Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
She snatched them up and scrutinized them intently. But despite her thorough examination, she found nothing amiss.
Curious, she asked, “What did they do to the dice?”
Caden kept his expression neutral. “I’m not certain. You’ll have to consult Mr. Gray.”
Rachel looked at the dice. Unless caught outright, she wouldn’t concede anything. “They’re just standard dice. What’s the issue?”
Caden replied in a relaxed tone, “In that case, I suppose I’ll need to bring in some experts to take a closer look.” He paused before shifting his attention to the visibly rattled Mrs. Reyes. “I heard Mr. Reyes is out of town on a business trip. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure the media gets all the details and send him a special copy of today’s highlights.”
The mention of her husband sent a wave of fear through Mrs. Reyes. “Mr. Ward, please don’t…”
Rachel quickly realized that Caden was backing Alicia, leaving her feeling cornered.
With no other options, she reluctantly made a concession. “I just remembered that this card table had some prior issues that I neglected to address. My apologies, Ms. Bennett. I’ll have Mrs. Reyes reimburse all your losses. We are here to enjoy ourselves, after all. Let’s not let money spoil the fun.”
Alicia offered a faint smile. Even now, they were trying to hold her responsible for the turmoil.
“Mrs. Gray,” Alicia replied, “since you’re being so generous, why don’t you refund the money I lost to Mrs. Reyes earlier?”
Now, it was Rachel’s turn to blanch.
Mrs. Reyes, relieved that she was no longer in the hot seat, quickly chimed in, “Mrs. Gray, we’ve been at this for ages, and you only remembered this now? It’s clearly your mistake!”
Rachel blinked in shock, momentarily stunned. She hadn’t expected Mrs. Reyes to turn on her so quickly. Mrs. Reyes’s smile was cold and knowing. In her eyes, Rachel was nothing more than an acquaintance-certainly not a friend. And when millions of dollars were at stake, loyalties shifted easily.
Rachel’s heart sank, a heavy weight settling in her chest. The entire scheme had been her idea, but now she was staring down the consequences, and it stung. But to lose millions of dollars? That was a sum she couldn’t easily dismiss.
Randolph had always been miserly, and most of the funds in her account had been painstakingly earned by herself. The thought of parting with that kind of money made her stomach churn.
Mrs. Reyes had powerful connections, and Rachel knew she couldn’t afford to fall out with her. That left only one person-Alicia.
Rachel took the path of least resistance. She forced a small, tight-lipped smile. “Ms. Bennett, everyone makes mistakes. Don’t you think you’re being a little too harsh?”
Alicia’s eyes glittered with icy amusement. “What’s the problem? Can’t you afford it?” She paused, letting her words sink in before adding with pointed sharpness, “It’s fine. You can write up an IOU, and we’ll calculate the interest based on bank rates.”
Rachel’s smile faltered, her expression souring. “Ms. Bennett, must you really be so aggressive? Mr. Ward joined us and won quite a bit. It’s not like you’re suffering any losses.”
“That’s money he won. What does that have to do with me?” Alicia asked, tilting her head to the side in feigned confusion. She then turned her gaze to Caden and asked pointedly, “What makes you obligated to support me financially? Are you my son?”
Caden’s eyes narrowed, irritation barely masked. “Alicia, you’re so ungrateful,” he thought, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes. I’m here to help, and you’re turning this against me?
Sensing an opportunity, Rachel hurriedly said, “Alright, let’s drop it. Mrs. Reyes didn’t intend to single you out.”
Alicia scoffed, her patience thinning. “If Caden hadn’t stepped in and noticed, Mrs. Reyes would’ve kept me playing for hours. I was losing tens of thousands of dollars with each round. How much would I have lost after all that time? How is that not targeting?”
Rachel raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. “You could’ve conceded or simply walked away. No one forced you to stay in the game.”
Mrs. Reyes, never one to miss an opportunity for mockery, added with a sly grin, “Exactly. If you were losing so much, why didn’t you just leave?”
Alicia’s smile didn’t reach her eyes as she straightened. “Fine,” she said icily. “But don’t blame me for what comes next.”
She nudged Caden’s arm with a challenging gaze. “Call the police, Mr. Ward.”
Caden’s expression hardened, his voice dripping with disdain. “Why are you ordering me around? Do you really think I’m your son?”
Alicia’s lips pressed into a thin line, speechless for a moment. She shot him a glare, mentally cursing the man. So exasperating!
Rolling her eyes in frustration, Alicia pulled out her phone and dialed the police.
Seeing how serious Alicia was, Rachel jumped in, trying to defuse the situation. “Ms. Bennett, that’s enough!”
Caden, his expression dark, kicked a nearby chair. The chair skidded across the grass, blocking Rachel’s path.
Alicia, unbothered, let the call go through. “Hello? Is this the police?”
Rachel’s eyes widened, her thoughts racing. If this escalated, Randolph would have her head. With a heavy sigh of resignation, she muttered, “Alright, fine. I’ll pay!”
Alicia glanced up with a small, victorious smile, casually showing her phone screen. “Relax,” she said, her tone sweet and unhurried. “I didn’t actually call the police.”
