Chapter 10
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Cyanne wanted to call out to Desmond, but he had already walked far away.
This was the first time since her return that Desmond had left without hesitation.
Only after he was truly gone did Cyanne reluctantly return to stand beside her father.
Stan looked at her, words hesitating on the tip of his tongue. “Yannie, I know you once had feelings for Desmond, but you were the one who gave up on him back then.
“Now he’s your brother–in–law. The two of you really should keep some distance. Otherwise…”
Before he could finish, Josephine cut him off. “Enough, enough. She finally came home, and you’re already lecturing her?
“Our Yannie is such a wonderful girl–there are plenty of men who want to marry her. As if she’d be interested in her own brother–in–law! Don’t say things like that again, I don’t like hearing it.”
She took Cyanne’s hand and led her upstairs, speaking fondly. “Yannie, sweetie, I brought back so many gifts for you from our trip to Switzerland–come take a look.”
In Desmond’s villa, he sat alone in the living room, waiting in the middle of the night.
He was waiting for Lavender to come home.
She had loved him for so many years–he couldn’t believe she would just walk away like
that.
Only a dim light was on, and the shadows cast over Desmond’s face made his expression hard to read. There was an undeniable air of restlessness around him.
Suddenly, the sound of the passcode lock broke the silence–someone was coming in. His eyes lit up instantly. It had to be Lavender.
But when the door opened and Cyanne stepped inside, the flicker of hope in his gaze
vanished.
“What are you doing here?” Desmond frowned.
Cyanne paused, momentarily stunned.
He used to complain they didn’t spend enough time together. Now, it seemed like he didn’t even want to see her.
“Mondy, you’re still up this late… Weren’t you waiting for me?”
She walked over and sat beside him, turning sideways to lean into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.
The moment she touched him, he instinctively pulled back–but she held him tightly. “What’s going on with you today?” she asked softly. “You seem… off.”
Desmond didn’t know how to answer.
What was going on with him? Hadn’t he always believed he didn’t love Lavender?
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14:56 Thu, 22 May G MG.
Now that they’re divorced, he should feel relieved.
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Even if the baby was gone, he and Cyanne could start over. They could have another child. So why did it feel so wrong?
No. Even if the separation was real, it should’ve come from him.
He had to find her.
“Yannie, has your sister contacted you these past couple of days?”
The heat that had just begun to rise in Cyanne instantly cooled. But she kept her expression composed.
“Mondy, my sister never liked me–not even as a child. Why would she reach out to me now? What’s going on? Is she missing?”
For some reason, Desmond couldn’t bring himself to say the word “divorce.”
He gave a vague explanation. “She’s been upset lately and left home. Changed her number too. Can you do me a favor? Ask Mom to try getting in touch with her. Tell Avy to come
back.”
Cyanne clenched her fists, her molars grinding as she fought back her frustration.
Desmond continued, “Yannie, Avy is your sister. It’s not safe for a woman to be out alone. Please–help me this once.”
She looked into his eyes and saw the worry there. She couldn’t help but ask, “Mondy… have you fallen in love with her?”
His blood turned cold in an instant. He didn’t know how to respond.
Did he love her?
He wasn’t sure.
For the past three years, he’d grown used to having Lavender by his side. Now that she was really gone… he missed her more than he’d expected.
But he kept telling himself: he loved Cyanne. What he felt for Avy was just obligation… and guilt.
“Yannie, the one I love is you. But she’s still my wife–I don’t want anything to happen to her. I’ve never asked you for anything before. This is the first time.”
Cyanne felt a heaviness settle in her chest.
True, Desmond had never once asked her for anything. But the one time he did… It was for
another woman.
A flicker of unease passed through her eyes–followed by a flash of calculation. “Alright. I’ll ask Mom to try contacting her tomorrow.” She leaned in closer, voice softening with a hint of seduction. “So… how do you plan to thank me tonight?”
She slowly began loosening his tie, her hands moving downward with purpose.
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