Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“Dorian, the one who caused the accident?”
“Yes, strangely enough. Could there have been a motive behind it?”
As Corey mulled this over, the situation began to seem increasingly comical to him. He burst out laughing, burying his face in his hands.
“Ah, Dorian,” he chuckled. Despite a life filled with opulence, now in his fifties, he had made a grievous error.
On the day he realized that his actions had led to the death of his own grandchild, would the remorse be so overwhelming that he might consider ending his own life?
Alicia was discharged from the hospital just three days after the surgery. Knowing that Caden wouldn’t be able to visit, Ciara personally invited Alicia to stay at Joy Mansion, hoping to provide her with the best possible postpartum care in Warrington. However, Alicia politely declined, mentioning that she had already arranged to stay at a maternity care center and would be heading there shortly.
When Alicia was determined to keep her distance, no one could break through her resolve.
In the days that followed, Alicia didn’t encounter anyone from the Ward family – not even Caden. Every day, he arrived at the care center, hoping to see her, even if it was just a glimpse. Yet, each attempt ended the same way. He’d wait outside long after the center closed, hoping she might change her mind.
One morning, the center staff found him sitting outside, weary but unmoving. Startled, one of them called an ambulance, fearing something had happened to him. Caden was unharmed, and he refused to leave. He swallowed his pride and begged the staff to find a way to persuade Alicia to meet him.
The staff, sympathetic yet cautious, explained that Alicia had firmly instructed them not to let anyone in. As both were valued clients, they couldn’t risk offending either, so they pretended not to notice Caden’s presence, leaving him to figure things out on his own.
Caden didn’t press them further; he simply returned every day without fail. Each time, he came with gifts – food, supplies, and little things he thought might cheer her up – and asked the caregivers to bring them to Alicia. Alicia accepted the items but gave no response in return.
Caden had prepared himself for her silence, yet he couldn’t shake the emptiness inside as he stood at the entrance, gazing longingly toward her room.
He could have used his influence to see her, but he felt he no longer deserved that privilege.
After some time, Caden thought of the company and checked his phone. As expected, the screen was filled with missed calls. Hank understood that Caden was struggling, but business was business – it had been over ten days since Caden last stepped foot in the office, and the company was suffering losses.
With a sigh, Caden put his phone away, pressed his lips together, and transferred a substantial sum of money to the center’s manager. The manager shook his head sympathetically.
“Mr. Ward, it won’t make a difference.”
Caden looked at the manager, his expression tense.
“I just want to see her recent medical reports,” he said quietly.
The manager blinked in surprise. He had been working in the care center for years and dealt with many men, but there was something different about Caden. After a moment, the manager handed back the money.
“I’ll have the report sent over immediately, Mr. Ward. We won’t be accepting this payment.”
Caden swallowed, visibly relieved.
“Thank you. And… could you send me details of her daily routine – her meals, sleep schedule, everything?”
The manager nodded in understanding.
After carefully reviewing Alicia’s health report, Caden finally felt a measure of peace and left the center. Once Caden’s car disappeared down the road, a nearby car rolled down its window. Corey stepped out, holding a bouquet of fresh flowers.
One of his bodyguards, watching him closely, asked in a low voice, “Mr. Hampton, are you… wary of him?” They had been waiting in the car for nearly half an hour.
Corey’s gaze drifted to the entrance where Caden had been minutes before. He’d stayed in his car, waiting until the coast was clear. He zipped up his jacket, the crisp white of his attire contrasting sharply with Caden’s dark, brooding presence earlier.
“Caden’s more dangerous than he appears. He may look defeated now, but he’s like a storm ready to break. Poking him would only lead to trouble.”
Rivalries among men were common, but Corey knew when to stand his ground and when to retreat. This maturity allowed him to navigate situations smoothly.
Alicia unexpectedly agreed to see Corey. Entering the room, Corey placed the bouquet on the table with a courteous smile.
“I wasn’t sure what flowers you’d prefer, so I brought a mix of sunflowers and pink roses. I hope they’ll brighten your day and wish you a quick recovery.”
As he looked at her, Corey was taken aback. Alicia appeared more resilient than he had anticipated. Though she had lost some weight, her eyes were bright, almost defiant. Something about her was different, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
Alicia met his gaze directly and said, “Mr. Hampton, I have to admit, I underestimated you. I used to think you were just a rat in the shadows, but it turns out you’ve been the one reaping the benefits all along.”
Corey chuckled.
“Ms. Bennett, how could you think that of me? This incident has nothing to do with me.”
Alicia’s gaze remained steady.
“Let’s be honest, Corey. We’re both businesspeople; there’s no need to pretend otherwise.”
Corey sighed, a hint of weariness in his expression.
“Pretending is exhausting, I’ll admit. So, tell me, what are your plans after you recover? Are you still chasing that futile romance?”
