Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Caden’s gaze lingered, his eyes dark and unapologetic. His voice was low, almost teasing as he spoke, “Why bother covering up? I’ve already seen it all.” The words stunned her into silence.
Even with the subtle tension crackling between them, she knew he wouldn’t dare make a move-at least, not here.
When he stood, his towering form cast a shadow over her. With a lazy smirk, he said, “Go ahead and wash yourself up.”
Alicia hurried through the bath. Less than twenty minutes later, she limped out, her skin flushed and damp. Caden was waiting, lounging in a chair draped in nothing but a dark robe. In his hand, he held a small bottle of ointment.
Earlier, he had taken a moment to check her injured knee. Thankfully, the bruise wasn’t serious. The ointment would be enough to soothe it.
Without hesitation, Alicia accepted the bottle. She poured a bit of the cool liquid into her palm before gently rubbing it into the sore spot.
Outside, the weather had taken a turn for the worse, rain drumming steadily against the windows. Yet inside, the room glowed with the soft amber light of the lamps. Despite the brooding atmosphere, the warmth of Caden’s presence unexpectedly made her feel safe, as if he could keep the darkness at bay.
He didn’t speak, his attention fixed on the brewing storm outside. His expression was distant, unreadable. Minutes ticked by, the silence between them growing heavy.
Suddenly, a flash of lightning slashed across the sky, followed by deafening thunder. Startled, Alicia’s gaze flew to Caden.
It was only then that she noticed the slight tremor in his tightly clenched fists. Her breath caught in her throat.
For all his usual composure and arrogance, Alicia would never have guessed that the domineering Caden could be rattled by something as ordinary as a thunderstorm. Normally, she might have teased him for it, but tonight, with the storm crashing around them, she bit back the words.
Because she, too, was afraid of thunder.
It was a fear she had carried since the night her parents died. Every crack of lightning and gust of wind seemed to mock her, taunting her loneliness. Wrapped tightly in blankets, she had spent countless nights staring into the blackness, hoping for some comfort that never came. No one had been there to whisper, “Don’t be afraid.” So, she’d seal her eyes shut, willing herself to endure until the light of dawn.
As another flash of lightning sliced through the dark sky, Alicia called out, “Caden.”
He slowly turned his head toward her. His eyes carried a deep, chilling coldness, almost impenetrable. But in a heartbeat, that icy exterior softened, settling into a calm and composed demeanor. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice a low, magnetic rumble.
She watched as his hands gradually relaxed, his clenched fists loosening.
“You were doing so well abroad,” she began, her curiosity getting the better of her. “Why did you come back?”
Caden’s response was nonchalant, almost dismissive. “For the inheritance.”
Alicia’s brow arched slightly. “But you don’t seem to be fighting for it.” Such an obvious thing hadn’t escaped her notice.
The dark glint in Caden’s eyes dissipated, replaced by a wanton smile.
“Why the sudden interest?” he asked, his tone dripping with playful suspicion. “Are you gathering intel for Joshua, or are you planning to team up with me against him?”
Alicia’s lips curved into a small, amused smile. “Just asking,” she replied casually, but her true motive lingered beneath the surface. She only wanted to divert his attention, keep him occupied, and shield him from the storm raging outside.
“I could ask you the same question.”
Not one to let things go easily, Caden pressed, “What’re you doing here with the Yates family?”
She brushed off his question with a shrug. “I don’t want to struggle anymore. I’m here to enjoy life under Joshua’s protection.”
Caden’s grin widened, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “What if I beat him? The Yates family will be mine… and so will you?”
Alicia’s mouth twitched.
He was being roguish again, and for a moment, Alicia allowed herself to forget the scared child she had seen in him just moments before. She quickly pushed aside the fleeting sympathy and capped the ointment bottle in her hands, setting it aside with a soft thud.
“I’m leaving,” she announced, her voice firm.
She moved toward the door, pausing briefly to check the hallway. Satisfied that no one was nearby, she hobbled out, leaning against the wall for support.
But as she rounded the corner, her heart leapt into her throat.
Standing directly in her path was Shelia, her insincere smile as sharp as the daggers her eyes threw at Alicia. Shelia had clearly been waiting there for a while.
“Alicia,” she purred, her voice dripping with false concern. “What were you doing alone in a room with Caden for so long?”
Shelia hadn’t initially noticed Alicia slipping into the guest room. It wasn’t until Caden went downstairs to get medicine for her bruises that Shelia grew suspicious. She stepped out of the master bedroom and saw Caden passing by with the medicine. It puzzled her-Caden wasn’t injured, so why would he need medicine? Then it clicked. She remembered Alicia limping earlier when she returned.
It seemed Alicia had hurt her knee.
Alicia and Caden were known for their mutual dislike. Why were they suddenly so close?
Intimidated by Caden, Shelia didn’t dare knock on the door or try to eavesdrop. Instead, she waited, hoping to catch them in the act.
Soon enough, Alicia appeared.
