Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“Kailyn mentioned on our wedding day that when I looked at you, it was like an adoring fan. Was I really that adoring? I watched the video later, and it wasn’t like that! It was just a normal glance, wasn’t it?”
Cliff simply raised an eyebrow and remained silent.
After a moment, Laney’s expression shifted to one of determination.
“I think Kailyn has a point. A woman shouldn’t just revolve around a man. I’m going to change. I’ll start by loving myself before I love you.”
“Oh.”
Seeing his indifferent response, Laney’s cheeks flushed with irritation.
“I mean it!”
“Alright.”
Laney firmly announced, “Starting today, I’m holding back from sex. You’ll be sleeping in the guest room.”
Cliff nodded in agreement, though his tone was tinged with frustration.
“Even in the guest room, I don’t feel secure. Maybe I should just sleep at the office?”
Laney’s eyes widened.
“What are you implying? I’m not that horny!” she pouted. Cliff had always been the one to take the initiative, unwilling to bring things to an end. Now, it seemed like he was suggesting that her needs were hard to satisfy.
Initially hesitant, Laney now felt her resolve harden under his teasing. Once back home, she began setting up the guest room. Cliff stood in the doorway, arms crossed, observing her with an amused expression.
“You’ve even learned to do household tasks,” he commented.
“That’s good.”
Laney shot him a sharp glance as she stood by the wardrobe, picking out bed linens. She touched each one, unable to decide. Cliff looked on.
“What’s the issue?”
Laney didn’t want to admit that she was trying to choose the finest and most comfortable bedding for him, hoping he would sleep well. Finally making her decision, she threw it onto the bed.
“You set it up.”
Cliff took off his watch and entered the bedroom.
“If it’s going to be changed, we might as well get it dirty now, right?” he teased.
Laney huffed, “Absolutely not.”
After several rounds of teasing, Cliff removed the wet sheets and took them to be washed, stopping briefly to answer a phone call. After hearing his secretary’s report, Cliff took a moment to think.
The secretary remarked, “Mr. Hopkins, I understand that you and your wife have just returned from your honeymoon and would prefer not to be separated, but this issue really needs you there in person.”
Cliff paused briefly and then responded, “I can handle a business trip. Set up the schedule.”
Laney emerged from the bedroom wearing his shirt and sweetly complained about being hungry.
Cliff washed his hands and began preparing food for her, informing her that he would need to go on a business trip for a few days.
“It’s quite far, so I expect it’ll take about four days to handle everything,” he explained, watching her reaction closely.
“Laney, I’ll be back in no more than four days.”
Laney appeared hesitant, clearly not eager about the idea. However, understanding the importance of his work, she nodded.
“Alright, be careful and stay safe.”
Cliff gave her a kiss before leaving.
With his absence, Laney’s playful vow of refraining from intimacy became a reality.
On the first night away, Cliff called from the hotel. Laney insisted she was fine sleeping alone, but her voice betrayed her, filled with tears, which deeply saddened Cliff. He wished he could be like a superhero, complete his work in an instant, and rush back to her.
After speaking for more than an hour and calming her until she fell asleep, Cliff lay in the chilly hotel bed, finding it hard to relax. Ever since they became a couple, they hadn’t spent a night apart, always together, with Laney’s gentle and sweet presence beside him.
Whenever he woke up during the night, he could always cuddle and kiss her, his hands constantly in contact with her. Now, as he reached out, he found only empty air. It felt like being in solitary confinement.
Laney spent the first night in tears but gradually felt better. In the days that followed, Kailyn visited to keep her company and took her out for some fun. The outings were genuinely enjoyable, and over time, Laney began to feel her displeasure fade away.
Cliff texted whenever he could, checking in on what Laney was doing and if she was eating properly. Knowing what he wanted to hear, Laney wrote, “No, I miss you too much to eat or sleep properly.”
After sending the message, Laney continued to enjoy her time with Kailyn. Young men and women playing card games together were always a lively bunch.
