Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Her eyes fluttered closed, and her body began to slump.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached.
“Yolanda!”
Hearing Dorian’s voice snapped Corey back to his senses. He quickly released his grip on her.
Yolanda crumpled to the floor just as Dorian burst in, shoving Corey aside.
Dorian scooped up Yolanda’s limp form, his body shaking with distress.
Bodyguards flooded into the room, quickly encircling Corey. He regained his composure and glanced at Alicia, who watched from the sidelines with an emotionless expression.
This was her calculated fa?ade.
Every move today had been part of her intricate plan.
Corey had long suspected this, but Alicia’s tactics were ruthlessly effective. She had wounded him, manipulated Yolanda, and expertly pushed a man to the brink.
Now, restrained by the bodyguards and under Dorian’s watchful eye after his aggressive behavior, Corey faced imminent consequences.
Yet, Corey smirked menacingly at Alicia, undeterred.
The office was thrown into disarray as Alicia and her team began to leave.
Blake caught up with her outside.
Alicia had compromised Corey’s system, allowing Blake to extract the sales data for all the mannequins. She shut her eyes, the image of men lusting after a depiction of Caden’s mother causing her deep distress.
However, the damage was already done.
Retrieving everything now wouldn’t undo the harm caused.
Blake voiced his concern, saying, “I’m unsure when Caden will be back. I hope we can sort this out before his return.”
Gerry responded coldly, “Even if we get everything back, if they choose to, they’ll eventually inform him.”
Blake turned to Alicia, his face filled with worry. “You’ve really shaken things up today. It’s not going to be easy from here on.”
Alicia remained composed. “I was prepared for this. If things get tough, that’s how it will be. If Caden were in Corey’s place, he wouldn’t have just lost his arm by now.”
Earlier, when Corey had taken the chip, Caden had chosen not to act. He had simply opted to ignore the situation. But what was the use of such patience? It only emboldened the adversary.
Her words seemed to resonate with the others. As they reached the first floor, Alicia noticed Dorian helping Yolanda into his car.
He caught sight of her, shut the car door, gave a few quick directions to the driver, and the car quickly drove off.
“Alicia,” Dorian called after her. “We need to discuss this.”
Alicia stopped.
The others stayed back, watching Dorian warily. He approached Alicia, his eyes locked onto hers, anger simmering just below the surface. “You orchestrated this, didn’t you?”
Yolanda was hurt, and Corey would bear the consequences. Without Caden needing to intervene, Dorian would handle the fallout for him.
Alicia had indirectly achieved her goal.
She chuckled lightly and said, “Mr. Moss, if you knew what Yolanda had been up to, you’d be just as disappointed.”
To her surprise, Dorian’s expression darkened even further. “I’m fully aware of what she did. I’m not disappointed. I think it’s exactly what Caden deserves.”
Alicia felt an uncomfortable pang in her chest, a feeling she couldn’t quite name-perhaps disappointment. Caden had always respected Dorian, admiring his talent from a young age.
Yet, beneath his remarkable abilities, Dorian harbored a darker side.
Dorian’s voice was cold. “I admire Caden’s skill. Our friendship spans over two decades. But I’ve made it clear to him: Yolanda is my only daughter, and I treasure her above all else. He keeps hurting her, over and over.”
Alicia shot back, “Yolanda brought this on herself.”
“Whether right or wrong, whatever Yolanda wants, I’ll ensure she gets. You may think Caden’s support gives you power, Alicia, but be prepared to face the consequences,” Dorian stated firmly.
Alicia stared at him. A strange, painful feeling swelled in her chest, tightening her throat. “It’s sad when a father reaches this point.”
Dorian’s eyes flashed with mockery. “And what about your father, Miss Bennett? What kind of father do you have?”
Alicia felt her heart twist sharply. The pain was unbearable.
Dorian had always known her background, once pitying her as an orphan. But now, he wielded that knowledge like a weapon.
“You grew up without a father’s care, but Yolanda has mine. I’ll protect her always and give her whatever she desires.”
Alicia’s fists clenched. “People can survive without love. Fatherly devotion isn’t irreplaceable,” she countered.
Dorian’s expression was dismissive, and his mocking gaze sent a shiver down her spine.
