Chapter 12
The car drove into the gated community and came to a gentle stop at the entrance.
"Mr. Clifford, Mrs. Clifford, welcome home."
David the butler's voice was warm and respectful—the only hint of humanity in this cold mansion.
As Cecilia was about to exit the car, Edward let out a soft, cold laugh at the sound of "Mrs. Clifford." That laugh made Cecilia's spine stiffen instantly.
She watched Edward get out of the car and walk past David without even a glance, as if that derisive sound had been merely an unconscious throat noise.
David's smile froze, and he looked uncertainly toward Cecilia, still sitting in the car. In that moment, Cecilia wished she could turn into liquid and slip through the car door cracks, or simply sink into the ground.
The crystal chandelier in the living room blazed with light, leaving her nowhere to hide. She didn't dare look back to see David's expression, nor could she face Edward's undoubtedly scrutinizing and mocking gaze.
"Stop."
Edward's voice came from the foyer, commanding.
Cecilia's feet froze in place, but she didn't turn around.
He walked around to face her, looking down at her fluffy hair from his height. "Tomorrow, Teddy will draft a new supplementary agreement for you."
Cecilia remained silent.
"Your monthly salary will be raised to $200,000, and I'll give you a supplementary card with no spending limit." He paused, his voice growing colder. "I have only one requirement—control yourself and stop embarrassing me in public."
A $200,000 monthly salary and an unlimited credit card. These were conditions any woman would dream of, enough to buy anything she wanted—except dignity.
"Understood," she answered softly. "Any other instructions, Mr. Clifford?"
Edward stared at her unnaturally calm eyes, which held nothing but a dead, still pond. He suddenly felt bored.
"Get upstairs."
Cecilia fled to her room as if granted a reprieve. The moment the door closed, she buried her face in her knees, her shoulders beginning to tremble uncontrollably.
But she didn't cry. She just felt cold—a chill spreading from her heart that no warmth could penetrate.
Downstairs, Edward poured himself a whiskey and downed it in one gulp. The burning liquid scorched his throat but couldn't suppress the nameless anger in his chest.
He thought about her retreating figure on the stairs, her lifeless smile in the car, and that tiny spark in her eyes when Samuel had crouched before her at the police station.
Irritated, he picked up his phone and called Teddy.
"Hello, Mr. Clifford."
"Tomorrow, terminate Cecilia's internship."
Teddy hesitated on the other end. "Should I arrange a new position for her?"
"No." Edward watched the amber liquid swirling in his glass, his eyes dark and unreadable. "She belongs at home."
---
When Cecilia woke up, daylight was streaming in. She got out of bed barefoot and poured herself a glass of water. The cool liquid sliding down her throat cleared her foggy mind a little.
She picked up her phone and found Samuel's number.
He answered quickly, his voice gentle and concerned. "Cecilia? Are you alright? Yesterday..."
"Mr. Hughes," Cecilia paused, "I'm sorry, but I need to resign from my part-time position at the firm."
Silence fell on the other end before Samuel's voice dropped. "Edward forced you, didn't he?"
She had been working late on a case last night, and today she wanted to quit. The only variable was Edward, who had suddenly appeared and forcibly taken her away.
"No," Cecilia denied. "It's for personal reasons. I can't continue working. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."
"Personal reasons? Cecilia, what did he do to you? Don't be afraid. If you're being coerced, I can help you, legally..."
Cecilia cut him off again, her voice finally showing a hint of fatigue. "Thank you. But I'm really fine. Let's leave it at that."
She hung up before he could say anything more. She tossed her phone onto the soft bed, and the screen went dark.
Meanwhile, Samuel held the disconnected phone, his face ashen. Cecilia's calm-to-the-point-of-despair tone was more alarming than hysterical crying.
Thinking of Edward's cold, arrogant face, he grabbed his suit jacket from the chair back without hesitation and strode out.
---
Top floor, executive office.
Edward reclined in his large leather chair. Cecilia's unusually calm demeanor last night had left something stuck in his chest that wouldn't go up or down.
"Mr. Clifford," Teddy's voice pulled him back to reality, "Samuel Hughes is here. No appointment. He says it's urgent."
Edward looked up. Samuel? A smile with no warmth curved his lips.
"Send him in."
The office door opened, and Samuel walked in, radiating cold fury.
"Mr. Clifford," Samuel got straight to the point, "I want you to stop harassing Cecilia."
Edward raised an eyebrow, motioned for Teddy to leave, then spoke lazily. "Mr. Hughes, are you telling me how to handle my personal affairs?"
"Personal affairs?" Samuel looked like he'd heard the joke of the century. "Mr. Clifford, forcing a young woman to be your mistress—what kind of personal affair is that? Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're rich. There are still laws in this world!"
"Mistress?" Edward repeated the word, his smile deepening.
He couldn't be bothered to argue with Samuel and pressed the intercom.
"Teddy, come in for a moment."
Teddy quickly entered, holding a folder.
"Mr. Clifford."
"Show that to Mr. Hughes," Edward nodded toward the folder.
Teddy understood and handed the folder to Samuel.
Samuel glanced at Edward but accepted it. To his surprise, it contained a marriage certificate. He checked it instinctively.
The date was recent.
It was Edward and Cecilia's marriage certificate.
The color drained from Samuel's face. They... were married?
All his righteous indignation, all his moral accusations—in the face of this marriage certificate, they became a complete joke.
"Now," Edward's voice floated through the air, with deadly elegance and cruelty, "who do you think has more right to manage her affairs, Mr. Hughes? You or me?"
He stood up, took the marriage certificate from Samuel's hands, and casually tossed it back to Teddy.
"I..." Samuel opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.
"Mr. Hughes." Edward patted his shoulder, a gesture that appeared friendly but wasn't gentle. "You might want to brush up on your marriage law before rushing in to be everyone's hero."
"Teddy, see him out."
Teddy gestured "this way" to Samuel.
Samuel didn't know how he made it out of the building. Standing in the bustling crowd below, he felt like a clown. Cecilia, the girl he saw as resilient, independent, and in need of protection, was actually Edward's wife.