Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“What do you want to discuss?”
Alicia clenched her teeth.
“Come home. We need to talk in person.”
Caden wasn’t in the mood to meet her, knowing it would likely lead to an argument.
“I can’t come back. I’m too drunk to drive.”
“I’ll come back after I’ve sobered up in the morning.”
Alicia opposed, “Stop with the excuses. Can’t you call a driver? Where is your chauffeur?”
“Do you really need me to spell it out?” Caden said irritably, loosening his tie.
“I don’t want to come home.”
Alicia fell quiet.
Caden, feeling a tightness in his throat, added, “It’s not that I can’t return. I’ll give you a chance to prove yourself. Come pick me up.”
Frustrated, Alicia slammed the phone down.
Caden’s irritation quickly turned to cold fear. He stood still, phone in hand, frozen.
Gerry, still drunk, leaned on Caden.
“More drinks? I can’t, or I’ll end up dead here.”
Caden pushed him away with a cold look and dialed Cliff.
Cliff arrived and startled Gerry awake with a sharp slap.
After a few minutes, Gerry groggily cursed, “Who the hell hit me?”
Caden stayed silent.
Gerry, leaning on Cliff’s shoulder, blinked.
“Cliff, why are you here? Are you really my brother?”
Without responding, Cliff smacked him on the head again.
“See clearly now?”
Gerry muttered, “Yeah, I see.”
Expressionless, Caden walked out with them, stepping into the night air to light a cigarette. The smoke surrounded his sharp features, emphasizing the loneliness on his face.
After throwing Gerry into the car, Cliff asked, “Need a lift home?”
Caden refused.
“Don’t worry about me.”
Cliff, noticing that something was bothering Caden, said, “You smell like alcohol.”
“Don’t drive carelessly. It’s better to have someone come get you.”
Caden took another drag from his cigarette.
Out of pride, he claimed, “Alicia will come for me.”
Cliff nodded in acknowledgment and drove away.
Caden knew that Alicia wouldn’t come. Yet, for reasons he couldn’t understand, he stayed where he was, waiting.
He wasn’t sure how long he waited.
It wasn’t until it began to drizzle that Caden noticed his clothes getting soaked, the cold wind chilling his skin.
Finally, he moved his legs, stumbled toward a nearby store, and sat in a chair outside.
Nearby, a group of teenagers were at a claw machine.
The lights flickered as Caden watched, an unlit cigarette in hand, observing their excited, youthful expressions.
They appeared to be local high school students.
A girl was trying to win a toy, with a boy looking on, admiration clear on his face.
After several unsuccessful attempts, the girl still hadn’t managed to grab one.
The boy offered, “If I manage to grab one, will you give me a kiss?”
The girl’s cheeks flushed.
“I don’t want to.”
The boy, amused by her reaction, was even more encouraged and pulled her into a hug.
She struggled, pointing out that they weren’t alone.
The boy scoffed.
“It’s just some random single guy.”
Caden, overhearing, was taken aback.
“What?” What did he just say?
“Who the heck told you I’m single?” he thought, annoyed.
The girl pressed herself against the boy’s chest.
“You still have to win that toy for me, but no kisses.”
The boy tried another approach.
“Not even a peck on the cheek?”
“No, I don’t want to.”
The boy hesitated, uncertain.
Just then, he noticed a shadow in front of him.
Looking up, he was startled to see Caden standing there.
Caden, smelling of alcohol, had a stern expression, like a judge.
Feeling slightly intimidated, the boy moved the girl aside.
Caden spoke in a cold tone.
“Go find another machine. I’ll handle this.”
The boy objected, “We’re not done here. Aren’t there other machines you can use?”
Caden was particularly irritated by the boy at that moment.
He asked the girl, “How old are you?”
The girl, seeming straightforward and sincere, answered, “I’m sixteen, sir.”
“Only sixteen and out this late? What kind of responsible person would have you out at this hour?”
The girl quickly defended, “Sir, he’s my boyfriend, and he’s a good guy.”
Caden sneered, “A good guy asks you out in the middle of the night? Today he dares to kiss you, and tomorrow he might do more. What kind of commitment can a sixteen-year-old offer? After he gets what he wants, he’ll leave.”
The boy became defensive and said, “That’s not true!”
Caden ignored the boy’s protests and dropped two coins into the machine.
With precision, he quickly grabbed two toys.
He held up the toys, his face still showing displeasure.
“You’re using these cheap tricks to win her over and making demands?”
The boy muttered under his breath, “What’s with this drunk? Why’s he meddling in our business?”
Finding no way to counter, the boy led the girl away.
Caden played again, inserting two more coins.
As the claw moved into position, a voice interrupted, “I’d like that dinosaur.”
Caden had already hit the button.
His movements were swift, and as the claw shook slightly, it grasped the dinosaur and dropped it successfully.