Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Recognizing the peculiar connection between Caden and Alicia, he retracted his hand.
Alicia subtly tucked her burned hand away and climbed into the police car. Caden slid in after her.
She glanced at him, slightly bewildered. “Are you not heading back?”
He took a seat, his long legs nearly overwhelming the confined space.
“It’s far more entertaining to watch you squirm at the station,” he remarked.
Alicia sensed his mischievous intent.
She sank into her seat, falling silent.
A police officer offered Caden a bottle of water. “Thank you, Mr. Ward.”
Caden received it with an amiable smile. Then he remarked, “I hardly did anything.”
Alicia let out an exasperated sigh, shaking her head at him.
She let out a silent snort.
He was skilled at pretending to be humble.
The officer grinned and said, “Mr. Ward, that’s quite an understatement. You’ve contributed a significant amount over the years; it’s only fair we show our gratitude.”
Alicia was caught off guard.
He was involved in philanthropy?
She certainly hadn’t anticipated that.
Caden looked at her, clearly unwilling to provide any further explanation.
He twisted off the cap and offered her the bottle of water.
Alicia, still feeling the effects of the fight, was drenched in sweat.
She was definitely in need of hydration.
Taking the bottle, she regarded it with a hint of skepticism.
Caden reassured her, “You don’t need to worry. It’s perfectly safe.”
Alicia’s expression shifted to one of confusion. “I didn’t voice any concerns, yet you’re already confessing.” While she knew it was improbable that he would drug her, it struck her as strange how suddenly thoughtful he had become.
He handed her the water, having even twisted off the cap beforehand.
It felt just as unusual as that unexpected kiss from earlier.
She downed nearly half the bottle in one gulp before passing it back to him.
Caden effortlessly took a few sips himself.
Her expression shifted a bit. “I already drank from it.”
Caden’s face remained impassive. “Yeah, and?”
She was left speechless, her eyes silently questioning him, “Isn’t this basically like kissing?”
Caden arched an eyebrow, his eyes answering her unspoken question. “Have we not kissed before?”
Alicia felt her ears flush with heat as she turned her gaze away.
Caden couldn’t help but smile.
Once they reached the police station, the surveillance footage from the restaurant was retrieved.
It was clear that the incident had been instigated by those drunken troublemakers; they were at fault from the start.
Alicia only needed to provide a statement.
“But what about the defamation?” she inquired. “The false information circulating online has seeped into their minds, and people like them have significantly disrupted my life. Will they face any consequences?”
The officer replied, “If you’d like, we can initiate an investigation after documenting your complaint, but keep in mind that the process will take time. It would be advisable to gather the most concrete evidence and consider taking legal action against the instigators.”
Alicia nodded in agreement. “I appreciate it.”
The circumstances were already tangled, particularly with the Green family pulling strings behind the scenes. By the time the police reached a resolution, she could find herself overwhelmed by online harassment.
She let out a sigh, feeling a dull throb from her burn. Rolling up her sleeve, she noticed small blisters forming. The thought of enduring another hospital visit was the last thing she wanted.
Instead, she borrowed a first-aid kit from the station and began applying ointment and bandages.
Caden completed some paperwork and then walked over, observing her awkwardly struggling with the gauze in a corner.
He settled down beside her.
“You don’t need to handle everything on your own,” he said, taking a cotton ball and soaking it in iodine. “For example, you could ask me for assistance. I’m here to help.”
Alicia stayed quiet.
Caden’s touch was anything but gentle.
She gasped in pain as he applied the burn ointment. Afterward, he wrapped the gauze around her arm several times, securing it with a knot.
Alicia couldn’t quite understand it.
There was something unexpectedly heartwarming about the scene.
Without meeting her gaze, Caden organized the first-aid kit. “I noticed your record. It’s surprising that this is your first time getting into trouble.”
Considering her fiery disposition, it was truly remarkable. Alicia’s expression darkened.
Perhaps it was the lingering tension or the reality that he had witnessed her at her lowest too many times. Either way, she let her defenses slip, exposing a rare vulnerability. “I don’t have any family left. There’s no one who can help me if I get into trouble.”
She knew she couldn’t always depend on friends, and she certainly wouldn’t count on Joshua to come to her aid.
So, she figured it would be best to keep her behavior in check.
Caden hesitated for a moment.
“There will be many more incidents like tonight. Will you always choose to fight back?”
Alicia pressed her lips together, stating, “I need to collect evidence, take legal action against them, make them pay, and demand an apology.”
She hadn’t treated trouble with the seriousness it deserved before, but tonight had been an eye-opener. Lilliana and Joshua wouldn’t make things easy for her. Thus, she realized she needed to confront her fears head-on.
Caden scoffed, “Given your size, how do you intend to gather that evidence?”
Alicia was left momentarily speechless.
Caden, with a hidden agenda, suggested, “If you play your cards right, there’s someone who could assist you.”
Just then, footsteps echoed from the doorway.
Alicia glanced up to see Joshua entering.
His gaze darkened as he looked her way.
licia understood the implication in his eyes. An idea for self-preservation began to take shape in her mind, though it felt perilous.
She remained fixated on Joshua, lost in thought for what felt like an eternity.
Caden noticed her shift in attention.
He smiled and said, “I’ll give you two some privacy then.”
Alicia was caught off guard. She felt the urge to explain herself, but after considering it, she chose not to.
Why should she feel the need to justify herself to Caden? He could form whatever opinion he desired.
As Caden departed, Alicia felt a subtle chill wash over her.
It was a sensation she recognized well.
In the past, whenever they had argued and she had shot him a look of disdain, he would respond in kind.
He would regard her with contempt.
He harbored disdain for her perceived foolishness.
Moments later, Joshua approached her.
He was as arrogant as ever.
It had been some time since their last encounter, and he seemed to have developed an even greater air of superiority.
He looked down at her, as if he considered himself her savior.
Alicia felt a wave of revulsion. She quickly packed up the medical kit and handed it back to the officer.
Joshua said, “Alicia, allow me to take you home.”