Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Although she was impulsive, her heart was pure.
“Let’s go home,” Caden said casually, as though nothing had happened. “We haven’t had sex tonight.”
The sudden change in topic left Alicia both stunned and annoyed. “With all this going on, sex is all you can think about?”
Caden paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “Alright then. We’ll have sex first and tackle the problem later.”
Alicia was at a loss for words.
Although she didn’t want to admit it, she knew that Caden was still upset.
His purpose in developing the chip went far beyond profit – he wanted to recreate a piece of his mother’s presence, even if it meant building a robot.
That, more than anything, would have given him peace. But now, his creation was in someone else’s hands, exploited as just another tool to generate revenue.
And Alicia knew that he had done it for her.
Caden had given up the chip so she could rest easy.
Alicia wanted to comfort him and, feeling bold, suggested they take a private moment in the office. She hoped it would lift his spirits.
Caden’s passion was ignited. He took the lead, and their evening together unfolded with unrestrained intensity.
Soon, the news hit the airwaves, sparking a frenzy.
Heated discussions flooded every corner of the internet. Even Gerry couldn’t hold back. He tracked Caden down, eager to hear his thoughts.
But Caden barely reacted, calm and indifferent amid the noise.
Exasperated by Caden’s quiet stance, Gerry burst out, “Caden, Corey is trying to get under your skin. Can’t you see he is challenging you?”
Caden flipped through the documents with a calm expression.
They held information about Corey that he had recently commissioned someone to investigate.
He carefully reviewed the contents, anxious not to overlook any vital details.
Noticing Caden’s silence, Gerry paced the room with his hands on his hips, frustration etched across his face. “Even if you don’t care about the money, how can you stand such humiliation? Is this really the Caden I know?” He moved closer to Caden, suddenly cupping his face in his hands, and asked, “Are you really thinking about being a gigolo?”
Caden was deeply dumbfounded by his sudden question.
Caden’s expression was cold and forbidding.
Gerry quickly withdrew his trembling hand.
“Is there something you can stuff your mouth with?” Caden sneered as he took out a tissue and wiped the spot where Gerry had touched. “You’re so noisy.”
His disdain agitated Gerry even more. “What, do you think I’m dirty? My hands aren’t filthy, you know! I guess years of friendship mean nothing compared to a woman, huh? I bet you don’t mind Alicia’s saliva as much.”
Caden was already getting a headache from Gerry’s inane rants. He closed the file and put it in a drawer. Just then, Hank knocked and entered the room. His face was blank as he walked to Caden’s desk and handed over a black card with gold embossing.
“Mr. Ward, this is an invitation to Corey’s new product launch. Are you attending?”
“He still has the nerve to invite us?” Gerry exclaimed. “Damn him! I’ll tell my brother to bring a machine gun, so we can take that bastard down once and for all!” He was so outraged, he didn’t even bother censoring his language.
“Please calm down, Mr. Hopkins,” Hank said slowly. “The invitation is not for you.”
Gerry sputtered into silence. But then he collected himself and erupted, “Why the hell didn’t he invite me? Does he look down on me, is that it? Ha! Forget the machine gun, I might as well bring explosives and level his company to the ground!”
Hank said nothing and stood back.
Caden picked up the invitation, glancing at it briefly before speaking in a calm voice. “Hank, call security and have them drag this noisy fool out of the building.”
Moments later, Gerry continued to yell as he was hauled out of the office. “I sorely misjudged you, Caden! I came here to offer my sympathies, and this is how you treat me? Just wait! I’ll tell the media all about your dirty little secret!”
The door slammed in his face, and there was peace at last.
Caden immediately grabbed his phone and called Cliff. “Keep an eye on your brother. Don’t let him do anything that might provoke Corey.”
Ever the sensible one in the group, Cliff simply replied, “I understand.”
Caden thought for a moment before adding, “And don’t believe anything he says.”
“You mean about your attempt to be a gigolo?” Cliff asked without missing a beat. Caden was rendered speechless.
Damn that big-mouthed idiot!
“Don’t worry, Mr. Ward,” Cliff reassured him. “I didn’t believe a word of it.”
Caden was already planning to meet with Corey, so the product launch gave him the perfect opportunity to do so.
He attended the event.
The venue was packed when he arrived, and the guests were all expressing their amazement and curiosity over the Q Robot.
Although it was average in design, its movements were incredibly agile, and it was able to interact with the crowd with relative ease.
