look before storming off.
Monica stood with her hands on her hips. “Thinking she can act so superior when she’s the one causing trouble? Ridiculous.”
Alicia soothed Monica with a gentle pat on the back. “Relax. There’s no need to be so upset.”
After calming Monica, Alicia’s thoughts shifted back to Caden. How long would it take him to confront Joshua?
In the meeting room, Joshua was deep in negotiations with Mr. Wade. The deal was set to be finalized that day, and once the contract was signed, the money would be transferred.
“Let’s wrap this up quickly,” Joshua urged concisely. “You understand my situation.”
Mr. Wade remained composed. “Mr. Yates, I regret to inform you that I cannot transfer the funds.”
Joshua’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean?” He struggled to control his anger. “I’ve handed over the painting, and now you’re refusing to pay?”
Mr. Wade detailed the issue. “Just today, the police contacted me. They’ve raised concerns…”
Mr. Wade continued, “The police have raised concerns about the ownership of the painting you sold. Apparently, it’s not registered under your name.”
Joshua’s gaze intensified. “How could it not be mine if it was in my possession?”
“The police investigated and determined that the painting actually belongs to your ex-wife, Alicia.”
“It was indeed hers, but it was included in our joint property. She didn’t take anything when she left,” Joshua retorted.
“Then why did she report it?” Mr. Wade asked.
“She alleges she owned the painting before our marriage, and that it’s entirely unrelated to me.”
Mr. Wade confronted him, frustration clear in his voice. “Mr. Yates, this isn’t right. This amounts to theft. I was going to pay 200 million dollars, and now I’m at risk of being sued. What have I done to deserve this from you?”
Joshua struggled to breathe as the weight of the situation hit him. He had suspected Alicia might eventually discover the sale, but he hadn’t anticipated her finding out so quickly. With both Mr. Wade and the police siding with her, it was clear that Caden had played a part in this.
His finances were already tight, and this latest problem had pushed him to the edge. He lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply, trying to calm himself.
Mr. Wade could see Joshua was cornered. “Mr. Yates, I understand you’re in a tough situation. How much do you need?”
Joshua looked defeated. “Why? Are you able to assist?”
Mr. Wade nodded. “Absolutely. You’re just facing a temporary setback. Once your company is listed publicly, you’ll recover. I’d prefer to stay on good terms.”
Joshua extinguished his cigarette. “I need over 3 billion dollars. Can you provide that?”
“Not personally, but I know someone who might,” Mr. Wade said, reaching for his phone. “I’ll get him on the line right now.”
