Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Caden let out a quiet laugh, entertained by her boldness.
Just then, Lilliana interrupted from the other end of the line. “Mr. Ward-“
“Mr. Ward? Are you still there?”
Caden looked straight into Alicia’s eyes, tightening his hold on her waist. Alicia shifted her body slightly, making space for him as if to welcome the closeness.
His voice came out hoarse, though he hadn’t intended for it to. “Are you serious?”
As he spoke, his face lifted just enough for his nose to brush against her cheek. The cold touch sent shivers through her.
Alicia’s eyelashes trembled, and her anxiety began to rise. She swallowed hard and, summoning the courage, kissed him. “Go along with this, and I’ll pay you for your troubles.”
A dangerous light flashed in Caden’s eyes. The intensity of his stare drew Alicia in.
With every passing moment, Alicia felt a growing passion. Her body responded to his presence as she kissed him wildly, licking and biting his lips with reckless abandon.
Caden applied pressure, guiding her legs around his waist while gripping the back of her head. He opened his mouth, taking control, and showed her what a real kiss felt like.
Overwhelmed by the intensity, Alicia let out a soft whimper.
Caden chuckled at her reaction. “It seems like you already know how to moan.”
The heat between them became unbearable for Alicia. She no longer wanted to continue, and she struggled to pull away.
Caden released her without resistance. The moment he let her go, the tension between them evaporated as if it had never existed.
“The call ended a while ago,” Caden said. “Too bad he didn’t hear any of it,” he added. Joshua had, in fact, missed it all. He had already parked the car and took a moment to compose himself.
The silence in the car stretched on. Finally, Lilliana spoke.
“I can’t believe it. What would Caden even want with Alicia? She’s too dull to be fun to mess with.”
Joshua’s expression darkened as her words sank in. He reached for a cigarette without responding.
Lilliana glared at him and grunted, “Are you serious? I’m pregnant. You can’t smoke in here!”
Joshua acted as though he didn’t hear her and lit the cigarette.
Because of that, Lilliana angrily reached out to snatch it away.
Joshua turned to her and growled, “Shut the hell up!”
Lilliana froze, shocked by his sharp tone. Her anger flared as tears filled her eyes. “Joshua, you rascal! How dare you talk to me like that?”
Suddenly, she gasped in pain, a sharp discomfort shooting through her abdomen as her emotions overwhelmed her. Her face drained of color.
“Joshua… the baby…”
Joshua stopped dead in his tracks. Realizing what had happened, he quickly composed himself. Without another word, he rushed her to the hospital.
In the other car, silence hung in the air.
After the kiss, Alicia felt awkward, unsure of where to look. She grabbed her phone and quickly transferred money to Caden. “We didn’t accomplish what we set out to do, but thanks for playing along. I’ll pay you the standard rate for your time.”
Caden leaned back in his seat, glancing at her. “The standard rate, huh? Are you that familiar with this kind of thing?”
Alicia dodged the question. “Just take the money. No need for any unnecessary politeness.”
Caden looked down at the amount-one hundred dollars.
How generous of her.
For someone worth billions, being paid a hundred for his time felt ridiculous. Yet, he accepted the money.
“Don’t forget to call me the next time you need something like this,” he remarked.
This time, Alicia was left speechless.
Caden’s gaze remained fixed on her. “Did you and Joshua avoid kissing when you were together?”
Alicia felt the sting of his question but kept her expression steady. “We kissed every day. Three times a day, without missing a beat.”
Caden let out a chuckle. “Really? Because your technique is terrible.”
Alicia remained calm, though his comment stung. “We’ve been fighting a lot, and we haven’t kissed in a while. I’m just out of practice.”
“Is that so?” Caden laughed harder, clearly entertained.
Alicia held back her frustration, refusing to let his words bother her any further.
“We’re even. You’re not exactly an expert at kissing either.”
Caden didn’t argue with that remark.
Not long after, he received a call from Lilliana’s agent. The agent informed him that Lilliana had a minor issue at the hospital and would need a few days to recover.
Showing no concern, Caden replied, “For the delayed endorsements, follow the contract. Handle the compensation accordingly.”
