Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Tears streamed down her face. She hoped her dad could save her. Then, a deafening crash shattered the air. The car window exploded into fragments, glass raining down like sharp ice.
Before Scarlette could react, a powerful hand shot through the broken window, seizing Zayden by the back of his neck. In one swift, merciless motion, Zayden was yanked backward.
Zayden’s head slammed against the broken glass with a sickening crack. Blood splattered. His eyes rolled back as his body went limp. The car door was wrenched open from the outside, and Zayden’s lifeless form crumpled onto the ground like a discarded ragdoll.
Scarlette gasped, pressing herself against the seat, her entire body trembling.
A figure loomed in the darkness, panting heavily. Then, he bent down, his familiar gaze locking onto hers. “Scarlette,” the voice rasped. “It’s me.”
Scarlette’s breath hitched. It was Kenji. Tears blurred her vision as his rugged presence filled the space around her. Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms, holding her so tightly that she could feel his racing heartbeat against her own.
Kenji wrapped her tightly in his coat, not willing to let go for even a second.
Scarlette, still in shock, could hear the raggedness of his breath, almost as if it was piercing her eardrums.
But as she saw the fear in his pale, drawn face, something inside her hesitated. The anger she’d held toward him simmered beneath the surface. She pushed him away. “Let me go, Kenji!”
Kenji released her, his jaw tightening, his breath still unsteady.
“Scarlette, do you have any idea how reckless you were?”
Scarlette blinked, startled by his tone.
Kenji’s voice rose. “You barely know Banta, and yet you’re wandering around the airport in the middle of the night? And then you got into Zayden’s car? How many times have I told you he’s trouble? When will you finally learn your lesson?”
Scarlette bit her lip, hot tears spilling down her cheeks. “Then why did you even bother saving me?” she shouted, her voice breaking with anger. “Just leave, Kenji!”
Kenji’s hands were still trembling. His jaw clenched as frustration and fear warred inside him. “Fine!” he snapped. “Next time you’re in trouble, let’s see if I come running! You reckless idiot!”
Scarlette’s chest heaved. “Leave! I don’t need you! I’ll call my dad to come get me!”
Before Kenji could respond, a group of men rushed toward them.
Scarlette stiffened and then realized they were bodyguards working for Caden. “You got here so fast,” she muttered in surprise.
After quickly confirming Scarlette was safe, the bodyguards exhaled in unison. “We’ve been in Banta. Mr. Ward arranged for us to save you.”
Her brows furrowed. “My dad? How did he know?”
Then it hit her. Her phone. She scrambled to pick it up and saw that a call with Caden had just ended. She stared at the device, realization dawning. Caden must have modified it-if it fell, it automatically dialed for help.
A bodyguard stepped forward. “Miss Ward, please come back to the hotel with us. Mr. Ward is already on his way to Banta. You’ll see him in less than an hour.”
Scarlette’s first instinct upon hearing those words was to look at Kenji. Her father was coming-not just to deal with Zayden, but also to settle things between her and the Reed family. Knowing her father’s temperament, she and Kenji… She had already decided to let go of Kenji tonight, so why did she suddenly feel so conflicted?
Kenji stood there, unmoved, as if nothing happening around him concerned him in the slightest.
Unwilling to accept his indifference, Scarlette pushed past the bodyguards and strode up to him. “Hey, you, my dad’s coming to see me tonight.”
Kenji looked at her blankly, one hand resting behind his back. “Isn’t that exactly what you wanted?”
His voice was calm, almost distant-whether from the wind or sheer impatience, she couldn’t tell.
Scarlette felt a sharp sting in her chest. She huffed, “He’s coming to confront you. He’ll take me back after that.”
Kenji’s expression didn’t change. “Then you should go. Don’t keep him waiting.”
His indifference made her chest tighten with frustration. Whatever softness she had felt toward him just moments ago shattered completely. Without another word, she turned and left with the bodyguards.
As they walked away, the bodyguards carried the unconscious Zayden with them.
Once inside the car, Scarlette clenched her fists, forcing herself to stare stiffly out the window. She refused to look back.
Through the rearview mirror, one of the bodyguards caught a glimpse of Kenji. He seemed to sway slightly, as if in pain.
Concerned, the bodyguard hesitated before asking, “Miss Ward, shouldn’t we take Mr. Reed with us?”
Scarlette’s expression darkened. “He wouldn’t come even if we asked. He’s so independent-he can go wherever he wants.”
Sensing the tension, the bodyguard wisely kept quiet and continued driving.
Not long after, Kenji’s driver arrived in a hurry.
By then, Kenji was already sitting on the ground.
At first, the driver thought Kenji was just exhausted. But when the driver reached out to help Kenji up, his hand was instantly covered in blood.
The driver gasped in horror, immediately checking Kenji over. “Mr. Reed, are you okay? Where are you hurt?”
Kenji’s face was pale, his breath weak. He waved a dismissive hand. “Never mind. It’s nothing.”
It wasn’t until then that the driver noticed Kenji’s sleeve was completely soaked in blood.
Lifting the torn fabric, the driver saw deep, jagged cuts running along Kenji’s arm. Shards of glass were still embedded in his skin.
