Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
The unexpected force sent him stumbling back, caught off guard by her sudden strength-or maybe it was the alcohol dulling his reflexes. Without wasting another second, Laney bolted toward the door. Cliff snapped out of his daze and reached for her, but as soon as his hand touched her arm, she slapped him-hard.
The sharp sound echoed in the room. Cliff froze, his face partially obscured by the shadows, his expression dark and unreadable.
Laney stood there, her hand trembling. She had never struck anyone before, but the pain in her chest told her it was long overdue. Without saying another word, she turned and walked out.
Cliff remained motionless for a moment, his anger simmering beneath the surface. By the time he came to his senses, she was gone.
Realizing she had left without shoes, Cliff cursed under his breath and hurried out after her. But she had already vanished into the night.
Still reeling from the alcohol and his own frustration, Cliff fumbled for his phone and called Gerry. His voice was sharp and urgent. “Find Laney. Now.”
Gerry emerged, speaking into the phone. “Where did Laney go? Where are you now?”
Cliff responded briefly, only hinting at where Laney might be.
Gerry exclaimed, “I can’t believe this! Why are you two arguing at this hour?”
Cliff’s face darkened as he clenched his fists. “I’ve indulged her far too often. Now she storms off at the slightest upset. Does she think she’s the center of my universe?”
“Just stop. I’ll call you the moment I locate her.”
After the call, Cliff’s headache intensified. He was clueless about her whereabouts and worried that she might stumble or be struck by a vehicle. A mix of worry and irritation weighed heavily on his heart. This turmoil clouded his thoughts and agitated him as he headed back inside.
Laney left Cliff’s place, her steps aimless.
The street was bustling with people, full of life and activity.
Laney longed for a quiet place to be alone and eventually found a peaceful park nearby where she could pause.
She gazed at her red right hand. She had struck Cliff with force, driven by anger. But why did it still feel unfulfilling? He had lied to her and played with her emotions. Hitting him was supposed to bring her some relief. Yet, why did she feel such pain?
Gradually, Laney curled up, covering her face with her hands, weeping. From the dim light by the roadside, an old car shut off its engine. A man wearing a baseball cap quietly moved toward her. “Hey, beautiful,” he called out.
The unfamiliar voice startled Laney. She quickly wiped away her tears, noticing only his eyes under the cap. She retreated in fear. “Who… who are you?”
The man kept his distance, yet his gaze was unmistakably hostile. “I saw you leave Cliff’s house. What’s your relationship with him?”
Laney felt confused. She didn’t know why he was questioning her, but she sensed danger. She turned to flee.
However, the man was quicker, seeming desperate. He yanked her hair and pulled her back, shouting, “I asked what your connection is to him! Who are you to him?” Laney cried out in agony.
The man flung her onto the nearby grass, pinning her down.
Their scuffle quickly drew the attention of nearby people. Some yelled for the man to stop, while others began filming the incident. But the man showed no fear. He mounted Laney, restraining her flailing arms and squeezing her throat.
Her cries were abruptly silenced. Her legs kicked furiously, flattening the flowers and grass beneath her.
Witnessing the struggle, some passersby intervened, tugging at the man’s clothes to pull him off. But his grip on her throat remained relentless, driven by something dark.
It was Gerry’s forceful kick that finally dislodged the man and freed Laney.
The scene quickly descended into chaos. Confronted by a stronger adversary, the man saw the opportunity to flee. Gerry swiftly lifted Laney, carrying her away from the danger.
Laney’s face had turned a deep shade of purple. She gasped for air, unable to speak.
Gerry rushed her to his car and sped toward the hospital.
Luckily, Laney suffered no serious injuries other than to her neck. She was admitted to a hospital room to recover.
Slowly, Laney’s eyes fluttered open. Her blurry vision at first made her think Cliff was beside her bed, stirring a flicker of emotion. But as her vision cleared, she realized it was Gerry.
The events leading up to her unconsciousness came flooding back, leaving her shaken. “Gerry,” she whispered softly.
At the sound of her raspy voice, Gerry put the medical reports aside and leaned in closer. “You’re awake. Are you in pain anywhere?”
Laney gently shook her head.
Gerry softly patted her head. “Don’t worry. I’m here with you.”
Laney’s eyelashes fluttered. “Did you get hurt?”
“I’m fine. I gave that guy a good kick that sent him flying. I’ve also called the cops. He won’t escape, so don’t worry.”
“That’s good.”
She then glanced toward the door, saw nothing, and her eyes fell in disappointment. What was she expecting? Cliff’s prior kindness had been nothing but an act. Why would he care now?
Gerry, who was usually oblivious, finally picked up on her shift in mood. “I let Cliff know you’re safe. He’s too hungover to come today, but he’ll likely visit tomorrow.”
Laney’s tone was flat. “Did you mention I was injured?”
“No, I didn’t. He gets impulsive, and when he’s drunk, there’s no stopping him.”
Laney gently tugged at his sleeve. “Please don’t tell him, okay?” she murmured. “I’d rather not see him for a while.”
Gerry was taken aback. “Laney, what went wrong between you and Cliff?” Laney stayed silent. Not wanting to press her further, Gerry sensed she was on the edge of breaking down, so he simply nodded and promised to respect her wishes.
