Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Studying her tear-stained face, Cliff’s mind wandered to their first encounter at the Hopkins estate. She had hidden shyly behind her mother, her voice barely above a whisper: “Cliff, I’m Laney.”
He had responded with formal politeness: “Mm, I’m your cousin. From now on, you’re like a sister to me.”
Four years had transformed everything. Now, he claimed her as his own.
“From this moment forward, you belong to me, my love,” he breathed against her skin.
Forbidden pleasures had transformed Cliff into someone Laney barely recognized.
In his lucid moments, Cliff was the embodiment of kindness-devotedly caring for his younger family members and helping others without seeking recognition.
Yet, after experiencing the intoxicating sensation of being with Laney, his desires evolved into an endless void, a bottomless pit that consumed his very soul.
Laney, innocent and delicate as morning dew, crumbled under his intensity after their first encounter, surrendering completely to his will.
Though his words dripped with honey, his actions made it clear that he had no intentions of stopping, deaf to her tearful pleas.
After two relentless hours in the bathroom, Cliff finally granted her respite, his sanity returning as he unwound the silk ribbons from her trembling form. He had chosen genuine silk for its decadent softness, determined to protect her delicate skin. Yet, her fragility, combined with his unrestrained passion, had left crimson marks across her flesh.
With reverent gentleness, Cliff pressed his lips to each tender mark before carrying her to the waiting bed.
Laney, believing the storm had passed, finally allowed her tears to flow freely.
Understanding her tendency toward tears, Cliff deftly brushed them away, murmuring, “Conserve your strength. We’re far from finished.”
His words sent shivers down Laney’s spine, her body trembling uncontrollably.
“No,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, but Cliff, his eyes blazing with desire, silenced her with an unforgiving kiss.
Though tears streamed down Laney’s cheeks, resistance had long abandoned her, leaving her entirely at his mercy.
Laney slept until the following afternoon, exhaustion claiming her completely.
Cliff kept vigil beside her, watching for the moment her eyes would flutter open.
Never had Laney experienced such profound fatigue-even after waking, her gaze remained distant, lost in a fog for hours.
When Cliff returned, he brought nourishing broth, cradling her in his lap as he carefully fed her.
Laney’s eyes remained swollen, her cascading hair failing to conceal the constellation of marks adorning her skin-a portrait of fragile beauty that only heightened her allure. She wound her slender arms around him, breathing his name.
“Cliff…”
His fingers threaded through her hair with infinite tenderness, his eyes pools of affection.
“Did you sleep well?”
As clarity crept back into her mind, Laney remembered his unrestrained passion from the previous night. She withdrew her hand with a sullen pout.
Cliff’s grip on her waist tightened possessively.
“Eat first, and then you can be mad at me.”
Her stomach betrayed her with an audible growl. The soup before her brimmed with all her favorite ingredients, and despite her resistance, she found herself accepting each spoonful.
After several mouthfuls, tears began rolling down her cheeks unbidden.
“Is it too hot?” Cliff’s voice carried genuine concern.
Laney shook her head, her voice thick with emotion.
“It hurts.”
“I’ll apply some soothing balm later. The pain will fade soon.”
Cliff kissed away her tears, his heart constricting at her distress.
“Don’t cry.”
“Can we not do it again?” Laney’s voice emerged as a pleading whisper.
Cliff’s gentle response carried an unmistakable finality.
“No.”
Words failed Laney completely.
After finishing two bowls of soup, Cliff prepared additional nourishing dishes for her.
Laney managed a few more bites before drifting off in his protective embrace.
With her youth, her resilient body began healing swiftly. By the time Cliff applied medication before bedtime, significant improvement was evident.
Watching him meticulously apply the soothing balm, Laney squirmed with embarrassment.
“Isn’t it done yet?” she urged softly.
“The balm needs to melt to be properly absorbed,” Cliff explained matter-of-factly.
A deep blush colored her cheeks.
“It’ll melt on its own soon…”
Noticing her trembling legs, Cliff’s gaze lifted to meet hers.
Fearing his scrutiny, Laney forced herself to relax, willing her nerves to steady. But her face, flushed as ripe cherries, revealed everything her words didn’t.
Cliff rose with a knowing smirk.
“I’ll need to apply it again later.”
Laney’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Why?”
“The balm I just applied got washed away with your water.”
She froze, comprehension dawning. Mortified beyond words, she burrowed deep into the blankets, seeking refuge from his intense gaze.
During Laney’s recovery period, Cliff brought her to the Hopkins family estate, determined to oversee her care personally.
In his role as the elder cousin, Cliff paid a visit to the Acosta family, intending to inform Karina, Merrick’s father, that Laney and Merrick had parted ways due to irreconcilable differences-a gentle fiction to spare the elders any concern.
Cliff’s timing proved remarkable-upon entering, he witnessed Merrick frantically dodging his father’s pursuit through the house.
Karina’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she explained to Cliff, “That foolish boy got a girl pregnant and is trying to dodge responsibility! Please forgive the unseemly display.”
Cliff, no stranger to family drama, responded with a subtle smile.
“Was there something you needed, Mr. Hopkins?” Karina inquired.
“Nothing that can’t wait. Please, attend to your family matters,” Cliff replied diplomatically.
Back at the Hopkins residence, Cliff shared the unexpected revelation with his family.
Madison’s voice rang with surprise.
“To think Merrick would stoop so low! We clearly misjudged his character. Laney, darling, don’t let this discourage you. When fate closes one door, it opens another. I know just the person-“
Before she could suggest Cliff, Laney interjected, biting her lower lip, “Madison, I’m not ready to consider dating anyone right now.”
Beneath her words simmered unspoken resentment toward Cliff. She refused to give him the satisfaction of becoming her official boyfriend so easily. She resolved to let him taste a bit of frustration first.
Cliff, ever composed, said, “Laney’s only twenty-three. There’s no need to rush into anything. We can revisit the topic of relationships later.”
Madison’s gaze flickered between the two of them. Something lurked beneath the surface, tugging at Madison’s intuition, though she couldn’t quite grasp what it was.
After dinner, as Cliff busied himself washing fruit and Laney retreated upstairs for a phone call, Madison huddled with her younger son and husband.
“I’d wager a hundred thousand that Cliff and Laney have rekindled their connection.”
Philip shook his head skeptically.
“Doubtful. If they’d reconciled, why would Laney maintain such distance from Cliff?”
Gerry abstained from the bet, his curiosity piqued by something else entirely.
“Has Cliff discovered some fountain of youth? He seems to have shed years from his shoulders lately.”
“It can’t be medicine-Cliff abhors the stuff,” Madison mused.
“He must have found something particularly rejuvenating.”
Meanwhile, upstairs, Cliff was indeed savoring something that brought him remarkable vitality.
“I can barely feel anything anymore,” Laney whispered, her head tilted back, a soft whimper escaping her lips as they tingled from his passionate attention.
When Cliff gentled his approach, she gazed at him with barely concealed longing, fighting the urge to beg him to continue-her pride wouldn’t allow him that satisfaction.
Rather than withdrawing, Cliff selected a plump cherry from the fruit plate.
“Care for one?”