She squirmed, only for him to tighten his hold, frowning. “How could you get this wrong? It’s glaringly obvious! The answer’s right in the first paragraph–just match the words one by one!”
Lucille pretended he was talking to himself.
These were exercises from three years ago!
She’d improved leaps and bounds since then!
After his “critique,” he finally remembered to ask, frowning at her, “Why suddenly learn Porilinese now?”
“Boredom.
She tossed out the lie.
He studied her briefly, then nodded. “Good to learn something. Stops you overthinking at home all day.”
Flipping through her book, his frown deepened. “Your foundation’s terribly weak. Don’t you know these words? This one? Or this? Lucille, half the words in this passage must be unfamiliar to you, right?”
Lucille rolled her eyes. “Say whatever you want. I’ve scored 7.5, so I’m getting out of here.”
Coincidentally, he caught that eye roll.
He paused, inexplicably backpedaling. “Right, you’re an art student. I forgot.”
Tch. Nothing but disdain for art students in that head of his.
Suddenly recalling something, he added, “Lucille, didn’t you ask me for help with homework back in high school?”
Maybe…
Back in high school, she’d had a crush on him. But she’d never dared approach him with questions. Even if she had, it must’ve been under specific, unavoidable circumstances.
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Chapter 36
He seemed to find this amusing. “Do you remember?
What made you come ask me?
I remember you were so quiet back then. Barely spoke a word.”
“I don’t recall…” She saw nothing worth reminiscing about.
Their marriage had sunk this low–why dredge up youthful memories now?
Cedrick, is nostalgia really your hobby?
Wasn’t Maricela enough for your trip down memory lane?
“Want me to tutor you?”
He flipped through her Porilinese book. “Haven’t touched textbooks in years, but I can still teach you.”
He gave the book a shake.
Lucille noticed the silver wedding band was gone from his left ring finger.
As for him tutoring her now?
Unlikely!
“No need. It’s useless anyway. Just killing time so I can watch shows without subtitles.”
She started pushing his hand away.
“True. You barely leave the house…” As he moved his hand aside, he suddenly realized their position looked odd–Lucille was still desperately shoving him.
His brow furrowed. He seized her wrist.
“What are you doing?
It’s late! I need sleep!”
Lucille struggled fiercely.
Cedrick pinned her with one hand while fishing a ring from his pajamas. He forced it back onto her finger-
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Chapter 36
The emerald wedding ring she’d removed in the car.
His expression gave nothing away–not joy, not anger, just displeasure. “Don’t overthink Maricela and I aren’t like that. How many times must I say it? Nothing changes you being Mrs. Maynard. But that dancer guy? Didn’t know you’d react so strongly to my hug when you let him spin you around?”
“Don’t you dare soil what we have with your filthy mind!”
Lucille snapped back.
“We?
Who’s ‘we‘?
Him?” His displeasure sharpened. “Don’t forget who your husband is!”
“Then I don’t know whose husband my husband is!”
So “we” bothered him too?
What about when he said “we” with his precious Maricela?
She wrenched herself upright. Wet hair lashed across his face. He hissed in pain.
“How can you sleep with soaked hair?”
He wiped his face, hand dripping. “I’ll call Mrs. Hopkins to dry it.”
Yet when Mrs. Hopkins arrived, he didn’t leave. He picked up Lucille’s Porilinese Test workbook, staring at one page so long it seemed glued.
Then he lifted his gaze to the vanity mirror–watching Mrs. Hopkins slowly dry her hair.
Mrs. Hopkins clearly felt the tension. The moment Lucille’s hair dried, she practically fled, shutting the door behind her.
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