Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
If they couldn’t win a woman’s heart, they focused on improving themselves.
Investing in the gallery was a smart move; it let Blake grow his business without compromising his own creative work.
Alicia trusted him, and their partnership brought life to the gallery.
One day, Blake stepped into Alicia’s office. “Alicia, there’s an important guest here to see you personally,” he announced.
She’d been meeting with notable clients lately, but she hadn’t expected today’s visitor to be Corey.
Corey wasn’t there for a major deal; he simply wanted to buy a painting.
Yet, after browsing the gallery, nothing captured his interest.
Finally, he approached Alicia. “Ms. Bennett, would you be willing to paint something personally for me?”
Though Alicia was an artist, she didn’t sell her work. Initially, she was hesitant to break this rule, but Corey held a greater influence than even Caden at home.
It didn’t seem wise to refuse.
“Of course,” she replied with a warm smile. “But keep in mind, my paintings are purely decorative; they don’t carry much collectible value.”
Corey chuckled at her modesty. “Ms. Bennett, you’re so humble. Your mother is a renowned artist abroad, after all.”
Alicia gave a polite smile. “I’m not as talented as she is.”
They exchanged a few more words, and Corey shared his desire for a painting of sunflowers – something that captured vitality and hope.
Alicia nodded. “I’ll have it ready for you within a month, Mr. Hampton.”
Pleased, Corey selected a few vibrant oil paintings from the gallery and paid in full.
Then, almost casually, he asked, “I remember seeing you at an event not long ago. I heard you’ve invested in some tech projects. Any chance you’re planning to collaborate with Mr. Ward?”
Alicia hesitated.
She wasn’t entirely familiar with the tensions between Corey and Caden, but his question didn’t feel like mere curiosity.
“Just dabbling,” she replied lightly.
Corey gave her a thoughtful look. “The year Mr. Ward returned, he launched a new product line that sold out immediately. Word is that success was partly your doing. If you can accomplish that with ‘dabbling,’ imagine what you’d achieve if you were fully committed. I’d have no room left.”
Alicia managed a polite, slightly strained smile. “Mr. Hampton, you’re flattering me. You’re already leading the market here. I wouldn’t be taking any of your share.”
Corey just smiled, saying nothing more.
For over a month, he’d been observing the shifts in the industry.
He knew Caden had intentions to expand domestically. Every market was a fierce battleground, and Caden was known for his unrelenting business approach.
Once he established himself, he rarely left room for competitors, securing resources in a way that stifled anyone who tried to enter the field.
Corey felt he had two choices: either settle for whatever was left or be the one to dominate first.
As he prepared to leave, Corey turned back to her. “Ms. Bennett, I’m looking forward to seeing your work. Let’s have dinner sometime.”
Alicia smiled, nodding. “I’ll make sure to host you properly.”
After Corey left, she realized how tense she’d been throughout their conversation.
That evening, as she leaned comfortably against Caden, she asked, “Have you had any recent business conflicts with Corey?”
Caught off guard by her mention of another man, Caden’s expression turned curious. “Why do you ask?”
“He commissioned a painting from me,” Alicia replied. “And he asked about my investments. It almost felt like he was… probing for information about you.”
Caden’s gaze darkened slightly as he thought it over. “I’ll look into it.”
Alicia thought back to her conversation with Corey.
He’d been charming, but there was something elusive in his manner, making it hard to gauge his true intentions.
“So, what kind of person is Corey?” she asked innocently. “Would you say he’s a good man?”
Caden shrugged. “As long as he doesn’t try to undermine me, he’s a good enough man.”
Sensing she wouldn’t get more out of him, Alicia yawned, feeling the weight of the day catching up with her. “Once the painting’s ready, I plan to invite him over for dinner. Would you like to join us?”
Caden paused his gentle touch on her back. “I don’t have time for unnecessary dinners.”
Alicia gave a small pout. “Suit yourself.”
Later, Caden discovered that his recent business moves had unintentionally unsettled Corey.
His grand return had attracted several well-funded partners who’d cut ties with Corey to join his ventures. With his packed schedule, Caden hadn’t noticed the impact on Corey.
But why would Corey suddenly commission a painting from Alicia?
Caden called Hank and asked, “Has Yolanda been seeing Corey often lately?”
Hank replied, “They’ve met a few times.”
Fortunately, Hank sensed something was amiss and arranged for surveillance in Devarlton.
Unlike his boss, Caden, who was so head over heels in love that his life revolved around work, followed by a mad dash home to his sweetheart, Hank was more cautious. After receiving the answer, Caden said a few words and hung up the phone.
Hank pushed the door open and asked, “Is something wrong, Mr. Ward?”
Caden remained silent, lost in thought.
However, Corey buying paintings and meeting with Yolanda felt connected in a way that left him uneasy.
It certainly didn’t seem like a good sign.
Piecing together the situation, Hank exclaimed in surprise, “Corey used to stay in the Moss family’s residence for a while. Could he be plotting to use them against us?”
Caden responded coldly, “I don’t think so.”
If Corey had wanted to oppose him, he would have done so long ago.
But that wasn’t the kind of person he was.
Once, they had been friends, but the pull of competition and the temptation of profit had eventually driven them apart.
Yet Corey was not the type to destroy others for personal gain.
Hank reminded him, “Mr. Ward, people can change. Corey built his empire from the ground up. He’s tasted the sweetness of wealth and luxury, and his appetite for riches might be insatiable.”
Caden listened, understanding Hank’s concerns. To prepare for the worst, he had two options to choose from.
The first was to ally with Corey, returning those clients to demonstrate his loyalty.
The second was to confront any challenge head-on, regardless of who stood in his way.
Hank considered this carefully; he knew Caden would never choose the first option.
He appeared courageous and wise, but beneath the surface, pride often overshadowed his willingness to seek reconciliation.
Caden remained silent, allowing Hank to leave. Since Corey hadn’t made a move yet, there was no reason to rush things.
He wanted to observe how the first move would unfold before taking any action.
Meanwhile, when Corey received the painting, a smile spread across his face.
He admired it with a glance, pausing for a moment before looking again. “I’ve always admired your mother’s paintings, but sadly, she created so few. The only one she did finish, you’ve kept as a rare treasure. I couldn’t even buy it if I tried. I didn’t expect you to inherit all her talents.”
Alicia’s eyes flickered at his words. “Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Hampton.”
With a graceful gesture, she invited Corey into the private room.
As Alicia turned to lead the way, she felt a gaze lingering on her back. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Caden watching her intently.
In the sweltering summer heat, Caden’s casually worn custom shirt exuded an air of relaxed confidence. As he strode over, Alicia couldn’t help but smile. “I thought you weren’t coming?”
Seeing him now filled her heart with joy and warmth.
Caden noticed the blush creeping onto her cheeks, a clear sign of her attraction, and raised his eyebrows slightly. “I was just having dinner nearby and thought I’d swing by to see how you handle big clients.” His teasing tone made Alicia playfully pinch his waist, only to discover it was solid muscle beneath her fingers. She really wanted to know how many times a day he needed to train to achieve this level of definition.
Leading Alicia into the private room, Caden spotted Corey admiring the sunflower painting, a gentle smile gracing Corey’s lips and warmth flickering in his eyes.
Such a sight was rare for him.
Caden pondered silently, thinking that perhaps Corey had a special someone in his heart.
But the painting’s style didn’t seem like something that would win a woman’s heart.
Was it for a child, maybe?
Corey had been involved with a few women but had never settled down.
The likelihood of him having a child was slim, and if he had, the media would have reported it by now.
When Corey spotted them entering together, he quickly put away the painting, and the warmth in his expression faded.