Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“There’s no need,” Laney replied firmly.
“I can manage on my own.”
Ignoring her protest, Cliff grabbed her suitcase and walked ahead, leaving her no choice but to follow.
Her room had already been reserved, and she swiped the key card to unlock the door.
Without waiting for an invitation, Cliff stepped inside, setting her suitcase by the bed. He began unpacking her things, carefully hanging her clothes in the closet and placing her smaller belongings on the dresser.
Laney stood by the door, unsure of what to say or do.
While organizing the last of her things, Cliff reminded her to lock the door at night.
Laney nodded, her expression unreadable.
“Don’t worry. Kailyn’s staying with me tonight,” she said, her voice firm.
“Even if there are two of you, you should still be cautious,” Cliff said, his tone steady.
“Cliff, it’s not like the world’s that dangerous,” Laney replied softly, her gaze fixed on the floor.
“I’m not a child anymore.”
Laney had been just nineteen when she joined the Hopkins family. Back then, she was young, unsure of herself, and still finding her place. To Cliff, she had always been a child. And even now, three years later, he still treated her like one.
Cliff didn’t respond. He turned back to the suitcase and reached for the last bag inside.
Before he could grab it, Laney’s hand shot out, snatching it first. But it was too late-he had already seen the outline through the fabric. It was her underwear.
“Cliff, you should go now,” Laney said hurriedly, opening the wardrobe door and turning her back to him as if to disappear into its shadows.
“I need to shower and rest.”
Cliff gave a quiet nod, stepping back, but something caught his eye. Inside the suitcase, a small bracelet lay forgotten.
Cliff picked it up and stared at it for a moment, recognition dawning. It was the bracelet from their trip to the church. The priest had called it a symbol of everlasting love, a promise of growing old side by side.
Laney stiffened. Her expression faltered, but she quickly reached out and took it from him.
“I meant to throw it away,” she muttered, her voice barely audible.
Without hesitation, she tossed it into the trash bin.
Cliff’s face remained unreadable as he bent down and retrieved it.
“Laney, is there anything else you’re holding onto?” he asked.
She hesitated but shook her head.
“Good.”
Then, slipping the bracelet into his pocket, he added, “I’ll take care of it.”
Laney’s breath hitched.
“Why are you keeping it?”
“Because I know you’ll dig it out of the trash after I leave,” he said, his voice low and unyielding.
“You don’t need to do that, Laney.”
Laney had believed that hearing about Cliff’s engagement to Juliet was the worst pain she could endure. But now, she realized that as long as her connection with Cliff wasn’t fully severed, every encounter chipped away at her emotional strength.
As Laney turned to leave, Cliff bid her goodnight, as he always did.
“I missed your last competition, but I promise I won’t miss tomorrow’s performance,” he said with a faint smile.
Laney felt a familiar ache in her chest, hollow and suffocating. Even breathing seemed like a chore.
“It’s fine,” she said softly, avoiding his gaze.
“You don’t have to come.”
The following day, Laney sat in the makeup chair, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. She tried to steal a nap, but rest eluded her.
The room buzzed with voices, gossip flowing freely like an unending stream. Some complained about Kira’s domineering attitude, while others expressed pity for Laney.
Kira, ever the provocateur, had entered to show off, only to overhear their snide remarks. Fury ignited within her, and she stormed into a full-blown confrontation in the dressing room.
With the Foster family indulging her every whim and the Hopkins family backing her, Kira’s temper knew no bounds. She lashed out at everyone, her rage burning hottest when it turned to Laney.
Kira spat, her finger pointing directly at Laney.
“And you, don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been saying behind my back! If you have a problem, stop hiding and speak up!”
Laney opened her eyes slowly, her expression calm despite the storm brewing in front of her.
“I haven’t said a single word,” she said firmly, her voice steady.
“What exactly do you think I said about you?”
Kira’s voice was sharp as she snapped, “It’s exactly because you didn’t say anything that it’s a problem. I’m a better dancer than you, so why didn’t you defend me? Quite the jealous one, aren’t you?”
Laney sighed, too drained to argue. Without a word, she closed her eyes again, hoping to block out Kira’s tirade.
Her indifference only fanned Kira’s fury. Frustrated, Kira glanced around the room, her temper unchecked. The others exchanged uneasy looks, their disdain for Kira’s behavior evident.
Unable to contain her rage, Kira grabbed a bottle of foundation from the table and emptied it over Laney.
Gasps echoed through the room. The unexpected act left everyone stunned-including Laney, who shot up from her chair in shock. She frantically tried to clean the mess, but the damage was done. The creamy foundation had soaked into her tailored costume, leaving it in ruins.
The performance was only moments away, and every outfit had been meticulously prepared for the show.
Desperation flared as Laney reached for makeup remover, but her efforts only made the damage worse.
Kira smirked triumphantly, her voice dripping with mockery.
“What’s the matter? Weren’t you eager to compete with me? Let’s see you perform in that. I’m sure you’ll shine brighter than anyone.”
The tension in the room was palpable. Finally, someone spoke up, their voice filled with frustration.
“Kira, this is too much. The performance is about to start, and you’re dragging everyone down with your nonsense.”
Kira rolled her eyes, scoffing.
“Dragging everyone down? Don’t be ridiculous. We’ll be fine without her.”
Laney looked down at her ruined dress, anger bubbling up inside her. Her chest heaved as she tried to contain the fury that had been building for far too long. She had put up with Kira’s antics to avoid conflict, but this time was different. She couldn’t stay silent anymore.
Laney’s glare was fiery and unrelenting as she locked eyes with Kira. The intensity in her gaze made the room hold its breath.
Kira, unfazed, crossed her arms and sneered.
“What’s this? You want to hit me now? Go ahead-if you’ve got the guts.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Laney stepped forward and slapped Kira across the face.
The room fell silent. Kira stood frozen, her hand slowly rising to her cheek, eyes wide with shock.
Laney, still brimming with anger, glared at Kira.
“I’ll deal with you later,” she said firmly, her voice low but commanding.
Without sparing Kira another glance, Laney turned and left the dressing room. Her mind raced as she tried to figure out how to salvage the situation. She needed a new costume-fast.
Laney instinctively reached for her phone. Cliff’s name was the first on her contact list, and for a fleeting moment, she considered calling him. But she shook the thought away and dialed Gerry instead.
Coincidentally, Cliff was with Gerry, and he overheard the call as it came through.
Hearing the urgency in her voice, Gerry reassured her, “Don’t worry. I’ll get you a dress. There’s bound to be a shop near the theater. I’ll be there soon.”
“Are you sure?” Laney asked, her anxiety spilling into her tone.
“The show starts in an hour. Will it really be in time?”
“An hour is plenty,” Gerry said confidently.
“You’ll see me in half an hour.”
Normally, Gerry wasn’t one to make bold promises. But today, with Cliff behind the wheel, he felt an unshakable sense of assurance.
Cliff, who had been listening silently, didn’t ask any questions. Instead, he quickly pulled up a map, pinpointed nearby costume shops, and headed straight for the closest one. It took him less than twenty minutes to find and purchase a dress.
Gerry peeked into the bag, inspecting the outfit.
“Their outfits are custom-made costumes,” he said, a hint of worry in his voice.
“This one won’t match the others. Won’t that cause problems for Laney?”
Cliff’s expression remained unreadable. His tone was calm but firm.
“I’m the one funding this performance,” he said.