The unwanted wife’s unexpected comeback

Chapter 132:

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But Rachel still feared Caden deeply, a weight she couldn't easily shake off. Joshua was despicable, but Caden...

he was a different kind of ruthless. If she and Randolph were caught up in one of their schemes, the path forward

would be nothing short of treacherous.

“Randolph, can’t we find another way?” she pleaded, gripping his arm tightly, her voice shaking with despair.

“This deal... isn’t worth the risk we're taking.”

Randolph’s expression darkened, his patience wearing thin. Her tearful pleas grated on his nerves and he

couldn't help but lash out at her. “You have no say in this matter!”

The next instant, he slapped Rachel, knocking her off her chair. She fell to the floor with a thud, a muffled moan

escaping her lips.

Her side ached, but she suppressed any sound, knowing she shouldn't scream. Embarrassment burned her

cheeks as she slowly stood up, thankful there was no one else in the private room to witness her humiliation.

He slowly sat back in his chair, his gaze cast down, his spirits crushed. He had long since grown accustomed to

submission, and with such serious matters at hand he dared not provoke Randolph any further.

Yet as she sat silently, he continued to berate her. “This is all your fault!” | have barked.

Rachel's chest tightened. How could she blher?

“My fault?” she repeated incredulously, her voice a mixture of pain and disbelief. “I didn't do anything.”

Randolph's taunt cut through her like a knife. "If you hadn't fought with Alicia, none of this would have gotten out

of hand."

“Randolph!” Rachel's voice rose with a spark of defiance, her frustration boiling over. “It was you who said you

couldn't stand Alicia and wanted to teach her a lesson! | tried to stop you, but you wouldn't listen. Now that

things have exploded, you're blaming me.”

“I told you to teach him a lesson, yes,” Randolph growled, eyes narrowed. “But why did you have to involve

Joshua?”

Rachel's gaze wavered, flickering with guilt.

She had told Joshua, thinking it would further humiliate Alicia. Given Alicia and Joshua's bitter divorce, she

thought he would take pleasure in her suffering. But instead, Joshua still harbored feelings for Alicia, and his

anger turned on Randolph, avenging his ex-wife.

His plan had failed miserably.

Yet, despite the outcome, she couldn't shake the feeling of having been wronged. “I did it for you,” she

whispered, her voice shaking with emotion. “I never wanted things to turn out this way. I'm upset too, Randolph.

Why don’t you realize that?”

Randolph snorted in disdain. “You're useless. All those other men... at least their wives are by their side. And

what do | have? “A shitty wife.”

Rachel felt utterly humiliated, her cheeks burning as if they had been slapped by invisible hands. Her family was

not poor, but in recent years their fortune had dwindled. The stability they enjoyed had crumbled like loose

stones. Without the safetyof a powerful alliance, she lived in constant fear of being slighted by the imposing

Gray family.

For years, she had swallowed every insult, every condescending glance, trying to maintain her composure. But

tonight, something inside her snapped, and she couldn't take it anymore. She ran from the room, covering her

face with trembling hands, but her burst of impulsive courage vanished as almost quickly as it had come.

Once outside the hotel, the cold, biting wind blew through her, leaving her completely sober. The thought of the

Gray family's downfall filled her with dread. The judgment of these high society women, these well-groomed

vultures, would be swift and merciless.

For so long, she had basked in the glow of attention, smiling despite the sting of his snide remarks. Losing her

dignity now would be unbearable, it would be like stripping away the fabric that held her together. Without it, she

felt as if she could end her miserable existence on this earth.

Tears filled her eyes, but she swallowed them back, burying her grievances deep within. Her mind raced and she

was already formulating a plan to help Randolph out of the abyss.

Joshua's relentless attacks were all because of Alicia. Maybe if he could make peace with her, another path

would open up.

As she hailed a cab, she didn't notice Caden's black car pulling into the hotel's driveway.

Caden glimpsed her departure, but felt no pity: Rachel was little more than a temporary inconvenience in his

world. With a disdainful look, he continued on his way.

Inside the dimly lit private room, Randolph's frustration hung in the air like thick smoke. He raised his glass to

Caden twice in a row, his shaking hands betraying his despair.

It wasn't just a toast, it was a plea for help, a last hold on what dignity he had left. Then, with bitter venom in his

voice, Randolph cursed Joshua's name.

“I helped him so much then,” Randolph snapped, his eyes shining with indignation. “And now I've fallen right into

his trap! “I never thought he'd turn onlike that.”

Caden took a slow, measured sip of his wine, remaining impassive. Joshua had struck the first blow, setting off

the chain of events that led to Randolph's slow collapse.

But Caden knew the truth: Joshua's actions had only cracked the surface. It was Caden himself who dealt the

death blow to Randolph's finances, quietly dismantling his empire from within. Randolph had no idea who was

the real mastermind behind his downfall, and he still believed Joshua was to blfor it all.

“Three hundred million dollars?” Caden mused, setting down his glass. “That's chump change to me. But tell me,

Mr. Gray, what are you going to offer to prove you're serious about this deal?”

Randolph's eyes were bright with despair, bloodshot from sleepless nights and endless scheming. With shaking

hands, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a worn document, its edges slightly frayed. | have passed

it across the table to Caden.

“This...this is Joshua's secret,” Randolph said, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. He leaned in, eager

to fan the flames of Caden's well-known grudge against Joshua. “Mr. “Ward, use it as you see fit.”

Caden picked up the document, rubbing his thumb across its surface. With a satisfied smile, | put the document

away. Randolph, knowing the deal was sealed, exhaled deeply. A weight had finally been lifted from his

shoulders.

For the first tin days, he was able to eat with ease, savoring each bite as if it were the first proper meal he

had had in an eternity.

His eyes scanned the table and settled on Caden, who stood stock still, barely touching his plate. A flash of

curiosity crossed Randolph's mind. “Mr. Ward,” he asked, frowning slightly, “don’t you like the food?”

Caden chuckled softly, a mischievous smile curling the corners of his lips. “I'm saving my appetite for something

a little more... special later.”

Meanwhile, Rachel's frustration grew as she repeatedly dialed Alicia's number, only to have the calls go

unanswered. Determined, she set her jaw and took a cab straight to the Yates mansion. With the Yates family

involved, she was sure Alicia wouldn't ignore her in person.

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