Chapter 40 Scolding!

The situation felt far from coincidental. The expression on Caleb's face made it clear that he had overheard the unexpected statement, leaving Alina feeling apprehensive. However, she figured it didn't matter much. If Caleb thought she was so terrible that he wanted a quick divorce, that suited her just fine.

"What are you trying to pull now?" Caleb's tone was hostile.

Alina retorted, "Didn't you hear everything?"

"Alina, I apologize for what happened to you three years ago. This isn't about Emma," Caleb responded.

"She has been a part of the Hughes family for so many years, but it is about me," Alina snapped back, growing angrier as she faced Caleb's furious expression.

Most people help others without expecting anything in return, but they also hope to be treated kindly, not as enemies. If she truly had no connection to Emma, then Emma would see it as a third party trying to force a divorce and as malicious competition among peers if she sabotaged her. But Alina had lived in Emma's home for so many years, with her parents treating her as their own child, and yet Emma treated her sponsor this way.

As Alina stepped closer to Caleb, she questioned, "So, are you going to help compensate her for this, to draw a clear line between her and me?"

"How much?" Caleb asked, his tone laced with icy coldness.

Alina chuckled. This man always focused on money.

She took a deep breath and replied, "Her news over the years is worth compensating. Do you know how she got into college?"

"Her academic performance was poor, and when Zoe couldn't afford tutoring, my dad helped her with daily tutoring after work. It's something you can't repay."

"And with that, you're free to take everything that belongs to her? Caleb, do you realize how important this competition is to her?"

"Isn't it important to me?"

"Then it shouldn't be you who stole her opportunity," Alina argued.

The two locked eyes, their gazes filled with tension. It seemed that Caleb didn't truly know the kind of person Emma was over these past three years. But Alina expected him to marry Emma and watch her manipulate him like a fool. This, she believed, would be his retribution.

"Caleb, for what you guys did to me three years ago, not to mention stealing her opportunity, even if I destroyed her, she would deserve it," Alina declared.

"Heh, and you still want to go to the competition?" Caleb sneered, his gaze filled with disdain as he surveyed the room filled with wedding dresses.

"What do you mean?" Alina inquired.

"I am officially informing you now that you don't need to go through the trouble of preparing for the competition. After all, what was stolen doesn't belong to you," Caleb declared, turning to leave.

His departure left behind a cold and distant figure.

"Explain it," Alina demanded, chasing after him and grabbing his wrist.

Caleb shrugged her off, growing more disgusted with her. "Alina, not only are you a bitch, but you also have a repugnant character."

Bitch? Repugnant? Weren't those words meant for Emma? Alina knew exactly to whom Caleb was referring. "In that case, divorce me."

As Caleb took a few steps away from the room, he heard Alina's initial irritation subside.

Caleb, who was about to leave, furrowed his brow as he detected a peculiar calmness in Alina's tone. He turned back to face her, and their eyes met, allowing him to glimpse the sorrow hidden within her gaze. Deep down, he knew that the incident from years ago was not her fault. Despite his awareness, he still felt like a fool for succumbing to his grandfather's pressure and marrying Alina.

"Divorce? So you can marry Andre? Do I look like an idiot, Alina?" Caleb questioned, his voice tinged with bitterness.

"Don't you resent me for betraying you? Then why don't you divorce me and marry your pure Miss Emma?" Alina countered.

"Since you've already betrayed me, don't attempt to continue deceiving me," Caleb uttered, dropping his words before promptly walking away.

Alina, on the other hand, struggled to maintain a composed facade upon hearing Caleb judge her based on that incident. Lucy entered the room, concern etched on her face. "Lady Alina, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Alina replied, though the pain weighed heavily on her heart. No one knew that for all these years, she had longed to identify and bring to justice the man who had violated her that night, whose face she had never clearly seen. Despite receiving psychological counseling for two years, the memories of that night still haunted her dreams.

The nightmare had tormented her for far too long. Although the Collins family despised her, they had never attacked her using that incident, and neither had Caleb, until now, for the sake of Emma. He was going to any lengths for her.

Alina's phone vibrated, and she glanced at the number—Stella was calling. She answered, "Stella."

"Alina, where are you? I have something to tell you. Let's meet and talk," Stella said, her voice brimming with excitement.

An hour later, they met at the cafe in Ingford's largest mall. Stella couldn't contain her happiness as she informed Alina, "I heard that Joslan Hughes will personally participate in the Oklens competition. My boss assigned me to cover the news in Oklens, which means I'll be your following PD."

Alina never anticipated that it would be Stella this time. Noting Alina's lack of enthusiasm, Stella cautiously asked, "What's wrong, Alina?"

"It's nothing. Please support me as best as you can," Alina replied, forcing a smile to lift the corners of her mouth. Despite Caleb and Emma's relentless efforts to keep her out of the competition, she refused to concede defeat. With five days remaining, she had enough time to overcome the obstacles.

"That goes without saying. I was worried I wouldn't be able to adequately capture your brilliance. By the way, Emma will also be attending, you're aware of that, right?" Stella remarked.

Alina's mood was already sour, and the mention of Emma only deepened her frown. Stella vented her frustration about Emma for a few minutes. "She lacks any professional competence yet wants to make it on the international stage."

"Come on, Stella. Competence determines success in the competition, and lack thereof will hinder even the most eager participants," Alina responded truthfully, causing Stella to nod in agreement.

"Also, a third party won't have a favorable outcome, even if she relies on a man," Alina added, thinking about Caleb, her legal husband, and the unfortunate situation he had entangled himself in. She had done everything within her power to push Caleb to divorce her.