Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Startled, Yolanda spun around and slipped the phone into her pocket.
“Don’t sneak up on people like that, Corey! Trying to give someone a heart attack?” she snapped, masking her unease.
For a brief second, she’d thought it was Caden.
Corey’s eyes narrowed, unimpressed.
“It’s done. The next part is up to you. Don’t mess it up.”
Yolanda’s expression hardened as she forced herself to refocus.
“I won’t,” she said, her voice cold.
“Caden’s upcoming proposal will be the talk of Warrington. Alicia could die happy.”
Not wanting to be alone in her cold apartment, Alicia decided to visit Ciara at Joy Mansion. The recent chaos in Caden’s life had cast a heavy shadow over the entire household. Ciara had some inkling of what was happening but chose to feign ignorance, wanting to spare her family from additional stress. Benedict, meanwhile, was buried under a mountain of work.
After making sure Ciara was settled for the night, Alicia ventured into the study.
“Benedict, there’s something important I need to hand over to you,” she said. Benedict, still engaged in a phone call, merely glanced at her as she interrupted him and continued his conversation near the window. Alicia waited, her hands neatly clasped in front of her.
About ten minutes later, Benedict finally turned to face her.
“Please don’t make things harder for me,” he said, his voice tinged with restrained frustration.
“I’m really busy at the moment and can’t deal with you right now.”
Alicia wasn’t sure whether his annoyance stemmed from Caden’s dilemmas or a general disapproval of her, but the urgency of the matter pushed her to persist. She stepped closer to the desk.
“I’ve got a proposal that might interest you. Can we discuss it?”
Without looking up, Benedict sighed, his patience clearly thinning.
“Proceed.”
Alicia handed him a folder.
“I’ve been consulting with Jeffrey, the attorney, to get a clear picture of Blizzard Group’s dynamics. It turns out, before Caden established the firm, it had fallen under the Moss family’s influence – a detail Caden underestimated, and now Dorian is capitalizing on that oversight.”
“I’ve considered several strategies, but they’re insufficient. Our best move is to swiftly channel scarce resources and build a new operational base in Warrington to cut our losses.” Benedict finally gave her his full attention, offering a significant look.
“Did you talk about this with Caden?” Alicia shook her head.
“He’s been hiding the extent of the crisis from me, so I’ve been looking into it on my own.”
Benedict scoffed.
“You really are good at doing things stealthily.”
Alicia compressed her lips, firm in her resolve.
“Benedict, this isn’t the time for internal conflict. It won’t help Caden.”
Benedict’s anger surged, and he slammed the document down.
“Caden’s predicament is because of you! I warned him early on that you two were ill-matched and he should cut his losses, but he wouldn’t listen. Now, with him facing ruin, are you satisfied?”
The sting of his words pierced Alicia deeply. It seemed approval hinged on the tides of fortune. When Caden thrived, Alicia was an ally. When he faltered, she became a liability.
With resolve, Alicia said, “Caden will not face bankruptcy. He will fight against it, and so will I.”
“You? What could you possibly contribute?” Benedict scoffed, flinging her proposal aside.
“The Ward family doesn’t need your scraps of land. Just go home!”
Alicia gripped the document tightly.
“The assets and savings I bring to Caden might be modest, but they represent my life’s work, a safety net for him.”
Exhausted from the confrontation, Alicia said, “I’ll leave you to it. I need to discuss this with Caden.”
Benedict retorted sharply, “Don’t bother him. If you truly want to be of use, get to the root of the problem.”
Alicia exited the study without a backward glance and slammed the door behind her. Benedict’s face reddened with anger.
“The nerve to storm out on me!”
Alone in the hallway, Alicia was torn. She examined her proposal. Despite her best efforts, drawing on every resource and connection available, her proposal seemed insufficient to sustain the sprawling Blizzard Group.
What was her best course of action? Should she follow their counsel and leave Caden to avoid worsening the conflict?
Alicia wasn’t sure how long she stood there, freezing, until numbness took over her limbs. She slumped to the floor, tempted to call Caden but hesitant to interrupt him. Instead, she texted, saying, “Have you finished yet?” His response came ten minutes later, “Almost there.”
The message, perhaps meant to reassure her, filled her with warmth. Even if it was just to comfort her, it meant the world.
Alicia’s emotions surged as she responded, “Caden, I miss you so much.”
Caden said, “I’m tied up until late tonight. I’ll arrange for someone to pick you up. After I deal with Gareth, I’ll join you.”
Alicia replied, “Where are you currently?”
Caden shared a hotel location that was close to the airport.
Knowing Gareth was returning today, Alicia didn’t dwell on it. She asked, “Is Gareth proving difficult?”
Caden answered, “There’s no one left I can rely on, Lucky.” A lump formed in Alicia’s throat as sadness overwhelmed her. She gave him her location, and shortly, Caden’s driver pulled up. The driver was a new face, prompting Alicia to wonder when Caden had made the switch. She reasoned that no one would use his car without his explicit consent.
