Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Caden’s gaze dropped to the floor. “Who’s to say it’s not all for show?”
“Oh, come now,” Alicia sighed. “Scarlette has your genes. No matter how naive she might seem, she wouldn’t fall for a simple act. The way she’s drawn to Kenji… there must be genuine goodness in him.”
Caden remained silent, his thoughts unreadable.
When Kenji pulled Scarlette into an embrace and kissed her, Caden turned away, his expression guarded. “Honey, I need to step out for a while.”
“The virus is spreading like wildfire,” Alicia said, worry evident in her voice. “There’s talk of a citywide lockdown. It’s not safe here. Kenji should return to Banta.”
“Alright.” Caden intertwined his fingers gently with hers. “I can’t say when I’ll return. Don’t come looking for me unless you hear directly from me.”
Alicia’s eyes lowered, her unease palpable in her silence.
Though Kenji had heard rumors about the virus, his primary concerns lay elsewhere. With Scarlette’s recent illness, his place was firmly at her side, caring for her. Truth be told, even if she were perfectly healthy, nothing could pull him away-not until he’d earned her forgiveness.
“Is Mr. Ward heading to the laboratory?” Kenji inquired. “Perhaps I could be of assistance?”
Alicia shook her head firmly. “Thanks, but no. It’s far too dangerous. The hospitals haven’t developed any effective treatments yet-that’s exactly why he must go.”
Kenji’s expression darkened. The virus hadn’t struck without warning. A wave of deaths had preceded this moment. Although emergency treatments had temporarily slowed the crisis, infected patients faced a grueling path, with full recovery far from certain. One of his former colleagues, a senior researcher who had worked alongside him on related experiments, had attempted to exploit the crisis for profit and was now facing legal repercussions.
“I have experience in this field,” Kenji said earnestly. “I might be able to help. Mr. Ward shouldn’t shoulder this burden alone. My expertise could prove valuable.”
“I trust he can resolve this. I just worry…” Alicia replied, her voice trailing off. Anxiety gnawed at her heart-the thought of him working in close proximity to deadly pathogens, the constant risk of infection hanging over him like a dark cloud.
Kenji’s resolve hardened upon hearing this. “I’ll assist Mr. Ward with the research.”
“What about Scarlette?” Alicia protested, concern evident in her voice. “You’ve only just found your way back to each other. This separation… and you don’t even know when you’ll return. Please, don’t worry. Caden has Roscoe’s support. They’ll manage this.”
Kenji’s head snapped up, suddenly alert. “Roscoe is there?”
He pressed his lips together tightly. That clever fox-always working diligently behind the scenes.
“Yes,” Alicia confirmed with a nod. “He’s as stubborn as ever. I couldn’t dissuade him.”
“Then I must go,” Kenji declared without hesitation.
Before departing, Kenji chose not to reveal the full truth to Scarlette. Instead, he crafted a gentler explanation-mentioning an experiment that demanded his attention and would keep him away for some time.
With Alicia’s silent cooperation reinforcing the facade, Scarlette accepted his explanation without question. Yet, nothing prepared her for the reality as his absence stretched into months.
As time passed, news of the virus filtered through media channels. Though the authorities carefully controlled the information, Scarlette managed to piece together enough to comprehend the grave dangers involved in Kenji and Caden’s experimental work.
“Mom…” Scarlette’s voice quivered. “If they get infected… is there really no cure?” Her eyes, already swollen and reddened from hours of crying, filled once more with tears. “Why did they still go, knowing it’s so dangerous?”
Alicia drew her daughter close, gently stroking her head with maternal tenderness. “Have faith, darling. Your father is more than capable. He’ll return to us soon.”
“Can I call him?” Scarlette asked, uncertainty evident in her voice. “I miss him so much… and Kenji too.”
Alicia had only managed a few brief conversations with Caden. His workload had eased slightly recently, prompting her to send him a message to lift Scarlette’s spirits. His response came swiftly, arriving as a video call.
Scarlette’s heart quickened as the screen flickered to life, but instead of her father’s familiar face, she found herself staring at Kenji.
Kenji was barely recognizable beneath layers of protective equipment, his form completely shrouded except for a pair of weary, bloodshot eyes visible through his visor.
The sight of him made her heart constrict painfully. “Kenji,” she whispered, his name carrying all her unspoken worries.
Kenji’s gaze locked onto her face through the digital divide, studying her intently. “Who made you cry? Your eyes are swollen.”
Scarlette’s lower lip trembled as she fought to contain fresh tears. “When are you coming back?”
Kenji fell silent, the weight of uncertainty heavy on his shoulders. The clinical trials stretched before them like an endless road-their results still pending, their timeline impossible to predict. He slumped in his chair, exhaustion etched across his features, his half-lidded eyes holding a distant, hollow gaze. “Sweetheart, saving lives weighs heavier than I ever imagined.”
The legacy of his mother and grandmother-both renowned for their medical miracles-cast a long shadow over his thoughts. Since childhood, he’d immersed himself in medical studies, carried by the innocent belief that skill alone could make him a savior.
Scarlette sat frozen, words failing her.
“Are you alone?” Kenji asked softly.
Alicia rose from her seat, overhearing the conversation. “I’ll fetch you some water.”
Once alone, Scarlette lowered her phone’s volume. “What’s troubling you? Is something wrong?”
“You could say that,” Kenji replied.
Scarlette’s heart fluttered anxiously. “Tell me.”
“I have regrets,” he whispered, voice dropping low. “If I’d known my absence would stretch this long, I would’ve treasured every moment we had together. Damn, I didn’t get enough.”
