Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
At the rate you’re going, you could be a dad within a month.”
Caden clicked his tongue, showing a mix of frustration and amusement.
“Well, it won’t be for lack of trying.”
Alicia laughed, half annoyed, shoving him playfully.
“Enough with your cheeky humor. You don’t sound like any CEO I know.”
After a moment of shared laughter, she turned her back, a wave of sadness washing over her, not wanting him to see her conflicted expression.
Caden said, “Alicia, I’m heading out.”
“Okay.”
The sounds of traffic and the wind faded quickly into silence behind her.
After a moment, Alicia turned around, half-hoping to catch another glimpse of his departing figure, only to find Caden still there, hand in his pocket, a soft smile playing on his lips, the charm of his features undeniable.
His tone was gentle but firm.
“Why look away? Won’t you see me off?”
Alicia’s eyes warmed with affection.
He knew her reluctance well, yet he playfully nudged her emotions.
Upon seeing Caden, Gareth felt all his strength collapse, and he dropped to his knees.
Caden regarded him indifferently.
Head bowed, Gareth was spent.
“Caden, there’s nothing I can say to alter the past. I don’t expect your forgiveness.”
Caden took a seat, elegantly crossing his long legs with a stern look on his face.
As someone lit a cigarette for him, Caden placed it between his lips but refrained from inhaling.
He questioned coldly, “So, why return? Just to sicken me?”
Gareth was slumped forward, his face hidden in his hands as tears quietly streamed down.
“Ever since I betrayed you, I’ve been haunted day and night. I shattered your trust and wasted your efforts. I might as well be dead.”
Caden’s eyes darkened, his emotions swirling beneath his intimidating gaze. The financial losses were bearable. He knew there would be chances to regain what was lost. Yet, the deepest sting came from Gareth’s betrayal-a man he had considered more than a friend. Dorian had chosen well, knowing exactly who would cut deepest with their treachery.
Gareth pleaded, “Caden, please stop fighting. The other shareholders have turned against you. There’s no way forward.”
Caden scoffed, “I assumed you were here to make amends, yet you’re trying to sway me. Don’t you fear the nightmares that might come if you surpass me?”
Gareth, observing the scorn in Caden’s eyes, felt his heart break further.
“Caden, you haven’t had a wife and children. You can’t grasp my suffering.”
Caden retorted, “Even so, I wouldn’t be so cruel.” He was not about to lie down passively, to be slaughtered and served up as another’s feast.
Tears reddened Gareth’s eyes as he sobbed.
“Did you watch the video of my son being killed?”
Caden replied dismissively, “That’s not my concern.”
“Before he died, they burned him so badly that he was unrecognizable. They peeled away another layer of his skin and soaked it in saltwater while he was still alive.”
“He endured unbearable pain until he finally passed away. His remains were then scattered. I couldn’t even gather his whole body.”
Caden’s hand quivered, sending ash from his cigarette scattering onto the floor. He remembered holding Gareth’s elder son – a boy full of hope and potential. The assassin from Corey had been sly and merciless.
With a weary shake of his head, Gareth’s voice cracked as he spoke.
“Caden, I don’t have the luxury of choosing my own fate. I have a younger son and a wife who still need me. Even dying isn’t an option for me.”
Caden pressed his cigarette into the ashtray, the last traces of bitterness fading from his expression. There truly was no other path.
“Yes, I understand,” he said, his voice calm but distant.
“Go back, Gareth. From this moment on, we’re strangers. Our paths will never cross again.”
Gareth’s shoulders slumped, the weight of his current situation and Caden’s words heavy on him as others helped him out of the room.
Caden sat motionless, silence engulfing him. It felt as though he were trapped in an unending nightmare, facing fear and despair with unsettling clarity.
Meanwhile, Yolanda lingered at the doorway, watching him. She knew every detail of Dorian’s schemes and understood that Caden’s fall was inevitable. He had been betrayed by those he trusted most, his efforts crushed in a heartbeat.
