Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
She instantly understood what he meant.
“Alright, head back, but drive safe.”
“Sure, you should get some sleep.”
With that, they headed out together.
Alicia mumbled, “I still have stuff to grab. Why are you in such a hurry?”
Caden shrugged. “We’ve got everything we need at home. We don’t need that stuff.”
Once they were outside, Alicia playfully pinched him. “Seriously, why the rush? It’s not like this is a race that resets at midnight!”
Caden just laughed and bundled her into the car, sneaking in a quick kiss.
Alicia muffled her protest. “Be careful, someone might see us…”
Caden held back, managing not to push it further in the car.
As they drove off, Alicia adjusted her clothes and shot him a sidelong glance. “Is your condition really better? If it is, then why are you being so impatient?”
Caden teased, “Not really. It’s turned into a sex addiction. I’ll be in trouble if I don’t get my daily fix.”
Alicia knew he was joking, but it still caught her off guard.
Midway, Caden confidently pulled into a store to grab some pre-ordered clothes.
When Alicia saw two bags, she asked, puzzled, “Why are they packed separately?”
Caden’s eyes lit up. “I got two sets, one black and one white, to switch between.”
Alicia went quiet, not a fan of chitchat in bed. She didn’t like talking when being intimate with Caden. She just focused on enjoying herself with him and didn’t ask anything about his trip this time.
It wasn’t until things calmed down and she was wrapped in the sheets, starting to drift off, that she casually asked, “Hey, did you finish your work in Devarlton?”
Caden murmured softly, “Yes, all done.”
Alicia pressed on, “Why didn’t you ask how I knew you went to Devarlton?”
Caden looked into her half-closed eyes and chuckled softly. “You’re getting smarter.”
Alicia didn’t want to tiptoe around the issue. “You should explain it to me.”
She needed to know why he lied to her and what the deal was with the photo Blake had seen.
After all, she was his girlfriend now. She deserved to know.
Caden gently ran his hand along her smooth waist, his voice low and husky from their earlier moments together. “I didn’t want to tell you until it was all set, just in case things didn’t work out.”
Alicia frowned and asked, “What were you up to?”
“I gave Lina’s chip to Dorian.”
Alicia tensed. “You… But that’s years of your hard work, right?”
Caden pulled her closer, looking completely unfazed. “If I don’t risk it all, that debt won’t get paid off. I hate being controlled.”
Alicia felt a chill run through her.
He was so decisive.
The Blizzard Group was up and running in no time, and its success came from countless sleepless nights.
The Lina robot was his crowning achievement, but once it was handed over, it became the Moss family’s property. If Caden wanted to create another one, he’d have to get Dorian’s approval.
And he would never create a fake version of the Lina robot.
So, they were right back where they started.
Alicia said softly, “You’re really cautious about the Moss family.”
Caden smirked. “Oh, are you throwing shade at me?”
Alicia met his gaze and replied, “I’m just surprised by how powerful the Moss family is and your choice to make the deal.”
Then, with a playful smile, she added, “You’ve really grown up.”
Caden smiled faintly.
“Grown up” had never been something he asked for.
But losing his mother and being abandoned by the Yates family had left him no choice. When he returned to the Ward family, he’d been forced to grow up faster than he could keep up, relying only on his instincts and raw talent. It had been a rough journey.
His calm acceptance now was a hard-earned gift from a painful past.
Yolanda’s parents had been close friends with his mother, and he’d learned by now that some things were better left untouched, especially if money could resolve them.
Alicia curled up closer to him, her palm resting softly on his chest, right over his heartbeat.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked, his tone gentle.
She looked up, her voice almost a whisper. “You’ve endured so much, Caden.”
Her words were like a warm balm, seeping into the scars within him.
He smiled again, softer this time. “Is that your way of saying you care about me?”
Her cheeks flushed, and she tried to pull her hand away, a little embarrassed. “No, of course not,” she replied, avoiding his gaze. But Caden held her hand in place, pressing it gently over his heart.
“Well, if you do care, then you’ll make sure to keep me satisfied,” he teased, a playful grin touching his lips. “I’m not done with you yet.”
Alicia raised an eyebrow, smiling. “Aren’t you tired?”
Caden’s grin widened. “A guy my age? Never.”
Alicia bit her lip, eyes twinkling as she leaned in to kiss him.
When she took the lead, she was always gentle and cautious.
But Caden’s youthful fire didn’t settle for gentleness for long; soon enough, he had her beneath him, his passion unrestrained.
Afterward, as they lay side by side, catching their breath, Caden’s curiosity got the better of him. “So,” he said, glancing over at her. “How did you know I’d gone to Devarlton?”
Too exhausted to guard her words, Alicia answered honestly, “A mutual friend of yours and Yolanda’s saw a photo she posted of you two together.”
Caden’s brow furrowed; he hadn’t been aware of any photo. “What kind of picture?”
Alicia shook her head weakly, her gaze soft and ethereal. “I didn’t actually see it.”
He thought back, puzzled. During his trip to Devarlton, he’d barely interacted with Yolanda.
The closest they came was when he first arrived at the Moss family’s place, and she’d briefly tugged on his sleeve to greet him.
Could that have been when the photo was taken?
With a clear conscience, he felt no need to explain himself, especially since Alicia hadn’t even seen the picture.
If she was willing to trust him without proof, he would respect that.
But one question still lingered. “Who showed it to you?” he asked.
Alicia blinked, pulling herself out of her thoughts.
To avoid stirring up unnecessary tension, she gave a playful response. “I honestly don’t remember. After how many rounds you wanted tonight, my brain’s turned to mush,” she teased, smiling faintly. “I can’t recall anything.”
Caden gave a short laugh, recognizing her attempt to brush it off.
He knew Alicia rarely made such suggestive comments. It was obvious that she was trying to cover for someone. But who would make her go to such lengths?
He had a feeling. Blake – the one friend who never missed a chance to stir up drama.
Leaning back against the headboard, Caden said, his tone growing dismissive, “I used to take him seriously, but now I see it was a waste of energy.”
He wasn’t even worth the trouble.
The following day, news arrived from a kind-hearted resident living nearby: he had found and caught the missing bird.
Alicia lit up, immediately tugging Caden along with her. As they reached the man’s garden, he and his family greeted them with sympathetic expressions. “Unfortunately, we were only able to recover one.”
Alicia peered into the birdcage.
In just one night, the bird’s once-glossy feathers had become damp and ruffled.
Caden picked up the cage, thanked the man and his family, and headed outside with Alicia by his side. As they stepped out of the garden, Alicia asked, her voice tinged with worry, “What are we going to do? Is just one bird going to be enough?”
Caden glanced at her, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Why are you so nervous? It’s just a bird.”
Alicia blinked, momentarily taken aback by his nonchalance.
She tried to relax, but it was hard to shake her cautious nature.
Growing up, she had learned to be wary of every little thing.