Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“What’s your record like?”
“I’ve won nine out of ten fights.”
“Given the concrete evidence against you, I cannot justify keeping you on here. However, you can take a position as a bodyguard,” Alicia explained, laying out the instructions clearly. “You’ll be escorted tomorrow morning to start. If you prove competent, your compensation will match or exceed your current earnings.”
The man paused, uncertainty etching his features. Caden’s scrutiny intensified, his gaze piercing as he observed the man.
“Ms. Bennett, could you tell me more about who I’ll be protecting?” the man asked.
Alicia answered, “Corey’s sister-hardly some infamous boss.”
Lowering his gaze, the man clenched his hands and said, “Thank you, Ms. Bennett.”
Alicia departed from the hospital, walking alongside Caden toward the parked car.
Caden swung the car door open for her.
With a cold touch, Alicia pushed the door back, saying, “I can manage on my own. You don’t need to drive me.”
Caden’s lips tightened. Under the warm May breeze, his miserable expression deepened, contrasting sharply with the weather. “I made a special effort to come see you. Is this really how you respond?”
Alicia replied, “Thanks for making the trip just to frighten me.”
She sidestepped Caden and climbed into the car.
Caden, not yet ready to leave, held the door open, his voice gentle. “I came here hoping for a pleasant visit, but you’re here because of Corey. That doesn’t exactly fill me with joy.”
A flicker of annoyance crossed Alicia’s face. “Must you always overreact?”
Seizing the moment, Caden slid into the car beside her. He grimaced suddenly, clutching at his side as if hurt.
Alicia’s demeanor softened as she glanced at his recently operated abdomen. “Did you tear your stitches?”
Caden seized her hand. “Just kidding.”
Then, he swiftly locked all the doors of the car. Alicia was left dumbfounded. Honestly, she fell for it every single time.
Caden had indeed tugged at his injuries. His complexion turned increasingly pale.
Alicia took him back to her place. Weakly, he fell asleep against her.
When Alicia touched Caden’s hand, she found it ice-cold. Her heart raced as she retrieved medicine from his pocket and administered it to him. She stayed by his side throughout, providing water and monitoring his temperature. Several hours passed before his condition stabilized.
Caden briefly dozed off. Upon waking, he softened at the sight of Alicia’s concerned expression. “It was worth it,” he murmured.
Alicia didn’t catch it. “What did you just say?”
Caden raised his head and kissed her. “I’m exhausted. Stay with me a while, Lucky.”
Recognizing his frailty, Alicia refrained from upsetting him further and let him rest.
By dawn, Caden had sunk into a deep sleep, his color greatly improved.
Alicia arranged for a nutritious breakfast to be brought in. With no time to tend to him further, Alicia quietly rose to wash up and fetch the meal.
Returning, Alicia found Caden on the bed’s edge, his expression tense as though he had been jarred from a nightmare. His demeanor brightened upon seeing her. His shoulders relaxed. “I thought you had left again.” Alicia remained silent. She had indeed planned to leave, but at the sight of Caden, looking as forlorn as their dog at home, she couldn’t bear to leave.
After applying hand cream, Alicia approached and said, “I’ll join you for breakfast, and then I must go. You should call someone to take you back to the hospital. Stop torturing yourself.”
Caden replied, “I can’t get better without you.”
Alicia opened her mouth to rebuke him, but he quickly added, “Yes, I neglect my own care.”
Alicia was at a loss for words and frustrated. She served the breakfast into a bowl and handed it to him. “Eat.” Caden remained still.
Alicia stated bluntly, “I won’t pamper you like the pretty nurse in your hospital room. Eat if you want, or don’t.” Though Caden desired her attention, he knew pressing her would only upset her more. Reluctantly, he took the bowl.
“What pretty nurse?” Caden asked, his voice still thick with sleep. “Did you plan a nurse outfit surprise for me?”
Alicia’s expression darkened. “So, you have a thing for nurses?” she asked sharply.
Caden took a bite of his food, feeling revitalized. “I like you in anything.” It had been over two years since they had been intimate. His longing for Alicia was so intense that he wasn’t in a position to be choosy.
Alicia was both annoyed and frustrated. “Finish your meal and then get some sleep,” she said.
Caden was indeed exhausted. His rest had been poor, and his body felt frail. The heavy medication had made him lethargic, sapping most of his energy.
Alicia chose not to nag him further. Despite her reservations about his ambiguous interactions with the nurse at the hospital, she continued to care for him attentively, changing his sweat-drenched clothes and ensuring he was dressed comfortably. Privately, she scolded herself, echoing Corey’s words. She felt foolish for abandoning a promising career to tend to a man who seemed hardly worth the effort.
