Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
He opened his laptop and pulled up the confidential files of Blizzard Group. The files detailed the shareholder relationships from the company’s inception, including comprehensive profiles of each key person. Ranked third was Gareth Morales, one of Caden’s most trusted co-founders working overseas.
Earlier that day, Caden had been informed that Gareth had been shot and was now critically wounded in the hospital.
The bodyguard reported, “Gareth was shot at his residence. The bullet was extracted immediately, and the crime scene was sanitized. The FBI is involved, but they haven’t found any significant leads yet.”
Caden’s face was stern as he asked, “How is he?”
The bodyguard responded, “Not well. The bullet hit a major artery, and he’s still in critical condition from the massive blood loss.”
If they were fortunate, they might get to see him one last time.
The success of Blizzard Group today was largely attributable to its founding partners. They were not only indispensable to Caden but also like family.
With Gareth in trouble, the next targets would likely be the other partners, followed by Caden himself.
Caden shut his laptop, a deep weariness settling over him as the sense of impending disaster loomed large. It felt as if everything around him could shatter at any second.
The car sped down the road, the hum of the engine pushing against the quiet tension. Caden trusted his medical team – there was no doubt in their expertise. But that wasn’t the issue gnawing at him. He needed to find out who was pulling the strings behind this chaos.
The bodyguard’s voice broke the silence.
“Our team is in position, sir. We should have answers in three days.”
Caden’s jaw tightened.
“Three days won’t be enough. They’ve hired professionals – assassins. Finding them could take weeks. We can’t waste time and resources chasing shadows.”
The bodyguard hesitated, then asked, “What do you want us to do, Mr. Ward?”
“Focus on protecting the other shareholders and their families.”
A heavy silence settled over the car as the gravity of the situation sank in.
When they reached the hospital, Caden stepped out and walked briskly inside. Gareth was still in surgery. He stood in the hallway, patiently waiting. Time dragged on, and the surgical light above the operating room remained on.
Out of the corner of his eye, Caden noticed a familiar figure down the hallway – Dorian.
He seemed to be passing by, but when he noticed Caden, he averted his gaze and picked up his pace. Before he could slip away, the bodyguards blocked his path.
“Mr. Moss,” the lead bodyguard said, his tone firm. “Mr. Ward wants a word.”
Dorian turned, meeting Caden’s gaze with a blank expression. Caden stood motionless, his face as cold as stone.
With a forced smile, Dorian walked over, trying to maintain the pretense of a concerned friend.
“Caden, when did you get here? I heard things with Alicia are going well. I even heard you’re planning to propose. Congratulations.”
Caden’s eyes remained fixed on Dorian, unflinching.
“You seem well-informed.”
Dorian’s smile tightened.
“Didn’t you have someone inform Yolanda? You even sent the designer of my wedding ring to her to drop hints about your proposal plans, knowing it would push her to act rashly.”
A flicker of realization crossed Caden’s face. The abrupt cancellation of the designer’s contract now made sense.
“So, you held a grudge and decided violence was the answer?” Caden asked.
Dorian raised an eyebrow, his voice feigning innocence.
“Who exactly is lying in that operating room?”
Caden took a step forward, his tone sharp as a blade.
“Dorian Moss, you’re standing at the gates of hell. Are you still going to play the hypocrite in the face of death?”
Caden had never used Dorian’s full name before.
The shift in Caden’s demeanor brought an unexpected glimmer of satisfaction to Dorian’s face.
“One shareholder down, and you’re already shaken. Caden, being sentimental doesn’t suit you.”
Caden’s fist tightened slowly. He knew he was young – too young, perhaps. It was his soft heart that had led him to repeatedly excuse the Moss family’s schemes, paying for it dearly each time. But youth also carried its own fierce edge. It placed Caden at a disadvantage, but his inner resolve was formidable.
“If anything happens to Gareth, you won’t make it back to Warrington alive,” Caden said, his voice steady, each word delivered with precision.
