Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
When Alicia cried, she did it silently. No sound came from her lips. Caden only realized it when he felt her tears fall onto his hand and saw her eyes and nose turn red. Feeling embarrassed, she quickly covered his eyes with her hand. “Don’t look at me,” she whispered.
Caden’s jawline was sharp and well-defined, carrying an air of sensuality.
He smiled at her. “How much grapefruit did you eat tonight? You taste just like it.”
Alicia clenched her teeth, clearly frustrated.
She wished she could block out his voice, if only for a moment.
Caden leaned in and kissed her earlobe gently. “You have a talent for picking fruit. It’s always plump and fresh, just like you.”
He paused for a moment before adding, “And it’s very juicy as well. Do you want to take a whiff? It smells just like grapefruit.”
Alicia never imagined that Caden could be this flirtatious, especially in a moment like this.
Alicia felt irritated by his words, and even more so by how quickly she grasped his meaning. She wished she could vanish, or even dig a hole in the sofa and hide herself away.
Thankfully, the uncomfortable moment didn’t last long. Now, it was her chance to take control of the situation.
The lights in the living room had been turned off, making her feel slightly less self-conscious. Determined not to be the only one benefiting, she decided to give something in return. She put genuine effort into pleasing him, her hand moving with deliberate intent.
She found herself glancing at him occasionally. Though the darkness obscured his features, she could still make out the basic outline of his face.
After several glances, she noticed his restlessness.
He spoke up, sounding a little frustrated. “I can’t read your mind just by looking at your eyes. If you want something, say it out loud.”
Alicia’s wrist started to ache, and her movements slowed down. She took a breath before asking, “Did you throw away the condoms I bought last time?”
Caden shook his head. “No.”
“Then are you planning to use one, or…”
Caden already knew what Alicia was about to suggest. He cut her off with a question. “Is your head fully healed? I don’t want to end up calling an ambulance later.”
Alicia was at a loss for words.
The room suddenly fell into an awkward silence.
Caden could sense what she wanted, but she seemed hesitant. He took her delicate fingers in his, guiding them. He met her eyes and spoke directly. “When you’re healed, we can take our time.”
He placed his other hand firmly on her abdomen, his finger gently resting on her navel.
He paused, then said, “Here. Think about it. Do you think it can reach this far?”
Alicia’s heart skipped a beat. She felt an intense pressure building inside her.
Before she could catch her breath, Caden pulled her closer and kissed her.
His kiss was aggressive, leaving her no room to react.
She winced at the sudden bite on her lip. She tried to pull away, but her strength wasn’t enough. Her resistance only seemed to make it look like she was teasing him, which led to an even fiercer response from Caden.
She felt her body shiver uncontrollably as she tried to keep up with his intensity.
Alicia couldn’t find the right words to describe just how intense Caden could be when it came to sex. She realized that if they actually ended up going further and she couldn’t handle it, there would be no way for her to escape. He would pull her back without hesitation.
A sense of fear washed over her, and regret began to settle in.
Caden seemed to notice her hesitation. He could feel her starting to pull her hand away. His voice came out husky as he asked, “What’s the matter?”
Alicia wanted to get out of this situation. She lied, hoping it would work. “I… have a headache.”
“You seemed just fine when I was focusing on you,” he said bluntly. Caden didn’t believe her for a second. He stared at her and added, “Whatever happens, you’ll stop only after I’m done.”
Alicia didn’t know how to respond.
Once Caden was done, he picked Alicia up and carried her to the bathroom to clean up. They hadn’t gone all the way, but both of them were exhausted, their bodies drenched in sweat.
Alicia soaked in the bathtub while Caden took a shower on the other side of the transparent glass partition. The distance between them was small, with just the thin partition separating them.
Caden turned off the water and began applying soap to his skin.
Alicia rested her head against the edge of the tub and spoke clearly. “Actually, the reason I came today was to talk about our collaboration.”
Caden responded, “I know.”
Alicia looked at him, speaking seriously. “We need to sign a contract.”
Caden listened attentively, maintaining his usual composed demeanor. “What do you want to include?” he asked.
Alicia tapped her fingers along the glass, tracing random shapes as she spoke. “For our collaboration, we need to have aligned goals. If one of us needs support, the other should provide it without hesitation, as long as it’s reasonable. There must be no tricks or deceit, and we must avoid any potential for blackmail.”
Caden paused briefly and asked, “What kind of needs are you talking about?”
Alicia answered directly, “To handle Joshua, of course.”
“I see.” He gave her a simple nod. “That works for me.”
Alicia continued, “The entire arrangement must stay confidential. No one else should find out.”
“Understood,” Caden stated.
Alicia kept drawing larger patterns on the glass. As her lines grew larger, her eyes caught sight of something unexpected.
She blushed and quickly looked away.
“As for compensation, just let me know what you think, and I’ll offer what I can.”
Caden raised an eyebrow. “Why would I need compensation from you?”
She hesitated for a moment. “The arrangement isn’t equal. You’ll probably end up contributing more, so I can only try to compensate you financially.”
Caden didn’t respond right away. He rinsed the soap off his body and put on a robe.
Without warning, he opened the glass door.
Alicia was caught off guard by the sudden movement. She instinctively slid deeper into the water, allowing the bubbles to hide her chest.
Caden’s eyes fell on the bite mark along her collarbone. “I don’t need any compensation.”
Alicia understood that Caden wasn’t lacking money, but she still felt guilty. “You’re already at a disadvantage in this partnership. And, well, whenever we’re in the mood… it’s always you putting in all the effort. What if you get tired of it and start complaining?”
Caden was momentarily at a loss for words.
After a brief hesitation, he asked, “Do you actually think I’m at a disadvantage when we’re intimate?”
“What else could it be?” she replied.
He wiped some of the water from his hair, seemingly in thought.
Suddenly, curiosity struck him. “Have you ever read those romance novels about domineering CEOs?”
Alicia shook her head in response.
The sudden movement made her feel light-headed, and she quickly cupped her face to steady herself.
“Those books are for teenagers. I was too busy with my studies to read them,” she said.
She looked at Caden curiously. “Have you read them?”
Caden avoided answering directly. “You should try reading one sometime. It might help you see that it’s okay for women to rely on men a bit more. Life doesn’t always need to be so stressful.”
He knew she had been struggling financially.
And now, despite all that, she was trying to offer him compensation.
Caden stepped out of the bathroom, leaving her alone. Alicia climbed out of the tub, rinsed away the bubbles, and got dressed.
They had discussed the terms of the contract, which outlined their collaboration for the next year.
Caden, however, made some adjustments to the final clause. He added, “During the collaboration, Party A may make any request, and Party B must comply without hesitation. In personal matters, Party B has the right to seek intimacy from Party A at any time, and Party A cannot refuse except under special circumstances.”
Alicia frowned and asked, “Isn’t this just a sex trade?”
Caden took a sip of water. “Of course. Considering how much you seem to want my body, it fits. Earlier on the sofa, when you-“
Alicia couldn’t respond to Caden’s comment. He had really no need to bring up those details.
The terms were clearly in her favor, and Caden didn’t seem to mind, so Alicia decided there was no reason to hesitate.
She picked up the pen and signed her name.
Caden spoke again. “Our private relationship must stay a secret.”
Alicia paused, sensing that something was off. Even so, she nodded and said, “I understand.”
This arrangement wasn’t a typical relationship. If anyone found out, it could have consequences for him in the future.
Alicia wasn’t planning on making anything public anyway.
With everything settled, she began preparing to return to the hospital.