Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Blake’s voice cracked with alarm as he shouted, “Alicia!”
“Alicia, what’s happened?” Blake’s voice was filled with panic, his hands trembling as he reached for her.
Alicia’s thoughts were foggy. She dug her fingernails into her palm in an attempt to keep her focus. The camera had been a trap. They had expected that she would find it, and so they had set it up, ensuring it would catch her.
Why had she been so reckless today? She berated herself, thinking back to the moment she received Caden’s message. She should have called him to confirm the details before leaving. Caden had always been cautious, instructing her on all the precautions, and yet, in this crucial moment, she had stumbled.
Her mind was in turmoil, guilt gnawing at her for not being more careful. But beyond that, she couldn’t stop thinking about her unborn child. Could the baby withstand all of this?
As her vision blurred and her thoughts became heavier, she found it impossible to keep contemplating her fears. Her body felt heavy, and the world around her seemed to slip away.
Alicia lay motionless on the floor, her eyes slowly closing.
Blake’s face twisted in panic as he realized the gravity of the situation, fearing the worst for her. He quickly freed himself from the fabric restraints, stumbling over to her side.
“Alicia…” His voice cracked with urgency.
He gently held her, the drug coursing through his body pushing him into reckless actions. His breath was shallow and erratic, the pain from the drug overwhelming his mind, leaving him in a haze.
“Alicia…” Blake whispered, his hands trembling as he cupped her face, his body shaking uncontrollably. The torment inside him only deepened as he fought to clear his mind.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured desperately.
“I’m so sorry…”
On the other side, Yolanda watched the scene unfold on the security camera, a cunning, victorious smile spreading across her face. She was confident in the drug’s effect. It was irresistible, and her plan for the evening was sure to succeed.
She didn’t feel the need to continue watching. Satisfied, she left the hotel’s surveillance room and found Corey waiting outside.
“Did it work?” Corey asked, his voice calm but slightly detached.
Yolanda flicked her long hair back, her face glowing with satisfaction.
“Absolutely. Are the reporters ready? I want Alicia’s scandalous video all over the internet by tomorrow morning.”
Corey responded with a hint of boredom.
“Do you really need to remind me of such simple tasks?” He seemed unimpressed by the prospect of merely seeing the video go viral.
“It would be more exciting to have someone influential see it firsthand,” he suggested, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he glanced at Yolanda.
Yolanda shrugged casually.
“Whatever suits you.”
With a cheerful whistle, she made her way to find Caden.
Meanwhile, Caden had carefully examined the supposed evidence and, with a sense of resignation, accepted the situation. Yolanda had deleted all records from his phone and slipped it back into his coat pocket. As Caden put on his coat, Yolanda acted as if she were just arriving, stepping out from around the corner.
“Caden, what are your thoughts?” she asked, her tone light but edged with anticipation.
Caden’s face betrayed no emotion as he answered dismissively, “I don’t have any thoughts.”
Yolanda, taken aback by his indifference, pressed on.
“You still won’t cooperate with my father?”
With a cold demeanor, Caden turned and walked away. He instinctively reached for his phone to call Alicia, but the call failed to go through. His frown deepened as he exited the hotel lounge and made his way down the hallway.
Yolanda followed closely behind, trying to persuade him with talk of the situation’s advantages and disadvantages. Caden ignored her, his irritation growing with each word she spoke.
Yolanda persisted.
“Caden, if you ever need anything, I’m here to help. It doesn’t matter whether we get married. I’m ready to support you, no matter what.”
Caden’s response was cold, his voice laced with contempt.
“Without Dorian, you’re insignificant. What use could I possibly have for you?”
Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, his gaze drawn to a nearby room. A pang of pain struck his heart, compelling him to freeze in place. Yolanda noticed his reaction and realized that the room he was staring at was the suite where Alicia and Blake were staying.
Her heart raced, her breath caught in her throat. She feared Caden had sensed something, her nerves fraying with each passing second.