The next morning, still battling the effects of his hangover, Cliff called Gerry as soon as he woke up. After receiving confirmation of Laney’s safety, he took a painkiller and prepared to head home.
However, when he opened the door to Laney’s bedroom, he found it empty. She wasn’t there.
Cliff descended the stairs, visibly distressed, and ran into Gerry.
“Are you looking for Laney?” Gerry asked.
“Where is she?” Cliff’s voice was tinged with panic.
“I’m not sure,” Gerry replied. “She left early this morning and made it clear that she didn’t want to see you.”
Cliff’s brows furrowed deeply, etching lines of concern across his forehead. “Did Laney actually say those words?” He couldn’t believe it.
Gerry, still haunted by the events of the previous night, couldn’t hide his disapproval. “What on earth possessed you to get into an altercation with a woman in the middle of the night? Is this how a man of your stature conducts himself? And to make matters worse, you left Laney barefoot. Her feet were raw with blisters.”
A vice seemed to tighten around Cliff’s heart. “Where has she gone?” he demanded, his voice tight with urgency.
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Gerry shot back. “Why don’t you track her down yourself?”
As Gerry turned to leave, a troubling thought stopped him in his tracks. “Cliff, have you made any enemies in the criminal underworld lately?”
“What?” Cliff asked, confused.
“Never mind,” Gerry replied, shaking his head. He resolved to investigate the situation further on his own.
Frantic, Cliff grabbed his phone and dialed Laney’s number, but the calls went unanswered. His messages vanished into a void of silence. Each desperate attempt to reach her was met with deliberate rejection.
Never had Cliff seen such unwavering resolve from Laney. Throughout their relationship, even when faced with his harshest words, she had never ignored him. Now, she had built an impenetrable wall between them.
Cliff’s composure started to crumble. Perhaps this distance was a blessing in disguise. Maybe they both needed time apart to process their emotions. Staying away from each other might be the wisest course of action.
Still, Cliff knew Laney’s nature all too well. Her resolve wouldn’t last long. By sunset, she would likely come seeking reconciliation.
Taking matters into his own hands, Cliff contacted the theater director and arranged a prestigious performance opportunity for Laney, thinking that immersing her in rehearsals would help soften her anger toward him. The director, unaware of the underlying tension, agreed without question.
Cliff’s request, though seemingly innocuous, was interpreted by the director as career advocacy, and with enthusiasm, he granted Laney the spotlight.
“How did her practice session go today?” Cliff inquired, trying to sound casual.
The director furrowed his brow, clearly confused. “It’s our designated rest day. The studio’s empty.”
Cliff’s expression darkened, his face betraying a flicker of frustration. He offered a noncommittal “Hmm,” swallowing his mounting concerns.
Back at the theater, Laney carefully covered the marks on her neck with makeup, keeping her injury hidden-even from her confidante, Kailyn. Upon receiving the news of the performance opportunity, Laney threw herself into her practice without hesitation, focusing all her energy on her craft.
Meanwhile, true to form, Kira approached the director with her usual demands, trying to claim the center position.
The director, firm yet gentle, responded, “You need to let go of this notion. Mr. Hopkins arranged this showcase specifically for Laney. You’ll still have your moment to shine in a supporting role.”
“I’ve been in the shadows long enough!” Kira’s voice rose with determination. “This time, the center stage belongs to me!”
The director remained unfazed. “If you can dance better than her, I’ll consider it.”
Kira’s frustration intensified. Despite the extensive resources her family had invested in her training and the adoration she had received, whenever she was matched against Laney’s raw talent, Kira’s efforts always seemed to fall short, like reaching for stars just beyond her grasp.
Drawing upon her family’s influence, Kira contacted her sister, Juliet. Through tears and desperate pleas, she made her case for claiming center stage.
Juliet, wary of antagonizing Cliff, refused Kira’s request.
“Then I’ll create a scene with Laney,” Kira threatened. “After all, Cliff has no affection for her. She stands alone.”
A cold dread crept through Juliet’s veins. “My relationship with Cliff is already hanging by a thread. Why must you fan the flames now?”
“That’s not my concern. The center position is all that matters!” Kira’s determination was unwavering, and Juliet knew her impulsive sister could easily expose the delicate dynamics between Cliff and Laney.
Juliet realized that it was just one performance. Denying Laney this one moment wouldn’t cause lasting damage. So, she decided to seize the opportunity to visit Cliff’s office.
Upon arrival, Juliet found Cliff uncharacteristically idle, his phone clutched in his hands, his expression clouded. “Am I catching you at a bad time?” she ventured.
Cliff emerged from his reverie, though his voice remained detached. “No. Speak your mind.”
Juliet approached the subject of the performance with diplomatic finesse, carefully choosing her words to avoid provoking Cliff’s ire. His lips were pressed into a thin line, and his silence spoke volumes. Three days had stretched into an eternity since their argument, and there had been no trace of Laney in his world. Her absence gnawed at him relentlessly.
“Handle it as you see fit,” Cliff commanded, securing his phone in the drawer with a decisive click. “I’m not to be disturbed for the remainder of the day.”