Chapter 86
His voice dropped to a whisper–too low for Grandma to hear.
“I… misjudged you!”
He scooped her up, storming toward the exit.
“Put me down! I’m not leaving! I’m staying with Grandma!”
She hissed the words into his ear.
Outside, he dropped her. “Talk!
Here!
Loud and clear!
Grandma can’t hear now!”
His fury had boiled over, demanding release.
Lucille leaned against the wall, unfazed. “Nothing to say. Who I chat with, what we discuss -none of your business.‘
“Well played, Mrs. Maynard.” His voice turned venomous. “What kind of viper did I nurture?”
“Fed and clothed by me, yet stabbing me in the back?”
She knew this script. To him, she was the caged bird biting the hand that fed–or worse, cheating?
“Lucille, Cedrick! Dinner’s ready!”
Grandma called from inside, footsteps approaching, “What are you two doing out there?”
Lucille leaned against the wall, Cedrick’s arms braced on either side of her head. At Grandma’s voice, he suddenly pulled her close, lowering his head again. She turned away, and his lips brushed her cheek.
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Chapter 86
298 Vouchers
Grandma emerged just in time to see it.
Cedrick feigned alarm, “Grandma, we… weren’t doing anything…”
For Lucille, it was the first time Grandma had caught her in such intimacy with Cedrick–no, the first time anyone had witnessed such closeness. Though unwilling, her face flushed.
Grandma smiled knowingly, “It’s fine. Dinner’s ready. I’ll set the table first.”
After Grandma went inside, he gripped her arm tightly, his voice low, “I’ll show you where your loyalties should lie.”
Lucille didn’t dwell on what he really meant by that. Lately, he was acting up more often, spouting threats now and then, but she felt no fear.
Fear or hesitation only comes from love, only from caring.
During the first five years of marriage, her biggest worry was that Cedrick would never love her.
Now, reality told her he truly hadn’t.
Reaching this point didn’t seem so terrible after all. She didn’t love him anymore either.
So it turned out she could stop loving him too.
Dinner passed almost uneventfully.
He had a hearty appetite, finishing two bowls of rice. Granny had made Spicy Garlic Shrimp just how he liked it–he even scraped the last bits of spicy garlic into his bowl to mix with rice, clearing the plate. Afterward, he drank a bowl of sweet Clam Chowder, leaning back in his chair looking utterly satisfied.
“No fancy restaurant in the world makes shrimp as good as Granny’s plate here.”
He sighed.
It sounded exaggerated, but one thing was true: he genuinely loved Granny’s cooking.
“So Granny, you must agree to move in with us this time. You love gardening–we bought a villa with a huge yard. Both front and back gardens can grow vegetables.”
Granny chuckled. “Your beautiful new house, ruined by my messy planting? Important guests will visit someday–how embarrassing.”
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Chapter 86
298 Vouchers
“Nonsense!
Granny, you’re overthinking. Isn’t it said that having an elder at home is like having a treasure?
Lucille and I couldn’t wish more for you to be there. Once we have a baby, we’ll need your guidance.”
Hearing this, Lucille–mid–sip of soup–jolted. Soup splashed, some choking her windpipe. She coughed violently.
Cedrick sat beside her, patting her back as he watched her face flush crimson. “Married five years, still like a child choking on food. Granny, I truly don’t know how Lucille would manage without me.”
Lucille stiffened slightly. His words were still a warning: How would you survive without me?
Limping, barely able to care for herself.
A baby?
What was he thinking?
Granny instinctively glanced at Lucille, sighing inwardly.
“Since you’re done eating, head back soon.”
Lucille urged him.