Chapter 2
However, five years later, the name “Mari” was still burned into his brain, so deep he moaned it when he was jerking off.
She was such a fool to think time could change a heart.
Lucille didn’t sleep at all, reading that email on her phone again and again.
It was a grad–school offer from overseas, and she had planned to ask Cedrick if he was okay with her accepting it.
Now it looked like she didn’t need to ask.
After five years of marriage and endless sleepless nights, finally, she was about to be free.
When Cedrick got up, Lucille kept her eyes shut, feigning sleep. She heard him tell the housekeeper, Mylee Hopkins, “I’ve got a business dinner tonight. Tell Lucille not to wait up.”
With that, he stepped back into the bedroom to check on her. She buried her head under the blanket, her silent tears soaking into the pillow.
On normal mornings, she’d lay out his clothes, so he could simply slip into them.
But today, she didn’t.
He dressed himself in the walk–in closet and left for the office.
Only then did she dare open her swollen, burning eyes.
Just then, her phone buzzed.
It was her alarm. Time to study Porilinese.
After the wedding, her bad leg kept her stuck at home. She chopped each day into chunks and then killed them any way she could.
She turned off the alarm and started mindlessly scrolling through apps.
Her mind was in a fog, so nothing went in.
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Chapter 2
Then, a video on Facebook caught her eye.
сус.
The face looked way too familiar.
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She checked the name–Mari–Sca.
Great, the very last person she wanted to see. Thanks, Big Data…
The video was posted last night.
Lucille tapped play, and party music blasted out. “One, two, three! Welcome back, Mari! Cheers!” someone exclaimed.
It was Cedrick’s voice. He was actually shouting with joy.
Cedrick drank even though he swore he wouldn’t.
Lucille could tell he was tipsy.
But screaming his lungs out? That didn’t sound like him at all.
Back in high school, he was the cold, top–of–the–class heart–throb who was always serious with his studies. He was so frosty that he wouldn’t even glance at the girls who brought him water on the sports field.
Later, as her husband, he was courteous and calm, never letting his emotions show. He never smiled or got mad, so detached that when she accidentally touched his fingers, they felt ice- cold.
The camera swept across the room and caught Cedrick tipsy, eyes sparkling, raising his glass to the lens with a big grin. “Welcome back, Mari!”
So he could laugh.
He could get fired up.
And he could use cute nicknames.
But not with Lucille.
“Mrs. Maynard, you getting up now?” Mylee asked through the door.
Lucille’s day usually ran like clockwork. Seeing her still in bed, Mylee figured she might need help. After all, her bad leg was no secret.
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Chapter 2
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Lucille put her phone aside. “Yeah, coming.” Her voice came out raspy, like she had been crying.
Breakfast was bread and butter. She ate one slice and quit.
“What would you like for lunch and dinner?” Mylee handed her a glass of milk.
“Anything…” She almost said the usual “anything Cedrick likes,” then swallowed the rest.
Mylee got it anyway. They had this talk every day. “Mr. Maynard said he’s not coming back for dinner tonight. He has got a business thing.”
Lucille nodded.
Sure, he wouldn’t. She had seen Maricela’s post on Facebook: a seven–day schedule of who was buying her meals. “College buddies are the best. Look at all these cute guys lining up to spoil me!”
Most days, Lucille studied Porilinese for two hours, then art theory for a few more.
If she didn’t keep busy, how else would she survive the endless wait? Just sit around for a man who never came home?
She had done that before.
Waiting sucked.
But today was different.
Her offer came in the school’s final wave. She had to lock it down now.
So the first thing on her list today was to pay the deposit. When her phone flashed the bank’s “payment successful,” she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
One day closer to the day she’d walk away from Cedrick for good.
By evening, she changed clothes and headed for the door.
Mylee looked surprised. “Mrs. Maynard, you’re going out?”
Without her husband, Lucille hardly ever left the house.
“An old college friend is in town for a show. We’re gonna catch up,” she replied. Truth was, she had booked a hotel near the test center.
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Chapter 2
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She was retaking the Porilinese Test tomorrow morning. If she tried to get there from home in rush hour, she’d probably be late.
She fell short a few months back, but the application deadline hit, so she sent it anyway. Then she got in, and she quickly rebooked the test to score higher.
Luckily, the school let her update her score later.
“But…” Mylee glanced at her leg. “Want me to tag along?”
“No, it’s girls only. Having you around would kill the vibe.” Lucille’s face gave nothing away.
“I’d better tell Mr. Maynard,” Mylee insisted. If something went wrong, it was on her.
Chapter 3