Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Caden made no move to touch her again, and a heavy silence settled between them.
After a pause, he broke the silence coldly. “Alicia, your feelings are too cheap. What do you see in me?”
Alicia’s complexion paled. “Maybe,” she whispered, contemplating her constant emotional turmoil even after a disastrous marriage. She had come to believe that if something went wrong, it wasn’t the ingredients, but the chefs at fault.
In this day and age, wearing one’s heart on their sleeve was foolishness.
“Caden, if you expect me to depend on you, prove you can handle me,” she said flatly. “If not, it’s best we go our separate ways.”
“If I really tried, could you handle it?” Caden shot back sharply.
“You’re just looking for a partner in bed,” she retorted. “You feel nothing for me. What’s the point of all this talk? Do you even care if I can’t handle it?”
Caden’s expression darkened, storm clouds gathering in his eyes.
Losing patience, he tossed aside the blanket and got out of bed. “You’re planning to open a gallery, right? I’ve arranged for someone to set it up. Once the paperwork is ready, talk to Gerry.”
Alicia’s throat tightened at his icy tone.
“No.”
“Whether you like it or not, it’s yours to manage now. I’ve reaped the benefits these past few months, and that’s your compensation,” he declared, standing tall.
His silhouette merged with the light, leaving a chilling impression behind.
“When you leave tomorrow, don’t forget your stupid dog,” he added coldly. Alicia stood frozen.
He had made his stance clear. With that, they were on the verge of becoming strangers.
His mention of the gallery seemed to erase every trace of their recent history, leaving no room for reconciliation.
Alicia tensed slightly as she heard the door close behind him. She paused, taking a moment to collect herself, then reached for her phone to arrange for movers. Soon after, she began packing her belongings.
In the living room, Caden sat smoking. He watched her silently, his expression unreadable. He made no move to intervene.
Alicia had only been here a few months. Their days had been filled with shared meals and intimacy, yet she had very little to show for her time here. After packing, including some of Cade’s things, all her belongings barely filled one suitcase.
Despite feeling weak, Alicia composed herself, determined to not show any vulnerability. Her hands trembled as she prepared to leave with the suitcase.
Caden noticed her effort to remain composed, and it only fueled his irritation. He took a deep drag from his cigarette, the smoke harsh in his throat.
“Would it really be so bad to stay one more night?” he asked.
Facing away from him, Alicia felt a surge of resentment. “I don’t want to be in the way.”
The movers arrived downstairs promptly. The driver called up impatiently, “Why aren’t you down yet? It’s freezing out here!”
“Just a moment, I’ll be right there,” Alicia replied softly.
When the driver realized she was a woman, his tone softened. “Do you need help with your things?”
“No, there’s no need,” Alicia answered.
Cradling Cade in one arm and holding her suitcase in the other, she exited the apartment.
Caden forcefully extinguished his cigarette, snuffing out the ember.
The cigarette was extinguished, but the emotional turmoil inside him only intensified.
Alicia understood Caden well. She knew he meant every word he had spoken that night. He wasn’t the type to beg or plead. He had tolerated the situation for only so long before reaching his breaking point. Resolved, Alicia decided she would sever all ties with him. The hotel she had initially booked felt unsafe, prompting her to switch to another one. As she lay in bed, thoughts of Caden invaded her mind.
Her heart ached, a tingling sensation filled her nose, and silent tears streamed down her face. Joshua, who had been part of her life for years, brought feelings of gratitude and guilt, but they paled in comparison to the heartache Caden had caused. Thinking of Caden felt like an endless downpour, chilling her heart without reprieve. She spent the entire night awake.
When her alarm sounded at dawn, Alicia turned it off mechanically and rose to prepare for the day. Her sleep had been restless, and her stomach ached, but missing work wasn’t an option.
As she exited the bathroom, her phone rang unexpectedly-it was Caden.
Hesitant, she answered but remained silent.
Caden spoke with detachment. “You left something in the cloakroom.”
Leaning weakly against the table, Alicia listened as he reminded her of the clothes, jewelry, and bags he had bought, none of which she had used.
“I haven’t opened any of them. Do with them as you please.”
“I’ll dispose of everything,” he said coldly, his voice sending a shiver down her spine.
He ended the call abruptly.
Clutching her phone, Alicia was overwhelmed by the memories of shopping trips with Caden, feeling a numbing sense of loss.
Lost in her thoughts, she eventually regained her composure and took a painkiller to ease her discomfort.
