Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
After her workday, Laney decided to look for Cliff at his company. With Cliff swamped with work, the assistant directed Laney to his office.
“Where has Cliff gone?” Laney asked the assistant. “Is he with a client?”
“Most likely,” the assistant answered. He wasn’t certain, but assumed that if Cliff was away, it involved work or something similar.
While waiting, Laney passed the time by texting Cliff. She didn’t push him to come back. Instead, she sent him updates about her day, mentioning her new hairstyle that she loved, the new color of her nail polish, and the compliments she received on her dance today. Her final message included a photo of a nightgown she had purchased recently.
Cliff saw the notification on his phone but chose not to view the full image of the nightgown. It featured black lace detailing, intended solely for his eyes.
During an intimate moment, as he had kissed her breast and held her gaze, Laney asked, “Do you really like me in black?”
Cliff’s eyes had dwelled on her silhouette before he answered, “It’s not the color black itself, but how you look in it.”
This was the reason Laney had chosen such a dress to charm him. Another text was sent to him, saying, “Cliff, I miss you dearly.”
Cliff glanced at the clock and texted back, “If you’re hungry, start without me. There’s no need to wait.”
Laney typed back, “I’d rather eat together.”
At the table, Juliet noticed Cliff’s preoccupation and offered smoothly, “If you’re tied up, feel free to head back. We can tackle this project on another occasion.”
Cliff locked his phone and flipped it over on the table. “I like to address matters immediately. Now, where did we leave off? Go on.”
Juliet gripped her coffee cup, suddenly aware of how mundane work seemed. Time alone with someone like Cliff appeared more fitting for leisure, yet their meetings…
The conversation remained strictly professional. Once their discussion concluded, they proceeded to the project site.
The Foster family was now heavily engaged in construction ventures. With the partnership with Cliff, Juliet felt emboldened to pursue larger endeavors, sharing the profits with the Hopkins family.
This was where Juliet truly excelled. Her dedication shone like a guiding light, offering generous support to Cliff.
In her, Cliff recognized a promising future for both their families, and he finally grasped why his parents held her in such high regard. Beauty was plentiful, yet talent was a gem.
Juliet caught Cliff’s lingering look and stopped to return his gaze. Without diverting his eyes, Cliff earnestly said, “Miss Foster, you possess a certain allure when you’re focused on your work.”
Juliet was amused, flattered by the handsome man’s compliment. “Do I lose my charm when I’m not at work?”
Cliff responded, “I haven’t noticed.”
His candid nature was something Juliet appreciated.
They continued working until dusk, addressing most of the pending matters.
Afterward, Cliff freshened up and browsed through his messages, noticing many from Laney had gone unchecked. He dialed her number. Laney’s voice sounded raspy, likely from just waking up. “Cliff,” she said, her tone carrying a slight complaint.
“Are you still waiting for me at the office?” Cliff asked.
“Yes,” she answered. “Will you still come?”
“I’ve just wrapped up here. I’ll be there to get you in about thirty minutes,” Cliff assured her, glancing at his watch.
As Cliff spoke, he saw Juliet waiting by the car. The night had fallen, and he needed to drop her off first.
“Never mind, I’ll arrange for Gerry to pick you up,” Cliff said into the phone after a moment. “He can have dinner with you.”
Laney sounded let down. “Cliff, I’ve been waiting so long for you.”
“I’m tied up right now.”
Laney seldom made demands on Cliff. She enjoyed his company but understood when to step back. “Alright,” she responded quietly.
Cliff exhaled deeply, ended the call, and approached Juliet.
Juliet easily guessed the person on the other end from his look and said with empathy, “I’ll get someone from my family to come get me. You can go.”
Cliff was firm. “That won’t be necessary.”
“You mentioned our future alliance is strictly for business. You don’t need to go out of your way.”
“I’d rather avoid any complications,” Cliff explained. “You’ve been with me all day. If something were to happen, it would be my responsibility.”
Juliet laughed, climbed into the car, and stretched out comfortably. “Well then, let’s grab dinner before we head back. It shouldn’t take long.”
Cliff nodded in agreement and started the engine.
Juliet rested her head on her hand, casually asking, “Cliff, we both prefer capable partners. Have you ever considered grooming her?”
Cliff kept his eyes on the road. “I can manage the challenges alone. She isn’t cut out for this kind of difficulty.”
Cliff’s cutting words left Juliet speechless, her spirit crumbling like autumn leaves.
After that, there was no further conversation.
In a twist of quiet rebellion, Juliet chose the city’s most prestigious restaurant and its finest table, letting Cliff’s wallet bear the weight of her wounded pride.
Elsewhere, when Gerry arrived to collect Laney, the usual spark in her eyes had dimmed to embers. She pressed her forehead against the glass, watching the world blur past as Gerry navigated the street. Though Gerry painted vivid descriptions of tempting dishes, Laney’s heart wasn’t in it. She defaulted to his preferences, her appetite lost in the shadows of her thoughts.
“Cliff was busy with work,” Gerry tried to console her. “And he will only get busier, Laney. Better to accept it now than later.”
