Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“I will come back and cook for you,” she said. “It will take me only twenty minutes by car.”
Caden smiled knowingly. “Alright,” he replied.
He was actually just teasing her.
At that moment, he believed he was the luckiest man alive. His fatigue disappeared entirely, replaced by a thrilling sense of anticipation. He slipped on his coat and prepared to go home. The roads were congested, turning the usual twenty-minute drive into a much longer journey.
When Alicia finally pulled up, Caden stood waiting at the door, checking the time on his watch.
“You’re late,” he said with a playful tone.
She handed him her bag and knelt down to change her shoes. “I hit a traffic jam on the way. Didn’t you get caught in it?”
“Nope. They built a special road just for me,” he replied with a smirk.
Alicia rolled her eyes at him. He was such an idiot.
As she moved to wash up and start cooking, Caden wrapped his arms around her. He gently caressed her back through the sweater before slipping his fingers underneath it.
She couldn’t help but shiver as a chill ran through her. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
“I ordered a gourmet meal. It should arrive soon.” He knew she had been busy all day, so he didn’t want her to cook. He pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her lips. “We can enjoy some time together before dinner comes.”
Alicia gazed into his eyes, noticing the intense and unsettling desire swirling within them.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she whispered, “Have you forgotten what day it is?”
Caden’s thoughts drifted elsewhere. It took a moment before he was able to speak. “What day? Is it the anniversary of our first night together?”
Alicia found herself at a loss for words.
“Really? Is that how you want to play this?” she thought.
Instead of speaking, she pulled him in for a passionate kiss.
Just as Caden felt himself losing control, he hit an unexpected wall. He stopped for a moment, breathing heavily as he gazed into her eyes.
Alicia looked back at him with wide, innocent eyes. “What’s the matter, Mr. Ward?”
Caden’s face revealed nothing. “Are you on your period?”
“Yes, it’s the first day,” she admitted.
Caden swallowed hard, feeling the tension build in his forehead.
“Then why are you trying to seduce me?”
Alicia grinned and countered, “Weren’t you the one who initiated it?”
Caden inhaled deeply, gently pushing her away.
“Get away from me,” he said firmly.
Alicia burst into laughter.
With no other outlet for his frustration, Caden turned to his work.
Later that evening, Alicia lay with her back turned to him as she planned her trip to Averibon. Caden draped an arm over her waist and closed his eyes.
“I think I need to get away for a while too,” he said.
Alicia turned her head slightly and asked, “Another business trip?”
“Just some personal matters to attend to,” he replied.
“Okay,” she said.
Caden noticed the rhythmic tapping sound coming from her phone, so he opened his eyes to see what she was doing. A jewelry advertisement flashed on the screen, and Alicia inadvertently clicked on an online shopping app.
A pink gemstone caught her attention. Women often found themselves attracted to shiny objects, and she couldn’t resist glancing at it a few times.
Caden inquired, “Do you like it?”
She nodded in agreement.
“But we already have more than enough jewelry at home, and I don’t wear most of it,” she stated. “There’s no need to buy it. It would only be a waste of money.”
Caden let out a light chuckle. “The gemstones from this brand aren’t even genuine. When I visit Averibon in a few days, I’ll bring back a raw stone and have a designer create something unique from it.”
Alicia turned to face him. “That sounds pricey,” she remarked.
Caden wore a playful half-smile. “Ms. Bennett, your profits from just one project amount to tens of millions of dollars, yet you hesitate to buy a gemstone that catches your eye?”
“It’s not just about the money. Wearing something that large would be far too ostentatious,” Alicia said with a chuckle. “I’d look like I’m showing off my wealth.”
Caden drew her in closer. “Get some rest,” he said softly.
Caden’s trip involved taking Yolanda for treatment. Hank began packing his bags and asked, “Does Ms. Bennett know about this?”
Caden wrapped his scarf around his neck. “I haven’t mentioned it to her,” he replied.
