Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“Really? So is the weather not cold, or are you warm because of the long johns?” Alicia pressed.
Caden closed his eyes, unsure of how to respond. Having nothing left to say, he decided to end the call.
Hank couldn’t resist asking, “Didn’t you just replace the bed in your apartment? Did it break after only one night?”
Caden glanced at him. “Did you choose that bed?”
“Yes,” Hank replied. “I thought about selecting one of our company’s products, but I figured you might be bored with it. So, I picked one with top market reviews for you to try.”
Caden coldly responded, “Among all the people I know, your taste is the worst.”
Hank was left speechless.
He was astonished at the idea of a new bed breaking after just one night. Could things between them have been that intense? If so, Alicia must be quite remarkable. The bed didn’t survive, but she did. She truly seemed like the perfect match for Mr. Ward.
After wrapping up their meeting with Mr. Wade, it was already noon. Caden and Hank decided to have a quick lunch at a nearby restaurant.
Before they began eating, Caden arranged for an extra meal to be delivered to the apartment.
Hank glanced over with a sly smile. “That’s very considerate of you, Mr. Ward,” he remarked.
Caden didn’t bother responding.
Alicia had cooked for him countless times, yet today he was simply sending her some takeout. It wasn’t the most thoughtful gesture. Besides, the food from this place wasn’t as good as Alicia’s cooking.
Later in the afternoon, the sky became filled with overcast clouds.
Surprisingly, the jewelry advertisement on the massive screen became even more captivating. Caden found himself glancing at it several more times. Inside the display cases, exquisite pieces of jewelry were showcased-pink diamond necklaces, jade pendants, and sparkling diamond rings.
Under the gleaming lights, each piece seemed to tempt passersby. Caden noted the prices, ranging from 80,000 dollars to 5 million dollars. To him, these amounts weren’t particularly high. He believed anything worth his attention should be priced at least 10 million dollars. So, to him, Joshua had hardly bought anything of real value for Alicia during their two years of marriage. A plain ring worth only a few hundred dollars was practically worthless.
“Package all the bestsellers over 100,000 dollars,” Caden instructed, handing his card to the store clerk, making no attempt to hide his wealth.
The clerk stood momentarily stunned, but her excitement quickly took over as she hurried to fulfill his request.
The delivery boxes piled up outside the apartment, forming a small mountain. Alicia wasn’t home to receive them; she was at the studio attending her self-defense class.
After finishing his work, Caden headed to the studio and found her engaged in a sparring match. He didn’t announce his presence and chose to watch quietly from the sidelines. Her opponent was a man a full head taller than she was, with shifty eyes that made him seem untrustworthy. They exchanged formal bows, and Alicia immediately threw a punch.
Despite her slender frame, Alicia had quickly mastered her techniques, targeting her opponent’s weaknesses with precision. Before long, she had taken control of the match. With a decisive final strike, the man collapsed to the floor, groaning in pain.
Surprised by the outcome, Alicia hurried over to him. “I’m sorry, did I hurt you?” she asked.
Just as the words left her mouth, the man suddenly lunged, grabbing her in a chokehold.
Unable to break free, Alicia found herself powerless, struggling in vain against her attacker. As her face grew pale, the others finally noticed the danger and quickly pulled the man away from her.
Alicia staggered to her feet, stepping aside as she coughed, her eyes red from the strain. After catching her breath, she placed a hand on her chest, deep in thought. Something was clearly bothering her.
Caden lifted his hand and tapped on the window. Alicia looked up and met his gaze. He immediately noticed the redness in her eyes.
She was surprised to see him.
“Caden?” she asked, her voice soft.
This was Caden’s first visit here. Their relationship was not public, so they seldom appeared together outside. But with the studio almost deserted at this time, Alicia felt comfortable and led him to the lounge.
Alicia took some time to freshen up and change her outfit. Meanwhile, Caden sat quietly, deep in thought.
When Alicia reappeared, her mood seemed subdued and listless. She didn’t rush to leave. Instead, she joined Caden and sipped from the same glass of water he had just used.
Noticing her low spirits, Caden inquired, “What’s the matter? Has losing one match really taken all your energy?”
Alicia shook her head. “It’s not about winning or losing.” She hadn’t planned on sharing, but Caden’s question stirred a sense of injustice in her. “Why did he deceive me?”
Caden remained composed. “What he did was wrong, but consider it a lesson. You haven’t really lost anything.”
Alicia scowled. “You’re not my teacher. Why are you lecturing me?”
“So, what should I say?” Caden responded, his tone even. “Would you prefer I console you?”
Alicia fell quiet. That would indeed be odd.