Caden stood on the sidelines, one hand in his pocket while the other held a glass of wine. He watched the spectacle with a faint smile.
At some point, Corey approached him. “Mr. Ward,” he greeted with a gentle but confident smile.
Caden raised his wine glass toward him in a small toast. “Congratulations, Mr. Hampton.”
There was a tinkling sound as their glasses clinked together.
“I must thank you, Mr. Ward,” Corey said candidly. “It’s truly impressive, and I have a great admiration for it.”
Caden smirked and joked, “Then please build me a robot clone of yourself, Mr. Hampton. I could use some extra help around the house.”
Far from getting offended, Corey burst out laughing. “You’ve been so quiet lately, Mr. Ward. I thought you no longer cared. It turns out you still hate me.”
Caden straightened, his tone no longer hasty or obvious. “Corey, what exactly do you intend to do? Speak frankly.”
But Corey maintained his facade, his face betraying none of his true intentions. “How can you say that about me? I just happened to acquire the chips you discarded. It was such a waste, so I thought, why not use them to make some money?”
“And how much did you lose when you partnered with the Moss family?” Caden pressed.
“What do you mean?” Corey asked nonchalantly, taking a sip of his drink. “Business is business. Why are you making it sound like I signed my life away in a contract?”
Just then, Yolanda appeared, as if on cue.
She lifted her skirts as she approached. She had spotted Caden the moment he arrived and had planned to meet him backstage. But her excitement got the better of her. “Caden,” she called out.
Although she had chosen to help Corey, her feelings for Caden remained. In fact, they were written all over her face.
Caden’s gaze was indifferent as it landed on her. Seeing her stand beside Corey, he realized the two were a perfect match.
He chuckled softly, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Well, Mr. Hampton, it appears you didn’t sign your life away after all. Just your body.”
Corey’s smile faltered at the remark.
Caden smirked again, swirling his wine glass between his fingers. “So, between you two, who’s in charge? All things considered, Mr. Hampton, your relationship with Miss Moss might actually elevate your status.”
Yolanda’s cheeks burned. “It’s not like that, Caden!”
But Caden was all for their union. “It makes sense, doesn’t it? You’re delicate and moody, while Mr. Hampton is patient and ambitious. I bet he knows you very well. You can definitely rely on him, so you’d better cherish him.”
Just like that, Yolanda’s flushed face turned pale.
Caden’s eagerness to cut her off and push her away was nothing short of heartbreaking. And there was nothing she could do about it.
For now, she needed to stick to her plan. Yolanda needed Corey to crush Caden, so the latter would finally open his eyes and recognize her value.
“You seem busy, Mr. Hampton,” Caden said. “I won’t interrupt your romantic time together.”
With that, he turned and walked away. As luck would have it, he was intercepted by an acquaintance, and the two instantly engaged in a pleasant conversation.
Yolanda’s eyes were brimming with tears as she watched Caden go.
Corey gave her a look. “If you’re regretting your actions, then feel free to tell Caden the truth. You two can expose and embarrass me right here, right now.”
“Regret what?” Yolanda rasped, swallowing her grievances. “If he’s angry, that means we’re off to a good start.”
In her mind, if Corey’s launch became a success, Caden would be pressured into releasing a new product to keep up with the competition.
Unfortunately, no one in his team had Yolanda’s skills.
She took comfort in the thought, convinced that it wouldn’t be long before Caden came crawling back to beg for her help. She just had to be patient.
Yolanda swept her gaze over the banquet hall but didn’t see Alicia anywhere. “Why isn’t that woman here?”
“I invited her, but she refused to come,” Corey pointed out.
“Why would you even invite her?” Yolanda snapped, contradicting herself. “Is she even worthy of attending such an event?”
A spark of interest gleamed in Corey’s eyes. “Do you know, she tossed the invitation into the trash, right in front of my subordinate? Caden’s woman is indeed a striking beauty, with a fiery temperament to match.”
Yolanda felt indignant when she saw the smile on his lips. A bunch of lecherous scoundrels, all of them.
How long could a woman stay beautiful, anyway? Alicia’s appearance would start to decline once she hit twenty-eight, and it wouldn’t be long before she lost value in everyone’s eyes.
“Women who rely on their looks are too short-sighted for their own good,” Yolanda said with a huff of disdain. “Only true talent can secure one’s place in society. I can’t wait to watch that bitch fall.”