<b>She </b>stood to leave.
The man’s pride stung. Raising his voice, he snapped, “If not for Mr. Johnson’s assurance, you think I’d settle for some orphan girl?”
Corrine turned, her expression icy. “Good thing you don’t.”
Fuming, he spat, “No wonder nobody wants you.”
“What did you say?”
Juniper suddenly appeared, flinging a ss of water into his face. “Toad lusting after swan’s flesh. Get lost!”
The man’s face contorted.
Juniper seethed, “How could anyone be like this?”
He hurled another vulgar insult,
Cecilia stepped forward, calmly dousing him with another ss of
water.
The man red at the three women, cursing as he retreated.
Juniper pulled out her phone. “No problem. Next candidate will be better.”
Cecilia covered her phone. “Step outside. Corrine and I need to talk.”
Juniper obediently left.
Cecilia pulled Corrine back to sit down. “Corrine, about what you
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mentioned before, I’ve hired a <b>private </b><b>investigator</b>. Til tell you when get results. But for now, could you <b>please </b><b>leave </b>the Jolmson <b>family</b>?
Dark circles shadowed Corrine’s eyes. “It’s fine, Ci. I already <b>have </b>evidence.”
“What evidence?”
“Ci, I’ll handle this myself. You focus on recovering.”
Corrine didn’t want to borate. After speaking, she left immediately.
Cecilia called after her several times, but Corrine never looked back.
Cecilia felt utterly helpless.
For the next two weeks, Cecilia still couldn’t reach Corrine.
Heavy autumn rain drummed against the windows when a phone call woke Cecilia. Wesley’s voice soon came from beside her.
“Understood.”
“On my way.”
She felt Wesley carefully slipping out of bed.
Footsteps followed as he emerged from the walk–in closet.
Cecilia sat up. “Where are you going?”
Normally she’d never ask about his whereabouts–she didn’t care. But tonight, the question escaped her unexpectedly.
Wesley’s expression softened. He approached and kissed Cecilia’s forehead.
“Did I wake you?”
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“Where are <b>you </b><b>going</b>?” she persisted
After two <b>seconds </b>of silence, Wesley answered. “Larissa <b>ran </b><b>away </b>from home after fighting with Johan.”
The thunder outside was loud, the rain heavy
Cecilia grabbed his arm. “Do you have to go?”
After all these days, this was the first time she’d shown such soft vulnerability to keep him there…..
But Wesley squeezed her hand before letting go. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.”
“Wesley.”
Cecilia called out again.
Wesley paused at the door, then turned and left decisively.
The thunder rattled the windows.
Cecilia snapped back to reality, an inexplicable tightness in her chest.
Even lying down, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
She didn’t know how long passed before she finally drifted off, only to be jolted awake by thunder again.
Her eyes flew open. She checked the time–5 AM.
The sky was still dark.
She turned off her phone and was about to lie back down when it rang.
It was Corrine’s number.
<b>Cecilia </b><b>froze </b>for a second, <b>then </b><b>quickly </b><b>answered</b><b>. </b>
“Corrine?”
“Ci, listen to me. Wesley’s been in a car ident.”
Cecilia’s mind went nk.
“An ident?”
“We’re at the hospital now. He’s still in emergency surgery,”
“I see.”
The heart that had been anxious all night suddenly settled.
She remembered clearly–Wesley had gone to find Larissa.
So the ident… was connected to Larissa.
She showed no urgency to rush to the hospital, instead lying back down until seven in the morning.
The maid stood anxiously at the doorway.
“Mrs. Carlton, Mr. Carlton has been in a car ident.”
Cecilia replied calmly, “I know. I’m heading to the hospital now.
At the hospital.
Wesley had woken, surrounded by a crowd.
Yet scanning the room, he couldn’t find the one face he longed to see.
Cecilia hadn’te.
Larissa stood nearby, eyes red, looking guilty and uneasy.
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Johan <b>leaned </b><b>against </b>the <b>window</b>, <b>twisting </b><b>an </b>unlit cigarette between <b>his </b>fingers, his expression <b>grim </b>and <b>unreadable </b>
<b>Elijah </b>entered with medical reports, apanied by another <b>person </b>
“Mr. Carlton, Mrs. Carlton is here.”
Cecilia walked in carrying only her everyday purse–nothing else.
This wasn’t the visit of someoneing to care for a patient.
Nor did she ask about Wesley’s injuries or whether he was in pain.
The atmosphere grew strained.
Elijah quickly interjected, “The results are in. Mr. Carlton has a fractured left arm requiring rest. Other injuries are minor abrasions.”
Tears instantly streamed down Larissa’s face. “This is all my fault. I’m so sorry, Wesley.”
Cecilia studied the report intently, asking Elijah, “Will he need surgery?”
Elijah said, “The doctor suggested observing him for a few days before making any decisions.”
Cecilia nodded. “That’s good.“.
Silence hung between them afterward.
Larissa, fuming, wiped her tears and snapped at Cecilia, “Cecilia, he’s lying in a hospital bed./Don’t you have even one word of concern?”
“Did you know he’s been waiting for you toe?”
“You clearly don’t care about him at all.”
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Cecilia lifted <b>her </b>gaze. “Ile <b>pot </b>hurt <b>because </b><b>of </b><b>you</b>, not me