Chapter 155
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Dropping the charges was straightforward.
Outside, Cedrick finally relaxed. “Regardless–thank you.”
“Unnecessary.”
Lucille’s tone was icy. “I withdrew Maricela’s case, not yours. It’s not your place to thank me.”
“What’s the issue?
Getting Mari to thank you is simple. She’s sweet, always wanted to be friends–you’re the one pushing her away. I’ll call her over now-”
“Don’t bother.”
Lucille quickly cut him off, “Staying out of my sight is the best thanks you can give me. Seriously, thanks.”
“Lucille…” He sighed, “I was just about to bring this up. What’s the point? Why must you confront Maricela head–on? She meant well hanging that ornament in my car, yet you dragged Grandma into it and accused her so harshly. How could she handle that?”
Lucille smiled silently, watching him without a word.
Right. Who was it years ago who brought Grandma into things? Who lectured her about “personal space“? Back then, he never considered how she’d handle it either…
“That smile again.” His brow furrowed, dark eyes rippling with unease. “Why do you keep smiling like that lately? It’s unsettling.”
“What’s unsettling about it?” Lucille chuckled. “Would you prefer I scream and shout at you?”
Cedrick fell silent, lowering his gaze for a long moment. “Let’s end this for today. I’ll call you a car. You head back alone–I’ll see Maricela home.”
“Oh, sure. But don’t bother calling a car. I’ll get one myself,” Lucille replied.
“Lucille…” He shut his eyes briefly, looking utterly exasperated. “Could you… just stop being difficult!”
Lucille stared at him blankly. “Difficult? How? You offered to call me a car, but I’m saving you the trouble since you’re busy. How is that being difficult?”
“You’re sure you’re not sulking? Not saying the opposite on purpose? Not feeling jealousy?” Cedrick retorted. “Fine, I should’ve driven you home today. But the driver’s at your place. Maricela just dropped the lawsuit–she’s emotionally fragile. She lost her home, all her bags and jewelry gone. How do you think she feels? You’d really get mad if I took
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Chapter 155
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her to a hotel? Lucille, I’m starting to doubt if you ever loved me all these years. If you did, why can’t you tolerate my friend?”
Lucille tilted her head with a smile. “No need to doubt. I didn’t.”
Cedrick looked utterly confused. “Didn’t what?”
“Didn’t love you.” Each word was crisp and clear.
“You…” Fury flashed in his eyes. “You’re driving me insane! Why can’t you understand? Must you say such hurtful things? Let jealousy twist you like this?”
Lucille desperately wanted to throw those words back at him.
Why can’t YOU understand?
She truly felt no jealousy. Zero resentment about him driving Maricela home.
“Cedrick…” She sounded drained. “First: no jealousy. Second: no love left. Third: let’s just file for divorce? Believe me now?”
“Utterly unreasonable! You’re twisting my words! Using divorce as a threat?” Cedrick turned and stormed off in rage.
Lucille watched his retreating figure and opened her ride–hailing app.
Who’s really being unreasonable here?
Lucille hurried back to Grandma’s house.
The urgency stemmed from her impending departure in just days. Her parents‘ presence loomed like a ticking time bomb. Once she left, Cedrick would fully grasp her resolve to leave him. She couldn’t rely on him to protect Grandma forever. Within these few days, she had to relocate Grandma to a place her parents couldn’t find. When she returned in a month, she’d secure Grandma’s visa and take her away.
Returning to the village, she found Cedrick’s driver still stationed there, while her parents and Tristen had vanished.
“Madam.”
The driver rose bewildered from the courtyard recliner, greeting her as if asking: How much longer must I wait here?
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