Hank said cautiously, “What if Ms. Bennett discovers you’re going alone with Miss Moss…”
Caden frowned at the suggestion. “Do you really think I’m having an affair with Yolanda? Why would I need to be so careful?”
He was off to take care of business, so there was no reason for him to feel guilty. Besides, he didn’t need to explain every detail to her. Hank, who had worked alongside Caden for years, understood him well. He asked, “But you’ll be away for a significant amount of time. Didn’t Ms. Bennett inquire about it?”
Caden nodded. “She did.”
“What did you tell her?”
Caden shot him a sharp look.
“You seem quite concerned. Why don’t you just become my stepfather once Jerald is no longer around?”
Hank quickly waved his hands in protest. “Mr. Ward, that’s not what I meant. I’m just concerned that if you two keep secrets from each other, it could lead to misunderstandings.”
Caden replied dismissively, “There won’t be any misunderstandings. Alicia is aware of Yolanda.”
Hank considered the situation from an outsider’s perspective. “Is Ms. Bennett not jealous?”
“Yolanda is my business partner, not my girlfriend. What reason would she have to feel jealous?”
Hank found himself at a loss for words. Caden’s point was valid. However, having a woman involved could still create complications.
Hank couldn’t resist asking, “Mr. Ward, doesn’t it matter that Miss Moss has feelings for you?”
Caden replied, “There are countless women who feel that way about me. Should I just avoid all women? Alicia isn’t as narrow-minded as you think she is.”
Growing frustrated, he decided to end the conversation. “Stop packing.”
He grabbed his suitcase and walked out.
Hank hurried to keep up with him. “Mr. Ward, let me help you with that.”
Averibon proved to be even colder than Warrington. However, the snowy landscape was stunning, and the city bustled with more activity than Warrington. Alicia spent several days taking care of business before setting aside time to explore the sights. Even while exploring, she remained perpetually busy.
Her visit to Averibon was tightly packed into her schedule as she balanced the optimization plan for Lina with her work at the gallery.
After finishing one call after another, she slipped on her headphones to listen to a recording she had prepared. She had gone to great lengths to have these recordings made. These recordings were meticulously crafted to imitate Caden’s mother’s voice and tone with nearly flawless accuracy.
Alicia had also included a children’s song in the mix. Within that song, she had hidden a part where she sang herself as a delightful surprise.
As she listened, her eyelids grew heavy, and she slowly drifted off to sleep.
The observation room felt cramped, and the unfamiliar surroundings caused her to sleep fitfully.
Outside, delicate snowflakes floated down. Her vision began to blur.
The vibrant city thrummed with life and noise. In the thriving Averibon, real estate was incredibly valuable, with each towering structure shining like a precious, dazzling gem.
Caden emerged from the car, wrapped snugly in his coat. Recently, Yolanda had been responsive to her treatment, showing promising progress. So, he decided to take some time to search for a pink gemstone. A pure pink gem was among the rarest finds.
He strolled through the area but didn’t come across anything that caught his eye.
The jeweler, aware of Caden’s wealth and status, laid out the finest stones in front of him.
“These colors are stunning too. Would you like to take a look?”
Caden asked, “Don’t you have any pink ones?”
The jeweler laughed lightly. “This is for your girlfriend, isn’t it? Unfortunately, finding a pink stone is quite a challenge. Even if you place an order, it all comes down to luck. It could take anywhere from ten days to ten years. Why not take a look at these blue and green options? They are just as stunning.”
Caden picked up a stone. He believed that nothing could compare to a pink gemstone, no matter what.
Noticing his determination, the jeweler offered, “I have a rare finished pink piece available, but it’s only going to be auctioned. If you’re interested, I can reserve it for you.”
Caden examined the photo.
It was indeed something that Alicia would appreciate. Just as he was about to place a reservation, he spotted a familiar face. Caden’s eyes lit up the moment he saw her.
Alicia?