ter 92 It’s All Aurom’s Scheme
My ears perked up, straining to catch every whisper and rustle from the other side of the room.
After Lorna finished speaking, Cadell’s lips curled into a cold, mocking sneer as a bitter laugh escaped him. “You think I’m an ***, don’t you? You stabbed me in the back, stealing trade secrets and leaving me high and dry. I begged you countless times, but you never looked back. Now that the Cavendishes have thrown you out like trash, you crawl back here with this story about my child?”
He paused, his voice oozing with sarcasm as he shot back, “You expect me to buy that? Just because you say it’s mine, it’s mine? Do I look like a sucker to you?”
Cadell’s words hit Lorna like a slap, leaving her fumbling for a reply. “Cadell, I swear, you’re the only man I’ve ever been with! If you don’t believe me, we can do a paternity test right now! The baby’s already two months along–you can’t deny that!”
My mind raced. Two months… That was right after Cadell had accompanied me to try on wedding dresses. I spent the entire night preparing for the wedding, while he claimed he was too busy with work and didn’t come
home.
How charming. He couldn’t wait, could he?
I wondered if he’d still have the nerve to say he loved me, with Lorna’s pregnancy glarin
glaring at him like a neon
sign.
But honestly, I was past caring.
I folded into myself, clutching my knees, saving every
ounce of energy I had left..
I
The doctor had pumped me full of glucose, but it didn’t change the fact that I hadn’t eaten in days. My body was a hollow shell, and I knew I had to save every scrap of energy for whatever storm was coming.
Outside the closet, Lorna’s words hung in the air, and I could almost hear Cadell’s resolve waver. “Lorna, are you really not lying to me?”
“Of course not!” Lorna pounced on his hesitation, her voice trembling with desperation. “Cadell, I’ve only ever been with you. You’re the only one I’ve ever loved!”
“Love me?” Cadell sneered. “If you loved me, why did you rip my heart out and stomp on it? Lorna, how much of what you’re saying is even true?”
Lorna floundered, her words tripping over each other as she struggled to find a response.
Cadell’s voice was heavy with disappointment. “No matter what, you still betrayed me, and that’s not something I can just forget. Even if that child is mine, it doesn’t erase what you did. Lorna, you can keep the baby, and I’ll make sure it’s cared for. But you… you’re on your own. “I raised an eyebrow, surprised to see that Cadell had actually shown some growth. Back in the day, if Lorna had come to him and shed a few tears, he
would’ve been rushing to comfort her, heart aching without a second thought. I remembered how blatantly
she’d stolen those trade secrets, and even when he went to confront her, he couldn’t help but give in and believe her lies. But now, here she was, carrying his child and pledging her loyalty, and he wasn’t swayed?
Lorna must have caught the underlying meaning in his words because she desperately cut him off before he could finish. “Cadell! Just listen to me, give me a chance to explain, please!”
Cadell let out a cold laugh, his volce laced with sarcasm. “Go on then. Im curious to see what kind of story youll spin this time.”
I heard Lorna exhale in relief before she rushed on, “Cadell, I told you, I never meant to betray you. I was just desperate for money. My mother was seriously ill, and we needed the funds for her surgery. But your grandfather told you not to give me anything… I was cornered, that’s why I did what I did.”
What a ridiculous excuse. Even a three year old wouldn’t fall for that. But of course, Cadell fell for it. After a moment of silence, his voice finally came through. “And how is she now?”
Lorna seized the opportunity, her words tumbling out in a rush. “The doctor says she’s out of danger, but she still needs constant care. I was taking care of her for a while, but I got so exhausted that I fainted. That’s when the nurses found me and took me for a check–up, and that’s how I found out I was pregnant!”
She
e really knew how to spin a tale, didn’t she? Her lies even had a logical flow.
Lorna was pulling out all the stops to win Cadell over. “The moment I found out I was pregnant, I was thrilled beyond words, Cadell. I’ve always dreamed of having your child!”
“You have no idea how much I’ve suffered these past months. I bound myself to Edmund for the money, but | don’t love him. Every time I see him, I can’t help but think of you and all the beautiful moments we shared.” “Cadell, do you remember that trip we took to Solterra? I hid on purpose to scare you, but you found me so quickly in the crowd, despite the chaos. “All this time, I’ve been thinking of you, of every day we spent together. The pain has been constant, eating away at me. I wanted to come to you and apologize, but then I heard you and Aurora had reconciled. That’s when it hit me–this was all Aurora’s master plan!!”
The topic suddenly veered toward me, and in the pitch–black darkness, I couldn’t help but arch a skeptical
eyebrow
Cadell snapped, cutting her off mid–sentence, his voice laced with urgency. “What the hell are you saying? Aurora? What’s she got to do with this?! Spit it out!!”
Lorna flinched at his sharp tone, her voice trembling. “Cadell… don’t you trust me?”
Cadell caught himself, his tone softening as he tried to rein in his frustration. “No, it’s not that I don’t trust you. I just want to know what that manipulative witch Aurora is up to now!”
Hearing the venom drip from his words, Lorna’s shoulders relaxed slightly, encouraged by his anger. I’ll be straight with you, but promise me you won’t get angry.”
“Cadell,
Cadell clenched his jaw. “Just spill it. I won’t bite your head off.”
Lorna hesitated, then blurted out, “Cadell, it was Aurora! She’s the one who pushed me toward Edmund. She wanted to tear us apart!”
The second the words escaped her lips, Cadell’s fist smashed into the cabinet with a bone–rattling BANG!
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