Chapter 161
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So, you two just have fun!
Before bed, Lucille took two more ebay orders. Thinking about all the packages she needed to ship tomorrow, she drifted off without realizing it.
Cedrick didn’t come home that night.
When she woke the next morning, a text from 2 AM waited on her phone–a photo. Cedrick slept shirtless while Maricela, in a sheer nightgown, leaned against his shoulder.
Lucille immediately checked Maricela’s Instagram. Sure enough, it was updated with the same photo – though Cedrick’s face was blurred. The caption read: I could watch you sleep forever, my love. Never gets old.
Naturally, the Hermès bag, Tiffany lamp, and her Chanel dress in the photo remained unblurred.
Comments overflowed with envy and praise, half gushing about where to find such a wealthy, handsome, devoted husband.
Replying in a wifely tone, Maricela engaged: Hehe, just lucky! Known him since high school–over a decade now. Oh, he just runs his own company, no big deal. Haha, I don’t work. He can’t afford me anyway…
These humblebrags about love and money only fueled more admiration.
Lucille remembered a saying: Online identities are self–assigned.
Clearly, Maricela relished this fabricated role.
Silently, Lucille screen–recorded the entire post and comments. Then she got up, packed orders, and clicked “ship” one by one on ebay.
Cedrick returned just as the courier arrived for pickups.
He stood frozen at the doorway, staring at the waist–high stack of parcels. “All… sold clothes?”
“Yep.”
Lucille remained expressionless, her bandaged fingers helping the courier attach tracking labels before handing them
over.
Cedrick’s sharp eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Lucille, what are you up to?”
“Selling unused things.”
“I know that. But this… feels like looting the house? Selling everything?” Something felt off.
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Chapter 161
“Out with the old, in with the new,”
A fitting farewell to her old life, she thought.
“Wanting new clothes?” He seemed to understand.
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“Suppose so.” She attached the last label and asked the courier to take the packages. “I’ll pay shipping in the app lat-
er.”
“Got it.” The courier hauled the massive bundle away.
Cedrick shut the door. “Even if you want new clothes, selling all the old ones seems extreme.”
Lucille studied him. His outfit had changed–not yesterday’s. A man who changed clothes elsewhere…
She smiled faintly. “Didn’t you get new clothes too? Who doesn’t like new things?”
Cedrick stiffened, glancing down at himself. “Oh, right. Drank too much at Maricela’s last night. Clothes got dirty, so I changed.”
“Uh–huh.”
She responded flatly, turning toward the bedroom.
“Not just me. Harlan and David were drinking too.”
He followed her, explaining.
“Okay.”
“Got drunk, so didn’t come home.”
“Mhm.”
She entered the walk–in closet to change clothes, moving to shut the door.
Cedrick braced against it. “What’s with the attitude?”
Lucille exhaled. “I don’t have an attitude.”
“All those ‘okays‘ and ‘mhms‘–what’s that supposed to mean?”
His dark eyes fixed on her.
“It means I heard you. And I kept it to two words, like we agreed.”
Cedrick studied her intently for a long moment, seeming somewhat convinced. “You’re truly not angry?”
“Truly not!”
Lucille replied, “Every time I say I’m not angry, you never believe me.”
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Chapter 161
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“Lucille, Maricela she…”
“I know. She was the most important person–someone who brought you light during your darkest hour. She helped you and kept Grandma company in her final days. If someone like that existed in my life, I’d cherish them dearly too. Since she’s struggling now, it’s only right you look out for her.” Lucille recited his words by rote.
“It’s good you understand.”
Lucille sensed his relief at her “understanding,” finding it almost laughable. And laugh she did. “I need to change clothes. Please leave.”