Chapter 66 Alaric's Ex-Girlfriend
Alaric led Cecilia into his room, which had been meticulously arranged, a stark contrast to its usual monochrome aesthetics of black, white, and gray. The deliberate placement of fresh flowers on the nightstand introduced a rare warmth, suggesting a genuine effort from the Whitaker family to welcome her.
The bedroom door clicked shut, snapping Cecilia out of her contemplation. She fixed her gaze on Alaric.
"I told you, I didn’t sleep well last night," Alaric said, his tone casual as he moved about. "I need some rest. Besides, I don’t like sleeping with the door open. If you prefer, you can go back and chat with my mom. She seems quite fond of you."
Cecilia had no desire to venture out again. Despite the Whitaker family's kindness, certain members made her uncomfortable. Being alone with Alaric, though awkward, was a respite from the subtle tensions downstairs.
“Oh, by the way,” Alaric began, unbuttoning his shirt, “we’ll be staying here tonight.”
Cecilia's eyes widened as she looked at him.
“It’s tradition,” he continued, stripping off his shirt to reveal his chiseled torso. “My mom insists we spend at least one night here.”
Cecilia turned away, her cheeks flushed with a mix of surprise and embarrassment.
Alaric, seemingly unperturbed, added, "Tomorrow, we’ll visit your parents, assuming nothing unexpected comes up."
His words hung in the air, ambiguous and slightly ominous, but he offered no further explanation.
He sauntered into the walk-in closet, emerging moments later in a set of pajamas. He sprawled out on the bed and casually remarked, "There are some things my mom arranged for you in the closet. Feel free to change."
With that, he closed his eyes and drifted off, leaving Cecilia standing awkwardly.
She couldn't just watch him sleep. The thought of returning to Arabella didn’t appeal either.
Spotting the open balcony, she decided to step outside, stealing a glance back at Alaric who seemed momentarily alert before settling back down.
The view from the balcony was a testament to the Whitaker family's wealth. Stretching out below was an opulent backyard complete with a golf course and a stable housing fine horses. Lost in thought, her reverie was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. She turned to see Rebecca approaching, her expression devoid of surprise.
Rebecca cut right to the chase. “You are indeed beautiful. Alaric’s taste has never disappointed me.”
Cecilia was already aware that Rebecca and Alaric's connection went deeper than former classmates and friends. The insinuation in Rebecca’s remark was clear.
Cecilia wondered, was Alaric really such a playboy? He even had a history with his brother's girlfriend.
Cecilia felt an inexplicable surge of anger from Rebecca's provocation, but she quickly reminded herself that it had little to do with her.
"You're not bad either," she responded impassively, her tone neutral. Their earlier confrontation seemed to dissipate, replaced by a superficial civility.
Rebecca, undeniably attractive with her unique charm, sneered. “But I can't keep Alaric’s heart.”
Cecilia’s silence was deliberate. She maintained her composure, feeling detached from Rebecca's insecurities.
Rebecca’s expression hardened at Cecilia's indifference. “Is your marriage with Alaric fake?” she pressed.
Cecilia’s smile was cool, her demeanor elegant. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
"Alaric is my ex-boyfriend."
Cecilia remained unfazed. Rebecca, frustrated by Cecilia's lack of reaction, threw out her parting shot. "Alaric will never love you!" With that, she turned and strode away.
Cecilia no longer felt like staying on the balcony. Alaric’s feelings, or lack thereof, for her didn’t bother her in the slightest. Silently, she returned to the bedroom, careful not to wake him.
Alaric was already fast asleep. Cecilia moved to the sofa, spotting a music box Emily had casually placed on the table. She paused, then gently turned off the music, relocating the box to the nightstand nearest Alaric and opening it. The calming lavender scent slowly filled the room.
She had heard that lavender aids sleep, and while Alaric's reputation with women was less than stellar, he hadn’t harmed her. If this small gesture could help him rest better, why not?
With the room now scented with lavender, Cecilia settled back on the sofa and pulled out her phone. She began scrolling through the news articles Seraphina had asked her to review.
There was a barrage of headlines. Some reported on her and Alaric’s wedding, while others speculated that Alaric had finally turned over a new leaf. Despite his scandal-riddled past, he had never publicly acknowledged any woman as his girlfriend. Now, he had recognized Cecilia as his wife.
Reading this, Cecilia couldn't help but smirk. The irony was almost amusing.
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