Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
The assistant hesitated. Wasn’t it too late to care about Alicia’s pain?
Corey’s breathing quickened, erratic and strained. He put down the scalpel with deliberate force, reached for a cigarette, and lit it with cold efficiency. “Find another way to numb her,” he ordered icily before stepping back.
In one swift motion, Corey tore off his sterile gown and turned the operation over to another professional.
The room was heavy with silence, every face marked by confusion. This was an impromptu operation – no time for meticulous preparation or alternatives.
The assistant ventured boldly, “Mr. Hampton, we must proceed. We cannot afford any more delays.”
Corey had already burned through half of his cigarette. His head throbbed relentlessly, as if struck by an invisible hammer. Gemma’s life was hanging by a thread and this was his chance to save her. But his body betrayed him, refusing to act on instinct. “We’re not doing the surgery.” Even Corey was startled by the words that came out of his mouth. What was he afraid of? His biggest < fear was Caden, but Caden wasn't even here.
The team stood in stunned silence, waiting for further instructions as Corey finished his cigarette in a fog of indecision.
Corey stubbed it out, his movements slow and deliberate. Then he saw Alicia, no longer restrained, sitting quietly on the edge of the bed.
Corey froze, his body stiff. “Do you know how to unlock the handcuffs?” Alicia flexed her wrists with an air of nonchalance. “I don’t.
Her answer sent a shiver down Corey’s spine. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the room, his gaze scrutinizing each person present. They stood in a line, their posture respectful – but not to him. No, their deference had always belonged to someone else. Finally, Corey’s gaze shifted to Alicia. Both were sharp-witted, and a mere glance conveyed volumes.
A bitter laugh escaped Corey’s lips, his tall frame illuminated by the harsh, sterile light. Though he smiled, the desolation in his eyes was unmistakable.
For the first time, Corey had let his guard down, if only for a moment. But he quickly buried his disappointment under a veil of sarcasm and clapped his hands mockingly. “Bravo. Truly an outstanding performance.”
Alicia did not acknowledge the compliment. “1 thought you’d sense something was wrong the moment you entered the Ward Mansion. I didn’t expect it to take you this long.
There was no malice in her tone, only cold understanding. “When Gemma was in trouble, you couldn’t keep your head. That’s why you didn’t see her.”
Corey’s composure remained elusive. Deep down he knew the truth – he would not be leaving with his heart today. Even if he had not hesitated earlier, the result would have been the same. Caden had never been distracted by him and had known his intentions all along. The team in the OR? Replaced. The anesthesia? Switched.
Corey sighed. He should have seen this coming. How could everything have gone so smoothly? Every detail, every moment – it had all been orchestrated by Caden and Alicia. They stood back, watched him unravel, let him make a complete fool of himself.
Reality crashed down on Corey, shattering his last hope. But despite the bitterness of defeat, an involuntary sigh of relief escaped him. He leaned back against the table behind him.
“Where’s Caden?”
As if on cue, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the hall.
The door swung open, revealing Caden’s commanding presence. He entered with an air of authority, each step deliberate. His lips curled into the faintest of smiles, his eyes glittering like cold, bottomless pools.
Standing in front of Corey, Caden’s gaze lingered on the faint bite marks on Corey’s neck – a telltale sign left by a woman. It seemed that when Gemma was in distress last night, Corey hadn’t even finished his sex.
Caden grinned, his tone laced with mockery. “I’ve been wondering why you’ve been so reckless lately. Turns out it’s overindulgence. After thirty, you should ease up on the women – it’s bad for your kidneys and obviously clouds your judgment.
Corey’s expression darkened, his piercing gaze fixed on Caden. “How did you act so fast?”
Corey was slightly taken aback. As capable as Caden was, could he really have anticipated everything?
Caden’s smile was disarmingly humble, yet laced with a quiet arrogance. “1 guessed,” he replied simply. “Got lucky and guessed right.
The call Caden had received last night had informed him of Gemma’s massive heart attack. By morning, his company was suddenly in trouble. Such a series of coincidences had been enough to raise suspicions. Corey’s desperation was predictable, almost amateurish.
On instinct, Caden and Alicia had devised this counterstrike.
Corey had acted impulsively, his mind unable to stay ahead of the game. Had he been sharper, Caden would not have found such a perfect opportunity to orchestrate his humiliation. Corey’s face turned ashen, his composure slipping away. His voice, low and strained, broke the silence. “You left Alicia alone with me. Weren’t you afraid that I might actually kill her?”
Caden shot a quick glance at Corey, a hint of amusement in his eyes, but said nothing as Corey answered the call.
“How’s she doing?” Pierre’s voice came through the line, steady and composed.
Corey clenched his jaw, his anger simmering beneath the surface, but he forced himself to stay calm. “She’s fine for now. What’s the situation on your end?”
Pierre’s voice was quiet but urgent. “We’re keeping her stable. The doctors are on alert, but we need to prepare for the worst. The condition’s unstable.”
Corey felt a pang of frustration, but he masked it quickly. “I’ll be there soon. Keep me updated.”
He hung up without another word, turning to find Caden watching him with a knowing look. Alicia stood nearby, her expression unreadable, but Corey could sense the tension in the room.
“Does this mean we’re done playing?” Caden asked, his voice dripping with mock innocence.
