Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“We slept together.”
The revelation shocked everyone.
Ellis’ expression darkened further as his fists clenched, the sound of cracking knuckles filling the air. Yet, Kenji’s laughter grew even more aggressive.
“Don’t stress. She told me I don’t need to take responsibility. You don’t need to worry about upsetting the Ward family. And one more thing, no one can dictate who I marry. If anyone tries to force me, I’ll cut all ties with them. I’m serious.”
With that, Kenji stormed out without looking back.
For a long moment, silence filled the dining room. Ellis, usually so authoritative, seemed utterly drained and remained quiet. Jaida looked at Ellis with concern, exhaling a defeated sigh.
Jaida gently reassured Sylvia, suggesting that she take some time to herself in her room.
Next, Jaida began to methodically organize the scattered photos on the table. She turned toward Ellis and said, “I’ve made arrangements for someone to deal with the paparazzo, making sure they won’t breathe a word of Kenji’s kiss with Scarlette.”
Then, Jaida casually slid the photos into a drawer, seated herself next to Ellis, and comforted him as he took heavy breaths.
“Let it go, Ellis. Remember, we began this whole thing wanting only the best for Kenji. Seeing him unhappy wasn’t part of our plan, was it?”
Ellis’s expression was somber as he intertwined his fingers with his wife’s.
Kenji switched off his phone and locked himself in the laboratory, dedicating himself to his work both day and night. It wasn’t until the third day of being out of touch that his older brother, Iker Reed, came to find him.
Kenji and his father had often argued, with Iker always stepping in to intervene. Iker held an important role in their family, earning Kenji’s respect as a mature and reliable elder brother while being regarded by their father as the dependable eldest son. He fulfilled each of these roles perfectly.
Despite feeling unfair, Kenji held no resentment toward his brother. So, when Iker took a seat next to him, Kenji greeted him stiffly, “Iker, when did you return to the country?”
The brothers looked incredibly alike, almost as if they were reflections of one another. Recently, Kenji had come into his own, carrying himself with a newfound handsome and authoritative air, whereas Iker, seasoned by more varied experiences, shared a look similar to Ellis’ but with a more rugged appeal.
“I just arrived this morning,” Iker answered.
“It’s late. Have you eaten anything yet?”
Kenji answered, “I don’t have much of an appetite.”
Iker got straight to the point.
“Why not come home and have dinner with me?”
Thinking of Ellis, Kenji felt a pang of fear after his impulsive words a few days ago. Ellis would surely give him a sound beating for uttering those words.
“No,” Kenji refused.
Iker, much like Jaida, preferred negotiating over confrontation. He brought up the topic of the arranged marriage.
“Mom showed me a photo of that girl. She’s quite attractive. What’s not to like about her?”
Kenji replied, “Iker, do you care for and marry Cathleen Perry just because she’s attractive?”
“Yes.”
Kenji’s mouth twitched.
“Is that the only reason?”
Iker laughed, realizing the point his brother was making, and replied sincerely, “Cathleen and I have known each other since childhood. My affection for her is deep, second only to my family. It’s not the same as your situation with Scarlette from the Ward family.”
Kenji responded, “You’ve never really gotten to know Scarlette. Once you do, you might change your mind.”
Iker frowned.
“Kenji, it’s not right to speak poorly of others.”
Kenji hadn’t even shared the full story yet. He waved dismissively.
“Anyway, if I end up marrying her, my happy days are over.”
Iker chose not to argue and shifted the topic.
“You’ve been holed up in the lab for days. Are you aware of the major news happening outside?”
Kenji asked, “What’s going on? Did something happen to our dad? Did he fall ill because he was so upset?”
“Not really.”
Iker raised an eyebrow, pointing to another matter.
“The bar you visited a few nights ago had an incident the evening you left.”
Kenji’s expression turned serious.
“What happened?”
“Some of your friends were caught with illegal drugs. I did some digging. You were supposed to be involved, but luckily…”
Luckily, Kenji had been making out with Scarlette at that time, which kept him out of trouble.
Before Kenji could fully understand, Iker continued, “Kenji, this isn’t the first time you’ve narrowly escaped trouble, thanks to Scarlette.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“When you were five, you and our parents had gone to watch a meteor shower. A bridge on the must-go path collapsed. Just because Scarlette had thrown a tantrum, you all didn’t drive down that bridge, dodging a bullet.”
Kenji felt his heart pound.
“Iker, it was just a coincidence.”
