Chapter 15
Clifford’s voice was low as he replied, “She’s gone abroad. I’m going to pick her up right now.‘”
“Remember to bring her over for dinner after you two come back,” Albert said with a smile. ” She’s a considerate lady. When I was troubled by some trivial matters before, she even visited an auction to get an antique tea set just to cheer me up,
“And when Daphne was suffering from insomnia, Beth accompanied her to her acupuncture sessions every week
Clifford was stunned. He never knew that Lilibeth had done all this.
Just as he reached the door, some bodyguards escorted Tiffany into the house. Her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had been crying all night. The moment she saw Clifford, she rushed over and grabbed his arm.
“Cliff! Please don’t leave, okay?” she asked in a shaky voice. “Just pretend that yesterday’s events never happened, and we’ll stay together, alright?”
He looked down at her and said calmly, “Then, let’s go disclose our relationship to our parents right now.”
Tiffany’s fingers abruptly tightened on his arm before relaxing once more. She bit her lip, hesitating
Clifford gently pushed her hand away. “I’ve doted on you enough, Tiff. But I can’t abandon my dignity for the sake of love. I’ve already picked cut a suitor for you. From now on, we’re just siblings.”
His voice was very gentle but unyielding. “Once I bring Lilibeth back from Gindara, you’re no longer allowed to target her like you did before either. I’m not going to give you any preferential treatment from now on.”
With that, he turned and left, radiating determination.
Tiffany remained where she was, tears streaming down her face.
Clifford never once closed his eyes during the 12–hour flight to Gindara.
He had purchased some gifts–Lilibeth’s favorite chocolates, her favorite perfume, and expensive jewelry pieces.
He had even bought a new wedding ring.
After getting off the plane, he went to the car he had instructed his people to prepare for him. Then, he drove to the Quimby residence in Gindara according to the address Joel had given
him.
Chorver 15
As the scenery flitted past the car window, he felt his heartbeat accelerate for some reason.
He had imagined how his and Lilibeth’s reunion would go countless times.
Maybe Lilibeth would fume and ask him to leave, maybe she would ask with reddened eyes why he had only arrived now, or maybe she would leap into his arms just like she used to and say with a smile, “You’ve finally come to find me
But when his car pulled over in front of the villa, all of his fantasies were shattered in an
instant.
Just as he reached for the car door handle, he stiffened.
He saw Lilibeth kissing another man in the garden
She was wearing the red dress that he had deemed too flashy, and her long hair swayed in the wind. She was standing on tiptoes with her hands around the man’s neck while he wrapped his arms around her waist and lowered his head to kiss her passionately.
With the sun shining down on them, the whole scene looked like a dazzlingly beautiful picture.
Lilibeth had her face raised and her eyes closed, lost in the kiss.
Clifford had never seen her look like that before–enthusiastic, lively, and unrestrained. She looked just like the 20–year–old Lilibeth he had first encountered.
Clifford was outside the garden, his grip on the car door handle tightening unconsciously, so much so that his knuckles turned white.
As he stared at the two people kissing not far away from him, he felt his throat close up and an unfamiliar anger burn in his chest. He felt as if his sanity was being burned away.
“Lilibeth,” he called out, his voice low but carrying a chill that was impossible to ignore.
The two people in the garden moved apart when they heard him, and the handsome man turned around.
The sunlight illuminated his profile, outlining his well–defined features and high nose bridge. He was wearing a casual black shirt that was slightly open at the collar, revealing a teasing glimpse of his collarbone.
The man arched an eyebrow and asked with easy familiarity, a cynical look in his amber eyes, Clifford? Why are you here?”
Clifford’s expression turned cold.
The man was Magnus Shearer, Lorenzo’s best friend and the only son of the Shearer family. He was a well–known womanizer within the wealthy circle–an arrogant, unruly man who engaged in wanton debauchery.
“Answer my question,” Clifford said coldly. “What are you two doing?”
Chapter 15
Magnus chuckled and casually slung his arm around Lilibeth’s shoulders. “Isn’t it obvious? Kissing, of course.”
He paused deliberately before adding, “Oh, I forgot to tell you that we’re a couple now.”
‘Chapply
