Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Caden’s reply was uncompromising. “I want the original one.”
Alicia fought to keep her cool. “But it’s no longer available, is it?”
“That sounds like a personal problem,” Caden retorted coldly.
Alicia pulled the phone away from her ear and muttered a curse under her breath. Caden, however, caught every word.
His tone grew even colder as he warned, “Next time you criticize me, make sure you’re muted.”
Alicia gritted her teeth, thinking to herself, I just wanted to get under your skin.
“So, what’s your proposal?” she asked, determined to confront him directly despite the tension.
Caden responded bluntly, “Come here, and we’ll talk face to face.”
Alicia scoffed. “I’m so filthy. Won’t stepping into your apartment ruin your immaculate floors?”
Caden responded with unsettling calm, “You could wear shoe covers.”
“Even my breath is infectious,” she retorted.
“Then disinfect,” he replied coolly.
Unable to contain her frustration any longer, Alicia snapped, “Does my face annoy you? Why don’t you blindfold yourself?”
“You can simply wear a hood,” he suggested dismissively.
Alicia was left dumbfounded.
Caden stated blandly, “Send me your address, and I’ll send a car for you.”
Alicia clenched her jaw. “No need. I’d rather not hear you complain about me soiling your car or incurring charges because it’s a limited edition.”
For a moment, Caden was left speechless.
Once the call ended, he stared at the phone, muttering indifferently, “Serves you right.” She was free to limp all the way here. Let her endure the pain!
Alicia flagged down a taxi and headed over.
Despite his instructions to wear a hood and shoe covers, she defiantly slipped into his spare slippers right in front of him upon arrival.
Caden watched her with a detached gaze.
Alicia switched slippers, apologizing, “Sorry, I picked up the wrong pair.”
Caden remarked coldly, “Even blind people wouldn’t make such an obvious error.”
“Mistakes are valuable. I embrace making them,” Alicia quipped.
“Remarkable,” he noted dryly.
He then glanced at her ankle. It was still slightly bruised, but it wasn’t serious.
Alicia was determined to settle the matter swiftly. “Just tell me where you bought your sofa, and I’ll pay extra to secure one you’ll accept.”
Seeing her urgency, Caden purposely slowed the conversation. He insisted, “I will accept only an identical replacement.”
Alicia gazed at him intently. The longer she looked, the more annoying he appeared. She proposed a solution. “I can expedite a replacement from the factory.”
“I want it immediately,” he insisted.
Alicia’s frustration grew. “Why must you be so troublesome? It’s unbearable!”
Caden paused to drink some water. “You have an issue with that? Go ahead, call the police.”
Alicia was left speechless. She had often thought about involving the police. A few shocks might set him straight.
After their heated exchange, Caden set his glass aside and instructed, “Sit on the sofa.”
Alicia regarded him as though he were unhinged. “Why sit? We haven’t resolved anything yet.”
“Sit down. I need to examine your foot,” Caden commanded.
Alicia recoiled in surprise. The conversation had taken an unexpected turn, and instinctively, she questioned, “Why?”
Exhausted from the discussion, Caden approached her to lift her. Alicia defensively crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing him cautiously.
Caden’s expression grew stern. “Don’t flatter yourself. I have no interest in you at the moment.” He then lifted her and placed her onto the sofa. He proceeded to remove her slippers and gently held her ankle.
Alicia was so shocked by his actions that she remained completely still. Confused, she watched silently as he examined her foot.
Looking down, his feelings hidden, he questioned, “Why didn’t you tell me this morning when I asked?”
Realizing Hank must have informed him, Alicia felt a constriction in her chest. “Did you even give me a chance to explain?”
Caden responded flatly, “Didn’t I ask you?”
She felt stifled by his accusation.
Recalling the scent on his coat, Alicia retorted icily, “Would you have believed me if I had told you? Haven’t you already made your decisions about me? What concern is it of yours anyway? Why should I have to tell you?”
Caden’s frustration mounted. Her behavior reminded him of a spoiled cat Ciara owned. The cat, aware of its favored status, acted without caution. It once destroyed a prized tea set belonging to Ciara.
Caden had disciplined the cat by grabbing its neck. Yet, every subsequent visit, the cat feigned affection only to leap onto his face the moment he reached out. The only difference between Alicia and that cat was her outright malice. She didn’t even bother with the pretense of seeking affection.
Her nature was spiteful and malicious.
“What a grudge-holder that’s impossible to domesticate,” Caden remarked coldly.
Alicia tightened her lips and swiftly pulled her foot back. “Who are you to domesticate me?”
“Was I speaking about you?” Caden countered smoothly. “I was referring to my grandmother’s pet,” he clarified.
Alicia was taken aback. She felt as though Caden was mocking her.
Failing to outwit him, she pushed his boundaries by brushing her unclean foot against his trouser leg. Caden was momentarily taken aback. “Your flirtation tactics remain as flawed as ever,” he commented.
Alicia responded with a forced smile, “Thank you. I’m merely trying to repulse you.”
Caden looked down at her delicate toes. He briefly held her ankle, then released it.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Caden had previously ordered herbal oil online for treating bruises, which had just been delivered. Alicia’s confusion deepened upon seeing the oil.
Why was he suddenly treating her kindly?
When Caden grasped Alicia’s foot again, she felt a wave of unease. She attempted to withdraw her foot, but Caden immediately tightened his grip.
She couldn’t pull away.
In a subdued voice, she asked, “Caden, what are you doing?”
Clumsily, Caden applied some herbal oil to her bruise and began massaging it. His voice was rigid as he demanded, “Tell me exactly why you were at the Yates Mansion.”
Alicia tensed, her body instinctively recoiling. In a soft tone, she insisted, “First, apologize to me.”
Caden’s expression turned stern. She expected an apology from him?
Regardless of right or wrong, did he really need to apologize for something so trivial?
He responded coldly, “I’ve never been good at apologizing.”
“Then we have nothing more to discuss,” Alicia declared, trying to pull her foot back.
But Caden held on firmly, his grip pressing on her delicate bones. “I might not excel at apologizing, but I’m familiar with using a bit of force. Shall we proceed?”
At his warning, he increased the pressure. Alicia winced, feeling a sharp pain and numbness in her joint. “Caden, release me!” she cried out.
Caden relaxed his grip slightly, but his tone remained insistent. “Explain. Now.”
Alicia cursed him internally, her mind clouded with frustration. She took a deep breath and then explained tersely, “Joshua deceived me by claiming Rachel wanted to meet. When I arrived at the Yates Mansion, he dragged me into the bedroom and locked me up.”
Caden, unsatisfied with the explanation, pressed further. “Why did he lock you up?”
“Why else? He knew about us,” Alicia replied quietly.
At first, Joshua had merely suspected something, but his suspicions turned to fury after a call from Caden.
Caden’s eyes then shifted to her neck, where faint marks were visible. His gaze grew more intense as he asked, “Did he hurt you?”
Alicia pressed her lips together, still haunted by the fear of that moment. “He didn’t succeed.”
Caden’s concern deepened. “Did you manage to escape through the window while resisting?”
Alicia clarified, “Not exactly, but that essentially sums it up.”
Caden fell silent, his mind processing what she had said. After the oil had been absorbed, he gently wiped off the residue with a tissue.
Alicia recognized this as an uncharacteristic gesture, almost like an apology, but she wasn’t ready to accept it yet.
Once Caden pulled back, she rummaged through her purse and pulled out some cash.
Caden eyed the money. “What’s this for?”