Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Alicia responded coldly, “Buckle up!”
As they drove off, Alicia’s thoughts lingered on the bouquet she had seen at the grave, leaving her with mixed emotions.
“Why did you bring flowers to my mom’s grave?” Caden casually toyed with the feather pendant hanging in front of him.
“I happened to be nearby, so I stopped to pay my respects.”
Alicia tightened her lips.
“Next time, don’t.”
Her message was clear to Caden: she found such actions unnecessary and didn’t want them repeated.
He remained silent.
As they neared a corner, Alicia slowed the car and steered around it. Suddenly, someone ran in front of the car, striking it with a loud thud.
Alicia was momentarily shocked, but quickly exited the car to investigate.
Feeling uneasy, Caden also stepped out. Just then, the person on the ground pulled out a bottle and aimed it straight at Alicia’s face!
“Alicia!”
Caden lunged toward her with a low growl, not hesitating for a moment. He moved faster than the liquid spilling out, wrapping Alicia in his arms just in time to shield her.
A sizzling sound filled the air as the liquid splattered onto Caden, scorching through his clothes with a terrifying hiss.
Alicia stood frozen.
It was acid!
A sharp, stinging smell filled the air, jolting Alicia’s senses. In an instant, she snapped back to reality. She and Caden rolled to the side, away from the immediate danger. Her heart raced as she checked his injuries with anxious urgency.
Caden grabbed her hand. “Don’t touch. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
At that moment, their attacker screamed and reached for the bottle to strike again.
Alicia narrowed her eyes. Leaning on Caden for support, she stood and delivered a swift kick to the attacker.
The acid bottle hit the ground with a thud. The woman clutched her stomach, letting out a pained groan.
Caden quickly shed his jacket, but the acid had already eaten through his shirt in seconds. Still, he was more concerned with the immediate threat. He moved toward Alicia.
Alicia grabbed the woman from the ground.
Caden pulled Alicia back and scolded, “Check for danger before touching her. Have you forgotten everything I taught you?”
Still shaken, Alicia let go, breathing heavily.
Caden stepped in front of her, pressing down on the woman’s hand to prevent any resistance. He yanked off her mask.
He stopped.
It was Shelia.
Since Joshua had been jailed, they hadn’t seen Shelia. They had assumed she was heartbroken and sick, yet here she was, secretly plotting revenge.
Seeing her plan thwarted, Shelia glared with bloodshot eyes and cursed, “Caden, you haven’t seen the last of me. As long as I breathe, I’ll find a way to kill you!” Caden sneered, clearly unbothered. He felt no inclination to engage with her further.
“Call the police,” he instructed Alicia.
In a last desperate act, Shelia clung frantically to Caden’s leg.
“If you have the guts, kill me, Caden. Otherwise, I’ll haunt you as a ghost!”
Caden forcefully pushed her away. Shelia continued to hurl threats as she writhed in pain.
Alicia set down her phone. “The police are on their way,” she announced, examining Caden. “Did the acid hurt you?”
As they settled into the car, Caden reassured her, saying, “No, it only got on my clothes.”
After she looked away, he subtly pulled down his sleeve.
The police arrived shortly after and took Shelia into custody.
Alicia restarted the car, her brow furrowed with concern. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She faintly recalled that when Caden had protected her, most of the acid had splashed onto his arm. Even his jacket sleeve had suffered severe damage. Caden had discarded his jacket and now wore only his seemingly intact shirt.
He fixed his eyes on her and said, “You’ve asked that three times now. Are you really that concerned about me being injured?”
Alicia kept her focus on the road. “If you’re injured, just say so now so we can address it. Don’t blame me later.”
Caden’s sneer returned. “Just admit you’re worried about me. There’s no need to beat around the bush.”
Alicia was left without words.
He could think what he wanted.
She was overthinking things.
Caden became serious. “Shelia targeted me, not you. You shouldn’t feel responsible, even if something had happened to me.”
A realization dawned on Alicia. Caden was the reason Joshua was in jail, and Shelia had been fixated on him. Alicia had become a target simply because she stepped out of the car first. Shelia had no other options.
Alicia didn’t feel any relief after this realization. They remained silent for the rest of the journey.