Caden looked down for a long while before finally asking, “Why are there men’s clothes here?”
As Alicia collected his laundry, she responded nonchalantly, “They belong to a friend with benefits.”
Caden’s face faltered momentarily, but he quickly reassured himself. Her sharp retort was just like his. Surely, she was speaking out of anger.
Yet, mere seconds after lying down, Caden turned around, unable to contain himself. “Is he good?”
“If he weren’t, why would I be with him?” Alicia retorted sharply.
Pain gripped Caden, not just in his stomach but as if every organ was cramping. “Lucky, can you please stop provoking me?”
While sorting the laundry, Alicia habitually checked the pockets to ensure nothing was left behind. She inadvertently found a discharge application note in Caden’s pocket. It was bold of him to attempt a discharge, especially without the doctor’s approval, indicating he had left the hospital surreptitiously.
Alicia laughed out of sheer frustration. Although Caden might have left the note intentionally, his condition clearly wasn’t suited for being outside the hospital. After cleaning the house, Alicia approached his bedside and sighed. “Can you please go back to the hospital for proper care?”
With his eyes half-closed, Caden responded dismissively, “Is your friend with benefits better than me?”
Alicia rolled her eyes. Fine, if Caden chose to suffer, she would let him.
Caden’s condition couldn’t afford to linger outside the hospital for too long. Alicia had planned to travel back with him today, but a recent clash with Corey demanded her attention elsewhere. So, once Caden was asleep, she slipped away quietly.
Hearing the door shut, Caden’s eyes snapped open. He had come to Xada solely to convince her to return to Warrington, but Alicia was adamant about staying. She wanted no interference in her career, nor did she include him in her future.
Confronted with their uncertain prospects, a wave of resignation washed over Caden. Was his persistence only driving her further away?
Shaking off these thoughts, Caden rose to look around Alicia’s apartment.
The apartment, covering about a hundred square meters, was sparsely furnished yet exuded a simple elegance, alive with a vibrant energy. It was evident she frequented this place, as signs of her daily activities like eating and sleeping were apparent.
The household items, mostly set for one, underscored her solitary lifestyle, leaving no room for doubt.
This realization brought Caden both comfort and sorrow. Two years of mutual torment from afar-all his doing.
As Caden sat by the window, lost in thought, a call from Hank disrupted the silence.
The connection was poor initially, Hank’s voice breaking up before it cleared. “Mr. Ward, is now a good time to talk?”
“Go ahead,” Caden responded.
“Your grandmother had a fall and suffered a stroke. It’s serious. You should come back immediately.”
Despite Caden’s attempt to stay composed, Hank’s words struck him deeply.
Caden felt numb and immediately stood up to leave. “Is she in surgery?”
“They’re waiting for your return before proceeding,” Hank replied.
Caden hurried back to the hospital without a moment’s pause.
Upon arrival, Hank updated Caden that Ciara had already been operated on and was now in the ward.
As Caden pushed the door open, Hank cautioned, “Mr. Ward, you may want to prepare yourself.”
“Mr. Ward, please, take a moment to steady yourself.” Caden snapped, “Enough with that!” Hank fell quiet.
Caden entered, his hands shaking.
The curtain was drawn around Ciara’s bed, concealing her. The room was ominously quiet. As Caden approached, he suddenly faltered, losing his nerve.
Caden had been away from home since he was nine, raised by Ciara ever since. She had loved him, taught him, and supported him, her gentle affection permeating every cell. The thought of losing her was unbearable. After a heavy pause, Caden finally reached out to draw back the curtain.
Just then, Ciara called out, “Jasmine, has Caden returned?” Caden’s heart tightened as he listened.
Ciara continued, “He should be back soon. That boy, though a rascal at times, is devoted and rushes back whenever he hears I’m in trouble.”
Caden gradually regained his composure. Ciara’s voice was too lively for someone gravely ill. Moreover, stroke patients typically didn’t speak clearly for at least two or three days after surgery.
Ciara then turned over, her voice full of vigor. “Keep an eye on the door. Let me know when he’s near so I can brace myself and get into character. Why am I hungry again? Jasmine, bring me a sweet pastry. I’ll have another piece.”
“Jasmine?” Ciara muttered, pulling the curtain open.
Their eyes met with a swish.
Ciara was startled, frozen in shock.
Caden’s expression was stern, his gaze as dark and foreboding as storm clouds.
Ciara slowly averted her gaze, laying back down and shutting her eyes.
“Not having the sweet pastry?” Caden inquired.
Realizing she was caught, Ciara let out a dry chuckle. “I’m sick. What sweet pastry… Could you adjust the oxygen tube for me, please?”