Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“My boyfriend cheated on me with an older woman,” she said, her voice wavering.
Caden’s expression darkened for a moment, but as he studied her tear-streaked face, his features softened.
“Is that all?”
Scarlette bit her lip, letting out a shaky sniffle. She nodded.
Caden reached over, his hand warm and steady as he wiped a tear from her cheek.
“Listen to me, Scarlette. There are better-looking men out there-smarter, kinder. Don’t waste your tears on someone who doesn’t deserve them. Pull yourself together, sweetheart. Don’t let your mom see you like this-it’ll only worry her.”
Scarlette nodded obediently, her head dipping slightly.
Kenji stepped into the house, his lip still throbbing from Scarlette’s bite. The pain tugged his thoughts back to her, to what had happened between them. Was she hurt? The image of her flashed vividly in his mind, and his chest tightened. He tugged at his collar, undoing two buttons as if it might ease the weight pressing on him.
Earlier, seeing her frustrated face had fueled something dark in him. Her pain had been satisfying, almost gratifying. But now, as the adrenaline faded, guilt began to seep in. She was just eighteen, and he had gone too far. He sighed deeply, the realization of his harshness settling uncomfortably in his chest.
Before Kenji could lose himself in his thoughts, the lights suddenly snapped on, flooding the hallway. He glanced up to see his twin sister, Sylvia Reed, standing at the top of the staircase, her arms crossed.
“Kenji?” Sylvia called down, her voice curious but laced with concern.
“What’s going on? I heard noises and thought maybe a burglar had broken in. Why didn’t you turn the lights on when you came in?”
Kenji, not wanting to wake the household, shrugged and climbed the stairs.
“I had a few drinks and wasn’t thinking straight. What are you doing up, anyway?”
“I just finished a video call,” Sylvia replied, leaning casually against the banister. Her gaze shifted, catching the faint mark on his lip. She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“Kenji… Is that a bite mark? Do you have a girlfriend?”
Kenji blinked, caught off guard.
“No.”
“Then who bit your lip?” she asked pointedly, her brow arching higher. Their family’s strict rules made such behavior unthinkable-how could he have been kissing someone who wasn’t his girlfriend?
Kenji touched his lip casually and said, “I bumped it on a glass while drinking. Do you have any ointment? Can you grab it for me?”
That night, Kenji had a strange and unsettling dream. In the dream, a girl in a white dress was on top of him, her skin glistening with sweat. The moisture seemed to evaporate into the air, distorting everything around them and intensifying his emotions. She whispered his name, her voice a mix of pain and sweetness that sent a shiver down his spine.
The voice was familiar. He sat up, gently held her, and brushed her long hair away to see her face. When he did, his breath caught in his throat.
“Scarlette?” The shock jolted Kenji awake. He sat up in his bed, gasping for air, drenched in sweat.
A knock on his door broke the silence.
Kenji ignored whoever was outside and threw off his covers. He looked at his disheveled state in the mirror, gritting his teeth in frustration. It was terrifying. How could he have such a dream? How could she invade his mind like this?
Finally, Kenji called out, “Give me a minute! I’ll be right out.”
He splashed cold water on his face, trying to cool his heated thoughts. After changing into fresh clothes, he opened the door to find Sylvia standing there, her expression unusually serious.
“Kenji, you’re in trouble,” Sylvia said flatly.
“Our parents are waiting for you downstairs. You’d better hurry.”
Kenji ran a hand through his damp hair, frowning.
“Trouble?” He tried to think. Other than the incident with Scarlette, nothing stood out as serious enough to cause concern.
“What’s this about? Do you know?”
“I’m not sure,” Sylvia replied, crossing her arms.
“But I can tell you this – you’re not going to have a good day.”
Kenji exhaled, brushing off her words. At twenty-one, he had developed a certain level of composure in dealing with family drama. When Kenji entered the dining room, his parents were already seated. Their expressions weren’t hostile, but they certainly weren’t welcoming either.
“Good morning, Mom. Dad,” Kenji greeted as he took a seat.
“So, what’s this trouble I’m in?”
Jaida looked at him with a sharp gaze.
“Where were you last night?” A warning bell went off in Kenji’s mind. He kept his tone calm.
