Chapter 103
Wilma was getting more and more worked up. “Caleb told me you’ve been doing nothing but drinking and you haven’t touched a bite of food. Are you seriously trying to starve yourself just to make Nancy feel guilty? Well, let me tell you, that’s not going to happen!”
With that, Wilma slapped Cyrus hard across the face.
Smack-
Caleb hadn’t expected Wilma to get physical, and his expression shifted. “My lady.”
“This is none of your business. Get out!” Wilma snapped, her voice filled with anger.
Wilma might have been getting on in years, but that didn’t mean she’d lost her edge.
Caleb didn’t dare to argue, so he quietly backed out of the room.
Wilma looked at the red mark on Cyrus‘ face and then at his vacant, defeated expression. A deep, indescribable sadness welled up inside her.
“Cyrus, do you really think Nancy would be heartbroken to see you like this? Or are you planning to just give up on her?”
Hearing Wilma’s words seemed to finally break through to Cyrus. He looked up sharply, his voice rising, “No, I won’t give up on Nancy! I’ll find her. She’s just mad at me, and she must be waiting for me to come and make things right!”
Wilma sighed, watching Cyrus teeter on the edge of an emotional breakdown.
She hesitated, then ventured, “Cyrus, does Nancy know about Hayley Grant?”
“That’s impossible! Nancy doesn’t know about Hayley, and Hayley wouldn’t dare tell her,” Cyrus replied, clenching his fists, his tone firm.
Wilma raised an eyebrow, not buying it. “Then why did Nancy leave?”
“I told Nancy to apologize to Hayley or we’d get a divorce. It was just something I blurted out in the heat of the moment. I didn’t mean it. I never wanted to be apart from Nancy.” By the end, Cyrus‘ eyes were red, and his hands were clutching his head in despair. “I just didn’t think Nancy would get so upset, would leave like that. I never thought it would come to this.”
“Nancy, how could she be so petty? She must be waiting for me to come find her…”
Wilma let out a dry laugh. “Cyrus, how can you even suggest Nancy should apologize to Hayley? Does she deserve it?”
Cyrus clenched his fists tighter. “But Nancy pushed Hayley down the stairs. She almost miscarried. That’s why I said it.”
“Bullshit!”
Wilma, for once, dropped her usual decorum. “Nancy’s not that kind of person. Unless she knew Hayley was your mistress and lost her temper. Or Hayley could be framing her!”
Cyrus‘ eyes widened in disbelief. “No, no way, Mom. You don’t know anything. Nancy doesn’t know Hayley is…you know. She just doesn’t like her.”
Wilma stood there, mixed feelings of frustration and pity washing over her as she faced Cyrus‘ persistent denial. Finally, she sighed softly, “Believe what you want. But no matter how reckless you’ve been, you’re still the CEO of The Gordon Group. You’re going to work tomorrow.”
With that, Wilma turned and left the room.
Silence settled back into the large bedroom.
1/2
Chapter 10
Cyrus sat on the bed, dazed, his mind replaying his mother’s words.
Did Nancy push Hayley because she suspected the truth about her?
No, that couldn’t be it… If Nancy had really known, she would’ve divorced him before she left.
His mother couldn’t possibly know anything.
Besides, Nancy had left him a note before she went…
Wait, could Nancy have left a clue in that note, wanting him to find her? After all, Nancy loved him so much, and this was probably just her way of making him come after her, wanting him to make the first move.
The thought ignited a spark of hope in Cyrus. He jumped up and opened the safe, where he kept the first anniversary gift Nancy had given him.
