Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Downstairs, a gust of wind swept past, sharp enough to sting their eyes. It cooled Alicia’s flustered cheeks, carrying away her racing thoughts and leaving a lingering silence between them.
Caden glanced at her, feeling a pull he couldn’t quite voice. Proposing felt like a gesture too naive, too raw-something he couldn’t yet bring himself to do.
In a private dining room, the Moss family sat together harmoniously.
Yolanda had recovered well in the last few days. Her complexion was looking better, and she had taken extra care with her makeup and attire.
“Do you like my hair?” she crooned at her father. “It took me three hours to style it.”
Dorian looked at her with indulgence. “It looks great, Yolanda. You always look beautiful.”
Yolanda blushed. “Then Caden will probably like it too.”
Dorian’s smile faded. Caden had agreed to join them for dinner tonight, but everyone knew it was merely to put a stop to Yolanda’s constant badgering. Dorian knew that his silly daughter was in for yet another disappointment. He said nothing to avoid upsetting her, but Regina had a different approach.
“Has Caden agreed to date you?” she asked bluntly.
The tension between mother and daughter had been building recently, and Yolanda’s mood soured. “Not verbally, but he did help me pick out this dress. That must mean something, right?”
“If he hasn’t said anything along those lines, then you shouldn’t get your hopes up,” Regina said matter-of-factly.
Yolanda frowned and snapped, “Can you please stop bursting my bubble?”
“I’ll do it again and again if it takes to bring you back to reality. Otherwise, your delusions will only grow, leading you to make worse decisions,” Regina replied, clearly displeased with her daughter’s involvement with Corey. “Corey had better stop with his schemes. It isn’t wise. If he tries to manipulate Caden again, your father and I will have no choice but to intervene.”
Yolanda exploded. She turned to her father and demanded, “Whose side are you on, mine or Mom’s?”
“Yolanda,” Dorian said in a stern tone. “You are in the wrong this time.”
“If you won’t help me, then I’ll do everything myself. What’s wrong with pursuing my one true love?” Yolanda retorted.
“This will only make Caden dislike you more and push him further away,” Regina warned.
Ever the brat, Yolanda slammed her fist on the table. “Look, if you don’t want to be my mother anymore, just say so! I’ll gladly sever our relationship for good!”
Regina didn’t respond.
Just then, the door opened, and Caden entered the room with Alicia.
Yolanda, still seething, froze when she saw them together, a mix of shock and horror on her face. Caden had never mentioned bringing Alicia.
Alicia was carrying a gift bag, and her elegant dress matched perfectly with Caden’s debonair look, especially as she was nestled in his arms.
“Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Moss,” Alicia greeted softly, a delicate touch of pink on her cheeks.
Regina’s eyes flickered as she stared at Alicia.
While the party of three collected themselves, Caden ushered Alicia to the table and pulled out a chair for her. “Mrs. Moss, this is Alicia,” he introduced simply, “my girlfriend.” None of the Moss family spoke. They couldn’t even muster a smile.
The affection between the couple was evident in their gestures and the looks they exchanged. It would have been a pleasant sight under any other circumstances, but not here, in the presence of Yolanda.
Caden’s actions had driven a figurative stake through Yolanda’s heart. Seeing her in such pain was equally distressing for her parents. Regina was the first to recover.
“Ms. Bennett,” she greeted, offering a smile, “you’re even more beautiful than the rumors say. You and Caden make a lovely couple.”
The compliment shattered Yolanda’s composure. She leapt to her feet, pushing her chair back with so much force that it toppled to the floor.
“What is the meaning of this, Caden?” she demanded.
Dorian frowned and moved to intervene, but Regina grabbed his hand, stopping him. They might as well let Yolanda vent her frustrations.
Caden raised an eyebrow, completely unperturbed. “What do you think?”
Yolanda’s eyes flashed with anger as she pointed a finger at Alicia. “Why did you bring this woman to our dinner?”
“We’ve been dating for a while,” Caden replied smoothly. “I thought it was time for her to meet my friends. Is there a problem with that?”
Yolanda’s chest heaved with emotion. Her head was spinning, and she had to lean against the edge of the table to steady herself. She was both furious and heartbroken.
“Did you even consider my feelings before you decided to bring her here?”
Caden’s lips curled into a sneer. “As a matter of fact, I did. That’s exactly why I brought her with me. To make you see the truth and convince you to give up on me once and for all.”
He cast a glance at the Moss couple and continued, “In Alicia’s absence, everything you heard could be discounted as hearsay. But she’s here now, so our relationship should be clear to everyone present. If not, let me make this plain – if Yolanda ever pesters me again or crosses any boundaries, I will no longer entertain her and will treat her like an interloper. Do you have any objections, Mr. and Mrs. Moss?”
Dorian, humiliated, wisely kept quiet.
“We have none,” Regina said firmly. “I’ll make sure Yolanda is disciplined properly when we get home.”
Every word spoken between Caden and Regina only fanned the flames of Yolanda’s rage.
“I’m an adult!” she roared. “I don’t need you to keep me in line! And you, Caden!” She turned on him with a vicious expression. “If you were going to bring her along, why did you go shopping with me in the first place? You led me on and betrayed my trust! Are you enjoying seeing me suffer?”
