All Chapters of Halt His Wandering Heart: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Lizzie had long wanted to slap Susan.Every so-called act of kindness, every "accident," was nothing but a carefully laid trap.But more than Susan, Lizzie wanted to slap Cedric. It was his indulgence, his silent permission, that gave Susan such audacity—allowing her to trample boundaries again and again.That slap did not just bring Susan to tears. It stung Cedric as well."It's just a tree. Must you make such a scene? Susan meant well. If you like it so much, we can buy another and plant it," he said, unable to comprehend why Lizzie reacted with such fury.He thought she was overreacting, maybe even seizing the chance to make a scene. And when he saw the bright handprint marring Susan's cheek, his patience with Lizzie unraveled completely."Whatever the case, Susan's intentions were good. You had no reason to raise your hand.""So what if I did?" Lizzie sneered, her eyes cold with exhaustion at the sight of him shielding Susan. "What is it, Cedric? Does it hurt you to see her

By the time Lizzie returned home, night had already deepened.She parked the car but remained seated inside, unmoving for a long while. The courtyard lamps cast a faint orange glow, hazy against the dark.Her aversion to this house ran bone-deep. And yet, she had no choice but to face it.Just as she reached for the door handle, a voice drifted from behind the thick plane tree. Someone was on the phone."He said he'll let me move into Villa Calla, maybe even buy me a car… but I'm not interested in that," Susan whispered. "Don't worry about me. Once I get what I really want, I'll come back."Lizzie couldn't tell who she was speaking to, but from those few words, she pieced together two truths.First, Cedric had bought her a place—a nice, cozy abode to hide his mistress.Second, for Susan, the house and car weren't the end goal. She wanted something else, something more.Only after Susan slipped away did Lizzie push open her car door and exit.Her mind circled the same question—

Susan's eyes brimmed red, as though Lizzie were the one making things difficult for her.Cedric's face darkened. He decided Lizzie was being unreasonable."It's just a few pieces of old furniture. Is this really necessary?"But Lizzie hadn't said a word.He had simply grown used to casting her as the aggressor, while his pity for Susan only deepened."Susan, don't be upset. Go wait in the car," he said gently, dismissing her.When Lizzie turned to leave, his voice stopped her. "Lizzie."She halted, glanced back.He crossed the distance in a few strides."I know it's not really about the furniture. But there's no need to keep picking fights with Susan. I promise, once I've got her settled down, we'll sit down and talk properly."Just to get him and Susan out of the house faster, Lizzie forced herself to nod.When the movers finally left, silence returned to the villa.…A few days later, Summersome City's largest media outlet splashed the story across its front page.[Lann

"You still haven't answered my question." Lizzie turned her face away, refusing to meet his eyes. "Go shower first. We'll talk later."Cedric drew in a deep breath and twisted the dial from hot water to cold.Meanwhile, Lizzie changed out of her soaked clothes. She picked up her phone, her gaze settling on the message from the private investigator.Yesterday, on a sudden impulse, she had asked Eva to find someone discreet to look into Susan's mysterious background. It hadn't come cheap, but the man was efficient.The report arrived quickly: several photos—one family portrait, and a few candid shots of Susan moving through different circles, mingling with various people.Lizzie enlarged the family photo.It was a family of five: parents, an older sister, Susan herself, and a young boy.But Cedric had told her Susan was an only child, orphaned and left to fend for herself.Clearly, that wasn't true.She zoomed in on the boy's face. Recognition flashed instantly. He was the one s

"Just the usual," Lizzie murmured, unwilling to say more. Her fingertip nudged the spoon in her cappuccino, stirring it slowly."You seem down. Trouble at work? Or did you quarrel with Cedric?" Jon asked, trying to guess.Lizzie lifted her gaze to him.Jon and Cedric had always been close. If Cedric could sniff out even her connection to Jean, then surely Jon had provided more than a few leads. And yet… it was Jean who had recommended him to her."Do you know Jean Tromp? She's a lawyer too," Lizzie asked suddenly.Jon blinked in mild surprise. The name didn't ring a bell."Which firm is she with?" He offered an apologetic smile. "I don't recall the name. It sounds unfamiliar. A newcomer, perhaps?"If he truly didn't know Jean, maybe he wasn't as involved as she had feared."She's a friend of mine. Specializes in divorce cases. But someone filed a report accusing her of misconduct."His expression sharpened. "Really? Do you need me to intervene?""The one who reported her was…