Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
As Alicia turned to leave, Kasumi yelled out spitefully, “This world is insane! A homewrecker dares to be so arrogant!”
Alicia stopped momentarily. Someone behind Kasumi murmured, “Don’t say that.”
“Why not? Didn’t you know Caden is engaged to Yolanda? They were an ideal couple until she interfered and split them up. Isn’t that the definition of a homewrecker?”
Someone nearby asked curiously, “How do you know so much about her?”
Kasumi responded confidently, “I used to be good friends with Yolanda. Our parents worked together before, so of course, I know all about it.”
At that moment, Alicia understood why Kasumi seemed so hostile. They knew exactly that she was experiencing VR, yet they deliberately spoke loud enough for her to hear. It was clear – Kasumi was defending Yolanda.
Alicia stayed silent, simply turning and leaving the room. Her calm demeanor only seemed to irritate Kasumi further. “How can she just walk away like that?” she muttered, visibly annoyed. “Doesn’t she have any temper?”
Someone beside her cautioned, “Let’s drop it. Mr. Ward brought her here, and he’s obviously fond of her. Even if she’s… just his secret lover, he wouldn’t be pleased to hear us talking this way.”
Kasumi scoffed. “So what? I haven’t done anything to her. My father is also about to start a collaboration with Blizzard Group. Business should come first, don’t you think?”
Meanwhile, Alicia had stepped out to grab a cup of coffee, hoping to clear her mind. She took a sip but frowned in disappointment. As she turned around, she nearly bumped into Caden, who had appeared silently behind her.
“You scared me!” she exclaimed, catching her breath. “What are you doing sneaking up like that?”
Caden’s gaze softened as he looked at her. “Something’s wrong. You seem upset. Wasn’t the VR experience enjoyable?”
Alicia considered his question before replying honestly, “It wasn’t great, to be honest. I’ve tried other products that were cheaper and worked better. Why did you choose that one?”
“They’re skilled at marketing,” Caden explained. “Their initial advertising push was extensive, and Mr. Watts has a solid reputation in the industry. Partnering with them could help cut down on unnecessary costs.”
Alicia shook her head, unconvinced. “But the product itself is subpar. If anything goes wrong, we’ll be the ones held accountable.”
Caden remained indifferent. “Then we’ll consider a different company.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Haven’t you already agreed to a deal?”
He smirked slightly. “Mr. Watts proposed a partnership, but I haven’t committed yet.”
Alicia’s expression softened, realizing he hadn’t rushed to seal the deal.
Caden glanced at her thoughtfully. “Is that why you’re upset?”
Caught off guard, Alicia hadn’t expected him to pick up on her mood. Not wanting to share everything on her mind, she replied casually, “Yeah… just a little disappointed. Want some coffee? It’s a new blend. Not bad, actually.”
Caden took the cup from her and drank half in one go, unaware it was from the same spot she had sipped. Almost instantly, his expression soured as he examined the label. “Wait… is this instant coffee? No wonder it tastes so terrible!”
Alicia burst out laughing, adjusting her dress as she glanced around. “I’m going to check out some of the other products. Enjoy the coffee,” she said with a grin before slipping away.
Caden quickly found a trash can and spat out what was left in his mouth, muttering to himself.
Moments later, Vince Watts, the president of the Watts Group, approached Caden with his daughter Kasumi by his side.
“Mr. Ward, there you are,” Vince greeted warmly, his demeanor humble but confident. “I’ve reserved a table at the city’s most popular restaurant. If you’re available, I’d be honored to have you and Ms. Bennett join us for dinner.”
Caden glanced at Alicia. “You should ask Ms. Bennett. If she’s going, then I’ll join.”
Alicia felt her heart tighten slightly.
Across from her, Kasumi stiffened, clearly caught off guard by Caden’s deference to Alicia. A flicker of unease crossed her face as she recalled her earlier comments. Had Alicia mentioned them to Caden? It didn’t seem so-otherwise, Caden wouldn’t still be here, speaking to them so calmly.
Without missing a beat, Alicia responded, “Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Watts, but we actually already have plans for this evening. Perhaps another time.”
Vince looked surprised. “But Mr. Ward mentioned earlier that he was available this evening,” he said, slightly anxious.
Kasumi clenched her jaw, her voice sharp with frustration. “Ms. Bennett, if you’re dating Mr. Ward, you might want to think about the bigger picture here. This dinner is about business.”
Vince quickly tugged Kasumi back, muttering for her to mind her words.
Alicia kept her expression composed, offering a faint smile. “In that case, we won’t be discussing business tonight. I’m sorry, Mr. Watts, but I’m not currently interested in investing in your product. Perhaps I’ll reconsider when your next release comes out.”
Both Vince and Kasumi were momentarily stunned. Her? That wasn’t what they had expected. Shouldn’t it have been Caden who made the decision?
Vince was the first to recover, turning to Caden with a forced smile. “Mr. Ward, perhaps I misunderstood.”
Caden met his gaze coolly. “What part was unclear?”
Vince forced a strained smile. In fact, he knew exactly what Alicia and Caden meant. But he couldn’t understand why Caden would side with Alicia.
Unwilling to give up, Vince explained further, “Your company previously gave me positive feedback on our product and indicated interest in further discussion. That’s why I came today, hoping to talk about a potential collaboration, Mr. Ward.”
