Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
The inevitable collision happened in a flash; the thermos hit the ground with a clatter, spilling soup everywhere.
Shelia’s face twisted in irritation. “Damn it! I spent over six hours making that, and now it’s completely ruined!”
The assistant immediately crouched down, guilt washing over her as…
She scrambled to clean up the mess. On the other end of the phone, Joshua’s voice came through. “What happened?”
Shelia huffed, “The soup spilled. I made it especially for you since you’re not feeling well. Honestly, nothing’s been going right for me lately.”
Her tone sharpened. “And did you hear what I said earlier? Cut ties with Alicia already. I’m tired of seeing her around every day. I can’t take it anymore!”
The assistant’s breath hitched.
She recognized Shelia as Lilliana’s future mother-in-law.
And Alicia…
Wasn’t she Joshua’s ex-wife? Weren’t they divorced?
But the assistant didn’t dare linger. As Shelia hung up the phone, she murmured, “I’m so sorry, ma’am. I’ll pay you back for the trouble…”
Shelia, already simmering with frustration, noticed the fresh slap mark on the timid assistant’s cheek. The sight barely fazed her, and money wasn’t her concern today, so she just turned around and left.
The assistant, dazed by the series of unfortunate events, stood frozen in place.
An audacious idea quietly sprouted in her mind, taking root despite her initial hesitations.
Later that evening, after the day’s work was done, Alicia sank into her chair, casually scrolling through the news. Her eyes skimmed over headlines until one caught her attention-Joshua had dismissed all the female employees from his office.
Something in her gut told her there was more to the story, so she dug deeper into related reports. It didn’t take long to piece it all together.
Just then, Joshua called to warn her to steer clear of the Yates Mansion for the time being, claiming it was a “sensitive period.”
Alicia could hardly contain her excitement, though she kept her tone neutral, giving only a simple, “Okay,” in response.
Joshua lingered on the line.
His voice softened, carrying an unusual vulnerability, almost as if he was seeking comfort. “Alicia,” he murmured, “I’m so tired.”
Alicia’s lips curled into an incredulous smirk.
“Tired? Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?” she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Silence followed. Joshua, caught off guard, was at a loss for words.
In that pause, he felt the weight of nostalgia pressing on his chest. He longed for the days when she used to greet him warmly after a long, grueling day at work.
But those days were over.
When he finally spoke again, his voice was quieter, almost hesitant. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Alicia pressed her lips together, suppressing a laugh.
“Oh, I’m just worried,” she said, feigning concern. “Wouldn’t want your fianc?e getting suspicious, now would we?”
Of course, that was a lie.
She wasn’t afraid of saying too much; she was afraid of bursting into laughter.
“Let’s end the call,” she suggested, her voice light. “You said it yourself-it’s a sensitive time. Best to be careful.”
As soon as she put the phone down, a mocking thought slid into her mind.
Back when he had threatened to let those drunks rape her, did he ever once stop to ask if she still loved him?
Rachel had meticulously planned a garden party.
Most of the guests were women from Rachel’s elite social circles. Though laughter and casual chatter filled the air, an undercurrent of subtle power plays and negotiations ran beneath the polished surface. The women, all smiles, all knew one another-at least, on the surface. No one truly let their guard down, each interaction carefully measured.
Rachel graciously handed a sleek velvet box to Mrs. Reyes. “I couldn’t make it to your birthday last time, so here’s a belated gift. I hope you don’t mind.”
Mrs. Reyes accepted the box with a practiced smile, her fingers gliding over the soft fabric. “Oh, Rachel, you really shouldn’t have,” she said, a light laugh escaping her lips. She opened the box, and inside lay a delicate necklace-its diamond centerpiece catching the afternoon sun, sending shimmering sparks of light in every direction.
“My goodness,” Mrs. Reyes gasped, her eyes widening with genuine surprise. “This must have cost a fortune, Rachel. You’re far too generous!” Mrs. Reyes admired the piece, slipping it back into the box with a pleased expression.
Then Rachel turned her attention to Mrs. Reyes’s young son, gently patting him on the head.
She pulled out a limited-edition toy from behind her, its glossy packaging catching the boy’s attention.
The child barely glanced up from the game on his tablet as he snatched the toy from Rachel’s hand.
Mrs. Reyes’s smile faltered for a moment before she turned to her son, her tone now firm. “Ted, what do you say to Mrs. Gray?”
But the little boy didn’t answer. Clutching his new prize, he dashed off without so much as a glance back. Mrs. Reyes forced a light chuckle, her smile now slightly strained. “I’ve spoiled him terribly. Sorry about that.” Rachel’s smile remained polite. “No worries.”
She glanced again at the gate, a sliver of concern creeping into her otherwise calm demeanor.
