Dione’s fury surged. She slapped the bottle from his hand, the sound sharp and echoing in the tense silence. Her venomous glare pierced through him as she spat, “Cedric, you disgust me.”
Cedric stood frozen, a helpless expression clouding his face. Assuming her anger stemmed from the ring, he tried to soothe her with a forced lightness.
“I’m sorry, my dear wife. Next time I lose my ring, you can cut off my hand, okay?”
Dione didn’t bother wasting another word. She cast a cold, detached glance at Cedric before stepping into the bedroom and locking the door behind her.
Outside, Cedric’s gentle knocks broke the silence. His voice carried a soft plea tinged with guilt.
“Dione, if you’re upset, talk to me, okay? Don’t keep it all inside.”
“It’s my fault. I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had time to spend with you properly.”
After a brief pause, he added, “How about this? The day after tomorrow, I’ll take you back to your hometown. You’ve been wanting to visit for so long.”
Hometown…
The word struck a chord in Dione, stirring memories she had buried deep. Yes, before leaving this world, she should return one last time. Her voice was calm and devoid of emotion as she replied, “Okay.”