Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Scarlette bit her lip, lost in a maze of conflicting thoughts.
Caden preferred not to hear the painful details. Steadying his voice, he asked gently, “Scarlette, do you still have feelings for Kenji?”
She shook her head, tears glistening in her eyes. “No, I don’t.”
With tender care, Caden brushed away the tears clinging to her lashes. “Take me to see him.”
Scarlette’s heart grew heavy, knowing that her father’s intervention could shatter the delicate alliance with the Reed family. Yet, she felt cornered. The situation between her and Kenji needed closure.
During the drive, a call from Cathleen revealed that Kenji had been hospitalized. Scarlette’s world tilted on its axis when she entered his hospital room and learned that broken glass had severed the tendons in his hand.
Kenji’s ward was packed with visitors.
Scarlette lingered at the back, finding refuge in Alicia’s half-embrace as she peered through gaps in the crowd.
Despite the limited view, Kenji’s eyes unerringly found Scarlette from his perch on the hospital bed. A flicker of concern crossed Scarlette’s heart, but she turned away, letting anger steel her resolve.
Kenji shifted his attention to Caden, who stood before him like an approaching storm. “Mr. Ward,” he greeted.
The greeting had barely left his lips when Caden’s fist connected with Kenji’s face in a devastating blow.
The impact resonated through the room, a sickening crack that suggested splintering bone.
The force sent Kenji reeling backward, his hospital bed screeching several inches across the floor.
Collective gasps filled the air as onlookers froze, none daring to step between the two men.
It took Scarlette precious seconds to process what had happened. “Dad, what are you doing?” she cried out, tears streaming down her face as she instinctively moved to intervene.
But Alicia’s grip was iron-clad, holding Scarlette back.
Scarlette turned to her mother, startled to find her expression as glacial as Caden’s. “Scarlette, your feelings for Kenji are yours to work through,” Alicia said firmly. “Your father is settling accounts for you being mistreated. Just watch.”
On the bed, Kenji gradually pulled himself upright, fighting through waves of pain. He remained still, neither retaliating nor showing anger, his labored breathing escaping through tightly pressed lips.
Caden shook out his throbbing hand with disdain before turning to Ellis. “Mr. Reed, surely you understand tonight’s events. Do you object to my methods?”
Ellis couldn’t raise his eyes from the floor. Knowing how Kenji had treated Scarlette privately, he had no choice but to weather Caden’s fury.
“Since Kenji and Scarlette are engaged, he’s considered part of the Ward family. Mr. Ward, you may act as you see fit,” Ellis replied.
An icy laugh escaped Caden’s lips. “Engaged? You’re still clinging to that notion? Your love for your son is admirable, but my love for my daughter runs deeper. I won’t stand by while a scoundrel mistreats her.” He advanced toward Ellis, his voice devoid of emotion. “There’s nothing left to discuss. Our years of partnership end here. I’ll triple the penalty fee, and from this moment forward, our families are strangers to each other.”
Without allowing room for explanations or pleas, Caden swept out of the room with Alicia and Scarlette in tow.
Kenji listened as Scarlette’s sobs faded into the distance, the color draining from his face. Though he’d anticipated this outcome, the crushing weight of reality far exceeded his expectations. Regret consumed him like a ravenous beast, threatening to suffocate his very soul.
Slowly, Kenji raised his head to meet his father’s gaze.
Caden’s punch had barely scratched the surface of his fury, and Caden had channeled his remaining rage at Ellis. After all, for men of their standing, a wounded pride cut deeper than any physical blow.
Kenji, with half his face swollen, rushed out of the hospital room. He wasn’t doing it only for his parents. He longed to see Scarlette. Kenji knew Caden would not let Scarlette see him again-Caden meant what he said.
Kenji simply could not accept that. Given the chance, he would change his ways.
But Kenji’s body, still weak from surgery and now injured again, could not hold up. As he reached for the elevator, his vision darkened, and he collapsed.
Iker had trailed him and stopped Kenji just in time.
“Kenji, healing should be your priority right now. We’ll find a way to handle the situation. There’s no need to rush things,” Iker advised him.
Kenji leaned against the wall, his eyes red, and everything blurred. He reached his hand to press the elevator button, but Iker grabbed his fist and pulled him back.
“What are you doing? Let go of me!” Kenji snapped.
Iker tightened his grip. With his patience gone, he scolded Kenji harshly, “Now you regret it? What were you thinking when she was still by your side? Who would ever be impressed by this act?”
Kenji’s ears rang with noise, drowning out Iker’s words. He felt completely drained. The pain was so intense that he couldn’t tell if it came from his heart or his wounds. At the peak of his pain, he felt his consciousness slipping away until darkness eventually swallowed him.
Scarlette didn’t go against her father after she was brought back to Warrington. She dared not stir up more trouble, fearing that Caden might retaliate against the Reed family and hurt innocent people. Scarlette also tried to convince herself to stop wasting emotions on Kenji. This seemed the right way to handle things-she just needed time to move on.
