Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Caden replied, “I’m in no hurry to leave anyway.
A good massage will ensure that the ointment is well absorbed.
Otherwise it might be difficult for you to walk tomorrow.” Alicia fell silent.
He dared to mention that? He had caused all this!
To distract herself from the sensations caused by Caden’s touch, she picked up the box of incense and examined it.
The incense was handmade and all the ingredients were clearly listed.
She scowled.
Why was there no mention of an aphrodisiac among its contents?.
Caden scrutinized Alicia’s expression. “What’s the matter? Is the fragrance not to your liking?” Alicia’s expression was slightly awkward. She set the incense back on the table. “It’s fine.”
Caden replied, “I’ll bring extra tomorrow, then.” Alicia eyed the five or six boxes already beside her. “No need.”
Caden gently took hold of her ankle, easing her toward the headboard. He removed his shoes and positioned himself cross-legged between her legs.
Alicia felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her, her ears turning a deep red. “Do we have to continue with this?”
Caden dabbed a small amount of ointment on his fingertip. “Don’t you want to move around freely tomorrow?”
Alicia frowned. “I can move just fine as it is.”
“Still, it’s best to keep applying it.”
Alicia was at a loss for words. Then why had he asked?
She set a firm boundary. “This is the last time. We’re not doing this again.”
Caden recognized her seriousness and nodded in agreement.
Yet, his hands began to stray, nudging the white fabric aside.
Alicia jumped. “Hey!”
Caden calmly replied, “I’m just making sure there are no other injuries.”
Alicia grabbed his hand to stop his movements. “There wouldn’t be any injuries; we haven’t gone that far.”
Despite her attempt to block him, Caden still managed to see what he intended.
His gaze grew intense, and his expression turned serious. “I’m like a tiger, rough in my touch.”
Alicia rolled her eyes and said nothing.
Caden found himself drawn to her once more. He longed to be near her.
Leveraging his physical strength, he gently persuaded and playfully teased her.
“I’m only looking, I promise not to touch,” Caden whispered softly, his voice seductive.
Alicia didn’t want to grant him even that much. Trapped, she shielded herself with her hands. Even though she was covered, she still felt incredibly exposed.
Alicia hardened her resolve. “Fine, go ahead and look.” After all, everyone had eyes; he could look as much as he wanted now.
Caden’s smile appeared. It had been ages since he had last smiled, and Alicia noticed an unusual tenderness in his gaze. This softness, mixed with his usual charisma, stirred unfamiliar feelings within her.
“You’re stunning,” Caden said, his voice filled with admiration. “Every inch of you is beautiful. I cherish all of you.”
Alicia’s heart fluttered. A complex mix of emotions surged, coloring her delicate ears a deep red.
Caden looked down, his fingers gently tracing a bite mark. There was a mole right there.
“This, too, is beautiful.”
She had three moles in total: one on her chest, one here, and a third on her waist. Lovers often hold dear each other’s unique marks. Caden adored her face, her silky skin, and those three small moles, each of which had felt his kisses countless times. Alicia could almost read his thoughts, which made her feel even more vulnerable.
Caden gently moved her hands aside, helping her into her underwear and pajamas with the care one might give to soothing a child.
“You won’t feel any pain tomorrow.”
Alicia managed a smile, though it lacked warmth. “If you really want to make me feel better, slapping yourself might actually work.”
The one causing the problems acted as though he were the hero. The situation was quite absurd.
After Alicia settled into bed, Caden joined her, wrapping his arms around her from behind. “Do you have a favorite part of me?”
Alicia closed her eyes and answered instantly, “Your stupid brain.” Caden let out a laugh.
He then turned, swung his legs out of bed, and stood up. Alicia heard him moving and rolled her eyes.
Caden wasn’t just bluffing; he was actually leaving. As he donned his jacket, he said, “Don’t get too excited. I’m just going to whip up some food. I’ll come back and join you after I eat.”
His stomach rumbled loudly, signaling his need to eat soon or face taking medicine.
Just as he started preparing his meal, the phone rang. He hadn’t been to the office all day, so Hank had handled some urgent matters and sent him an email update.
