Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
A knock echoed on the glass door.
Through the haze, he spotted a blurred figure. “What’s the rush? I’ll be out soon,” he called out.
Wrapping a towel around himself, he opened the door, only to be greeted by the smart robot.
His expression soured. “What are you doing here?” he demanded.
The robot’s eyes glowed with infrared rays, beginning a thorough scan of Caden, lingering on his bare muscles.
Caden squinted, feeling oddly violated.
“Get lost,” he snapped. “Out.”
The robot, however, disregarded his command and took a step closer, nearly pressing against him. Overwhelmed, Caden felt a chill of goosebumps spread across his skin.
He attempted to shut down the robot forcefully, but the shutdown button failed to respond. Instead, the robot embraced him. Shocked, Caden stared.
Frustration surged through him as he kicked the robot away.
Despite the force of his action, the robot, unscathed, advanced toward him again.
In desperation, Caden removed its battery, ending the bizarre ordeal.
Still seething, he glanced toward the door, suspecting that the instigator of this prank was just outside, likely amused by the chaos. With a grimace, he turned back for another shower.
Meanwhile, outside the bathroom, Alicia lounged on the sofa with Cade, her attention divided between the television and the sounds coming from the bedroom. She wasn’t really watching; her focus was on any noise from inside.
She had programmed the robot to react to skin, especially muscles, anticipating a strong response from Caden due to his quick temper.
Surprised by the sudden silence, she paused, puzzled. After a moment, she stood, cradling Cade in her arms, and pressed her ear to the door, listening intently.
A sudden loud bang came from inside the room, shaking everything.
Alicia, thinking the robot had malfunctioned or exploded, entered without hesitation.
The room was enveloped in darkness.
Momentarily stunned, she was then caught off guard by a strong grip on her arm, pulling her into a tight embrace.
He tried to resist instinctively, but Cade’s furious strength was overwhelming, pinning her against the wall. His breath, carrying a menacing presence, brushed her cheek.
Alicia stiffened.
“What are you doing?” she demanded.
Caden’s voice was deep as he held her chin. “You came in on your own. Why ask me?”
Still rattled, Alicia questioned, “What exploded?”
“The speaker broke,” he replied.
Alicia was left speechless. She realized she had walked into a trap and attempted to escape.
Caden lifted her by the waist and threw her onto the bed. “You’ve been avoiding me all these days. You asked me to return today only to send a robot to irritate me. You should’ve let off all your steam by now, right?”
Pinned and unable to move, Alicia averted her face and asked with difficulty, “Let off what steam? Am I even…”
Caden decided to clarify things without evasion. “I’ll say it one last time. Yolanda and I are just work partners. Nothing happened between us in Averibon.”
Alicia stopped, a bitter feeling rising in her chest. He was so typical, assuming everything was fine as long as they hadn’t slept together.
“Do work partners cuddle and watch the snow late into the night? Why do they always appear together right when I’m most expectant?” she thought, feeling utterly foolish.
In a subdued tone, she confronted him, “Caden, do you realize Yolanda has feelings for you?”
Caden’s expression darkened.
He was aware.
Many women harbored feelings for him, but Yolanda was just one in a crowd, never taken seriously. “I brought her here. Of course I should take care of her,” he said with a chill in his voice. “She won’t stay long. Soon she will no longer be my concern.”
Alicia’s sneer was sharp. “Mr. Ward, such harsh words are seldom heard from you.”
An ache spread across her lower abdomen from his pressing member.
The sensation that had once quickened her heart now brought only deep sadness.
“You lower your pride to convince me, all because you desire me, correct?” Alicia challenged.
Caden’s gaze was piercing as he admitted his desire for her.
Days had passed since her return and she had kept her distance. Now, so close to her, it was a struggle for him not to touch her.
But his needs went beyond the physical.
He craved more than just her silence. Calming his rising anger, he suggested, “V., this need not be intimate. Let’s address the issue at hand.”
Alicia countered, her tone devoid of emotion, “There is nothing to address. If there is something between you and
Yolanda, that is your decision to make.”
At her words, a shadow fell across Caden’s face.
His voice instantly turned cold. “0h, is that right? That’s very generous of you. ” Tension filled the air in an instant.
“Like you said, Yolanda is important and I should be more empathetic. Maybe I should just let her have you completely,” Alicia said flatly.
With those last words, Caden abruptly pushed her forward.
His hand wrapped around her delicate neck, forcing Alicia to look up into his intense eyes.
Are you suggesting that she take me? What am I to you that you think you have the right to decide where I belong?” he demanded menacingly. Alicia remained calm.
“You’re right.” Sadness clouded her eyes as she murmured, “Caden, you’re not planning to marry me, are you?” The subject of marriage had always been a delicate one for them.
She hesitated to bring it up.
But at that moment she longed for a promise from Caden.
Caught in a whirlwind of emotions, Caden quickly dismissed the idea. “Of course not.”
A sharp pain pierced Alicia’s heart.
“If there’s no future for us, perhaps it’s best if you let me go,” she suggested.
Caden’s eyes were bloodshot.
“Let you go?” he asked.
With a sneer, he replied, “Should I just waste all my efforts?”
Alicia’s complexion lost color.
He had indeed been an important support to her.
Their interactions had moments of brief warmth, but the truth was bitter. Their arrangement had been nothing more than a transaction.
Alicia closed her eyes, her body completely relaxed. In silence she began to undress.
Caden watched her with an increasingly icy gaze. Before Alicia could finish, Caden pulled her close and kissed her fiercely.
Alicia grimaced, a whimper escaping her despite her efforts to hold it back.
Her whimper was almost a scream.
A severe constriction filled Caden’s chest as his behavior became even more aggressive.
A sudden surge of suppressed desire overwhelmed him. His intensity was unrelenting, his actions showing a complete lack of empathy.
As their encounter drew to a close, Alicia was so overwhelmed she couldn’t speak. Tears trickled down his neck.
Noticing her cold sweat, Caden sensed something was wrong and stopped to turn on the light.
Then he noticed light blood stains on the sheets.
With a frown, Caden gently examined her and discovered a small injury.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were hurt?” he questioned harshly. “Are you putting yourself at risk just to defy me?”
Alicia remained still, her face drained of color.
He tenderly cleaned her wound with warm water, applied ice to reduce the swelling, and carefully tended to her injury.
Alicia lay on her side, watching him with vacant eyes.
“Would you like more?” she whispered softly.
Caden’s anger flared at her defiant tone, even in weakness. He clenched his jaw and draped a blanket over her.
“Why the hurry? You owe me a great deal. One night won’t suffice,” he said, his voice cold. Looking down at her, he added, “There’s plenty of time to settle our debts.” The door clicked shut, leaving a heavy silence.
Alicia caught the mocking smile on her lips in the ceiling mirror.