Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Ciara sighed, her voice laced with exasperation. “Could Caden really have caused trouble?”
Jasmine figured that must be the case, feeling no wonder Caden hadn’t made any progress with Alicia. He brought this on himself.
Ciara’s expression grew thoughtful. “Maybe I should make a plan to push them together.”
Jasmine immediately grew wary. “Oh dear, what are you planning now?”
Meanwhile, Alicia returned to Xada to handle her work. Once she was finished, she went to see Gemma. Though Corey had painted a grim picture, Gemma’s situation wasn’t as dire as he’d described.
When Alicia arrived, Gemma had just removed her oxygen tube and complained, “I’m perfectly fine, but Corey keeps me locked up at home like I’m an invalid. Alicia, can you talk to him? I want to go out and have some fun.”
Alicia offered Gemma a comforting smile but avoided making any promises. She told Gemma she would talk to Corey once he had time.
Gemma pouted, sighing dramatically. “Why has Corey been away so long this time? He hasn’t even called me. I’ve been having nightmares about something bad happening to him.”
Alicia gently patted her head. “Dreams aren’t real,” she said softly.
Alicia stayed for a meal with Gemma and couldn’t help noticing how often Gemma struggled to breathe. Gemma’s frequent need for oxygen hinted at something far more serious than a weakened immune system-it seemed like organ failure.
When Alicia tried to access Gemma’s medical records, Gemma’s attending doctor refused. “I’m sorry, Ms. Bennett. Mr. Hampton instructed that no one but him is allowed to view Miss Hampton’s condition.” Alicia didn’t press the issue.
That night, Alicia visited the hospital where Corey was staying. She only had thirty minutes to see him. She wasted no time. “When I returned to Warrington, you went to Terriland for another organ deal, didn’t you?” Corey barely opened his eyes, his expression unreadable. Her words weren’t a question-they were a warning. She had evidence with her.
Realizing there was no point in denying it, Corey finally spoke. “Rest assured, it won’t involve you.”
Alicia’s tone was icy. “With your skills, it certainly won’t involve me. But you swore not to break the law when we agreed to work together. Now that you have, our partnership is over.”
Corey was so weak that even the act of opening his eyes felt like a monumental task. Yet, Alicia’s cutting words sparked something in him, making the veins on his forehead bulge with anger. He rasped, his voice frail but filled with fury, “You’ve completely overhauled the Hampton Group, and now you’re throwing it back at me? Can you not see the irony?”
The machine beside Corey blared in response to his outburst, the alarm’s urgent beeping slicing through the tense atmosphere.
Fear flashed in Corey’s eyes. The thought of dying sent a chill through him, and he quickly fell silent.
Alicia, on the other hand, stayed eerily calm. “You brought this upon yourself, didn’t you? How desperate were you to stoop to such reprehensible levels?”
With a raspy, bitter laugh, Corey countered, “And you-acting all high and mighty because you’ve thrown some change at an orphanage? Does that wash away your sins?”
“Hardly,” Alicia replied smoothly. “But at least I’ve done something meaningful. Without people like me, you and your sister might have been out on the streets, begging for scraps.”
Corey’s gaze darkened with anger. He shot back, “After using me for your gain for two years, you think you can just walk away? Not so fast.”
A hint of pity flickered in Alicia’s eyes. At that moment, Corey had no right to make decisions.
Corey glared at her, his voice tinged with malice. “Did Caden send you here to confront me?”
Alicia’s smirk widened slightly. “If Caden were involved, there’d be no need for me to be here.”
“Then why are you leaving? Isn’t being the leader of the Hampton Group good enough? Why throw it all away to go back to being a caretaker for that idiot?”
“Are all men so egocentric?” Alicia laughed softly. “Haven’t I made myself clear? You have a criminal record in Terriland. If it’s exposed, you’ll face the death penalty. Do you really expect me to stick around and risk going down with you?”
Corey scoffed. “This isn’t the first time I’ve done this. What are you so afraid of?”
