Chapter 24
Memories of the last time he drank and went wild flashed through her mind. She pressed her hands over her collar, trying to push him away, but she was no match for this crazy man.
His unbuckled belt buckle dug painfully into her. When he forced her hands away from her neckline, she yelled desperately, “Cedrick! Stop this madness! Do you even know who I am?!”
It was no use.
With a ripping sound, her nightgown was torn open.
“Cedrick!” she screamed, swinging her hands wildly to hit his head.
He caught her wrists, pinning them above her head. He looked down at her, eyes burning. “What good will shouting do, Mrs. Maynard? Have I been too good to you these years? Too indulgent? Is that why you’ve grown so bold?”
Great. He wasn’t confused after all.
“Thank you for your ‘kindness‘! Why don’t you save it for Maricela? If you’re in the mood, go find her! Don’t take it out on me!” She wanted no part of his so–called kindness or the coldness of the past five years.
Hearing Maricela’s name, he finally slowed down. His deep, intense eyes were still fixed on her. “You’re still hung up on Mari. Let me remind you, Mrs. Maynard. There’s a limit to jealousy. You can act out all you want at home with me, but if you harm the company’s interests, my patience won’t last forever.”
“Mr. Maynard!” she said through gritted teeth. “You need to understand a few things. First, I am not jealous. Second, I am not the one who endangered the company. I’ve never even been involved in your business! There’s a saying: You reap what you sow. You and that shameless woman created this mess, and now you face the consequences! Stop blaming others. Third, the moment Maricela cries, you forget all about the company’s interests. Why didn’t you care about company interests back then?”
Maricela had just posted.
She said he would stand against the whole world for her.
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Chapter 24
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It was right there in writing.
The mention of “Maricela” finally brought Cedrick back to his senses. He released her and stood up, fastening his belt. “Don’t worry. I told you, you’ll always be my wife. Even when Mari returns, you are still my wife. But you’d better behave yourself.”
With that, he straightened his clothes and opened the door.
He paused at the doorway and glanced back. “I’ll give you tonight to cool off. Tomorrow, either come back to the master bedroom, or I’ll join you in the guest room.
Lucille was beyond frustrated. She didn’t want to be “Mrs. Maynard” anymore! “Cedrick, why are you so obsessed with keeping me as your wife? I don’t want to be Mrs. Maynard forever. Let Maricela replace me, please!”
Cedrick paused briefly, offering only a mocking smile as if she were merely throwing a tantrum, then headed to the master bathroom.
Shaken and sweaty, Lucille took another shower, changed into a T–shirt, and went back to bed.
It rained heavily through the night. The sound against the window soothed her. The temperature dropped, and she drifted off to the rhythm of the rain.
The next morning, she woke on her own. It was already 9 a.m. Surprisingly, Cedrick was still home, talking with Mylee. It was unusual for someone who lived at the office.
After he left, Lucille got up.
During breakfast, Mylee approached cautiously. “Ma’am, Mr. Maynard said he’ll be back soon. He wants you to wait so you can visit your parents together.”
Lucille’s appetite vanished. She never said she wanted to go.
But she couldn’t take it out on Mylee. She was innocent.
She put down her spoon, deciding not to eat anymore.
“Ma’am…” Mylee spoke again, hesitant.
“Did he say anything else?” She felt Cedrick seemed to be unusually talkative today.
“No, it’s just… I wonder if I should say something…” Mylee said, uncertain.
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Chapter 24
ZAB Mers
“Go ahead.” Lucille sighed softly.
“Please don’t think I’m overstepping, ma’am… But intimacy… matters in a marriage. Since Mr. Maynard took the initiative, maybe… Well, wouldn’t things be better if you had a child?” Mylee felt embarrassed.
The comment crossed a line.
But Mylee had taken care of her for five years and always treated her kindly. Lucille knew she meant well and didn’t scold her. “Thank you, Mylee, but it’s not that simple between us. Let’s not bring this up again.”
“Yes, I’m sorry, ma’am.” Mylee looked uneasy.
Just then, Lucille’s phone rang. It was a delivery call. She picked up.
“Two packages: one large box and an envelope,” the deliveryman said.
She immediately knew it was her Porilinese Test results.
“Please bring them up,” she said, quickly unlocking the door.
Sure enough, it was her exam results. The large box contained clothes she had ordered for Cedrick last month.
As she signed for the delivery and was about to close the door, the elevator opened again. Cedrick stepped out.
“What’s all this?” he asked, walking over.
Lucille quickly hid the envelope behind her back, trying to act calm. “Your clothes.”
“Hm.” He seemed pleased. As he walked in, he ruffled her hair as if to say, “That’s more like it.”
She turned slightly, afraid he’d see the envelope.