Rachel was left dumbfounded, staring at her in disbelief. With a falsely innocent expression, Alicia added with a shrug, “I wouldn’t take it that far. It’s just a small amount of money after all.”
Rachel’s face hardened as she gritted her teeth. Now that she’d spoken up, she couldn’t exactly go back on her word.
Begrudgingly, she transferred half the amount, unable to cough up the full sum.
Rachel then turned to look at Mrs. Reyes meaningfully, signaling that she had to cover the other half.
Of course, Mrs. Reyes didn’t want to, but she couldn’t make a scene, so she reluctantly transferred the money to Alicia.
Alicia checked her account balance, her fingers tapping the screen unhurriedly. Every cent was there.
Caden, on the other hand, glowered silently when he saw her eyes light up with satisfaction. She’d been through so much, fought tooth and nail, and yet this small victory seemed enough to make her glow.
“You sure you counted it properly?” Caden’s voice cut through the moment, laced with icy disdain. “Perhaps there’s an extra two dollars in there somewhere?”
Alicia blinked, surprised by his sudden comment. She slipped her phone back into her bag, her brow furrowing slightly. Why was he asking her this out of nowhere?
“I’ve already checked it,” she replied, puzzled. “Everything’s accounted for. Why?”
Caden’s lips twisted into a cold smile. “For all the fuss you’ve made, how much did you really spend, and how much did you actually earn? Ms. Bennett, it seems your time comes quite cheap.”
Alicia’s eyes widened as his meaning sank in. Her moment of triumph suddenly felt hollow, a slight bitterness bubbling up in her chest.
Their gazes locked. He didn’t need to say more-she got the message.
In a silent exchange, Alicia’s eyes seemed to ask, Can I push them even further?
Caden’s gaze flickered with a subtle challenge, his eyes silently conveying, Up to you.
Alicia silently asked, Will you back me up?
He didn’t answer, merely tilted his head, resting it against his hand and rubbing his temple in that familiar, casual way. It wasn’t exactly a “Yes,” but she understood.
Before Mrs. Reyes could slip away, Alicia stopped her in her tracks.
Mrs. Reyes’s irritation flared. “What more do you want?”
Alicia’s lips curved slightly, but her words cut sharp. “You and Mrs. Gray ganged up on me. How do you plan on compensating for the emotional distress you’ve caused?”
Mrs. Reyes’s eyes widened, momentarily caught off guard. “Why, you-I-“
Alicia didn’t give her a chance to finish. Her voice was cool, almost bored. “Apologize to me.”
Caden, observing the scene, raised an eyebrow, glancing at Alicia with a mix of exasperation and disbelief. She’s hopeless, he thought, inwardly shaking his head.
Mrs. Reyes’s apology was stiff, her face tight with barely suppressed frustration, but she muttered the words before storming off.
Rachel followed closely behind. The two women whispered hurriedly as they scurried away.
Alicia exhaled, feeling a small surge of satisfaction. She dropped down beside Caden, letting out a sigh. “If you hadn’t shown up when you did, I might have been left with nothing.”
Caden sneered, his tone biting, “Weren’t you so tough just now, telling me we’d never cooperate again?” Alicia hesitated for a moment, caught off guard.
“You were late. I thought you weren’t coming.”
“And if I hadn’t shown up, would you have just let them walk all over you?” Caden leaned in slightly, his voice quieter but no less intense. “Why do you always come at me with so much fire when you can’t even fend for yourself?”
Alicia averted her gaze, her voice softening. “You’re different from them. I just wanted to push them a little. If I truly offended them… I’d be the one suffering.”
Caden let out a soft huff, shaking his head in disbelief. Different? How was he any different?
The thought drifted across his mind, but he quickly brushed it away. Without a word, he pulled out his phone and transferred the money he had won earlier into her account.
Alicia blinked in confusion. “Why are you giving me money?”
He didn’t look at her, only shrugged. “That money passed through your hands. It’s bad luck.”
This time, she was the speechless one.
Alicia curled her lips into a satisfied smile as she accepted the money. Her bank account had seen a noticeable boost, and she beamed with pleasure.
Caden observed her closely, his thoughts drifting. He remembered the extravagant lifestyle of the Bennett family, where even their dog sported a gold chain. Then she married Joshua. Now, she was thrilled over such a paltry sum.
Alicia’s mind raced back to a thought. “You had to have known Mrs. Reyes was cheating, didn’t you?”
Caden simply nodded.
Curiosity piqued, she asked, “So, how were you able to win?”
“I possess the skill to alter the cards.”
Alicia’s eyes widened in surprise. “You mean you can perform magic? Like turning a two into a three?”
Caden gave her a sidelong glance. “Are you really taking me at my word?”
Of course, he couldn’t change the cards. He had simply figured out how the women were cheating and calculated the odds, managing to win a few rounds by chance.
With a blank expression, he advised Alicia, “You should consider seeking some help.”
Alicia was left speechless, her frustration simmering beneath the surface. Clenching her jaw, she muttered a few curses under her breath and stormed off, clutching the hem of her dress.
Meanwhile, Rachel, eager to make things right, had gone to great lengths to prepare lunch, using only high-quality ingredients. Randolph returned, eager to share a drink with Caden.