What indeed? Alicia smirked. It wasn’t merely the threat of prison that unnerved her. Being close to Corey felt increasingly perilous, as if, at any moment, she could become complicit in something far more sinister than she intended.
However, she masked her fears well, maintaining a composed exterior. “I’ve said everything I needed to. Take care of yourself, Corey,” she said, her voice devoid of emotion.
Corey’s demeanor shifted rapidly from defiance to desperation. The edge in his voice softened. “Alicia, if there’s anything you need, just say it. Can’t you stay? Gemma adores you.”
Alicia hesitated briefly. She didn’t deny it-Gemma was a sweet girl. But her own future and happiness mattered more than anything else now. She concluded, “That machine was a creation of Caden’s team. If anything goes wrong, come to Warrington. I’ll help you resolve it.”
Corey’s voice was low but resolute. “It’s not about the machine, Alicia. It’s about Gemma. She cares about you.”
Alicia paused briefly, then replied without hesitation, “Doesn’t she still have you?”
Indeed, Gemma had never been deprived of love. In many ways, she had been more fortunate than Alicia had ever been.
Alicia was aware that Corey’s plea for her to stay wasn’t just about Gemma-it was his distrust of the technology that supposedly replaced human care. Nothing could truly substitute for the tangible presence of a person.
With that, Alicia exited the ICU.
Corey watched her leave, her figure receding without a backward glance, her demeanor utterly impassive. He scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping him. How ridiculous had he been to think Alicia, who had coldly abandoned Caden, would harbor any real affection for Gemma? For the past two years, Alicia had merely used him and Gemma. Now, with fame and fortune in her grasp and her hatred for Caden finally extinguished, she was ready to cut ties and start anew. But what about him?
Corey reflected on his recent trip to Warrington. Why had he sought comfort from Alicia when confronted with devastating news? Why had he risked so much in Terriland when a viable organ was already within his grasp? What had made him hesitate? What had softened his heart?
The more Corey pondered, the more he loathed his own vulnerability. Having feelings for someone he shouldn’t have proved far more perilous than any of his dealings in the shadows of human trafficking and organ trade.
Alicia sat quietly by the door, her thoughts drifting aimlessly. It wasn’t a deliberate act, but out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a peculiar man nearby.
The man was broad-shouldered, his build unmistakably that of a thug. He wore a white coat and mask, concealing most of his face except for a pair of rugged brows and sharp, watchful eyes.
As their gazes met, the man abruptly turned away, clutching a medicine bottle. His hurried steps and tense demeanor screamed unease.
Alicia’s eyes flicked back to the ICU door, remembering how he had been staring at it earlier with a complicated look.
As night fell, the sterile chill of the hospital became unbearable. Alicia changed out of her sterile gown and decided to leave.
She navigated down a long corridor to exit the hospital, enveloped by an unsettling silence, with her footsteps the only sound echoing through the empty space. She walked with her hands in her pockets, her pace fluctuating between brisk and hesitant.
Abruptly, Alicia stopped, bending down as if to tie her shoelace.
The subtle sound of another set of footsteps halted too. Alicia’s pulse quickened, but she forced herself to remain calm. Every instinct screamed at her to run, yet she knew that would only make her more vulnerable.
Alicia gripped her pepper spray firmly, feigning unawareness of the potential threat lurking behind her. Her thoughts raced. Initially, she had assumed the man in the doctor’s disguise was there for Corey. But now, the pieces didn’t fit. This wasn’t about Corey. The target was her. The realization hit hard. Could Corey have sent someone after her? A hitman hired out of spite after their falling out?
Alicia swallowed hard, fear clawing at her chest as she quickened her pace.
Suddenly, the sensor light ahead flickered and dimmed, casting long, ominous shadows.
Alicia’s heart sank. She instinctively turned, pulling the pepper spray from her pocket.
Before she could react further, a hand shot out from the darkness, gripping her tightly and yanking her into a nearby room.
The sudden attack sent her mind reeling. For a brief moment, her heart stopped, and her thoughts went blank.
