All Chapters of Halt His Wandering Heart: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

By evening, the photo of Cedric gripping Lizzie's throat had already dominated every major media outlet.Lannister Group's stock plummeted.The scandal swept through Summersome City, turning into a public spectacle.Reporters exaggerated the rift between the Lannister and Bennet families, tracing the so-called "marital collapse" back to three years of childless marriage.To make matters worse, word spread—somehow a journalist had dug up the news of Susan's pregnancy. Headlines soon screamed the shocking claim that Cedric would marry Susan before long.And once again, every rumor, every recycled accusation, was pinned squarely on Lizzie.The Lannister family panicked.Phillip, already in poor health, fell gravely ill, his condition worsening until he could no longer rise from bed.Photographers caught Cedric making frequent visits to the family estate to see Phillip. Ambulances arrived again and again.Lizzie, however, remained unfazed. Aside from the faint bruises still fading

Oscar could not speak for Cedric. Without black-and-white guarantees, how could she trust that his promises would ever be kept?"Does Cedric even listen to you?" Lizzie asked.The moment the words fell, the eagerness in Oscar's expression faltered, edged with discomfort.Everyone in Summersome City knew: the current CEO of the Lannister Group was Cedric. Oscar, his father, held only the title of vice president—his power was limited.Lizzie's pointed question landed like a stinging slap across Oscar's face."Lizzie, are you saying you don't believe me?"She arched a brow. If she were to answer honestly, the truth would be yes. But some truths were too harsh to say aloud. Out of courtesy, she left him a shred of dignity.Her silence, however, spoke loudly enough.Oscar understood."Lizzie, as long as you agree to stand with Cedric at a press conference, clarify the rumors, and help the company stop the bleeding, I'll have the lawyers draft an equity transfer contract immediately

Lizzie shut her eyes. If Cedric was going to hit her, so be it. She was past the point of caring.But the hand he raised didn't strike her. It curled into a fist and slammed into the pillow beside her head instead. "Tell me you didn't sleep with him," he begged, his voice cracking as he pressed his face into the curve of her neck, desperate for the answer he needed to hear."What does it matter who I've slept with?" Lizzie's voice was sharp, laced with confusion. "You and Susan have a child. What are you even holding onto?"He didn't love her. All he did was torture her."A child? Since when do I have a child with Susan?" he shot back, righteous and indignant.She stared at him in disbelief. He could pretend all he wanted, but he couldn't erase the truth. Living together, how could she not have gotten pregnant? Susan had admitted it herself."Cedric, do you know why my mother got cancer? It was Susan. She went to my mother every single day, flaunting her pregnancy, telling her sh

"Cedric, is it so hard to be civil?" Lizzie tried to wrench her hand from Cedric's.Cedric only chuckled, a low, infuriating sound. "What's wrong? Are you angry? Should I call Jon and have him come keep you company myself?"Lizzie refused to dignify him with a response. She tilted her head back, her gaze fixed on the sky as the drone show began.Swarms of tiny, lit aircraft wove through the darkness, forming glowing hearts, counting down numbers, and blossoming into intricate patterns. A shower of shimmering, pixelated petals cascaded down the sky.Around them, young couples screamed and cheered, lost in the manufactured romance.The crowd surged. Worried she'd be swept away in the chaos, Cedric pulled her firmly against his chest, wrapping his coat around her to form a protective barrier.Susan wasn't so lucky. Jostled and shoved from all sides, she lost her footing, stumbling repeatedly before finally crashing onto the cold pavement."Cedric…!" she cried out, her voice thin an

Back at the Lannister estate, Lizzie showered and got ready for bed. Putting Cedric aside for a moment, she still felt guilty about standing Jon up.After hesitating for a long time, she finally sent him a text.Lizzie: [Jon, I'm really sorry about missing our meeting today. Something came up.]He replied instantly.Jon: [Are you home safe?]Lizzie: [Yes. I just wanted to explain, so you wouldn't get the wrong idea.]Jon: [I didn't. Don't worry about it.]Lizzie: [Oh… okay. Get some rest.]Jon: [Good night.]The conversation was brief and civil, but it left a strange, heavy feeling in her chest.She was just drifting off to sleep when she heard the front door open. Cedric was back much earlier than she'd expected.Too exhausted to deal with him, she simply rolled over, hoping he'd leave her alone.The rustle of clothes being discarded. Then the mattress dipped behind her. A strong arm snaked around her waist, pulling her firmly against his chest."What are you doing?" she