Chapter 6

Cedric gaped at Elora with his mouth wide open. He had no words to say. What did one say to a woman who just lost her child?

Worse, what does one say as the husband who had no idea. He turned to Alexandra. For the first time, she looked calm. Her face was drained of colour.

“You killed her.” Elora said again in a whisper, her lips trembling.

“I'm sorry.” Cedric managed to say but even he knew how stupid he sounded.

Sorry? what was sorry going to do for her? Certainly wasn't going to bring back their daughter.

“You should have called me.”

Elora shot him a stare cold enough to freeze hell over. The sides of her jaws ticked and her fingers curled into a fist. He didn't step back. If she wanted to hit him, she had every right.

“I called you.” She said through clenched teeth.

Cedric exhaled and pinched the bridge of his nose. She had actually called him.

“You should have told me how important it was.”

“We are talking about your sick child here, Cedric. Surely everything would have been important to a present father.”

“Alexandria convinced me it wasn't that serious.” Cedric said beneath his breath.

“Can you even hear yourself?” Margarita jumped in before Elora could think of a better answer. “Listen to the foolish words you're spewing.”

Cedric exhaled. He knew Margarita had never liked him and now he had given her the passage to speak to him as she pleased.

“Was it Alex you made a vow to at the alter years ago? Is she the one you're obligated to?”

Guests hummed in agreement. Alex had never felt so much shame and discomfort at once. If she could slip through a crack on the wall, she would.

Elora on the other hand, stood there shaking with rage. All the tears she had managed to keep at bay ran down her cheeks.

“Answer me.” Margarita moved across the room and pushed Cedric on the chest. He looked down at the ground as tears burned his eyes. His precious daughter was gone and it was all his fault.

“Did you do it?” Elora finally asked. It was only now that Cedric could cast his eyes on her. His brows knitted in confusion.

“Do what?” He asked in a quiet voice.

Elora swallowed and straightened her back. “Did you stop the funding for my research?”

Cedric blinked quickly and moved from one foot to another. “Who told you that?”

“Answer me, Cedric.” Elora swung her hand knocking off a vase close to her.

The sound of shattering glass and people gasping filled the room.

“Let us all calm down.” Alex looked around cautiously. She could feel the judgmental stares bearing on her.

“Oh shut up.” Someone said and Alex glanced at Cedric who looked away.

“I am going to ask you one more time.” Elora said slowly.

“Did you stop...”

“Yes.” Cedric replied quickly. Elora blinked and staggered back a few steps. She needed to grab something for support.

She knew her former colleague could not be lying about something like that but a part of her wished it was all a lie. She didn't want to believe Cedric would do such evil to her. The same man who had promised to always be there for her.

The earlier days of their marriage wasn't so. Cedric doted on her so much she thought she had proven her mother wrong. He cleared his busy schedules just to make her happy. Everything changed when Alexandra moved to town.

The excuses moved into their relationship too. He had to stay out late or work for more hours. Suddenly, work became more important than her and their child. A part of Elora still longed and yearned for what they shared but deep down she knew she had to move on.

“Why did you do it?” Elora asked. Her lungs felt half their size and she was almost struggling to breathe.

“I needed to divert the money for something else. It wasn't a solo decision.”

“For your mistress's pregnancy, yes?”

He swallowed and looked around. Cedric hated being the middle of attention and most importantly, not an embarrassing one.

“Who told you this?”

“Were you dropped on your head as a child?” Elora screamed at him, her eyes widening.

He took a few steps back. In almost fifteen years of marriage, Elora had not raised her voice at him. She looked like a woman possessed and he was the demon.

“Your greatest concern is who told me and not this evil you have done. ”

Cedric stepped forward closely, the same way one would approach a wounded lion.

“Can we talk about this in private later?” He whispered and Elora shoved him away.

“Don't take another step closer to me.”

“Maybe we should give her some space.” Alexandra suggested while trying to reach for Cedric's arm. He pulled away quickly.

Elora chuckled and shook her head. “You know what? I'm going to give you guys the space you've always wanted.”

Margarita nodded, feeling pleased that her child was finally doing the right thing. The one she should have done years ago.

Some people started to leave, clearly uncomfortable by the drama while others were intrigued. Who knew a simple anniversary dinner could unfold into this.

“What do you mean?” Cedric asked.

Alexandra rolled her eyes and reached for his arm again. “Don't go close to her. She's mad and can hurt you.”

“Can you please let me speak to my wife?” Cedric barked at her and she withdrew her hands quickly. She whimpered something to herself and went to sit in a corner.

“Your wife?” Elora laughed dryly. “Where was this energy when our little girl was having an episode.”

He drew in a deep breath and bowed his head in shame. “Words cannot explain how sorry I am, Elora. What can I do to make it up to you? I'll do anything you ask.”

“Anything?” Elora asked.

Alex's head immediately snapped up. She was scared of what Elora would demand.

Elora cleared her throat “I'm going to send you the divorce papers in a few days. I need you to sign them.”