Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“Since you can’t have fun with me right now, why don’t you take this to the bathroom?”
Caden watched the item for a full thirty seconds, his expression unreadable.
“Did Gerry produce this?”
Alicia nodded.
“It has his signature-terrible movie style.”
She couldn’t help but smile, feeling both amused and sympathetic. “Just watch it.”
Instead, Caden pushed her hand down onto his shirt fabric. “Feel this.”
She blinked. “Why’s it so soft?”
“Because no man could be aroused after watching the adult movies he directed.”
Speechless, Alicia turned off the lights. They drifted to sleep in each other’s arms, but just as she relaxed, she sensed something.
She was startled. “Why is it getting hard again?”
Alicia arrived at the office the next day, only to find Blake…
Curious, Alicia asked his assistant, “Where’s Mr. Langstaff?”
The assistant shook his head. “It’s strange. He’s never late.” Alicia had something urgent for him, but his phone went straight to voicemail.
She felt a chill.
Then, she got a call from Corey’s assistant. “Ms. Bennett, Mr. Hampton would like to invite you for coffee at his office. Are you available?”
Her back stiffened.
Moments later, an email notification popped up. Alicia opened it to find photos of Blake tied up and unconscious.
He was unharmed… for now. But if Alicia refused Corey, that could change.
Alicia’s heart sank. She loathed Corey’s tactics but knew she had to tread carefully.
She immediately told Caden about the whole thing.
“Corey’s using Blake to force me to fix the chip. Lives are at stake. You need to help me save him.”
Caden’s voice turned icy. “You want me to save a rival? Some nerve you’ve got.”
Alicia felt her frustration build.
She knew Caden could separate personal matters from urgent ones, but he was holding out, testing her.
He also needed her to show some attitude.
Normally, she’d shy away, but urgency overpowered her embarrassment. “Caden, could you stop being so childish?”
He replied lazily, “If I’m in a good mood, I’ll get someone to save him this instant.”
Alicia clenched her jaw.
Taking a breath, she asked, “Alright, then what will it take to put you in a good mood?”
Caden’s lips curled into a smirk. “Remember how you usually make it up to me in bed?”
Her face turned crimson. “Can you be serious for once? Blake’s life is at risk, and you’re still teasing me. He’s your nephew.”
“Time’s ticking. Keep talking, and he might actually be in danger.”
Alicia fell silent.
When she didn’t respond, Caden prompted, “Well?”
She glanced around, closed her office door, and whispered, “Honey…”
Corey wasn’t foolish enough to act like Joshua by threatening Alicia with someone else’s life.
After taking Blake away, he wasted no time calling Caden. “I just got my hands on Blake’s phone. Guess what secret I uncovered?” Corey chuckled, his voice filled with mischief.
Caden felt his curiosity spark at Corey’s words.
“What is it?”
Corey replied, “His phone wallpaper is a side profile shot of Alicia’s face.”
Silence enveloped the conversation on the other end of the line.
“Isn’t Blake your nephew?” Corey asked. “Alicia was once your younger brother’s wife. Now, your relative has developed a crush on her. Is there some genetic trait in the Ward family that makes you all unable to see what’s right under your noses?”
Caden let out a light laugh. “There are plenty of people who find Alicia appealing. Blake is just one of many. I even give you the green light to like her, but just know you will end up alone.”
Corey scoffed, “Feelings can be fickle, Caden. Are you really so sure Alicia will remain devoted to you forever?”
“Yes, I’m pretty sure.”
Corey had never met someone so conceited before.
He returned to the matter at hand. “I can tell Alicia cares about this shareholder. He is an obstacle to your future with Alicia, but I assume you don’t mind, right?”
Caden snorted in response.
Corey continued, “The chip needs to be repaired, and I have no other options. As long as Alicia agrees to help me, I’ll return Blake unharmed. I hope you won’t interfere with this, Caden.”
Caden replied, “Corey, you didn’t have to make this call.”
Corey narrowed his gaze, struggling to decipher Caden’s true intentions.
“What do you mean?”
Caden replied, “Blake is in your territory now. Do what you will with him. It’s none of my concern now. Even if he dies there, it won’t matter.”
Corey was at a loss for words.
He was taken aback by Caden’s ruthless reaction, realizing that he had grossly underestimated Caden’s cold-heartedness. Reluctantly, he had to admit that Caden was too petty to show any mercy, even to a relative.
Shortly after they ended the call, Caden went to see Alicia.
“Are you willing to help Corey?”
At first, Alicia hesitated to get involved, but with Blake captured, it became clear that Corey was no pushover.
To avoid escalating the situation further, she knew she had to tread carefully.
“What’s your take on this?” Alicia asked, seeking Caden’s perspective.
Caden shrugged, his indifference palpable.
“It’s up to you.”
Alicia pressed on, “Are you feeling threatened?”
Caden’s lips curled slightly.
He hadn’t given Corey a second thought when he was at the top of his game, much less now.
“Go ahead,” he said. “Doing a good deed might earn you some good karma. But if Corey is pushed to his breaking point and takes his own life, that would just be a pity, wouldn’t it?”
Alicia was left speechless.
She couldn’t stomach Caden’s pretentious attitude.
Alicia decided to leave immediately, packing light as she set off to find Corey.
She warned, “Caden, if I’m in any danger, I’ll call you. Make sure you answer your phone.”
Caden lounged in the chair where Alicia usually sat, lazily propping his head up with a fist. “We’ll see about that.”
Alicia ground her teeth in frustration.
Knowing he was just teasing her, she feigned calmness. “You don’t need to see the future. Life and death are destined, and luck is beyond our grasp. At worst, I’ll just meet my end out there.”
Caden raised an eyebrow and said, “If that happens, I’ll just find someone prettier to be my next girlfriend.”
Alicia sneered at his remark. “Who could possibly put up with you?”
“If you can put up with me, then others certainly can too.”
Unwilling to back down, Alicia added, “That’s fantastic. I was actually considering finding someone new as well. Your stamina is wearing me out.”
Caden teased, “Who was it that said they wanted a strong man bigger than me? If I’m too much for you, are you looking for someone even bigger?”
Alicia smirked and replied, “I will find someone bigger and not as enduring as you.”
Caden burst into laughter, the sound echoing in the room. “Only I can handle your sharp tongue.”
Fed up with the banter, Alicia walked over and gave him a playful kick. “Get up! Who said you could sit in my chair?”