All Chapters of Halt His Wandering Heart: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Cedric actually suspected she had poisoned Susan. Lizzie found it laughable.The supplements she'd bought were from a licensed shop, factory-sealed when delivered to the hospital. How could she possibly have tampered with them? More importantly, she would never stoop so low. Even if Susan had really been poisoned, shouldn't they be questioning the supplier or the manufacturer? How had the blame leapt so neatly to her shoulders?"Cedric, if you're going to accuse me, at least bring proof." Her voice was cool, not combative, but she wasn't about to accept every baseless label thrown her way. "Why would I poison her? Or do you simply take it for granted that if anything happens to Susan, it must be my doing?""Lizzie!" His voice cracked through the night, sharp and furious. "She was poisoned after eating what you sent. If it wasn't you, are you saying it was me?"Once he made up his mind, no argument could sway him.In her previous life, she would have fought him, desperate to la

Cedric didn't give her an answer on the spot.He only tossed out a curt, "We'll talk about it later," before walking out of the porridge shop.Knowing him as she did, Lizzie suspected he would at least give it some thought. She preferred a peaceful separation—it would spare them both a great deal of trouble.Though she had offered to take a cab home, Cedric insisted on driving her back.The car ride was silent. The distance between them felt colder and more foreign than when they had first met.He had once had a habit when driving: as long as she sat in the passenger seat, his right hand would always reach over to hold her left. She couldn't recall when exactly that changed. Perhaps just as unnoticed as the shift from his left hand on the wheel to his right.As she stepped out of the car, she finally said, "Since we've already spoken about divorce, you don't need to insist on keeping up appearances for our wedding anniversary by going to the auction. I'm traveling for business an

"Come on, I'll walk you back to your room." Cedric guided Susan away.With Lizzie no longer present, Susan's voice softened even more. "Cedric, how many days will you be gone on this trip? If I'm left alone at home, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle Lizzie."Cedric recalled the woman Lizzie used to be—delicate, willful, but kind. Now… he truly couldn't read her anymore."She… she won't make things difficult for you," he said, though even he wasn't sure of his words."I know. I'm just afraid I might not do things right and upset Lizzie." Susan's fingers curled gently around his wrist, her voice pleading. "Cedric… why don't you take me with you? I promise I'll behave.""My schedule is packed. It's really not…" Cedric looked into her hopeful eyes, then sighed. "Susan, you need to try to get along with Lizzie. She's not a bad person.""Oh." Susan released him, disappointment flickering across her face. Then, as if afraid to trouble him, she offered a reassuring smile. "You're ri

Both women were rushed to the hospital.Lizzie had swallowed a lot of water, but her constitution was strong. Once resuscitated, she suffered little lasting harm.Eva came to see her, eyes rimmed red."What on earth happened? How did you end up drowning? If you can't swim, you shouldn't be near water at all. You worried me sick!""It was an accident," Lizzie answered bitterly.Eva's voice trembled with both anger and grief."And that Cedric—what a bastard. Instead of staying to take care of you, he ran off to dote on his mistress. Divorce him. Now. He doesn't deserve you.""He loves Susan now." Lizzie gave a weak smile. "The divorce will happen. Don't waste your anger on him."But it wasn't about Eva holding a grudge. It was about Cedric trampling over every line of decency.Lizzie had been lucky. Had she drowned, he could have shed the widow's black without lifting a finger, free to marry again without cost or consequence.Eva couldn't swallow that injustice. "Has he agreed

Lizzie grabbed her bag from Eva's apartment, getting ready for the drive to St. Francis Abbey.In her past life, her father's health had taken a severe turn for the worse. His heart condition had flared up dangerously on multiple occasions—each time, the stress was directly linked to the turmoil of her toxic marriage to Cedric. She had always carried the crushing guilt of being a disappointment to her family.Today was a day of communal prayer at the abbey. She wanted to light a candle, to pray for her family's health and for peace to finally find them.As she drove from Eva's neighborhood toward the abbey, her route accidentally took her past the home she had once shared with Cedric. From down the street, she spotted Susan hastily flagging down a taxi.Curiosity pricked her, and Lizzie followed.The taxi stopped outside an auto repair shop. Susan stepped out, where a young man was already waving to her. Smiling brightly, the two greeted each other and walked inside, chatting and