Win Her Back: Love Takes Flight Free Preview

"Dr. Wolcott, I just heard some crazy gossip. They're saying that right after Captain Glenwood landed safely, he ran into the cabin and carried a beautiful flight attendant out. Now the whole airline is talking about it. Everyone thinks their relationship is more than just colleagues. I've never seen Captain Glenwood look that worried before!"

When Roxanne Wolcott heard that, a dull ache spread through her chest. She struggled to keep her face calm.

How ridiculous!

The two people everyone was gossiping about—her husband, Cedric Glenwood, and the other woman, his first love.

Eight hours earlier, the flight he was piloting, Southcrest A111, hit heavy turbulence and briefly lost contact with the control tower.

After the plane landed safely, Roxanne called him countless times. He never picked up.

So he had been too busy worrying about his first love. So busy that his wife had to hear about his safety from someone else.

When Roxanne saw the photo on her coworker's phone, anger and jealousy rushed through her. Her legs, already sore from standing all day, suddenly went weak, and she fell to the floor.

But she hardly felt the pain.

So that was what Cedric looked like when he truly cared about someone.

From the moment she heard his plane was in danger, she had been tense and worried nonstop. But once he landed safely, he didn't even call to tell her he was fine. Instead, he gave all his attention to another woman.

It felt like a cruel joke, reminding her how foolish she had been in this marriage.

It was time to wake up from this dream.

"Dr. Wolcott, are you alright?" her coworker asked with concern.

Roxanne shook her head.

Just then, the door burst open.

Cedric walked in wearing his black captain's uniform. The four stripes on his shoulders made him look even sharper and more authoritative. He was carrying a petite woman.

"Take a look at her. She's thrown up several times and feels sick."

Seeing that, the coworker tactfully left the room.

Roxanne steadied herself and ignored the pain in her ankle. She grabbed the exam tools and walked quickly to the bed.

She didn't even need to look closely to know the woman was Estella Steele.

She was the first love Cedric had never been able to forget, even after being married to Roxanne for three years.

Estella was still wearing her flight attendant uniform. Her pale face made her seem fragile and pitiful as she held tightly onto Cedric's hand.

"Cedric, I'm scared... Stay with me. Please..."

Roxanne and Cedric had kept their marriage a secret, but Estella knew about it.

Even so, Cedric held Estella's hand tightly right in front of Roxanne. His usually cold face showed clear worry.

"How is she?" he asked.

Roxanne swallowed the sharp pain in her chest and turned on the exam device.

"The turbulence caused sudden vomiting. It's not serious. I'll run a full checkup..."

But when the scanner touched Estella's lower stomach, Roxanne froze.

Her hand stopped moving suddenly as she stared at Estella in shock.

"You're pregnant?"

"I..."

Estella stammered, unable to finish her sentence. Tears filled her eyes as she looked to Cedric for help.

"Don't worry."

Cedric gently patted the back of her hand. Then he pulled Roxanne to the side and spoke calmly.

"Estella is three months pregnant. She's about to become chief flight attendant, so this can't become public information. Do a full checkup and help keep this quiet for now, okay? After all, she's carrying Kevin's only child."

Kevin Lancaster had been Estella's fiancé and Cedric's closest friend from their air force days. He passed away from illness just last month.

Roxanne clenched the medical scanner so tightly that her knuckles started turning white. She almost laughed at Cedric's matter-of-fact tone.

"Cedric, airline rules clearly say a pregnant flight attendant must report it. After four months, she isn't allowed to keep flying. And you want me to hide it?"

If the truth came out, she, the aviation doctor, would also be held responsible.

"It's only temporary. Just cooperate with me for now."

Cedric took off his flight gloves and casually rubbed Roxanne's head, as if soothing her.

"Next month, headquarters will pick some flight attendants to study overseas. I've already put her name on the list. Once she's abroad, it'll be easier for her to take time off."

The airline they worked for belonged to the Glenwoods and was the strongest in Drakoria.

Cedric wasn't only a captain—he was also the real boss of the company.

Giving special treatment to a flight attendant was effortless for him.

But Roxanne clearly remembered something. When she first graduated from medical school, she asked Cedric to help her get a position in the aviation medical office for his flight route. He refused coldly.

"Roxanne, I have my principles. You should depend on your own ability."

Later, she did get the job through her own effort. But after they married, Cedric asked her to keep their marriage a secret.