Dorian let out a scoff.
“What do you have besides money, Caden? Do you really think you can take me on?”
At that, Caden’s bodyguards moved in, surrounding Dorian. But Dorian’s expression remained steady, unfazed by the looming threat.
“If your men so much as touch me, I’ll ensure the hospital’s life support is shut down. Gareth will die instantly.”
Caden stilled. The bodyguards exchanged glances, hesitant to make a move.
Dorian stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur.
“Caden, I never wanted Gareth dead. I’m giving you a chance here. We’ve known each other for years; I’d rather not turn this into a battle for survival.”
Caden’s lips curled into a cold sneer.
“What kind of ‘chance’ are you offering? Marrying Yolanda?”
Dorian’s eyes glimmered with defiance as he raised his chin.
“You no longer have the right to choose. All you can do is become Yolanda’s boytoy, regardless of whether you’re willing.”
A dark, taunting smile spread across Caden’s face.
“Is she that desperate to marry me? My dog hasn’t found a mate yet – maybe Yolanda should consider that.”
Dorian’s eyes flared with anger, his pupils narrowing dangerously. Rage simmered beneath the surface, but he forced himself to remain composed.
Caden knew Dorian’s influence ran deep in the hospital, but he’d never let that stop him from saying what needed to be said. He met Dorian’s gaze, unflinching. No one was going to have the upper hand here.
Dorian’s voice was low and venomous.
“I’ll wait for you to witness Gareth’s end.”
“And I’ll be there to witness yours,” Caden shot back, his voice equally frigid.
With a derisive glance, Dorian turned and strode away.
As soon as he was gone, Caden took out his phone and called other hospitals, preparing backup plans to move Gareth if necessary. Dorian had lost all restraint and was capable of anything now.
Moments later, the doors to the operating room burst open. A doctor emerged, his gloved hands covered in blood.
“Who is the patient’s family?”
Caden moved forward instantly.
“I am. What’s going on with Gareth?”
The doctor’s face was drawn with concern.
“There’s an unexpected shortage of medication from the warehouse. The patient’s wounds are severe, and we’re struggling to control the bleeding. Without the necessary drugs, his condition will worsen quickly. Mr. Ward, you need to act fast.”
Caden’s gaze darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes.
Damn it. Dorian was really pushing the limits.
“I’ll have the medicine delivered right now,” Caden said, rolling up his sleeves.
“Gareth’s blood type is A. Use mine if needed.”
Gareth’s fate now depended on the timely arrival of crucial medication. All Caden could do was keep him alive as long as possible.
During the blood transfusion process, Caden asked, “How much blood does Gareth need?”
The doctor responded wearily, “A significant amount. I’ll assess based on your health. Do any of your bodyguards have type A blood?”
Caden replied, “This situation arose so abruptly. I brought only a few bodyguards, and they’re all out securing the medication.”
Additionally, substance abuse was prevalent in this region. Without thorough health screenings, he couldn’t risk using their blood.
Caden offered to donate his own.
“Start with me.” He had been consistently working out, ensuring his physical condition was optimal. For him, a little blood loss was manageable.
Nevertheless, even with his strong body, Caden’s complexion grew noticeably paler once the needle was removed. He bandaged his arm and turned his attention to Gareth, who was barely breathing.
A troubling thought persisted in his mind. His team and the police were investigating the shooter, yet no trace had been found. Could the assailant have simply disappeared?
After severing Gareth’s artery, the attacker had extracted the bullet before fleeing. That bullet should have been key evidence, and the assailant likely removed it fearing it could be traced back to him.
Before Caden could delve deeper into his thoughts, the medical equipment began to sound urgent alarms.
Despite the blood transfusion, without the medication, Gareth’s blood was leaking out again, causing his vital signs to drop rapidly. Caden hurried out to ask about the medication’s status.
The bodyguard was just reporting over the phone that it was nearly there when suddenly a loud bang cut off the conversation. The phone line went dead.