Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Alicia wiped the remaining drink from her lips and casually remarked, “Now you can drink it. It’s completely bland, just like your taste.”
With that, Alicia exited with a graceful stride, leaving the room behind.
Caden let out a frustrated laugh, clearly exasperated. Once she was gone, Gerry wandered over and casually picked up a snack to nibble on. “What was going on between you and Alicia?”
“We had a little argument,” Caden replied flatly.
“You’ve got a lot of time on your hands,” Gerry remarked with a hint of amusement. He took a couple of bites from the dessert, its overwhelming sweetness catching him off guard, making him cough in discomfort.
Instead of getting his own drink, Gerry reached for the glass in Caden’s hand. “Let me have a sip of that.”
Caden pushed the glass out of reach with a frown. “Get your own drink.”
“Why can’t we share a drink? What’s the big deal?” asked Gerry.
“I’ve already drunk from it,” Caden said, shooting him a glare.
“I don’t mind,” Gerry remarked before making another attempt to grab it. “We’ve shared drinks since we were kids. Come on, I’ll grab you a new one after.”
Without another word, Caden downed the entire glass himself.
This left Gerry speechless. He then swallowed and asked, “What’s so special about that drink you’re guarding?”
As Caden recalled drinking the water Alicia had spat into, a wave of nausea hit him.
In all honesty, Caden wasn’t even thirsty. He just didn’t want Gerry to have the drink. What had been going through his mind?
Setting the glass down, he walked away without another word.
A server passed by, and Gerry casually requested a glass of water. As he looked down at the crystal-clear liquid, he felt confused. Why was this glass so clear, while the one Caden had was tinted pink?
Turning to the server, he asked, “Do you serve different types of plain water here?”
Seemingly puzzled, the server replied, “Sir, the only difference is the temperature, not the taste.”
“Is that so?” Gerry took a sip, then smacked his lips. There was nothing remarkable about the taste.
So why was Caden so protective of his drink?
Meanwhile, Alicia approached Rachel and greeted her. Rachel didn’t even acknowledge her. It seemed as though her mind was elsewhere.
Alicia followed Rachel’s gaze and noticed Randolph by the wine cabinet, selecting a bottle. A woman stood beside him. Although they weren’t standing too close, their body language suggested an undeniable closeness. Anyone could sense that something was happening between them.
Rachel quickly snapped out of her daze when she noticed Alicia. She avoided direct eye contact and asked, “Ms. Bennett, when did you arrive?”
“I just got here. You looked upset, so I thought I’d stay with you,” Alicia replied gently.
Rachel tried to smile but failed, casting a sorrowful glance at the pair again.
Noticing that Alicia had likely picked up on her unease, Rachel didn’t hold back. “She’s an old flame of Randolph’s. There’s nothing between them now, but they’ve stayed close. She often asks for his help. She came by today to have him choose wine for her elders, and they’ve been at it for quite a while.”
Alicia didn’t sugarcoat her response. “It doesn’t look like they’re just picking out wine.” Their body language told a different story. They laughed and talked easily.
The two of them seemed more like a couple.
Rachel’s jealousy simmered beneath the surface, but her pride kept her from causing a scene. All she could do was quietly endure.
When the woman finally selected her bottle, Randolph pulled out his card and paid without a second thought. That was the last straw for Rachel. Unable to hold back any longer, she walked over to them.
“Randolph.”
The place was upscale, and the drinks here were far from cheap. Randolph wasn’t the type to lend money to an old flame. Chances were, he was paying for her. By doing so, he would create a debt-a favor that she would eventually repay, keeping them in constant contact.
When Randolph noticed Rachel approaching, his expression immediately darkened. “What’s the problem?” he asked, his tone sharp. Rachel stepped forward, blocking the cashier from completing the transaction.
She spoke softly, “Have you made your choice?”
Clearly annoyed, Randolph responded, “Yes, I’m about to pay. Why are you interfering?” He signaled to the cashier to proceed with the transaction, and the woman smiled smugly.
Alicia observed the scene, but she didn’t want to get caught up in someone else’s relationship issues. So, she quickly scanned the room, deciding to move toward the back door.
Caden noticed her and followed her with his gaze, curious about what she was doing. He watched as she approached a group of waiters and whispered something to them. At first, they hesitated, shaking their heads, but then Alicia showed them something on her phone. Their faces lit up, and they nodded eagerly.
Caden smirked, intrigued by the turn of events.
