Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Hank argued, “If you start losing weight, Mrs. Ward will worry, and she’ll never stop bringing it up.”
Caden’s expression soured. He reluctantly took another bite.
Hank tried to lift Caden’s spirits on the drive back to the company by mentioning topics that usually piqued his interest. Caden remained silent.
Hank, feeling bold, peered out the window and ventured, “Hey… Ms. Bennett?”
Caden’s eyebrows twitched, prompting him to look up. Outside, only cars filled the view.
Alicia was nowhere to be seen.
Realizing the deception, Caden’s expression chilled. “Are you risking your job?”
Hank, with a knowing look, replied, “Mr. Ward, you’re preoccupied with Ms. Bennett.”
It seemed that finding Alicia was key to restoring Caden’s usual demeanor.
Hank understood what he needed to do next.
Realizing humor was futile, he concentrated on driving. Unexpectedly, as they stopped at a red light, Hank spotted Alicia crossing the street with Monica. They were deep in conversation, laughing together. Hank turned to Caden excitedly. “Mr. Ward, Ms. Bennett!”
Caden, still skeptical, didn’t even look up this time.
Undeterred, Hank shouted out the window, “Ms. Bennett!”
Caden remained quiet, his gaze barely flicking up. He only saw a fleeting view of Alicia’s back as she vanished into the crowd shortly after.
The street was too crowded for her to hear Hank’s calls.
As the light switched to green, Hank resumed driving. He sighed. “I shouldn’t have lied to you before.”
Caden considered Hank naive.
His frown deepened. “What does it matter if she sees me?”
Hank fell quiet. After driving a little further, he stopped the car.
Leaning out slightly, he said, “Ms. Bennett and her companion just entered a pharmacy. Do you think she’s hurt or ill?”
Caden recalled her spirited presence earlier that day. “She’s capable. I doubt a skirmish with ten could slow her down.”
“I still think it’s worth checking out. Don’t you agree, Mr. Ward?” Hank glanced at Caden, hoping for a response.
Caden kept his expression stoic. “If you’re so concerned, you should check yourself.”
“That was my plan, Mr. Ward,” Hank replied.
Caden remained silent, giving no further input. Hank then proceeded inside the pharmacy.
Inside, Alicia was selecting a medicine for bruises. Hank, ever the tactician, “accidentally” ran into her, then casually asked, “Ms. Bennett, have you injured yourself?”
Alicia replied courteously, “I twisted my ankle. But it’s nothing serious.”
Hank pressed on, “Does it hurt much?”
Monica, recognizing Hank as Caden’s assistant from previous encounters, noticed the gentler demeanor he displayed, which was in stark contrast to Caden’s usual coldness. She began to speak more freely, impressed by his kindness. “Alicia was lucky. It could have been worse for someone else.”
Hank, feeling uneasy, inquired further, “What exactly happened?”
Monica responded with frustration, “That scoundrel Joshua locked her in a room, and she had no choice but to escape through the window.”
Alicia quickly covered Monica’s mouth, her voice a hushed warning. “Not here, Monica.”
Hank’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t expected Joshua to be involved in the incident from the day before. Could this be related to Caden’s anger?
Monica fell silent, and Alicia turned to Hank. “Are you here to buy something?”
Hank, regaining his composure, nodded. “Yes, I need to pick up some digestive tablets for Mr. Ward. He overindulged this evening.”
The mention of Caden’s name visibly upset Alicia.
“He brought it upon himself,” she remarked sharply.
Hank found himself at a loss for words, unsure how to continue the conversation.
Hank silently promised himself he would pass along the details of the conversation to Caden, hoping it might lift his spirits. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they parted ways.
Alicia was the first to exit the building. As she stepped outside, Caden, who was parked by the roadside, noticed her. He turned his gaze to her as she walked, watching her through the car window. She was out of view, unaware of his presence. His eyes followed her every movement, studying her from head to toe.
Although she didn’t appear to have any visible injuries, her gait was noticeably off. She seemed to be favoring one foot, her steps hesitant, barely lifting one foot off the ground.
Caden couldn’t help but think sarcastically to himself, “Why didn’t she just hit her head? Maybe that would knock some sense into her.”
