Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Several audacious users posted personal reviews on their profiles, each comment more repulsive than the last. Clearly, someone was manipulating the situation from behind the scenes. Offending Caden so blatantly would be unthinkable without substantial support.
Blake reassured her, saying, “I’ve contacted attorney Jeffery to step in. None of the initial purchasers will escape the consequences.”
Alicia’s fists clenched, her eyes burning with fury. Still, she knew she had to stay composed and figure out a strategy for retaliation.
Blake asked, “Do you think Corey is behind this?”
Alicia nodded firmly. “He must have paid off someone within Caden’s firm, too. Given the complexity of replicating Caden’s mother, they would need a precise template to pull it off so quickly. I need to dig deeper into this.”
Blake immediately suggested, “Yolanda.”
Alicia furrowed her brow.
Blake continued, “The Moss family was involved when Caden worked on the robot Lina. Now, with Yolanda collaborating with Corey, who else could be behind this?”
Alicia stood in stunned silence, the pieces starting to fall into place. She remembered the dinner Caden had taken her to, where Yolanda’s gaze had been full of malice. Now, her intentions were clear. She wanted to ruin Alicia-and show no mercy toward Caden either.
Blake cursed under his breath, “Absolutely despicable!”
It was the first time Alicia had heard him speak with such fury. His face was flushed, his neck strained from the intensity, and the force of his anger radiated off him.
Alicia, overwhelmed, nodded. “Go ahead. I need to confront Corey.”
Blake, noticing the determination in her eyes, said, “I’ll accompany you.”
“We need staff at the gallery.”
“Take a day off,” Blake insisted. “Money isn’t an issue for us.”
Alicia pursed her lips and reluctantly agreed.
In moments like these, her anger threatened to consume her. She could feel it building up inside her, and she knew if she didn’t release it soon, she might explode with rage.
Meanwhile, Corey wrapped up his social event, smiling as he and a client exited, engaged in light conversation. Their talk appeared to be going well.
“Mr. Hampton, I quite like the gift you presented. Do you use one yourself?” the man asked with a greasy chuckle, his cheeks trembling with vulgarity. Corey brushed it off as a seasonal gift for an employee, not giving it much thought.
“Certainly, I use it. Why else would I gift it to you?” he replied with a smile.
The man laughed heartily. “I hadn’t pegged you as someone who liked married women. That must be why you’re still single. Married women can be quite the handful.”
It was at that moment that Corey sensed something was off.
“Married women?” he repeated, his tone suddenly shifting as he considered the implication.
Just then, Yolanda stepped through the doorway, the click of her high heels sharp against the floor. Her smile mirrored the confidence in her stride.
“Mr. Hampton is just modest. Sir, please don’t tease him,” Yolanda said, standing poised with an air of innocence and restraint. “We won’t see you out. Here’s to fruitful cooperation.”
Once the man departed, Corey turned his attention to Yolanda.
“What exactly did you give him?”
Yolanda, arms crossed, smirked. “You’re so preoccupied with Caden’s data, haven’t you noticed the recent trends?”
Without waiting for more questions, Corey pulled out his phone to check.
However, the trending topic had already been suppressed. Yolanda inwardly scorned Alicia for her swift actions, but it was of little consequence now. The products had already been sold.
Yolanda then disclosed the stark reality.
As Corey’s expression shifted, Yolanda reveled in his shock. “So, interested in trying it? Caden’s mother was celebrated as Warrington’s foremost beauty in her youth. You’re bound to feel something once you see her.”
Corey’s face tensed briefly, though he managed to restrain any outburst of anger. Around them, the entrance of the restaurant buzzed with activity.
His voice came out cold. “Get in the car first. We’ll discuss this at the office.”
Yolanda was confident he wouldn’t take any action against her. Backed by the powerful Moss family, she felt fearless, even in the presence of Caden, much less Corey. After all, she believed Corey owed her gratitude.
But no sooner had they entered the car than Corey suddenly seized her wrist and forced her back against the seat. Yolanda turned to him, bewildered and on the verge of questioning his actions, when Corey’s hand tightened around her throat.
The car was enveloped in a tense silence.
With a chilling glare, Corey scoffed. “Crazy woman, did I instruct you to do this?”
Flushed with anger and struggling for breath, Yolanda weakly fought against his grip.
“You’ve crossed a line with Caden’s mother. You used my name, and Caden will hold me responsible!” Corey’s voice seethed with fury. “Do you think you can get away with this?”
As Yolanda’s eyes started to roll back, her strength waning, Corey suddenly let go, pushing her aside. Yolanda grabbed her throat, coughing harshly. Yet, even in her weakened state, she boldly spoke.
“If you’re not up to it, my father will step in. Do you think you’re the only one with courage?”
Corey struck her sharply across the face.
In disbelief, Yolanda touched her cheek and said, “How dare you strike me?”