Panicked, the driver rushed Kenji to the hospital. After making sure his injuries weren’t life-threatening, the driver finally dared to inform Kenji’s family.
As soon as the call came through, Ellis and the others rushed to the hospital. Kenji’s younger sister, Sylvia, ran ahead of everyone, her sobs echoing through the hall the moment she saw her brother lying in bed. At the hospital room door, Ellis and Jaida paused upon hearing Sylvia’s wailing.
Ellis frowned. “Are we too late to see him one last time?”
Iker, standing beside them, quickly reassured him. “Sylvia always overreacts. It’s probably not that bad. Judging by the noise, Kenji’s likely just got a few scratches.”
Without another word, Ellis strode inside with a stern expression.
Kenji was dressed in a hospital gown, his complexion still pale, his posture weak. When he saw the group walk in, he frowned. “Why are you all here? It’s just a few cuts.”
Iker stepped forward. “How did this happen? Did you get into a fight?”
Kenji pursed his lips, his mind flashing to Scarlette. A dull ache settled in his chest. “No, just had a disagreement with Scarlette. My hand got cut by the car window.”
Iker’s brows furrowed. “You hit Scarlette?”
Kenji let out a tired sigh. “How could I possibly hit a woman? It’s a long story, and I don’t feel like talking about it. Either way, it’s over now.”
For a brief moment, his ears rang. Then, he added in a low voice, “Things between Scarlette and me are done.”
Jaida asked, “What about Scarlette? Is she alright?”
“She’s fine. Her dad came for her.”
Jaida’s gaze sharpened. “Caden rushed over from Warrington? What had happened to make it that serious?”
Kenji’s irritation flared. His face darkened. “It’s the same old nonsense. Scarlette and I are completely incompatible. Ending it now is for the best.”
Kenji had grown up watching his parents’ unwavering love and his brother’s smooth, effortless romance. To him, love was supposed to be simple-an easy, enjoyable part of life. But with Scarlette, it had been nothing but conflict and uncertainty. There had been no warmth, no peace-only endless frustration. Rather than drag it out, wasn’t it better to cut ties cleanly? At least that way, he could find someone who truly liked him and continue to live the carefree life of a wealthy man. Why should he keep struggling for the sake of a spoiled princess?
Exhaling sharply, Kenji turned away and shut his eyes. “You should all go home. I need to be alone for a while.”
At a luxury hotel, Scarlette stepped out of the shower, wrapped in warmth, and enjoyed a satisfying meal.
But the moment she saw her parents arrive, all the emotions she had been holding back surged to the surface. Overcome with grievance, she rushed into her mother’s embrace and broke down in tears.
Alicia, who had been tense the entire way here, finally relaxed. She stroked Scarlette’s hair gently, her voice soft. “It’s okay, sweetheart. We’re here now.”
After crying for a while, Scarlette nestled beside her mother, clutching her father’s hand. Her expression was troubled. “Kenji showed up just in time, so Zayden didn’t get the chance to do anything to me. But we can’t let Zayden off-he’s gone too far.”
Caden rubbed the back of her hand, his gaze turning cold. “I’ve already handled Zayden.”
Scarlette pouted. “Alright.”
Caden then asked, “Where’s Kenji?”
At this, Scarlette hesitated, shrinking slightly under her father’s sharp gaze. In a small voice, she asked, “Why do you need to see him?”
Caden’s jaw tightened as he watched Scarlette’s reaction.
“From the moment that incident occurred until Kenji appeared, I was glued to my phone. Don’t you think I deserve to confront him?” Caden’s voice carried a blend of concern and barely contained anger.
Though Scarlette shared her father’s opinions about Kenji, the fierce determination in his eyes made her waver. She knew in her heart that Kenji wouldn’t survive the storm of her father’s fury.
“Dad, I’m okay now. Let’s just leave it be,” Scarlette pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll never forgive Kenji, and he’s out of my life for good.”
But Caden wasn’t one to let things go so easily. Still, not wanting to push Scarlette too hard, he softened his approach. “Just tell me what transpired between you two today.”
Scarlette’s teeth grazed her lower lip. “We had an argument.”
“What was the fight about?”
The mere thought of Kenji with another woman sent a wave of anguish through Scarlette’s heart, causing fresh tears to spill down her cheeks. Finally finding an outlet for her pain, she choked out, “I foolishly believed he had feelings for me, but I was just a marriage prospect to him.”
“How intimate did your relationship become?” Caden inquired carefully.
The unexpected question caught Scarlette off guard, her eyes growing wide as her tears momentarily ceased.
Caden’s keen eyes didn’t miss her telling reaction. The realization hit him like a physical blow, his voice strained with anguish. “Did he coerce you?”
“Nothing like that happened,” Scarlette stammered, shaking her head.
“Then explain the hotel suite he reserved for tonight.” Rage colored Caden’s face as his composure crumbled. “Was he planning to spend the night with someone else?”
Scarlette was stunned. The suite had been meant for her and Kenji. She hadn’t realized her father knew even this detail, which explained his probing question about their relationship’s boundaries. But she couldn’t reveal this truth. What father could bear knowing his eighteen-year-old daughter was being taken advantage of?