Meanwhile, Hank, wanting to back up his fabricated story, picked up a box of digestive tablets and returned to the car. Caden gave him a quick glance but didn’t say a word.
Hank started the car, and the two fell into a brief silence.
After a moment, Caden commented, “You were quick to return.”
Hank nodded, “Yes, Mr. Ward. My long legs help.”
Caden didn’t respond, and the rest of the drive back to the company passed quietly. Caden gazed out the window, his expression unreadable, while Hank stole occasional glances at him, wondering if Caden had any questions or thoughts to share. Deciding that Caden’s silence meant he wasn’t interested in speaking, Hank kept quiet.
After what felt like an eternity of silence, Caden finally broke it, frowning. “What happened at the pharmacy?”
Hank shook the bag of pills slightly, glancing over at Caden. “I just picked up the digestive tablets, Mr. Ward.”
Caden’s eyes narrowed. “And what else happened?”
Hank hesitated, then continued, “Ms. Bennett had a few choice words about you.”
Caden’s expression darkened slightly. “What exactly did she say?”
“She said you got what you deserved,” Hank replied, his tone cautious.
Caden paused, his face unreadable. He took a deep breath but didn’t respond immediately. “Is that all?” he asked, his voice colder now.
“Yes, that’s everything she said,” Hank confirmed.
Caden fell silent once more, his thoughts seemingly distant, leaving Hank unsure of what to say next.
“I’m asking if there was anything else that happened, you idiot!” Caden thought, feeling his irritation rise. “It seems like your brain switches off after work. Is your mind gathering cobwebs?”
Noticing Caden’s frustration, Hank cautiously ventured, “Mr. Ward, is there something you’d like to discuss?”
With a frosty tone, Caden replied, “I’m contemplating how to dispense with your services.”
Hank was taken aback. “What have I done?” he wondered, feeling a sense of confusion.
Annoyed, Caden snapped, “Drive us back to the apartment.”
Then something occurred to Hank. “Mr. Ward, were you aware that Ms. Bennett visited the Yates Mansion yesterday?”
This question clearly agitated Caden. The thought of Alicia’s visit to the Yates Mansion had been weighing on him.
“Why do you ask?” Caden inquired, his voice clipped.
Hank, trying to be as honest as possible, explained, “Ms. Bennett injured her ankle after jumping from an upper floor. Mr. Yates attempted to confine her.”
Caden’s face tightened, a pang of dismay shooting through him. “Did she tell you that?”
Hank responded, “It was her friend who inadvertently revealed it. Ms. Bennett seems keen on keeping it under wraps.”
The details replayed in Caden’s mind like a film. Reflecting on his phone call with Joshua the night before, Caden had suspected there was more to Alicia’s silence. She loathed Joshua-how could she possibly have agreed to be with him?
That was why he hadn’t ended the call when Joshua hinted at her involvement. Caden had been waiting for Alicia to say, “Caden, come get me.” If she had, he would have rushed to her immediately.
But Alicia remained silent. By morning, she appeared with fresh clothes and marks on her neck, yet still didn’t offer an explanation, even when he asked.
Caden’s expression darkened, his face as grim as the ocean before a storm.
Without saying another word, he provided Hank with a contact’s details. “Invite this competitor of the Green family to dinner tonight. Treat him well.”
Hank made a mental note. “Got it, Mr. Ward.”
Given the significant challenge ahead, Caden knew that Joshua would likely seek financial support from the Green family. However, if the Green family faced their own difficulties at this point, they wouldn’t be able to help Joshua.
Essentially, Joshua was in for a difficult period.
Once Caden ascended the stairs, he dialed Alicia’s number.
Alicia had just said goodbye to Monica and was on her way back to the hotel. Her response was nonchalant. “What do you want?”
Caden, now in his living room, replied, “When will you replace my living room sofa?”
The quarrel from earlier that morning flashed in Alicia’s mind-Caden had berated her for staining his sofa, and she had hastily promised to replace it. She knew commitments had to be honored.
“Where did you purchase the sofa?” she asked, trying to find a way to resolve the situation.
“It’s a limited edition. They don’t make it anymore,” Caden answered flatly.
Alicia was left speechless, realizing just how high-end and exclusive his possessions were. She reluctantly responded, “How much did it cost? I’ll buy another of equal value.”