All Chapters of My Husband's Unwanted Wife: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Alice’s POVI arrived that weekend at the gala quietly, slipping in with a crowd of privileged guests. I wondered if Arlington was already inside, but I doubted it. He loved to make an entrance, even in the court room.So, I wandered a bit, my beautiful designer gown falling from my shoulders, my hair pinned in curls all around my face and neck. I had some water, enjoying the vast space of the hotel that the gala was staged at. There was a stage, and seating, but there were also large round tables, elaborately decorated, in the adjoining space. It was nice and familiar faces from all over the country were there, including some fellow justices and supreme court appointees.I didn’t mix much, keeping to myself as time moved on. The conference portion, a short one hour set of speeches and updates from exauled guests, would start soon, and I wanted to find my seat. As expected, it was right at the front near the stage. The moment I sat down in the seat labeled “Sidley Austin Lead Counsel”

Alice’s POVThe clapping and applause after the speech was nice, but the look on David and Lily’s faces was priceless. I couldn’t help but feel relieved, and even vindicated, staring at them in the crowd as Mr. Arlington thanked everyone and began making his usual small talk with various colleagues. When I tried to step away, he turned to me with a smile, his bright blue eyes twinkling.“Come, Alice, stay with me,” he suggested, motioning to the captivated, and curious crowd around us. “Let’s take a victory lap.”“You’re too much sometimes, you know that?” I chuckled, agreeing as he placed his arm on my back.He led me through the gathering of finely dressed people, the gala getting into full swing as we slowly rounded the room. Arlington loved to talk and tonight, he was determined to spend five minutes with everyone. If he was anything, it was thorough.Of course, the entire time I kept taking glances at David and Lily. The pure embarrassment and anger in Lily’s eyes were expected b

Alice’s POVAfter I settled into the suite at the Chateau, a lavish luxury hotel, I was ready for sleep. A warm shower had washed away all my cares that night. Arlington had told me to get some rest and to come find him in the morning in his suite and we’d go into the office together. However, after midnight, right as I was drifting into a comfortable sleep, my phone rang. It was charging and I thought I’d turned it on silent.The number was grandpas.“Hello?” I answered groggily, expecting a scolding or perhaps a meeting to be scheduled between us. However, it wasn’t grandpa’s voice that rang through.“Alice, this is Adam.”“W-what… why do you have grandpa’s phone?”“Alice, you need to come to St. Mary’s Hospital, and 21st Street,” he insisted, his voice shaken. “Grandpa has been hospitalized. He had a heart attack tonight.”“I’ll be there soon,” I spoke, hanging up immediately and rushing to put the gala outfit I’d worn the night before. It was all I had – everything else was back a

Adam’s POVI was so happy to see Alice again. I was worried ever since David rushed her away after the club. I shouldn’t have been worried. She’s a formidable woman, but I couldn’t help but feel bad for her. Then, when I found her contact information on her grandpa’s phone, after David had showed up without her, Lily draped on his arm, I knew I had to contact her. She should have been there with David, even if they had signed divorce papers. It was all anyone in our circle could talk about.As I waited for the electric kettle to boil in the small hospital kitchenette, my mind wandered to what would come next. If her grandpa’s condition was more serious, if he did suddenly leave the Neighley family, where would that leave Alice? David would surely do all he could to fill his grandpa’s shoes. He’d never fit in them, unfortunately.Alice was a good woman, despite the way David has always treated her. I watched from a distance, at events, at the funeral, and I saw something so warm and br

Alice’s POVI read the note that was scrawled in David’s handwriting once I stepped out of the lobby and into the parking lot.Don’t forget – you’re still mine.I crumpled up the paper and threw it in the nearest garbage can, tightening the collar of my coat around my neck. I was still wearing the heels from the night before, clacking down the sidewalk briskly as I made for the Chateau Hotel and my bed. There weren’t nearly as many cars on the streets at three in the morning. For a big city, it was quiet, and I enjoyed that relative silence as I passed a 24-hour bodega and some closed coffee shops and yoga studios.This whole area, like the hospital, was high-end. The neighborhood reeked of boutiques, big labels, and speakeasies, which were just closing up. However, none of this wealth, none of this extravagance, made me feel any better. I was exhausted but also angry. The audacity of David to kiss me, in that moment, like he still had any claim to me or my body, was unbearable.I was