Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Cliff retorted sharply, “Isn’t the director a man?”
After changing, Laney emerged from the changing room and fixed him with a glare. “You always find excuses to get mad at me. Fine, I won’t kiss you anymore!” He seemed to hate any contact with her. The moment she guided his hand to touch her, he hastily rushed to wash his hands.
Feeling both sad and embarrassed, Laney picked up her pace and walked ahead.
Cliff didn’t follow too closely but kept her in view.
The car waited at the gate.
Standing a meter away from the car, Laney turned her head, refusing to look at him.
Suddenly recalling something, Cliff asked sternly, “Do you wear a skirt without a pair of underpants? Or do you only do that around me?”
With hesitancy, Laney answered, “It’s not a mini-skirt. Why would I need to wear underwear?”
Cliff was on the verge of losing his temper. “Wear skirts less often.”
Laney answered, “Don’t worry. I won’t sit on your lap anymore, even in pants. I won’t bother you.”
Cliff felt an explicit anger surging through him and replied sharply, “You’ve promised that a thousand times. If you mean it, prove it to me.”
Tears began to fill Laney’s eyes. His words always cut deeper whenever he was angry. Moreover, she had feelings for him, and her unreciprocated love left her feeling sensitive and vulnerable. Feeling hurt, she turned to walk away.
Cliff grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
Laney resisted but couldn’t escape his grip, and he shoved her into the car despite her resistance. She wiped away her tears and dialed Gerry. Gerry, already asleep, answered groggily, “Laney?”
Laney’s tears burst, and she sobbed so intensely that Gerry snapped fully awake. “What’s wrong? Who hurt you? Where are you? I’ll come get you.”
Gerry got up from his bed, swiftly instructing her on how to send her location.
As tears fell onto her phone screen, Laney revealed that Cliff was the one who had mistreated her.
Upon hearing this, Gerry’s tone calmed down. “Is Cliff there with you?”
Curled up in the car seat, Laney sniffled. “Yes. Can you come get me, Gerry?”
Gerry replied, “Of course. Where are you now?”
Laney dried her eyes and looked at the road sign ahead. Just as she began to send her location to Gerry, a hand reached over and stole the phone from her.
“Go back to sleep,” Cliff commanded firmly, leaving Gerry at a loss for words.
Throughout the drive home, Laney didn’t speak to Cliff, yet her tears continued to flow.
Cliff’s heart had softened, but he refused to let it show.
When he attempted to unbuckle her seatbelt, Laney held onto it tightly. “I can do it myself!”
Cliff gazed at her tear-stained face, feeling both pained and helpless. “What’s the issue with just being family? Why cross those lines? I might not mind the gossip, but what about you? People know you’re my aunt’s adopted daughter. Aren’t you afraid of being judged if something truly happens between us?”
Laney met his gaze, her expression a mix of seriousness and defiance. “I’ve considered it, but I can’t help liking you. How can I stop feeling this way?”
Cliff gently wiped away her tears with his thumbs. “It’s because you haven’t met many men, Laney. Once you explore more and meet other impressive individuals, you’ll see I’m not that special.”
Yet, Laney’s tears flowed even more. She was used to getting everything she wanted, but with Cliff, she had encountered challenges for the first time. She couldn’t let go.
Cliff spoke softly, trying to calm her. “Stop crying, or your eyes will be too sore to sleep tonight.”
Laney bit her lip and stared at him with a stubborn look.
Cliff, his determination fading, leaned in and kissed the tears from her face.
Laney trembled slightly. She understood he intended to comfort her, yet her desire for more remained. Suddenly, she lifted her head, inviting him to kiss her more deeply.
Cliff stared at her lips, and then, with a brief hesitation, he gently held the back of her head and kissed her.
Some paths were better left unexplored. Once started, they would spiral beyond control. Even someone as self-disciplined as Cliff could easily become a slave to desire.
Later, Laney found herself crying once more. The reason was still Cliff, but in a different context.
Cliff’s car had been parked at the gate for a while before it eventually started up and rolled into the garage.
Cliff exited the car, circled to the passenger side, and opened the door. He looked at the frail Laney and asked, “Can you walk by yourself?”
Laney’s legs were still shaking. It appeared she couldn’t. However, the lights inside the house were on, signaling that Gerry was still awake. She couldn’t let Cliff carry her in. She bowed her head and whispered, “I think I can manage.”
Cliff was not convinced and remained skeptical. He allowed her a few more moments to gather herself.
As the minutes passed, Cliff resisted the urge to check his watch, unsure of how much time had gone by since their earlier intimacy inside the car.
The wait grew too much to endure, so Cliff knelt down and began massaging her legs. He hoped it would help, but Laney stubbornly rejected his touch, her eyes filling with tears again. “Don’t touch me. If you do, I won’t be able to stand on my own.”
Cliff gazed at her delicate legs, the images of their earlier intimacy resurfacing, and swallowed with difficulty. The word “irresistible” popped through his mind. He scolded himself for having such thoughts.
When they eventually composed themselves and walked into the house, Gerry was nearly asleep from waiting. He was confident Laney was safe with Cliff, yet he was curious to learn what had happened between them.
