Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
With others, she could hide her anxiety, but with Caden, her true, timid self often surfaced.
Caden seemed to understand. He thought of her strict and demanding father, his gaze softening. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the other bird,” he said.
“Can you really find another one?” she asked, her worry evident.
“It’s not worth the hassle,” he replied with a shrug. “There are plenty of other birds that could stand in.”
“But isn’t this one rare?” Alicia pointed out. “There aren’t many like it in Warrington.”
Caden held up the cage, examining the droopy little creature inside. “What does it remind you of?” he asked, smirking.
Alicia studied the bird, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Caden smirked. “Finding one just like it would take all of two minutes.”
She suddenly realized his plan and frowned. “Do you really think your grandma won’t notice?”
Unfazed, Caden raised an eyebrow. “Definitely! They look nearly identical.”
Alicia only stared, exasperated.
He went on, “At a quick glance, you really can’t tell them apart.”
Alicia’s mouth twitched as she tried to stifle a laugh.
When Caden got cheeky, he could be unexpectedly charming, and despite herself, she found his antics amusing.
As they arrived at Joy Mansion, Caden strode inside confidently. “Grandma, look who’s back-your favorite!”
Ciara adjusted her glasses and eyed him with mock disapproval. “Stop flattering yourself.”
But as Caden held up the birdcage, Ciara’s expression softened instantly. “Oh, it’s my precious little birds!” A cloth covered the cage, and she frowned, curious. “Why is it covered?”
Caden explained smoothly, “They had a rough night. Feeling a bit shy today.”
Ciara waved off his explanation, too delighted to care. She gently lifted the cloth, her face lighting up. “I missed you so much in just one night.”
But as she saw what was inside, her smile froze.
Ciara’s eyes widened in shock.
Caden, unfazed, flashed a charming smile. “Those eyes of yours – they make you look thirty again.”
Ciara huffed, clearly unamused. She pointed angrily at the birdcage. “Enough with the flattery! And what is that?”
Caden glanced at the cage. Inside stood the bird next to a small sculpture of another bird.
Keeping a straight face, he replied smoothly, “Isn’t that your precious bird? When did it become a ‘thing’?”
Ciara’s eyes narrowed, her finger jabbing toward the sculpture. “I’m asking about that! What is that?”
“A bird,” Caden replied, barely missing a beat.
Ciara’s face turned red with exasperation. “A bird? That’s supposed to be a bird?”
Caden shrugged. “Sure, it might not move, but technically, it’s still a bird.”
Rendered speechless, Ciara clutched her chest, almost wanting to call out for Jasmine to bring her the oxygen tank.
Caden quickly helped her into a chair. “At your age, you really shouldn’t get so worked up. Look on the bright side – while it might not be as lively as the original, it’s sure to last longer. Take good care of it, and it might stick around for a hundred years.”
Ciara shot him an icy glare. “Then why don’t you get me a tortoise instead?”
Caden nodded, unfazed. “If that’s what you’d prefer, I can have a few sent over.”
Ciara’s mouth fell open in disbelief.
She snatched up her cane and gave him a swift swat.
“Ow!” Caden yelped, wincing in pain.
Ciara paused, momentarily surprised. “I didn’t hit you that hard… did it really hurt?”
Caden replied with a smirk, “I was faking it.”
Ciara was left speechless, her frustration mounting as Caden left Joy Mansion and climbed into his car.
Alicia, who had been waiting, immediately leaned forward, curiosity brimming. “So, did Ciara get mad?”
Caden smoothed a wrinkle on his shirt. “Oh, she was thrilled. Stood right up to praise me.”
He paused, recalling the painful “praise” he’d received.
Alicia raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “No way. Are you telling me Ciara didn’t hit you?”
Caden grinned. “How could she bring herself to hit such a good grandson?”
With that, he started the engine and drove Alicia to the gallery.
When they arrived, he remained in the car as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
Just as she was about to step out, he called, “Come home early tonight. I just learned to make a dessert. I’ll do it for you.”
Alicia hesitated, feeling a hint of dread. “I might have to work late tonight.”
Caden’s gaze held steady. “No excuses. You have to come back.”
Seeing he was serious, Alicia was a little stunned, her face falling. “Yesterday, you were professing your undying love to me, and today, you’re planning to torment me in bed. Men really do change hearts the minute they’re out of bed.”
Caden flashed a roguish smile. “Do you always believe what a man says in bed?”
Alicia was momentarily at a loss for words, her mind drifting back to the previous night – the warmth of his embrace, the intensity in his gaze. His whispers, raw and vulnerable, had left her defenses down, her heart feeling something she hadn’t anticipated.
Now, in the clear light of day, she felt foolish for ever trusting those words. How could she have believed him so completely in the heat of the moment?
Determined not to lose face, Alicia quickly replied, “Of course not. I say all sorts of nonsense too. Don’t take any of it to heart.”
Caden remembered every word clearly, and a mischievous smile crept across his face. “What kind of nonsense?”
Alicia straightened, keeping her composure. “Oh, things like, ‘Only you can make me feel this way.'”
Hearing her repeat such intimate words with a serious expression, Caden couldn’t be angry; instead, he burst out laughing.
He reached over, pulling her close, his gaze smoldering. “All lies, huh?”
Alicia’s cheeks flushed, and she looked away, her voice barely a murmur. “Yes, all lies.”
He traced a finger lightly over her waist, watching her squirm, her face betraying her flustered reaction. Caden scoffed, “You can’t even handle a touch, yet you say it’s all lies?”
Just then, he caught sight of Blake stepping out of the building and noticing his car.
A possessive spark lit in Caden’s eyes. Without a second thought, he cupped the back of Alicia’s head and kissed her deeply, the boldness of his kiss undeniable. He closed his eyes, savoring the sweetness of her lips until he was sure Blake had turned away.
When he finally released her, Alicia looked up, catching the playful glint in his eye.
“What was that?” she asked breathlessly. “You look like you’re up to no good.”
Caden licked his tingling lips, amusement flickering in his gaze. “Up to no good? You think I poisoned my own kiss?”
Alicia rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”
Flustered, she touched her warm cheeks, trying to compose herself. She then smoothed her clothes, tying the ribbon on her blouse into a neat bow.
“How do I look? Presentable?” After that unexpected kiss, she worried her disheveled appearance might be noticeable. “Do I look like a cool, aloof boss?”
Caden’s gaze roamed over her, from her blouse to her flushed cheeks. “Hmm… I’m not sure about aloof, but you certainly look tempting.”
She shot him a look, playfully swatting his shoulder. “Be serious.”
“I am being serious.” His eyes softened. “No matter how put-together you look, I can’t forget how you were last night.”
Alicia felt her cheeks warm.
This rascal’s mind was clearly still lingering on last night. Realizing there was no point in asking him for honest feedback, she gave up, opened the door, and stepped out of the car.
Caden found himself puzzled.
How had he become so… vulgar?
At twenty, he was immersed in the world of finance, knowledgeable about the most profitable yet controversial industries – many of which involved sex. He had confronted his natural impulses and seen countless explicit images, yet he couldn’t fully grasp why these industries were so profitable.
Was attraction between men and women really so impulsive?
But now he understood.
It wasn’t that he lacked interest in women; it was simply that he hadn’t met the right person.
Since experiencing the allure of Alicia, he often felt that she was the missing piece he’d been searching for.
Blake, on the other hand, was keenly aware of his own limitations. After being “intimidated” by Caden a few times, he learned to suppress his feelings.
Most men, after all, were rational.