Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Noticing her determination, Caden relented. “Fine, I’ll reserve a caf?. We can have our conversation there.” Yolanda stayed silent, watching as Caden walked toward the bed.
Caden noticed his phone was missing from the nightstand. His expression darkened.
“Did you touch my things?”
Yolanda was caught off guard. She hadn’t expected him to notice the absence so quickly, and she seemed flustered.
Caden swiftly located his phone and checked the screen. There was an unread message.
It was a photo sent from an emergency number, accompanied by a location. The address pointed to a secluded mountain outside Warrington, and the blurry image showed Alicia’s legs, stained with dried blood on the ground. His heart tightened in his chest.
Something was terribly wrong.
Having only recently returned to the country, Caden’s contacts were limited. He hesitated briefly before sending the address to someone he trusted deeply. Then, he turned off the phone’s screen.
Looking at Yolanda, he asked coolly, “Why did you handle my phone?”
Fear flashed in Yolanda’s eyes.
Trying to maintain composure, she explained, “You were busy, and I didn’t want to miss anything important, so I picked it up. It turned out to be just an annoying call.”
Caden’s expression remained stern. He had erased Alicia’s number, so any incoming call would appear as “unknown.” However, given that Yolanda had concealed his phone, he was convinced it wasn’t a trivial call.
It was Alicia’s cry for help.
Without another word, he left the room.
Yolanda, pale with unease, followed him.
“Caden…” she called, but he didn’t stop.
At the doorway, Caden’s bodyguard stepped in her way.
Caden’s silhouette quickly disappeared down the hall as he reached out to a local contact, arranging a private flight back to Warrington immediately.
Just then, his phone rang. It was Cliff.
“Mr. Ward, what’s happening?”
Cliff had dispatched people to the location Caden had sent, but he needed further information.
Caden’s tone was notably grave. “Rescue her immediately. And don’t alert them. I’m heading back now.” Cliff hadn’t seen him this unsettled in ages.
“Understood,” Cliff replied.
Caden moved quickly, gasping for air, completely unaware of Alicia’s exact situation. Every word he spoke was filled with determination. “At all costs.”
Cliff was taken aback by his intensity. He waited a few seconds before ending the call. The Flynn family had been unable to contact Monica and had already alerted the police.
Cliff, who had been following leads related to Monica, scrutinized her recent suspicious interactions and quickly traced them back to Joshua. He deduced the likely reason for the kidnapping, but he didn’t interfere with the police’s efforts.
When Gerry heard the news, he hurried to assist, his concern evident. “Cliff, with the Flynn family so heavily involved with the police, could this increase the risk to Monica and Alicia?”
Cliff remained focused, working on locating Alicia’s position on the map. The weak signal from the mountain made it difficult to pinpoint the exact location. His face was stern as he replied with authority, “Joshua is aware of the police involvement, and that will distract him. It gives my team an opportunity.”
Gerry hesitated, then asked, “But what if Joshua becomes desperate?”
Cliff shot him a sharp look. “Do you have a better idea?”
Gerry was at a loss for words. Feeling intimidated by Cliff’s imposing physique and fierce demeanor, he scratched his nose nervously. “I’ll keep out of it and let you work.”
Cliff, drawing from his military background, was known for his firm and relentless approach. He was certainly intense, but his reliability was unquestioned.
Gerry, still uneasy, asked, “Where’s Caden?”
“On his way back. He should arrive in about an hour.”
Just then, the map emitted a beep, signaling that Alicia’s location had been pinpointed. Cliff exhaled deeply, his thoughts a mix of concern and focus. He asked, “Who is she that Caden is so worried about?”
Cliff sent the coordinates to Caden with swift precision. Caden’s helicopter was already en route to the location. Gerry was still uncertain about the depth of the connection between Caden and Alicia.
“Caden likes her, and he wants to be close to her,” Gerry remarked.
Cliff nodded, his expression thoughtful. “She’s a capable woman.”
Gerry agreed but added, “They’re both young. Their relationship seems unstable.”
Cliff countered, his tone firm, “Caden’s feelings aren’t the problem. They’re steady.”
Gerry raised an eyebrow, confused. “Caden? Steady? He’s the most unpredictable person I know. Haven’t you seen the news? He’s now tangled up with Yolanda.”
Cliff had no interest in gossip. The earlier command from Caden to proceed “at all costs” echoed in his mind.
They had grown up together, and although Cliff had spent most of his time in the military, he understood Caden better than most.
“He’s not unpredictable. He’s in love,” Cliff said firmly.
Gerry was taken aback. “In love? With who?” he asked, still in disbelief.
Cliff pointed to the map, his gaze focused as Caden’s red dot rapidly closed in on Alicia’s location.
“Caden is in love with Alicia,” Cliff stated plainly.
Gerry was dumbfounded.
Was Cliff serious? He couldn’t wrap his head around it.
Meanwhile, on the mountaintop, Joshua’s sadistic game had only just begun. He was thoroughly enjoying himself.
Alicia sat, bound by her wrists and ankles, powerless in front of the camera.
From his seat, Joshua leaned forward with a twisted grin. “The drug you gave me was so strong, I couldn’t function as a man for months. Today, you’re going to fix that. You’re going to be my antidote.”
His eyes roamed over her body, shameless and disgusting. His behavior made Alicia want to vomit.
But she stood still, frozen. The will to fight had been completely drained from her. She felt like a statue – cold, lifeless and without any strength.
She stared at her reflection on the camera screen.
There was no emotion in her face.
Joshua grinned. “What’s the problem? Don’t you know how to please a man? Didn’t Caden teach you how to handle things in bed?”
At the mention of Caden’s name, Alicia’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, betraying the slightest hint of emotion. Growing impatient, Joshua pulled Alicia roughly into his arms.
His voice dripped with malice. “Strip. Seduce me. I’ll film every second and send the first copy directly to Caden. After that, the whole world will get a taste.”
Alicia met his vile words with a sneer.
Joshua leaned over and taunted her. “What’s the matter? Are you afraid? If you beg, I might smear your face.”
“You still have traces of the drug in your system. You can’t even get an erection. When this video comes out, all the world will ask is why you can’t perform. So tell me, Joshua, who’s really going to be humiliated?
Me, or
Joshua couldn’t stand the humiliation and immediately slapped her across the face. Alicia’s head snapped to the side.
Her vision blurred and a ringing sound filled her ears.
Without hesitation, he pushed her to the ground. Consumed by rage, Joshua barked orders to the men standing by.
“She is yours now. Do whatever you want. Make her suffer.”
Alicia’s pupils constricted in fear.
Lewd laughter filled the room as several men descended on her, tearing at her clothing.
Alicia instinctively struggled to fight them off.
Unfortunately, they overpowered her.
Their desperate grip held her down with such force that her limbs felt on the verge of breaking.
The searing pain and terror consumed her, washing over her like an unrelenting wave.
At that moment, she felt utterly powerless, like an insect about to be crushed.
She knew that survival was out of reach.
Joshua watched the scene unfold, smoking his cigarette in silence.
His eyes remained fixed on Alicia, waiting for her to show remorse, to beg for mercy. But she didn’t move.
Her smooth skin lay exposed, which seemed to fuel the men’s impatience. One of them began to unzip his pants, preparing for the unthinkable.
The sight disgusted Joshua.
“Stop!” he barked.
The men froze, stunned by the sudden order. Though unwilling, they reluctantly stopped.
Joshua pulled Alicia’s clothes back into place and lifted her roughly. “Alicia, are you really that stubborn? You’d rather be raped than give in?” Alicia met his gaze with lifeless eyes.