Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
She then added, “Allow me to handle the model arrangements. I’m more familiar with the situation, and it will be easier for me to manage.”
Alicia couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief at Ciara’s eagerness and accepted the offer without hesitation. By the end of the day, Ciara announced that everything was set and was simply waiting for Alicia’s instructions.
Alicia strategically spread the word about a late-night gathering, knowing it would attract attention. After the event concluded, she played her part flawlessly, feigning drunkenness as she stumbled out the door.
Her assistant rushed to her side, exclaiming, “Ms. Bennett, you really shouldn’t have had so much to drink. You know your limits!”
Alicia, taken aback by the outburst, automatically replied, “I’m sorry. I promise I won’t overdo it next time.”
The assistant leaned in closer, whispering conspiratorially, “Ms. Bennett, remember, we’re just putting on a show.”
Alicia paused, momentarily shocked. Then it dawned on her: she hadn’t consumed any alcohol at all. So why was she feeling this wave of guilt?
Alicia let out a soft laugh and checked the rearview mirror, confirming that Shelia was indeed tailing them. She exchanged a meaningful glance with her assistant.
“Seriously? You’re planning to head back to the office? It’s so late! Why would you want to pull an all-nighter?” her assistant said.
Alicia muttered a vague response. With a mock frown, her assistant slammed the car door shut. “Fine then! Go back by yourself. I’m not spending the night working with you!”
Without another word, Alicia hit the gas and sped away. Shelia, laser-focused, accelerated to keep up with Alicia in her own vehicle.
Alicia’s assistant slipped out from her hiding spot and sent a quick text: “She’s on your tail. Stay alert, Ms. Bennett. I’ll catch up soon.”
Just as she switched off her phone, an unsettling sensation washed over her, causing a shiver to creep down her spine.
Whipping around, she spotted a car pulling up alongside her.
The window slid down, revealing Caden’s profile.
A startled gasp escaped her lips.
“Mr. Ward… I was under the impression you were away on business. When did you return?”
Caden’s eyes were icy, devoid of warmth. “What gathering are you talking about?”
The assistant’s mind raced, caught completely off guard. She stumbled over her words. “I… I’m not sure…”
Caden’s expression shifted, darkening as a storm brewed in his eyes. Without another word, he spun the steering wheel and sped off toward Alicia’s company.
Alicia had no idea that Caden was back.
After their heated argument, they had almost completely cut ties. But when Alicia attended the social gathering, she couldn’t resist sharing a post on social media. Gerry saw it, snapped a screenshot, and immediately sent it to Caden, asking if Alicia was no longer allergic to alcohol. Caden didn’t reply, but the moment he saw the post, his chest tightened. By that afternoon, he was already speeding back.
The gallery had long since stabilized, and Alicia’s reputation preceded her-everyone knew she couldn’t drink. It had been ages since she had even touched a drop of alcohol. But tonight? She drank as if she had nothing to lose. What kind of event-or what kind of client-was she willing to risk it all for?
As Caden drove, his knuckles whitened on the steering wheel, his jaw clenched tight.
Meanwhile, Alicia staggered drunkenly back into the company building. It was late, and the place was quiet-most of the employees had already gone home. Seizing the rare opportunity, Shelia trailed closely behind, her gaze sharper than ever.
Alicia entered her office, where Ciara was waiting.
“She’s here,” Alicia whispered conspiratorially. “Is everything ready?”
Ciara nodded slowly.
Alicia continued, “In a minute, I’ll cut the power to the building. If you’re scared of the dark, there’s a nightlight in my lounge.”
Ciara took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I’ve seen worse, trust me. I’ll stay right here and watch your back.”
Alicia’s lips curved into a small smile.
Moments later, there was a knock at the door.
After giving Alicia one last meaningful look, Ciara hid in the lounge, leaving Alicia alone at her desk. Alicia got into position, resting her head on her hand, eyelids fluttering shut as she called out, “Come in.”
Shelia opened the door, her eyes flashing maliciously when she saw Alicia slumped over her desk, seemingly dozing off.
Since Caden had been gone for so long, Shelia had grown increasingly impatient-and now, she was hell-bent on venting her anger on Alicia.
Without hesitation, Shelia pulled a knife from her coat and slowly approached Alicia’s sleeping figure, her movements deliberate and calculated.
But just as she was inches from the desk, the room was swallowed by darkness. Thick curtains blocked out every trace of light, plunging the office into a pitch-black void. Shelia froze, an eerie chill creeping up her spine. It was so dark that she couldn’t even see her hand in front of her face. Panic surged in her chest as she instinctively stepped back, desperate to flee.
Then, Alicia’s voice rang out-soft but laced with something sinister. “Shelia… don’t you want to kill me anymore?”
Shelia’s heart leaped into her throat. “A-Alicia?” she stammered.
But then, from the opposite corner, came another voice-low, haunting. “Shelia…”
That voice-it wasn’t Alicia’s, it couldn’t be!
Shelia spun toward the sound, her eyes wide, but she saw nothing but darkness. The voice was a raspy whisper, echoing through the room like a forgotten memory. “Shelia…”
A scream tore from Shelia’s throat.
