Thankfully, it was Cedric.
In an instant, I felt as if I'd been pulled from hell to heaven. My heart, which had plunged from great heights, steadied. The tension dissolved, and I couldn't help but slap Cedric's arm lightly as I panted for breath.
His face didn't look great either. Supporting me, he asked gravely:
"Why did you meet him?"
"To get something," I replied.
I urged Cedric to get in the car and drive us away from there.
In the car, I handed him the flash drive, detailing all my ex-husband's plans and activities. I spoke at length, sometimes stumbling over unclear parts, pausing to tap my temple in frustration.
Cedric passed me a bottle of water.
"That's enough."
"What?"
He held up the flash drive. "This is more than enough to strip him of everything."
The cool water slid down my throat, and only then did I think to ask Cedric:
"Why are you here?"
His Adam's apple bobbed as he averted his gaze awkwardly.
"I was outside your building last night."
I blinked and suddenly tugged on his sleeve. "I might need your help with something."
"What?"
"I tricked him this time. He'll definitely try to retaliate, and I can't fight him alone."
I poked at the soft flesh of his waist. "Can you help protect me?"
A sharp screech—
Cedric slammed on the brakes.
The car stopped under the shade of a tree, the dense green branches casting shadows over the luxury car's roof.
His fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly as he turned to look at me.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean what you said yesterday. I don't know how to respond."
Suddenly, I felt a little nervous too, twisting my fingers as my thoughts tangled into a mess.
"I don't dislike you, and I'm very, very grateful to you. Maybe we could even try..."
Cedric didn't let me finish.
He unbuckled his seat belt and leaned in, capturing my lips in a kiss.
He must have had mint candy earlier—it was fragrant, sweet, and soft, melting against me, leaving my mind a complete blur.
"Now that you've agreed, you're not allowed to back out," Cedric said, tapping my forehead lightly in mock warning. "Got it?"
I nodded obediently, but before I could reply, he kissed me again.
Yesterday, he had confidently claimed that his feelings had nothing to do with me, but now, having been accepted, he seemed so overwhelmed that he was trembling.
His body shook as he held me, his arms burning hot as if he had a fever, his emotions spilling over uncontrollably.
Tentatively, I hugged his head, trying to respond bit by bit.
---
My ex-husband was livid, as expected. Calls came one after another. After the third ring, I answered.
Before he could say anything, I told him.
"There's no balancing the scales."
"Evelyn—"
"The debts between us cannot be balanced," I said calmly, restraining myself. "Stop fantasizing about putting the pieces back together."
The pain of the past cannot be erased, and the debts we owe each other will only accumulate endlessly, never to be evened out.
"Reconciliation is nothing more than an arrogant, foolish joke."
"If you dare to provoke me again, everything you've done will be exposed to the public."
I couldn't comprehend the inner workings of his logic, nor could I fathom his sudden desire to pursue me. All I could do was hold on to my strongest leverage to force him to back off.
On the other end of the line, he was already losing his mind, hurling insults and raging incomprehensibly.
I heard the sound of shattering glass—and Alaric's cries.
The call abruptly ended.
I slipped my phone back into my bag.
