Chapter 9
48%
Lavender’s mind went completely blank.
No wonder she had been puzzled by how different Desmond had seemed lately.
She had mistaken the wrong man for her savior all along!
Her eyes welled up with tears as she looked up at him. “Since you were the one who saved me, why didn’t you say anything back then?”
Red let out a cold snort. “I didn’t expect you to be such an idiot–to mistake your own lifesaver. And besides, I never wanted to use that to guilt you into anything.
“Lavender, I’ve never wanted something half–hearted. What I want… is your true love. Do you understand?”
His eyes were clear and bright, utterly sincere–without a trace of calculation.
Tears spilled from Lavender’s eyes. She could no longer hold them back. Rising on her tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around his neck, her body trembling.
“Red, I understand now. From this day forward, let’s live a good life together.
“I mistook the wrong guy for ten years. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
With that, she leaned in and kissed him.
A soft smile played at the corners of Red’s eyes as he gently pulled her into his arms. His voice was low and magnetic, “Let’s move to the bed.”
Once his passion awakened, Red showed no signs of stopping. It wasn’t until dawn that he finally let her drift off to sleep.
At the Winslets‘ estate, Cyanne sat between her parents, snuggling up to them coquettishly. “Mom, Dad, you’re finally back. I missed you so much while I was in Paris these past few years.”
“It’s good you’re back. While you were away, your mom talked about you all the time,” her Dad said warmly, his eyes soft as he looked at her.
Cyanne feigned innocence. “But you still had big sister here, didn’t you? I’m sure she took great care of you these past three years.”
The moment Lavender was mentioned, Josephine’s expression turned cold. “Don’t bring her up. Of course she’s not truly one of us–raised by someone else, no wonder her heart doesn’t align with ours. Married for three years and not a single child! She doesn’t even come home anymore!
“If I had a choice, I wish you had been my real daughter.”
It wasn’t the first time she had said something like that.
A glint of triumph flashed across Cyanne’s face before she quickly composed herself, speaking sweetly, “As long as you don’t mind having me, I’ll always be your precious daughter.”
The family of three was enjoying their moment when Desmond arrived, looking tired and
Chapter 9
2/2 10.7%
14:56 Thu, 22 May G MG.
travel–worn.
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“Mondy!” Cyanne jumped up and went to greet him. “Are you here to see Mom and Dad?”
Desmond scanned the room the moment he entered, but Lavender was nowhere to be seen. Disappointment flickered in his eyes.
“Dad. Mom,” he greeted respectfully.
Stan frowned slightly when he noticed Desmond was alone. “Just you? Where’s Lavender?”
Desmond hesitated, unsure how to explain. Should he tell them that she’d divorced him and vanished?
Before he could answer, Cyanne stepped in smoothly. “Avy wasn’t feeling well a few days ago and had to be hospitalized. She’s probably resting at their home now.”
Desmond wasn’t ready to reveal the divorce, so he simply echoed her explanation. “Yannie’s right. Avy’s been unwell, so she’s at home recovering. She asked me to visit you both in her place.”
Josephine was unmoved, her tone icy. “Unwell? Why is it that she’s always conveniently sick when it’s time to come home?
“Desmond, you’re her husband. You can’t just let her do as she pleases.
“She wasn’t raised by me, so that petty, small–minded attitude never went away. But now that she’s your wife, she represents your image too.”
Desmond had no patience for this lecture. No matter what they said, he just nodded politely. “You’re right, Mom. Anyway, I still have something to do at the company. I’ll get going now.”
As he turned to go, Cyanne instinctively moved to follow, but Stan stopped her with a stern
voice.
“Yannie, you stay.”
