Chapter 25
Friday, Joanna was discharged from the hospital.
Cecilia took the day off and handled all the paperwork first thing in the morning. The head nurse, watching her methodical efficiency, couldn't help but compliment her, "Mrs. Joanna Clifford is truly blessed to have a granddaughter-in-law like you."
Cecilia just smiled without responding. She had just finished packing the last bag when Edward walked in. His gaze swept over Cecilia and the packed luggage, but he said nothing, walking straight to the bedside.
"Grandma, we can go now."
Joanna, being supported by a healthcare aide, nodded at his words. "Cece, I'm so thankful for you. Without you, my old bones would have been stuck in this hospital who knows how long."
"Please don't say that," Cecilia replied. She walked over and naturally took Joanna's arm from the aide, supporting her. "Let's go home."
Edward's movements faltered for a moment. He turned his head to look at Cecilia's profile as she helped his grandmother, gentle as an angel.
Just then, the sharp click of high heels sounded from the doorway.
"Grandma! Eddie! Sorry I'm late!" Rachel reached out to take Joanna's other arm.
Joanna subtly shifted away, saying coolly, "No need to trouble yourself. Cece has it covered."
Rachel's hand awkwardly hovered in mid-air, her smile freezing momentarily before she quickly composed herself.
In the parking lot, Edward's black Bentley was parked in the most prominent spot. Rachel eagerly opened the rear door, expecting Joanna to get in.
But Cecilia guided Joanna to the passenger side instead, opening the door. "Grandma, why don't you sit in front? There's more space to stretch your legs. It'll be more comfortable."
Joanna happily agreed and got in. Rachel's expression soured further. She bit her lip, reluctantly sliding into the back seat.
As Cecilia prepared to join her, Edward caught the door, his voice low. "You take the front."
He caught a whiff of faint cedar on Cecilia and paused. Was she wearing perfume?
Cecilia hesitated. "Alright."
Without explanation, he walked around to the other side and sat in the back, right next to Rachel.
The car pulled smoothly away from the hospital. Joanna chatted with Cecilia about everyday matters, asking if work had been tiring lately and whether she was eating regularly. Cecilia answered each question warmly.
In the back, Rachel was completely sidelined, unable to find an opening to join the conversation despite several attempts. She cleared her throat, leaning slightly toward Edward, her voice sickly sweet: "Eddie, did you change your cologne? It's still pine, but seems a bit cooler than before."
Edward grunted in acknowledgment.
Encouraged, Rachel perked up, "I saw a new men's fragrance the other day—cedar and white musk. It smells incredibly clean, crisp yet gentle. I think it would suit you perfectly. Should I have them send it over for you to try?"
Cedar... white musk... A clean scent.
Edward recalled the fragrance he'd just detected on Cecilia—cedar mixed with antiseptic, clean to the point of austerity. His gaze pierced through the gap between the seats, boring into Cecilia's back.
Which man had his wife been seeing behind his back?
Cecilia was mid-conversation with Joanna when she suddenly felt an icy chill down her spine. She instinctively straightened her posture and caught Edward's eyes in the rearview mirror.
What had she done wrong? Her mind drew a complete blank.
"Eddie?" Joanna also sensed the shift in atmosphere. She frowned at her grandson. "What's wrong? You look upset."
Edward withdrew his gaze, lowering his eyelids to mask his emotions. "It's nothing," he replied flatly, his tone betraying neither anger nor pleasure. "Just tired."
Joanna wanted to probe further, but Cecilia stopped her with a look. When this version of Edward was angry, any questioning would only pour gasoline on the fire.
The car fell into dead silence. Rachel shifted uncomfortably. She stole glances at Edward, who was leaning back with his eyes closed, his handsome profile tense, radiating "keep away" energy.
Then she looked at Cecilia in the front. Cecilia sat ramrod straight, all her earlier ease completely gone.
Rachel suddenly felt like she'd accomplished something good. Though she didn't understand why Edward was suddenly angry, that anger was clearly directed at Cecilia. The corner of her mouth curved into a secret smile.
The oppressive atmosphere nearly solidified during the rest of the drive. After Joanna got out, Rachel quickly followed, "Mrs. Clifford, let me help you inside. You've just been discharged, and walking around will help—"
"That won't be necessary," Edward's voice cut in from behind her, cold as ice shards. "Teddy, please take Ms. Hughes home."
Rachel's smile froze on her face. "Eddie, I—"
Edward gave her a cool glance that sent a chill through Rachel, leaving her no choice but to depart reluctantly.
Cecilia didn't even have a chance to ask "what's wrong" before her wrist was seized in a tight grip.
"Come with me."
He dragged her through the living room and straight upstairs, kicking open the master bedroom door. Cecilia was thrown onto the soft carpet, the impact stinging. Fighting through the pain, she finally demanded, "Edward, what the hell is wrong with you?"
Edward locked the door behind them. He approached her step by step. "What's wrong with me?" He let out a cold laugh devoid of warmth. "Cecilia, should I compliment your acting skills or your audacity?"
Cecilia's heart sank. Acting?
"Visiting your grandmother at the hospital is acting in your eyes?"
"Visiting Grandma?" He leaned down, that crisp pine scent now mixed with fury, overwhelming her. "Or meeting your old flame?"
Cecilia's mind went blank with shock. Old flame? Samuel? She'd gone to the hospital for her brother—running into Samuel was pure coincidence. How did he know? Was he having her followed?
"You're investigating me?"
"Investigating you?" Edward looked like he'd heard the joke of the century. "Cecilia, don't forget—I bought you. Every minute of your time belongs to me. Why would I need to investigate something that's already mine?"
The numbness in her chest gave way to searing pain. Cecilia smiled bitterly. "So what now? Are you dissatisfied that your purchased goods went somewhere they shouldn't, saw someone they shouldn't, and now wants 'customer service'?"
The mockery in her eyes and that "Mr. Clifford" burned away his last shred of rationality.
"Very well," he said through clenched teeth.
In the next moment, her world spun.
"Cecilia, it seems I need to remind you exactly whose woman you are."
Cecilia struggled, but her strength against his was like foreplay rather than resistance. He buried his face in her neck, his scorching breath on her skin, his voice terrifyingly hoarse. "Where did he touch you? Here? Or here?"
Cecilia's mind went blank, humiliation and fury making her tremble.
"Answer me!" He jerked his head up, eyes bloodshot.
"He didn't..." she forced broken syllables from her throat. "I didn't..."