You’ll have a difficult time doing that with wp_list_pages(). You will need to create a custom query loop, using either WP_Query() or get_posts().

Custom loop with 4 most recent posts

<?php
$recent_posts_query_args = array(
    'posts_per_page' => 4
);
$recent_posts = new WP_Query( $recent_posts_query_args );

// Open custom loop
if ( $recent_posts->have_posts() ) : 
    while ( $recent_posts->have_posts() ) : 
        $recent_posts->the_post();

        // Normal post template tags can be used here, just like constructing a normal loop

    // Close custom loop
    endwhile; 
endif;

// Be kind; reset postdata
wp_reset_postdata();
?>

The actual markup you use is up to you. The custom loop markup/output is like any other loop at this point.