Chapter 214
“Maricela, I’m leaving Ced with you. He’s hammered–take good care of him. I won’t interrupt your… plans.”
Harlan winked, his tone dripping with innuendo.
Maricela shot him a coquettish glare. “Just get out already! What nonsense!”
But the instant he left, she slammed the door shut.
Cedrick sprawled on the sofa. His shirt, already unbuttoned at the collar, had popped two more buttons during the move, revealing lean muscle underneath.
“Ced…” Maricela approached, calling softly.
He furrowed his brows, stirring slightly.
“Ced, we’re home. Let’s get you cleaned up and to bed, okay?”
She whispered, reaching to undo the rest of his buttons.
The moment her fingers brushed his skin, he jolted awake.
“Who?”
His voice grated, rough and wary.
“It’s Maricela !”
She insisted. “It’s your birthday today, remember?
We just celebrated together–sang songs, reminisced about old times…”
He forced his eyes open, struggling to focus. “Maricela ?”
“Yes, it’s Maricela. You’re drunk, we should…”
“Drunk? Birthday?”
He shook his head, swaying.
“Yes, your birthday…”
Just as Maricela unfastened his last button and slid her hand toward his belt, he staggered upright, lurching toward the door.
“Ced! Where are you going?”
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Chapter 214
Maricela dashed after him, grabbing his arm.
He shook her off violently. “Birthday… Grandma’s house… dinner…”
Maricela’s face twisted in fury. “Lucille already dumped you!
Stop with this ‘Grandma’s house‘ crap!”
Whether he heard or not, he kept mumbling, “Grandma’s waiting… waiting for us…”
Still swaying, he somehow managed to wrench the door open and stumble out.
“Ced! CED!”
288 Vouchers
Maricela chased him into the hallway but missed her grip. He shoved her away hard–her slippers skidded, nearly sending her crashing to the floor.
Watching Cedrick vanish into the elevator, she hissed through clenched teeth, “Grandma this, grandma that!
That old hag should just drop dead already instead of stealing my man! I’m fuming!”
Her eyes narrowed, scheming…
Cedrick slumped against the elevator wall, jabbing the button for the first floor. When the doors opened, a man stepped in, eyeing the drunk leaning motionless against the panel. “Sir, which floor? We’re on the ground level now.”
Cedrick jolted awake as if from a dream. “Thanks,” he muttered, stumbling out into the lobby.
The security guard actually recognized him. When he came to buy this apartment, he’d accompanied Maricela. Plus, he’d been here more than once. Seeing him emerge clearly drunk, the guard quickly asked, “Sir, heading home?”
“Home…” Cedrick looked dazed for a moment. Then he pulled out his phone. “Call me a cab…”
He entered Country Village as the destination–his grandma’s address. After filling it in, he slurred to the guard, “Go- ing to Grandma’s for dinner.”
“Uh–huh…” The security guard wondered why he was chatting with him. Did drunk people really talk this much?
Cedrick was indeed unusually talkative right now.
While waiting for the car, he told the guard, “Grandma cooked so many dishes. Just for me.”
“Oh, Grandma’s so sweet.”
The guard had no choice but to keep him company with idle chatter.
“Yeah, Grandma’s great… loves me most… Gotta get back. Can’t keep her waiting too long.”
“True, you should spend more time with the elderly.”
“When I’m free, I’ll take Grandma traveling… to see the ocean…”
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Chapter 214
“Sir, you’re really filial…”
“Filial?”
Tears unexpectedly welled up in Cedrick’s eyes. “I’m not filial. Not at all. I’m no good…”
Guard: ?
?
Now that was hard to follow!
Luckily, the car arrived.
“Sir, your ride’s here.”
The guard quickly ushered him into the car, breathing a huge sigh of relief.
“Goodbye. Thank you.”
Cedrick called out from inside the car.
“You’re… you’re welcome.”
The car headed toward Country Village.
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