For a man once brimming with ambition, the blow was devastating. Yolanda’s heart tightened. After watching him silently, she stepped inside.
“Caden.”
He remained motionless, eyes fixed on the void ahead.
Yolanda approached slowly, offering a cup of coffee. She crouched in front of him, her eyes searching his.
“Caden, you can’t let this destroy you. Life will test you, knock you down, but you have to find a way to stand up again.”
His gaze didn’t shift.
“Leave.”
Yolanda flinched at the coldness in his voice, but she steadied herself and set the cup down.
“I need to tell you something,” she said, her voice quivering.
“I’ve been afraid to bring it up, worried it would push you too far.”
She waited for a sign, anything, but his face remained stone-like.
“Gareth showed signs of betrayal long before the incident. My father was the first to notice, and he made plans to act before it was too late.”
Caden narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Yolanda with suspicion.
She took a steadying breath before continuing, “My father never meant for it to go this far. He resented you for hurting me, Caden. That’s why he manipulated Gareth to push you into a corner. But you misunderstood his intentions – he was trying to protect you, to free you from a toxic influence.”
Caden’s expression remained guarded.
“If what you’re saying is true, I need proof.”
Yolanda had come prepared.
“I anticipated that. There’s someone who kept meticulous records of Gareth’s early embezzlement and secret alliances. I can bring him to you now if you wish.”
Caden held her gaze.
Years of navigating deception in their ruthless industry had sharpened his instincts. Her words, though calculated, rang with a semblance of truth. He had suspected that Gareth’s betrayal was more than just cowardice. If it hadn’t been, why hadn’t Gareth come to him for help when it all began to crumble?
After a tense moment, Caden nodded.
“Take me to him.”
Relief washed over Yolanda’s face, and a small, hopeful smile broke through.
“Caden, you should have seen this sooner. In this world, strong alliances are everything. Sacrificing yourself only leaves you broken.”
Caden stood, his presence commanding the room and radiating a quiet strength that made Yolanda’s pulse quicken. She reached out, her hand hovering near his arm.
“Caden-“
He sidestepped her touch without a word, striding past her and into the hallway. Yolanda’s heart sank momentarily, but the anticipation of their next move rekindled her resolve. She followed him, determined.
Caden arrived at Dorian’s stronghold, where he was required to abide by their rules. A guard stepped forward, his tone respectful yet firm.
“Mr. Ward, we’ll need you to surrender any devices. I hope you understand.”
Caden’s only focus was resolving this as swiftly as possible so he could return to Alicia. Without resistance, he complied with the guards’ instructions.
This was Warrington – Dorian couldn’t risk harming him here. Once he stepped into the dimly lit room, the heavy door shut behind him. Yolanda emerged from the shadows and strode over to the bodyguard. The bodyguard, ready for this moment, handed Caden’s phone to her.
Yolanda took it, a subtle smile playing on her lips. She retreated to a quiet corner, her eyes intent as she examined the device. As a skilled tech researcher, bypassing a password was child’s play. Caden’s phone, simple and devoid of intricate security measures, was unlocked easily.
She navigated to WhatsApp, her fingers moving with purpose. At the top was a pinned contact: Lucky.
Lucky?
The name was unfamiliar to Yolanda, but a quick glance at the profile confirmed her suspicion it was Alicia.
“Lucky…” she whispered, tasting the name as jealousy flared within her.
It was a term of endearment, an affectionate moniker reserved for someone special. A nickname Caden must have given Alicia. For a man like Caden, who was always consumed with work and responsibilities, such small, tender gestures were rare. But with Alicia, he’d made an exception. He loved her deeply in a way that cut through his stoic exterior.
Yolanda’s chest tightened, and bitterness coiled inside her like a snake. She was lost in this jealousy until Corey’s voice cut through her thoughts.
“What are you doing, standing there like that?”