Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Alicia was confused. Her action of throwing the ring had been spontaneous. She hadn’t expected Caden to miss catching it, nor did she foresee the ring bouncing away and vanishing so quickly.
She walked over to the railing and peeked down. They were on the fourth floor of a shopping mall. With the crowd below, how could she possibly hope to spot such a tiny item once it fell to the ground floor?
Yet, that ring was deeply significant to Alicia.
She looked at Caden, who seemed visibly upset, and said firmly, “I’ll go look for it.”
Caden was visibly annoyed.
“In such a large area, how do you expect to find it?”
His biting tone only fueled her determination to defy him.
“How will I know unless I try? Maybe I’ll get lucky.” Her response was tinged with defiance.
“Once I find it, I’ll give it right back to you.”
Caden’s face turned even more sullen.
“Do we really have to speak to each other like this? It’s just a ring. Why argue?” he said sharply.
Alicia felt a pang of bitterness. He was correct. It was just a ring given to appease her. She had treasured it, deliberately wearing it on her middle finger since she hadn’t consented to marry him yet.
She placed great value on the symbolism of such gestures and their relationship. But for Caden, it seemed insignificant.
Alicia pressed her lips together and walked away resolutely.
Caden shouted, “Alicia!”
Alicia quickened her step.
Caden, clearly impacted by her gesture of throwing the ring, stayed put, his eyes fixed on her. He didn’t want her to get lost in the crowd.
Alicia headed to the ground floor and swiftly blended into the group of people, searching for the ring.
Caden furrowed his brows deeply. Agitated, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
As the call connected, his temper exploded. “When will the ring I ordered be ready?”
The person on the other end responded nervously, “Mr. Ward, please be assured. Our craftsmen are working extra hours to perfect it for you. It will certainly be ready before your engagement.”
Caden’s frustration mounted. “Before the engagement? Does it really have to come down to the last minute?”
The other party explained courageously, “Mr. Ward, you provided the diamond with only two months’ notice. We usually need six months to craft each piece of our finest jewelry.”
“Why wasn’t this mentioned when I paid triple the fee?”
The person quickly replied, “I did not mean it that way, Mr. Ward. I assure you, we’ll expedite it. Just a bit more patience, please. The longer it takes, the finer it will turn out, right?”
Caden, tired of the excuses, hung up abruptly.
Behind him, Yolanda lurked in a corner, watching all of his actions.
She had been shopping for clothes and didn’t expect to encounter Caden. Even though she resented him for being heartless towards her, she couldn’t help but feel her heart flutter at the sight of him after such a long time. He was the man she had cherished for years. How could she just let go? How could she be at peace seeing him so happy with another woman?
Yolanda bit her lip, her gaze uncertain. She entered a shop owned by someone she knew and murmured a few words to the male shopkeeper.
Caden saw Alicia, who seemed desperate, searching for the ring near the ground floor. He wasn’t truly enraged, just momentarily frustrated by her actions. However, his irritation quickly faded. Just as he was about to head downstairs to search for her, a scream suddenly erupted from a women’s clothing store behind him.
The voice was familiar. “Let go of me, or I will call the police!”
Caden turned his head sharply towards the sound. He witnessed Yolanda being forcefully seized by a man, who was aggressively pulling her inside. “No! Let me go!” Yolanda’s scream was piercing and full of fear. “Someone help me! Call the police!”
Yet, the store had few customers, and those present were simply watching. No one stepped forward to intervene. The male shopkeeper quickly pulled Yolanda into a fitting room.
“Let me go!” Yolanda’s cries were desperate, accompanied by the sound of a forceful slap. Then came the man’s angry voice. “You filthy bitch! How dare you hit me!”
Yolanda was shoved violently, crashing against the wooden door.
Her hair was yanked back, forcing her head to tilt as she screamed in agony. Seconds later, the man attempting to assault her was suddenly knocked away. Yolanda collapsed weakly to the floor, her eyes lifting to see Caden standing over her.
Caden’s expression was cold as he twisted the man’s arm, drawing a cry of pain and desperate pleas for mercy from him.
Tears streamed down Yolanda’s face as she clutched the torn pieces of her clothing and threw herself into Caden’s arms.
Caden pushed Yolanda away without hesitation. The man on the floor groaned, his broken hand rendering him unable to move. The scene fell into a tense silence as Caden’s cold eyes met Yolanda’s.
“Call the police yourself,” he said, his voice sharp and detached. With that, he turned to leave.
But Yolanda lunged forward, clinging to him with desperation. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, holding onto him as though he were her last hope.
“Please, don’t leave. Caden, I need you. Don’t go. I’m begging you.”