He still said he had to follow his principles and couldn't let management give Roxanne special treatment because of their relationship.

Only now did Roxanne understand that Cedric's "principles" depended on who it was for.

Thinking about that, she let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"Pregnant women usually start showing by the fourth month. Sending her overseas before that happens? Captain Glenwood, you really planned this well!"

"It's just a special case."

Cedric didn't notice the sarcasm in her voice. He took a document from his flight case and handed it to her.

"This is the pregnancy report. Take a look."

On the line for the family member's signature, his name was written in bold, sweeping strokes.

What suffocated Roxanne even more was the date.

July 28th. Last Sunday. That was their third wedding anniversary.

That day, she had switched shifts with a coworker on purpose. She decorated their home and cooked Cedric's favorite dishes herself.

But from evening until sunrise the next day, Cedric never came back. When she called him, he even hung up.

When she asked him about it later, he brushed it off and said a sudden flight mission had come up.

She believed him. She even worried he was tired and made him tonic soup.

So that supposed "mission" had been accompanying Estella to a prenatal checkup as her family member.

Roxanne closed her eyes, her voice rough.

"Kevin still has parents and relatives in Drakoria. You're just his comrade. It shouldn't have been you accompanying his widow to a prenatal visit on our wedding anniversary."

"Wedding anniversary?"

Cedric frowned, finally realizing something. A trace of impatience appeared on his face.

"Estella suddenly started bleeding that day. It was an emergency. Roxanne, you're an adult. Don't you think you're overreacting to something like this? When will you finally grow up?"

That same line again.

Roxanne tightened her grip on the document, her heart turning cold.

On her birthday night, Cedric had left her waiting in a restaurant until midnight because Kevin had been admitted for chemotherapy, and Estella was scared to be alone.

When Roxanne had been hospitalized with a 102°F fever, Cedric never visited her. Estella had stayed up more than ten hours taking care of Kevin, so Cedric needed to drive her home to rest.

On the night Kevin died, Cedric had just returned from an international flight. But after one phone call, he rushed away, leaving Roxanne alone the whole night.

It was just because Estella had broken down while packing Kevin's belongings and couldn't be left alone.

And that wasn't all.

For more than a year, incidents like those had happened countless times.

Roxanne cried to Cedric about it. She argued, made a fuss, and even tried calmly discussing it with him. But every time, he blamed her instead.

"Roxanne, Kevin is my comrade. You should be more understanding. Stop acting like a child."

How ridiculous. His so-called camaraderie meant acting like a husband for his dead friend's widow.

And whenever Roxanne, the real wife, complained, she became the unreasonable one—immature, heartless, and unable to respect their great friendship.

"Dr. Wolcott, please don't be angry..."

Estella spoke timidly, her reddened eyes making her look pitiful and fragile.

"Since Kevin passed away, I have no family in this city. His parents don't like me much either. Besides Cedric, I truly can't find anyone else to help me..."

She started crying softly. Cedric shot Roxanne a reproachful glance before quickly walking to the bedside. He bent down and comforted Estella in a gentle voice.

That was the man Roxanne had loved since she was 16 years old.

She silently watched the two people have an intimate moment before her. A dull pain spread through her chest.

Right in front of her, Cedric could hold another woman's hand without hesitation. For that woman, he could abandon his wife at any time. Yet he never felt guilty.

In his heart, his wife would always come last.

Even now, Roxanne's ankle was swollen and red. Cedric had been there for more than an hour but never noticed.

At that moment, the last warmth in her heart disappeared.

Roxanne pulled off her medical gloves and threw them into the trash, like she was tossing away something burdensome. Her voice sounded distant.

"I'll keep this confidential. Please leave now."

"That's more like it, Roxanne. You handled this well."

Cedric sighed in relief, clearly satisfied with her "understanding". He even leaned down and kissed her forehead gently.

"Wait for me tonight. I'll reward you."

After saying that, he helped Estella out of the room.

Roxanne stayed sitting in the chair for a long time. Then she picked up her phone and started searching for divorce lawyers.

By the time Roxanne arrived home, the sky was already dark.

As soon as she opened the door, a strong and bitter smell of herbal medicine rushed up her nose. It was so sharp that it made her cough.

"Ms. Wolcott, Mrs. Heidi spent a lot of money to get this fertility prescription for you. I've already boiled it and portioned it out in the fridge. You should drink three packs a day with meals. Once you're pregnant, you can stop."

