Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Aylin set the receiver down and glanced up to see Benedict descending the staircase, a deep frown on his face.
“Good morning, Mr. Ward,” she greeted.
He halted, eyes narrowing.
“Who’s on the phone?”
“It’s Mr. Caden Ward,” Aylin said.
“He’s asking if Ms. Bennett is here. Have you seen her?”
Benedict’s expression tightened, the mention of Alicia’s name twisting his features as if it were a bitter taste.
“Leave. I’ll handle this,” he said, waving her off.
Sensing the tension, Aylin nodded and hurried away, eager to avoid whatever conflict was brewing. Just moments earlier, Benedict had received an anonymous call claiming that Alicia had betrayed Caden. The caller even gave the name of a hotel. Benedict didn’t know whether it was true, but he knew he had to verify it himself. The timing was suspicious, and he had no idea why someone would send him such news. But one thing was clear – Caden couldn’t find out. Not now. Caden had been through too much lately, and if Alicia had betrayed him, it would shatter him completely.
“Benedict, why aren’t you saying anything?” Caden’s sharp voice cut through Benedict’s thoughts.
Benedict blinked, gripping the receiver tighter.
“She’s here at Joy Mansion,” he lied, the weight of the words pressing down on him.
“I’ll have her call you once she wakes up.”
Caden wasn’t convinced.
“Have her call me now. Tell Aylin to knock on her door.”
Silence hung between them for a few heavy seconds, enough to deepen Caden’s suspicion.
“She isn’t there, is she?” Caden’s voice was heavy, strained.
“Benedict, this is too important. Don’t keep me in the dark.”
The mix of worry and fear in Caden’s voice twisted at Benedict’s conscience. Even through exhaustion, Caden’s concern for Alicia was unwavering. What was it about her that inspired such loyalty? Benedict couldn’t comprehend it.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment.
“Caden, I’m ending the call now. I’ll reach out to you later.”
“Benedict, wait!” Caden shouted, but the only response was the dull tone of a disconnected line.
Caden’s jaw clenched as anger surged through him. He kicked his chair aside and stormed out, his mind racing with unspoken fears.
Benedict set out immediately, his mind racing. Whether the rumors about Alicia were true or baseless, he had to see for himself. If they proved false, it would be a relief. But if they were true, he needed to find a way to contain the damage, at least until Caden was free from his current obligations.
The car screeched to a halt outside the hotel, the chaos of the bustling ground floor hitting him as soon as he entered the building. Benedict’s chest tightened – he might have arrived too late.
Pushing past the throng of people, he hurried up the stairs, ignoring the curious glances thrown his way.
Inside the suite, Alicia was jarred awake by the noise. Her eyes fluttered open, her head pounding as though split in two. Disoriented, she glanced around the room, memories of the night before rushing back in jagged fragments.
Dread pooled in her stomach. She sat up quickly, the blanket slipping to reveal she was clad only in her undergarments, red scratches crisscrossing her skin. Her breath caught as her gaze shifted to Blake, lying next to her, equally undressed and deathly still. Her eyes widened in horror at the sight of dried blood under his fingernails and streaking the white sheets. The shattered vase on the floor explained the cut on his arm. Blake’s face was pale, almost lifeless, as he lay unconscious.
Heart racing, Alicia forced herself to get dressed. She reached over and shook him, her voice quivering.
“Blake… wake up.”
Blake didn’t move. Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted from outside the room. Alicia’s pulse quickened as a crowd of reporters surged into the room, their cameras clicking furiously, flashes blinding her eyes. Clutching the torn blanket to cover herself, Alicia’s mind went blank, unable to process what was happening. But this was exactly the scene the reporters craved – a scandal ready to be devoured. Their cameras crowded her, nearly brushing against her face as questions and accusations flew.
Dizzy with shock, Alicia stood paralyzed, unable to form a single word. Through the frenzied crowd, a figure pushed forward, breaking through the chaos. Hope flickered in her chest for a brief moment as she squinted through the harsh lights.
“Caden?” she thought, her heart leaping. But as her vision cleared, she realized it was Benedict. The fragile spark in her heart snuffed out instantly.
Benedict, breathless and disheveled, took in the scene with wide eyes. Shock and disgust hardened his features. Without warning, he raised his hand and struck Alicia across the face, the sound echoing sharply through the room.
Alicia’s body was nearly hurled across the room. She collided with the foot of the bed before rebounding onto it, her long hair spilling over her face in wild disarray, amplifying her disheveled appearance.
“You wretch! How could you betray Caden like this?” Benedict’s rage was unmistakable, his words forcing their way through gritted teeth.
The metallic tang of blood filled Alicia’s mouth as it trickled from her split lip. Half of her face throbbed with a stinging numbness, but the pain was a fleeting thought. Her trembling hands instinctively cradled her lower abdomen as she curled into herself, desperately trying to vanish from the nightmare unfolding around her.