The agent hesitated, clearly surprised by the lack of sympathy.
Dealing with ruthless businessmen meant no compassion could be expected from their end.
The sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of the aging apartment complex.
Alicia stepped out without a glance back, her heels clicking softly on the pavement as she walked away. Inside the car, Hank watched her retreating figure.
With a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, he broke the silence. “Mr. Ward, you like Miss Bennett, don’t you?”
Caden’s face remained impassive, his expression as unreadable as ever.
“Have you been drinking? What’s with the bullshit?”
Hank cleared his throat awkwardly, sensing a shift in the atmosphere. “But, if you didn’t like her, then why did you kiss her?”
A slight crease formed between Caden’s brows as he turned his head just enough to catch Hank’s eye in the rearview mirror. “If the moment calls for it, I could kiss anyone-even you.”
Hank blinked, thrown completely off guard. “Huh?”
Caden, uninterested in Hank’s confusion, shifted his gaze toward the worn building before them.
The place was old-not exactly dilapidated, but far from comfortable, with peeling paint and windows that had seen better days. Compared to Joshua’s luxurious villa, it was a stark contrast-a far cry from the life Alicia had once known. She had clearly left with nothing but her pride, and this apartment was the bitter reminder.
Typical Joshua. He never left anything behind for those he discarded.
Leaning back in his seat, Caden’s fingers drummed rhythmically on the armrest, his expression cold and detached. “Let’s go.”
At the hospital, Lilliana lay in bed, rigid with worry.
Her hands rested protectively over her small belly, her breath shallow as she barely dared to move. Her fear for the baby consumed her every thought.
Joshua hovered over her, dutiful and attentive. He catered to her every whim, making sure the press couldn’t get a whiff of where they were. Every detail was handled with precision-he couldn’t afford to let a single photograph leak to the media.
By the time evening rolled in, exhaustion settled over him like a heavy weight. He exhaled slowly, finally finding a moment of peace, though it was far from restful. Lilliana, her earlier anger now softened by his efforts, still refused to meet his gaze.
The tension between them lingered, stubborn as ever, until Joshua began his gentle coaxing. Slowly, she relented, letting him hold her, though a shadow of warning still lingered in her eyes.
“If you ever yell at me like that again,” she murmured, her voice low but firm, “I’m leaving you.”
Joshua fell silent, his gaze contemplative.
A soft chime from his phone broke the silence.
Joshua shifted in his seat, avoiding Lilliana’s curious gaze as he checked the message.
“Mr. Yates, Mr. Ward dropped Mrs. Yates off at the apartment complex and left shortly after. We’ve kept a close watch all night, and no one else has entered Mrs. Yates’ home.”
Without a word, Joshua deleted the message, his expression unreadable.
When Lilliana was finally discharged from the hospital, the first thing she heard was news about the competition for the theme song.
“Alicia?” she muttered, her brows furrowing in disbelief. Had she heard correctly? A scornful smirk tugged at her lips. “She wants to compete with me?”
Gerry, with an amused grin, nodded. “Yes, that’s right. Alicia, Joshua’s wife.”
Lilliana’s expression stiffened, her nails digging into her palm as she gritted her teeth. “They’re already divorced.”
“Is that so?” Gerry arched an eyebrow innocently. “I hadn’t heard. I thought they were still keeping their marriage under wraps.”
The comment prickled at Lilliana’s nerves, making her wonder if Gerry harbored some unspoken grudge against her. But she quickly brushed the thought aside, deciding it was just her overactive imagination.
“I don’t care if Alicia’s competing against me,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Rest assured, Mr. Hopkins. I won’t disappoint you.”
Gerry couldn’t help but burst into laughter, his howls filling the entire room.
“Oh, I’m betting on Alicia,” he said, his voice casual yet cutting.
Lilliana’s smile faltered, a chill spreading through her veins.
“But don’t take it too hard,” he added with a chuckle. “Caden’s rooting for you. I’m just in it for the thrill of the challenge.”
Internally, Lilliana scoffed at Gerry’s apparent lack of taste. Alicia? Really?