Her voice was calm, almost too calm, as if she were discussing a trivial errand. Yet, in her heart, she knew she was preparing for a journey far beyond his reach, one from which there would be no return.
"That’s a good idea," Cedric said warmly, stepping closer. His tone dripped with affection as his hand reached for her cheek. "This way, I can spoil you with some of the newest designs."
But even as he spoke, his other hand held his phone tightly behind his back, its screen lighting up with an unspoken secret.
Dione leaned away, her body instinctively recoiling from his touch. Without sparing him a glance, she continued snapping photos, her silence sharper than any rebuke.
Cedric’s phone buzzed incessantly, the vibrations cutting through the stillness of the room like a restless hum.
“Cedric, if you’re busy, just go. Someone from the consignment store is coming later. It wouldn’t be good if they recognized you.” She knew his mind had wandered far from this room and simply offered him an easy out.
“Really? Well, Laurent wants to go over a few more details, so I’ll head out.” He quickly changed into a fresh set of clothes, the familiar scent of cologne trailing behind him as he left in haste.
Left alone, Dione turned her attention back to her task, her fingers tracing the edges of her handbags. The value of the jewelry and designer bags sprawled before her amounted to a staggering 30 million.
Over the years, Cedric never let a holiday or milestone slip by without lavishing her with gifts, always proclaiming he wanted her to have the best of everything. And he had delivered. Beyond the spacious apartment they called home, four or five other properties bore her name.
Cedric was no longer the man who once struggled to afford instant noodles. Now, he was a name people recognized, a millionaire with a sterling reputation in Cedar Ridge.
With fame came a flurry of events and admirers, many of whom were glamorous female celebrities from the entertainment world. Yet Cedric always brushed them aside, dismissing them as cunning women looking for a way to climb the social ladder.