Chapter 8
“Who the fuck are you? Why are you with Astrid?” Cedric charged forward, grabbing Wendell by the collar.
“Cedric, back off!” I shouted, struggling to break them apart.
“Astrid!” He called my name, a mix of anger and desperation in his voice.
Wendell steadied me with one hand and
pushed Cedric back with the other. “I don’t owe you an explanation,” he replied, his tone icy.
“Astrid, are you really seeing someone new?” Cedric’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Why do you care?” I shot back, my patience wearing thin.
Out of nowhere, Cedric pulled out a small plaster figurine and two plane tickets, holding them out to me like they were the most precious treasures.
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“Look, I know I messed up. This is the figurine we made for our baby. I cleaned it up–see how cute it is? And remember that trip you wanted? I got us tickets to Bali! Just think about it. We could go to see the beach together! We can have another baby, Astrid! Just give me one more chance, alright?”
His voice was desperate, almost pleading, and I could see a flicker of hope in his eyes. that reminded me of when he proposed.
But I couldn’t shake the bitterness. Since his first love came along, he hadn’t looked my way. Now that I didn’t need him anymore, he was trying so hard to win me back.
“I don’t need any of this,” I said firmly. “Some things can’t be fixed once they’re broken, Cedric. We’re divorced. Please don’t interfere in my life anymore, or I’ll have to call the cops.”
I kept my voice steady, refusing to look at him. Turning to Wendell, I said, “Let’s go
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inside.”
Wendell glanced at Cedric, who stood there like a statue, tears brimming in his eyes. My ex ignored Wendell helping me upstairs.
Once we were inside, I turned to Wendell and offered a sheepish smile. “Thanks for driving me home. Sorry, you had to see that.”
He shook his head, his expression serious. “Astrid, I’ve never forgotten about you. Now that you’re single… can I ask you out? I’d really like you to be my girlfriend.”
His straightforward words caught me off guard, and I felt a warmth spreading through me that I hadn’t expected.
The room fell silent for a moment, and I laughed nervously, trying to deflect. “Wendell, look, I’ve always thought of you as a little brother. Plus, I’m older, and I’m divorced… It just wouldn’t work.”
I kept rambling, hoping to find a good
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reason.
“Oh, Astrid, none of that matters!” he
interrupted, his eyes locked onto mine. “I only care about you.”
My heart raced, feeling something new and exciting.
Then, with a smile, he said, “I should get going. You take care, Astrid.”
Sitting on the couch alone, I pressed my hand to my chest, feeling my heart pounding.
Since that day, Wendell had been more persistent than ever, trying to plan little coincidences to run into me. Every time I saw him, he would greet me with that warm smile that made my heart flutter.
When I told Josie about it, she rested her chin on her hand. Deep in thought, she said, “Hey, I think you should consider it. Wendell hasn’t dated anyone in ages. And you’re free now–you have every right to find happiness, you know.”
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Slowly, I started to open up to Wendell, and we began to develop a romantic
relationship.
Things in my life–both career and love- were finally coming together, and I felt more alive than ever.
Meanwhile, Cedric was struggling. After I left, rumors began swirling around his company. Anya, lacking experience, started meddling in business matters, slashing salaries and benefits under the pretense of saving money. I heard the board was upset.
While Josie’s company was thriving, attracting talent left and right, Cedric’s reputation took a hit. Word had spread about his divorce and the affair with his assistant. Clients started pulling their investments, choosing to work with businesses that had stable family reputations.
One day, while Wendell and I were having lunch with a potential partner, Cedric burst into the room, wearing a forced smile.
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“Without due respect, Mr. Eastwood, why are you suddenly pulling out?” Cedric asked.
His demeanor shifted the moment he saw us, and he turned to me with a furious. expression. “Astrid, come on! No matter how you reset me, you can’t sabotage my company! You’ve put your heart into it- how can you just watch it go down the drain?”
He redirected his focus back to the CEO he was eyeing to form a partnership with, a fake smile plastered on his face. “Mr. Eastwood, please think it over. If you back out, the whole project falls apart!”
“Mr. Donovan, you’re disrupting our meeting. Please leave. If you don’t leave, I’m afraid I’ll have to call security,” Wendell said calmly.
“Stay out of this! Astrid, help me out here!” Cedric shouted, frustration boiling over.
Mr. Eastwood’s expression darkened.
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“Mr. Donovan, please calm down. We’re doing business here, and I’ve already. pulled out of your company. I have a duty to my new boss,” I replied coolly.
Mr. Eastwood’s face was turning red, clearly annoyed. But Cedric wouldn’t stop.
Just as Wendell reached for his phone to call security, a woman barged into the
room.
“Astrid, you little brat!”
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