Corey responded coldly. “Were it not for your Moss family ties, I would end you right now!”
The lethal look in his eyes sent a shiver down Yolanda’s spine, making her recoil.
Her voice, mixing fear and anger, she said, “You’re bluffing. Would you actually dare to kill me?” Didn’t he have feelings for her? Why would he react so violently over something so seemingly minor?
Corey lost his cool, hastily unbuttoning his collar before settling into the driver’s seat and starting the engine.
As he drove, Corey made urgent calls to his team, instructing them to handle the scandal surrounding the erotic mannequin.
Soon after, Kyler reported back. “Mr. Hampton, the trending topic has been deleted, and search engines have been altered. Any references to the mannequin are now blocked.”
Corey’s brow furrowed in concern.
Who could have moved so swiftly? Wasn’t Caden supposed to be away at an event? And yet, everything seemed undisturbed. Did Caden remain unaware of the situation?
Corey asked, “Who’s currently overseeing Blizzard Group?”
Kyler paused, uncertain. “Looking into Blizzard Group’s internal dynamics is tricky. It might take some time.”
“Who managed to remove the trending topic?” Corey pressed.
“It appears to be linked to the Hopkins family. He’s an executive in the entertainment sector, skilled in managing such crises.”
Corey pieced together the basic details.
He said coldly, “Caden will probably target me soon. Stay vigilant and update me on any developments.” Despite not expecting immediate repercussions, Corey’s mood grew somber.
Upon reaching the office, he almost forcibly pulled Yolanda inside.
Yolanda cursed, “Only a weak man would strike a woman. If my father finds out you hit me, he’ll obliterate Hampton Group!”
Corey tensed up. “If Caden discovers this, we’re both doomed. He’ll definitely retaliate against your family. Do you think Dorian can handle double trouble?” Yolanda realized that handling one issue might be feasible, but two would be overwhelming.
Still defiant, Yolanda retorted, “If Caden stirs up trouble, you’ll need to back me up. Remember, you just made a hefty profit using his chip this year, and the city honored you with an Innovation in Technology Award last week. You’re celebrated globally. You can’t bask in the limelight without facing some risks, right?”
Corey was seething with rage.
As he escorted Yolanda toward the office, he failed to notice anything amiss. It wasn’t until he swung the office door open that he spotted Alicia sitting there.
An alarm went off in his mind.
He realized the security system had been suspiciously silent during their ascent. Nobody at the company had realized someone had breached his office.
Alicia was seated on the sofa, her arms crossed, her frosty stare directed at the door, sending a chill through him. With her presence, Corey found himself cornered.
He set Yolanda down.
Yolanda straightened her attire, her eyes burning with animosity toward Alicia. “How dare you enter here? Believe me, it would be nothing for me to have someone toss you from the thirty-second floor like a sack of potatoes.”
Alicia’s eyes flicked briefly to the slap mark on Yolanda’s cheek before returning her cold gaze to Corey, who was visibly still irate. She hesitated for a moment, but her understanding quickly crystallized, and her face turned cold. “If I were to fall from here, would I be the only one ruined?”
Yolanda scoffed, “I’d simply stage it as a suicide. And I’ll ensure you transfer ownership of the gallery to Corey as compensation for the emotional turmoil caused.”
Alicia responded, “That’s a good idea. Perhaps you should save it for yourself someday.”
Yolanda opened her mouth to respond when Corey interrupted. “Ms. Bennett, how did you manage to get up here?”
Alicia smirked and replied, “That’s an interesting question. It’s a wake-up call for you, Mr. Hampton. You run a tech company, yet your security is laughable. I breached it in under ten minutes. Even a guard dog would be more effective.”
Corey’s expression suddenly darkened.
Alicia’s words were a stark contrast to her sweet appearance. Claiming she could breach a security system in ten minutes was absurd. Who did she think she was? She was just a delicate woman selling paintings.
Corey stepped inside and gracefully poured her a glass of water. His actions were undeniably gentlemanly, yet his words dripped with sarcasm. “I know Caden has connections that run deeper than the ocean. It wouldn’t take much for him to find top hackers to launch an attack on my company.” His words clearly implied that he didn’t believe Alicia could do it.
Unfazed, Alicia retorted, “Do you have any idea what kind of international competition Caden and I participated in the year I graduated from college?”
Corey played along, raising an eyebrow. “What was it?”
Alicia replied, “It was an innovation contest for security control systems. Caden took first place. His design was purchased three years ago by the world’s largest bank, and it has never failed since. You, someone who buys locks for protection, really think you can outsmart a lock maker?”
Corey’s eyes darkened slightly, a storm brewing beneath his calm facade. The reason why he always fell short against Caden was that Caden’s innovative ideas never ran dry.
“So, did Caden teach you?” Corey asked.