Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
It was a setup, plain and simple.
Alicia’s gaze dropped to her dwindling chips, frustration simmering beneath her calm exterior. If this continued, she’d be drained of every last cent.
“Mrs. Reyes,” Alicia spoke, her tone cool but resolute.
Mrs. Reyes’s eyes gleamed, as if she had been expecting this. She offered Alicia a saccharine smile. “Ms. Bennett, are you calling it quits already?”
Alicia didn’t respond right away.
Mrs. Reyes, feigning a look of understanding, leaned forward with a hint of mock sympathy. “You’ve lost quite a bit already. If you’re short on funds, we could stop.”
One of the ladies even ventured, “Walking away over such a small loss, Ms. Bennett? Oh, please-don’t spoil the fun! Why not ring up your ex-husband to bail you out?”
The jibe struck like a well-aimed arrow, but Alicia wasn’t planning to surrender so easily.
They might have ganged up to rob her blind, but she wasn’t about to let them have the satisfaction of seeing her defeated.
“Let’s take a break,” she said, rising gracefully from her seat. “I need to freshen up. We can continue when I get back.”
She needed a moment to collect herself and strategize. There had to be a way to turn the tables on them. Just as she prepared to step away, the murmurs in the room grew louder.
“Mr. Ward?”
Rachel’s voice cut through the din, startled and excited. She darted towards the door. “Randolph said he was treating you to dinner! He knew you’d be coming and reserved the most exclusive private restaurant. In fact, he’s still busy arranging the whole thing.”
All eyes turned toward the gate as Caden entered. Clad in a sleek black suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and long legs, he carried himself with an effortless elegance that spoke of quiet authority. His healthy complexion, set against the dark fabric, only heightened his striking masculinity. His deep-set eyes were sharp and discerning, as though he could see things no one else could.
“No need,” Caden replied smoothly, his voice calm but commanding. He stepped forward, his gaze locked solely on Alicia. “I can eat anywhere,” he added casually.
Alicia, who had just begun to rise from her seat, found herself instinctively sitting back down, her pulse quickening unexpectedly. With her back to him, she could still feel the weight of his presence, every beat of her heart growing louder in her chest. She thought he’d be a no-show.
The other women exchanged glances, excitement flickering in their eyes. After all, who wouldn’t be captivated by such a man? Caden was one of the most handsome men in Warrington, his allure drawing admiration from women of all ages. They toyed with the idea of flirting with him, a thousand thoughts sparking, though none dared voice them aloud.
Rachel, in particular, was eager to greet him, but Caden paid her no mind. He walked straight past her, his long stride purposeful, and took the seat beside Alicia without hesitation. Alicia sensed his presence immediately, though she kept her face impassive, shifting her chair a fraction away from him.
Caden’s eyebrow quirked at her subtle movement. Mrs. Reyes’s curiosity got the better of her. “Mr. Ward, do you know Alicia?”
Without so much as a glance in Mrs. Reyes’s direction, Caden replied coolly, “She’s my former sister-in-law.”
A stunned silence followed. Everyone knew Joshua was Caden’s half-brother. As for Alicia… Well, she was indeed Caden’s former sister-in-law.
Yet there they were, sitting together so naturally, their proximity comfortable, yet somehow unsettling. The tension was palpable, though no one could quite place its source. Unspoken questions lingered in the air, but Caden’s commanding presence silenced them all.
Without warning, Caden extended his leg, hooking it around the leg of Alicia’s chair and pulling it back toward him with firm precision.
Alicia blinked in surprise, momentarily speechless. Caden remained unbothered, his tone dry as he asked, “Still as stubborn as ever. How much have you won?”
Instinctively, Alicia moved her hand to shield the drawer, a reflexive gesture that only seemed to amuse Caden further. She was too slow. With swift efficiency, Caden reached the drawer first, opening it to peer inside. His eyes skimmed over the scattered chips, a smug grin spreading across his lips as he let out a low chuckle.
“Did someone break into the drawer?” he teased, raising an eyebrow. “Where are all your chips?”
Alicia huffed in annoyance, her arms crossing defensively. “No one broke in. I lost them.”
Caden’s smirk deepened. “With your level of brilliance, even tic-tac-toe seems like a challenge. Why bother with this?”
Alicia clenched her fists under the table, biting back a retort. “You jerk! I kissed you because I needed your help, not your lectures. You might as well have stayed away,” she thought, seething silently.
The tension in the room thickened, but a laugh from one of the women broke through the air. “Mr. Ward, you came at the perfect time. Looks like Ms. Bennett’s luck has run dry. Care to spot her some chips?”
Mrs. Reyes quickly kicked the woman under the table, shooting her a pointed glare. Teasing Alicia was one thing, but provoking Caden? That was dangerous territory.
Sure enough, Caden’s sharp gaze flicked toward the woman, causing her to freeze momentarily. After an awkward pause, she forced a tight smile and quickly excused herself. “I’ll go grab some water.”
