Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“I promise I will return,” Caden declared firmly. “No matter how many others try to win your affection, none can replace your grandson.”
Ciara chuckled softly at his words. She had something on her mind to say, but Caden interrupted her with a question, “Has Alicia stopped by?”
“She’s visited twice. She’s just as busy as you are these days,” Ciara replied.
“Yes, she was on a business trip not long ago. I happened to run into her once.”
“Just that one time?” Ciara asked.
Caden fell silent, lost in thought. Indeed, it had only been once. On one hand, they were both consumed by their busy lives; on the other, he felt he had been too forward lately, and he didn’t think it was appropriate. He wanted to intentionally give her space for a while.
He then asked, “When she visited, was she with Blake?”
This time, a man answered him.
“Mr. Ward, I regret to inform you that I did not have the privilege of visiting with Ms. Bennett.”
Caden found himself at a loss for words.
Ciara chuckled. “By the way, I should mention you’re on speakerphone. Blake can hear everything.”
Blake had an uncanny ability to win people over, effortlessly charming everyone he encountered, regardless of their age or gender.
Unfazed by the revelation of his intentions, Caden responded coolly, “You don’t have that privilege now, and you won’t in the future. Maintain your self-awareness.”
Blake chuckled. “Mr. Ward, do you happen to know where Ms. Bennett is on her business trip?”
“Why? Are you unable to manage on your own and looking to me for information? You’re not entitled to that,” Caden replied flatly.
Blake remained silent, not saying a word. He sensed it was time to leave.
Once the call ended, Caden rubbed his temples in frustration.
Caden understood what Blake was trying to convey. Blake was eager to boast about his new role as a restoration specialist at the gallery. It had been a month since that transition.
However, Blake and Alicia continued to interact with nothing more than professional courtesy, suggesting that their work was their sole focus. Despite Blake’s efforts, he had failed to capture Alicia’s attention in any meaningful way.
A few days later, Caden returned to Warrington. When he visited Ciara, he learned that Blake had accompanied Alicia on a business trip just the day before. A wave of displeasure washed over Caden. “Isn’t it usually the assistant’s responsibility to accompany their boss on business trips?” he asked, his tone sharp.
Ciara, clearly enjoying the drama, replied, “I told you, Blake is no ordinary man. If he can bring me so much happiness, don’t you think that joining her on a trip would be a simple task for him?” She further fueled the fire, adding, “Alicia will be away for quite some time, and with Blake just a wall away at the hotel, who knows what might happen…” Before she could finish, Caden had already stormed out.
Rather than losing his composure and rushing to find Alicia, he returned to the office.
Hank, who was about to leave for the day, was taken aback by Caden’s sudden presence. “Mr. Ward, are you really working overtime right after returning?” Caden responded curtly, “You can leave on time.”
Hank hesitated, clearly unsure. “It wouldn’t be right to leave you here alone…”
“Then do something for me,” Caden insisted.
Hank stood there, dumbfounded. His expression twisted in confusion. “Mr. Ward, I…”
“Someone reached out to me a few days ago regarding the gallery issue. Do you remember? Get me the original documents.”
Hank felt a surge of regret. As he turned to exit Caden’s office, he nearly slapped himself for his earlier hesitation.
Caden glanced over the original documents Hank had handed him. Now fully in work mode, Hank suggested, “Actually, this matter can be resolved quite easily. I can take care of it.” But he froze mid-sentence as Caden suddenly began to remove his clothes.
When Caden removed his clothes, his expression remained stoic, showing no hint of emotion. It was as if he had casually taken a sip of coffee, completely unfazed by his actions.
Hank stared at him, bewildered, and asked, “Mr. Ward, could you please explain what you’re doing?”
Caden continued to focus on the documents, not bothering to look up. “Please leave my office and remember to close the door behind you,” he commanded.
Hank, at a complete loss for words, simply stood there, speechless.
Caden carefully placed the documents on his desk and quickly snapped a photo of them. Without hesitation, he sent the image to Alicia.
It took a while before Alicia finally noticed the message. As she examined the image, she became so focused on the content that she completely overlooked the reason for receiving his message. After all, she had taken the step of blocking him. The photo depicted the cover of a document, one that represented the exclusive authorization granted at the gallery’s inception.
Alicia felt puzzled as to why he had chosen to send her this particular image out of the blue. After a brief moment of hesitation, she decided not to respond.
A few minutes later, Caden sent another message: “There seems to be an issue with the gallery’s land.”
Intrigued, Alicia quickly replied, “What seems to be the problem?”
Caden responded, “I believe it would be best to discuss this in person.”
Alicia found herself at a loss for words again. She was well aware of his intentions and chose not to respond directly. However, she sent someone to investigate the matter regarding the gallery’s land.
As expected, they confirmed that there was indeed a problem.
When Caden had initially purchased the gallery, the land was highly coveted, and he had acquired it at a premium price.
