Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Upon arriving at the hotel, she found that the place was alive with guests.
The welcoming committee included members from the Flynn and Hopkins families, all smiles, eagerly awaiting the grand event. Alicia looked around but didn’t spot Caden.
Once inside the hotel’s makeup room, Monica entered, looking puzzled.
“Alicia, where’s Caden?” His absence was unusual.
Though Alicia’s makeup masked her fatigue, it couldn’t veil the weariness of a sleepless night.
She murmured, “I don’t know.”
Monica raised her eyebrows in surprise. Realizing something was amiss but hesitant to probe, she sat next to Alicia and took her hand.
Despite the room’s warmth, Alicia felt an unshakable chill.
Monica anxiously wrung her hands, looking perplexed.
“Alicia, can you tell me what’s happening?”
As the clock neared noon, the banquet hall was bustling with confusion. Gerry hurried over to Alicia, puzzled by Caden’s absence.
“I’ve tried his number countless times, but there’s no answer. What is he planning that he needs to be this late?” While talking, he dialed Caden once more.
Surprisingly, the call connected this time.
The room went quiet suddenly, and Alicia held her breath. Gerry didn’t waste a moment and started interrogating, asking, “Where on earth are you?”
Caden replied calmly, “I’m in Terriland.”
“Are you out of your mind? It’s your engagement day, and you’re in Terriland?” Gerry exclaimed.
“Yolanda went missing there. Are you there looking for her?”
Alicia’s complexion went pale.
Caden replied, “Anything else?”
Frustrated, Gerry handed the phone towards Alicia.
“Here, you speak to him!” Taking the phone, Alicia heard Caden ask, “Have you gone to the party?”
Opening her mouth to reply, Alicia felt a prickly sensation in her throat, struggling to form words.
“Caden, what’s your plan here?” Why hadn’t he called off the engagement? If he wanted it to move forward, why wasn’t he here? How could he leave her to face this alone?
Caden’s response came without a hint of warmth.
“The engagement can’t be called off now. We have guests from everywhere today. Just treat it like a charity event. There’s no need for you to show up.”
Alicia blinked back tears, her emotions swelling. She gripped her hand tightly, the ache in her heart intensifying.
“Where are you really?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“Terriland.”
“Did you go there for Yolanda?”
Caden chuckled and replied, “I’m involved in something you wouldn’t approve of. Do you really want to know?”
Alicia felt completely drained, her hands trembling as she tried to steady her phone. She couldn’t even remember how the call had ended; everything felt like a blur. She dismissed everyone, choosing to stay alone in the lounge, letting the intense wave of emotions wash over her.
Meanwhile, Caden had arrived in Terriland the previous night. Annis’ disappearance had been confirmed, and his team had already pinpointed her location. He was on his way to her now.
To avoid any disruptions from Alicia, Caden had deliberately blocked any news from home. Yet, he was surprised to learn she had attended the engagement party. So, she had compromised first. But what did it matter now? He was already gone, and there was no turning back.
He glanced at his phone, the screen lighting up to reveal his wallpaper – a photo of Alicia, her smile soft and sweet. The thought of her alone and desolate tugged painfully at his heart. But Alicia was stubborn – too stubborn, he thought. She needed to confront her own struggles to grow.
Soon, the car came to a stop as they reached their destination. His men had already secured the area, ensuring there were no threats. Taking a steadying breath, Caden gathered his thoughts, his expression resolute.
“Who are the kidnappers?” he asked sharply.
At that moment, a few of his bodyguards approached, their faces grim.
“Mr. Ward, we just received a call. Annis was located at a different site and is now in our custody.” Caden paused, glancing toward the house.
“Then who’s inside?” Caden asked, his voice sharp with tension.
One of the guards hesitated.
“It’s…”
Without waiting for an answer, Caden strode inside.
In the dimly lit room, he found a disheveled woman slumped on the floor – it was Yolanda. Despite her disheveled state, she appeared unharmed. As soon as she saw Caden, she let out a laugh, her eyes glistening with tears.
“Caden… you came!” Yolanda exclaimed.
Caden narrowed his eyes, a flicker of realization crossing his face as he recalled Alicia’s question over the phone. They had all thought he was here to rescue Yolanda, but now it was clear – this had been Yolanda’s trap from the start.
Yolanda clung to him, wrapping her arms and legs around him in desperation.
“I thought you’d never come. Seeing you here… I can’t tell you how happy I am.”
With a cold expression, Caden pushed her away.
“Why are you here, Yolanda?”
Realizing her facade wouldn’t hold under his sharp gaze, Yolanda smirked, letting her act drop.
“I needed to know if you still cared about me,” she said smoothly.
“So, I pretended to disappear, just to see if you’d come looking for me… if you’d leave Alicia behind for me.”
Caden’s gaze hardened. It dawned on him that Annis’ disappearance had been a false lead, Yolanda’s fabrication. It was a reckless gamble, but Yolanda had gotten lucky – she’d caught him right after his fight with Alicia, and in a moment of impulsiveness, he’d come to Terriland.
Yolanda’s lips curved into a triumphant smile.
“So, what now, Caden? Going through with your engagement might be a little harder, don’t you think?”
He pushed her back firmly, his face unreadable as he turned to leave. Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a camera mounted overhead. He paused, his expression darkening.
Following his gaze, Yolanda shrugged.
“The footage of you ‘rescuing’ me has already aired back home. Don’t worry; I didn’t do it to hurt Alicia. I just wanted to reassure my father.”
Caden seized Yolanda by the neck, dragging her outside without a word. He turned to his men, his voice sharp and unwavering.
“Tie her up.”
At first, Yolanda thought he was just venting his anger. But when the bodyguards shoved her into the trunk, reality set in. Her hands and feet were bound, and she let out a cry of pain.
“Caden…!”
Ignoring her pleas, Caden climbed into the car, his face cold and emotionless. Fear crept into Yolanda’s voice.
“Caden, what are you doing? Let me go! Please, Caden!”
His expression didn’t change.
“Silence her.”
One of the bodyguards glanced at him, reading the command in his eyes. Without hesitation, he delivered a swift blow, knocking Yolanda unconscious.
Back home, Dorian saw the broadcast of Yolanda’s rescue and immediately called.
“Caden, how’s Yolanda?”
Caden’s tone was flat.
“Don’t worry, I’ll bring her back safe.”
Dorian didn’t buy it.
“If anything happens to Yolanda, I’ll make sure Alicia pays for it!”
Caden’s reply was icy.
“Go ahead and try.”
Dorian fell silent, taken aback. At that moment, Caden’s thoughts seethed with rage, his mind set on retribution.
Just then, a call from his subordinate came through, notifying him that Marlon had arrived.
Caden’s voice turned deadly.
“Kill Annis and deliver her body to Marlon.”
The assassin on the line agreed without hesitation and swiftly carried out the command.
For nearly two weeks, Marlon had been frantically searching for Annis, spending a fortune and countless sleepless nights. Finally, he had a lead, and he rushed over, anticipation swelling in his chest.
But instead of a reunion, he was greeted with Annis’ cold, lifeless body.