As soon as she left, Caden casually took her vacant seat. Mrs. Reyes, clearly taken aback, asked tentatively, “Mr. Ward, do you play cards as well?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “Not really, but if someone’s desperate enough to throw money at me, why not take it?” His gaze slid to Alicia, eyes gleaming with amusement. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
Alicia narrowed her eyes at him, pressing her lips into a thin line before silently mouthing, “Idiot!” Their obvious discord seemed to reassure Mrs. Reyes.
It appeared that Caden wasn’t planning on bailing Alicia out after all. Mrs. Reyes allowed herself to relax slightly-her advantage remained intact.
However, Caden’s unexpected involvement had shaken the dynamics. She was now without an ally and had to play her cards more cautiously. Despite this, the round still ended in her favor, and she walked away with a significant win.
Alicia watched closely, her brow furrowing in frustration. Caden, for all his nonchalance, was unnervingly calm. Was he really just here to take her money? Something about the situation felt off.
Unable to resist, Alicia discreetly kicked him under the table.
Caden shot her a quizzical glance. “Why did you kick me?”
Alicia couldn’t find the right words to respond.
Mrs. Reyes’s gaze fixed on her, and Alicia, feeling uncomfortable, clenched her jaw. She shot a sharp look at Caden. “It wasn’t on purpose. Sorry.”
Caden replied, “Oh, I assumed you were asking for a card from me.”
Once again, Alicia was left speechless.
Mrs. Reyes let out a soft laugh. “Ms. Bennett, are you losing your grip?”
Feeling an unexpected surge of boldness, Alicia replied, “I’ve been sitting here so long that my legs cramped. That’s why I accidentally hit Mr. Ward. But watch out, Mrs. Reyes, you might be next.”
Mrs. Reyes’s expression darkened. “Good sportsmanship is important when playing. Even if it’s just for fun, you should still understand the rules and not resort to underhanded tactics.”
Caden chuckled. “I have to ask, who came up with the rules for this table?”
Mrs. Reyes answered, “Nobody created them; they’ve been established for generations.”
“I could have sworn it was you, Mrs. Reyes,” Caden commented.
Mrs. Reyes’s heart skipped a beat as her gaze flicked toward him. Was there something more behind those words? Did he suspect anything?
But his face remained unreadable.
The weight of the moment pressed down on her, draining her usual confidence. One ally had already slipped away.
After losing all her chips in record time, Alicia began playing recklessly, her aggressive moves growing more intense. Even though Mrs. Reyes stayed ahead, her wins were becoming less certain.
Shuffling his cards in his hands, Caden remarked, “Three thousand dollars feels like nothing. Mrs. Reyes, what do you say we up the stakes?”
Mrs. Reyes paused, uncertain.
Caden added, “If you’re not up for it, then never mind.”
Mrs. Reyes couldn’t tolerate such a slight. Without hesitation, she responded, “What is your proposal, Mr. Ward?”
“One hundred thousand dollars.”
Mrs. Reyes fell silent. Her instincts told her that Caden had set his sights on her. A heavy sense of unease settled over her.
Alicia, unfazed by her empty wallet, glanced at Mrs. Reyes’s grim face and grinned. “A hundred thousand? That’s all? That’s pocket change. Let’s bump it up to two hundred thousand. Mr. Ward can afford it. Congratulations, Mrs. Reyes, looks like today’s your lucky day!”
Mrs. Reyes couldn’t bring herself to smile. Alicia’s words seemed like praise, but Mrs. Reyes knew she was being set up. Still, with the biggest winnings so far, backing down was not an option.
“Fine. We’ll go with Mr. Ward’s idea,” Mrs. Reyes finally conceded.
But Caden interjected, “Actually, let’s follow Ms. Bennett’s lead. Two hundred thousand sounds much more thrilling.”
Mrs. Reyes was at a loss for words.
Alicia pressed on. “Mrs. Reyes, what’s the matter? You don’t seem thrilled. Is two hundred thousand too modest? Should we raise it to five hundred thousand?”
Mrs. Reyes cut her off, “Two hundred thousand is perfectly fine.”
Alicia stifled a grin.
Before the game began, Mrs. Reyes had clung to a faint hope. Even though she had lost a partner in the game, Rachel had rigged the dice in her favor. As long as she played cautiously, not even Caden could surpass her.
But, to her astonishment, by the second round, Caden began racking up wins. Sweat started to gather on Mrs. Reyes’s palms. How was this even possible?
Then came the second round, and the third…
Caden swept through them all. His hands seemed to improve with every game.
Mrs. Reyes’s head began to spin.
Another woman at the table, crushed by her losses, quietly stood up and left without saying a word.
Rachel smoothly slid into the vacant seat.
Caden glanced at her and said, “Mrs. Gray, your timing is impeccable. I have a question for you.”
Rachel maintained her composed, gentle smile. “I’m listening, Mr. Ward.”
Without a word, Caden picked up the dice, then casually let them fall in front of her.
“Care to explain this?” he asked.
Alicia’s expression was one of confusion.
Mrs. Reyes had not anticipated Caden catching that detail, and her grip on the dice tightened.
Alicia quickly put the pieces together. “Is there an issue with the dice?”