Chapter 173
“Fine, fine. I don’t understand. May you two last forever. Truly. Because-” Feeling his grip loosen, she seized the chance to wriggle free. “-a good horse doesn’t return to old grass!”
“Wait!” Cedrick grabbed for her. “I haven’t told you your second mistake!”
“My second mistake was staying here listening to your nonsense!”
Anticipating him, she dodged–this time escaping his grasp.
Cedrick’s phone rang out abruptly.
He didn’t have time to tell her she was wrong again, rushing to answer the call.
His phone had fallen during the struggle with Lucille. Bent sideways to pick it up, he accidentally hit speaker after ac- cepting the call.
Harlan’s booming voice echoed through the room, but Cedrick was too drunk to notice.
Harlan called to check if he’d gotten home.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Don’t worry. Lucille’s here.”
“That’s exactly why we’re worried! Your housekeeper’s gone too. Told you to crash at Maricela’s place—”
“-but you wouldn’t listen. She could’ve looked after you.”
“Don’t need looking after. I’m good.”
“Oh, right… Maricela ‘s AC might be acting up…”
The two talked about Maricela for ages until Cedrick’s consciousness faded. His phone slid onto the sofa.
Harlan kept rambling, “Hey, my salary’s jumping by a million monthly now, plus tens of millions in mid–year bonus- es! Keep this under wraps, okay? If my wife finds out-”
“-that money would really be mine!”
“Does David get this too?”
“Or just me?”
“Scared I’ll slip up!”
Lucille picked up the phone and held it back to Cedrick’s ear. Harlan shouted several times, “Cedrick, Cedrick, you’re not asleep, are you?”
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Chapter 173
“Mmm…” Cedrick was utterly drunk. “Take care of Maricela …”
“Cedrick, why do this?
Take care of her yourself!”
Harlan sighed over the line.
Lucille wasn’t sure if she imagined it, but tears seemed to be streaming down Cedrick’s temples.
When Cedrick’s choked voice rang out, Lucille knew she hadn’t been mistaken–real tears.
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He actually sobbed to Harlan, “Can’t… never in this lifetime. I have responsibilities to Lucille. I can’t… Maricela… Maricela…”
“Alright, rest now. Hanging up. Sigh-”
The call ended with Harlan’s drawn–out sigh. Lucille placed the phone beside Cedrick, feeling nothing.
It’s fine, Mr. Maynard. I’ll step aside for you.
Thanks to this drinking session, Lucille cracked the code.
She’d wondered how Cedrick managed to buy Maricela another house and luxury goods. Now she knew–through Harlan.
Gave Harlan a raise, handed him millions in mid–year bonuses.
Cedrick truly played it smart, technically not breaking her three rules.
But Cedrick, doesn’t your conscience ache?
Oh right. Forgot. Your heart’s crooked.
Three days until departure. Meaning when Lucille woke that morning, only two days remained before flying to Capi- tal City to reunite with her professors.
She’d bring Grandma along, fly directly to Capital City, move into the apartment Ms. Gomez had rented, then leave on the evening flight with her professors.
After returning to the country a month later, she wouldn’t come back to Seaston. She’d stay briefly in Capital City with Grandma, handle her visa, just as school was about to start.
Everything seemed perfectly planned. She just prayed it’d go smoothly.
To coast through these two days peacefully, she considered staying indoors. Yet she desperately missed Grandma. For now, she resisted video–calling since Cedrick was still home–showering.
The patter of water still echoed. Truthfully, that sound had woken her that morning.
It reminded her of their fifth anniversary night. Same shower sounds that shattered her last hope for their marriage. Though it felt recent, her heart had crossed mountains and rivers since.
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Chapter 173
Just then, the water stopped.
Lucille kept scrolling through her phone, watching a hilarious Reality Show.
Cedrick emerged drying his hair, hesitating when he saw her awake.