Where on earth was Alicia?
When Alicia finally arrived, she thought about sending Caden a message, advising him to keep his distance today-appearances, after all, were everything in their world, and misunderstandings could spread like wildfire. But to her surprise, Caden wasn’t there yet.
She looked around, but there was no sign of him. After a moment’s hesitation, she shrugged it off and made her way into the party.
Inside, a group of women were huddled together, their conversation lively, with bursts of laughter echoing across the garden.
Rachel had casually mentioned that Alicia would be coming, and naturally, the conversation turned toward her.
“I only found out she was married when Joshua proposed! Can you believe they’d been married for two years? He kept that under wraps pretty well.”
“What makes Miss Bennett so irresistible to men, anyway?” another woman mused, her voice dripping with disdain.
“I can’t tell if Joshua hid her because she’s such a precious treasure or a humiliating disgrace!” Mrs. Reyes chuckled, a sharp sound cutting through the air. “Every man loves to flaunt what he’s got. If his wife is beautiful and talented, why wouldn’t he show her off to the world? Just look at Lilliana-can you even compare her to Alicia?”
The earlier remarks had been biting, but Mrs. Reyes’s words were the cherry on top.
The others shared her sentiment, their snickers bubbling up with a cruel sort of amusement.
“Poor thing,” someone murmured between giggles. “Dumped, brokenhearted, and now she’s scrambling to make a name for herself in showbiz. Just when she tries to move on, her past gets dragged out, and the netizens tear her apart.”
Another chimed in, “I saw her a while back-her face and figure were alright, I suppose. So, why isn’t she attracting any men?”
“If she were that gorgeous, she’d have been snatched up by now. These days, it’s all about filters and special effects. Who knows what she looks like without makeup?”
They tittered into their hands, delighting in their spite.
Only Rachel stayed quiet, her eyes darting around nervously. She had spotted Alicia not too far away, hovering just within earshot.
Truth be told, Alicia had heard every word.
As the laughter died down, Alicia made her move. With a graceful step, she approached the group, a glass of wine held elegantly in her hand.
She stopped beside Mrs. Reyes and, with a quiet clink, tapped her glass against Mrs. Reyes’s.
Mrs. Reyes turned slowly, her smug smile faltering when she saw Alicia standing right next to her.
Alicia wore a champagne-colored silk gown, its delicate straps framing her smooth shoulders. Her skin glowed under the soft lighting, and her lightly made-up face held a serene, almost mysterious smile.
There was a captivating elegance about her, like a rare flower in full bloom amid a garden of thorns. To put it simply, Alicia was nothing short of stunning.
Mrs. Reyes blinked, her surprise evident.
Part of her wondered if Alicia had overheard their cruel banter, while another part couldn’t help but admire how flawless Alicia looked-even up close.
Far from the picture they had painted just moments ago, Alicia was beautiful.
She was even more stunning than in the videos!
“Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Reyes.” Alicia’s smile was warm and radiant, enough to light up any room. “And what, may I ask, had you all laughing so heartily?” Her tone was gentle, but there was an undeniable edge beneath it.
Mrs. Reyes, momentarily lost in her own thoughts, blinked as Alicia’s question snapped her back to the present.
For a split second, a trace of worry flickered in her mind, but it vanished just as quickly. After all, Alicia was a woman grappling with her own burdens, with barely any support to lean on. What did she have to fear?
A slow, deliberate smile crept across her face as she replied, “Oh, Ms. Bennett, were we being too loud? Surely you must’ve overheard our little conversation?” The words dripped with condescension, a clear attempt to dismiss Alicia as insignificant.
Alicia’s smile didn’t falter. “I’m afraid not,” she said lightly. “Perhaps your voice has grown softer with age, making it difficult to hear. Would you mind repeating it for me?”
A sharp silence fell over the room as onlookers turned their attention to the brewing confrontation.
Alicia’s voice was as smooth as ever, not a hint of hostility showing on her face.
Yet, Mrs. Reyes’s expression darkened.
Women who married rich tended to rely on their looks, and Mrs. Reyes was no different. Her biggest insecurity was in her fading beauty. At her age, not even the finest cosmetic procedures could fully mask the passage of time.
She loathed being reminded of it. To be called old in front of so many-especially by a younger woman-was an insult she simply couldn’t bear.
Fury flashed across her face as she slammed the table, rattling the dishes. “Alicia Bennett, do you know who I am?” she snarled.
The outburst didn’t so much as ruffle Alicia’s composure, but it did draw the attention of Mrs. Reyes’s son. His eyes locked onto Alicia, and without thinking, he lunged forward like an enraged bull.
“Don’t you dare bully my mom!” he bellowed, charging at her with reckless speed.