Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“Sir, looking for a place to stay?” she asked with a grin beneath the mask.
“Our cozy, family-run inn is just a short ten-minute walk from here! For just 500 dollars a night, you can enjoy all-inclusive perks like soothing massages and even a gaming room!”
Caden stood there, speechless.
He locked eyes with her, those sparkling eyes gleaming behind the mask, holding his gaze far longer than he intended as he tried to process what was happening.
This was her big surprise.
Role-playing. Her grand idea for a surprise was… role-playing.
What in the world… role-playing?
Caden’s earlier anticipation quickly vanished.
Just as he opened his mouth to say something, Hank appeared, rushing over. “Mr. Ward.”
Hank glanced at Alicia but didn’t recognize her, mistaking her for someone trying to advertise. He waved her off politely. “We’re not interested. Thank you.”
Alicia stood her ground, undeterred. “Two people get fifty percent off!”
Hank froze in his tracks, clearly taken aback.
Hank’s eyes locked with Alicia’s for a brief second, and then the realization hit him.
Without missing a beat, he glanced at Caden, then wisely stepped back, taking the suitcase off his hands.
Caden stayed put, eyeing Alicia with a deadpan expression. “Do you have any romance-themed rooms? I’ll book one of those.”
Alicia blinked, momentarily stunned, unable to find the words.
Hank’s mouth dropped open. Did Caden really say that? He never imagined Caden could be so blunt.
Alicia was equally surprised. She stared for a few seconds before stammering, “Well…”
At this point, Caden lost his patience and walked away. Alicia hurried after him. “We have rooms! All kinds of rooms!”
She didn’t dare raise her voice with so many people around, staying close to Caden and almost bumping into him.
Once they exited the airport, Caden finally slowed down, and Alicia nearly collided with him. He frowned at the billboard and said, “Keep that thing away from me.”
Alicia sighed at his fussiness. “I just made this. It’s brand new!”
“New doesn’t always mean clean,” he replied.
His remark left her speechless.
Noticing her rolling her eyes, he said, “What’s keeping you? You wanted me to book a room, so lead the way.”
“Don’t you recognize me?” Alicia asked, confusion in her eyes.
“No, I don’t know who you are,” Caden responded.
This left Alicia stunned.
“Who the hell are you kidding, Caden?” she grumbled inwardly.
She knew that if he truly didn’t know who she was, he wouldn’t be engaging with her at all.
But she didn’t want to keep up the act; the cold was biting, and she just wanted to go home. She removed her mask and exhaled deeply. “It’s me, Alicia. Let’s get in the car and talk.”
Caden raised an eyebrow. “The inn is just a ten-minute walk. Why do we need a car?”
Once more, Alicia fell silent.
She rubbed her freezing hands together and shoved them into her pockets, scowling at the biting cold.
Caden noticed her discomfort.
He turned to Hank, who lingered nearby, eager to catch every word.
“Get the car,” Caden instructed.
Hank hesitated, not wanting to miss anything. “I thought we were walking,” he said.
Caden’s eyes narrowed. “If you’d rather, I’ll drive, and you can walk back alone.”
Realizing he was pushing his luck, Hank fell silent and headed off to fetch the car.
Caden reached to offer his coat to Alicia, but before he could, she had already hurried away.
When she came back, she carried a bouquet of fresh, light green flowers.
The flowers looked vibrant and beautiful.
She approached Caden in a quiet corner and handed them to him with a smile. “Welcome back,” she said.
He was taken aback by the sudden gesture and instinctively accepted the flowers. He stood silently for a few moments.
“These are for me?” he asked.
Alicia glanced around and noticed that several people were already watching Caden.
With his striking appearance, he drew attention wherever he went.
Concerned about being recognized, Alicia quickly pulled her mask back on. “Let’s continue this conversation in the car,” she suggested.
Once inside the car, Caden set the flowers aside.
He turned to her, staring at her intently.
Alicia briskly rubbed her hands to ward off the cold, but the redness of her nose gave away the lingering chill. She asked, “So, are you feeling warm and comfortable now?”
Caden sensed that something was amiss.
He already had an idea of what was going on.
Despite that, he held onto a sliver of hope.
He inquired, “Is this the surprise you’ve prepared for me?”
Alicia appeared completely innocent.
“Yes, I came to pick you up,” she replied. She pointed at the bouquet of flowers. “Don’t you like them?”
Caden didn’t know what to say.
He pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
Seeing his reaction, Alicia said, “I dressed this way to avoid being recognized.”
Caden tried to hide his annoyance. “You call picking me up a surprise?”
Alicia stared at him, blinking in confusion.
“You have everything except love. After working hard for days, wouldn’t you want someone to welcome you home?” she asked.
He found himself speechless once again.
He pressed his lips together and replied, “I’ve been dealing with family issues, but that doesn’t mean I’m lonely or desperate for affection.”
Alicia didn’t know how to respond.
Caden realized that she might not understand his point. He softened his tone and added, “There’s still time to plan a real surprise.”
However, Alicia didn’t see it that way.
She pointed to the flowers. “I already spent the money.”
Caden looked over and said, “Hank, these flowers are yours.”
Alicia couldn’t believe it. Her jaw dropped in disbelief.
“Caden is so infuriating!” she thought.
She turned to stare out the window, muttering under her breath, “Fine, forget about any surprises.”
Caden caught a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye. From where he sat, he could see part of her face. She looked so indifferent right now.
Still, her aloofness didn’t bother him; instead, he found her braided pigtails quite intriguing. He knew she hadn’t styled them for his sake.
Even so, they were pleasing to look at.
Throughout the ride, Alicia kept her hands stuffed in her pockets.
She chose to remain silent.
Caden didn’t attempt to engage her; he immersed himself in his work.
He listened intently, his eyes fixed on his laptop screen. Suddenly, his expression darkened. He snapped the laptop shut and set it aside.
Lost in thought, he accidentally bumped into Alicia. She clicked her tongue in annoyance, her face showing clear impatience.