Alicia turned and left, moving like a small animal sensing danger, fleeing from his presence.
Dorian held back any further remarks, sensing he had struck a nerve. Watching her retreat, he caught a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. But just as quickly, his expression hardened, and he turned to get into his car.
Once Yolanda was stable, Dorian made a decision-he intended to confront Caden by supporting Corey. When his wife, Regina, heard of his plans, she immediately tried to stop him.
But Dorian’s usual gentleness was gone; he stood firm.
“Go home, Regina. This is my business.”
She held onto him tightly. “You’ll regret this, Dorian.”
“This is Caden’s choice,” he replied. “They did nothing wrong. Our daughter is to blame!”
Dorian met his wife’s red-rimmed eyes, surprised to see the same look of disappointment and disdain that Alicia had shown. It startled him. It was uncanny.
His heart clenched as he thought of Yolanda in the operating room, weak and vulnerable. A fierce protectiveness surged within him. “I don’t want Yolanda to suffer anymore.”
Regina shook her head sadly. “What happened to you?”
Dorian’s tone was unwavering. “I haven’t changed. You risked your life to give me Yolanda, and I vowed to protect you both.”
“Yolanda has changed, Dorian. She’s not worth it. Don’t make this worse,” Regina said softly.
But Dorian remained immovable. “Caden isn’t worth it. If our daughter wants something, who am I to deny her?”
Regina, seeing that he wouldn’t listen, felt a wave of disappointment wash over her. Her expression turned icy as she released his hand. Without wasting any more words, she simply said, “Fine, go ahead. But let’s see what good you’ll get from using force.”
Later, back at her apartment, Alicia drifted into a restless sleep.
In her dreams, her long-gone parents appeared. Her father seemed even harsher than she remembered, his gaze cold, filled with disdain. But once, he had loved her dearly.
Then, everything changed overnight. Her father pushed her relentlessly, burying her under impossible expectations. Harsh scoldings and constant pressure weighed heavily on her, leaving her struggling to breathe.
“You’re a disgrace, Alicia!”
“You don’t deserve to be my daughter.”
“You should just disappear!”
Alicia woke with a start, drenched in cold sweat, her limbs trembling. The familiar fear closed in around her, suffocating her.
She instinctively reached for support, but the space beside her was empty-Caden hadn’t returned. Tears stung her eyes, and as she wiped them away, she realized her cheeks were already wet.
A soft sob escaped her lips.
Her dog, Cade, heard her and rushed over, jumping onto the bed to nuzzle her, offering comfort. Alicia leaned into the dog, grateful for the quiet companionship.
After a moment, she glanced at her phone and noticed several missed calls.
She had missed them while the phone was on silent.
Taking a steadying breath, Alicia called Blake back.
“What’s up?” Her voice came out hoarse.
Blake’s tone wasn’t urgent, but there was a weariness in it. “So, you already know?”
Alicia’s heart sank. “Know what?”
Blake assumed Alicia had seen the news, thinking her tears were merely a reaction to the situation. He hesitated, unsure how to begin, but Alicia sensed something was wrong despite her exhaustion. “Just tell me,” she said quietly.
Blake struggled with his words. “I miscalculated. Dorian didn’t blame Corey; instead, he helped him through the review process. He’s labeled the mannequin as a standard product, and now it’s set for mass distribution.”
Alicia’s chest tightened as Blake continued, his voice hardening. “Dorian’s connections are terrifying – far beyond Caden’s. With his backing, outrageous projects pass without scrutiny. He hasn’t acted this recklessly in years; this is clearly targeted at us. Alicia, we need to get Caden back.”
Alicia’s shoulders slumped. “What good would that do? Dorian’s only going this far because he’s set on Caden.” Her voice broke with a bitter laugh.
Her confrontation with Corey had been driven by impulse, but Dorian’s ruthlessness was far beyond anything she had imagined. Caden had once expressed his respect for Dorian, citing his strong ties to the Ward family.
Having been a close friend of Caden’s mother, Dorian now disgusted her with his behavior, all to indulge his daughter. The thought of what Caden had always fought to protect being so trivialized left a deep ache in her heart.
“What can we do?” Alicia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“We’re working on it,” Blake replied, though doubt weighed down his words. Alicia’s regret was immediate.
“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have confronted Corey.”