Caden looked at her dismissively, as if she were a child. “You paid for your clothes, and I paid for mine. What exactly is the big deal?”
Yolanda glanced at Alicia and suddenly remembered the dress Caden had been eyeing at the mall. He had bought that dress for Alicia.
A bitter laugh escaped Yolanda as tears of hatred streamed down her cheeks.
“We’ve known each other since we were kids,” she choked, her voice trembling. “I followed in my father’s footsteps and studied hard to keep up with you, just for the chance to be close to you.” She sobbed, her body shaking. “What did I ever do wrong?”
“What more do I need to do for you to like me? What should I do…” Her voice turned pleading toward the end, and without warning, she lunged at Caden.
Caden remained still as Dorian quickly moved forward and grabbed Yolanda, stopping her from further degrading herself. His heart ached for his daughter, and he was furious with Caden for his cruelty.
Yolanda collapsed into her father’s embrace, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed. “Dad, I really love Caden. I’ve loved him since I was a child. I love him so much. Please help me…”
Despite being a prideful man, Dorian couldn’t ignore his daughter’s sorrow. Unable to scold her for her foolishness, he instead tightened his arms around her in comfort.
After a moment, Dorian turned his cold gaze to Caden. “I have indulged my daughter for most of her life, so I am to blame for her behavior. But nobody is perfect. I will give Yolanda a few months to come to her senses. If she fails, I assure you I will do whatever it takes to make you hers.”
With that ominous promise, Dorian guided the sobbing Yolanda out of the room.
Caden smirked. “If you can drive the Blizzard Group to the ground,” he called after Dorian, his voice dripping with defiance.
Alicia whipped her head around to look at him. Caden’s profile was familiar, yet different at the same time. There was an arrogant, almost savage edge to his features tonight, something akin to the recklessness of a hotheaded youth. Alicia felt her heart race, inexplicably drawn to him in that moment.
She then turned her attention to Regina, who remained seated, her brows slightly furrowed. Regina’s mouth was set in a grim line, and though there was pity in her expression, Alicia could swear she saw a flicker of amusement.
Alicia couldn’t tell whether Regina was laughing at herself or at Yolanda, but it was clear that Regina had given everything for her daughter, which made her disappointment all the more understandable.
Feeling a pang of sympathy for Regina, Alicia waved the waiter over and decided to order a few additional dishes.
Regina snapped out of her reverie. “The table is full of untouched food. Why would you order more?”
“They’ve been here a while,” Alicia replied calmly. “They won’t taste as good now. Please enjoy the fresh dishes I’ve ordered.”
“Why are you always trying to please everyone?” Caden suddenly interjected.
Alicia shot him a playful look and elbowed his side. Regina couldn’t help but smile. This kind of affection wasn’t forced-it was earned and nurtured.
When the new dishes arrived, Regina noticed they were all to her liking. “Are you familiar with my tastes, Ms. Bennett?” she asked, surprised.
“I suppose I got lucky with my guesses. Devarlton’s cuisine is generally sweet and mild, so I took a chance and ordered a few local delicacies.”
Regina nodded, visibly pleased. “You sure have a keen sense, Ms. Bennett.”
Earlier, the food served had catered to Caden’s preferences, no doubt chosen by Yolanda.
As prideful as he was, Dorian couldn’t seem to stop indulging Yolanda’s whims. Unfortunately, all his doting had turned her into an entitled brat who didn’t hesitate to overstep in others’ lives. His father’s affection would ultimately become Yolanda’s greatest weapon.
Alicia had been unsettled by Dorian’s threat, and that sense of unease lingered even when they returned home. She remained distracted, even as Caden pulled her into a passionate kiss.
It wasn’t until she felt him between her legs that she snapped back to reality. “What are you doing?” she cried out.
It was late at night, and her dress had slipped off her shoulders, thanks to Caden’s ministrations.
“What are you thinking about?” he grumbled. “I’m right here, and you’re not even paying attention to me.” Alicia shook her head, feeling her worries were a bit silly. “Caden, did Dorian ever do you a favor in the past?”
“Are you really in the mood to talk about elders while we’re in this state?” he teased.
Alicia pinched her cheek. “I’m serious!”
Caden nuzzled the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply, taking in her intoxicating scent. “Please don’t ask anything else. Just scream my name later, and we’re good.”
Alicia’s face flushed. “I won’t scream.”
Caden chuckled, pulling back slightly to look at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You talk tough now, but we both know you’ll end up screaming and begging in no time.”
He swooped in for a kiss. “I have my favorites among your phrases, you know. Want to guess what they are?”
Alicia paused, thinking. He had made her say a lot of things in bed, and she could hardly remember which ones he liked best.
“Caden,” he suddenly said, mimicking her tone, “I think I’m going to die.”
Alicia let out a yell of embarrassment, covering his mouth with both of her hands.
Much later, as she dozed off in bed, Caden left the room to take a call. He had left the bedroom door slightly ajar, and through her half-sleeping state, Alicia noticed that he had turned on the light in the study.
She saw him sit behind his desk with a grave expression on his face. Alicia instantly sobered. Slipping on one of his shirts, she dragged her weary body to join him in the study. “What’s wrong?”
Caden pulled her onto his lap. “Just some trouble with the business.”