“Not joining me for dinner?” he asked, daytime anger seemingly vanished.
For five years, he’d often returned late, sometimes skipping dinner. Yet whenever he ate at home, however late, it felt like holidays to her.
She’d flutter around him like a butterfly–serving dishes, ladling soup, wishing she could feed him by hand.
But what did all that eagerness earn her?
Perhaps it only annoyed him?
“What did you eat tonight?
Don’t tailor meals to my preferences anymore. Tell Mylee to cook what you like,” he said.
Did he think she’d ordered spicy crab to please him?
He pulled a chair beside the bed. “Lucille…”
What now?
He pulled out his phone and typed away right in front of her. Then, her phone buzzed with a notification–another large sum received.
“Those rings–Maricela was quite taken with them. Since you’d already sold them secondhand anyway, I gave them to her. Take the money and buy yourself a piece you actually like.”
So that’s what this was about. She’d figured as much. No wonder he suddenly decided to speak so kindly to her.
Her back still turned to him, she murmured, “Mm,” followed by a flat, “Okay.”
Day 25 of Leaving Cedrick: Our wedding rings–he gave those away too. But then, I didn’t even want him anymore. Why fuss over the rings?
“Being so agreeable today?”
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Chapter 41
His voice softened unexpectedly. “I meant to buy them back for you, but… well, anything I pick, you clearly hate.”
“Yeah. Doesn’t matter.”
“So obedient?”
He seemed to exhale in relief. “Maricela likes posting pictures–just a childish streak. Don’t let it bother you.”
She closed her eyes, as if about to fall asleep, “Mm, I know.”
She had already blocked Maricela; no matter what was sent, she wouldn’t see it.
“What’s going on?
Sleeping already today?”
He frowned, “Feeling unwell?
Let me see.”
He leaned down to look at her face, “Not crying secretly, are you?”
How could that be!
“Get up,
let me see.”
He slid his hands under her waist and lifted her up.
She opened her eyes; he saw they were dry, no tears, not even red like before, just faint, as if veiled in mist.
“Really tired, huh?”
He put her down, “Then sleep…”
After covering her with the blanket, he looked at her closed eyes, hesitated, and still said, “Lucille, I have a business trip tomorrow.”
Business trip!
She immediately opened her eyes; didn’t this mean she could sneak off to Capital City to
the fingerprint without him knowing? press
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Chapter 41
Excited, she sat up, her eyes even brighter, “How many days will you be gone?”
“Three or four days, maybe a week if slow.”
He frowned, thinking her reaction was a bit much; what did this mean?
Then she really could go!
“No, nothing, who are you going with?”
She asked randomly, thrilled inside.
His expression grew more hesitant, “With… Harlan Peterson…” paused, then added, “Maybe Mari Bear too.”
“Oh.”
She lay back down, “Okay, tell me before you return, I’ll have Mylee prepare the dishes.”
He looked at her somewhat incredulously, “You’re not angry?”
She shook her head, “Go to sleep early, you have a business trip tomorrow, need to rest well.” “Lucille, several of us are going together…” he moved closer to look into her eyes.
She directly pushed him away with her hand, “Go take a shower, I’ve already showered, don’t get too close to me.”
He frowned, “What do you mean?
You think I’m dirty?”
Lucille: …
“You came from outside, who knows how many germs you brought back, aren’t you dirty?” Especially, you have Maricela’s perfume on you, must I spell it out?”
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Chapter 42
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