Chapter 181
240 Weschers.
Aydan smirked. “Where else should I be?
Telling some other woman I chose her?”
Cedrick’s expression darkened instantly. He whipped his head toward Lucille, who met his gaze impassively, her eyes detached.
“You Hurleys.”
Cedrick gritted his teeth. “Get this straight–who you’re with means nothing to me or Lucille. Lucille’s my wife!
You just shouldn’t be anywhere near her!”
“Oh?”
Aydan stood his ground. “If I hadn’t been here today, Lucille would’ve either jumped off a building or gotten disfig- ured. Is that what you wanted?”
“You-” Cedrick grabbed him by the collar. “Listen here, kid. However powerful your family is, stay away from my woman!”
Aydan gripped his fist, icy. “Mr. Maynard, let’s get one thing clear. Her name is Lucille. She’s a dancer with her own identity–not someone’s woman, wife, or property!”
Cedrick snapped. He threw a punch at Aydan’s jaw, roaring, “Ask her! Ask her who she belongs to!
Tell him you’re Cedrick’s woman!”
Lucille instantly rushed over, shielding Aydan. “Cedrick!
Get out of this room!”
Cedrick stared at her, stunned. “What did you say?
Say that again!”
“I said, get out of this room!”
Lucille repeated with crystal clarity, firmly positioning herself between them.
“You–want me–out?”
Cedrick pointed at himself incredulously. “Lucille, do you even realize what you’re saying?
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Chapter 181
Without me, could you afford this hotel?”
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“Actually, Mr. Maynard,” Aydan cut in coldly, “firstly, Lucille is perfectly capable of supporting herself. Without you, she’d still be a celebrated dancer!
Surrounded by admirers, she’d have no trouble affording this place!”
The words struck Cedrick’s deepest wound. If not for saving him, Lucille wouldn’t have lost her leg… That debt haunted him forever.
“Secondly,” Aydan continued, “even in her current state, caring for Lucille should be your duty–not something to hold over her head.
Thirdly, I paid for this room today-”
“You bastard!”
Cedrick lunged forward, trying to yank Aydan from behind Lucille.
But Lucille shielded Aydan completely–shifting left when Cedrick moved left, blocking right when he darted right.
Furious, Cedrick jabbed a finger at her. “Mrs. Maynard! What’s this?
Protecting him?”
Lucille stared back steadily. “Yes. Because when I was in danger, he protected me.”
Cedrick: …
He searched her eyes and found only frozen stillness–a lake sealed beneath winter’s ice, never to ripple again.
“Lucille…” Cedrick drew a deep breath, “I know you’re upset today, but let’s discuss this at home. Don’t make a scene in public.”
“Make a scene?”
Lucille repeated the words tonelessly, “Haven’t we provided enough spectacle already?”
Cedrick froze again.
“Besides, I’m not upset.”
Lucille spoke truthfully–she hadn’t felt anger throughout this entire day. Her heart had simply died.
Just that, her heart has died.
“Lucille, is it him?”
Cedrick pointed at Aydan, “Did this bastard poison your mind?
Spreading lies about me?”
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Chapter 181
“You bastard! Step out here now! Stop hiding behind a woman’s back!”
Psychological warfare.
But Aydan wasn’t fooled at all.
288 Wouchers
Aydan just chuckled behind Lucille, “A real man protects his beloved, not abandons her when danger strikes!”
Lucille laughed, a hint of mockery in her voice. “You’re wrong. Cedrick proved himself today–the woman he shield- ed is his true beloved.”
Not just his beloved, but even his affection had never belonged to her.
If she’d once clung to pride and pretense, hiding the truth from outsiders, now she had nothing left to conceal.
Cedrick squeezed his eyes shut. When they reopened, agony filled his gaze. “Lucille, don’t say that. I had no choice
“No choice?” Aydan cut in, grinning. “No choice but to cozy up to another woman? No choice but to parade around with her until kidnappers got the wrong person? No choice but to pick an outsider over your own wife without hesita- tion? Cedrick, enlighten me–how’d you rack up so many ‘no choices“?”