However, seeing Laney’s eyes swollen from tears, Gerry couldn’t help but scold, “Cliff, it’s one thing to tease Laney, but did you really need to take it so far?”
Gerry approached Laney. “Did he scold you again?” Laney blushed and whispered, “No…”
Gerry was taken aback. “Then why are you crying like this?”
Cliff didn’t feel like explaining. He said to Laney, “It’s late. Go shower and head to bed.”
Laney nodded and headed upstairs.
Gerry looked confused. He turned to Cliff and asked, “Since when does Laney listen to you so obediently?”
Cliff, deep in thought, massaged his tense forehead. “Just go to sleep.” This movement made Gerry notice Cliff’s soaked sleeve.
“What happened to your clothes?” Gerry leaned in curiously. “Did it rain outside?”
Cliff tensed up and rolled up his sleeve. “I accidentally splashed water on it while I was washing my hands.”
“Oh,” Gerry said, sniffing. “That’s odd.”
Cliff’s voice grew tight. “What’s odd?”
“There’s a sweet smell on you. It’s familiar, but I can’t remember where I’ve smelled it before.”
A throbbing pulse beat at Cliff’s temple. “I’m heading to bed.”
The reason for the wet sleeve was Laney’s doing. She had teasingly insisted that Cliff comfort her. A simple kiss wasn’t enough. She wanted to sit on his arm. She mentioned feeling uncomfortable and asked Cliff for assistance. She expressed her love for the fabric of his shirt, the small mole on his arm, and how his veins and muscles tightened when he held his breath.
The vivid scenes of their intimacy stayed in Cliff’s mind, refusing to fade away. He shut his eyes, inhaled deeply, and went to take a cold shower.
As he stepped outside, he noticed a message from Laney. “Wasn’t that incredible just now, Cliff?”
A tightness gripped Cliff’s throat. His mind no longer clouded by lust, he felt a strong desire to grab Laney and give her a stern lecture. He texted back, “Where did you learn all these?”
Laney responded, “I didn’t learn anywhere. Did you like them?”
“I didn’t like them, and it won’t happen again,” Cliff responded.
Laney asked, “What if I feel uncomfortable again?”
Cliff’s grip on his phone tightened as he answered, “This isn’t an illness. You can control it. Stop using it as an excuse.” Laney did not respond.
Cliff thought his stern tone had discouraged her and was about to relax when her next message made his blood boil. “I’m starting to feel uncomfortable again.”
Cliff, feeling overwhelmed, turned off his phone and went straight to bed.
Laney, encouraged by her previous success, couldn’t hold back. The following night, she made another attempt, but Cliff firmly rejected her, his expression as serious as a judge’s, refusing to change his mind. Disheartened, Laney asked, “Why did you agree that day?”
Haunted by the memories of their closeness in the car, Cliff’s expression darkened. “You were relentless with your tears. I felt I had no other option.”
“Then I’ll start crying now.”
Unmoved, Cliff said, “You can cry all you like, but my answer won’t change.”
Realizing that further persuasion would be pointless, Laney stopped pushing. She simply asked, “Will you be at my competition?” Cliff had already secured VIP seats. “The whole family will be there.”
“If we take first place, will you give me a reward?” Laney asked. Cliff clenched his jaw and responded calmly, “If that’s the case, then I won’t attend.”
Laney brushed off his threat, finding it empty and meaningless. It was her first competition. He couldn’t possibly miss it.
On the competition day, the theater was alive with anticipation. Madison had called on many to come and support. Before her performance, Laney greeted them, specifically looking for Cliff. However, in the busy crowd, there was no sign of his familiar presence. Her spirits fell, and she turned to Madison. “Madison, has Cliff come?”
Madison suddenly remembered and replied, “Oh, I forgot to mention. Cliff asked me to tell you he couldn’t be here today, but he promised to make it up to you after your performance.”
Laney felt a pang of disappointment. So, Cliff really wasn’t coming. He hadn’t taken over the family company, and the equestrian club wasn’t all that hectic. So why, of all days, was he suddenly too busy?
Laney couldn’t shake the feeling he was avoiding her on purpose. Maybe he still didn’t like her, or maybe she had messed up last time and this was his way of making her pay for it.
Madison noticed Laney’s gloomy face and the redness in her eyes. “Laney, what’s wrong? Are you crying?”
Laney blinked back her tears, refusing to let them fall. She had already done her makeup and was about to change clothes. Today’s competition was a big deal. Even if Cliff wasn’t here, she couldn’t let her emotions take over. She had to win first place. With this in mind, Laney gritted her teeth, pushed thoughts of Cliff aside, and went backstage to get ready for the competition.
Cliff hadn’t expected Philip to choose today to arrange lunch with Juliet Foster, Kira’s elder sister.
During Philip and Madison’s last trip, there had been a tunnel collapse, and Madison got stuck under a rock. Juliet had stepped up and been a huge help, and Philip never forgot that Juliet had saved his wife’s life. In Philip’s book, Juliet was smart, gorgeous, and close to Cliff’s age, which made her the ideal match for him.