Lydia Parker, the housekeeper sent by Roxanne's mother-in-law, Heidi Glenwood, immediately set a cup of thick dark medicine in front of her.

"This is the first cup. Mrs. Heidi told me to make sure you finish it."

Holding back the urge to throw up, Roxanne used a spoon to stir the liquid.

Among the herbs and roots, she could clearly see strange animal scales and dried insects floating inside. She immediately pushed the cup away.

"Please tell her that I'm a doctor. Medicine like this doesn't work and might even poison someone."

"Ms. Wolcott, Mrs. Heidi asked me to remind you that this medicine is for your own good. You're no longer a rich young lady anymore, so stop being so picky."

Lydia's contemptuous gaze pierced Roxanne like needles.

When Roxanne was 16, both her parents died in an accident.

In one night, the once-powerful Wolcotts completely fell apart. Heidi, who used to treat her warmly, immediately changed her attitude and tried many times to cancel Roxanne's engagement to Cedric.

Luckily, Cedric's grandmother, Audrey Glenwood, firmly stepped in. She brought Roxanne into the Glenwoods and cared for her like her own granddaughter.

Three years ago, Audrey personally arranged Roxanne and Cedric's wedding.

Heidi didn't dare oppose the elder directly, so she took out all her frustration on Roxanne instead.

And after three years with no child, Heidi disliked her even more.

To keep Cedric from being caught in the middle, Roxanne had always chosen to tolerate everything.

But now even a housekeeper dared to treat her like that.

"I'm not drinking it. Take it away," Roxanne said as she stood up. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was firm.

"And I'm the lady of this house. From now on, don't enter without my permission."

"You don't get to decide—"

"Lydia, that's enough."

A deep male voice suddenly sounded from the door. Roxanne turned and met Cedric's cold eyes.

He was holding a neatly wrapped gift bag. His slight frown made Lydia tense up. She hurriedly switched to a respectful tone.

"Welcome back, Mr. Cedric. Mrs. Heidi asked me to—"

"I heard everything. Leave the medicine here and go back."

Cedric interrupted her. His tone was flat, but the warning felt deafening.

"I'll talk to Mom myself. You don't need to report this to her."

Lydia froze for a moment, then quickly understood what he meant. She nodded repeatedly and fled the house.

Silence returned.

Roxanne lowered her eyes wearily when Cedric spoke again with a hint of blame.

"Why argue with a housekeeper over something so small?"

While speaking, he picked up the cup and poured the medicine straight into the kitchen sink.

"You could've just agreed and dumped it later. Arguing with Lydia will only make things worse and give Mom another excuse to trouble you. Roxanne, you still don't think things through. It's immature."

He had been home the whole time, quietly watching Lydia humiliate Roxanne. Only after it was over did he step in, fix the problem, and criticize her.

If it had been Estella instead, would he have done the same?

The running water carried the dark medicine down the drain, washing away the last bit of warmth left in Roxanne's heart.

She took a deep breath. "Cedric, I need to talk to you."

"Roxanne, I got you something."

They spoke at the same time.

Cedric smiled and gently pulled her down onto the couch, like he was soothing a child.

"What did you want to say? Why so serious? Why don't you look at the gift first—"

"Let's get a divorce."

As soon as the words came out, the living room seemed to turn colder.

Cedric's smile froze for a moment. He frowned slightly and squatted in front of her, his tall figure almost surrounding her.

"What did you say just now?"

"I said we should get divorced."

Roxanne repeated it clearly and handed him the divorce papers she had gotten after work.

"Read it first. If everything looks fine, sign it. I've already talked to a lawyer about the procedure. We'll need to—"

She calmly explained what the lawyer had told her. Cedric only stared at her quietly. After a while, he let out a low laugh and reached out to touch her face.

Roxanne turned away. His hand stopped in midair, but he didn't seem bothered. His tone was dismissive, almost indulgent.

"Roxanne, stop being childish. Forgetting our anniversary was my mistake, but you can't just throw around the word divorce. Trying to threaten me with that won't work."

"Threaten you?" Roxanne's eyes burned, though she no longer had tears left. "You think I'm threatening you?"

"Aren't you?" Cedric stood up and looked down at her like she was a misbehaving pet.

