Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Laney’s breath hitched in her throat. Through clenched teeth, she pressed, “Did you investigate? Did you find no evidence, or do you, like them, believe I harbored resentment over Kira’s expos? and deliberately harmed her?”
Cliff’s lips compressed into a tight line, his expression unnervingly distant.
“Laney, my world doesn’t revolve around you. The Hopkins family has been dragged into this mess. Beyond resolving the Kira situation, countless other matters demand my attention.”
His lips curved into a cruel sneer.
“Isn’t Merrick supposed to be so resourceful? Why not let him help you uncover the evidence?”
His mockery cut through Laney like a blade. Though she fought to maintain composure, the telltale redness crept into her eyes. Her relationship with Merrick was nothing but a desperate self-deception, yet here was Cliff, eager to palm her off as a nuisance to another man. Unable to bear his gaze any longer, Laney dropped her eyes to the floor.
“I understand. I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Cliff brushed aside her apology with cold indifference.
“One more thing,” he added sharply.
“Why didn’t you properly secure the photos on your phone?”
The question struck her like a physical blow. A chill slithered down her spine as she grasped his implication.
“I locked away everything related to you. Kira had been plotting this exposure for ages. She stole my…”
Cliff interrupted coldly, “Tell me the truth. Was our relationship being exposed part of your scheme?”
Laney stared at him, disbelief etched across her features.
“You suspect me?”
The words hung heavy between them. Could he truly believe she was still desperately clinging to him, resorting to such underhanded tactics to force his acceptance? How could he paint her with such a cruel brush? He had offered her nothing but a counterfeit relationship-one fleeting month of borrowed happiness before casting her into an abyss of despair. Yet, even drowning in her own suffering, she had never once let hatred or blame take root. Why must he insist on seeing the worst in her?
Numbness spread through Laney’s body, her fingers betraying her with uncontrollable tremors.
Watching the color drain from her face, Cliff felt clarity slowly seep back into his mind. He’d been lashing out indiscriminately all day, and that last accusation-it was as if some dark force had possessed him, driving him to wound her just to ease his own turmoil. The realization left him sickened.
Cliff swallowed hard, about to speak, when he saw Laney lower her gaze, tears streaming silently down her cheeks. With unsteady hands, she unlocked her phone. He watched intently, unable to look away.
Her slender fingers moved with practiced familiarity to a hidden storage app, revealing a collection of photographs. They were moments captured of them together.
These were the pictures Laney had carefully selected, private treasures she would look at in secret when the ache of missing him became too much to bear, using them to soothe her wounded heart.
Before his eyes, Laney began deleting them all-each photograph vanishing without a moment’s hesitation.
Cliff’s heart plunged into an abyss as he instinctively reached out to stop her.
“Enough.”
But Laney shoved his hand away, her movements frantic. She didn’t stop at just deleting the photos-her trembling fingers moved to uninstall every related app, erasing all traces of their shared past. Each swift tap of her finger felt like a blunt blade twisting in Cliff’s heart, the pain almost unbearable.
After what seemed like an eternity, Laney finally lifted her tear-stained phone. She met his gaze, her jaw set with steely determination, her eyes burning with resolve.
“Everything about you is gone. Are you satisfied now?”
Cliff froze on the spot. Deep down, he knew better than anyone that Laney would never do something like that. His cruel accusation had come straight from his own possessiveness clouding his mind.
“I take back what I said,” Cliff muttered, his voice tight and awkward.
“I never really meant it.”
Laney let out a bitter smile. Cliff couldn’t just undo the damage, pretending nothing had happened. Despite his usual intelligence and demeanor, he still said the most absurd things. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but this time, they weren’t from sadness or heartbreak. She should’ve figured this out a long time ago. Instead, she held on, waiting until her heart was completely shattered before she could finally let go.
Cliff frowned and stepped forward, trying to pull her into a hug.
“Laney,” he said, his voice trembling without him even realizing it.
Laney took a step back, dodging his touch, and handed him her phone.
“Since you’re so worried about me leaking our photos, just handle my phone as you see fit,” she said, turning and walking away without a second glance.
Cliff stood there, dazed, feeling like all his energy had been drained in an instant. She had spent three years chasing him, and all he’d given her was a month of fleeting happiness. He didn’t want her, so she had cherished and kept hidden the photos of their intimate moments from that month as her only source of comfort in the relationship. Now, she was letting it all go, returning the photos and cutting off whatever love she had left for him.
As Laney stepped into the elevator, Cliff was about to follow when his secretary showed up, blocking his way.
“Mr. Hopkins, the press conference starts in an hour.”