Alicia pressed her lips together, offering him no answer.
He leaned forward slightly.
“Your willingness to see me today tells me you have something in mind. Just give me a chance, Ms. Bennett. A partnership with me could be more beneficial than you think.”
Alicia hesitated, feeling her resolve waver. Losing her child had left her heartbroken and empty, but it had also solidified one goal: to live on her own terms. Yet, in her current situation, avoiding Corey seemed impossible. Facing him head-on was the only way forward.
After a moment, she spoke.
“If we’re talking about cooperation, then let’s be sincere. What do you really want from me?”
Corey gave a faint smile, sidestepping her question.
“Agree to work with me, and you’ll find out.”
Alicia’s gaze hardened. She wasn’t so easily swayed. Yes, she’d suffered a terrible loss, but she still had her resources and connections.
Corey could not back her into a corner.
“In that case, Mr. Hampton, please leave – and don’t come back.”
Corey was about to respond, perhaps to try a different approach, but the bodyguards at the door stepped forward and escorted him out.
Corey turned back briefly, catching one last glimpse of Alicia’s composed, unyielding figure. He let out a soft laugh, admiring her resilience, then chose not to press further.
Once he was back at the car, one of his bodyguards muttered, “Why the polite act, sir? Push her harder, and she’ll cave.”
Corey gave him a knowing look, his voice cryptic.
“She’s still recovering. There’s no need to rush or provoke her unnecessarily. I’m not like Caden. I don’t tempt fate.”
Caden, though unable to see Alicia recently, was always aware of who she met. Concerned about Corey’s potential negative influence, he had specifically instructed his staff to keep Corey at a distance. His team efficiently handled these matters, allowing him to focus on other concerns.
Caden then shifted his attention back to his professional responsibilities. As he was engrossed in a video conference, Hank entered with dinner and, seeing his boss busy, silently placed the food down to avoid interrupting.
An hour later, Hank returned to find the meal untouched.
“Mr. Ward,” Hank said, his voice laced with concern.
“You need a break. It’s not healthy to work eighteen hours straight without rest. Even machines need to shut down occasionally.”
Caden looked pale and gave a small cough.
“I’m fine, really.”
But Hank persisted.
“Even if you want to bury yourself in work, you should eat something.”
Caden set the documents aside, suddenly realizing his stomach was empty, and the ache had started to set in. He nodded slightly and began to eat.
Though the food was well-prepared and smelled delicious, it felt bland in his mouth, like cardboard. After a few bites, he pushed the plate away and suggested Hank head home.
Hank understood that Caden was burdened with guilt and missing Alicia deeply, a sorrow that couldn’t easily be alleviated by anyone else. His role was to handle external matters.
“I’ll be off then, Mr. Ward,” Hank said as he prepared to leave.
“I’ll take care of feeding the dog too.” The mention of Cade dimmed Caden’s gaze. Memories flooded back, each filled with Alicia’s laughter, now painfully sweet. He hadn’t anticipated how sharply those happy recollections could sting.
“I’ll do it myself,” Caden said, picking up his coat to leave.
He stood abruptly after sitting for an extended period, and the sudden rush of blood to his head made him dizzy, nearly causing him to collapse. Hank quickly stepped in to steady him.
Caden closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and muttered, “I’m fine.”
Suddenly, nausea overwhelmed him. He spun around and retched into a trash can, expelling what little he had managed to eat.
As his dizziness grew worse, Caden thought he detected the scent of blood. The realization shocked him.
Hank, offering him a cup of warm water to cleanse his mouth, noticed the blood in the vomit. Disturbed, he said, “Mr. Ward, this is serious! We must get you to a hospital immediately!”
Hank frantically arranged transportation, acting as though Caden’s condition were life-threatening.
Caden, understanding his symptoms, whispered, “There’s no need. It’s likely just a stomach problem. I’ll take some medicine at home.”
Hank, visibly upset, said, “You’re spitting up blood, and you want to postpone treatment? What if your condition deteriorates? How will you face Ms. Bennett? Remember, Ciara isn’t getting any younger…”
Caden, exhausted, shut his eyes. Tired of the persistent urging, he said, “Alright, take me to the hospital.”
The medical examination revealed an acute stomach upset, which had led to minor gastric bleeding.
The doctor commented, “This looks pretty bad. You must be in considerable pain. Why did you wait to seek help until it got this severe?”
Caden remained stoic. The physical discomfort paled in comparison to the emotional torment he endured. He avoided rest and tirelessly worked because Alicia’s haunting image, the accident, and their lost child plagued him whenever he tried to relax. His heart was shattered, overshadowing any concern for his physical well-being.
When Hank came back with the prescribed medicine, he asked softly, “Mr. Ward, should we let Ms. Bennett know about this?”