"Roxanne, I know you love me a lot. That's why when you get jealous of Estella for no reason, I usually let it slide. But there's a limit. If you go too far, eventually, you'll be the one who ends up getting hurt."

As he spoke, he opened the luxury gift bag and handed her the box inside.

"Alright, enough angry talk. Look at this. We spent a long time choosing it. You'll like it."

We?

Roxanne's heart shook slightly. She instinctively glanced at the gift box.

Inside the black velvet case lay a shining gemstone necklace. But what caught her attention more was the handwritten card beside it.

"Dr. Wolcott, you seemed upset today. Cedric and I picked this gift together for you. Hope you like it."

Estella's name was signed at the bottom. The ink wasn't even completely dry yet. It felt like a cruel slap across Roxanne's face.

Cedric and Estella had chosen the gift together as a reward for her help earlier.

What did he think she was?

Anger suddenly rose in Roxanne's chest, but it quickly faded, leaving behind nothing but cold emptiness.

Her body trembled as she struggled to breathe. When Cedric picked up the necklace to put it on her, she slapped his hand away and shouted, completely breaking down.

"Cedric! I told you—I want a divorce! Right now!"

Caught off guard, Cedric dropped the necklace. It hit the floor with a sharp clink.

He frowned slightly, his tone finally sharpening.

"Roxanne, if you keep this up, I—"

At that moment, his phone rang. The caller ID showed Estella.

He answered immediately, "I'll be there soon." Then he grabbed his coat.

"Estella isn't feeling well. I need to check on her. Stay home and rest. If you don't like the necklace, just exchange it. Be good, alright?"

After a few perfunctory words, he started toward the door. But Roxanne blocked his path.

"Cedric, you're not leaving!" she shouted, losing control.

"Roxanne!"

Cedric called her name sharply, with clear irritation on his face.

"This isn't the time for childish tantrums. Estella's situation is urgent. Whatever you want to talk about, we'll discuss it another day—"

Another day?!

Again with another day!

In his world, everything about her could always wait.

The last piece of control in Roxanne's mind snapped. Just as Cedric grabbed the doorknob, she grabbed his arm tightly.

"I don't want another day—I want today! As long as you agree to the divorce, I won't stop you anymore!"

"Roxanne, do you have any sense of proportion? Stop acting like a crazy shrew. I really hate when you get like this."

Her repeated mention of "divorce" stirred an unfamiliar frustration in his chest.

"Calm down. We'll talk when I get back!"

He forcefully pulled her fingers off his arm and shoved her aside before walking out the door without even turning back.

Roxanne stumbled from the force. Pain shot through her already sprained ankle.

Leaning against the wall for support, she slowly slid down onto the floor. In the silent living room, she finally broke down and cried.

But while crying, she suddenly began to laugh.

She had always believed she would spend her whole life happily with Cedric. She never imagined things would end like that, and that she would be the one called a "shrew".

"I'm sorry, Cedric. I'm really useless. I already made things difficult for you earlier today, and now you have to come here again tonight."

In the dimly lit bedroom, Estella leaned weakly against the headboard. Her pale face was filled with guilt.

Cedric handed her the medicine he had just prepared and spoke gently to comfort her.

"We've known each other for years. Kevin once saved my life. Looking after you and the baby is the least I can do."

Kevin again.

Estella bit her lip, a trace of darkness flashing through her eyes. She smoothly shifted the conversation.

"By the way, did Dr. Wolcott like the necklace we picked out earlier?"

"Yeah," Cedric replied casually, his gaze darkening slightly.

Estella immediately understood, but she still showed a relieved smile.

"That's good. She seemed pretty upset earlier today. I was worried you two might argue and that it would affect your marriage."

Cedric blurted, "It won't. Roxanne is easy to appease. She won't make a big deal out of it."

Even he didn't know whether he was reassuring Estella or convincing himself.

She caught the hint of affection in his tone. Her nails dug deeply into her palm, but she kept smiling gently.

"I figured as much. After all, she loves you so much. She even gave up a chief physician position at a famous hospital just to stay near you and became an aviation doctor. For your sake, she'll understand our situation."

"Mm."

Her words eased the irritation Cedric had been feeling.

"You should sleep now. I'll stay in the living room tonight and leave at dawn."

Over the years, Roxanne had often argued with him about Estella. The constant fights had become tiring.

