Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Shelia was left speechless. She was accustomed to Caden’s bluntness, but this level of directness still caught her off guard.
With a pat on Jerald’s chest, she feigned kindness. “Let it go, Jerald. There’s no point in arguing with the younger generation.”
Whether it was the effect of the medicine or Shelia’s attempt to comfort him, Jerald, though pale, said nothing further. He had long accepted that Caden’s personality wasn’t one to contend with. Arguing wouldn’t solve anything, and Jerald knew he couldn’t risk worsening his health.
He brushed off Shelia’s hand. “Where’s Joshua? Why isn’t he here yet?”
Shelia smiled. “Joshua’s always busy, staying late at work until eleven or twelve most nights. But I made sure to tell him we’re having dinner tonight, so he should be back by eight.”
She wanted Jerald to see how hard Joshua worked.
Just then, Jerald’s eyes landed on Alicia. He blinked, disoriented by his illness. “Is that Alicia?”
Alicia slowly approached, her hands folded in front of her. She responded softly, “Yes, Jerald.”
Jerald frowned. “Why are you acting so distant?”
Shelia eagerly chimed in. “Alicia and Joshua are divorced. Joshua’s now engaged to Lilliana, the Green family’s daughter. She’s three months pregnant.”
Jerald, hearing the name “Green,” showed little reaction. “I don’t meddle in young folks’ affairs. But why is Alicia still staying here after the divorce?”
Alicia kept her head lowered, silent.
Shelia chuckled. “Joshua feels sorry for her. He lets her stay here to look after you. And, of course, she’s paid monthly for it.”
Caden let out a quiet laugh at that.
Alicia remained expressionless.
Jerald waved it off, disinterested. “Let her be.”
Without another word, Alicia retreated to the tea room. She mixed a packet of cold medicine with water, hoping for some relief from her growing illness.
As she stirred, Georgia’s voice suddenly sounded behind her. “Ms. Bennett, are you feeling unwell?”
Alicia glanced back at her, her tone distant. “It’s nothing.” With that, she downed the medicine in one gulp.
Georgia, always careful to maintain a pleasant facade, especially now that Jerald was awake, couldn’t afford to slip up. “You were out in the rain for so long today. You’re bound to catch a cold. Let me make you some ginger tea to warm you up.”
Alicia wasn’t convinced. There was no way Georgia had suddenly turned kind-hearted.
“Then make enough for everyone,” Alicia replied flatly. “Shelia and Caden were in the rain too. They could use some tea.”
Without a word or any sign of emotion, Georgia turned on her heel and left.
When the tea was ready, bowls were placed in front of each person. Shelia didn’t touch hers, claiming she avoided anything spicy at night. Caden was even more dismissive, not bothering to look at his.
Alicia stared at her own bowl. The ginger tea, sweetened with brown sugar, had a comforting aroma. But something felt off. Her mind raced.
What could be in this? Poison? Mosquitoes? Laxatives?
Shelia interrupted her thoughts. “Why aren’t you drinking it? Georgia made it with good intentions. Don’t waste it.”
Alicia hesitated, the bowl warm in her hands.
At that moment, footsteps echoed from outside. The door swung open, bringing with it a cold, damp gust of wind.
Joshua had returned earlier than expected.
Alicia’s gaze flickered. Though wet from the rain, Joshua didn’t seem to mind.
As he entered, he greeted his father respectfully. “Dad, how are you feeling?”
Jerald responded with a casual grunt.
Alicia stood and asked, “Why did you get caught in the rain?”
Joshua, never suspecting anything, answered as he always did.
“I had to meet a client before coming home,” Joshua explained, wiping rain from his coat. “The car was parked a bit farther from the entrance, so I got wet walking those few steps.”
Alicia saw an opening. “Perfect timing. Georgia made ginger tea. You should have some to ward off a cold.”
Georgia’s face stiffened slightly. She opened her mouth to protest, but Alicia turned, catching her eye and silencing her with a sharp look.
Without hesitation, Alicia passed her bowl to Joshua.
Shelia quickly interjected, “It’s just a bit of rain, Alicia. No need to make a fuss. You’re the one who’s sick, and Georgia made the tea especially for you.”
With that, Shelia moved toward the kitchen, calling for the staff to serve the meal. Joshua ignored Shelia’s remark, glancing briefly at Caden before resting his arm casually over Alicia’s shoulders.
“Caught a cold?” Joshua asked softly.
Alicia forced a smile. “It’s nothing serious. Do you want to try the ginger tea?”
“I’ll drink it,” Joshua insisted. “You take a sip first, then I’ll finish the rest.”
