Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Corey’s chest heaved with exasperation. “I’m not asking for your help. Why are you interfering?”
Caden responded icily, “Alicia is my wife. I haven’t even let her take care of me. And now you expect her to prioritize your sister?”
Alicia stepped in, her voice tinged with exasperation. “Stop arguing. This isn’t the time.”
Perhaps due to Gemma’s situation, Corey’s demeanor had softened noticeably. He moderated his tone. “I’m begging you, okay?”
Caden held his gaze. “Are you really begging while looking at the floor?”
Corey clenched his jaw and lifted his eyes to meet Caden’s. “I’m asking if Alicia could stay for a couple of days.”
Caden asked sharply, “To do what?”
“To help take care of my sister.”
Caden, though reluctant, eventually gave in.
With the ongoing tension, Alicia found herself fully alert, and the three of them ended up sitting in the corridor outside the hospital room, discussing the night’s events.
Corey chain-smoked, each drag burning his throat more than the last. Eventually, he broke the silence and said, “Your husband understands why Pierre had to die.”
Caden responded with biting sarcasm, “Don’t tell me you’ve only just figured out his identity.”
“Damn it, I was careless. Of all my enemies, he was the first to confront me directly, seeking revenge.”
Alicia said, clearly upset, “That was a human life. Do you think this is some kind of game?”
Caden spoke calmly. “I respect the deceased. My comment was merely to point out Corey’s insensitivity.”
Caught up in his emotions, Corey realized he had overstepped, especially considering Alicia’s empathy. He understood he shouldn’t have spoken as he did. He extinguished his cigarette. “Let’s leave this behind and focus on helping Gemma recover.”
Alicia, skeptical, asked, “Did you kill Pierre yourself?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve handled it. The police won’t catch me.”
“You’re missing the point. Whether you live or die doesn’t concern me,” Alicia replied, her voice flat.
“Did you do it in front of Gemma?”
Corey nodded, his lips pressed tight. “I was terrified Pierre might hurt Gemma.”
Alicia smirked. “If he had really wanted to harm her, he wouldn’t have waited until now. Despite knowing Gemma cared for him, you still went through with it, and so brutally. Corey, you’re acting like a monster.”
The comment pierced Corey’s heart. Shifting uncomfortably, he responded, “I was trying to protect my sister.”
“Does protecting her justify such brutality? You’re accustomed to killing, dismissing the law, and devaluing human life. You’re cold-blooded and ruthless, yet you shirk responsibility, pinning everything on Pierre. Do you think Gemma is proud to have a brother like you?”
Corey had never faced such harsh criticism before. His eyes reddened slightly. “Yes, you’re right, but Gemma is the only family I have, the woman I love most. I would endure anything, but I won’t allow any threats near her.”
Alicia glanced toward the hospital room door, her tone mocking. “Yet, she’s in this state because of you. Who knows when she’ll overcome her grief?”
Gemma’s heartache was different from Corey’s past encounters. He had never truly invested in relationships, but Pierre was the first man Gemma had genuinely loved. The emotional burden would be profound.
Caden broke the tense silence. “Alicia, let’s go home. We need some rest. We’ll return later to see Gemma.”
Alicia agreed. They left together.
Corey stayed seated, numb to both the chill and warmth around him, now haunted by a creeping doubt. Was he wrong? He had only wanted to protect his family. How could that be wrong?
Corey arranged a dignified burial for Pierre. After the funeral, Gemma was discharged from the hospital. She gathered all of Pierre’s belongings, packing them into a box, which she then buried next to his grave. She had become noticeably thinner, her fingers dry and fragile as she traced the outline of Pierre’s portrait.
Nightmares haunted Gemma throughout her hospital stay, robbing her of restful sleep. The physical pain from her strained heart felt unbearable, worse than death itself. She had planned to share these feelings with Pierre today but hesitated, fearing it would only cause him to worry. He had always been terrified of her tears. Whenever she cried, it would send him into a panic.
Gemma thought back to their fleeting moments of joy and, smiling through her tears, whispered reluctantly, “Pierre, the osmanthus trees in the yard have bloomed. In our next life, will you bake me that cake?” As she spoke, a gentle breeze caressed the tombstone and brushed the hair from her cheek. It seemed almost like a tender promise from Pierre, assenting to her request.
Gemma felt as if her heart was being ripped apart, the pain so intense that it almost convulsed her body. For a fleeting moment, she contemplated ending her life. But she resisted. Her life had been preserved by Corey, who had committed numerous acts to protect her. Her death would only bring him unbearable grief, compelling her to endure the agony, burdened by the weight of his deeds.
Another winter settled in. Warrington was blanketed in snow.
Alicia, concerned that Gemma might harm herself, made daily visits to the hospital. Gemma, not wanting to cause further concern, diligently followed her treatment plan, though she never smiled again.
Gemma’s ongoing despair strained her artificial heart, causing its chip to deplete faster than anticipated-potentially needing replacement three months early. However, there had been no update from Dorian about the chip’s development.
Alicia felt a deep unease but remained silent about her concerns, striving to maintain a semblance of normalcy. The harsh winter dragged on.
By February of the following year, Alicia and Caden’s baby was finally ready to leave the incubator. After so much waiting and effort, Caden, who had looked forward to this day more than anyone, found himself unexpectedly nervous. He made an excuse about the crowd inside and waited outside. “You go in and bring her out.”
Alicia noticed his uneasy demeanor. “Why so distracted? Don’t you want to see our child?”
Caden tightened his grip on her hand and said, “Of course, I do, but you know I’ve never liked crowds.”