A powerful arm clamped over her mouth and nose, pinning her against the cold wall. The man’s chest pressed against her back, his strength overwhelming. Alicia’s instincts kicked in. She bit down hard on the hand covering her mouth, her teeth sinking in with animalistic ferocity. She shook her head violently, desperate to tear a piece of flesh away if she could. The man grunted in pain and let go, stepping back.
At the sound, Alicia spun around, clutching the pepper spray, her breathing ragged. She blurted out, “Caden?” For a moment, she thought she must have misheard. Keeping the pepper spray tightly in her grip, she quickly reached for the light switch with her other hand.
The room flooded with light, revealing Caden’s sharp, familiar features. His piercing eyes and chiseled jawline left no room for doubt. It was unmistakably him.
Relief flooded her body, but anger quickly followed. Without thinking, she kicked him hard. “What the hell is wrong with you? Sneaking around like that! And sending someone to ambush me? I thought I was about to die!”
Caden staggered slightly, rubbing his hand and wincing. “Ambush? What are you talking about?” His brows furrowed in confusion. “I came alone.”
Alicia froze, her anger replaced by dread. “You came alone? Then who was following me?”
Caden expertly hid his emotions, his focus sharp as he tuned into the sounds echoing from beyond the door. Holding Alicia against the wall, he whispered, barely breathing, “When did he start following you?”
Alicia’s grip on his arm tightened, comforted by the rhythm of his heartbeat pulsing through her. “I only noticed him about ten minutes ago. He might be connected to Corey,” Alicia murmured.
Swiftly, Caden extracted his phone and dialed a number. “I’ve got a team at the hospital entrance. I’ll have them come to get you. I’ll take care of the situation outside.” Alicia’s expression clouded with concern. “Are you sure you’re up for this?”
She studied his face, noting the paleness and signs of fatigue.
Caden brushed off her worry with a short laugh. “I’m not on my deathbed. Trust me.”
Suddenly, a shadow loomed outside the door.
Caden instinctively moved Alicia behind him, protective. From outside, a voice called out, “Ms. Bennett, are you alright?”
The voice was courteous, yet the underlying intentions remained dull. Alicia kept quiet.
The sound of the lock being tampered with followed, but before the intruder could gain entry, Caden’s team arrived, quickly subduing the man.
Caden stepped forward, pulled off the man’s mask, and turned to Alicia. “Do you recognize this person?” Alicia leaned in for a better look. The man’s face was unfamiliar to her. His eyes burned with intensity but held no trace of malice. He didn’t fit the profile of an assassin. Despite being forced to kneel, the man maintained an upright posture and quickly defended himself, saying, “Ms. Bennett, I meant no harm. I thought you were in danger when I saw you being pulled into the room, so I picked the lock without asking.”
Caden had no patience for his explanations and directed that he be taken to the police.
Alicia halted the action and interrupted, “Hold on.” She moved around Caden to scrutinize the man’s badge more closely. It turned out he was indeed a doctor employed by the hospital. Since Corey financed the hospital, Alicia knew all the doctors there and was certain the badge was genuine.
Curious, Alicia questioned the man, “You’re a cardiologist. What are you doing in the ICU?”
The man met her gaze, his tanned face flushing slightly with embarrassment. “I was supposed to consult with Mr. Hampton, but after his incident, I had to find you.”
“What do you need from me?” Alicia inquired.
The man replied, “I was accused of moonlighting, and the hospital let me go. Ms. Bennett, I really need this job. I assure you, it won’t happen again.”
“Is that the whole story?” Alicia asked.
The man nodded, his expression somber.
Alicia then noticed a sizable bruise peeking from under his collar, reminiscent of a boxer’s injury. “What was your side job?”
Openly, the man said, “I was involved in illegal boxing.” Illegal boxing was fraught with danger but offered quick financial returns.
Alicia observed his hands, spotting the callused knuckles that wrapped around his long fingers. The signs of a tough life were unmistakable. Having supported numerous underprivileged children, Alicia could sense a deep-seated despair in him, as though he were constantly battling for breath.
An idea suddenly occurred to her. “How long have you been fighting?”
He exhaled heavily. “For three years.”