Chapter 8
Cedric still had that confident look of someone who knew victory was in the bag.
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He started picking me up from work, and even sent gifts to my office, which I promptly tossed into the trash can in front of everyone’s curious eyes.
These tactics he typically used to charm young women would have worked on Bethany long ago.
But I knew him too well.
I increased my budget by twenty percent and found another manufacturing
partner.
Though this would significantly cut into profits, it was better than being led around by the nose by the Palmer family and Cedric.
On the day the products shipped out, I worked until late at night before leaving the office.
As soon as I stepped outside, that familiar Maybach was parked right in front.
of me.
I was more exhausted than ever before.
“What exactly do you want?” I asked.
Cedric pulled out a cake box from the passenger seat.
“Happy birthday, Jeanette.”
Chapter 8
I froze.
He looked down, a faint smile on his lips, his eyes so tender that for a
moment I was reminded of how he looked when he proposed to me.
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“I heard you’ve never properly celebrated your birthday. So I wanted to make up for that. Jeanette, could you give me a chance to get close to you? I like
you.”
Under the amber streetlight, his bright eyes were filled with affection, looking at me more brilliantly than the stars above.
In that moment, it seemed like I was the only one in his eyes.
I looked up at his nervous yet expectant expression.
“Cedric, is it really just because you like me? Someone like you never wastes. effort on things with a low return. Just like with Bethany–once she lost her usefulness, you discarded her without hesitation. Your true purpose–we both know what it is. Cedric, someone like you doesn’t deserve love.”
The light in his eyes gradually extinguished, replaced by deep anger.
After a long silence, the distant clock struck twelve midnight.
Cedric returned to his usual nonchalant demeanor.
“Jeanette,” he said softly, “happy birthday. Someday you’ll understand that
you can’t live without me.”
you
I was busy contacting potential business partners when, unexpectedly, I ran into Bethany again.
Chapter 8
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She looked much more haggard. Her once full cheeks had sunken in, and the dark circles under her eyes were concealed with thick foundation.
Normally, she would never allow herself to appear so disheveled in public.
Bethany had always excelled academically and was beautiful. My parents focused on nurturing her talents, sending her to piano and ballet lessons.
She was the proud prom queen, the admired valedictorian, and had been the center of attention for over twenty years.
Having been immersed in praise for so long, how could she tolerate her sister -who had always lived in her shadow–doing better than her?
She stood beside her BMW, still wearing that arrogant expression.
“I heard you’ve been getting close to Cedric Palmer lately? Cedric and I are. back together.”
I nodded and said, “Congratulations.”
She paused, as if trying to find a trace of jealousy or resentment on my face,
but saw nothing.
Bethany seemed somewhat disappointed.
She smiled coldly. “Jeanette, do you know something? Choices are always more important than effort. The moment you chose to marry Herbert, you had already lost. You’ll never beat me.”
She got into her car and drove away.
As I watched the car disappear into the distance, I felt an uneasy sensation.
Chapter 8
But I couldn’t quite pinpoint the source of this strange feeling.
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