Rachel, who was typically passive at home, never dared to go against Randolph. She lacked the courage to speak up about him spending money on his ex-girlfriend. Not wanting to appear uncomfortable, she forced a smile and asked, “Have you picked out the wine?”
Randolph, feeling her interruption was ill-timed, responded coldly, “If I hadn’t chosen one, why would I be paying?”
Rachel shot a glance at his ex-girlfriend, who returned a polite smile. On the surface, the woman appeared considerate, staying silent throughout the exchange. But only another woman would understand how cutting that smile really was.
Rachel wasn’t concerned about the money; she simply didn’t want to give the woman any leverage.
She wrapped her arm around Randolph’s. “Let’s hold off for a moment. I want a bottle too.”
Randolph frowned. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
“I just decided now,” she said, tightening her grip around his arm. “Can you help me choose, honey?”
Without much thought, Randolph grabbed a bottle. Rachel wanted to speak up but ultimately decided against it.
The woman, sensing her hesitation, seized the opportunity to provoke her further. She approached Randolph and suddenly said, “Wait a moment, Randolph.”
His expression softened as he turned to her. “What’s wrong? Did you see another wine you like?”
With a feigned look of concern, she replied, “Maybe we shouldn’t buy the wine. It’s too expensive.”
To a man like Randolph, comments like that felt insulting. “It’s not expensive at all,” he retorted.
“It’s tens of thousands of dollars,” she said thoughtfully. “I feel like Mrs. Gray cares about this. I’ll just buy it next time.”
Randolph immediately turned his attention to Rachel.
Caught off guard, Rachel stammered, “I don’t mind…” The second the words left her mouth, she immediately regretted them. This could’ve been her chance to express how she really felt.
The woman’s voice quivered as she spoke. “When Mrs. Gray came by, she stared straight at me. She didn’t say anything, but I knew exactly what she meant. Randolph, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have asked you to cover the bill. She must’ve misunderstood something between us.”
Randolph’s expression hardened as he turned to Rachel.
“Did you glare at her?”
Rachel looked up, sadness in her eyes. “No, I didn’t.”
“Then why would she make that up? Why would she lie for no reason?” His voice grew stern. “How many times do I have to explain myself? We’re just friends now. There’s nothing else happening. Why can’t you let go of this jealousy?”
He waved dramatically, moving to buy several more bottles for his ex-girlfriend and finalizing the purchase. Rachel no longer cared about the cost. All she wanted was to clear her name.
Without hesitation, she quickly approached the woman.
“I didn’t do anything. Why accuse me of something like that?”
The moment Rachel spoke, the woman’s expression shifted, and without warning, she cried out and collapsed to the ground.
Rachel froze, unable to move.
Randolph rushed over, shouting, “Did you shove her?”
Rachel’s face went pale, her words caught in her throat. “I didn’t…”
Her silence only fueled Randolph’s frustration. He knelt down and helped the woman to her feet.
Tears streamed down the woman’s cheeks. “Mrs. Gray, I already told Randolph he didn’t need to buy the wine. Why are you still treating me like this?”
Randolph’s anger flared. He felt humiliated by the scene Rachel had caused in front of everyone. His rage consumed him, and he raised his hand, ready to strike her.
Rachel instinctively raised her arms to protect herself.
Suddenly, a loud sound rang through the air.
Someone had been struck.
The room went silent, and all eyes turned toward the source of the sound.
Even Randolph stood there, momentarily confused. He had already stopped himself, his hand suspended in mid-air, deciding not to hit Rachel in front of everyone.
He hadn’t struck her.
So, where had the sound come from?
In the distance, a woman cried, her face hidden in her trembling hands.
Across from her stood a man and another woman, their presence casting long shadows.
The trio’s appearance was strikingly contrasting. The man, who had just lashed out, wore sharp blue, his cold demeanor as harsh as his actions. Beside him, the woman in pink clung to his arm, her posture a mix of timidity and determination. Meanwhile, the woman in white, who had been struck, clutched her bruised cheek, her tear-streaked face a mix of pain and disbelief. Through her choked sobs, she cried, “You hit me… for a homewrecker!”
The crowd gasped collectively, a ripple of shock spreading through the onlookers.
They hadn’t been paying attention until now, but the scene was impossible to ignore. Eyes widened, whispers surged, and the tension in the air grew thick.
Yet the trio seemed oblivious, lost in their heated exchange.
The man in blue, his face twisted with anger, barked, “So what if I hit you? Know your place!”