Alicia blinked, caught off guard. His behavior was odd.
Pursing her lips, she rationalized that if there was anything wrong with the tea, it couldn’t be too harmful. After all, Georgia wasn’t panicking, and she would have if something were wrong.
Alicia took a small sip.
As she shifted the bowl, she heard a faint sound coming from the liquid. She paused, a suspicious thought crossing her mind. Joshua then took the bowl from her, drinking from the exact spot where her lips had touched.
A wave of nausea hit Alicia.
Her eyes darted away, only to lock with Caden’s intense gaze.
Caden’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Joshua drink, his lips curling into a twisted smile.
Alicia froze for a moment before the sound of Joshua spitting the tea out snapped her focus.
With a look of disgust, Joshua exclaimed, “What is this garbage?”
As Joshua spoke, he staggered back, spitting a mouthful of blood into the trash can. Among the blood, a small shard of glass was visible. His expression darkened as he tilted the bowl in his hand, revealing more shards settled at the bottom.
“What the hell is this?” Joshua’s voice rang out, firm and filled with anger.
The room erupted into chaos.
Shelia rushed to his side, her voice laced with worry. “You’re bleeding! How did this happen? Let me see where you’re hurt!”
Joshua’s face twisted in fury as his glare shifted toward Georgia, who stood looking more than a little guilty. “Care to explain why there are glass shards in the soup?”
Georgia, as sly as ever, feigned innocence. “Glass shards? How could that even happen?”
Alicia, seizing the opportunity, played along. She took a shaky step back, pretending her legs were weak from the shock. “If Joshua had swallowed- his throat would have been shredded!” She gasped, grabbing his arm with a look of genuine concern. “Did you swallow any? Are you alright?”
Joshua’s tense expression softened slightly. “No.” Shelia exhaled in relief, but her eyes shot daggers at Georgia.
“Useless,” Shelia thought. “Georgia can’t do anything right.”
Stepping in to smooth things over, Shelia added, “Georgia probably wasn’t paying attention. Maybe something broke and fell into the soup without her noticing.”
Georgia quickly seized on that excuse. “I’m sorry, Mr. Yates. I didn’t mean to. Ms. Bennett pushed me earlier, and I felt dizzy…”
Joshua slammed the bowl down with a loud thud. “You’ve been working here for years!” he snapped angrily. “How could you make such a stupid mistake?”
Georgia, knowing how to manipulate the situation, knelt down, tears brimming in her eyes. “Mr. Yates, I truly didn’t mean to.”
Her kneeling, being an older woman, looked pitiable, and refusing to forgive her might make anyone seem heartless. But Joshua wasn’t easily swayed by such gestures. With Shelia present, he turned coldly to his mother. “Mom, she’s your responsibility.”
Turning to Alicia, Joshua pulled her close, his expression filled with concern as he checked her mouth. “Are you alright? Did you get hurt?”
Alicia shook her head. “I only took a small sip.”
She played the role of the caring, composed woman effortlessly.
Shelia’s expression darkened, but she couldn’t intervene or separate them.
Still kneeling, Georgia suddenly broke the silence. “Ms. Bennett, did you do it on purpose?”
The room fell silent once again, the tension palpable. Alicia, genuinely surprised, asked, “Georgia, why would you say that?”
Tears streaked down Georgia’s face as she sobbed. “You don’t like me. You pushed me into the pond earlier today, and even then, you weren’t satisfied. So, you secretly added glass shards to the soup to frame me.”
Alicia stood there, speechless. If she could, she would have applauded Georgia’s performance. What a talented actress!
Georgia wiped her face dramatically. “I know I’m not likable, but if you have a problem with me, why not come at me directly? Why give the soup to Mr. Yates? What if something had happened to him?”
Shelia, seizing the moment, jumped in. “That’s why you refused to drink it, Alicia! You were waiting for Joshua to come back so you could hurt him!”
Alicia, her eyes now red, responded calmly, “But it was Georgia who brought the soup.”
“Maybe you hid the glass shards beforehand and threw them in when no one was looking!” Georgia quickly added, fueling the accusation.
Alicia pressed her lips together, her gaze fixed on Joshua. Her eyes filled with tears. “Do you think it was me too?” She tried to make the tears flow, hoping to make her plea more convincing. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t summon the emotions.
Desperate, she resorted to physical pain. Alicia pinched her arm harshly behind her back. The sharp pain worked, causing her to burst into real tears, even letting out a soft sob.
Joshua had never seen her cry like this before. His heart softened instantly, and he pulled her into his arms. “I believe you. I’ll take care of this.”