“Hello, sir. This chocolate fondant cake was specially ordered today. Would you like to try our signature strawberry raspberry-”
“No need.” Cliff interrupted coldly, his brows furrowed as he turned and walked away without another word.”
He had searched through every high–end cake shop in Cleveland before finally locating one that still made chocolate fondant cakes -my favorite. With the cake in hand and a bouquet of freshly ordered roses, he drove straight to my parents‘ house.”
Back home, the wedding photo he had found and reframed now sat prominently in his study, a constant reminder of what he had lost. Restless and tormented, he could no longer sit still. He had to see me.”
Cliff took a deep breath and rang the doorbell with trembling fingers. The housekeeper opened the door. The moment Cliff spotted my coat and high heels at the entrance, a flicker of hope lit his face–he had finally found me.”
“Vivian, are you home? I brought your favorite cake…” he called out, raising his voice with nervous anticipation.”
Inside, I froze mid–slice, the knife halting over the cake. His voice grated against my ears like a dull blade. My face darkened as I pressed the knife down with force, slicing through the cake with clenched teeth.”
Seeing my reaction, my father immediately understood. He stepped outside, his tone polite but firm. “Mr. Curtis, I suggest you leave. Vivian has nothing to say to you.”}]
Cliff looked past him, hoping for glimpse of me, one word, one glance–but I never appeared.
When he lingered, unwilling to leave, my father’s expression hardened. “Don’t make me repeat myself. You’re no longer part of this family. Leave.“N
With a quiet cough, he signaled the housekeeper, who stepped forward to escort Cliff out. Reluctantly, Cliff set the roses and cake down on the steps and walked away.”
He didn’t go far.”
From a shadowed corner across the street, he waited. His heart pounded with hope, imagining me discovering the pearl necklace and handwritten letter tucked in the bouquet. He pictured me touched, maybe even moved enough to run after him.”
But inside, the housekeeper noticed the hidden gifts and brought them to my father.”
“We don’t need any of this in our house,” my father said flatly. “Don’t let Vivian see it and get upset.”
Without another word, the housekeeper threw the flowers and cake straight into the trash.
Cliff saw everything. His heart clenched as the garbage lid slammed shut. He had expected rejection, but not like this. Hollow and numb, he turned and drove home.”
Back inside, I finally exhaled, a weight lifting. I picked up my fork and tasted the cake, as if erasing him with every bite.
–0
Back home, Cliff sat in silence, his gaze blank. Ginger approached, pouting, “My back’s sore. Come give me a massage?“} He didn’t respond.
The coldness had grown between them since the wedding. What once felt like intimacy was now a cavern of silence. Ginger couldn’t take it anymore. She stormed in front of him, voice sharp.
“You went to see Vivian today, didn’t you?” she sneered, her smile twisted and bitter.
Cliff looked up, startled. “You followed me?“}
“What a joke. All those roses and gifts–thrown away without a glance. How pitiful.” Hèr laugh rang hollow. Then, suddenly, she fell silent. Her tone shifted to ice. “Why don’t you ever treat me like that? Why can’t you coax me like you used to?“—
They had grown up together, childhood sweethearts who knew everything about each other. She once thought their paths were destined to align. But instead, he chose me.”
When she had questioned him, desperate for clarity, Cliff had told her I was just a means to an end–married for money, not love. And Ginger, believing those words, never gave up on him.”
Even after I married him, their relationship never ended. They continued to meet in secret. Ginger, despite being married herself, stayed emotionally entangled–clinging to a man who belonged to someone else.”
Now, Cliff couldn’t even look at her. “Shut up,” he said coldly.
Ginger flinched. He had never spoken to her that way. Her eyes welled with tears.
“You love her now, don’t you?” she choked, grabbing his arm. “You promised me… that night… you promised you’d never love anyone but me.”
But Cliff only grew colder.
“Do you still love me?” he snapped. “Since the press conference, your company’s been bleeding money. You said you wanted to be with me forever, but you couldn’t even say your vows at the wedding.”
He stepped back and stared at her, voice like ice. “Do you love me? Or just what I can give you?“!
Ginger’s hands trembled. Her lips moved, but the excuses died before they left her throat. Cliff had seen through her–her panic, her calculations. The man who once adored her now looked at her like a stranger.
Haband and Cousin’s Wife Betrayed Me to Be Together
3:51 PM J
Her heartbreak turned to fury. She began hurling accusations from their past, desperate to gain back some power. But Cliff was already burning from rejection, and her outburst only stoked the flames.”
They shouted, screamed, dredged up every resentment. Their fight was so loud that little Lindsey woke up crying upstairs. But neither of them cared. They shouted for the housekeeper to comfort her instead.
Later that night, Cliff moved into the study and began a cold war with Ginger.“]
He visited Lindsey and saw the tear stains on her cheeks. His heart twisted with guilt. He gently stroked her hair and wiped away the tears.
“You look just like me,” he whispered. “Your eyes and nose… just like your mother’s.”
From then on, he began mentioning me often in front of Lindsey–planting memories of the woman who had raised her, the sacrifices I made, the love I gave.
Meanwhile, Ginger lay in her bed, unable to sleep. Her anger had faded, replaced by a bitter ache. Regret gnawed at her. The next morning, she woke early and made Cliff’s favorite breakfast, hoping to ease the tension.”
But he walked past the table without a word.”
At work, the senior management discussed a potential partnership with Hooper’s Group. Cliff had shown no interest in anything lately–until my name was mentioned. Learning I would attend my brother’s funeral, his eyes lit up for the first time in days. As my former husband, he was entitled to attend.”
And just like that, Cliff made up his mind. He packed up and prepared to go.”
