Chapter 19
Before Maricela came back, he’d always acted this way: speaking gently to her, telling her softly to sleep early, brushing her hair with that light touch.
They’d never quarreled.
But so what? What did a quarrel–free marriage even mean, if it lacked anything real?
Lucille no longer wanted to dwell on the past between her and Cedrick. Every memory felt like a curse, throbbing in her head. She’d rather use that time to study.
She got up at once, washed up, then moved her laptop and phone to the guest room. She started researching study abroad application agencies and related posts.
Big data really was remarkable. She’d only gone to the performance last night, and today her homepage was filled with posts about it.
From those posts, she learned the male lead’s name was Aydan Hurley.
She remembered there had been someone by that name in her department back in college…
She scrolled further and found Aydan’s own post.
One photo caught her eye instantly. It looked familiar. Then she realized it was the moment Aydan had held out the party to her.
Shocked, she murmured, “Please don’t have me in the picture…”
She clicked on it quickly.
“1
Thankfully, there was only one photo in the post. The angle was straight on Aydan, and she wasn’t in the photo at all.
Yet the content shocked her all over again.
It read: “She came to watch my performance.
“I thought she’d vanished into the crowd, and that we’d never meet again. But today, I caught a glimpse of her, sitting in the audience, watching me dance. Thank you for being here, even if it’s late. Without you, I might never have stood on this stage today.”
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Lucille frowned, confused.
It seemed like he was talking about her, but also like he wasn’t.
She thought, “What did I ever do to earn such gratitude? Without you, I might never have stood on this stage today? What does it mean? It felt too heavy. Have I ever mattered that much to someone?”
She couldn’t remember at all.
Her doubts lingered, but then Meredith called, inviting her to a party that night.
She explained, “It’s a small private dinner for Jaiden and me. We’ve asked a few close friends. I’m leaving for Ashclair tomorrow, so it’s a little send–off.”
“Okay, I’ll be there on time,” Lucille replied. She’d wanted to ask Meredith more about Aydan, but on second thought, she felt there was no need to.
Lucille knew Meredith had invited other friends, but she’d never expected Cedrick and Maricela to be
them. among
When she arrived, Cedrick and Maricela were already there, chatting with a group of people.
Cedrick was looking to collaborate with Jaiden, and everyone seemed to know it. They spoke to him with obvious deference, their words sounding like well–rehearsed PR praise.
“Mr. Maynard, you and Mrs. Maynard were college classmates? From campus to wedding? That’s straight out of a romance DaisyNovel! How enviable!” one female guest exclaimed.
Maricela shot Cedrick a sweet glance. “You’re flattering me, really. We’ve had our ups and downs. I was pretty headstrong back then. But luckily, Ced’s always been so patient with me. No matter how far I strayed, he was always waiting for me in the same place.”
Cedrick smiled indulgently, like a real gentleman.
“My gosh, that’s such a fairy–tale love!” gushed a young, single guest.
Cedrick shook his head, humbly deflecting. “Thanks, but when it comes to marital happiness, we all have a lot to learn from Mr. and Prof. Gomez. They’re the real role models.”
At once, everyone agreed, murmurs of approval rippling through the group.
Just then, a different voice shattered the formalities. “As I recall, Mrs. Maynard used to be a dancer. A car accident afterward left her with permanent foot injuries, and she had to quit
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dancing as a result. Yet Mrs. Maynard, your feet appear to be perfect right now.”
The one who spoke was Aydan.
He seemed to have just stepped out of the restroom, and his gaze on Cedrick and Maricela held a strange edge.
The expressions on Cedrick’s and Maricela’s faces shifted the moment they heard it, and Cedrick’s reaction was particularly noticeable. Since college, he’d been talented, confident, and had once served as a student union leader, never having such an embarrassing moment
like this.
But the panic faded as quickly as it came. He composed himself at once, offering a polished smile. “That’s right. My wife rarely goes out. She’s been sticking to her rehabilitation training, and while she’s made progress, she’s still very sensitive, afraid others will look at her differently. It took me a lot of effort to persuade her to come tonight. I kept telling her Mr. Wyatt’s guests are kind. No one would offend her.‘
What a clever retort. It implied that if Aydan pressed further, he’d be the one offending Maricela.
Lucille thought, “But Cedrick, you know what offense means? Then where were you when your friends mocked me? Where were you when Harlan taunted me and imitated the way I walked?
“You truly have double standards for offense…”
་་
Aydan smiled, unperturbed by Cedrick’s veiled warning. Instead, he bowed slightly to Cedrick.
The dancer’s bow was elegant and deliberate.