Corey didn’t respond right away, his mind racing with the implications of everything that had happened. He wanted to lash out, to find a way to regain control, but he knew that in this game, Caden held the upper hand.
Alicia stepped forward, breaking the silence. “Corey, we need to focus on Gemma now. This is bigger than any of us.”
Corey’s gaze shifted to her, his face hardening. “You don’t get to tell me what’s bigger than what. Not after everything you’ve done.”
Alicia held his gaze steadily, not backing down. “I’m trying to help her, Corey. Don’t make this more complicated than it already is.”
Caden stood by, observing the exchange with quiet amusement, his arms folded across his chest. “You know, this could all end a lot smoother if everyone just stayed calm. But it’s clear you two have a lot to work through.”
Corey shot him a sharp look. “What’s your game, Caden? All of this-what exactly do you want?”
Caden’s smile was infuriatingly calm. “All I want is to make sure Gemma survives. But I think we both know it’s going to take a lot more than that to fix all the mess we’re in.”
The tension in the room was palpable, and for a moment, it felt like everything might break apart. But then, slowly, one by one, the three of them began to realize that there was no way out except forward.
Alicia stepped closer to Corey, her voice softening. “We don’t have time to fight each other. Gemma needs us.”
Corey looked at her, his anger simmering but tempered by her words. He nodded, though the weight of everything still pressed down on him.
Caden finally spoke up, his tone less mocking now. “Let’s focus on getting Gemma through this. We’ll deal with everything else later.”
They all knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but for now, it was the only path they could take.
Corey rubbed his temples, hesitant to answer. “How’s
Gemma?”
“She’s stable after the surgery,” Pierre replied.
Hearing that, Corey’s tense shoulders relaxed and he ended the call without another word.
Pierre wasn’t just asking out of concern, though. He wanted to know if Corey had failed. He was well aware of Corey’s plans, but Alicia’s heart hadn’t been delivered. Had Caden interfered?
The thought frustrated Pierre. If Alicia died, Caden would stop at nothing to make Corey pay. While Corey held considerable power in Terrieland and had thriving domestic businesses, only Caden had the means to wipe him out completely. It was a rare and dangerous risk.
Pierre lowered his head and closed his eyes for a moment. Even though the chances were slim, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
Just then a nurse came out of the ward and called, “Family of the patient in bed 33, the patient is awake. Pierre paused for a moment to collect himself before entering the room.
Gemma lay weakly in bed, barely able to open her eyes. When she saw Pierre, her eyelashes fluttered nervously. Memories of what he had done to her before her hospitalization flickered in her mind. Her voice was barely audible. “Where is my brother?”
Pierre looked at the monitors that showed her fragile condition. Even talking seemed to strain her. It might break her if he told her that Corey was trying to harvest Alicia’s heart. As this cruel thought crossed his mind, another voice quickly suppressed it. Gemma had done nothing wrong. She didn’t deserve to suffer for Corey’s actions.
Pierre pressed his lips into a thin line, dipped a cotton swab into warm water, and gently moistened her lips. “He’s
with hospital business,” he said softly.
Gemma shivered as she felt his presence. The memories of what he had done filled her with a mixture of fear and anger. Her eyelashes quivered as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Pierre’s breath caught. “Are you in pain?”
Gemma’s voice was weak but firm. “I don’t want to see you. “
Pierre leaned closer, unsure if he had heard her right. “What did you just say?”
His closeness unsettled her. Biting her lip, she whispered, “I want my brother. “
Pierre’s gaze darkened. “He’ll be back soon,” he said, his tone flat.
Seeing her bite her lip stirred something in Pierre, but he quickly suppressed the thought. There were bigger concerns – whether Gemma or Alicia would survive this ordeal.
Meanwhile, Corey was about to leave for the hospital when Alicia’s voice stopped him. “Aren’t you going to save Gemma?” she asked coldly.
Corey didn’t bother to look back. “This is none of your business,” he replied.
Alicia’s tone remained firm. “What if I told you I had a way to save her?”
Corey froze in mid-step and turned to face her.
Caden, standing protectively beside Alicia, grinned. “See? You fell for it again. “
Corey clenched his fists, his already frayed nerves breaking under the weight of Caden’s taunts. “Caden, you looking for trouble?”
Before Caden could answer, Alicia stepped forward and held his hand. Her expression was calm but firm as she looked Corey straight in the eye. “I wasn’t bluffing earlier. I really do have a way to save Gemma.”
Corey’s eyes narrowed. He wanted to believe her, and a part of him already did. “What’s your plan?” he asked carefully.
Caden interrupted before Alicia could answer. “Here? You want to tell him now?” He cast a disdainful glance around them and pulled Alicia closer. “Mr. Hampton doesn’t seem sincere, and I’m not in the mood for small talk.
small talk. “
Corey, interrupted again, gritted his teeth in frustration. “Are you crazy? I never asked for your damn
Caden was his usual cheeky self, but Corey didn’t even bother with him.
Corey’s focus was on Alicia. “Alicia, I want you to say it.”
Alicia wasn’t as playful as Caden, but being married, they < often saw things the same way. She tended to go along with Caden's style.
“This isn’t really the place to talk about it,” Alicia said. Corey seemed to agree with her answer. “In that case, I’ll find a place for us to sit and talk.”
With that, Corey grabbed his phone and left. Soon after, Corey’s staff arrived and bowed politely as they escorted Caden and Alicia out.