“Cat got your tongue?” Shelia snapped. “I asked you, what were you and Caden up to?”
Alicia visibly relaxed, her back no longer tense. “Nothing serious. I just wanted to take a shower and accidentally walked into the wrong room.”
Shelia’s lips curled into a sneer. “So, out of all the guest rooms, you just happen to stumble into his? You’re unbelievable, Alicia. First one brother, and now the other? Your ambitions know no bounds.”
Alicia’s expression turned icy. “I wish I had that kind of talent.”
Shelia scoffed. “Oh, I think you’re talented enough. You want to play the seductress? Fine. But keep Joshua out of it. If you break things off with him for good, I’ll pretend today never happened. If not, once Joshua returns, I’ll make sure he sees who you really are.”
Leaning against the wall, Alicia raised her bruised knee and sighed. “And what exactly have I done?”
“You know perfectly well,” Shelia hissed.
“No evidence, no confession,” Alicia replied calmly.
Shelia’s expression faltered, her voice growing sharper. “How shameless can you be, Alicia? You couldn’t hold onto Joshua when you were married, and now that he’s done with you, you’re still chasing after him?”
At that moment, Caden approached from behind.
“What are you two arguing about?” he asked.
Shelia’s face immediately shifted.
Alicia turned her gaze toward Caden, who was holding a bag in his hand.
“You left your clothes behind,” he said, passing the bag to her.
Alicia froze, caught off guard by the timing. Could this get any worse?
Shelia observed the exchange with a sharp eye, misinterpreting the interaction. Realizing she had no choice but to play along, Alicia accepted the bag with a forced smile. “Thanks, Caden,” she murmured, carefully hobbling forward and using the wall for support.
Shelia quickly intervened. “Caden, Alicia and Joshua are divorced. She’s no longer part of this family.”
Caden began walking as well, keeping a comfortable distance from Alicia.
“Hmm.” Casually, he asked, “By the way, how far along is Joshua’s fianc?e?”
Shelia answered tersely, “Almost three months now.”
Caden raised an eyebrow. “Three months? Funny, I recall Alicia and Joshua were still married back then. Impressive that Joshua managed to have an affair with the Green family heiress.”
Shelia was rendered speechless and finally realized that Caden was deliberately provoking her. Her expression shifted, and a wave of awkwardness washed over her. She knew Joshua had crossed a line, giving Caden the perfect opportunity to twist the knife.
With a faint smile, Caden added, “Miss Green is lucky to be marrying into the family. When it comes to being a mistress, you, as the future mother-in-law, are the expert. Joshua’s little family should run smoothly under your guidance.”
Shelia’s face drained of color, her anger barely contained, but she didn’t dare retaliate. She bit back her fury, watching as Caden descended the stairs, completely unfazed.
Exhausted from the encounter, Alicia retreated to her room for a nap. When she woke, one of her nostrils was stuffy, and her head felt heavy. Assuming she was catching a cold, she went downstairs to get some water.
As she stepped out and glanced over the railing, she saw Jerald seated in the living room, Shelia at his side, and Caden sitting across from them. The tension in the room was palpable. Alicia’s curiosity piqued as she quietly made her way along the wall, listening.
Snippets of their conversation reached her ears.
“You’ve been gone for so long, and now you only bother answering one out of every three questions. What kind of disrespect is this?” Jerald’s voice was frail but resolute. Caden, sitting with his legs crossed, exuded an air of superiority well beyond his years, likely a result of his Ward family lineage. His presence easily overshadowed Jerald’s.
With a shrug, Caden replied, “It’s been so long, what’s left for us to talk about?”
Jerald snapped, “If that’s the case, why are you even here?”
Caden smirked. “Joshua said you were on death’s door. I thought I’d come to say goodbye.”
Jerald’s face flushed with anger. “What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Just repeating what your youngest told me,” Caden replied nonchalantly.
Shelia immediately gripped Jerald’s arm, her voice trembling. “Caden, stop. Please, say less.”
Caden shrugged, showing no sign of remorse. “If I don’t say enough, I’m blamed. If I say too much, I’m blamed. It’s exhausting.”
Alicia stifled a laugh. Caden’s arrogance was both infuriating and oddly amusing.
Jerald’s chest heaved with fury. “You rascal! Don’t expect to see a penny of my inheritance.”
Caden merely snorted in response, unimpressed.
Panicking, Shelia rushed to grab the medicine, frantically shaking out several pills.
Caden watched with a bored expression. “Careful with those. They’re not easy to get. Once you’ve used them up, they’re gone.”
Jerald, focused on survival, snatched the pills and swallowed them immediately, glaring at his son. “Did I spend your money?”
Caden smirked, clearly entertained by the situation.
Shelia, aware of how rare and difficult it was to obtain that medicine, shot Caden a cold look. “He’s still your father, Caden. Is it really too much to ask you to help him with some medicine? Must you be so petty about it?”
Caden scoffed. “Then just take the whole bottle.”