Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Their heartbeats seemed to synchronize in the darkness. A flash of lightning illuminated their faces, their eyes meeting in a moment of vulnerability.
Caden cradled the back of her head, his voice playful yet tender. “Still scared? Want a kiss to calm your nerves?”
Actually, Caden hadn’t intended for things to escalate so quickly. He sensed the pace was too rapid. Alicia had a stubborn side that usually needed time to mellow. Yet, as Caden held her close, her warmth and scent enveloping him, he couldn’t help but feel an urgent need to comfort her. The thunder seemed to have genuinely frightened her, and he wanted to calm her anxious heart immediately. He couldn’t wait, not even for a moment.
Alicia stayed motionless, her arms tightly encircling his neck. Their breaths mingled, close enough to feel each other’s.
Alicia teased, “Just a few days ago, you said absence makes the heart grow fonder. Are you abandoning that idea already?”
Caden chuckled at her straightforwardness, amused even more by how she, still shaken from the shock, tried to outdo him in their verbal exchange. “I can’t help it,” he said. “I just can’t stay away.”
Taking advantage of the darkness, Alicia laughed quietly. She pressed her lips to his, and the contact sent their hearts racing. “I know you’ve been playing games these past few days. I’m not that oblivious. You always use your business tactics on me.” That was why she remained defiant.
Caden kissed her back, lingering a bit longer. “Those tactics are meant to get what I’ve been longing for, day and night.”
He saw nothing wrong with his methods.
Alicia started to retort, but Caden’s deep kiss cut her off. The night’s impulsiveness culminated in a profound kiss. Caden had been restraining himself for too long, his hands itching to explore further, but Alicia stopped him. “I’m not in the mood.”
Her fear of the thunder had subsided, yet her mind was still troubled. “I’ve been researching treatments for Ciara’s stroke. My head is full of it. And with Ciara falling ill just recently, isn’t it inappropriate for us to do this now?”
Caden found himself at a loss for words. It felt as though he had shot himself in the foot. “My grandma’s condition isn’t that serious.”
“That’s just what she told you to reassure you. The doctor told me it’s serious,” Alicia replied.
“It will improve,” Caden said hopefully.
Alicia looked puzzled. “Caden, how can you be so nonchalant as her grandson?”
Caden was at a loss for words. He kissed her once more before turning over to lie down, his neck tense. “You’re right. I wasn’t that eager either.”
Luckily, the power outage hid his discomfort, his tension not visible beneath his pajama pants.
Caden hadn’t anticipated Alicia being so readily appeased this time. Gerry’s unnecessary social media post and Ciara’s feigned illness seemed all for naught.
With Ciara’s “illness” hovering in the background, Caden couldn’t pursue intimacy. Alicia continued with her daily routine, unaffected. The noticeable change was in Caden’s increasing frustration.
When Alicia was away, Ciara asked Caden, “How are things with Alicia?”
As Caden brewed tea for her, he said, “We’re almost perfect.”
Ciara expressed surprise, “Progressing so quickly? Perhaps my ruse was wise after all.”
This irritated Caden. “If you hadn’t faked being sick, I might have actually achieved perfection by now.”
“How so? Wasn’t Alicia always challenging you?”
“She was just being slightly immature.” Caden realized he had misjudged. “Perhaps knowing about your illness, she didn’t argue as much.”
Ciara looked puzzled. “Then you should be pleased.”
Caden found himself speechless once more. How could he be happy when he was constrained from being intimate with Alicia due to Ciara’s supposed illness? Sometimes, even his morning enthusiasm waned, worried she might accuse him of disrespect or become suspicious and discover Ciara’s act.
However, Caden was accustomed to suppressing his frustrations and quickly moved past them.
As Caden poured a cup of tea, a mosquito buzzed by. “Let’s head to the living room. The garden’s got too many mosquitos.”
He absentmindedly poured the tea into a flowerpot in front of him. Only then did he notice a sprout in the pot, but he didn’t dwell on it. If it died, he’d simply replace it. Ciara, rocking in her chair, wasn’t ready to go inside just yet. “I’m in no rush. I recently planted a rare seed, and it’s just sprouted. I’ll loosen the soil a bit before we head in.”
Caden paused, reconsidering. He glanced at the flowerpot into which he had just poured hot water. “What does the sprout look like?” he asked.
Ciara opened her eyes and pointed to the pot in front of him. “That one, right there.”
Caden maintained a neutral expression as he set down the teacup. “I have to leave. I have something to take care of tonight and won’t be back for dinner.”
Caden regularly updated Alicia on Ciara’s “illness,” reassuring her that Ciara was improving daily.
Once reassured of Ciara’s recovery, Alicia felt relieved and immersed herself back into her busy routine.
Alicia was currently navigating the termination of her contract with Corey and, needing advice, she visited Caden at the Blizzard Group.
Caden, adept in these matters, offered his careful assistance. However, he playfully insisted on a small reward after helping her with work.
With Caden managing the main tasks, Alicia had less to handle, so she assisted by organizing documents marked on his desk.
Alicia opened the glass door of the bookcase and noticed a book that seemed out of place. Pulling it out, she opened it and asked, “What is this?”
It was written in French. Alicia skimmed a few lines-it appeared to discuss topics related to men.
