Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Unable to contain himself, Caden burst out. “You’re too old for this charade! Do you think I can handle such shocks without consequence?”
Ciara responded, “I just wanted to push you forward since you weren’t making any moves on wooing Alicia back.”
Caden found it hard to stay mad at Ciara and turned his frustration toward Hank. “Hank, get in here!” Hank had barely stepped in before being kicked out. Caden asked, “You’ve become bold, conspiring with her to trick me?”
Hank, nursing his backside, appeared shaken. “No, Mr. Ward, I wasn’t involved.”
Ciara, not wanting to implicate the innocent, intervened and said, “Why lash out at him? Only Jasmine knew about my plan. Help him up.”
Hank quickly stood, brushing himself off. “It’s fine, Ms. Ward. I’m alright. Are you okay?”
Ciara nodded uneasily and then turned to comfort Caden. Soon after, the doctor arrived, alerted by the noise. The attending physician escorted Caden back to his ward and insisted he use the oxygen tube.
The Hopkins brothers dropped by for a visit. Gerry asked, “Is your grandma okay?”
Worn out from the day’s events, Caden said nothing. Cliff added, “I heard you went to Xada while sick, chasing after Alicia?”
At this, Caden’s eyes snapped open. He recalled his rushed departure earlier, realizing he had forgotten to inform Alicia. He quickly checked his phone but found no unread messages from her. His eyes dulled for a moment.
Cliff, watching the scene unfold, couldn’t help but advise, “You might want to consider a different strategy. Compromising your health won’t help. If you were to fall seriously ill, she might remarry in her youth. By the time we’re at your memorial, she could be celebrating her new life. Which event should Gerry and I go to?”
Speechless, Caden listened as Cliff continued, “Moreover, if she still won’t return despite your condition, you have to wonder if she really still cares for you.”
Gerry couldn’t contain himself any longer. “Cliff, Caden’s not well, and you’re making insensitive comments. Can’t you be more considerate?”
Caden felt a flicker of comfort at Gerry’s words. At least someone was standing up for him. It seemed his usual kindness toward Gerry hadn’t been entirely in vain. Cliff, however, remained unfazed. He crossed his arms, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Am I wrong, though?”
Gerry sighed, lowering his voice. “Right or not, now’s not the time. What if your harsh words push Caden into a serious condition-something with his lungs or heart?”
Caden’s faint sense of gratitude evaporated instantly. He frowned. Was that supposed to make him feel better?
Gerry, oblivious to Caden’s reaction, turned his back and whispered even more quietly to Cliff, “Look, Alicia’s been gone for two years. Anyone with half a brain can tell her feelings for Caden have probably faded by now. Caden knows it too-that’s why he’s chasing after her so desperately. Men have a hard time letting go of their pride. We can see through it, but let’s not rub it in his face.”
Caden’s voice cut through the room, cold and sharp. “Do you think I’m deaf? I can hear every word you’re saying.”
Gerry jumped, startled, and quickly pulled Cliff a few steps away. He leaned in close to Cliff and muttered something even quieter.
Caden stared at them, speechless, his patience wearing thin.
Just then, the door opened with a knock.
Gerry and Cliff finally toned down their conversation as the nurse entered the room.
The nurse looked visibly distressed, her eyes red and swollen from crying. “Mr. Ward, how could you be so reckless? After such a serious surgery, you left the hospital on your own. Do you have any idea how worried I was? I cried all night for the past two days when no one could find you!”
Her words hung in the air, raw with emotion. Gerry and Cliff turned to stare at her, their eyebrows raising in unison.
The nurse, bold and seemingly unaware of the awkward tension, didn’t notice anything wrong with what she’d just said.
Gerry shot a glance at Caden, a sly grin tugging at his lips. “Care to explain what’s going on here?”
Caden’s expression remained cold and unreadable as he turned to the nurse. “Do you need something?” he asked flatly.
The nurse hesitated, clutching the edge of her coat nervously. She had come under the guise of checking his bandages but now seemed uncertain. “I-I just wanted to see how you were doing,” she stammered, biting her lip to stop herself from crying. “And… I came to ask what you’d like for lunch. I could make something for you.”
Caden’s tone sharpened, laced with irritation. “If that’s all, then leave.”
The nurse froze, her eyes welling up with tears that quickly spilled over. Her distressed expression deepened as she stood there, unsure whether to speak or leave.
Gerry, ever the mediator, stepped in smoothly. Rising from his seat, he placed a gentle hand on the nurse’s shoulder and began to guide her out of the room. “Don’t take it personally,” he said in a soothing tone. “He’s just like that-temperamental. It’s nothing against you.” The nurse sniffled as they walked toward the door. “Mr. Hopkins, I’m really worried about him,” she said, her voice quivering.
Gerry chuckled, his tone teasing. “Trust me, there are plenty of women worrying about him, but he’s already spoken for.”
Gerry ushered the nurse out with a reassuring smile, his voice trailing off as they disappeared down the hall.
Moments later, Gerry returned, a mischievous grin on his face. He leaned casually against the doorframe, addressing Caden, “You know, her skin is pretty soft. Have you ever touched it?”
Leaning against the headboard, Caden replied with a tone of indifference, “I don’t remember.”
Gerry’s eyes widened in surprise. “You don’t remember? So, you’ve actually touched her? Did anything else happen?”
Caden shot him an annoyed look. “You should leave, too.”
