To repay the debts she owed her relatives, Dione worked tirelessly, juggling two jobs every single day. One fateful night, after dragging herself through a grueling shift, she found herself cornered in a dim alley by a group of drunken thugs.
It was Cedric who came to her rescue. He fought valiantly, his fists doing the talking, until the chaos ended with everyone hauled to the police station.
When the police asked Dione to call her parents, silence fell over her. Unable to speak, she lowered her gaze as they checked her ID. The room grew eerily quiet when they discovered the truth about her parents.
Cedric, despite enduring punches that left his face swollen beyond recognition, never shed a tear. But when he learned that Dione had lost both her parents and was braving the world alone, his composure crumbled. Silent tears streaked down his bruised face; he couldn’t fathom how much pain she had endured in solitude.
From that moment on, Cedric made it his mission to be Dione’s protector during the long night shifts, always ensuring she made it home safely.
Cedric’s family wasn’t struggling. His father was a well-established entrepreneur known far and wide.
He confided in Dione about his family, sharing bits and pieces of his life, his father’s affair, his reluctance to inherit the family business, and his deep passion for sculpting...
Cedric had cut ties with them after they discovered his relationship with Dione. They had insisted he take the reins of the family business, scolding him for even considering marriage to a girl from such humble roots, especially one who had lost both her parents.
In defiance and to shield Dione from their harsh words, Cedric took her to Cedar Ridge, hoping to learn a new skill.
The past replayed in Dione’s mind like scenes from a movie, each memory sharp and vivid.
She knelt in front of the tombstone, the cold wind biting at her skin, but the warmth of her tears blurred her vision.
“Dad, Mom…”
“Wait for me, okay? I’ll find you soon.”
“In the next life, I still want to be your daughter.”
Winter’s chill had arrived, the air damp and biting, and the cemetery seemed to echo with her pain.
She waited for hours, but Cedric didn’t show. Eventually, with a heavy heart, she made her way back to the hotel alone.
Her phone remained silent, and after a long pause, she decided to call him.
The phone rang, the connection was slow, and when it finally clicked, the noise on the other end made her stomach tighten. There was a shuffle of footsteps before everything went quiet.
“Hello, wife. I’m sorry, something came up.”
“Ophelia had an accident. She’s all alone in Cedar Ridge, and as her mentor, I can’t leave her...”
Once again, Ophelia.
Dione couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Ophelia was so intent on keeping Cedric that she would go as far as to hurt herself to make him stay.
“Then take good care of her over there,” Dione said, her voice steady before hanging up.
She stayed in her hometown for over ten days, each day filled with messages and calls from Cedric, full of excuses about why he couldn’t make it.
Dione played along, not wanting to confront him.
As the day of her appointment with Dr. Pierce approached, she packed up and made her way back to Cedar Ridge.
She didn’t tell Cedric she was returning, she didn’t owe him that, and instead, went straight to his studio to collect her things.
When she arrived, Ophelia was already there, sitting in Cedric’s usual chair, a coffee cup in hand. Her legs were crossed arrogantly as she barked orders to the employees around her.
Dione’s face darkened instantly as she strode toward Ophelia, knocking the coffee cup out of her hand with a sharp motion.
“Is this how you usually waste time? Making everyone else carry the load—what’s the point of you being here?” Dione demanded.
Ophelia, flustered and caught off guard, was about to retort when she noticed Cedric coming out of the room. In an instant, she switched tactics, feigning hurt and rushing to apologize.
“Sister Dione, you’ve misunderstood...”
“I wasn’t slacking off. I’ve been working nonstop and just finally got a moment to breathe.”
Cedric quickly stepped forward, grabbing Dione’s hand with a pleading expression.
“Wife, why didn’t you tell me you were coming back? I would’ve picked you up from the airport.”
Dione shook his hand off and walked into the office without a word, her steps deliberate and cold.
