Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“I want a son. First a big brother, then a little sister, okay?”
“Lucky, you’re only allowed to marry me.”
Alicia could no longer shed tears. Her eyes were dry, but even closing them brought no relief. Just then, she heard the faint sound of a key turning in the lock. A moment later, Caden stepped into the room.
That night, Alicia and Caden drifted off to sleep in each other’s arms, a rare moment of peace. It had been a while since they shared this quiet intimacy, and neither wanted to disrupt the perfect calm. So, they remained silent, savoring the stillness between them.
At dawn, Caden rose quietly, dressed, and kissed Alicia’s cheek before heading out, determined to have everything ready by nine o’clock. Alicia, however, hadn’t slept all night. Her eyes, red and weary, opened as he left. She dressed and headed out, her resolve steeling in the chilly morning air.
The snow had stopped, leaving a delicate layer over the city, and a soft red painted the sky, promising a beautiful day. As the first light of dawn brushed against Alicia’s face, she arrived at the airport and found Corey waiting. He flicked his cigarette to the ground, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
“Once you leave, there’s no guarantee you’ll come back. Are you sure you’re prepared for that?”
Alicia’s voice was cold.
“Let’s go.”
Corey, ever the tease, pressed on.
“Did Caden shed a tear?” She paused, then shot him a sharp look.
“Corey, don’t you have anything better to do?”
“For you? I’ve got all the time in the world,” he replied with a smile.
“And your sister?” Alicia asked with a knowing smile.
“Does she have all that time, too?”
Corey’s smile faded, his expression turning grim. Alicia’s lips curved slightly in quiet victory.
Later, Caden returned to the apartment.
Finding no one home, he called Alicia, but there was no answer. His heart sank, but he tried to convince himself that she was just out, busy with something. Yet, as the hours passed and his calls went unanswered, his hope dwindled. Frantically, he sent people out to search, but their efforts disappeared without a trace. Exhausted and alone, he ended up at the city hall, clutching the documents he’d brought to get their marriage license.
Couples came and went, celebrating the beginnings of their new families. Soon, the daylight faded. A staff member approached and gently reminded him that they were closing. Caden sat motionless, his body tense. He clutched the necessary papers for the marriage license tightly, unwilling to let them go.
He left without a word, stepping into the cold night. The streets were crowded, snow lightly dusting the air, but Alicia was nowhere to be found. She had broken their promise, and a dreadful certainty sank in – she wasn’t coming back. It turned out that from the very beginning, she had never truly forgiven him.
Caden’s heart seemed to freeze, a wild ache tearing through him like a beast clawing at his chest. The pain became overwhelming, and he collapsed, his mouth spilling blood that stained the snow beneath him. The unbearable pain left Caden dizzy, his legs buckling as he fell to the ground. Blood trickled from his mouth, staining the snow a deep crimson. The sight of his own blood stung his eyes. He stared ahead blankly as the agony crept through him, hollowing him out like a withering tree losing its last grip on life.
A distant scream broke through the haze as someone rushed over and lifted him.
“Sir, are you alright?” But Caden couldn’t hear them; something inside him had broken, leaving him hollow and insensible to everything around him.
It took two weeks for Caden to accept Alicia’s departure, though he had been ill ever since. Only once he showed some improvement did Hank dare to discuss Alicia with him.
“The last we know, Ms. Bennett was seen with Corey. She left Warrington early that morning, boarding a plane with him. No one has seen her since.”
Caden stared in silence, sitting by the hospital window in his gown. Corey had always been adept at making people disappear. Alicia had found shelter with Corey, cutting her last remaining ties with Caden for good.
After a pause, Caden’s voice broke the quiet.
“Any other news of her?”
Hank hesitated, feeling a pang of sympathy.
“Half a month ago, Ms. Bennett sold all her assets. She compensated her gallery’s shareholders, reclaimed most of the shares, and entrusted the gallery to a trusted colleague. She converted everything else to dollars and left them in a secondary account under your name.”
Caden had given Alicia access to many of his accounts, including several secondary ones. Hank continued, “She took nothing with her. She even transferred the castle you gifted her back to you, cutting all ties.”
A few months ago, she poured her resources into launching a tech company in your name, mirroring your previous strategies. But with limited connections, the venture stalled.”
Alicia had prepared everything quietly. She had never hinted at her departure. Yet, she vanished the day she’d promised to marry him. That was the most devastating blow to Caden.
Hank added, “Mr. Ward, today we received a call from a shop owner. Unable to reach Ms. Bennett, they contacted us, requesting you visit at your convenience.”
According to the address, Caden visited that shop, finding that it was a place he recognized – a witchcraft shop he’d heard of. When he arrived, the owner seemed to understand at once.
“She must have struggled. Leaving someone like you isn’t an easy decision.”
The owner handed Caden a small box, her tone grave.
