Chapter 4 Hot Research

The air in the confined space became suffocating. The sound of a lighter flicked, accompanied by the pungent smell of tobacco. Alina furrowed her brow but remained silent. She sat up and straightened her disheveled clothes, trying to regain some composure.

Caleb continued to gaze at her intently. "Are you enjoying provoking me on purpose?" he questioned.

Alina's fingers nervously tugged at her clothes, yet she quickly composed herself. She didn't answer him directly; instead, she said, "Give me that information and delete the backup."

She referred to the information Tomas had shown her earlier. Alina hadn't anticipated that Caleb would have such a strong grip on Andre within such a short period of time. The tension in the car grew even more palpable as her words hung in the air.

"You're worried about him," he stated, his voice laced with certainty.

Alina didn't respond but refrained from retorting either. Her silence seemed to fuel Caleb's anger. "Draw up a divorce agreement with him immediately," he demanded. With his cigarette still in hand, he casually cupped her face. "And stop trying to provoke me all the time. You might not be able to handle the consequences if you push me too far."

That damn man was threatening her. Alina's recently suppressed anger resurfaced, and she pushed away his hand that cradled her cheek. "What do you mean?" she demanded.

Caleb glared at her with menacing eyes. It was clear that Alina was no match for him, so she averted her gaze.

"You didn't see the news?" he asked.

News? At that moment, Alina remembered the news Andre had just mentioned on the phone. Was something important going on? She wanted to check her phone, but it had fallen inside the car.

His phone was handed to her, and Alina took it. As she opened the web browser, she was bombarded with popular news about yesterday's event. Headlines like "Master Caleb's Long-Missing Wife Appears at His Fiancée's Show, Takes Center Stage," "Mysterious Return of Caleb's Missing Wife Clashes with His Fiancée," "Caleb's Wife Returns: Where Does Emma, Caleb's Fiancée, Go?" and "Master Caleb's Wife Amazes with Remarkable Talent" dominated the homepage.

Despite being far away during her three-year disappearance, Alina was aware of what had happened in Ingford. Her sudden appearance at yesterday's event had sent shockwaves through the media in Ingford. Over the past three years, people had been curious about her whereabouts. If it weren't for her grandmother, she might never have set foot in Ingford again in her lifetime.

Suddenly, the phone in her hand vibrated, and the caller ID displayed "Emma." Before she could react, Caleb snatched the phone from her and ended the call.

Alina's voice, tightly restrained with anger, demanded, "Why didn't you answer?"

Her unexpected return had caught everyone off guard, particularly Caleb, and Emma was likely the most affected by it.

Caleb didn't respond but simply said, "Now you know what you have to do?"

"It's just news," Alina murmured, her tone subdued.

For three years, Joslan Hughes had remained silent despite numerous reports, both positive and negative, about her. The man in front of her spoke, his words dripping with a hint of legal action. "If I were to sue you and Andre right now for unlawful cohabitation within marriage, how long do you think you both would end up in prison?"

Alina glanced at the man, unfazed by the mention of being within marriage. "I sent you divorce papers back then," she retorted.

"I don't sign anything that anyone sends me. If that were the case, wouldn't the Collins Group have disappeared by now?" Caleb countered.

The two locked eyes, refusing to back down. The driver and Tomas, seated in the front, were sweating profusely. They had anticipated Alina would yield to Caleb's argument, but instead, she responded sharply, "Then how long do you think you and she will be in prison if I sue you for being engaged to another woman while still married?"

A sudden smile graced her face, both charming and provocative. "Oh, by the way, you two are engaged but not legally married, so there's no legal responsibility."

"But it's the age of social media. When a third party engages in such shameless and unethical behavior, public opinion alone could ruin her reputation," Alina continued. "And considering the damage to the Collins Group's reputation, let's say a few billion?"

Alina couldn't recall how she managed to leave Caleb's car. The scorching sun beat down on her, but she felt no warmth. Caleb's eyes and the leverage he held over Andre played on her mind, leaving her feeling cold.

Suddenly, a Pagani screeched to a halt in front of her, causing Alina to instinctively step back. Emma emerged from the car, wearing a custom-made dress and removing her sunglasses. "Alina, let's talk," she suggested.

Alina clenched her fists unconsciously. "I have nothing to talk to you about," she replied, turning away and walking to the side.

But before she could take two steps, she heard Emma's tone of displeasure. "You deliberately chose yesterday to show up, didn't you?"

Yesterday held great significance for Emma. Caleb had spent an exorbitant amount of money to secure her a spot on an international stage. It was a pivotal moment for Emma's entry into the international design world, yet it was overshadowed by Alina's unexpected return with "Beginning."

The entire city of Ingford was now abuzz with stories about them, and it was evident who was disrupting the situation. Emma couldn't believe it wasn't intentional on Alina's part.

Alina turned back, her gaze cold and disdainful. "Didn't you intentionally take credit for so many of my achievements?" she remarked.

Emma's face instantly turned pale at the end of Alina's remark, and she knew she had struck a nerve. Alina, observing Emma's reaction, chose not to say anything further. As she turned away, she added, "If you were truly capable, how could a single one of my works ruin you?"

"Alina, you shouldn't have come back," Emma said, her voice filled with regret.

Alina smirked in response. Andre's car pulled up, and Alina opened the door. Speaking to Emma from her position, she declared, "I will reclaim everything that belongs to me. But as for that man..." Alina paused, a smile playing on her lips. "Since you seem to cherish the man I no longer desire, I will gladly hand him over to you." With those words, she got into the car without hesitation.

Emma stood rooted to the spot, her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms without feeling any pain. Alina had always been so arrogant and superior in her presence since they were children. Alina's parting words echoed in her mind, stoking a deep sense of humiliation and fueling her hatred for Alina.

In the car, Andre handed a bottle of water to Alina. "Caleb caught you before she arrived?" he inquired.

"Yes," Alina replied.

"What does he want with you at this time of day?"

"He wants me to divorce you."

Andre's face changed in response to the revelation. It suddenly dawned on him that Alina had used those words last night to fend off Caleb. Under normal circumstances, it could be dismissed as a joke, but given the events of yesterday, with reporters and the media present everywhere, particularly in Ingford where the media was shrewd, there was a risk that someone might exploit the incident and blow it out of proportion.

"Aren't you afraid that our relationship will be exposed because of this incident?" Andre voiced his concern.

Alina's face stiffened, and the once-relaxed expression now turned somber. Andre reached out and gently ruffled her soft hair. "You always lose your composure when you encounter him."

"If you knew what he forced me to endure three years ago, you would understand why I can't remain calm," Alina replied.

What had she witnessed during those three years? Caleb's actions and methods were beyond outrageous. She had been over nine months pregnant, on the verge of giving birth, and he had wanted to kill their child for the sake of a third party.

Uncontrollable tremors coursed through Alina's body as she recollected that horrifying scene. Andre's face also changed as she mentioned events from three years ago. He knew what had happened during that time, and it was this knowledge that had fueled his opposition to Alina's return to Ingford.

He held Alina's hand firmly and reassured her, "Don't be afraid, I'm here with you."