Alicia was relieved that her physical condition was holding up well, as her menstrual cramps faded quickly. She gathered her strength and continued to teach her students with dedication over the next several days. At the same time, she was busy preparing for the Christmas performance.
The school had high expectations, and Alicia invested a lot of effort, often practicing with her students until late. That evening, after her last student had left with their parents, Alicia chose to linger in the empty piano room, playing a piece just for herself.
The piano’s melodious tones seemed to gnaw at her heart, like a beast. Ultimately, she felt only emptiness.
When the music ended, she sat silently, deep in thought. It was then that Monica called her.
Alicia took several deep breaths to steady herself. “Alicia, it’s so late,” Monica said softly. “I’m at the school gate. Come out!”
Alicia checked the time and saw it was already after ten. The Warrington winter was biting cold.
Upon seeing Monica, Alicia took her hands and smiled. “Well? Feeling warmer now?”
Monica’s hands were cold, chilled from waiting outside. She chuckled as Alicia warmed them. “You had me so worried.”
Alicia feigned confusion. “What did I do?”
Monica gazed at her intently.
In just a few days, Alicia had visibly lost weight. She appeared unchanged at a glance, but her intense dedication in the classroom hinted at an underlying issue. Monica could see that Alicia had truly fallen for Caden.
“Let’s go, I’ll treat you to something delicious,” Monica suggested, linking arms with her. “I bought a car! I covered it with shiny film and even embedded pink diamonds on the license plate. You’re the first to ride shotgun with me!”
Alicia glanced at the car and couldn’t help but compliment its impressive appearance.
That night, Monica kept the conversation flowing endlessly. She didn’t stop talking the whole time. Alicia sensed that Monica might be hiding something, so she played along as best as she could. However, secrets can’t be kept forever.
While they dined, the restaurant’s screen displayed the news. Earlier in the day, Caden had returned to town and was spotted at the airport with a young woman. The camera hadn’t caught the woman’s face, but her poise hinted at wealth and status. She stood close to Caden, quite comfortably.
The series of photos focused on them. Caden held her hand as they walked down the steps, and then he swept her off her feet and into the car. Their closeness was undeniable. Although the pictures were blurry due to being candid shots, this blurriness somehow made them seem even more intimate.
Alicia turned her attention away and continued eating, pretending she hadn’t noticed anything. Monica watched her with concern.
“Alicia, are you alright?”
Alicia reassured her, “Caden and I were never serious. We were just using each other. That’s all. I’m okay.”
Monica, who had never experienced a romantic relationship, wasn’t sure how to comfort Alicia. She took out a card and handed it to her.
“This is all the money I’ve saved, plus some help from my dad. Use it to get your business off the ground,” Monica insisted firmly. “I know you’ve been focusing on this lately. You can’t say no to me!”
Alicia accepted the card, her eyes welling up with tears. Caden had selected the prime spot in Warrington, prepared all the documents, and even secured clients and investors for her. But she had rejected it all. She was determined to build something from scratch.
The initial phase of starting a business would be challenging, but Alicia was determined to face any obstacles. She didn’t want to drag Monica into this. “I’ll repay you as soon as possible,” she promised.
Monica wasn’t happy with that. “Don’t worry about repaying me. If I need money, I’ll just ask my family.”
It was quite late when Monica finally dropped Alicia off at the hotel.
“Make sure to call me if you need anything,” Monica reminded her. “I’m available anytime these days.”
Alicia nodded. “Have a safe drive.”
Outside the hotel, a figure lurked in the shadows, making a phone call.
“He said, ‘Mr. Yates, she’s on high alert. I can’t get close to her at all!'”
Meanwhile, Joshua was on the phone, keeping an eye on the live news broadcast. The news about Caden was making headlines.
Joshua smirked. “Why the hurry? Just give it time.”
With Caden involved with someone new, Alicia was now in the background. How long could she fend for herself? Rushing her demise would only spoil the fun.
Joshua instructed, “Lay off her for now. Wait for my signal.”
Shortly after he ended the call, Lilliana entered.
She sneered, “Caught the news?”
Joshua, reclining in his chair, was enjoying a massage. He appeared refreshed.
“I looked into that woman. She’s from the Moss family, an excellent match for Caden. This isn’t just a casual affair.”
Lilliana scoffed. “Alicia was merely a brief fling for a few months. I must’ve overestimated her. So that’s her angle! How dare she be so arrogant before?”
Lilliana grew impatient. “Can we take action now?”
Joshua’s gaze remained inscrutable.