Scarlette’s tears abruptly ceased, betrayed only by an ungraceful sniffle. Kenji’s near-laugh was cut short by hurried footsteps and a breathless voice.
“It’s bad,” the newcomer stumbled over their words. “Mr. Ward…”
Kenji swiftly ended the call, his tone sharpening. “What about Mr. Ward?”
The messenger stood pale and panting. “Mr. Ward has been infected!”
Kenji arrived at the door, hoping to see Caden, but the medical staff blocked his path, firmly standing their ground.
“Mr. Ward is infectious at the moment,” one of them explained. “It’s better if you don’t go in, Mr. Reed.”
The air was thick with disinfectant mist, but it couldn’t mask the worry etched across Kenji’s face.
“When did he get infected?” Kenji asked, disbelief evident in his voice. “Wasn’t everything fine just yesterday?”
Only a week earlier, they’d successfully developed the first batch of medication. Early results from treated patients had been promising, offering a glimmer of hope. Kenji had even been planning to visit Scarlette soon.
A medical staff member sighed before responding, “Mr. Ward started feeling unwell last night, but he refused to cooperate with the examination and insisted on resting. Just now, we found he’d collapsed with a fever exceeding 104 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s likely he’s been infected for several days.”
Kenji was stunned. “Has the fever subsided?”
“We’ve administered the medication. Now it’s up to Mr. Ward’s condition.”
Despite their reassurances, Kenji felt far from comforted. His frustration boiled over, and he pushed past the staff. “I need to see him!”
The medical team tried to hold him back, but he remained relentless. Only when Roscoe appeared, drawn by the commotion, was Kenji finally restrained.
Roscoe stepped in, instructing the staff to monitor Caden closely, then pulled Kenji aside. “Mr. Ward has been overworking himself, trying to fast-track the medication’s development. He hasn’t rested properly in two months. The exhaustion took its toll, allowing the virus to gain the upper hand.”
Kenji wasn’t interested in explanations. “What about the clinical trials? Does the medication work?”
Roscoe nodded. “It works. Mr. Ward has already been treated. Now, we just have to wait and see if it works on him.”
His tone was calm-too detached, considering the gravity of the situation.
Kenji’s temper flared. “Who can guarantee it’ll cure him? One slip-up and he could die!”
Roscoe finally released Kenji’s arm, irritation seeping into his voice.
“What else can we do but wait?”
Kenji’s lips curled into a mocking smile, his silence speaking volumes.
Roscoe raised an eyebrow. “I know you don’t like me, but I’m not wrong. Don’t look at me like that.”
Kenji scoffed. “You’re afraid of being infected, so you’ll just sit and wait.”
Roscoe shot back, “What else can you do? Go in there and get infected yourself, suffering along with Mr. Ward? I know you want to prove yourself to Scarlette, but you don’t need to risk your life.”
Kenji didn’t waste his breath on a response. He turned sharply, storming away with an icy expression.
Roscoe called after him, “No one wants Mr. Ward to suffer. Everyone’s working on a solution. Why are you so agitated?”
Kenji didn’t hesitate. He suited up in full protective gear, covering every inch of his body, and forced his way into the isolation ward. Caden lay motionless on the hospital bed, breathing slow and shallow. The fever had sunk its claws deep into him, leaving him drifting between consciousness and oblivion.
In the sterile expanse of the laboratory, Caden was the sole infected patient-an island of suffering in an ocean of indifference. No one had come for him. No loyal aide, no concerned friend. Kenji had always known people could be selfish, but this abandonment exceeded anything he had anticipated. Caden was a towering figure in Warrington, yet when the tides turned, he was left to battle the storm alone.
Kenji conducted another examination, meticulously recording every detail.
Caden’s tired eyes fluttered open, recognizing Kenji. “What are you doing here?” His voice was barely a whisper. “You’re throwing yourself into the fire for nothing.”
Kenji’s gaze remained steady, eyes focused and determined behind the visor of his protective gear. “No documented full recoveries exist yet. The experiment must continue. Mr. Ward, since you’ve been infected, I need your samples for further testing. Forgive the intrusion.”
Caden simply observed Kenji without speaking further.
Kenji returned to his work, hands deft, mind unwavering.
The minutes stretched endlessly until Caden finally broke the silence. “Aren’t you afraid of getting infected by me?”
“No.” The word came decisively, devoid of embellishment, solid as stone.
Caden found it oddly reassuring. “Ellis cares about you,” he murmured. “If anything happens to you, how can I explain it to him?”
Kenji glanced at Caden, his voice steady as he spoke. “I already informed my father. He supports my decision. Mr. Ward, I understand you cherish Scarlette, and I know you will do everything you can to stay strong for her. I will do my best to help you.”
Caden coughed lightly. “Keep her in the dark about my condition.” Kenji nodded in silent agreement.
Outside, dark clouds gathered ominously, as though warning of an approaching storm. Inside the ward, the bright overhead lights cut through every shadow. Kenji sat upright, fully absorbed in his work. The glow from the lights illuminated his face, making him appear as the only steady presence in a city that was on edge.
Caden’s lips curled slightly. “I hope you make a breakthrough soon.” Caden’s fever slowly began to subside, though it occasionally relapsed.
Kenji wasn’t skilled at taking care of patients. He was clumsy at first, but when Caden had enough strength, he would guide Kenji, and Kenji learned quickly, becoming proficient in just a few days. Hard work paid off, and Caden’s condition finally began to improve.