Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
As remorse consumed him, Dorian noticed a tall figure standing in the doorway. His breath hitched as Caden stepped forward, each step deliberate and heavy. The air in the room grew oppressive under the weight of his grim expression, and the cold fury in his eyes was something Dorian had never encountered before.
Regina, startled by Caden’s sudden arrival, stammered, “Caden…”
Caden’s gaze never wavered from Dorian. His voice was icy and measured as he asked, “Did you have anything to do with that car accident?”
Dorian met his gaze, his shoulders slumping under the burden of his sins. With nothing left to lose, he replied weakly, “Yes.”
The admission ignited Caden’s rage. He surged forward, grabbing Dorian by the collar and slamming him against the wall. The impact sent a dull thud reverberating through the room, and Dorian groaned in pain, tears spilling freely down his face.
Caden’s voice trembled with fury as he said, “You hit Alicia and then bribed witnesses to shift the blame!”
The realization hit Caden like a storm. He had sought vengeance against the culprit but had believed justice was already served when the supposed perpetrator was convicted and imprisoned. Unbeknownst to him, the true enemy had been standing before him all along, hidden in plain sight.
His anger boiled over, veins bulging on his forehead as an almost uncontrollable urge surged within him-to end Dorian’s life right then and there. But a voice of restraint pulled him back. He couldn’t do it. No matter how vile Dorian’s actions, this man was still Alicia’s…
Even though Dorian and Alicia hadn’t reconciled, they were still bound by blood. Caden knew that acting on impulse could lead to consequences he couldn’t afford. Besides, the tragedy of the child’s death had occurred before the accident.
Caden admitted to himself that the true fault lay in his own inability to protect Alicia. He inhaled deeply, struggling to suppress the overwhelming anger surging within him, and finally released Dorian from his grip.
Dorian crumpled to the floor, sliding down the wall in defeat. Tears streamed down his face as he stared blankly ahead. Caden’s chest rose and fell rapidly as he fought against the helplessness consuming him. Taking another deep breath, he said, “Dorian, your fate won’t be much different from mine.”
After Corey had left, Alicia had quietly departed the maternity center as well. When Caden realized she wasn’t there, he questioned the staff. A nurse, seemingly surprised, replied, “Ms. Bennett just left three minutes ago.”
Caden’s expression darkened.
“Which direction did she go?”
“Through the north gate,” the nurse answered.
The maternity center had four exits, and the north gate was the least used, which explained why they hadn’t crossed paths. Without hesitation, Caden hurried to his car and drove off in pursuit. Though he doubted he could catch up to her, he soon spotted her car on the road ahead. He recognized the route immediately-it was one he knew all too well.
When Alicia’s car finally pulled over, Caden parked a short distance away and watched her with a complex expression. She had returned to their former apartment. Standing alone in front of the familiar building, her oversized coat seemed to swallow her delicate frame, making her appear even more fragile.
Caden stepped out of his car quietly, his movements deliberate as he approached her from behind. Without a word, he reached for two bags from her car, lifting them effortlessly. Alicia paused at his presence but didn’t turn around, nor did she object to his silent gesture of help.
Having been apart for a month, Caden eagerly scanned Alicia, his eyes searching for any sign of harm or distress. His gaze finally settled on her face.
“You haven’t been eating well; you’ve lost too much weight,” he said, his voice raspy with concern.
Alicia responded with a faint “hmm.” There was no bitterness, no anger in her tone. It was as if they had only had a minor disagreement. Yet, the more composed she seemed, the more unsettled Caden became. He found himself wishing she would yell at him, hit him, or curse him-anything but this silence that cut deeper than any words.
Once inside the apartment, Alicia’s eyes instinctively sought out the dog bed.
“Cade is with the Hopkins family,” Caden explained.
“Gerry has been looking after him because I haven’t been able to come back lately.”
Alicia shifted her gaze away, her expression unreadable. She turned as if to leave, but Caden caught her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. In one swift motion, he pulled her into his embrace.
Their clothes felt cold against each other, and Caden hugged her so tightly that Alicia felt as though she might suffocate in the emptiness of his arms. She didn’t resist, her usual defiance absent, replaced by an unsettling stillness.
“I’m sorry, Lucky,” Caden whispered, his voice breaking.
“I’m so sorry.”
Alicia’s hands slowly balled into fists. She had thought that a month apart would be long enough to harden her heart, to despise him to the point of indifference. Yet, now, in his arms, hearing his hoarse apologies, her heart shattered all over again, and the pain made it hard to breathe.
“Give me a chance to make it right, please?” Caden pleaded, his voice desperate.
“If I ever make such a foolish mistake again, I don’t deserve to live. Is that okay, Lucky?”
Alicia stared at the wall, her silence stretching into an unbearable eternity. Caden loosened his grip slightly and gently cupped her face, his eyes searching hers for any sign of forgiveness.
He gazed into her eyes, desperately searching for a trace of the love she once held for him, even if it was laced with sorrow or hesitation. But there was nothing. All he found was a profound emptiness that sent a wave of fear crashing over him.
Caden’s heart pounded as he tenderly stroked her face, his voice a soft murmur.
“Lucky, I’m begging you.”
Alicia’s eyelashes quivered faintly, a small, almost imperceptible reaction. Her voice was devoid of emotion as she finally replied, “Okay.”
Caden felt no relief from Alicia’s agreement. The woman he once knew seemed lost, replaced by someone he could barely recognize. She had changed so much. Her days were filled with endless tasks, her demeanor quieter than ever, and her presence distant.