Iker continued, “Before you turned five, you were frequently ill and accident-prone. Our parents tried every possible remedy until a fortuneteller predicted that someone would bring you luck and change your fate. Since then, things have been different.”
Kenji was skeptical.
“You’re not saying it’s Scarlette, are you?”
“Yes, it is.”
Iker, expecting his brother’s skepticism, added, “You’ve claimed our dad pushed you into the arranged marriage with the Ward family for the company’s advantage. That confuses me. Why would you think that?”
The Reed Group was significantly more powerful than the Ward Group. The Reed family had no strategic need for a marriage alliance. However, Iker’s visit today wasn’t meant to blame his brother. It was about revealing some truths.
At Kenji’s silence, Iker continued.
“Since you were little, you frequently fell ill and often found yourself in dangerous situations. Because of this, our parents practically micromanaged your life, always wary of any accidents befalling you. Throughout your rebellious teenage years, almost no day passed without you arguing with our dad, yet our parents continued to look out for you. You and our dad share a similar stubbornness and unruly nature. However, in his youth, our dad achieved more and carried a stronger sense of pride than you do now. Apart from our mom, he answered to no one.”
“It is well known that the Ward family cherishes their daughter, nurturing her with great affection and luxury. They would normally never consider a marriage alliance. But, our dad has been courting their favor for over ten years, all to arrange your marriage. You may think his persistence is ridiculous, but if our parents weren’t at their wit’s end, why would they have resorted to believing the fortuneteller’s words that Scarlette would bring you luck?”
Upon hearing this, Kenji lowered his gaze, his heart skipping a beat with bitterness.
“They never shared any of this with me.”
Iker’s eyes dimmed slightly.
“The first time you had an accident, you were only three and a half years old. It was a minor car crash, and you were the only one knocked unconscious. When our dad lifted you from the wreckage, you weren’t breathing. Ignoring his own safety, he ran through traffic to the hospital. As you were rushed into surgery, he fell to his knees, overwhelmed, unable to stand for a long while. That was the first time I witnessed our dad truly frightened.”
“Our parents love the three of us equally. However, because you endured more hardships as a child, our dad holds a special fondness for you. Kenji, love can sometimes weigh heavily. We’ve kept these secrets from you until now. I’m telling you this because you’re twenty-one years old, and it’s time you started making your own decisions.”
The autumn sun had set by the time Kenji returned home. Inside, the warmth and chatter of the family filled the air, masking the tension of the day. Jaida casually mentioned that Ellis, having urgent matters to attend to, had taken an early dinner before retreating to his study.
Kenji’s fork hovered over his favorite dish. The familiar flavors of Ellis’ careful preparation-his father knew all too well his poor eating habits when away-made his heart heavy.
With a sigh, Kenji rushed through his dinner before heading toward the study. Jaida watched him disappear down the hallway, recognizing the resignation in his steps. Though this was what she’d hoped for, an unexpected ache caught in her throat.
As the evening drew to a close, Iker prepared to depart with his wife.
“Mom, we all know Kenji’s temperament. He might lock horns with Dad for a while yet. I’ll be settling in the countryside for the next few years. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything,” Iker said, intertwining his fingers with his wife’s as they stepped into their car. Cathleen, nestled in the passenger seat, flashed a radiant smile and waved goodbye to Jaida.
“Go inside, Jaida. The night air has teeth,” Iker added.
Though Jaida nodded, her feet remained rooted to the spot. As the engine purred to life, Cathleen cast a sidelong glance at her husband, a smile playing on her lips.
“You handled that masterfully today,” she said.
Iker’s face lit up with pride.
“Might that earn me a reward tonight, my dear?”
Cathleen’s cheeks bloomed pink as she toyed with a strand of her long hair.
“Patience, darling. You’ll find out when we’re home.”
The study welcomed Kenji with its familiar warmth and the soothing aroma of aged books. Ellis sat at his desk, engrossed in documents.
“Dad,” Kenji’s voice broke the silence.
Ellis remained fixed on his papers, his silence speaking volumes. Like mirror images, father and son stood their ground-each harboring forgiveness yet maintaining their pride behind stern expressions. Understanding his position, Kenji swallowed his pride and calmly acknowledged his missteps to his father.
When his words faded, the room fell into a weighted silence.
Ellis finally raised his eyes.
“Is that all? Nothing more profound to offer?”
Kenji’s lips pressed into a thin line as he struggled with the apology.