Before she could delve deeper, Caden quickly snatched the book from her hands and locked it away in a drawer. His abrupt reaction piqued her curiosity. Alicia glanced at the book’s cover. She knew French well enough for basic translations.
“A Hundred Bedroom Techniques for Men.” She read aloud, giving Caden a quizzical look. “Why are you studying this privately?”
Caden furrowed his brow, feigning ignorance. “What is this book, ‘A Hundred Tricks in Bed for Men’?”
Initially curious, Alicia felt a flush of embarrassment under his questioning gaze. She frowned back, trying to maintain a serious demeanor. “Isn’t this your book?”
Unfazed, Caden quickly deflected. “It’s not mine. It’s Hank’s.”
“Hank’s book is in your bookshelf?” Knowing Caden was meticulous about his personal space and never shared it, Alicia’s eyes filled with skepticism. “You allowed that?”
Caden said, “He claimed it was special and didn’t fit anywhere else, so he asked me to keep it temporarily.”
Alicia squinted, scrutinizing him for any sign of deceit. Yet, Caden appeared so at ease that he casually returned to his work. “If it were mine, you could read it as you please. But since it’s Hank’s, we should respect his privacy.”
Alicia crossed her arms and stepped in front of him. “Really?” she asked skeptically.
Caden slowly looked up, his features striking under the office light. “You think that book is mine?”
Alicia replied, “If it’s not yours, why did you react so strongly?”
Caden evaded the question. “I don’t need to learn anything from that book.”
Alicia raised an eyebrow. His statement wasn’t questionable, but after two years, who could be sure?
Whether the book belonged to Caden or Hank, pressing the issue seemed improper. Choosing to drop the subject, Alicia pretended the book hadn’t caught her attention. Caden then pulled Alicia onto his lap, continuing his work..
Soon, they became distracted by the moment.
As the office was enveloped in the warm, golden glow of dusk, Alicia admired the floor-to-ceiling windows and couldn’t help but smile. “It’s beautiful.”
Caden glanced sideways, his thoughts drifting to an even more beautiful image. Alicia’s delicate skin, particularly radiant in the summer with its tanned hue and smooth texture, was something he found irresistible.
They had shared intimate moments in the office before, but always under the cover of darkness. She was shy, always insisting on dimming the lights when pressed against the glass, leaving Caden to rely on the ambient city lights to barely make out her silhouette.
He secretly enjoyed seeing her in the full light of day, where her shyness had nowhere to hide, entirely visible to him. Her waist was so slender that he could encircle it with one hand. Her legs were long and lithe, coiling around him effortlessly.
The more Caden dwelled on these thoughts, the more his desire grew. His Adam’s apple bobbed several times as he struggled to suppress the rising desire. “Are you hungry?” he asked, hoping to distract himself. “What do you feel like eating? I can book a restaurant.”
Alicia wasn’t picky. They eventually settled on a place that accommodated Caden’s dietary needs.
Caden said, “I need another surgery. I don’t have much faith in Warrington’s hospital, so I might go to Sowell.” Alicia remembered the renowned orthopedic specialist from Sowell. “She’s skilled with orthopedics. Does she handle surgeries on the stomach too?”
“It’s a different doctor with the last name Ramos.” Curious, Alicia looked up Sowell on her phone. Dr. Ramos, a distinguished visitor, wasn’t a local but would be visiting Sowell next month.
“How do you know her schedule?” she asked, surprised that he had such private information.
Caden embraced her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. “I’ve had dealings with Dr. Ramos’ husband twice. I asked if she could take on my case, and her assistant shared her schedule to coordinate a time.”
“Oh.” After getting the details she needed, Alicia began searching for hotels and restaurants in Sowell. Caden peeked over her shoulder. “Why are you looking at that?”
Without thinking, Alicia responded, “You’re going for surgery. I can’t stay with you in the hospital, can I?”
Caden raised an eyebrow playfully. “Hmm?”
Realizing her slip, Alicia hastily locked her phone. “I think I have a business trip to Sowell next month.”
Caden chuckled knowingly at her transparent excuse. “What business do you have in Sowell? You just got back, and you’re already expanding your work there? Impressive, Ms. Bennett.”
Flustered by his teasing, Alicia gathered her belongings and slid off his lap. “It’s time for dinner.”
As they prepared to leave, Hank picked up the car keys to drive them.
Alicia, curious, asked, “Hank, aren’t you off work?”
Hank responded respectfully, “Ms. Bennett, driving has always been part of my duties.”
Alicia’s mind wandered back to the book from the office, still lingering in her thoughts. Something didn’t sit right with her.
Alicia deliberately chided Caden, “It’s not fair to make Hank work overtime when he’s in a relationship.”
Hank looked taken aback, ready to deny it, but instinctively looked to Caden for direction.
Quietly, Hank asked, “Mr. Ward, am I in a relationship?”
Caden was puzzled by Alicia’s comment as well. “Is Hank in a relationship?” he echoed, feigning surprise.
Alicia raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t he?”
Hank seemed on the brink of confusion-was he in a relationship or not?
Caden, noticing the mischievous twinkle in Alicia’s eyes, suddenly connected it to the earlier incident with the book. “A Hundred Tricks in Bed for Men.” He responded smoothly, “Oh, he should be.”