“At the bar with friends. Did the Ward family call you, saying Scarlette was bullied?”
Jaida’s lips tightened.
“No, it wasn’t the Wards who contacted us. It was a paparazzo.”
She placed a stack of photographs on the table in front of him.
Kenji’s stomach dropped. The photos were all candid shots of him and Scarlette locked in a passionate kiss. He stared at them, speechless.
Ellis spoke up, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“You called off the engagement with her during the day, and by night, you’re tangled up with her like that? What is it, Kenji? Do you enjoy secret affairs?”
The evidence was clearly presented to Kenji, leaving him no opportunity to deny it, though he had no plans to do so. He explained, “The decision to end the engagement was mutual between Scarlette and me. The actions captured in the photos were consensual. These two issues are separate.”
Ellis frowned, giving off an aura of authority.
“Consent? Look at the photos. Does Scarlette look like she agreed to this?”
Whenever the topic of Kenji’s engagement to Scarlette was brought up, the tension between Kenji and Ellis was palpable.
Kenji’s expression shifted to one of disinterest as he said, “She forced me first.”
Ellis questioned, “Are you really suggesting that a slender girl overpowered you? Kenji, aren’t you embarrassed by such a claim?”
Kenji’s gaze darkened. He was about to respond, but Ellis interjected, “Today, I’m going to meet with Caden and his wife to renew the discussion about your engagement to Scarlette.”
Kenji clenched his fists, mocking, “So, you’ve been aiming for this. If you’ve already decided for me, why even ask my opinion?”
Ellis’ demeanor grew even colder at his son’s tone.
“How dare you address your father in such a manner?”
As Jaida listened to them argue once more, she could feel a headache starting to form.
“Enough, both of you, calm down,” she quickly intervened.
Jaida stood and embraced Ellis, trying to calm him.
“Why must you be so stern with our son?”
Seizing the moment, Kenji explained his case.
“Dad, you’ve planned my life for twenty-one years. I’ve followed every directive without much resistance. Marriage, however, is significant. My spouse will be with me for life, for decades. It has to be someone I genuinely care for.”
Ellis answered, “If you disapprove of Scarlette, why did you kiss her? You two became intimate in a public bar, caught by a paparazzo who sent the photos back to us. You might have enjoyed the moment, but did you consider her reputation?”
Kenji challenged further, “Are you pressuring me for your own wishes or to make me responsible? You know the answer.”
Upon hearing this, Ellis’ expression stiffened, and a fierce anger flickered in his eyes. He clenched his jaw and demanded, “My wishes? Tell me, what wishes do you think I have?”
Kenji responded, “Do I really need to spell out who gains from the alliance with the Ward family?”
Ellis, fuming with anger, rolled up his sleeves, ready to strike Kenji.
Kenji stood firm, his gaze challenging as if inviting Ellis to do so. Ultimately, it was Jaida and Sylvia who intervened, preventing a disaster.
Kenji angrily kicked a chair aside and stormed out.
Jaida instructed Sylvia to calm Ellis while she followed Kenji. She gently advised, “Kenji, don’t make choices while you’re angry. Storming out after an argument harms both the family and yourself.”
Kenji stopped, his lips pressed tightly together. His gaze was lowered, his expression still angry, yet with a hint of deep sadness.
“Mom, why am I seen as less than my elder brother?”
Kenji couldn’t understand it. Why could his elder brother be their father’s pride, free to marry as he wished? Why was he, who was also Ellis’ son, constantly restrained like a puppet on strings?
Jaida, reflecting on Ellis’ intentions, her eyes watering, sighed.
“Oh, my foolish boy, your father loves you the most.”
Kenji gave his mother a sneering look. He gently stroked her hand before slowly pulling his away.
Jaida said, “I know you’re really upset right now. I won’t stop you from going where you need to, but please, don’t do anything impulsive, okay? And make sure you come back home tonight. Don’t go to sleep still angry at your father.”
Kenji gave Ellis a cold look.
Ellis was seated at the dining table, his arm resting on it, his veins visibly tense with anger.
Kenji walked over to Ellis.
“Dad, do you want to hear what else happened between Scarlette and me last night?”
Ellis raised his gaze, his eyes sharp and piercing like blades. Kenji smirked.