Driven by a mix of curiosity and concern, Caden had secretly checked her calendar. Every trip listed was to a tech conference-none involving the art gallery that had once been her passion. It was as though she had abandoned her old life completely, leaving behind the things that once defined her.
Sitting alone in his office, Caden found himself trapped in a labyrinth of his own thoughts. He stared blankly into space, his mind weighed down, until a knock on the door interrupted him.
“Come in,” he said, quickly masking his inner turmoil with his usual detached expression.
He expected Hank, but to his surprise, it was Alicia who entered. She wore a simple white outfit that matched her calm but distant aura. Without saying a word, she approached his desk and placed a small stack of photos in front of him.
Caden’s eyes shifted from her face to the photos-snapshots of Alicia taken from a distance.
“Why would you do this?” she asked, her voice quiet but piercingly direct.
Caden frowned slightly. He had hired a private investigator to take those photos, and there was no point in denying it.
“Without someone following you, it feels like you’re a ghost I can’t even catch sight of,” he admitted. His tone was low, carrying an undercurrent of accusation that he couldn’t suppress.
Alicia’s face remained composed, though her eyes flickered with an emotion he couldn’t quite discern.
“If you wanted to see me, you could have just told me, Caden. You didn’t need to hire anyone to follow me around.”
“Don’t I deserve some privacy?” Alicia’s voice was calm, yet it carried a hint of reproach.
Caden’s intense stare softened.
“How about dinner tonight? A family meal?”
Ciara had been calling him multiple times a day, her concern for Alicia’s well-being evident. Caden knew that if Alicia didn’t attend, Ciara would worry herself sick.
Alicia’s gaze faltered briefly before she gave a small nod. After a moment of silence, she said, “Alright. Six o’clock. I should be free by then.”
Caden asked instinctively, “What’s keeping you so busy these days?”
Alicia’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.
“Haven’t you already had someone find that out for you?”
His throat tightened at her response, and he swallowed hard.
“If tech innovation is what you’re passionate about, just say the word. Blizzard Group could be yours. I’ll make you the largest shareholder.”
Alicia’s chest tightened at his words. Recently, she had discovered that months ago, Caden had quietly moved all his overseas assets back home. What appeared to be a desperate loss to Dorian was, in fact, a calculated retreat. He had been meticulously securing his larger goals with precision.
Now, Caden had gained control of the local market, with his business rapidly expanding into neighboring countries. His next objective was to dismantle Dorian’s protective alliances, repurposing them for his own strategies. Those who dared to oppose him rarely saw what was coming until it was too late.
Alicia lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper.
“We’ll see.”
By five o’clock, Caden was already waiting for her.
He parked his car at the entrance, lingering there in silence. From the window above, Alicia looked down at the sleek luxury car below. She watched as he rolled down the window and extended his hand, holding a lit cigarette. He didn’t take a single puff; the wind carried the smoke away.
Alicia observed him for a long moment, her emotions unreadable. The buzz of her phone broke her focus. Corey’s name flashed on the screen.
“So, do you want to go?” Corey asked, his voice casual yet insistent.
Alicia hesitated. Just minutes earlier, she had been ready to leave when Corey called, enticing her with the possibility of witnessing Yolanda’s downfall.
“She’s a vicious person, and she’s been targeting and tormenting you for so long,” he said.
“Don’t you want to see her like this? Maybe feel a little better? Don’t worry, it’s not in my territory. I can’t reach you. I just want you to have a bit of happiness.”
Her gaze drifted back to the car below, to Caden’s hand still extended from the window, the cigarette hanging loosely between his fingers. She took a deep breath and asked, “Where is she?”
“In Terriland, just a quick two-hour flight away,” Corey replied, his tone confident as he sensed her hesitation. He chuckled softly, aware that she was tempted.
“While you’re there, why not enjoy some excitement? I’ll have you back by tomorrow.”
Alicia turned her head, her mind churning as she weighed her options. Finally, she said, “Alright. Let’s do it.”
Caden waited another half hour, the cigarette long extinguished, before heading upstairs to find her. The secretary at the front desk looked up in surprise when she saw him.
“Oh, Mr. Ward, didn’t Ms. Bennett leave with you earlier?” the secretary asked, her tone hesitant.
Caden’s eyes narrowed.
“Left? Who did she go with?”
The secretary’s confusion deepened.
“I thought it was you, sir.”
Caden’s stomach twisted as dread began to creep in. Just as he was about to order her location traced, his phone buzzed with a new message from Alicia: “Don’t wait up for me tonight. Something came up. I’ll be back in time for dinner tomorrow.”
He stared at the message, the unfamiliar tone of her words striking a chord of unease within him. Despite her instructions, he immediately had her location tracked. The report came back swiftly: she was in Terriland-with Corey.
Meanwhile, Alicia found herself face-to-face with Yolanda. The once-arrogant woman had been reduced to a grotesque spectacle, a living example of Marlon’s merciless vengeance. Marlon, a man driven by a dark past and a festering hatred fueled by the loss of his lover, had taken his revenge to horrific extremes. Yolanda’s hands had been severed, and she was being displayed like a macabre trophy for profit.
Alicia took one look at the scene before her stomach churned violently. Turning away, she stumbled back, pressing a trembling hand over her mouth as nausea rose uncontrollably. Marlon, observing her reaction, handed her a tissue with a chilling smirk.