Dione’s gaze swept across the office, and her brow creased without her even realizing it.
Every detail of this space, once carefully chosen by her, had been replaced. The mural that had once been elegant now depicted a playful cartoon, and the ornaments on the desk had morphed into tiny pink houses.
Cedric, who had followed her in, noticed the shift in her expression and quickly offered an explanation.
“The staff thought my office was too dull, so they redecorated it for me.”
“If you don’t like it, I’ll throw it all out.”
Dione turned to him, her hand extending with a quiet demand.
“Where’s my ‘Dina’? What have you done with it?”
Cedric seemed to snap to attention, his eyes scanning the room as he hastily searched. After a moment, he spotted it, tucked away in a box in the corner.
Dione had never learned sculpture. Instead, she had painstakingly taught herself, spending three sleepless days and nights to carve a figure of the two of them, calling it “Dina.”
At the time, Cedric had treated it like a treasure, placing “Dina” in the most visible spot in his office.
To Dione, “Dina” wasn’t just a sculpture; it carried a piece of her soul. She couldn’t bear the thought of it being tainted, especially by the sight of Cedric and Ophelia being so affectionate with each other every day.
Without hesitation, she snatched “Dina,” now gathering dust, and left the studio in a hurry.
Cedric was just about to chase after her when Ophelia’s dramatic cry echoed from behind.
“Master, I twisted my ankle; it hurts so much...”
His steps faltered, and once again, Dione was left to slip away.
As she reached the intersection, it hit her that she was leaving for abroad tomorrow. She paused, deciding she should tell Cedric before she left.
Turning back, she made her way toward the studio once more.
At the corner, Dione spotted Ophelia holding onto Cedric’s hand, refusing to let go.
“Cedric, my foot really hurts. I’m not lying to you…”
Cedric frowned and gently rubbed her nose.
“Why did you put my things in a box and upset Dione? I need to go comfort her.”
Ophelia shook his arm, her voice dripping with sweetness.
“I really envy Dione, having a husband who loves her so much. Unlike me... I’m like a discarded doll, tossed aside.”
“Stop talking nonsense,” Cedric said, frowning. “If your foot hurts, go to the hospital and get checked out.”
“I don’t want to go to the hospital. Don’t you remember the accident a few days ago? You were so wild in the hospital.”
“You almost let the nurses see everything. You’re so annoying.”
Cedric quickly covered her mouth, his eyes darting around.
“Keep your voice down. Someone will hear!”
Ophelia chuckled, her hands playfully punching his chest.
“Now you care about keeping things quiet. Last night, didn’t you want everyone to hear?”
Cedric smiled, pulling her closer, pressing her head against his chest, and wrapping his arms around her waist.
Dione stood frozen, her body trembling uncontrollably. Her fist was clenched so tightly it felt as though her nails were digging into her skin.
At home, she collapsed, gathering everything that reminded her of the two of them and taking it to the rooftop. There, she set it all ablaze.
As the flames roared to life, her long-suppressed anger and sorrow seemed to dissolve into the heat of the fire.
By the time everything had nearly burned away, Cedric’s call had interrupted the moment.
Dione hesitated for a few seconds before answering.
“Dione, you’re not mad, right? Ophelia twisted her foot; it was badly swollen. I just took her to the hospital.”
“You know, she was in a car accident a few days ago…”
Dione had heard enough. She didn’t want to listen to another word about Ophelia, so she cut him off.
“Cedric, I just want to eat instant noodles.”
On the other end of the phone, Cedric paused, his confusion evident. “What? Instant noodles?”
“Yes, do you remember when we first arrived in Cedar Ridge? We shared a packet, savoring every bite. There were times when we didn’t have much, so we’d share, pretending we weren’t hungry just to let the other have more.”
Dione’s voice trembled as she recalled those simpler days, and tears began to fall unbidden.
“Dione, what’s wrong?”
The noise on his end of the call was growing louder, and Dione wiped away her tears, trying to steady her breath.
“There’s so much noise on your end. Where are you?”
She took several deep breaths, forcing the sobs to stay hidden. “I just really want instant noodles. Can you bring a packet back with you?”
Before Cedric could respond, Ophelia’s voice burst through, urgent and frantic.
“Cedric, I’m bleeding! Please call a doctor!”
Cedric’s tone shifted as he spoke, trying to reassure Dione while attending to Ophelia.
“Stay at home, Dione. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
The line went silent as Dione heard the faint sound of the call disconnect.
Dione’s face was etched with helplessness, her tears clouding her vision. She inhaled deeply, her gaze lifting to the sky, as if seeking solace in its vastness.
“Cedric, you missed our last chance to meet.”