Taking her message seriously, Cliff came home a day early. But when he got home, she wasn’t there. He noticed a few unfamiliar promotional cards casually left on the cabinet.
Cliff picked them up to inspect them. They were from an entertainment center and still smelled faintly of cake, clearly items Laney had picked up while having fun. It seemed his absence had turned into a little vacation for her.
Cliff pulled out his phone and sent a message to Laney.
“Are you asleep?”
A few minutes later, Laney typed back.
“Just got out of the shower, about to go to bed.”
Reading this, Cliff let out a naughty chuckle.
“Send me a photo.”
Laney was taken aback. She was currently holding a winning hand in a card game, unsure of how to reply when another message from Cliff popped up.
“Take everything off. You know what I like to see.”
Laney dropped her winning hand, grabbed her phone, and hurried home.
When Laney stepped out of the elevator, she wanted to ease any doubts Cliff might have about the delay. She quickly replied, “Hold on, I’m working on it now. This is all new to me, so please bear with my clumsiness.”
Cliff stood in the shadow of the hallway, his phone chiming softly.
Laney thought she heard it and stopped, looking around.
Cliff switched his phone to silent mode.
The hallway seemed to be empty, so Laney made her way toward her door.
As she was about to enter the code, a shiver ran down her spine, and she suddenly sensed a strong presence behind her.
Turning around to see who it was, she caught a glimpse of a shadow before someone suddenly covered her eyes, gently but firmly pinning her against the door with a broad frame.
Laney wanted to scream, but almost instantly, her mouth was covered. The man’s strength was overwhelming, his muscles firm as a rock, pressing against her forcefully. Yet, it wasn’t just the pain that terrified Laney.
It was the overwhelming fear.
Without a word, the man pulled at her collar. Her skin was smooth, free of any other marks, which seemed to catch his attention as he leaned in to kiss her.
Laney was on the verge of a breakdown, twisting desperately with muffled cries of “Let me go,” but it only provoked the man further. In desperation, she bit his hand.
The man’s reaction to her pale, frightened face was to let go of her mouth.
Seizing her chance to speak, Laney quickly threatened, “Do you know who my husband is? He’s inside, and he won’t hesitate to kill you!” The man didn’t respond and began to lift her skirt.
Laney’s attempts to kick and punch were ineffective.
Realizing her threats had no impact, Laney changed her approach and offered money, promising whatever amount he wanted if he would just release her.
Then she heard the sound of a belt being unbuckled behind her. Her mind went blank, now certain that he was determined to assault her, and in a panic, she screamed out desperately. She kept calling for Cliff to rescue her.
However, the man seemed to take pleasure in her begging, and his actions became even bolder.
Laney gathered every bit of her strength and drove her elbow into the man’s stomach. He groaned in response.
Laney paused, recognizing the sound.
“Is that you, Cliff?” she asked, hopeful.
“Is it really you?”.
The man didn’t reply, continuing his actions.
Laney thought it might be Cliff but remembered he was supposed to be out of town. How could he have returned so suddenly? Anger surged through her as she demanded, “Cliff, say something! Is it really you? I don’t like this game! Let go of me!”
The man kept gazing at the beautiful woman in his grasp. It had only been a few days since their last meeting, but she looked so radiant and beautiful, her legs so alluringly long, that he found himself completely captivated.
Laney’s voice became raspy from yelling, yet she got no reply, and the sparkle in her eyes faded. This wasn’t Cliff. Cliff would never harm her like this.
Laney realized she was vulnerable but was determined not to surrender. She searched her memory for any familiar faces, trying to think of anyone she might have upset recently.
“Are you Rowe?” Laney attempted to divert his attention.
“You confessed your feelings to me, and I rejected you. Are you holding a grudge?”
The man froze for a moment.
Laney noticed this tactic worked and continued guessing, “Or could you be Curt? Rowland? Newell? Vincent? Mateo?” The man remained quiet.
A sudden realization struck Laney, and she exclaimed, “I know you! You’re the new neighbor, aren’t you? We spoke briefly downstairs last time. I recognize your voice!”