Chapter 29 A lesson in blood

Caleb departed from Mulherd Manor and headed straight to Nirvana, where he was greeted by his friends, including Maddox Mason. They watched as Caleb sat down and consumed half a bottle of wine, exchanging meaningful glances. Otto Sharp playfully swirled his glass and peered into Caleb's eyes, teasingly asking if his wife and mistress had gotten into a fight. Caleb's friends had assumed that once he became engaged to Emma, Alina would reappear. However, they hadn't anticipated her return and subsequent inheritance of the entire Collins estate.

The late Mr. Collins had carefully chosen Alina as his granddaughter-in-law, and despite Caleb's indifference in their marriage, he had always stood by Alina. It was undeniable that she held a significant position within the Collins family. Even if they were to divorce, Alina would forever cast a shadow over Emma's heart. The situation between the two women was only escalating.

Otto's words triggered Caleb's annoyance, prompting him to finish the remaining wine in frustration. Maddox and Otto exchanged glances, and eventually, Maddox stepped forward to take the empty bottle from Caleb's grasp. "You can't drown your sorrows like this."

While Maddox had never been fond of Alina, he couldn't care less about whom she was involved with. The real concern for him was the turmoil in Ingford. However, he couldn't help but mention, "She's truly married to the president of Voyage International Group."

Caleb's expression grew colder at the mention, and Otto and Maddox sensed the tense atmosphere. Just as they were about to inquire further, Caleb tugged at his tie and abruptly stood up. Emma, who somehow discovered that Caleb was present, rushed over and confronted him with accusatory eyes. "Caleb, how could Alina do this to me?" Emma's frustration was evident in her tone.

The onlookers were once again taken aback by this scene—a mistress confronting someone's wife for not understanding her. It was incomprehensible to witness such a situation. Meanwhile, Alina, who had prepared all the divorce documents, messaged Caleb, urging him to finalize the divorce the next day.

Alina thought that if she hadn't left in such an extreme manner three years ago, she would have been free from this failed marriage by now. It had dragged on for far too long, and it was time to bring it to an end. However, Caleb remained silent, ignoring all her messages.

As her phone vibrated again, Alina hoped it was Caleb finally responding, but it turned out to be Brandon on the other end. He reminded her not to forget about the Oklens show and informed her that her work had been sent there.

"Okay, I understand," Alina replied. If Brandon hadn't reminded her, she might have completely forgotten about it. Currently, she couldn't leave Ingford directly due to the ongoing process of her grandmother's affairs, but she could still go on regular business trips.

Just before ending the call, Brandon asked, "How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine," Alina replied, although deep down, Brandon likely knew about her situation. Her return had stirred up many complications. Remembering past painful experiences, Alina's face stiffened, and she recalled Brandon's words—lessons learned through blood. Taking a deep breath, she reassured him, "Don't worry, I know what to do."

Alina hung up the phone and glanced at her calendar. The Oklens competition was only a few days away, and her work had already been sent. However, she understood the importance of preparing for unexpected situations and making sure every detail was in order for the show.