Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“Caden… What are you doing?” she asked, her voice shaking.
Caden appeared strained, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, his breathing heavy.
“If you don’t agree, I won’t back down,” he argued, securing the knot.
Alicia found herself unable to break free. She screamed in desperation, “Go to hell! Let me go!”
Deep down, she had accepted his proposal, but she refused to vocalize it, even as her voice grew hoarse from her vocal exertions.
Ultimately, Caden’s resolve softened, and he released her without receiving the response he anticipated.
Exhausted, Alicia lay there, her quiet sobs filling the room. Each sob caused her body to shudder.
Caden tenderly stroked her ankle, now reddened from the tie, and asked with a frown, “Why won’t you marry me?”
Alicia hid her face in the pillow, choosing to ignore him.
Turning her to face him, Caden intended to demand an answer, but the marks on her skin stopped him midsentence. He conceded that he was in the wrong.
After some gentle persuasion, Alicia finally rested against him. Both were tired, sleep far from their grasp. Alicia was still upset.
“Caden, that kind of joke isn’t funny at all. Please don’t tease me like that again,” she complained.
Caden took a moment to pause. Exhaustion made even his speech slow.
“Who said I was joking?” he opposed.
Alicia’s mind was in chaos.
“If you really want to marry me, why here, in such a place?” she asked.
“It’s just something I really like,” he confessed.
Alicia gave him a brief look. Too tired to debate further, she said, “I don’t want to argue with you. Anyway, it doesn’t count.”
Caden laughed lightly.
“You didn’t agree anyway.” The earlier urgency had faded. He planned to wait until they were home to propose properly.
Alicia could tell that he was serious about wanting to marry her. Throughout their time together, she had felt genuinely loved. Yet, the idea of marriage still seemed like a distant dream.
How could Caden willingly settle into the role of a husband? Wasn’t he the very person who detested being confined? Alicia was conflicted.
“Caden, are you making this decision impulsively?” she asked.
If that was the case, she would not consent.
She had no desire to endure another divorce. Caden understood the seriousness of her worries and embraced her closely.
“This isn’t an impulse,” he reassured her.
Tears welled up in Alicia’s eyes.
“Then why…” she began to ask.
Caden himself was uncertain. He was certain of only one thing: he would provide whatever she desired. Wealth, influence, affection. Even marriage. All of it. He wanted her to be happy.
Alicia asked, “Caden, are you truly in love with me?”
Caden’s response was not straightforward. Rather, he replied, “I wouldn’t tolerate anyone else slapping my face, but for you, it’s different.”
Alicia laughed through her tears, amused yet emotional. She didn’t want to cry, so she clung to Caden’s neck firmly.
“Caden,” she murmured softly.
Caden responded, “Hmm?”
“Can we do it again?” she suggested.
This was her first time making such a request, even though her body felt weak.
Caden hesitated for once.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
Alicia pressed a kiss to his lips.
“Mm,” she whispered.
“I desire you.”
Caden finally understood what it meant to be utterly drained. If Alicia hadn’t collapsed from sheer exhaustion, he might have found himself awkwardly asking her to stop.
Once they were finished, he took a moment to steady himself before lifting her gently and taking her to the bathroom. The light flickered on, and his reflection in the mirror caught his attention. A pale, weary man stared back at him-a stranger. He barely recognized himself.
Before heading back to Warrington, Caden stopped by to see Gareth. He stood at the foot of the bed, determination in his voice.
“This won’t happen again, Gareth. From here on out, you’ll have bodyguards with you at all times,” Caden said firmly.
Gareth’s eyes met his, unfocused and distant, before he nodded slowly.
“I’ll also bring your family here,” Caden added.
“They’ll be safer with you.”
At the mention of his family, Gareth’s hands tightened into fists beneath the blanket. Corey still had them, every moment a silent reminder of the power he held. The memory of that morning twisted like a knife in his chest. The severed arm of his son had arrived as a grim warning.
Desperation and fear had forced Gareth to give in to Corey’s demands. Now, guilt gnawed at him as he met Caden’s eyes. Words swelled in his chest, desperate to escape, but he swallowed them down and forced a strained, “Thank you.”
Caden’s eyes narrowed. He studied Gareth’s face and asked, “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Gareth’s voice was raspy as he spoke.
“I appreciate your kindness, Caden.”
Caden’s mind echoed with Dorian’s words: “If Gareth dies today, that’s his destiny. But if he survives, then it’s your destiny that’s sealed.” His heart thudded in his chest.
He looked at Gareth with a deep, searching gaze.
“Rest up. In two months, someone will come for you. You all need to be at my engagement party.”
Gareth’s eyes widened slightly with surprise.
Caden turned and gestured to the slender figure standing by the door.
“That’s my fianc?e, Alicia Bennett.”
A genuine smile spread across Gareth’s face. In that brief moment, they seemed like old friends sharing everything.
“I wish you all the happiness, K.”
As Caden stepped out of the room, his phone buzzed.
Gerry’s voice came through, sharp and impatient.
“When are you getting back?”
Caden signaled for Alicia to get into the car, leaning casually against it as he replied, “Did you handle what I asked?”
A chuckle came from the other end.
“You know who I am, don’t you? Everything’s taken care of. Now hurry back. I want you to see it for yourself.”
A small, knowing smile touched Caden’s lips.
“I’m on my way.”
He glanced around the parking lot, eyes narrowing when he noticed a car parked at a distance, its occupants watching too intently. Something felt off.
Alicia popped her head out of the car window.
“What’s taking so long? Are you coming or not?”
Caden masked the cold gleam in his eyes, turning back with a composed look.
“Nothing. Let’s go,” Caden said as he slid into the driver’s seat.
As their car pulled away, Corey lowered the window of his car to tap the ash off his cigarette. He had seen Caden’s smile on the call – so carefree, so content. It stung, a bitter reminder of the chaos in Corey’s own life. If he couldn’t have peace, neither would Caden.
Corey took a final drag of his cigarette, eyes narrowing as he turned to his subordinate.
“What’s the update on Gerry’s elder son?”
The man answered promptly, “His surgery just finished.”
“That must hurt,” Corey said with a low chuckle.
“Better a quick, sharp shock than drawn-out suffering. Finish him off.”
The subordinate hesitated, a flicker of doubt crossing his face.
“But if he dies, what if Gareth stops cooperating?”