Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
The moment Hank saw her name flashing on his phone screen, he immediately knew it had something to do with Caden. He ignored the call without a second thought. But when she called for a second time, the nervousness got the better of him. He swiped to answer.
“Hank, you need to come and get Caden,” Alicia said point-blank.
Hank hesitated.
“But I’m already off work. Mr. Ward gave us explicit instructions not to bother him after eight in the evening.”
Unfortunately for him, Alicia was already well acquainted with his excuses.
“Well, I’ll just have to call the police, then.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to help you, Miss Bennett. Actually, my car is currently in maintenance, and I can’t get another one on such short notice.”
“That’s fine. I’ll call the police and have Caden removed from the premises.”
Hank did his best to sound sorry and genuine, but his anxiety was bubbling to the surface. Deep down, he was terrified that Alicia would make good on her word.
Alicia had only been bluffing, of course. But when a moment stretched on without hearing anything from Hank, she sighed loudly and said, “Caden drank too much and is now suffering from gastric spasms.”
At least bring his medication over.”
“Damn it,” Hank muttered.
“Hang in there, Miss Bennett. I’m on my way.”
Alicia tossed her phone aside, her face composed as ever. When she looked up, Caden was standing right in front of her. Startled, she flinched and instinctively inched away from him, but he only took advantage of her reaction to pin her down on the sofa.
Alicia tried to raise her hand, but he quickly caught her wrist in a death grip. When she attempted to lift her leg, it was also restrained. Caden wrapped her tightly in his arms and let out a world-weary sigh.
“I’m done pretending,” he said, sounding rather subdued.
Alicia froze mid-struggle. A dull ache spread through her chest. When he realized that she was no longer resisting him, Caden buried his face in her hair. It had already been two years, but her scent remained the same. Caden breathed it in deeply.
“Lucky,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
“I just want to have a good sleep. That’s all. Two years, over seven hundred days… It’s been too long. I haven’t had a single restful night. I know I made a huge mistake, and you have every right to hate me. But do you think you can give me a chance to make amends?”
Alicia’s body gradually relaxed.
Her limbs went slack as she stared blankly at the ceiling. Caden pulled back slightly and cupped the back of her head. He rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. Their breaths mingled with each other, blowing hot against their faces. The heat between them rose until they felt almost feverish beneath their clothes.
“Lucky…” Caden opened his eyes and brushed his thumb across Alicia’s lower lip.
“Have you been well these past two years?”
Alicia’s eyes gleamed in the light, her vision slightly blurry from the thin sheen of unshed tears. No, she had not been doing well, and she couldn’t forgive herself for that fact. She had been constantly torn between holding on and letting go, languishing night after night.
“Don’t hate me, please.” Caden’s gaze was clouded with despair as he swooped in and pressed his lips against hers.
“Lucky, please don’t hate me.”
Alicia blinked and turned her head to the side to avoid his kisses.
“I don’t hate you, Caden.”
He had once loved her deeply, after all. She could never bring herself to hate him, regardless of anything else. But at the same time, the rift between them was too wide to mend in such a short time. Instead of nursing resentment, which would ultimately turn to contempt, she thought that it was best for them to part ways and live their own lives.
Alicia glanced at Caden’s reddened eyes and gently stroked his brow.
“Let it go, Caden,” she whispered, her tone pleading.
Caden refused to budge.
“No, Lucky,” he rasped.
“I want to kiss you. I’ve missed you so much.”
Alicia’s defenses wavered.
She couldn’t utter a single word. Taking her silence as consent, Caden leaned in and captured her soft lips. He finally found an outlet for all his pent-up yearning. The demons that had been eating away at him broke free, propelling him to boldly slide his tongue into her mouth.
In the next second, however, the moment was broken by a frantic shout.
“Mr. Ward!”
Alicia’s eyes flew open in shock. Caden was just as surprised. His jaw tensed, causing him to accidentally bite the tip of her tongue. Alicia gasped in pain and pushed him away instantly. The metallic taste filled her mouth just as anger took over all the other emotions she had been feeling just now. She kicked Caden off the couch.
Still dizzy from the alcohol in his system, Caden lost his balance and almost collapsed on the floor. Hank hurried over and helped him up, thinking that his boss was suffering from his stomach condition.
“I have the medicine right here.” He popped two pills into his palm and shoved them into Caden’s mouth with practiced efficiency. To be fair, Hank was rather forceful about it.