Nevertheless, she cautiously activated her GPS to verify that the location was indeed the hotel, as mentioned. She hesitated before making a call, but then a message from Caden popped up, saying, “Hank’s with me, so I just had a driver pick you up on the fly.” Alicia smiled. Caden’s thoroughness never failed to anticipate her concerns.
Upon arrival at the hotel, Alicia grabbed some of Caden’s favorite late-night treats before using her keycard to enter the room. She called out, “Caden?” but the room was empty.
Suddenly, a loud thud startled Alicia as the door slammed shut from the outside. Realizing the gravity of the situation, she dashed to the door and tugged at the handle, only to find it firmly locked.
Alicia felt a surge of imminent danger engulfing her, like a powerful wave crashing over her.
Alicia’s heart sank as she realized she was caught in a snare. Rather than scanning the room, she focused solely on the door, her anxiety mounting. The hotel boasted state-of-the-art security. Despite Alicia’s forceful attempts to turn the handle, it remained immovable.
She hurriedly took out her phone to call Caden, only to be met with a constant busy tone. Meanwhile, texts from Caden continued to buzz her phone.
“Lucky, have you arrived?”
A shiver coursed through Alicia as she read the message, her hands beginning to shake. Had someone stolen or snatched his phone? But Caden was wary by nature. How could anyone have taken away his phone easily?
Then she considered the car and the location details. Was it feasible for all of this to have been orchestrated so swiftly? It seemed far-fetched. Alicia was hesitant to accept this reality, yet she was more apprehensive about contemplating further. Could it really be… that all this was orchestrated by Caden himself? Had he turned against her too?
Alicia vehemently shook her head, dispelling such unreliable thoughts. Another text from Caden pinged. He said, “Lucky, why aren’t you responding?” Her pulse quickened as her fingers fumbled to type, saying, “Who is this?”
Caden replied immediately, “I’m your fianc?, Lucky.” This response heightened Alicia’s terror. It didn’t sound like Caden at all. From the moment she had responded, it seemed that someone else was using Caden’s phone to reply.
Though his location still showed as active and nearby, it appeared someone was maliciously manipulating the situation. Alicia quickly checked the room for any alarm systems, but it was clear that they had been disabled well before her arrival.
Just then, a soft noise from the bathroom caught her attention. Swiftly, Alicia picked up an object to use as a weapon, gripping it firmly in her hand. The bathroom door creaked open, and a disheveled man staggered out. He was visibly weak, his face red and his movements unsteady.
When he caught sight of Alicia, he stepped back. Alicia was shocked.
“Mr. Langstaff?” she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
Fear was evident in Blake’s eyes.
“Keep your distance!” he gasped, struggling for air, his speech slurred.
“Alicia, stay back.”
Having been drugged herself in the past, Alicia recognized the signs. Blake’s soaked appearance and erratic behavior made it clear that he had been drugged and manipulated. She surveyed the room quickly. They were alone.
Even though the man now standing before her was Blake, an acquaintance, Alicia did not lower her weapon. Instead, she concealed it behind her back as she took a step back.
“Mr. Langstaff, what brings you here?” Alicia asked, noticing that he hadn’t completely lost control.
“Who did you meet with earlier?” Alicia asked, her voice steady but laced with concern.
Blake grimaced in pain. Despite his past experiences with various substances, he was unfamiliar with whatever drug was coursing through his system. Trying to cool off in cold water had only worsened the symptoms.
Turning away from Alicia, Blake muttered, “I was supposed to be on a flight tonight. After drinking a cup of coffee, I blacked out and found myself here.”
Realizing that Blake wouldn’t be able to provide any more information in his current state, Alicia focused on her next steps. This felt like an attack orchestrated by the Moss family, aimed at hurting her through Blake. While Blake wasn’t closely related to Caden, any harm done to him would surely add more weight to Caden’s already difficult situation.
Alicia thought about calling the police, but soon discovered that the phone service had already been disconnected. Her last means of seeking help had been cut off. Frustration built up inside her, tightening her jaw.
Blake, still fighting the effects of the drug, began tearing off his clothes, his hands and feet bound in a desperate attempt to gain control.
“Alicia, keep your distance,” he urged weakly.
“I can handle the pain as long as you don’t get close to me.”
Alicia compressed her lips in silence, her eyes darting around the room. She scanned for anything else that could send out a signal. Her gaze eventually landed on an unusual doll on the TV cabinet.
Curious, Alicia crouched down for a closer inspection. One of the doll’s eyes was glowing with a red light.
Realizing it was a hidden camera, Alicia quickly dismantled it. But the moment she cracked it open, a mist burst forth, its sharp, pungent scent filling the air.
The odor was overwhelming, and before she could react, her thoughts became muddled. She collapsed to the floor, her body succumbing to the powerful effects of the gas.