Cliff, who had been observing quietly, found the interaction curious. Caden usually kept a clear distance from any woman interested in him. It was strange that this nurse had lingered for so long.
Curiosity piqued, Cliff asked, “Are you really interested in that nurse, Caden?”
Caden’s gaze turned icy as he shot Cliff a look. “My meals need to be specially prepared. The hospital assigned her to cook for me.”
Cliff smirked, leaning back in his chair. “You don’t have your own chefs to handle that?”
“It’s not about that,” Caden said coolly. “Her cooking is very similar to Alicia’s.” The meals delivered over the past half-month had an uncanny resemblance to Alicia’s cooking. But the latest meal before he set off to Xada had been slightly off.
Gerry, who had tasted Alicia’s cooking before, perked up when he heard the nurse’s cooking was similar. Intrigued, he decided to stay for lunch and see for himself.
But the nurse had her principles. She only cooked for Caden and ordered takeout for the Hopkins brothers.
Before the meal began, Caden picked up his phone and tried calling Alicia again. The line was dead. His expression darkened. She was still angry. The realization drained what little appetite he had.
The nurse noticed his mood and hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. Her voice was soft, almost timid. “Mr. Ward, shall I feed you?”
She picked up a small piece of food with the fork and held it to his mouth.
Seizing the opportunity, Gerry snapped a photo.
Caden was about to reject her offer, but upon seeing Gerry’s eager actions, he resignedly opened his mouth and accepted the bite. His face contorted with displeasure. “Please stop. This tastes awful.”
The nurse’s face fell, and she bit her lip, clearly upset. Frowning, Caden confronted her. “Did you actually prepare the previous meals yourself?”
The nurse’s eyes widened briefly, panic flickering across her face. She quickly lowered her head, trying to compose herself. “Of course, Mr. Caden,” she whispered. With a detached tone, Caden commanded, “Please clean up and leave. And don’t come back.”
Caught off guard and intimidated by his stern gaze, the nurse scrambled to collect her belongings and exited swiftly.
Across the table, Gerry sat with a mischievous grin, his eyes fixed on his phone. He chuckled, clearly pleased with himself.
Cliff raised an eyebrow and said dryly, “Caden, you do know Gerry just posted a picture of you being fed by the nurse, right?”
Caden didn’t even flinch. His voice was flat. “I’m aware.”
“Alicia is friends with Gerry. She’s bound to see it,” Cliff pointed out.
Again, Caden replied calmly, “I know.”
Cliff’s curiosity deepened, and he leaned back with a smirk. “So, what’s the deal? You really have something going on with that nurse?”
Before Caden could respond, Gerry jumped in. “Cliff, you’re so dense. This isn’t about the nurse. It’s strategy. You can’t always be the one doing the chasing. Sometimes, you’ve got to let the woman feel a little jealous, maybe even a sense of crisis. That’s how you keep her interested. Honestly, I think he’s gotten bored of these tactics by now. But still, Caden knows what he’s doing.”
Cliff shot Gerry a skeptical look. “Is that what you think? With Alicia’s personality, this kind of move could backfire. It’s more likely to end in disaster.”
Gerry laughed lightly. “How? The nurse was the one making advances, not Caden. He didn’t do anything wrong. Alicia can’t blame him for that.”
As he finished his statement, the ward door swung open abruptly. They all braced, expecting the nurse’s return. Instead, Alicia entered, catching everyone off guard.
Alicia’s arrival caught everyone off guard.
Gerry’s earlier smugness disappeared as he buried his head in the takeout box, feigning busyness. Cliff lowered his head too, nudging Gerry. “You’re eating the wrong one. That’s my meal.”
Gerry continued unfazed. “It’s all mine now.”
Caden’s typically stoic demeanor briefly faltered as he instinctively started to rise from the bed. Remembering something, he hesitated and then slowly settled back down. “Why did you come back so suddenly?” His voice softened slightly, though his eyes remained intently on Alicia. Her disheveled hair suggested she had hurried back.
Alicia studied Caden closely. “I heard from Hank about your grandmother’s sudden illness, so I came back to check on her.”
Caden paused. He had often dismissed Ciara’s dramatics, yet found himself playing along currently. “Have you seen her yet?”
Alicia’s face grew somber. “The doctor has barred visitors, saying she needs rest after the surgery.”
Caden pressed his lips together, falling silent.
The room then lapsed into a deep silence, punctuated only by the sound of Gerry’s continued eating.
Alicia shot Gerry a complex look.
Cliff nudged Gerry, signaling him to quiet down, and then offered an explanation. “Don’t take it the wrong way. He’s just been out of sorts worrying about Ciara’s health.”
Alicia remained quiet.
After the so-called surgery, Ciara was sent back to Joy Mansion to recuperate, surrounded by a medical team familiar with her condition.
Alicia, having finished her work in the evening, came to see Ciara.
Surprised to see Caden answer the door, Alicia said, “You got discharged too?”
Caden, now in casual attire that softened his sharp features, responded indifferently, “It doesn’t matter where I rest.”
He offered her slippers. “Have you eaten?”
Alicia nodded, her thoughts on Ciara. “How is Ciara?”
“She just took a nap. You can see her later,” Caden replied.
Alicia spent over half an hour upstairs in Ciara’s room, and when she returned, her expression was laden with worry. She sat on the sofa, dazed, her eyes slightly reddened.