Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Cliff, who had been quietly observing the conversation, finally spoke.
“Mom, you shouldn’t jump to conclusions like that. That’s unfair.”
Madison shot him a curious look.
“Why are you so defensive, Cliff? I wasn’t saying you were gay.”
Cliff’s face darkened, and he fell silent again.
Meanwhile, Gerry, who had been sitting back and enjoying the drama, couldn’t hold back anymore. He burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking with amusement.
Madison turned to Gerry with a mix of confusion and annoyance.
“What’s so funny all of a sudden, you rascal?”
Cliff, feeling irritable, blurted out, “Maybe it’s because Gerry likes men.”
Madison gasped, utterly shocked by the comment.
Gerry, who had been laughing just a moment ago, froze, his amusement evaporating. But instead of defending himself, he decided to drag Cliff into the chaos. With a smirk, he said, “If that’s the case, Cliff, don’t bother locking your door tonight. Let’s have a good time.”
Later, when they were alone, Gerry decided to confront Cliff.
“Alright, out with it. Why do you dislike Merrick so much?”
Cliff’s face remained impassive.
“Because he’s not good enough for her.”
“Laney.”
“Really?” Gerry raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.
“Or are you just uneasy about the whole thing?”
Cliff scoffed.
“Why would I feel uneasy?”
“Because you’re scared,” Gerry said, leaning in.
“Scared that Laney might actually like someone else and stop liking you.”
Cliff sneered.
“If she can move on and like someone else, that would be the best thing for me.”
Gerry raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, come on, Cliff. Drop the act. You’re so tied up inside that you don’t even know what you want.”
Gerry said seriously, “Cliff, let me give you some advice. Laney isn’t like other girls. She’s pure-hearted, and she’s been in love with you for three years. She’s not going to move on so easily. If you truly care about her, don’t give her false hope. A girl like her won’t hold a grudge if she’s heartbroken-she’ll just cry. And when she does, you’re going to feel bad. Isn’t that right?”
For the first time, Cliff had failed to find any comeback. Gerry’s words had hit too close to home.
Cliff spent the rest of the evening in solitude, his mind racing. By the time he came back to his senses, the house was quiet. His parents had gone to bed, but the warm glow of the living room lights still lit the space downstairs. Curious, he descended the staircase and found Laney sitting alone on the sofa, her phone pressed to her ear. It was early autumn, and the cool breeze from an open window made the room feel crisp.
Yet, Laney was dressed lightly.
Cliff grabbed one of his jackets from the rack and walked toward her. As he approached, he overheard bits of her conversation. She was talking to Merrick.
Merrick’s voice was audible even from where Cliff stood. Merrick was clearly trying to keep the conversation lively, but Laney seemed distracted, offering only occasional, half-hearted responses.
The moment Laney noticed Cliff, she ended the call abruptly.
“Cliff,” she said softly, looking up at him.
Cliff noticed the faint discomfort on Laney’s face. Thinking she was cold, he silently draped his jacket over her shoulders.
Laney pulled it tighter around herself, her gaze lingering on him, steady and unyielding.
Their proximity brought back memories-moments they’d shared that felt too intimate to be proper. Yet, Cliff didn’t pull away, and their eyes stayed locked as the silence stretched between them.
Laney finally broke it.
“What do you think of Merrick?”
Cliff’s jaw tightened, his lips pressing into a thin line.
“Why are you asking? Do you like him?”
Laney shook her head, a faint, strained smile on her face.
“No, but I can’t keep torturing myself forever.”
She hesitated before continuing, her voice quieter now.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I heard everything you said to Gerry.”
Cliff froze. Her words left his thoughts spinning, his chest tightening as an inexplicable buzz filled his ears. A dozen things to say ran through his mind, but none of them made it past his lips. He simply stood there, rooted to the spot. What should he say? He didn’t know. All he could focus on was the redness in Laney’s eyes, which left him feeling strangely uneasy.
After a pause, he finally said, “Even so, there’s no need to rush. Merrick isn’t the right one for you. You can take your time. There are better people out there.”
Laney looked at him with questioning eyes.
“What makes you think Merrick isn’t good enough?”
Cliff exhaled sharply, his tone edged with dismissal.
“Because his feelings are shallow.”
Laney’s voice wavered as she replied, “Is falling in love at first sight shallow?” She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper.
“Cliff, I fell for you at first sight, too.”
Cliff’s words lingered in Laney’s mind: “Create new memories to heal from the past.”
Taking his advice to heart, Laney began spending more time with Merrick. Though she hoped her interactions with him would help her move on from Cliff, she wasn’t in a rush. For over a month, their outings remained simple-a few shared meals, nothing more. Merrick, known for his fleeting romances, found Laney’s reserved nature both frustrating and captivating. Her steady pace kept him intrigued, and despite his usual impatience, he restrained himself, following her lead and respecting her boundaries.
That evening, they sat by the sea, watching fireworks light up the night sky. The brilliant colors reflected in Laney’s eyes, making them sparkle like crystal-gentle, mesmerizing, and utterly captivating.
Merrick found himself unable to look away. His heart raced as he longed to bridge the distance between them.
“Laney,” he murmured, leaning closer with a pleading expression.
“It’s been so long. Can’t I have just a little affection?”
Laney turned to meet his gaze, her expression calm but thoughtful. She understood what he wanted, and after all this time, she reasoned, a kiss wasn’t an unreasonable request. Yet, despite her growing efforts to build something new with Merrick, thoughts of Cliff constantly intruded. Her feelings for him, though buried, burned fiercely, leaving no room in her heart for anyone else.
Noticing her silence, Merrick took it as consent and leaned in, his lips just inches from hers.
“I promise. No tongue, just a gentle touch,” he said softly.
Just as he was about to kiss her, Laney raised a hand, stopping him in his tracks.
“Merrick,” she said, her voice steady as her gaze dropped to his neck.
He froze, puzzled.
“What is it? Is there something on my neck?”
“Yes, a bite mark.”
Merrick’s face fell as he instinctively touched the spot. A few days earlier, after a night of drinking, he’d had a fling. While he’d been honest with the woman about seeing someone, she’d taken liberties he couldn’t fully recall.
Now exposed, Merrick felt more amused than embarrassed. But he knew better than to press for a kiss now.
Laney turned back to the fireworks, unfazed.
“It’s fine,” she said simply. Even Merrick, as carefree as he was, could tell her mind was elsewhere. Her demeanor suggested she was lost in thought, far from the moment they were sharing..
Merrick hinted at thoughts of someone else.
“Is your heart already set on someone?” he asked.
Laney didn’t hesitate and nodded.
Merrick chuckled, his curiosity piqued.
“No wonder,” he said, pulling her gently into his arms.
“Don’t catch a cold, little swan.”
Cliff had yet to finalize a date for his engagement to Juliet, leaving her increasingly anxious. The delay wasn’t just about the wedding-it also stalled the tunnel project Cliff had promised her.
Each time Juliet tried to discuss it with Cliff, he brushed her off, claiming to be busy. The excuses were endless.
Adding to Juliet’s frustration, Orlando was growing impatient.
“Juliet, we can’t delay the tunnel project any longer. If we do, the truth will eventually come out.”
Juliet’s face tightened.