The cacophony of shouted accusations and the relentless clicks of camera shutters overwhelmed her senses, turning the scene into an unrelenting torment. Benedict, now seething, turned to face the reporters. He cursed under his breath, shoving them back in a futile attempt to clear the room.
Moments later, Caden arrived, his presence dominating the chaos as he entered with a team of bodyguards in tow. His sharp eyes scanned the room, absorbing every detail with cold precision. He stopped in the doorway, his gaze narrowing as he took in the scene.
“Clear them out,” he commanded, his voice cold and unwavering.
The bodyguards sprang into action, swiftly moving to seize the reporters. Protests erupted but were swiftly silenced under the weight of Caden’s piercing glare. One by one, the intruders were dragged out, leaving the room eerily quiet in their absence.
Benedict stepped forward, blocking Caden’s path with a frantic air.
“You don’t need to see her,” he said, his tone pleading as he pressed his hands against Caden’s chest.
Caden’s eyes locked onto Benedict’s, sharp and unyielding.
“Where is Alicia?” he demanded, his voice carrying an edge of authority.
Benedict’s anger flared once more.
“Why do you care? She doesn’t-“
The truth was etched across Benedict’s face, and Caden’s jaw tightened in response. Without a word, he pushed past Benedict, striding into the room with determination.
“Caden!” Benedict’s voice roared from behind.
“Have some pride! She’s been with someone else, and you still want-“
Caden’s expression turned colder, his fury barely restrained. He turned abruptly and shoved Benedict toward the bodyguards.
“Detain him,” he ordered, his voice sharp and unyielding, capable of freezing even fire.
Benedict’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“How dare you, Caden!”
Ignoring him, Caden stepped further into the room, his piercing gaze sweeping over the chaotic scene before him. The bed was a tangled mess of sheets. Blake lay unconscious and unclothed, a pitiful figure in the corner of the disarray. Against the headboard sat Alicia, barely covered, her vulnerability evident in every inch of her posture.
The sight struck Caden like shards of shattered glass, each fragment cutting deeper than the last. He froze, his gaze locking onto Alicia. Slowly, she lifted her head, her hair falling away to reveal a face once radiant with life but now dulled and broken. Her eyes met his, holding his stare for what felt like an eternity.
Finally, Alicia managed a bitter smile, her cracked lips trembling.
“Caden… why don’t you come closer?” she whispered, her voice heavy with weariness and pain.
Caden’s steps were slow and deliberate as he approached her, each one feeling like a lifetime. When he reached her, his eyes landed on the marks on her neck, his fists clenching until his knuckles turned white. Yet he kept his composure, swallowing the tempest of emotions threatening to consume him.
Without a word, he removed his jacket and draped it gently around her shoulders. Alicia’s eyes shut tightly, and the tears she had held back for what seemed like an eternity began to fall, tracing silent paths down her cheeks. She leaned into him, her fragile frame finding solace in the erratic rhythm of his heart.
“I’m taking you to the hospital,” Caden said, his voice hoarse and detached, though his eyes betrayed the storm raging within.
“I’ll deal with the reporters,” Alicia said, her voice trembling as she struggled to form the words, desperation making her breathless.
“Nothing happened.”
Caden paused, his jaw tightening as her words hung in the air.
“Caden, I wasn’t violated,” she insisted, her voice breaking as she looked up at him.
“Do you believe me?”
He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he gently brushed her hair back, revealing the red, swollen mark on her cheek. His expression hardened, a dangerous edge sharpening his tone as he asked, “Who did this to you?”
Alicia let out a dry, humorless laugh, her exhaustion evident.
“Was it Benedict?” he guessed, his voice devoid of emotion yet carrying an undertone of restrained fury.
Caden suppressed the storm within himself and reached for his phone, dialing quickly.
“Jasmine, come immediately,” he said, his tone firm and commanding.
Alicia’s trembling fingers clutched at his hand, her red, tear-filled eyes pleading with him to understand. A thousand words fought to escape her throat, but all she could manage was silence.
“No matter what happened, it’s not your fault,” Caden said quietly, his voice softening as his gaze met hers.
Alicia stared at him, stunned, as tears streamed down her cheeks, the weight of despair pressing down on her.
“You don’t trust me,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Before she could say more, Jasmine hurried into the room, her face a mixture of worry and focus.
“Mr. Ward,” she said, her tone crisp but concerned.
Caden secured the coat around Alicia, carefully buttoning it to shield her from the outside world’s prying eyes.
“Take Ms. Bennett to the hospital,” he instructed Jasmine.
“I’ll join you soon.”
Alicia felt the last remnants of her strength fade as Jasmine gently led her out. Her steps were heavy, each one dragging her further into the haze of her exhaustion and heartache.
Caden stood in the room for a moment, his gaze lingering on the chaos left behind. Then, with a cold resolve, he turned to his bodyguards.