Chapter 12
His voice softened further. Lucille peered at him. Behind his tenderness, there was no
affection.
Tenderness was like an innate program of his. It was always there.
“Cedrick,” she said, “aren’t you tired?”
Cedrick was surprised, seemingly having trouble understanding what she was talking about.
Lucille smiled bitterly, “You’re in love with someone else but pretend to care about me every day. Aren’t you tired?”
Cedrick gaped. “I’m not…
“Cedrick, stop lying. Some things are gross. To put them on the table will be humiliating for both of us. A divorce will do us both good. Seriously, Maricela is what you want for a Mrs. Maynard…”
“Lucille!” Cedrick interrupted her. “Are you still on this? I’ve explained it many times.”
“Cedrick, it’s not I who thinks of Mari all the time.” She scrutinized him. “It’s you.”
Cedrick was dumbstruck. “Lucille…”
“We both know that, right?” She tried to stay calm, to make him believe she was talking with him earnestly, and that she wasn’t throwing a tantrum. “It’s time to put an end to our five–year marriage. Cedrick, let’s part our ways with dignity, and let bygones be bygones.”
Cedrick stared at her for a while before standing up. “Lucille, you’re overthinking Maricela’s return won’t change a thing. You’ll know it someday. It’s late. Have some rest.”
“Cedrick, I know you only married me out of guilt. Well, you don’t have to feel guilty anymore. I don’t need a marriage based on guilt. Set me free, and set yourself free…”
Before she could finish speaking, Cedrick took off his jacket and walked into the bathroom.
Lucille looked at the jacket he had flung on the couch. If it were before, she’d have put it away, found his robe, and hung it from the door to the bathroom.
09:26
Chapter 12
But now, she didn’t move.
18
In the past five years, due to her limp, she didn’t have a job. She couldn’t increase the income of this family. It was Cedrick who took care of everything. She was like a useless piece of furniture in the house, of no help to his career or domestic life. But still, the hoped to de something for him, however trivial it was.
Actually, she forgot something. Probably, he didn’t need to be taken care of. What he wanted was a capable and pretty wife who could make him proud and receive a client with him
Why was he being stubborn, then? Why was he holding on to a loveless marriage?
Cedrick went to bed after the shower, refusing to talk.
Lucille said no more.
Never mind. Every time they talked, it was exhausting. She’d rather think about her future and work hard for the life she wanted. When she was ready to leave, it didn’t matter whether he divorced her or not.
Lying in bed, Lucille put Cedrick and Maricela behind her. She thought of her plan. One month later, she’d tour Magraica with Meredith’s troupe first. Then, the new semester would begin.
She looked at Cedrick, who was sound asleep beside her.
In the dim light, she could only vaguely see his silhouette. There was space for three people between them. It was too far a distance.
“Cedrick, I don’t blame you anymore. I hope you’ll be happy after I leave,” she said inwardly
The good thing was, since they had never slept together, they didn’t have a child. Otherwise, their life would’ve been much harder.
Who knew the one thing that had once almost devastated her turned out to be a blessing in disguise?
She slept splendidly that night. The next morning, she woke up to the sound of someone walking beside the bed.
She opened her eyes, and Cedrick was sitting on the edge of the bed.
09:26
Chapter 13