Caden cursed inwardly as the pills went down his throat. There was no getting them out now. Hank scurried off to the kitchen to get a glass of warm water. When he returned, Caden was already sitting upright. Hank paused in his tracks, belatedly noticing the icy look Caden was giving him, as well as the telltale swelling of the man’s lips.
“Huh? How come the meds took immediate effect? Usually, you’d be writhing in pain for a while after taking them.”
Alicia spat the blood in her mouth and glanced sideways at Caden. She saw his expression soften ever so slightly. Silently, she hoped that Hank could keep talking. Hank did not disappoint her.
“Maybe your stomach problems are finally cured.”
Caden grabbed the glass of water from him, his face blank when he snapped, “This has nothing to do with you. Get lost.”
Alicia flicked her tongue against her teeth and winced, but the pain was like a wake-up call, something that pulled her out of the spell Caden had somehow put her under a few moments ago.
“Caden, you get lost, too!”
Caden pressed his lips into a thin line and swallowed. A couple of minutes later, Caden and Hank were standing outside, braving the biting cold of the night wind. One looked like the grim reaper himself, while the other was hunched over like an ostrich trying to hide its head.
“The door wasn’t shut,” Hank tried to explain.
“And I was worried about you, so I didn’t think to knock. How was I supposed to know you two were… Well.”
His words only evoked memories of that kiss Caden hadn’t had enough of. And the slap he didn’t deserve. He closed his eyes and sighed in resignation.
“Go get the car.”
Caden promised himself that the next time he got the chance, he would make sure that their kiss lasted at least ten minutes.
After settling into Warrington, Alicia didn’t feel the need to return to the company headquarters. With Corey handling everything there, she felt at ease. She only reached out to Gemma once, just to check in.
Corey and Gemma couldn’t have been more different. Corey was sharp and cunning, always a step ahead, while Gemma was kind-hearted, gentle, and a little naive. Alicia had always known where she stood with people, and Gemma had quickly become like a sister to her.
During their video call, the two of them barely spoke for a few minutes before Gemma was called away. Alicia could hear the faint sounds of a hospital in the background.
“Hey, what’s going on?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.
Gemma sighed, clearly annoyed.
“It’s nothing serious,” she said, her voice tight.
“Corey made me come in for a check-up. They took so much blood… I can barely move my arm now.”
Alicia’s face softened as she tried to comfort her.
“You know Corey just worries about you. He’s only looking out for you. Next time I’m in town, let’s do something fun.”
That seemed to lighten Gemma’s mood, a small smile appearing on her face. Then, without warning, Gemma handed the phone over to Corey. As the camera shifted to his face, Alicia caught a fleeting, almost sinister expression on his face.
Alicia’s frown deepened. Corey’s lips curved into a slight, almost imperceptible smile.
“What’s up?” he asked, his voice surprisingly calm.
Alicia, taken aback by Gemma not hanging up, asked cautiously, “Is Gemma alright?”
Corey hesitated for a few seconds before replying, his voice low and controlled.
“Yes.”
Alicia, sensing the tension, chose not to press further. With a soft sigh, she ended the call.
Corey’s fingers tightened around the phone as he watched Gemma laugh and chat carelessly, the smile on her face only deepening his frown. He couldn’t shake the memory of her first check-up at another hospital. The results hadn’t been good, and that gnawing feeling of dread never quite left him. He had desperately hoped that it was a misdiagnosis. That was why he’d brought her here today, to another hospital, hoping for a better outcome.
Gemma entered the exam room and noticed how quiet and empty it felt. She hesitated for a moment before taking a seat, her hands neatly clasped in her lap. The door opened with a soft creak, and a tall figure in a white coat stepped in. He seemed to fill the room with his presence, his every movement deliberate and imposing.
Though Corey was just outside, Gemma felt suddenly small, a sense of unease creeping over her. She instinctively shrank back into the chair. The doctor glanced at her briefly, his face mostly concealed behind a mask, but his sharp features were still visible. His eyes, cold and intense, met hers, sending a wave of nervousness through Gemma.
Trying to steady her breathing, she handed him the paper without making eye contact. The doctor took it, his gloved hands moving efficiently.
“Gemma Hampton? You’re here for an electrocardiogram.”
Gemma nodded.
“Yes.”
The doctor didn’t meet her gaze as he took a seat, his back turned to her.
“Lie down and lift your shirt,” he instructed.
Gemma hesitated. She wasn’t accustomed to this sort of procedure, and the idea of lifting her shirt felt awkward. Instead, she opted to unbutton the top few buttons, hoping it would be enough.
The doctor, however, was unimpressed. He frowned and looked at her.
“Didn’t I tell you to lift your shirt?”