He claimed to have paid extra, but the reality was that in doing so, he had made a number of enemies along the way. Now, those he had offended were returning to settle their accounts.
Alicia couldn’t figure out who they were, but the simple fact that they were able to send documents to Caden suggested they held considerable influence. She hesitated for a moment, caught in uncertainty.
Caden sent another message, “If you’re busy with something, I can take care of it for you. It really isn’t a big deal.”
Alicia disagreed entirely with that notion. While, in truth, it wasn’t a major issue considering his abilities, allowing him to help would only complicate their already delicate relationship further. From the moment Caden had sent her the picture, Alicia realized she had unwittingly played into his hands.
He knew exactly what mattered most to her. Eventually, she conceded to his request and set a location for their meeting.
Although she was on a business trip, she found herself in a nearby city, not too far from where Caden was. He booked a restaurant more convenient for her and made his way there.
He texted, “I’ll arrive in an hour,” and then sent her his location details.
This marked the first time Alicia shared her location with Caden. As she observed the small green dot representing Caden on her screen slowly getting closer to her dot, she began to ponder the implications.
Over the past few months, despite their complicated relationship and infrequent meetings, Caden’s influence had felt omnipresent. He had deliberately courted her attention, and she found it impossible to ignore him.
Had she allowed her heart to soften toward him? As time passed, the intense emotions that had once brought her to tears had considerably faded. Yet, a wound remained-one that time could never heal. She realized she would always find it impossible to capture Caden’s heart.
She concluded that his sudden, impulsive interest in her was merely because she remained a novelty in his eyes.
“Ms. Bennett, the event is about to begin,” Blake announced unexpectedly. Alicia jolted back to reality and quickly tucked her phone away.
“Alright, I’m ready.”
She had an entire hour at her disposal, and she knew she could accomplish a lot in that time.
They were at an innovative technology expo, showcasing prominent figures from the industry, and Alicia was eager to take the opportunity to expand her knowledge.
Blake remarked, “I’ve noticed you’ve been keeping tabs on developments in this field. Are you considering making an investment?”
Alicia shook her head in response. “I’m just browsing for now.”
As they entered the venue, she realized there were always individuals more accomplished than she was, and innovations far beyond her imagination. The stunning display of technological products from various countries boasted capabilities that left her in awe.
Blake couldn’t help but express his admiration. “Even with such an impressive selection of products, Caden still manages to keep his brand at the forefront. He truly understands the industry.”
Alicia felt a pang in her heart at his words. Standing in front of a high-end display screen, she felt an irresistible urge to reach out and touch it.
Before she could, a man stepped forward, saying, “Excuse me, but you cannot touch that.”
She quickly pulled her hand back, feeling embarrassed.
“But one of the staff members mentioned that we could freely interact with the products,” she replied.
The man smiled apologetically. “I am very sorry, Ma’am. May I please see your identification?”
Blake’s expression darkened, clearly displeased. “What do you mean by that? Are you suggesting that we snuck in here?”
The man regarded them with a trace of disdain in his gaze. “I’m simply adhering to the established protocol. If you wish to interact with the products, we must first record your information. This way, if anything goes wrong with the product due to your use, we can address any issues promptly.”
Despite the politeness in his tone, the implication behind his words was clear to everyone present.
Blake was on the verge of losing his temper, but Alicia intervened just in time.
She redirected her attention to a nearby display, where a couple was enjoying the experience. Several attendants greeted them with friendly smiles. Alicia recognized the couple immediately- it was a well-known tycoon and his wife.
Alicia, not one to shy away from confrontation, boldly asked, “Are you asking for proof of our financial standing?”
The man, hearing her question, didn’t hold back his response. “Ma’am, please don’t make this more difficult than it needs to be. This screen alone is valued at over a million dollars. If anything were to happen, and you couldn’t cover the cost, I would be held responsible.”
Blake could no longer restrain himself. “If something goes wrong after she’s only had one opportunity to interact with it, maybe you should reconsider why the product is so fragile, instead of preventing us from touching it.”
The man said, “Sir, there’s no need to be upset. I’m simply following the rules.” He gestured towards the rest area and added in a slightly mocking tone, “You’ve been on your feet for quite some time, and I’m sure you’re tired. There’s a rest area just over there with complimentary coffee and desserts. Please, help yourselves.”
Alicia let out a laugh.
She asked, “We’ve only been here for half an hour. How could we be as tired as you? You’re on your feet all day. What do they pay you for such a long day’s work?”
The man was caught off guard for a moment but quickly replied, “Well, it’s probably less than what you all earn here, considering you’re the bosses.”
Alicia raised an eyebrow, guessing, “Could it be fifteen thousand dollars?”
The man’s face subtly changed.
Noticing his reaction, Alicia continued with a smile, “Seven thousand dollars? Four thousand dollars?”
Blake joined in, teasing, “Maybe only five hundred dollars?”