Caden replied calmly, “Ms. Bennett is new to the industry and asked me to help her evaluate products. I recommended Watts Group out of respect for you, but unfortunately, we’re not impressed with the quality.”
Vince’s gaze shifted to Alicia, clearly hoping for a chance. “I see. So, Ms. Bennett, are you interested in working with us?”
Alicia nodded politely.
Vince’s eyes brightened. “Ms. Bennett, would you mind sharing what you found unsatisfactory about the product?”
At this, Kasumi shifted uncomfortably, unable to hold back her frustration. “Dad, she’s doing this on purpose! She has a grudge against me and is trying to ruin the-“
Vince’s eyes widened in shock. Unsure of what had happened between them, he quickly covered Kasumi’s mouth, casting a worried glance at Caden.
Not wanting Caden to make a scene, Alicia gently tugged him away from the situation.
Shortly afterward, Kasumi learned that Alicia had partnered with another brand without hesitation.
Her first attempt at crossing Alicia had backfired, and her family had scolded her for jeopardizing the partnership. Frustrated and with no one else to turn to, she called Yolanda, who was in Devarlton, and tearfully recounted the events to her.
Since her last mistake, Yolanda had become more cautious, occasionally trying to keep tabs on Caden’s personal life. However, he was so discreet that she rarely learned anything significant.
Now, hearing from Kasumi that Caden had openly supported Alicia-introducing her to the tech industry-was a blow. It was an unprecedented display of affection on his part.
“He actually stood by Alicia, helping her select products to invest in,” Kasumi complained. “But that’s not all. Can you believe he’s even cut ties with my dad because of her? My dad is highly sought after! What does Alicia have that’s so special?”
As she listened, Yolanda’s expression grew colder with each word. Kasumi was criticizing Alicia, but Yolanda couldn’t ignore the discomfort those words caused her.
All these months, with no news, and suddenly, Caden and Alicia had reached this level of intimacy. A pang of sorrow hit Yolanda deeply.
“What else has he done?” Yolanda asked, her voice tight.
Kasumi raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that enough? What’s next? Proposing to her on the spot?”
“Enough! Just stop talking,” Yolanda snapped, her voice sharp.
Kasumi looked hurt by the outburst. “Honestly, Yolanda, you’ve known Caden for ages. Why didn’t you ever make a move? If you were in Alicia’s place, I wouldn’t be feeling so humiliated right now.”
Yolanda replied sharply, “Caden’s business isn’t a gamble. Even if I were with him, he wouldn’t collaborate with you unless it made sense.”
“Why say things to upset me? You’re not even with him,” Kasumi retorted.
The words stung, and Yolanda angrily ended the call.
Despite her attempt to stay calm, the surge of frustration made her chest tighten, leaving her dizzy and breathless. She sank into a chair, closing her eyes as she fought to calm down.
When she finally opened them, she realized her cheeks were wet with tears.
She couldn’t understand why fate had to be so cruel. She had been frail since childhood, yet she’d worked hard, built herself up, and made her family proud. But none of that had been enough to capture Caden’s heart.
All Yolanda wanted was him – nothing more. As her thoughts spiraled, a wave of longing and frustration overtook her. Acting on impulse, she picked up her phone and dialed Caden’s number.
He answered almost immediately.
Hearing his voice made the ache inside her deepen. “Caden… you’re really with Alicia now, aren’t you?” she asked, her voice trembling.
His tone was calm and steady. “Yes, she’s my girlfriend.” Those words pierced her like a knife.
Her voice wavered, vulnerable and pleading. “Why don’t you ever look back at me, Caden? Is there something about me that’s really that bad?”
Hearing the sorrow in her voice, Caden frowned but stayed silent. After a brief pause, he instructed Dorian to check on her. He didn’t reciprocate her feelings, but he didn’t want her to suffer because of him. Hanging up, he turned to Alicia. “Let’s go.”
Alicia didn’t ask who had called. She knew Caden wasn’t one to open up about his private matters, but this time, he seemed to be in deep thought.
“Why don’t you ever ask who calls or check up on me?” Caden asked.
Alicia wasn’t bothered. “Why would I need to?” she replied casually.
Caden raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you the least bit concerned it might’ve been a woman calling me?”
She shrugged, her expression light. “If you can resist temptation, why would I need to check up on you?”
Caden grew more serious. “But if you’re so careless about me, maybe one day, another woman will really snatch me away from you.”
Alicia was unfazed, meeting his gaze with a steady look. “Then it would be pointless for me to try controlling you if your heart already fell for her. Instead of worrying, I’d rather let you be free.”
Caden was momentarily speechless, staring at her in mild disbelief. Seriously? Was she really that open-minded? He shook his head, smiling wryly.
As they stepped outside, a small commotion near the entrance caught their attention. A tall man exited a sleek car, his striking features and confident demeanor radiating authority, with bodyguards closely following him.
Alicia glanced over, intrigued. “Who’s this VIP?”
Caden followed her gaze. “Corey Hampton. He’s a big player in tech, especially in digital intelligence.”
Alicia hadn’t heard of him, but she noticed the subtle change in Caden’s expression. She knew that Corey and Caden had once been classmates – rivals and allies who had eventually gone their separate ways, each carving out their own domain in their respective fields.
“Why are all the top players so good-looking?” she mused aloud.