Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Caden’s expression darkened.
Blake had studied painting since childhood, dedicating decades to his art. Though he could attempt to work with his left hand, how many years would it take to reach his former skill? Now he understood why Alicia was so heartbroken.
Caden drew her into his arms.
“It’s alright. What matters most is that he’s still alive.”
Alicia’s tears fell silently. After a moment, she pulled away, her face numb with sorrow, her red, swollen eyes distant.
“He hid the USB drive in his wound and brought it back. Take a look,” she said hoarsely.
Caden pressed his lips together.
“There’s no need.”
“No need? Do you think that’s fair to him after what he’s been through?” Alicia’s lips curled into a mocking smile.
Her disdain stung him. He held his breath.
“Alicia, do you hate me?”
However, she didn’t answer.
He asked again, “Do you hate me because you think I was behind what happened to Blake?”
After speaking, a sharp pain pierced his chest.
When Alicia was wrongfully accused, she had desperately tried to prove herself to him. But he’d met her pleas with cold indifference.
Now, he was tasting the bitterness he had once forced her to endure.
One could never truly grasp another person’s pain until life handed them the same burden. Now, he finally understood the depth of her despair in the past, and he felt as if he were drowning in his own silence.
Alicia broke it.
“This is what Corey and Dorian wanted to happen.”
Caden hadn’t expected her to see through things so clearly, even now. He’d underestimated her strength.
“Dorian’s gone to great lengths to undermine me. Their target has always been you,” Caden said, his face dark.
Things might not have escalated this far if he had been more discreet and patient and hadn’t proposed to Alicia. Initially, Alicia had agreed to Caden’s strategy of confronting them head-on. But Blake’s fate loomed over her like a shadow, forcing her to reconsider.
“Caden, maybe we should compromise.”
His expression wavered briefly but then hardened.
“I can’t.”
“I’m not asking you to marry Yolanda. I just think we can give up the overseas headquarters and start fresh,” she said, her tone resolute.
In this way, they could also sever ties with the Moss family entirely. They were still young. They could begin again.
Caden’s face remained unmoved.
“Giving up would mean bankruptcy. Dorian would have an even easier time going after me. It would take at least a few years to rebuild. Would you be willing to go through that with me?”
Alicia replied without a second thought, “Go through what? You have the ability and the Ward family’s support. It wouldn’t take you three years to get back on your feet. Dorian only gained an opening because he dismantled your headquarters. Have you thought about what worse consequences could follow?”
Caden’s chest rose and fell with suppressed anger, his face shadowed.
Seeing his resistance, Alicia held back from pressing further.
With the Ward family’s backing, even Blizzard Group declaring bankruptcy wouldn’t spell disaster.
“Caden, think about it. There’s another option: make peace with Dorian, and we part ways.”
He looked at her, his eyes as cold as ice.
“Is that a threat?”
Alicia felt the intensity of his anger. A man used to power wouldn’t easily bear the thought of defeat. And so, even if worn down, he would fight Dorian to the bitter end. Young and prideful, he cared most about winning, and his pride. He cared little for the cost.
Alicia’s tone softened.
“I’m not threatening you, just reminding you.”
“No reminders needed. I’ll see this through, no matter what.”
Alicia opened her mouth but found no words. He was talented and commanding. But he was also stubborn and relentless.
Alicia suddenly realized that love was only a passing color in his life. It mattered little to him.
Feeling drained, she said quietly, “Then go ahead with your game. I’m done.”
In the days that followed, Alicia and Caden didn’t meet. It was Ciara who finally reached out, inviting Alicia to come over to Joy Mansion.
Alicia could tell by her voice that the news about Blake was out. Ciara adored Blake deeply, and her voice cracked with emotion.
“Why must the kindest souls endure the hardest trials? Of all the Ward family’s children, Blake and Caden stand apart for their virtues, yet fate seems keen on challenging them.”
The mention of Caden stirred a deep sadness in Alicia. She felt helpless to aid him, and she refused to be destroyed by his reckless actions. She was determined to thrive.
Should Dorian prevail, she might serve as Caden’s fallback.
In a gentle voice, Alicia suggested, “Ciara, could you possibly talk some sense into Caden?”
Ciara let out a weary sigh and gave Alicia’s hand a comforting pat.
“Alicia, after all these years, do you still not see who Caden is? His resolve has defined him since he was a boy. How could he ever concede to defeat?”
That evening, as the snow dusted the landscape, Caden made an unexpected appearance during dinner. He entered wearing the scarf Alicia had given him, which he nonchalantly took off and laid aside.
In Ciara’s presence, their strained relationship was less apparent. Yet, both were clearly fatigued, their interactions strained and minimal.
At the dinner table, Caden brought up the upcoming engagement party, insisting that everything should go ahead as scheduled. No interventions would be tolerated.
Alicia kept her eyes downcast, silently continuing her…
Alicia continued with her meal as the servant presented the final dish. She glanced towards the staircase and smiled.
“Look, Ray is coming down.”
All heads turned to see Ray at the top of the stairs, his tiny form looking lost and bewildered as he gazed down at them.
Ciara invited him to join them for a meal.
Ray paused briefly, then approached with his hands clasped behind him. He was shivering slightly.
Seeing this, Ciara mistook it for nervousness due to the crowd and opened her arms.
“Come here, Ray.”
However, Caden sensed that something was amiss, his eyes intently observing Ray.
“Why are your hands hidden behind you?”
Ray stepped back in surprise and retreated, leaning instinctively toward Alicia.
Concerned he might stumble, Alicia caught his arm.
“What’s the matter?” She felt his forehead as she typically would.
“You’re looking quite pale. Do you feel sick?”
Ray stared at her intently. After a brief struggle reflected in his gaze, a sudden hostility took over, and he made a swift move toward her.
A small fruit knife gleamed in front of Alicia’s eyes.
Realizing the threat, she stepped backward.
Ray charged with unexpected vigor.
Trapped by her chair, Alicia closed her eyes, bracing for the worst.
However, the pain she anticipated didn’t come.
Instead, someone grabbed her arm and yanked her away.
When she looked up, Caden was there, using his body as a shield and wrestling with Ray’s knife-wielding arm.
Ray’s force was unexpectedly fierce, catching Caden off guard, and his grip faltered.
Ray pulled away, and the knife nicked Caden’s arm.
The dining room erupted into chaos.
Jasmine hurried over, disarmed Ray with a swift move, and subdued him on the floor with a standard hold.
Once subdued, Ray lay sobbing, his face pressed against the floor, having given up any struggle.
“You cruel woman, you’ve destroyed my brother! This is all on you, all of it! His hand is gone forever! He will never again make the art that filled him with such pride!”