Chapter 57
Why was she still bothered by someone she’d already cast aside? It made no sense.
Scarlett paced her living room, her frustration mounting. The thought of Lorey and Yvonne walking away together replayed in her mind like a cruel joke. She didn’t need him—she’d made that clear long ago. So why did it still sting?
Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sharp crash of breaking glass from downstairs. Heart pounding, she hurried to investigate.
In the kitchen, Cedric stood frozen, his expression uneasy. Shards of shattered glass lay at his feet.
“What happened?” Scarlett asked, her voice laced with concern.
Cedric gave her an apologetic look, his hand scratching the back of his neck. “I was just trying to pour myself some water and, well, I guess I wasn’t careful enough.” His voice quivered, and his eyes glistened like a child caught doing something wrong.
Scarlett sighed, shaking her head. “You should’ve called me. You’re still recovering. Just focus on resting, okay?”
Cedric nodded, his expression softening. “Thanks, Lettie. I’ll head back upstairs.”
Once Cedric left, his demeanor shifted entirely. Limping moments before, his injured leg now moved effortlessly as he ascended the stairs. A sly smirk tugged at his lips.
“Scarlett, you’re so easy to control. And as for Lorey, he’s no match for me,” he muttered under his breath.
Meanwhile, Scarlett remained in the kitchen, staring at the broken glass. Her mind wandered to the past, back when she’d married Lorey.
Her temper had been fiery back then, and broken glasses were a regular occurrence in their home. Lorey always cleaned up the mess without complaint, quietly gathering the shards and throwing them away.
She used to mock him for it, belittling him for being so servile. Yet now, as she knelt down to clean up the shattered glass herself, the memory felt oddly hollow, like something she didn’t fully understand at the time.
The next morning, Scarlett’s phone buzzed with a call from Grace.
“Lettie, we need to talk. The board’s called another meeting,” Grace said, her tone serious.
Scarlett frowned. “What now? Are they still hung up on Cedric?”
Grace sighed on the other end. “Lettie, don’t lose your cool. Just go hear them out. Think of it as a chance to reset. You’ve been burning the candle at both ends lately. You need a break.”
Scarlett groaned but finally relented. “Fine. I’ll see you at the office.”
She got dressed quickly, but Cedric greeted her with a table full of freshly made breakfast as she came downstairs.
“I thought I’d make something special,” Cedric said, gesturing to the spread of hot biscuits and fresh coffee.
Scarlett’s eyes scanned the table before shaking her head. “You know I don’t like toast, Cedric. Why didn’t you ask me first?”
Cedric’s face fell. “I just wanted to surprise you. I’ll clean up,” he muttered, his movements exaggerated as he limped to clear the table.
“Just eat it yourself. I have to get to the office,” Scarlett said, brushing past him toward the door.
Upon hearing this, Cedric’s eyes lit up. “Is it about the board’s decision? Does this mean we’re going back?” he asked eagerly. Scarlett paused, her hand on the doorknob. “I’m not sure yet. It’s probably about the recent mess. I’ll let you know if there’s any news.”
Cedric frowned, watching her leave. Once the door shut, his frustration spilled over. He swept the table clear, the dishes crashing onto the floor. “Unbelievable,” he hissed. “She dares to treat me like this? She’ll regret it.”
Grace met Scarlett in the lobby at the office, her face etched with worry.
“What’s the situation?” Scarlett asked, sensing the tension.
Grace sighed, motioning for Scarlett to follow her. “It’s not good. Let’s head upstairs first. The board’s already here.”
In the elevator, Grace leaned closer and lowered her voice. “By the way, there’s more. Someone recorded yesterday’s fiasco outside the office, and the video went viral. PR had to spend a fortune to bury it.”