Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Caden sighed, realizing how pointless it was to explain. Without replying, he placed the socks in his basket and picked out a few small toys as well.
Once, he had imagined having a son – tough, resilient, ready to take on the family business and shoulder its burdens without guilt.
Then he thought of a daughter, one protected by her brother and cherished like a rare jewel. But with Alicia’s fragile health, all he wished for was one daughter. One who would inherit Alicia’s looks, his tenacity, and who would be adored by everyone, never knowing hardship or cruelty.
A wide grin spread across his face at the thought.
Gerry gaped at him, astonished. He had never seen Caden look so smitten, grinning at nothing like a fool.
Unable to resist, Gerry reached out and touched Caden’s forehead.
“Your temperature’s fine, colder than mine even. So why do you look like you’ve lost your mind?”
Caden ignored Gerry’s antics, pushing a cart filled to the brim with baby items and heading to the checkout. Meanwhile, Gerry, standing a few paces away, quickly typed a message to Cliff.
“Bro, come fast. Caden’s lost it.”
Cliff’s response was quick.
“What’s wrong with him?”
Gerry’s fingers flew over the screen.
“He’s buying a ton of pink socks and baby toys for his dog and keeps giving me these unsettling smiles. It’s downright terrifying.”
“Unsettling smiles?”
“Yeah, the kind that makes you believe he must be possessed.”
“Don’t make wild imaginations. Just make sure you’re safe.”
Gerry blinked at the message, confused for a moment. Then realization dawned on him, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
Caden approached with his purchases, catching Gerry’s uneasy stare.
“What’s with you?” Caden asked, his voice cool.
Gerry hesitated before stepping closer, his expression serious.
“Caden, just so you know, I’m into women. Don’t get any ideas.”
Caden stared at him, speechless.
Alicia cooperated obediently with the doctor’s treatment, following every instruction. She just preferred not to see Caden too often.
Caden didn’t have much free time. He watched her from the window, his expression unreadable.
After a while, he sought out the doctor for an update on her condition.
The doctor, always straightforward, looked at Caden with concern.
“It’s not looking promising. We can’t guarantee the fetus will make it past five months. Mr. Ward, you should be prepared for a difficult decision.”
The mother’s condition was delicate, and no amount of money could repair that quickly enough.
The doctor continued, “When the time comes, will you choose the child or… the mother?”
Caden interrupted, his expression serious.
“Of course, I choose the mother. What are you even thinking?”
Realizing his mistake, the doctor quickly apologized.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Ward. I didn’t consider the bigger picture.”
In wealthy circles, he’d often seen parents willing to risk anything for their children, so his instincts had led him to prioritize the unborn child.
Caden took a deep breath, regaining his composure.
“First, do everything you can to protect the pregnancy. Keep her mood and health stable. But if anything goes wrong… if anything happens, don’t call me. Just save the mother.”
Children mattered, but no child could ever replace Alicia.
The doctor nodded in affirmation.
When Caden stepped out of the office, he ran into Alicia. She had just finished her treatment for the day and was about to leave.
Joining her in the elevator, he reached for her bag without a word, and Alicia didn’t refuse his small gesture of kindness.
As they stood in the crowded hospital elevator, Caden wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close to shield her from the press of people. Their bodies were snugly pressed together, and through the layers of fabric, Alicia could feel his heart’s strong, steady beat.
His scent surrounded her completely.
Caden leaned down, his voice soft in her ear.
“Stay away from the gallery for now.”
“I’ll take care of things there.” Alicia, too tired to argue, nodded.
“Mm.”
He was surprised she’d surrendered control without putting up a fight. This would have taken days of debate – and even then, she might not have given in. She was always cautious about yielding too much, fearing it would cost her later.
Without thinking, he held her a little tighter. Alicia let out a quiet groan, her hand pressing against her chest.
He immediately loosened his grip.
“Did I hold you too tight?”
Alicia shrugged.
“I just feel nauseous.”.
Caden glanced up at the elevator panel. The car was descending slowly, stopping at each floor.
He turned her around so she faced him instead, her cheek against his chest. His shirt carried no cologne, only the faint scent of fabric softener. The simplicity of it felt comforting.
Her morning sickness eased as she settled against his chest, enveloped in his warmth. Alicia didn’t pull away.
In the privacy of the elevator, Caden’s hand slid down to intertwine with hers. She flinched slightly, her fingers brushing against the ring on his hand.
His grip tightened as if afraid she might vanish the next second.
Alicia looked up, noticing the dark circles under his eyes, the tired lines crisscrossed with faint red. She recognized the signs of his exhaustion, and as someone who shared his bed, she knew he was likely stretched to his limit.
He might have said nothing if things hadn’t reached this breaking point. A pang of bittersweet emotion swept through her.
Right now, she wanted this closeness… to linger in Caden’s warmth just a little longer, prolonging this moment before the world intruded again.
“Shall I take you back to the apartment?” Caden asked when they reached the hospital exit, his fingers still laced tightly with hers.
“I might leave work early tonight. I want to hold you while we sleep.”
Alicia avoided looking at the faint redness in his eyes, the silent plea for sympathy in his expression. She knew he was counting on her soft spot for him.
“No. If you insist on taking me, I can’t stop you. But the doctor said I shouldn’t get too emotional.”
Caden’s gaze held hers, the weight of her words hitting him, until he finally conceded with a quiet, “Alright.” That single word cut through her heart.
He had never relented like this before. To change so drastically in such a short time, he must have endured more than Alicia knew.
Turning away, Alicia said, “Stop buying so much for the baby. It’s cluttering the house and making it hard for me to get around.”
Caden’s reply was soft, almost vulnerable.
“I’ve never been a father, so I’m just figuring it out. I’ll buy less next time.”
Without looking back, she stepped into the waiting car as he took a call and walked away. She let out a barely audible sigh as she watched his retreating figure, then turned to the driver.
“Take me back to the apartment.”
Later that day, Caden went to the gallery and finally understood why she had agreed so quickly. Alicia had withdrawn her shares. She didn’t want the gallery anymore. She took only a fraction of their value, just enough to live comfortably. She truly intended to leave him for good.
Caden was stunned for a long time when he heard the news. He sat in her office for a long time, a feeling of helplessness settling over him, the silence filled only by memories of her usual vibrant presence in this very space.
He noticed a photo frame lying face down beside her computer. Curious, he picked it up, revealing a picture of them. In it, Alicia was smiling at the camera, her eyes bright as stars. He was looking at her, his gaze soft, his lips curved in a gentle, affectionate smile.
She must have been at her lowest to turn this photo face down.
He felt a tightness in his throat, realizing how much he had cost her. On the day he proposed, he hadn’t even said he loved her.
Caden’s phone rang, summoning him back to the office.
Jeffery greeted him, saying, “Mrs. Moss reached out to me unexpectedly, asking about some…”
He paused, lowered his voice, and leaned in to whisper the details.
Caden frowned.
“Where is she?”
“She’s waiting in the conference room.”