After Joshua was incarcerated, Lilliana ended up in the hospital with pregnancy complications, and the Green family chose to remain uninvolved. After Caden’s threats, Jerald was too afraid to go outside. He misled others, claiming he was gravely ill and needed to recuperate at home. Shelia found herself completely alone.
In her desperation, Shelia chose a violent method to seek revenge on Caden. However, she was not a significant threat.
Several hours later, Alicia and Caden were contacted by the police. Shelia hadn’t caused serious harm, so she was merely fined and detained. The police recommended a private settlement and suggested Shelia apologize.
But when Shelia saw them, she began to spew curses. Knowing better than to provoke Caden directly, she targeted Alicia with her harshest words. She maliciously dredged up Alicia’s past with Joshua, claiming that Alicia had once been Joshua’s wife and had an affair with his brother. She accused Alicia of being romantically involved with both men at the same time and called her a slut.
Shelia continued to slander Alicia relentlessly. Her vile words stung as painfully as the acid.
Caden, standing by Alicia with a stony expression, reached his limit after a few moments. He grabbed a nearby chair.
Alicia realized what Caden was about to do and quickly pressed down on his wrist.
She whispered urgently, “Caden, we’re at the police station!”
At that moment, several officers moved in to restrain him. His chest rose and fell dramatically, but he resisted their touch, slowly calming himself down. He positioned the chair behind Alicia and said coldly to the officers, “Relax. I’m not going to break any laws.” He then turned to Alicia and commanded, “Sit.”
Alicia felt uneasy about his behavior.
Having released her anger, Shelia finally ceased her cursing. She fixed a piercing gaze on Caden and sneered, “Just wait. Your downfall is coming.”
Shelia was audacious because she came prepared. She pulled out a psychiatric diagnosis report and threw it onto the table. She was sharp, always staying just within the bounds of the law. She had managed to provoke both Alicia and Caden without committing any offense that would lead to her arrest.
Eventually, they all left the police station.
Shelia taunted Caden with a smirk, saying, “You think you’re so tough? Then why didn’t you kill me back there? Is it because you can’t, or are you as soft-hearted as your mother?”
Caden’s eyes darkened when she mentioned his mother. Alicia instinctively looked at him. She then glanced back toward the police station door, noticing that no one else had emerged. After a moment, she scanned the surroundings.
Shelia’s excitement grew as she continued, her voice dripping with venom.
She said, “Caden, I know you despise me. You hate me for destroying your family and for being the cause of your mother’s death. If you have the courage, then go ahead-kill me and avenge your mother. But you won’t, will you? You have your business to consider; you can’t just go around killing people. You’re just like your mother, who overlooked me to win Jerald back. And what did she gain in the end? She died at the hands of her beloved! Caden, this is your karma. Your mother deserved her fate, and you, a bastard, deserve to be an orphan!”
As she screamed those final words, Caden reached his breaking point. He surged forward and grabbed her by the throat.
Shelia’s face blanched with fear, yet she remained defiant.
Caden’s face was stern, his grip unyielding. Within seconds, Shelia’s complexion turned a deep shade of purple as she started to panic.
Alicia moved closer and pressed down on Caden’s wrist. “Caden, let go,” she said, her tone soft yet firm. “Remember, there are cameras watching!”
Caden seemed to ignore her warning. The presence of cameras was irrelevant to him.
Alicia, aware of his intense anger, suggested cautiously, “Caden, step a bit to the right. The cameras don’t cover that spot.”
While speaking, she worked to loosen his hold. Shelia needed to face consequences, but not at the cost of Caden’s future.
Finally, Caden loosened his grip.
Shelia collapsed to the ground, and Alicia theatrically shook her a bit before pulling her toward their car.
When Shelia regained consciousness, she began to resist.
Alicia quickly subdued her, realizing her intent. “You did this deliberately. You were hoping Caden would kill you, and he’d end up in prison, weren’t you?”
Shelia looked at Alicia with hatred. “This is none of your business. Back off!”
Alicia scoffed. “I will stay out of it, and Caden isn’t as foolish as you think.”
Shelia’s eyes were red with fury. “Caden, you coward! Kill me!”
Caden remained standing, his body tense, fighting to control himself.
His eyes, cast downward, swirled with conflicting emotions.