Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
He glanced up and saw the person maneuvering through the crowd.
“Caden!”
His excitement faded when he saw who it was. It was Yolanda, bundled up in a long white coat and waving at him.
Alicia owned a similar coat.
Yolanda approached him and stood next to him. “What are you looking to buy?”
Caden replied curtly, “Didn’t I ask you to stay in the ward? What are you doing out here?”
“It feels too stuffy inside. I just wanted to stretch my legs,” Yolanda explained cautiously. “The doctor assured me it’s fine. I’ll return in no more than two hours.”
Since she was already outside, Caden chose not to press the issue further.
“Are you looking at gemstones?” Yolanda asked, picking up a blue one. “This is stunning. Are there any finished pieces available?”
Caden had planned to do something nice for her anyway. So, he decided to take her to the store to buy one. Yolanda had a tendency to be particularly indulgent when it came to treating herself.
In addition to jewelry, she urged Caden to check out some perfumes. She casually browsed through the selection.
By chance, she ended up trying the same fragrance that Alicia favored.
Having chosen to wear this coat today, the familiar scent made her feel as if destiny had intervened, leading her to buy it on a whim.
After spritzing a bit on herself, she felt a rush of excitement.
With only two hours to enjoy being outdoors, she wanted to make the most of it. She tugged on Caden’s arm, pulling him toward the river.
“Caden, please stay with me a little longer. I’ll head back in half an hour.”
Caden replied, “It’s quite windy outside. Considering your condition, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Yolanda’s expression fell.
“I understand your concerns, Caden. I’m fine. I won’t make it hard for you,” she said with a smile, though her eyes were red. “You can head back first. I’ll just take a little walk.”
Caden frowned at that.
Given the current state of the weather, there was no way he could leave her alone unsupervised.
In the picturesque room on the fourth floor, Alicia drifted in and out of light sleep before eventually waking up. She stretched languidly and glanced at her phone, discovering a message from Caden that included a photo. It was of a stunning necklace adorned with a pink gemstone. The design was opulent and striking, yet it seemed more suited for extravagant events.
Alicia couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. She quickly texted him, “This looks perfect for someone who enjoys showing off their wealth.” Caden didn’t respond.
Alicia continued to admire the necklace, and she had to admit that it was absolutely beautiful. With her thoughts drifting elsewhere, she leaned against the fogged-up window and gazed outside. The view was unclear, so she began to doodle with her finger on the glass.
In a moment of boredom, she wrote Caden’s name. The neon lights from the street illuminated her face. A blush crept across her cheeks, and she shyly erased his name.
Feeling uplifted, she made her way downstairs. The open-air restaurant below had drawn many diners, eager to enjoy the river view after the snow had lightened.
Noticing that it was still early, Alicia decided to reserve a table. Just as she was about to take a seat, a familiar figure caught her attention.
Alicia squinted and froze in place. The man stood tall, wrapped in a black coat. Beside him was a woman.
If their clothes, hairstyles, demeanor, and body shapes could be attributed to coincidence, what about that scarf? The very scarf he had worn around his neck all winter… could that also just be a coincidence?
The woman next to him turned her head slightly and locked eyes with Alicia.
Alicia felt her eyelashes flutter as her heart skipped a beat.
It seemed to be Yolanda.
So, it was Yolanda.
Caden’s “personal matters” involved going out on a date with Yolanda in Averibon.
Judging by Yolanda’s reaction, she was equally taken aback. She didn’t expect to encounter Alicia in this place.
And there was an even stranger twist of fate.
Just as she mentioned feeling chilly and leaned closer to Caden, Alicia caught sight of them.
Yolanda smirked at Alicia, glaring at her with a sharp, unspoken challenge. Alicia clenched her fists, refusing to take another step forward. She felt as though she had no standing or right in this situation. Who was she to question Caden for spending time with Yolanda?
Yolanda straightened her posture, fully aware that Caden didn’t like her. She knew pressing her luck would only push him further away. She wrapped her arms tightly around her chest, feigning a chill.
Caden spoke in a flat tone. “If you’re cold, we should head back.”
However, Yolanda smiled at him and replied, “Let’s stay a little longer; the fireworks will start soon.”
The mention of “fireworks” sparked something in Caden. Fireworks were about to begin?
Alicia always enjoyed watching fireworks, and if he had known, he would have invited her to join. But fireworks could be viewed from many places. Missing this one wasn’t a major loss.
Noticing that Yolanda was shivering, Caden removed his coat and placed it over her shoulders. She whispered softly, “Thank you, Caden.”
“If you genuinely want to thank me, head back early. I don’t want any trouble,” he said, his voice flat. “Keep the coat, and just toss it when you reach the hospital.”
Caden pulled out his phone and opened the chat with Alicia.
Even though Alicia hadn’t admitted it, he sensed that she liked the gemstone.
“I already placed the order. It will arrive next month.”
Suddenly, Alicia’s phone rang.
He stared at the screen in a daze.
With trembling fingers, she texted him, “Where are you?”
Caden answered, “I’m at Averibon. Do you miss me?”
Alicia felt a sharp ache in her heart. It was as if someone had ripped a hole in her chest, leaving her trembling with anguish.
How could he play with her emotions while holding Yolanda close?
She stepped back, leaning weakly against the wall.
“Are you by yourself in Averibon?” she asked.
Caden responded, “What’s wrong?”
His vague response indicated that he didn’t want to reveal the truth.
Alicia glanced at his message and smirked sarcastically. Noticing how much time Caden spent on his phone, Yolanda worried that it was Alicia trying to reach him.
She steeled herself and bit her tongue.
Pain shot through her as blood filled her mouth.
She let out a soft groan as her lips lost their color.
Caden looked up at her.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
She forced a smile. “It’s nothing, Caden…” she mumbled as she wiped the corner of her mouth.
A streak of blood appeared on the back of her hand almost immediately.
Caden frowned and said, “Is that blood again?”
Yolanda coughed, clearly flustered.
Then, she collapsed weakly into his arms.
He didn’t want the progress from the past few days of treatment to be lost, so he lifted her and stood tall.
As he turned around, he spotted Alicia.
Alicia’s expression was blank, and she stared at him with a steady gaze.
Caden’s heart sank. “When did you arrive?”
Alicia seemed dazed. She could hear that he was startled and panicking.
Could he really be feeling anxious?
A wry smile crossed her lips.
Then she approached the table in front of her and spoke in her usual tone. “I reserved a spot here. I didn’t expect to run into both of you.”
As she spoke, she realized how difficult it was to catch her breath.
Taking a moment to steady herself, she continued, “It seems Miss Moss needs medical attention right away. You should take her to the hospital.”
Caden frowned. He stared at Alicia, trying to understand what she was thinking.
In this moment, he should have hoped for her to be reasonable, but now that she was, he felt an odd sense of discomfort. There was nothing romantic between him and Yolanda. Why did Alicia behave so generously, as if she were a wife allowing her husband to keep a mistress?
He replied, “I’ll find you later.”