Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Merrick broke the tension with a smug smile.
“Hey, little swan, do you still want to keep this?” he drawled, holding up the frame.
Laney didn’t even glance his way.
“No,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Merrick shrugged and tossed the frame into the trash can with a clatter. Without missing a beat, he reached for another of Cliff’s belongings, inspecting it with mock curiosity.
“And this?”
Bang. The item hit the trash can with a loud clang, with Laney’s agreement.
“How about this one?” Bang.
“I guess you don’t want this one either.”
Bang. Bang. Bang. The relentless noise grated on Cliff’s nerves, his face darkening with every jarring sound.
But what stung even more was Laney’s detachment. She didn’t flinch at Merrick’s actions and didn’t react to the destruction of things she once cared about. Her expression was calm, distant, as though none of it mattered anymore.
Within minutes, the trash bag was overflowing.
Merrick tied it up with a flourish and made his way toward the door. As he passed Cliff, he paused, pretending to finally notice him.
“Oh, Cliff,” he said with mock surprise, his lips curling into a taunting grin.
“When did you get here?”
Cliff responded with nothing but a cold, cutting glare.
Merrick shivered, the weight of Cliff’s stare cutting through his usual bravado. He had no personal vendetta against Cliff-this was all for Laney. He thrived on the adrenaline of pushing boundaries but wasn’t foolish enough to overstep too far.
Up close, Cliff’s cold glare stripped Merrick of his bravado. Merrick cleared his throat, attempting to sound casual.
“Cliff, uh… Could you step aside? I need to throw this out.”
As soon as Merrick finished, Cliff’s hand clamped down on Merrick’s shoulder, his grip unyielding. With one swift motion, Cliff yanked Merrick aside.
Merrick stumbled back, nearly losing his balance as he teetered on the edge of the stairs. He flailed for a moment before collapsing onto the floor.
Downstairs, the family heard the commotion and glanced up. Seeing Merrick unharmed and sprawled on the floor, they turned away, pretending not to notice.
Cliff stepped into Laney’s bedroom, shutting the door firmly behind him. The click of the lock echoed in the tense air.
Laney remained unfazed, her hands moving methodically as she packed the last of her belongings.
The suitcase in front of her was nearly full, and a pile of discarded items sat off to the side. She had chosen to take very little with her. Just as she reached for the zipper to close her suitcase, a hand stopped her.
Cliff’s voice broke the silence, low and sharp.
“Was Merrick in our house?”
The word ‘our’ hit Laney like a stone, sending an unwelcome ripple through her chest. Our house? No, it wasn’t hers. This house belonged to the Hopkins family-a place she had never truly felt was home. While she was grateful to Madison for treating her kindly, she knew her time here was over.
Laney’s hands stilled, but she didn’t meet his gaze.
“He came to help me.”
“To help you with what?” Cliff demanded, his voice sharp now.
“Leaving? Moving in with him?”
Laney didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she glanced at his hand.
“Move aside,” she said, her tone steady but firm.
“You’re blocking my path.”
Her words only deepened Cliff’s suspicions. His voice tightened.
“You’ve barely known him, and now you’re moving in together? Does that even make sense?”
Laney met his gaze with steady calmness.
“I’m almost twenty-three, Cliff. I’m legally an adult and old enough to get married. Why shouldn’t I live with him?”
Cliff felt a sharp pang in his chest. Before she had confirmed it, he’d clung to a shred of hope. But now, her words left no room for doubt-she really was moving in with Merrick.
The thought of Merrick, a known playboy, stirred an uncontrollable worry in Cliff. Could a man like that truly restrain himself tonight? Cliff’s frustration boiled over.
“Laney, are you doing this just to spite me? How can you degrade yourself like this?”
Laney’s laugh was cold and cutting.
“Degrade myself? What could possibly be worse than falling for someone like you, Cliff? You touched and kissed me, only to say it was to fulfill my wishes. You never took the final step during our countless intimate encounters. I get it. You wanted me to save my first time for someone else, didn’t you? Well, now that I’m with someone else, you don’t have to worry about me being a burden. What else could you possibly be dissatisfied with?”
Her words struck him like a blow, and his face turned dark with anger. When he didn’t respond, Laney shoved him away with unexpected strength.
Caught off guard, Cliff stumbled, leaving her a clear path to the door. Laney grabbed her suitcase and walked out with a determination he’d never seen in her before.
Watching her defiance only fueled Cliff’s anger, consuming any thoughts of apologizing.
“You’re right, Laney,” he said, his voice icy.
“You’re an adult. I have no right to stop you. Just don’t come crying to me when things fall apart.”
Laney stopped for a moment and turned to him, her tone resolute.
“You don’t have to worry about that, Cliff. I won’t.”
Cliff clenched his fists, veins pulsing as he fought to contain his emotions.
After bidding farewell to Cliff’s parents, Laney got into Merrick’s car without looking back.
Silence settled over the living room.
The three people on the sofa, who had been watching the entire scene unfold, turned their eyes toward Cliff.
On the second floor, Cliff remained by the railing, his eyes fixed on the front door as though willing her to walk back in.
Gerry broke the silence.
“Cliff, are you really going to let her go like that?”
Cliff stormed into his bedroom and slammed the door, his thunderous command to “leave me alone” still echoing through the house. Gerry slowly removed the lollipop from his mouth, shaking his head with a knowing grimace.
Madison stood rooted to the spot, her mind struggling to make sense of the chaos unfolding before her. The day’s events had set off a chain reaction. Before she could comprehend one incident, another was already crashing into her reality.
Feeling lost, Madison turned to her younger son, her voice tinged with concern.
“What’s going on now?”
“Just what you saw,” Gerry stated matter-of-factly.
“Laney and Cliff have completely fallen out.”
“I thought I heard Cliff being harsh with Laney earlier, but when he came back, he seemed so worried about her. When did his temper become so unpredictable?” Madison mused, wringing her hands.
The peculiarity of the situation wasn’t lost on Gerry either. Yet, Cliff’s declaration at today’s press conference had laid bare the truth. Those controversial photos existed because he had pursued and charmed Laney.
“Cliff’s definitely caught feelings, but he bungled this love triangle spectacularly and ended up pushing Laney away,” Gerry explained.
Philip’s brow furrowed in surprise.
“Are you saying Cliff likes Laney? I didn’t think so.”
“Cliff’s worn that icy facade since childhood,” Gerry retorted.
“What could you possibly see? If he wasn’t interested, would he dare make those statements at the press conference right after taking office?”
“Wasn’t it to protect Laney?” Philip challenged.
In their male-dominated society, if Laney harbored feelings for Cliff, she’d be branded as the homewrecker in a love triangle. Yet, if Cliff admitted to pursuing Laney, society would praise his boldness and devotion instead of condemning him.
“If it was merely about protection, he could’ve buried the trending topics or found a scapegoat. Why implicate himself? Didn’t you see how livid the Foster family was?” Gerry countered.
Madison’s voice carried her confusion.
“If he truly cares for Laney, then why pick fights with her? It doesn’t add up.”
Gerry sank into contemplative silence. After a moment’s reflection, he said, “Perhaps he’s simply lost his mind.”
Geny turned to his parents, disbelief etched on his face.
“Aren’t you two even shocked? Look at how this situation has spiraled.”
“They’re not even related by blood,” Madison said with a dismissive wave.
“What’s there to fuss about? Your brother’s thirty and hasn’t had a single relationship. I’d be thankful if he’s finally found someone who captures his interest.”
“Dad, what’s your take on this?” Gerry pressed.