Despite his claim, he had invited half of Warrington to their wedding and seemed to enjoy himself then.
“Alright, I’m going,” Alicia said, offering him a reassuring smile, as one might to a nervous child. “You’ll bond with the baby soon enough. Don’t worry.”
Caden insisted, “I’m not worried.”
The baby, well-cared for in the incubator, was healthy and plump. Alicia held the baby gently, her face breaking into a smile.
A group of doctors came over to give final instructions about caring for the baby outside the incubator.
Alicia, having already researched extensively, listened closely nonetheless.
As time passed, Caden’s anxiety grew, prompting him to show up at the door and say, “Why is it taking so long?”
Realizing Caden was still outside, Alicia quickly wrapped up her conversation with the doctors and walked out holding their baby. Caden was captivated by the sight of the little one in Alicia’s arms. Although he had visited often and knew every detail of the baby’s features, seeing Alicia holding their newborn seemed to change everything.
The baby’s round face appeared even more vivid up close, incredibly soft. Snug in her blanket, she slept peacefully, resembling a tranquil portrait that Caden couldn’t tear his eyes away from. Caden was lost in the moment until Alicia’s voice snapped him back to reality. “Stop smiling and hold her for a while.”
Caden was slightly taken aback. “Was I smiling?”
“You’re grinning from ear to ear, Caden.”
Reluctantly acknowledging his joy, Caden’s heart fluttered as he reached out to take the baby. His tall frame and large hands made the six-pound infant look even tinier.
The baby stirred slightly in his arms, whimpered discontentedly, moved her lips in search of a pacifier, and then began to cry.
Caden panicked. “What did I do wrong?” he asked, frowning and looking anxiously at Alicia. “Are my hands too rough, or is my clothing bothering her?”
Alicia initially wanted to tease him but hesitated, worried he might overreact and rush the baby to the emergency room, frantically calling every pediatrician in the country. She said calmly, “She’s just hungry. Babies this small need to eat often. It’s been about two hours since her last meal.”
Relieved, Caden handed the baby over to a nurse for feeding. As she began to feed, the baby’s cries subsided. Caden stayed close by, watching intently.
Alicia laughed softly. “Didn’t you always say you wanted a son? What’s so fascinating about our baby girl?”
At Alicia’s teasing words, Caden reluctantly looked away and said, “There’s really nothing much to see.”
Today was special-they could finally take their baby girl home, and then they could spend all day watching her if they wanted.
Alicia watched the baby nurse and slowly fall asleep, smiling gently.
It had been a while since Caden had seen Alicia smile so contentedly. Remembering how concerned she had been about Gemma’s condition, he said, “Why don’t we invite Gemma over for dinner tonight? Let her see the baby.”
Alicia pondered for a moment before shaking her head. “Let Corey stay with her a bit longer. It’s only been a few months since the incident, and she’s still recovering. Seeing us happy might just make her feel worse.”
The mention of Gemma brought Alicia’s thoughts to Gemma’s artificial heart. The chip, initially intended for annual replacement, now required changing in just a few months to avoid serious risks. Alicia said, “Caden, could you check with Dorian about the chip’s progress? If there are any issues, maybe we can help sort them out. If it’s not feasible, we need to know sooner rather than later so we can look for alternatives.”
Caden agreed with a nod.
A week later, Caden finally located Dorian.
Upon seeing Dorian, drastically changed, Caden was taken aback. “Dorian?”
Dorian’s hair had nearly all fallen out, leaving only a few sparse strands clinging to his scalp. His face looked drawn and pale. Standing at the entrance of the tech lab, he wore a thick mask that obscured most of his features, except for his cloudy eyes. Yet, he managed a smile. “Caden, it’s me.”
Caden was momentarily lost for words at the sight. How had Dorian ended up like this? Dorian looked as if he were battling a severe illness. As someone handed Dorian a glass of water, he asked, “You’re here about the chip, right? It’s nearly ready. I’ll arrange for it to be delivered to you next month.”
Caden’s gaze drifted to a black-and-white photo on a nearby desk. It was Yolanda. He hesitantly asked, “Yolanda passed away?”
The last glimmer of light in Dorian’s eyes dimmed as he lowered his head. “Yes, I needed to concentrate on the chip research, so I had her stay at a friend’s mental health facility. Last month, she committed suicide.”
Yolanda had consumed an entire bottle of sleeping pills and suffocated herself with a plastic bag over her head, dying while clutching a family photo.
Dorian’s voice softened. “Caden, I know you all despise me. I’ve made grave mistakes toward Alicia, but Yolanda and I were together for over twenty years. I can’t just abandon her.”
He seemed to find a little solace, his voice humble. “Please take good care of Alicia for me.”
When Caden returned home, he shared very little with Alicia. He simply assured her that the chip would be ready next month and that there was no need to worry.
Alicia removed Caden’s scarf and kissed him on the lips. “My mom has come over to help take care of the baby. I was thinking she could stay here with us. What do you think?”
Caden had no objections. “You’re the lady of the house. It’s your call.” Regina’s arrival was well-timed. He had questions for her.
While Alicia was in the shower, Caden took the opportunity to speak with Regina privately. “Regina, why did everyone in Dorian’s research team disappear except for him?”
It was a well-kept secret. Now, as family, Regina saw no reason to conceal the truth. “They all died. Dorian was the most astute. He sensed something was off early and left the team, which saved his life.”
“Were they assassinated?”
“No, they succumbed to radiation exposure.”
Caden’s expression hardened. Reflecting on Dorian’s current state, his suspicions were confirmed.