Offering advice was typical of Caden, but this time, it felt different.
Alicia took another sip of water, then recalled an earlier incident. “Did you notice when he had me in a chokehold?”
“Yes,” Caden replied, his expression unreadable.
Alicia’s fear was still palpable. “It felt like he had something against me. His grip was so tight. If no one had intervened, I might have been seriously hurt.” She tried to sound casual, but the fear still lingered in her voice.
Caden is such a jerk. He didn’t come to help. How heartless, she thought, frustration simmering inside.
She could feel the intensity of Caden’s stare, which put her under considerable pressure. Unable to contain her frustration, she shot him a fierce look. “You wish I was dead, don’t you?”
Caden responded, “You’re tough to shake off. I doubt you’d go down easily.”
He had delayed intervening because he wanted to see if Alicia could escape the hold by herself. When he realized she couldn’t, he was just about to step in but was beaten to it by others.
Alicia’s lips pursed in annoyance. She was visibly upset by his comments. Feeling hurt and disappointed, she no longer wanted to be near him and stood to leave. Caden reached out and pulled her back.
“A chokehold isn’t unbeatable. Let me show you how to escape it.”
Alicia, however, was not in the mood. “I’ll have my coach teach me some other time.”
“She can’t show you what I can.” Caden stood her up. “Try putting me in a chokehold, and I’ll demonstrate.”
Alicia gave him a sideways glance. Then, with a sigh, she reached up and looped her arms around his neck.
Caden peered down at her. “Is your touch this gentle because you’re seeking instruction, or are you trying to seduce me?”
Alicia scowled. Then, she tightened her hold slightly.
Caden stood at 1.88 meters, almost 1.9 meters with shoes, and was robustly built. Though Alicia wasn’t particularly short, the disparity in their sizes was clear. To effectively choke him, she looked more like a sloth clinging to a tree.
Feeling drained from her training session and in a bad mood, Alicia impulsively jumped up, wrapping her legs around his waist.
Caden was momentarily speechless. He steadied her by the hips and said coldly, “Is this your technique for handling attackers?”
Alicia tilted her head and rested it on his shoulder. “Caden, I don’t want to learn.” Not right now.
Caden stayed quiet, neither urging her nor criticizing her. Instead, he occasionally caressed her lower back. His fingers were nimble, playfully coaxing a tingling sensation around her waist.
She wriggled. “You…”
Caden lifted an eyebrow, his laughter light. “Does a simple touch have you unraveling?”
Alicia defended herself sharply. “Who? Me? Certainly not!”
Caden felt a stir within him too. He leaned in, capturing her lips.
Alicia surrendered to the kiss.
They rarely held back from each other. Their attraction was undeniable, and their youthful energy made them quickly ignite. But Alicia was too exhausted at the moment. She gave in with little resistance.
Caden intended to tease her, but as their kisses deepened, he too lost himself in the moment. He huskily said, “Let’s go home and try out the new bed.”
Alicia’s cheeks flushed pink. She bit her lip and hid her face in his neck.
“I thought you wanted to stay here,” she whispered.
Caden replied, “I’m not driven by impulse every time.”
Alicia quickly added, “But yesterday in the car…”
Caden chuckled softly. “Alright, sometimes I can’t resist.”
Alicia’s laughter bubbled out. Her spirits lifted.
Caden gently set her down. “Head to the car and wait for me. I need to use the restroom.”
“Okay.”
In the adjacent men’s changing room, the man who had previously attacked Alicia was in the process of removing his clothes when he heard the door open. He spun around, confronting an unfamiliar face.
“Who are you? A new trainee?” he asked.
Caden stood his ground, emanating a formidable aura.
Caden said, “Yes, I’m new around here. I heard you’re pretty skilled, so I wanted to verify it.” The man immediately sensed the hostile undertones in Caden’s voice. He recognized that Caden was no ordinary contender, and if a confrontation were to happen, it was uncertain who would come out unscathed.
Opting to defuse the situation, the man quickly dressed. “I’m tied up right now, and today’s session is over. Maybe some other time.”
Just as he was about to leave, Caden blocked his path. His piercing gaze fixed on him. “Did Alicia do something to upset you?”
The man shuddered slightly. He responded defiantly, “No, we’re on good terms.”
Caden’s expression turned sly. “Then why the harsh treatment towards her?”
The man faltered. Despite his fear of Caden, he refused to back down. “Why does she have to draw all the attention? She’s new here, and already she’s outshining everyone. I didn’t intend to hurt her today. I just wanted to give her a small lesson on keeping a lower profile.”
Caden let out a laugh. “And who appointed you to teach her a lesson?”