After reviewing the details, Caden gave Hank some instructions over the phone.
Hearing the sounds of cooking, Hank asked curiously, “It’s quite late, Mr. Ward. Are you making yourself dinner?”
“Yes.”
“Let me know what you want to eat, and I’ll pick it up for you. Why bother cooking?”
Caden cradled the phone between his shoulder and ear as he transferred the food into a bowl. “Don’t worry about my meal. Just handle the tasks I outlined. I won’t be at the office tomorrow either.”
Just as he finished his sentence, the phone, unprotected by a case, slipped and plunged into the bowl with a splash.
Caden went quiet.
From the bowl, Hank’s voice emerged, saying, “Understood, Mr. Ward.”
The sound was so loud that Alicia thought something had broken, prompting her to go see what happened. She found Caden disposing of the spoiled food and diligently cleaning up the kitchen.
After cleaning, he stripped off his clothes and noticed Alicia in the living room.
Caden asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping?” Alicia quickly came up with an excuse, her voice casual as she said, “I’m just getting some water.”
The aroma of eggs lingered in the air, but he hadn’t eaten any. Curious about what he had been up to, Alicia caught his eye.
Caden asked, “Is there anything else to eat?”
Alicia furrowed her brow. “Weren’t you making eggs?”
“The phone fell into the bowl.”
Alicia was at a loss for words. She had bought some breakfast bread for the next day, stored in the refrigerator. She preferred whole wheat, but when Caden bit into the dry loaf, it felt like chewing on concrete.
He glanced over at her. “Did you get your water?”
Alicia hadn’t finished, but at his prompting, she gulped it down quickly. Caden blinked his eyes. He chewed on the bread and approached to kiss her. Without warm water, he’d just share her drink.
Alicia had returned to Warrington mainly to oversee a medical project, but Caden had already laid the groundwork, leaving her with minimal tasks. Her role was simply to monitor the experiment’s progress.
During her visit to his lab, Alicia admired the building’s nearly 200,000 square meters of space, reflecting Caden’s lavish and imaginative style – every detail meticulously crafted with luxury and precision.
Her previous work in Xada involved similar research, using equally exotic, imported materials.
Two years had passed, yet they felt insufficient. Despite Alicia’s substantial earnings, they paled in comparison to the fortunes of seasoned capitalists. She remained profoundly impressed by Caden’s vast wealth.
At the lab’s entrance, Hank informed her, “The fingerprint access for this door is programmed to recognize only Mr. Ward’s and your fingerprints, Ms. Bennett. Please enter, and call me if you need anything.”
Surprised but skeptical, Alicia extended her finger towards the scanner, and the door unlocked. She turned to Hank with a questioning look. “Doesn’t this scanner work for anyone?”
Could it be that Hank was lying and this wasn’t exclusive to her and Caden?
With a wry smile, Hank responded, “Ms. Bennett, do I seem like someone who would lie?”
“You certainly seem capable,” Alicia said, leaving Hank at a loss for words.
Inside, Alicia observed the small embryos in the incubators. Caden had drawn the line at using only small animals for his experiments, not humans.
She reviewed the collected data, which was quite promising.
Shortly after, Caden called to discuss the project.
“Alicia, the artificial fetal incubation initiative has never cleared review. That’s why I acquired the hospital – to employ advanced technology for supporting preemies beyond four months. However, no one but you knows my research now extends to human cell experiments.” He paused, allowing her to consider their next steps.
Alicia realized he was inviting her to make a profound decision – whether to conceive their own child.
Their combined genetics provided multiple opportunities for experimentation, with enough scope for trial and error. Yet, Caden confidently promised, “If you agree, we’ll succeed on the first attempt.”
Alicia’s expression clouded with concern as she weighed her options. “Caden, this is serious.”
His voice softened over the phone. “Then, who were you thinking of when you ran those experiments in Xada?”
Alicia caught her breath. Back then, she had been engulfed in heartache, driven by the desire to create a child. But who caused her heartache? Only Caden.