Whenever it happened, he would ignore Roxanne. After some time, she would calm down by herself and even cook him a big meal to make peace.

After all, Roxanne had followed him since they were young. Whenever she looked at him, her eyes were full of sweet affection.

When her family collapsed, Cedric was the one who personally brought Roxanne home with him.

She had gone through a period of depression, but she would always smile whenever she saw him.

And three years ago at their wedding, she hugged him tightly while laughing and crying at the same time. She was so happy that she could barely hold it in.

No one understood better than Cedric how deeply Roxanne loved him. How could she possibly divorce him?

She was just angry and using that tactic to frighten him.

With that thought, he felt completely relaxed.

The night passed.

Roxanne hadn't slept at all. She sat on the floor until morning, staring blankly ahead. Only after her phone rang several times did she finally answer it.

"Roxanne, are you up? Have you eaten breakfast?"

Audrey's warm and caring voice came through the phone. Roxanne's eyes instantly turned red, and tears almost spilled out.

She bit her lip hard and forced her tone to sound normal.

"I just woke up. Have you eaten?"

"Perfect timing! Fresh porcini mushrooms were flown in last night. I'm cooking your favorite porcini and shrimp congee. It's Saturday, so you're not working. Bring Cedric and come have breakfast with me!"

"Audrey, I..."

Roxanne's voice got stuck in her throat. She wanted to tell Audrey that Cedric hadn't come home all night.

But the words never came out. Instead, she forced a light laugh.

"Okay. I'll be there soon."

Audrey always treated her like a real granddaughter. Two years ago, when Cedric's grandfather passed away, the shock had even caused Audrey to need heart surgery.

No matter what, Roxanne couldn't bring herself to upset an elderly woman because of her problems.

Her injured ankle still hurt badly. Roxanne limped over, found a bottle of pain-relief spray, and applied it. She then put on the dress Audrey liked the most and carefully did some light makeup to hide the dark circles under her eyes and the traces of tears.

Unfortunately, after all that effort, the first person she ran into when she arrived at the Glenwood Estate was her mother-in-law, Heidi.

Heidi was drinking tea in the garden gazebo, clearly waiting there on purpose.

"Come here. We need to talk."

Roxanne took a deep breath. As soon as she sat down beside her, Heidi impatiently asked, "Did you drink the medicine I sent yesterday? How did it feel?"

It seemed Cedric's warning had worked. Lydia hadn't reported anything.

Roxanne answered plainly, "I didn't drink it, and I won't. Please don't send it again."

"What?!"

Heidi exploded instantly, her sharp voice almost piercing the air.

"I worked so hard to get that prescription for you, and you didn't even take one sip?! Roxanne, you're unbelievably ungrateful! Don't forget—if our family hadn't taken you in, someone with your background would never have married Cedric and lived such a wealthy life!"

Every word came out harshly. Roxanne closed her eyes briefly before replying calmly.

"I know your family helped me, and I've never forgotten that. That's why no matter how unreasonable you've been, I've still respected you."

"I'm unreasonable?!"

Heidi glared at Roxanne.

"You rude brat! How dare you talk to your mother-in-law like that? Figures. You lost your parents early, so no one taught you any manners! You've been married to Cedric for three years and still haven't gotten pregnant. You're nothing but a useless woman who can't even have a child. Do you think you—"

"When my parents were alive, you called them your in-laws and treated my mother like your sister. Even if they're gone now, it doesn't mean you can insult them!"

Roxanne interrupted Heidi's harsh curses coldly.

"And having a child involves two people. How are you so sure the problem is with me? What if the problem is with your son?"

"Cedric is an airline captain! His annual medical exams are perfect! He's only 29. How could anything possibly be wrong with him? How dare you question your husband?!"

Heidi had already felt uneasy because of Roxanne's earlier words, and now she shouted even louder.

Roxanne just sneered. "By your logic, I'm four years younger than him, so my health should be even better."

"You—"

Heidi had never expected the usually meek Roxanne to argue back. She was so shocked and furious that she couldn't speak for a moment.

Roxanne continued calmly, "Besides, you're getting older. Being angry all the time isn't good for your blood pressure. I remember it once reached almost 180. You should take better care of yourself."

Heidi's well-maintained face twisted with rage.

"So this is the real you, Roxanne! All that obedience was just an act for Audrey and Cedric! I'll call my son right now and let him handle you!"

"Go ahead."