Cliff stared ahead, forcing himself to stop. The scandal with the photos was still heating up. To clear Laney’s name, he knew he had to tell the truth. He had already prepared a statement, ready to tell everyone that he had initiated his relationship with Laney, and it contained elements of deceit.
He just wanted to protect Laney, not caring about the consequences, his reputation, or even risking a fallout with the Foster family. He cared about her-so how did the situation end up like this?
By the time Cliff came back to his senses, he found himself outside the hospital. The memory of the last time Laney had been hurt still haunted him, so even in his earlier dazed state, his body had moved on its own, afraid she might be in danger again.
Cliff’s eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Laney. Then, across the street, through the busy traffic, he spotted her frail figure. Without a second thought, Cliff hurried over, only to watch as a car pulled up in front of Laney. Merrick stepped out of the car and took her hand.
Seeing this, Cliff felt as if his feet were stuck to the ground, unable to move. He desperately wanted to rush over and pull Laney into his arms, but an invisible wall stood between them-one he couldn’t cross. After all, he was the one who had pushed Laney away. What right did he have to try and win her back now?
Cliff shut his eyes, taking a few deep breaths to push the pain in his chest away.
Just then, his secretary caught up behind him.
“Mr. Hopkins, Miss Collins just got into Mr. Acosta’s car. Should we have someone follow them?”
Cliff opened his eyes, his gaze steady again.
“Yeah, follow them. I won’t be able to relax until I know what’s going on.”
Cliff knew he had said some harsh things earlier, and both he and Laney were emotional, needing time to cool off. Once the press conference was done, she’d probably be feeling better. He could smooth things over then, and things would go back to normal. She had liked him for so long, and her heart was full of love for him, so she would undoubtedly give him a chance to make things right.
As expected, after the press conference, things blew up online.
The first to confront Cliff was Juliet, looking furious.
“Cliff, what the hell do you mean admitting you had an affair with Laney? What about me?”
Cliff’s face was blank, like he didn’t feel a thing.
“An affair? I said it already. I was interested in Laney, and I made an advance on her before you and I talked about any marriage of convenience. How is that an affair?”
He paused, letting out a soft sigh.
“Miss Foster, we have no relationship now either.”
Juliet went pale.
“Do you not want to get engaged to me anymore?”
“Find someone else who fits your plans. I’m done with this.”
The sky had grown darker outside. Cliff was itching to get home, reaching for his car keys.
Juliet, not willing to back down, stepped into his path.
“Even if you don’t care about the consequences, what about my sister’s injury? If you keep pushing me, I’ll accuse Laney of attempted murder. Can you deal with that?”
Cliff’s face hardened even more at her words, thinking back to the sight of Laney in tears.
“I’ll make sure this is fully investigated. No matter what the truth is, the police will handle it fairly.”
Juliet stood frozen, shocked. In a split second, Cliff was gone, leaving her standing there, confused.
Juliet couldn’t understand. Wasn’t the whole point of those photos to destroy Laney’s reputation? So, why was it bringing Laney and Cliff closer?
Cliff asked Gerry where Laney was. When he found out she was at home, he rushed back.
In the living room, Cliff’s parents sat, giving him looks he couldn’t interpret.
Out of breath, Cliff said, “I’ll explain everything later. Where’s Laney?”
Madison hesitated before replying, “She’s upstairs.”
Cliff looked up and saw the light shining from her open bedroom door. He let out a slow breath, feeling a bit more at ease. As long as she was still at the Hopkins family residence, they could talk things out, no matter how hurt she felt.
Cliff headed for the stairs, but Gerry, sucking on a lollipop, suddenly spoke up.
“Cliff, I advise you not to go up now. It’s not the right time.”
Cliff didn’t listen. If he didn’t go now, it would be too late.
When Cliff reached her bedroom door, he stopped for a moment, running through his apology in his head.
But before he could even mentally prepare himself, a sharp voice came from inside.
“Little swan, do you still want to keep this?”
Cliff’s jaw tightened as he stepped into the doorway, his eyes sweeping across the chaotic room.
Clothes and belongings were scattered everywhere-on the floor, the bed, and the table. In the middle of the mess, Laney sat cross-legged on the carpet, methodically packing her suitcase as if oblivious to the disorder around her..
Merrick lounged nearby, holding a photo frame. He turned it in his hands, inspecting the picture of a teenage Cliff with a smirk.
The moment Cliff appeared, the room fell into an uneasy silence. Both Laney and Merrick looked up, their gazes meeting his.
Cliff, however, was focused solely on Laney.
Laney held his stare for a brief second before dropping her head, her hands returning to the suitcase.