Yet, worry crept in the quiet of the night. Scarlette secretly contacted Cathleen to ask about Kenji’s condition. Cathleen assured her that he was doing well and was cooperating with his recovery.
Still, Scarlette needed more. She asked Cathleen to send a photo of Kenji so she could see the damage from his latest injury.
Cathleen called back about fifteen minutes later.
Huddled under her covers, Scarlette answered in a hushed voice, “Hello, hello?”
There was no response at first. Scarlette tapped her phone and said, “Cathleen, I think the signal is bad. I can’t hear you. Please just send me some pictures of him-I need to know he’s okay.”
After a long pause, Kenji’s hoarse voice came through. “I’m fine.”
Scarlette froze, tears stinging her eyes. She bit her lip to hold back a sound.
At her silence, Kenji asked, “Are you listening?”
Scarlette’s heart ached. “I don’t want to talk to you,” she replied softly.
Kenji murmured, “I’m sorry.”
Scarlette did not want to hear any apologies. It was over, and no apology could fix it.
Kenji explained what had happened that day. He explained that he despised the morally repugnant deals he had been forced into, and that was why he had struck back in such a misguided way.
“Scarlette, Cathleen visits the hospital every day. I know everything you tell her. I know I still hold a place in your heart,” Kenji said.
Scarlette protested, “You don’t! I only wanted to check if you were dead, so my dad wouldn’t have to deal with a murder charge.”
Kenji continued, “I’m getting discharged soon. After that, I’ll come to Warrington to find you.”
“Don’t you dare!” Scarlette snapped.
After the call ended, Scarlette, her harsh words still fresh on her tongue, broke down in tears.
The next day, Scarlette went downstairs for breakfast with swollen eyes and her head bowed.
Caden immediately knew what was happening. He had worked hard to cheer her up and help her forget Kenji. Yet, she had been pretending to move on while her spirit was fading-she looked thinner and smiled less.
This could not go on. Caden decided on a new plan. He carefully chose a man to replace Kenji in Scarlette’s life.
At first, Scarlette resisted and refused to meet this man. But she had no better options, and she couldn’t stay unhappy forever.
After much thought, Scarlette agreed to her father’s suggestion to meet the man.
Scarlette dressed carefully to meet Roscoe Chavez, the man in question. He was an heir from a scholarly family, handsome and exceptionally gentle. From the moment they met until they…
When they entered the restaurant, Roscoe stayed by her side, attentive but without any physical contact-unlike Kenji, who had been a complete rogue.
Scarlette focused on enjoying the meal and tried to relax.
Roscoe drove her home before nightfall.
Scarlette asked, “What do you think of me?”
Roscoe smiled and replied, “You have no flaws.”
Distracted, Scarlette said, “I know you were forced to date me. You hide it well, but sometimes, when you zone out, I can tell you’re thinking of someone else.”
Roscoe was taken aback and said little.
As they neared the Ward family home, Roscoe stopped the car. His emotions were unclear.
Scarlette continued, “I also have someone I can’t forget. He’s annoying, but I used to like him, and I just can’t shake the memory.”
Roscoe shifted the topic. “Miss Ward, let me walk you in.”
When they got out of the car, Scarlette gathered her courage and took his hand.
Roscoe stiffened but ultimately didn’t refuse.
Scarlette felt nothing as she held his hand, so she leaned into him, seeking to feel something. Roscoe gently embraced her.
After a short pause, Scarlette mumbled, “You’re both men. Why does hugging you feel so different from hugging him?”
Roscoe whispered back, “Because you only like him.”
“I don’t like him,” Scarlette protested, her voice trembling with hurt.
“I hate him.” Roscoe patted her back comfortingly and said softly, “My beloved is also flawed.”
They held each other quietly for a while. Then, as Roscoe was about to let go, he noticed a black car parked under a large tree across the street. A man sat in the driver’s seat, his gaze fixed on them as if he wished to tear Roscoe apart.
Scarlette felt Roscoe pause and turned to look. She froze immediately when she saw who it was. Kenji had indeed come to find her.
Roscoe could immediately deduce the identity of the man inside the car from Scarlette’s rigid posture. “Is that the man you despise?” he asked softly, releasing his grip.
Scarlette stood paralyzed, her eyes fixed on Kenji through the car window as if time itself had frozen.
Neither Scarlette nor Kenji dared break the suffocating silence between them.
Scarlette’s heart waged a war within, hatred clashing against longing. Despite everything, she found herself searching Kenji’s face for signs of recovery, desperately hoping he’d step forward, acknowledge his wrongs, and beg for the forgiveness she wasn’t sure she could give. Yet, Kenji remained as still as a statue, his penetrating gaze holding hers captive. His eyes spoke volumes-love intertwined with fury, and beneath it all, a silent challenge.