NOVPUB
Chapter 45 - 45-Quite impressive
In the spacious study room, even with the windows and fans running, Cynthia still felt unusually hot. Last night had left her with a trail of marks, so today she had no choice but to wear a high-collared white shirt, wrapping her neck tightly.
For some reason, as she read, her mind kept drifting back to his tenderness the night before, making her cheeks burn with embarrassment and heightening the feeling of heat.
After observing her for a while, Bonnie casually remarked,
"Cynthia, your face is all red!"
"Oh, um, maybe it's just the heat," she replied hastily, awkwardly waving her book as a makeshift fan.
"If it's so hot, why aren't you wearing a tank top?" Bonnie asked, keeping her tone casual.
Cynthia's friends in the dorm were all about tank tops every summer—various styles, all cool, stylish, and perfect for showing off their figures. But today, Bonnie had noticed something off about Cynthia. She seemed distracted, and her outfit—a rather strange button-up—looked odd, almost uncomfortable. And whenever Cynthia tilted her head, Bonnie caught glimpses of faint, telltale marks on her neck, barely concealed.
Could it be that she and Albert Wilson had something going on? Bonnie's inner gossip radar sparked to life.
"Ahem, uh... all my tank tops are in the wash... no other clothes left to wear..." Cynthia mumbled, scrambling for an excuse under Bonnie's curious gaze.
"Cynthia, did you and Albert Wilson... you know... do it?" Bonnie cut straight to the point.
Cynthia's face turned scarlet as she stared wide-eyed at Bonnie.
"Bonnie, just read your book!"
Luckily, they were sitting in the farthest corner of the classroom, and there were hardly any people around. Otherwise, Bonnie's teasing would have thoroughly embarrassed her. But Bonnie didn't mind at all; instead, she laughed with a mischievous grin.
"No need to play innocent. There's definitely something going on between you two!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Cynthia's face grew even redder as she denied it, though her voice was unconvincing. Bonnie, with a sigh, took a mirror out of her bag and handed it to her so she could see the marks on her neck.
"Still going to say there's nothing between you two?"
Cynthia fell silent at the sight of the unmistakable kiss marks, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her whole.
Despite her carefree exterior, Cynthia was conservative at heart. Even though he was her lawful husband, the lack of genuine feelings between them made it awkward to keep sharing such intimate moments over and over. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝖕𝖚𝖇.𝖈𝔬𝔪
Leaning closer, Bonnie lowered her voice and asked, "Cynthia, are you doing this willingly? Or is he forcing you to, you know, 'fulfill' your marital duties?"
Cynthia thought back to the three times they'd been together. Aside from their wedding night, when he had forced her, the other two times she had initiated. She sighed.
"I suppose it's willingly."
She had once thought that if any man other than Vincent touched her, she would rather die. Yet here she was, tangled up with him three times now—and she wasn't resisting with the desperation she'd always imagined. In fact, she found herself thinking back to their moments together.
And as for the warmth and excitement Vincent had once brought her? She hadn't felt or thought of those feelings in a long time. Was it time itself that had dulled everything, or was it his fault, barging into her life so forcefully that she hardly had a moment to reflect on her past?
Bonnie looked at her hesitantly and said,
"But Cynthia, he was just caught in a rumor with Doreen..."
"Laurence, you're overthinking it. I only went to him because I needed help with the medical expenses for those two kids at the orphanage!"
She knew what Bonnie was worried about—she was afraid Cynthia might fall for him and get hurt again.
Yes, a man like him could easily make a woman's heart flutter, maybe even fall in love with him. But Cynthia didn't think she would. As Eileen Chang once said, a person's greatest flaw isn't selfishness, infatuation, wildness, or stubbornness—it's obsessively loving someone who doesn't love them back.
She knew he already had someone in his heart, knew he would never fall in love with her. So, she wouldn't waste her energy on something so pointless.
"Cynthia, honestly, I really wish this marriage of yours wasn't tied up with all those so-called interests and benefits. I wish it were simply a match made in heaven, a beautiful and fated union," Bonnie said, propping her head up with a somewhat wistful expression.
What woman wouldn't want to wear a wedding dress just once in her life, to marry once, and stay together forever? But for Cynthia... if she and Albert Wilson divorced one day, even if she put on a good show and hid the fact she'd been married, the shadow would still linger in her own heart.
Cynthia poked Bonnie's forehead with her slender finger and said,
"Laurence, stop dreaming!"
A match made in heaven? A beautiful union? Those words were far too laughable when applied to her marriage. Feeling even more stifled in the classroom, she grabbed Bonnie and led her outside.
By the school's artificial lake, lush, tender green willow branches hung down like giant umbrellas, shading them from the summer sun. A gentle breeze blew from the center of the lake, instantly sweeping away the restless heat in their hearts.
Just as the two of them were stretching and relaxing, Cynthia's phone suddenly rang. It was William S. Lancaster. Her lips curved into a mocking smile—could it be that the situation with Vincent divorcing Grace Lancaster had escalated? But why was he calling her back? Did he expect her to play mediator?
William didn't say much on the call, simply reminding her to come home for dinner that evening. She responded with a casual acknowledgment. After hanging up, she thought for a moment before dialing Albert Wilson. She anticipated the dinner might last late into the night, and since they had an agreement to see each other every seven days, she figured he might show up at her place tonight and find her missing.
The phone only rang a few times before he picked up, and his warm voice sounded in her ear.
"Hello?"
Suddenly, she was flooded with memories of his low, sensual tone as he whispered to her the night before. Her heart skipped a few beats, and when she stayed silent for a bit too long, he called her name in his calm voice.
"Cynthia?"
She quickly regained her composure and carefully chose her words.
"I'll be having dinner at the Lancaster residence tonight, so I might be back very late. Um... will you still be coming over tonight?"
"Aren't we supposed to go to dinner together? I'm your husband. Do you really think it's acceptable to leave me behind?"
His tone was calm, but she couldn't help but sense a hint of coldness.
"I..."
Just as she was about to find a way to refuse, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her. A chubby young man with a large bouquet of roses stood before her, startling her. His face was bright red as he struggled to get the words out.
"Cynthia, I love you!"
"Huh?"
Cynthia froze, momentarily forgetting she still had her phone in her hand. The boy thrust the roses toward her, his face flushed as he nervously began to recite:
"'By the riverside, the cries of the ospreys, a fair lady, a noble man seeks!'"
Bonnie burst into laughter beside her, and Cynthia felt even more awkward. The boy's face turned an even deeper shade of red, but his expression remained sincere.
"Cynthia, I've liked you for a long time. Even though you rarely come to school, always so mysterious, so proud... Today, I finally gathered the courage to tell you. I hope you'll be my girlfriend. Please, let me take care of you!"
After his confession, he quickly lowered his head, too shy to meet her gaze, though he kept the bouquet held out in front of her. The vibrant red roses seemed to make her features appear even more radiant. It was, in fact, the first time she had ever received roses from a boy.
Vincent had never given her flowers—not because he wasn't romantic, but because she simply wasn't fond of them. She preferred practical gifts like ribbons, stuffed animals, or small trinkets that most girls enjoyed.
"Um, could you... take back your flowers for now?"
Having never been pursued so openly, she was stunned into silence before finally managing to respond. For ten years, her life had been carefully guarded by Vincent, who had shielded her from any admirers. Middle school and high school had not been without boys who admired her, but Vincent had effectively discouraged every single one.
"Quite impressive, aren't we?"
A chilling, gritted voice suddenly sounded in her ear, and she realized she was still on the phone with him. Before she could explain, she heard the sharp *click* as he hung up on her.