“What’s wrong?” Yolanda asked cautiously, a hint of concern in her voice.
Caden stifled the unease that had gripped him and quickly turned, not wanting to linger any longer. He walked away, his strides determined.
Watching him leave decisively, Yolanda let out a relieved sigh. She immediately dialed Corey’s number.
“Did your team mess up? Check now. Caden seemed to pick up on something when he left,” she said, her voice tense.
Corey sounded annoyed as he responded.
“What do you mean?”
“When he walked by Alicia’s room, he stopped in the hallway for a few seconds.”
“Where is he now?” Corey asked, his tone sharp with curiosity.
“He left, and I’m not sure where he’s headed.”
Corey chuckled, teasing Yolanda for her nervousness.
“You know how Caden is. If he had really noticed anything wrong, he would have confronted it head-on.”
Reassured by those words, Yolanda relaxed slightly. As she did, she noticed Dorian stepping out, placing a coat over her shoulders.
“It’s chilly out, and you’re hardly dressed for it. Be careful not to catch a cold,” he said, his voice soft with concern..
Yolanda smiled sweetly.
“Dad, you’re the only one who truly cares for me.”
Dorian exhaled deeply.
“Yet you never listen to me, Yolanda.”
“What’s the problem? If Caden doesn’t agree, won’t you fight for me?” Yolanda asked, her tone light and hopeful.
Noticing her unusually cheerful mood, Dorian raised an eyebrow.
“Why are you so cheerful tonight?”
“Just being around Caden lifts my spirits!” she responded with such natural enthusiasm that Dorian didn’t suspect anything unusual.
He appeared exhausted from dealing with Caden’s changing moods, his weariness evident in the lines of his face.
As they made their way toward the car, Yolanda grasped his arm and asked, “Dad, hasn’t that woman reached out to you yet?”
Dorian responded with clear displeasure, “That woman? You mean your mother.”
“Oh, come on. She left us.”
“It doesn’t seem like she wants to reconcile with you. Dad, just divorce her. You’re influential and not old yet. Many women would be eager to be with you.”
Dorian’s expression turned stern.
“Yolanda, I don’t want to hear such talk again.”
Taken aback, Yolanda quickly apologized.
“I’m sorry, Dad.”
When Caden returned to his apartment and found it empty, he called Joy Mansion. The one who picked up was Benedict, clearly annoyed when he realized it was about Alicia.
“She’s back. She started causing problems for me the moment she arrived.”
Caden let out a sigh of relief, his voice raspy.
“Even if she’s causing issues, maintain your composure as the elder. There’s no need to argue with her. Anyway, I need to get back to my work.”
Benedict felt helpless. He glanced around the living room, saw no sign of Alicia, and decided not to engage with her further, returning to his tasks.
Caden went back to the office and called another meeting to explore some options. He worked through until dawn and finally reached his limit, dozing off briefly.
Just as he nodded off, a realization struck him abruptly, waking him up. Something was not right.
Caden’s heart lifted with hope and then sank, leaving him in a wave of pain that words couldn’t describe. Despite his weariness, he reached for his phone to call Alicia. Something wasn’t right.
Alicia’s silence was unsettling. Even on his busiest days, messages or missed calls from her would light up his screen.
But since last night, there had been nothing-no messages, no calls. It was as if she had vanished into thin air, which was unlike her.
He dialed her number, pressing the phone to his ear. It rang, but no one answered. Frustrated, he decided to call Joy Mansion. The line clicked, and Aylin’s cheerful and polite voice came through.
“Good morning, Mr. Ward. You’re calling quite early. Is there something you need?”
Caden’s voice was steady but laced with urgency.
“Did Alicia stay at Joy Mansion last night?”
There was a pause before Aylin responded, “She did come by, sir, but I was just finishing my shift, so I’m not certain if she stayed overnight. One moment, please-I’ll check the guest room.”