Chapter 2

Cedric glanced up at me, then leisurely took a sip of his coffee.

It was Susan who spoke first.

"Why are you moving out? Weren't you the one who wanted to move back in the first place?" she asked.

When I first married Cedric, I felt like I was walking on thin ice in the Mason family's residence. Every smile had to be perfect, every strand of hair in place. It was suffocating.

After I complained to Cedric, he quickly came up with a solution. Soon, we moved in with my family.

I thought he cared about me, but maybe even back then, he already had feelings for Susan.

Forget it, Cedric could do whatever he wanted.

My thoughts drifted back, and as I was about to speak, Cedric stood up, grabbed his suit jacket, and walked out the door.

Susan flashed me a smile. "By the way, Cedric wanted me to tell you he wants you to go with him to an event tonight."

Cedric and I just saw each other. Couldn't he have told me himself?

Noticing my sadness, Susan gave me a slightly reproachful glance. "You're not upset, are you? Cedric's been so busy with work that he forgot to tell you himself. Try to be understanding and do your part as his wife."

"Understanding? Susan, how about you be his wife then?" I shot back.

"Willa!" Susan's eyes flashed with greed for a moment, but it quickly disappeared as she snapped, "Do you even realize how many women would kill to be a diplomat's wife?"

Really? Well, I couldn't care less about that title.

*****

Tonight's event would be the last time I attend as Cedric's wife.

I put my hair up in a bun, swiped on some nude lipstick, and slipped into a long black dress with not a hint of skin showing.

I suppose I've long gotten used to this plain, boring look.

I barely rested my hand on his arm, but even that made him frown, almost imperceptibly.

Soon enough, he claimed he needed to catch up with Darell Reyes and smoothly disentangled himself from me.

After three years of marriage, I'd become a stranger to my old social circle. All my former friends now flocked to Susan.

Tonight, Susan was turning heads in a deep V strapless mini dress, her lips painted a fiery red, commanding the room with her confidence.

She tipped back her champagne in one swift motion, her laughter lively and radiant as she chatted with everyone around her.

When Cedric passed by her, he slowed down, as if he couldn't resist her perfume, lingering for a moment longer than necessary.

I sat alone in the corner for ages, until my phone rang. It was Cedric's mom, her voice sharp and commanding.

"Give the phone to Cedric right now. His father needs to speak with him," she ordered.

Without thinking, I jumped up and hurried to find him. It wasn't until I spotted his back on the terrace that I snapped back to reality.

He and I would be nothing to each other soon. Why was I still being so obedient?

As I was about to leave, I overheard Darell say, "You've been in love with Susan for six whole years. If you really can't let her go, why not tie her to your side?"

For a split second, my body felt heavy as lead, and I was rooted to the spot.

So Cedric had feelings for Susan all along?

Then why did he marry me?

Cedric took a sip of his champagne, his expression unreadable as he looked down.

"Susan says she loves her freedom. How could I ever trap her as my wife?" he said.

"Then why did you marry her sister?" Darell asked.

After a long pause, Cedric let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "So I'd have an excuse to see her on holidays, to see her live well.

"And because her sister's eyes look so much like hers. It was the only way I could comfort myself.

"If not for that, it wouldn't have mattered if I married anyone else."

Darell made a face and joked, "So, should I call you devoted or heartless? Tsk."

Cedric gazed down at Susan, who was swaying drunkenly in the garden, her movements lazy and carefree. His voice was gentle, overflowing with affection.

"Darell, I think I'm losing my mind. Just watching Susan like this, so uninhibited and bold, makes me genuinely happy," he murmured.

Darell was blunt as ever. He'd seen me back when I was wild, reckless and untamed.

"Don't be fooled by how prim and proper Willa is now. Back then, she was known as a prickly rose," he said with a smirk.

All my childhood friends knew that freedom was practically once my middle name.

Clubbing, skiing, racing... I was even crazier than Susan at all that.

But after I fell for Cedric, I got rid of my nail art, dyed my hair back to a dull brown, and started wearing conservative, perfectly measured suits. I spent my days cooking in the kitchen, playing the role of the perfect wife.

Once, I tried showing him my true colors, putting on bold makeup. He just glanced at me and said, "Don't try to be like your sister. It doesn't suit you."

I figured he didn't like it, so I scrubbed my eyeliner off until my eyes were red, and never wore bold makeup again.

My train of thought was interrupted by some noise downstairs. Cedric's brow tightened, and he sounded anxious.

"Susan's in trouble. I need to go see what's up," he said.

When he walked past me, he stopped for a moment. He didn't speak, just pressed his champagne glass into my hand and rushed downstairs.

Downstairs, things got noisy as Susan's fiancé came looking for her.

"Susan, why are you breaking off the engagement?" he demanded.