Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Her mouth parched from their kisses, Laney nodded eagerly.
The thoughtfully pitted cherries proved a sweet mercy, and she savored them one after another, relishing their cool juice.
“Aren’t you going to have any cherries, Cliff?” she asked, curiosity coloring her voice.
His eyes traced her curves with unveiled appreciation as he replied smoothly, “Oh, I will, but the cherries I desire aren’t on this plate.”
Laney blinked innocently, leaning forward to peer at his other hand.
“Where else would they be?”
The taste of Laney’s cherries lingered as Cliff pulled away, leaving Laney with tears streaming down her face.
His eyes swept over her with clinical precision before clicking his tongue.
“Why are you so sensitive? I wasn’t even going rough.”
Unable to curse, Laney could only meet his gaze, her tear-filled glare speaking volumes of unspoken words.
After a moment of gentle consolation, Cliff disappeared, returning with a band-aid in hand.
The constant friction from the fabric had irritated her skin beyond what simple ointment could heal, making the band-aid the more practical solution.
With careful attention, Cliff helped her adjust her disheveled clothing. A crimson blush crept up to Laney’s ears as she whispered, “I need to change my pants too.”
The dampness had become unbearably uncomfortable.
Darkness flickered in Cliff’s eyes.
“If the top is torn, then…”
Laney’s hand shot up, quickly covering his mouth.
Cliff’s teasing was harmless enough-with family still awake in the house, he was content with playful banter rather than pursuing anything further.
Once he had thoroughly pampered her back to comfort, he asked, “Whose call did you take earlier?” The memory of a man’s voice nagged at him.
“Merrick,” Laney answered simply.
A frown creased Cliff’s features, displeasure evident.
“Why are you still in contact with him?”
“We’re friends. Keeping in touch is perfectly normal,” she replied.
“He was actually venting about his dad hitting him, asking for my opinion on the situation. But how could I side with him? He brought it on himself by being careless and refusing to take responsibility. He is such a jerk.”
Cliff’s disapproval of Merrick was clearly written across his face.
“Stay away from such immature troublemakers,” he warned sternly.
“They’re nothing but a bad influence.”
“He’s actually a decent friend,” Laney responded truthfully.
“Kailyn enjoys spending time with him too.”
“He’s just pretending.”
Laney glanced at him, recognizing his upset tone but determined to stand her ground rather than yield.
Seeking to lighten the mood, she changed the subject.
“Hey, I feel like having some cherries.”
Two weeks slipped by like sand through an hourglass.
As the marks on Laney’s body finally faded, she returned to performing, while Cliff remained entangled in handling the Foster family affairs.
Their days, filled with their respective responsibilities, kept them both occupied.
Merrick managed to catch one of Laney’s performances. Afterwards, he appeared backstage, his usual vibrancy replaced by an air of dejection and frequent sighs.
Seeing him so uncharacteristically down stirred concern in Laney.
“What’s wrong?”
Dark circles shadowed Merrick’s eyes as he confessed, “Remember that woman who was pregnant with my child? My parents are forcing me to marry her.”
“Why not agree? You should take responsibility.”
“I did agree, but a few days ago I discovered she was back with her ex-boyfriend.”
Laney’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“What?”
“It’s not a big deal. I’m no saint either. I could accept us living separate lives after marriage.”
Running his fingers through his disheveled hair, Merrick continued, his voice heavy with frustration.
“When I caught them, I wasn’t even expecting her to change. I just wanted her to be discreet about it. My reputation’s on the line here, and it would be humiliating if word got out. But you know what she told me? She claimed the child isn’t even mine-it’s her ex-boyfriend’s.”
Laney stood there, words failing her.
“I’m still so young,” Merrick’s voice cracked with despair.
“How could she do this to me?”
Before she could stop herself, Laney’s sharp tongue got the better of her.
“Isn’t this sort of drama par for the course in your social circle? If you were a woman, you’d probably be pregnant every month, struggling to keep track of potential fathers.”
Merrick’s shoulders slumped as he let out a weary sigh.
“Laney, if you can’t offer any comfort, just don’t.”
“Alright.”
Though Merrick had come seeking solace, Laney’s words only left him with heavier thoughts to wrestle with.
Seeking escape from his troubles, Merrick decided to channel his frustrations into something more exhilarating. A few days later, he extended an invitation to a group of friends, including Laney, to watch him compete in a car race.
Having heard whispers of Merrick’s reputation in the racing circuit, curiosity got the better of Laney, and she found herself agreeing to attend. Then, a sobering thought crossed her mind: Cliff might not take kindly to this.
Though their relationship status remained undefined, Laney understood the depth of her feelings. She knew that with Cliff, their little power struggles were merely surface-level dances. When it came to matters of real importance, she felt compelled to keep him informed, wanting to prevent any unnecessary misunderstandings.
When Laney sought out Cliff, he had just returned from an out-of-province trip. She found him still wearing his suit, the fabric carrying the crisp bite of early autumn air, his face bearing the subtle signs of travel fatigue.
Dinner time was approaching, and Cliff had already secured reservations at a nearby five-star establishment, where he planned to take Laney.
Such outings were a rare treat-Cliff usually preferred to cook for them himself, being particularly discriminating about food and quick to point out flaws in others’ cooking.
Laney felt thoroughly spoiled by his attention. Whenever she looked at him, it was as if she viewed him through a rose-tinted lens, her heart skipping beats like a lovesick teenager.
“Cliff, you seem like a dependable partner.”
Cliff’s mind immediately jumped to interpret “dependable partner” as “a divorced man.”
She added, “No, no-more like a mature husband.”
He was like a reliable and secure support. Cliff asked, “Do you like it?”
Laney snorted.
“Not at all.”
Rather than immediately bringing up the race, she steered Cliff toward the mall first, sweetening him up with the promise of a gift.
Though Cliff wanted for nothing, the idea of his girl wanting to buy him something sparked an eagerness in him as they browsed the luxury displays.
A watch caught his attention, its design both sophisticated and understated. The piece was crafted from a specialized metal, boasting skin-nourishing properties.
A shadow of desire flickered across Cliff’s eyes before he instructed the clerk to wrap it.
Laney watched with satisfaction-he looked good in everything anyway-as she happily completed the purchase.
Cliff held out his wrist, asking her to fasten it herself.
“Now, tell me what you want from me?” His voice carried a knowing edge.
Laney blinked, caught off guard.
“Well… It’s nothing major. Merrick’s participating in a car race next week, and he asked me to cheer for him. Will you be there?”
Cliff had expected something more significant, given that she’d taken the initiative to buy him a present. But he wasn’t about to let an old rival steal the spotlight unchallenged.
“I’ll go,” he replied without hesitation.
Dawn broke on race day as Laney meticulously prepared herself, selecting a skirt that perfectly complemented Cliff’s outfit. Her heart fluttered with anticipation.
To her surprise, it was Cliff’s head driver who arrived at her doorstep.