“I’ve completed the ritual. Take these wish cards with you – they’ll only work if you keep them close.”
Caden took the box in both hands and stared at it.
“What’s inside?” he asked.
“Three wishes, each one costing her a hundred and fifty thousand,” the shop owner replied.
A feeling of certainty washed over Caden. These wishes were meant for him. He opened the box, disregarding the owner’s caution.
“Wait!” she warned urgently.
“If you open them now, they’ll lose their power!”
However, Caden just ignored her. He slowly pulled out each of the three cards, lost in thought.
Alicia’s handwriting was elegant and bold, each stroke neat and beautiful. On each card, a single line was written, and as Caden read them, the words sank heavily into his heart.
“May Caden live a long and healthy life.” “May Caden’s future be bright and full of glory.” “May Caden forget Alicia.”
Caden’s life had been a series of regrets: a broken family, the loss of his mother at an early age, and an arrogance that came too easily with early success. After years of turmoil, he finally found peace when he met Alicia. She was shy but dedicated to love, offering all her affection with open arms and no conditions. Because it came so effortlessly, he had thought it would always be there. He took those simple, joyful days for granted.
Now, he understood the steep price of youthful recklessness. The pain was so intense that it left him numb. He stood frozen, the cards trembling slightly in his hand.
The shop owner, noticing the color drained from his face, hesitantly called out, “Sir? Are you all right?”
The voice brought Caden back to the present, and he tightened his grip on the cards. His voice, low and distant, broke the silence.
“You just said if these cards were revealed, the wishes would lose their power and wouldn’t come true, correct?”
The shop owner met his hollow gaze and felt a strange pang of nervousness. In this business, you needed both nerve and luck, but looking into Caden’s eyes, she felt her courage falter.
“Yes, that’s right,” she replied quietly.
In reality, whether the cards were revealed or not, such wishes were nearly impossible to grant. Caden stepped closer, his tone resolute.
“Then tell me, how can I make absolutely certain these wishes won’t come true?”
“Make sure?” The shop owner quickly understood his meaning and, with a calm face, replied, “Hand them to me, and I’ll burn them for you.”
But Caden shook his head.
“No. I’ll do it myself.”
Seeing his resolve, she nodded and lit a small fire for him. Without a second thought, Caden fed the cards to the flames, watching them curl and darken until they were nothing but ash.
Alicia had been merciless. Two of the wishes were for his well-being; one was to erase herself from his life forever. By burning them all, he knew he might be forfeiting health and success. But if it meant even the slightest chance of keeping her in his life, it was a price he would pay. Without her, all the success in the world was meaningless.
As the last piece of the card turned to ashes, Caden finally turned away to leave. He didn’t know where Alicia had gone or how long she would evade him. But he swore he would search every corner of the earth if that was what it took to find her.
Gemma lived in a quiet, comfortable city with a modest profile. Though the city was only third-tier, it was home to many influential figures. Corey had chosen it carefully, knowing that no ordinary person would dare to investigate. He ensured Gemma remained off the radar, with a private medical team that kept her far from any hospital records.
When Alicia first met the girl, she was struck by Gemma’s innocence. The child looked up at her with wide eyes, a blend of curiosity and a hint of fear reflected in them.
Corey, showing an unusual gentleness, rested a hand on the girl’s head.
“Gemma, this is the lady you wanted. She’s here to help you fall asleep, and she’ll stay with us. Would you like that?”
Gemma’s face lit up, her eyes sparkling.
“Really, brother?”
“Really,” Corey replied, a rare softness in his tone.
“When have I ever lied to you?”
Satisfied, Gemma clung to her brother’s arm, her eyelids heavy with sleep.
After settling her into her room, Corey turned to Alicia, his expression cooling into a steely gaze.
Since Alicia already knew the situation, he didn’t need to conceal Gemma’s information.
“Gemma has a severe blood disorder. She’s been treated since she was born, but now she’s immune to all common medications. The only thing keeping her alive is blood transfusions.” He paused, his eyes studying her..
Alicia had already checked her own blood type and knew where this was heading.
Gemma’s blood type was extremely rare, with fewer than ten known matches in the entire country. Among Corey’s acquaintances, he knew two people who shared the same blood type with Gemma: Alicia and Regina. But Regina, older now and married to Dorian, was beyond Corey’s reach.
Limited options had led him to Alicia, orchestrating every detail to bring her here.
Alicia knew that Gemma’s condition gave her leverage. As long as she was alive, Gemma could survive. This was her chance to negotiate on her terms, to make Corey an invaluable ally.
She rolled up her sleeve without hesitation.
“I had a full check-up last month.”
“Go ahead. Take the blood you need. Make sure your sister sleeps peacefully tonight.”
Corey observed her for a moment, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He called in his doctor, then turned back to her.