The truth in his words pierced through Laney’s defenses. Reality was a bitter pill to swallow. Work was just the beginning-soon there would be relationships, marriage, and the inevitable roles of husband and father. Like sand through her fingers, Cliff would slip away until nothing remained of their connection. The realization sat heavy in Laney’s chest. Words failed her, so she retreated into a fortress of silent nods.
Gerry’s heart ached at her dejection, his frustration directed at Cliff. “I warned him about giving you false hope, but he turned a deaf ear.” The situation had spiraled beyond Cliff’s grasp.
Laney defended Cliff. “It’s me who clings to him, Gerry.”
Despite Cliff’s previous harsh attempts to create distance, like thorns meant to keep her at bay, Laney had refused to surrender. Time and again, she’d brushed off the hurt, continuing to cling to him with unwavering devotion, blind to the lessons life tried to teach.
“I know Cliff all too well.” Gerry’s words floated like whispers on the wind.
As the car crawled through traffic, Laney let the evening breeze caress her face, her mind adrift in a sea of memories.
The street pulsed with weekend energy, a river of humanity flowing through the commercial district.
A massive 3D display painted the night with dancing advertisements. The vibrant images demanded attention, a kaleidoscope of color and motion.
Laney’s gaze drifted upward to the fifth floor, where fate dealt its cruelest card-a familiar silhouette sharing an intimate dinner.
There was no mistaking Cliff’s presence. His aura commanded attention like a silver screen idol-tall, devastatingly handsome, with a profile that could launch a thousand sighs. Laney had memorized every angle of his face, each expression carefully tucked away in the chambers of her heart.
The irony twisted like a knife-his earlier words about being “too busy” echoed mockingly in Laney’s mind. Too busy to spare her a moment, too occupied even for a simple ride home. Yet there he sat, sharing intimate moments with another woman.
Hot tears clouded Laney’s vision, turning the scene before her into a watercolor of pain, the woman’s features mercifully blurred beyond recognition.
Through the haze, Laney could make out only the graceful movement of the woman’s hand covering her lips, her laughter floating down like delicate poison. The revelation hit hard-Cliff wasn’t the cold, distant figure he portrayed. He could bring joy and spark laughter-just not for her.
The bitterness rose like bile in Laney’s throat as she wrenched her gaze away, her heart splintering into countless pieces.
Gerry pulled into a parking spot, ready to suggest dinner, only to find silent tears streaming down Laney’s cheeks. Confusion flickered across his features.
The question died on his lips as his eyes traced her earlier line of sight, understanding dawning with crushing clarity. Gerry sighed, frustrated by Cliff’s influence on Laney.
Without missing a beat, Gerry restarted the engine. “I know a place that puts this restaurant to shame-more elegant and more exclusive.”
But Laney’s appetite had vanished like morning mist, leaving only emptiness behind. “Gerry,” her voice barely a whisper, “I want to go home.”
She needed to do something else to distract herself, or she might impulsively call Cliff. She didn’t want to embarrass herself like that. Gerry nodded gently. “Alright. Let’s head home. The chef will whip up all your favorites.”
The question burned in Laney’s throat until she could no longer contain it. “Gerry, who is she?” Her voice trembled.
Gerry’s knuckles whitened against the steering wheel. Cliff’s words echoed in his memory-explicit instructions to deny any connection with Juliet. Yet, the evidence painted a different picture-a private dinner at a couples’ restaurant.
The romantic ambiance of the venue hardly screamed “nothing between them.” The setting hadn’t escaped Gerry’s notice. He intended to change the topic, but seeing the sorrow in Laney’s eyes, he felt compelled to tell the truth.
“Juliet Foster.”
The name struck like lightning through Laney’s chest.
Gerry continued, “They’re not dating. They’re merely business partners. My parents favor Juliet, but Cliff’s shown no interest in pursuing anything.”
Laney’s fingers curled into tight fists, nails biting into her palms. “He is interested,” she whispered, her voice heavy with certainty.
“Cliff never said so,” Gerry replied.
“Kira did.” Laney’s words tumbled out like broken glass. “Today, Kira told me… She called him her future brother-in-law. He bought Juliet a bracelet.”
The revelation left Gerry stunned into silence.
The intimate scene from the restaurant replayed on a loop in Laney’s mind. Fresh tears threatened as her voice cracked. “He’s never bought gifts for his other arranged dates and never made them laugh.”
Laney let out a bitter smile. The unspoken truth hung heavy-Cliff had never made her laugh either. But Juliet stood apart, special, different. Their compatibility was undeniable, like two pieces of a perfect puzzle.
Reality crashed down around Laney-what could she, a simple girl, possibly offer someone like Cliff? Her very affection seemed to repel him. A profound sadness settled over her.
After escorting Juliet home, Cliff typed out a casual message to Laney about her dinner plans.
Laney didn’t reply.
Upon arriving home, Cliff’s feet carried him instinctively to Laney’s door. The unexpected resistance of the locked door stopped him short. His hand hovered mid-air, poised to knock, before dropping away as realization dawned.
This wasn’t like Laney at all-the locked door and the unanswered message. Something had shifted in their delicate balance, and he felt it keenly. The need to understand drove him to seek out Gerry.
Gerry had been waiting, ready to unravel the night’s events with careful precision.