Caden’s jaw clenched as he tried to pry her fingers off. “Let go, Yolanda.”
But she held on tighter. She had sworn to herself that if Caden showed even a flicker of concern and came to her aid, she wouldn’t let him slip away again.
The difference in strength between them was stark. Yolanda’s injuries only made it more difficult for her to hold on. As he grabbed her wrist to push her away, his hand brushed against an old wound. Blood welled up immediately, staining her skin.
Caden paused, his eyes darkening at the sight. Yolanda flinched but didn’t loosen her grip.
“You still care, don’t you?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “You can’t stand to see me hurt. That’s why you came. Please, Caden, don’t go.”
“I’m scared.”
Ignoring her words, Caden pulled out his phone and called Regina. His tone was cold and clipped.
“I’m only handling this because I have a stake in this place. I won’t allow a scandal here. Get over here. Now.”
In fact, as soon as he saw Yolanda, he had already harbored skepticism, thinking that maybe this was another one of her manipulative games. But with her, anything was possible. She might really push herself to the brink. If she wanted to create chaos, she should do it somewhere else. He wasn’t willing to be caught in her turmoil.
Regina’s voice came through, promising to be there immediately. Caden ended the call and stared down at Yolanda, giving her one last, uncompromising warning.
“Yolanda, let go.”
Yolanda buried her face in his shoulder, her voice trembling. “I can’t, Caden.”
Caden’s expression hardened, revulsion twisting inside him as he felt her skin against his. Without hesitation, he gripped her wounded arm. A sharp cry escaped her lips.
“Caden… please.”
Meanwhile, Alicia had just arrived and was searching for Caden.
The sound of Yolanda’s voice stopped Alicia in her tracks, a buzzing filling her head as dread seeped into her chest. Slowly, she moved toward the noise.
“Please, Caden, don’t push me away,” Yolanda pleaded, tears streaking down her face. “Forgive me. We’ve known each other our whole lives. Do those years mean nothing now? You promised to marry me once. You admired my talent and my support. What is Alicia compared to that? She’s just another pretty face, and there will always be others. But how many can actually help you achieve your dreams?”
As her voice trailed off, Alicia stepped into view. The sight before her felt like a dagger – Yolanda clinging to Caden, his hand still gripping hers. Both turned to see her at the same time.
Caden’s heart dropped, and he opened his mouth to explain, but Yolanda tightened her hold, defiance sparking in her eyes. Anger flared inside him, and with one swift move, he wrenched himself free, sending Yolanda crashing against the door with a dull thud.
Caden turned to Alicia, his expression unreadable.
“Alicia…”
Alicia blinked, the sight snapping her back to the present. Instinctively, she took a step back. Caden’s face darkened as he saw the distance growing between them.
“Alicia, what’s that supposed to mean?”
Her eyes flicked over him, taking in the tear-streaked shirt, the blood, the unmistakable scent of Yolanda that clung to him. A wave of nausea washed over her, and she frowned.
“Your shirt is a mess. Maybe you should clean up first.”
She turned to leave, but he caught her wrist, holding it firmly.
“It’s not what it looks like,” he said, urgency lacing his words.
Alicia held her breath.
“I know.” She had seen him push Yolanda away.
Caden’s expression was cold as he spoke. “Then don’t act like I betrayed you. You know there’s nothing between me and Yolanda.”
From the floor, Yolanda’s voice broke the tension. “Caden, won’t you even look at me?”
Alicia’s gaze flickered over to Yolanda, who was now coughing up blood. The scene was painfully familiar, saturated with irony.
Alicia understood the complexity of Caden’s position, so she stepped aside. “Handle it yourself. I’ll be waiting outside.”
As she moved away, she noticed a group of bodyguards rushing in – Yolanda’s people – with Regina trailing behind at a brisk pace. Regina paused when she saw Alicia, then continued inside without a word.
Alicia turned her back on the chaos unfolding behind her. The sounds of Yolanda’s cries, Caden’s steady commands, and Regina’s calm but insistent voice filled the room. It was complete chaos.
Alicia wanted to walk away, but something rooted her in place, making it impossible to move. She told herself not to let anger take hold, not to make a scene. But how many conflicts had she and Caden faced because of Yolanda? When would it end?
“Alicia.”
She didn’t know how long she had been standing there when Caden’s voice cut through her thoughts.
She turned to see Regina’s bodyguards trying to escort Yolanda out. Yolanda, defiant and enraged, fought them off until Regina stepped forward and restrained her.
“Your wounds are exposed. We need to go to the hospital now,” Regina said sternly.