Chapter 20
“I’m sorry, Mr. Maynard,” Aydan said, his tone sincere. “No offense intended. I’m actually here to ask for advice. A friend of mine has been injured for five years, too, but she’s not as lucky as your wife. She hasn’t fully recovered. She’s a dancer. Her foot injury broke her. So I really want to help her. If you know some good doctors, could you recommend them to me?”
As Aydan finished, Meredith spoke up too. “Exactly, Mr. Maynard, Mrs. Maynard, please don’t misunderstand. We have no desire to offend. We only admire those who brave adversity, so we respect Mrs. Maynard deeply. But what Aydan said touches me too. We have a friend in the same situation, and we’d love to find her proper treatment.”
“Oh, well…” Even as quick–witted as Cedrick was, he couldn’t fabricate a doctor on the spot.
Maricela, though, thought fast. “I was treated abroad,” she said hastily.
She’d assumed mentioning overseas treatment would make Aydan and Meredith drop the subject. But Aydan pressed on, “Going abroad isn’t a problem. We tour around the world all the time. No matter which country it is, we’re willing to go the distance for our friend’s leg.”
Maricela froze. Aydan was simply being unyielding.
Under Aydan’s and Meredith’s expectant stares, Maricela turned to Cedrick for help.
Cedrick’s jaw tightened, but he quickly scribbled the name of a hospital in Soranland on a piece of paper. He handed it to Aydan with a forced smile. “It’s this one. Every patient has a different condition. My wife has been recovering there since she got hurt. I don’t know how long your friend has had her injury. If it’s been years, the results might not be so promising.” His only thought was to get through the moment. He’d deal with the rest when the time came.
“Thank you. We’ll give it a try anyway,” Aydan said, then waved toward the door. “Lucille, you’re here.”
Lucille was already there. She walked unsteadily toward the center of the party hall, under everyone’s gaze, especially Cedrick’s and Maricela’s.
Their faces were a picture of shock.
Lucille had always been afraid. She was afraid of showing her limp and others whispering about her leg. But she’d told herself she couldn’t stay in the shadows forever, like a creature
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hiding from the light. And right now, seeing Cedrick’s and Maricela’s awkward expressions, she had no reason to back down.
“Lucille!” Meredith, ever caring, stepped forward to take her hand, offering both physical support and a silent reassurance.
Her husband, though, at that very moment, was holding Maricela’s hand to steady her as she pretended to waver.
The guests were all Jaiden and Meredith’s friends. Well–educated, they wouldn’t stare at Lucille’s leg or treat her differently. But her limp was a fact, plain to see.
Aydan walked over to Lucille, flanking her with Meredith on the other side, as if standing guard over her.
Aydan said with a smile, “This is my friend, Lucille Radford. Meredith and I were just asking about a doctor for her.” He turned to Cedrick. “Mr. Maynard, aren’t you curious how Lucille got injured?”
Cedrick forced an awkward smile, his composure fraying. “I think that’s this lady’s privacy. We don’t need to dig into it. She might not want her scars uncovered.” His eyes flicked to Lucille, seeming to give her a silent warning not to speak out.
Lucille pretended not to notice. But Aydan pressed on, “No, I’m sure you’ll be proud of her when hear it.
you
His gaze deliberately or inadvertently swept across Cedrick’s face as he continued, “She got hurt saving someone.”
Gasps rippled through the guests. Their eyes turned to Lucille, warm and admiring.
“Five years ago, Lucille was hit by a car while saving someone. The injuries were severe, especially to her feet. She couldn’t dance anymore.”
Meredith held Lucille’s hand tightly, her voice thick with emotion. “She was once my most outstanding student.”
She turned around and reached up, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind Lucille’s ear. “I thought I’d lost touch with you forever. Your number changed, and you vanished from our group chat… I’m so glad we found you again. Don’t worry. Aydan and I will help you contact the hospital where Mrs. Maynard recovered. Once we get in touch, you’ll go for treatment. No matter how it goes, our ‘Birdie‘ will always be beautiful.”
The guests sighed softly, offering Lucille kind words of comfort. Those were genuine,
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Chapter 20
heartfelt ones. The young woman who’d earlier gushed about Cedrick and Maricela’s “campus–to–wedding” love was now in tears. “Ms. Radford… can I call you Lucille? I dance too. I know how much this costs you. I admire you so much.”
Lucille’s throat tightened, tears stinging her eyes.
Meredith meant well. But Lucille knew the treatment would never happen. Because the foreign hospital Cedrick had named was fake.
Aydan knew it too, of course.
So he went on, “After Lucille left the stage, she got married. I heard her husband was the man she saved. His name is…”
Cedrick’s expression sharpened the moment Aydan paused, clearly on edge. He opened his mouth to interrupt. But Aydan just frowned, feigning confusion. “Wait, I can’t remember the name…”
Relief washed over Cedrick’s face.
Lucille found him so absurd.
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Chapter 21
11
Chapter 21