That voice-it sent a shock of terror down her spine. It sounded just like Caden’s mother, in her final moments-those agonizing moans as she lay dying in childbirth all those years ago. Shelia couldn’t bear another second in the room. She stumbled blindly, her breath coming in ragged gasps, frantically searching for the door.
Then, just ahead, a faint greenish light flickered to life.
Shelia’s eyes darted toward the light, and what she saw made her blood run cold. Surrounded by a sickly green glow stood a woman, her hair wild and unkempt, her face shadowed. But her swollen belly was unmistakable. A white dress clung to her frame, and down her legs, blood streamed in sickening rivulets.
Alicia’s breath caught in her throat as she stared at the eerie figure before her, momentarily stunned. Could this ghostly creation… be modeled after Caden’s mother?
Shelia’s reaction was far more extreme. She let out a bloodcurdling scream and collapsed, shaking uncontrollably.
The woman, with deliberate, almost haunting movements, glided toward Shelia. Her fingers curled around Shelia’s throat like ice. She leaned in, her voice a low rasp. “Why did you kill me? Why?”
Shelia, already fragile under the weight of her guilt and terror, crumbled completely, fainting as the last of her strength drained away.
The ghostly figure then immediately dropped the act, brushing her hair out of her face with a casual flick of her wrist. She looked at Alicia and calmly said, “Ms. Bennett, she’s out cold.”
Alicia snapped out of her daze, her pulse racing as she quickly moved to restore the power.
The room was instantly bathed in bright, steady light, bringing an abrupt clarity to the surreal scene. Alicia eyed the model, her expression hard to read-somewhere between intrigue and wariness.
“You should get yourself cleaned up,” Alicia remarked flatly.
The hired actress, however, shrugged with a smirk. “What’s the rush? Besides, what if she wakes up again? I could give her another scare, you know, just to help.”
Alicia crouched down to check on Shelia, who, despite experiencing the fright of her life, seemed physically unharmed.
Well, at least Shelia would have something to think about for a while.
Alicia rose and dusted off her hands.
The model, standing aside, giggled gleefully. “I scared her so easily. Was my performance really that convincing?” She spun in a mock-dramatic whirl, baring her teeth in a grotesque grimace. “Give me back my life… I died so tragically because of you…”
Alicia’s stomach twisted uneasily at the theatrics, but before she could respond, Ciara burst out of the lounge, glaring at the model. “Quit messing around! Can’t you see you’re scaring her? Come here at once!”
The model stuck her tongue out but obediently shuffled over to Ciara, offering Alicia a quick apology before darting away.
Alicia’s gaze returned to Shelia, still sprawled on the floor.
Just as she reached for her phone to call someone for help, the door swung open.
Caden stood there.
He was wearing a long, tailored coat, the lapels undone. His face, carved into an icy mask, was shrouded in gloom. His eyes-dark and intense-locked onto hers, making her pulse race uncontrollably.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, stepping closer, instinctively trying to shield the chaotic scene behind her.
Caden didn’t blink, his focus never wavering from her face. His voice was sharp, like a blade.
“Alicia, do you find my mother’s tragic death in childbirth amusing?”
Caden’s expression remained unchanged as he asked the question, but his demeanor was unsettling.
Alicia realized that Caden had likely been watching for some time. He had witnessed the entire disturbing prank unfold. The model’s resemblance to his mother was striking. Even Alicia was disturbed by it, let alone Caden.
She tried to explain, saying, “Caden, about this…”
Caden interrupted her, his voice cold. “When I dealt with Shelia, you insisted I stay out of your affairs. You said you wanted nothing to do with me. So, why bring my mother into this?”
Alicia understood what was troubling him and responded softly, “I didn’t know the model was going to dress as your mother beforehand.”
Caden’s gaze sharpened. “You orchestrated this event. You’re telling me you had no idea? Does that sound believable to you, Alicia? Doesn’t it seem ridiculous?”
Even Alicia found her own explanation hard to justify. But it was the truth. She hadn’t anticipated Ciara arranging for the model to impersonate Caden’s mother.
Realizing that any further explanation would only make things worse, she chose to stay silent. Taking a deep breath, she asked, “Why did you come here? Was there something you needed?”
Caden replied flatly, “Originally, yes. But not anymore.” He pulled out a box of pills. “Gerry mentioned you had a wine party tonight. I rushed back when I saw you get into a car, seemingly intoxicated.”
Now, seeing her so composed, it was clear that she had faked her drunkenness. She had used it as a strategy to draw Shelia out.
Alicia’s eyes landed on the box of medicine in his hand. So, he had come in haste because he was worried she might suffer an allergic reaction to the alcohol? Before she could respond, Caden threw the box at her, striking her chest with a force fueled by anger.
“Great performance,” he mocked. “Your act was so convincing that even I was deceived.” His voice hardened. “So, when you said you felt sympathy for my past, was that just another act too?”
He had never loved a woman as deeply as he loved her. She was the one who occupied his thoughts day and night. Even after he hurt her, he apologized and put aside his pride. Yet, despite her harsh words, he couldn’t bring himself to let her go. He had accepted his fate.
Time and time again, she pushed him away, but he kept sacrificing his pride to return to her. And now, he had seen her use the one person he cherished most against him.