Roxanne's eyes were completely cold.

"If there's nothing else, I'm going to see Audrey."

As she turned to leave, the sound of a teacup smashing behind her rang out loudly. Roxanne quietly scoffed and walked toward the house through the garden.

She had barely stepped onto the first stair when sharp pain shot through her ankle.

"Ah—"

The sudden pain made cold sweat cover her body. Her vision darkened, and she lost her balance, falling backward.

In the next second, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and stopped her fall.

At the same time, a deep male voice sounded beside her ear.

"Are you okay?"

Roxanne's body stiffened. She looked up in surprise and met a pair of sharp, piercing eyes.

"I'm fine. Let go."

She tried to push him away while speaking. But as soon as she used a bit of strength, pain shot through her ankle, making her body shake.

"What happened to your foot?"

Only then did Cedric notice how red and swollen her ankle was. He squatted down to check it. But the moment he touched her skin, Roxanne pulled back fast, like she'd been burned.

"That's none of your business."

Her tone turned cold as she limped toward the stairs on her own.

Cedric frowned and quickly followed. Without saying anything else, he bent down and lifted her straight into his arms.

"Cedric, put me down!"

Roxanne struggled hard in his grasp.

But to him, her effort felt no stronger than a kitten's scratch. Instead, he gave her a warning.

"Stop making a scene. Unless... you want Grandma to see us arguing?"

The words hit Roxanne's weak spot.

She stopped struggling, and Cedric's lips lifted slightly.

Just like he expected, she still listened to him.

When Cedric carried Roxanne into the dining room, Audrey was already sitting at the table. The moment she saw Roxanne in his arms, worry filled her face.

"Roxanne, what happened? Is it serious?"

"It's okay. I just twisted it a little," Roxanne said softly, forcing a small smile.

Cedric placed her carefully in a chair and sat beside her, then served her a bowl of congee himself.

"You like this the most. Eat it while it's still warm."

Steam rose from the bowl, carrying a rich, comforting aroma. But Roxanne didn't touch it.

Audrey squinted. She quickly noticed the distance between them, but she didn't say it out loud. Instead, she casually looked at Cedric.

"I heard from the butler that you two didn't arrive together. What happened? Did you stay out all night?"

For a moment, the air seemed to freeze.

Cedric calmly set down his teacup. "Something urgent came up at work. I only finished handling it this morning."

He could lie easily to his grandmother.

Yet when it came to Roxanne, he had never hidden how much care he gave Estella.

Roxanne lowered her gaze, hiding the emotion in her eyes with a silent, self-mocking smile.

"Oh? What was so important that you had to deal with it yourself and couldn't even go home?" Audrey asked.

"Grandma, I—"

"Come on, Audrey. Cedric is a captain and also manages the company. Of course he's busy," Heidi suddenly interrupted, glancing at Roxanne with a mocking smile.

"Besides, if a married man doesn't like going home, it usually means the wife is useless. A woman who can't keep her husband's heart is nothing but trash."

Roxanne tightened her grip on her fork.

Audrey's expression instantly darkened as she snapped, "Heidi, watch your mouth!"

"Audrey, Roxanne only acts sweet in front of you. Behind your back, she's a completely different person! You've been fooled!"

Heidi slammed her bowl down and glared at Roxanne with undisguised disgust.

"This ungrateful girl has no respect for me. She's been married three years and still can't get pregnant, yet you and Cedric keep defending—"

"Mom."

Cedric cut her off coldly, his gaze sharp.

"I'm the one who doesn't want children."

The already tense dining table fell into suffocating silence.

Roxanne looked up in shock and saw Cedric smiling faintly as he took her hand.

"I want to become the best captain before I turn 32. And I want to spend a few more years alone with Roxanne before we have kids."

Heidi's face shifted from pale to red as she stared at him in disbelief.

"You're lying!"

"I'm not. Whether we have children or not is my decision. It has nothing to do with Roxanne. Never bring it up again."

He paused, his deep voice turning colder.

"And Roxanne is my wife. I hope you'll treat her with respect. If you can't, then we don't need to see each other anymore."

"Cedric! You'd cut ties with me for that damn girl?!" Heidi shook with rage.

"I mean, what kind of spell did she use on you?! You—"

"That's enough, Heidi." Audrey's calm voice carried undeniable authority. "I'm tired. Help me get back to my room."

"Audrey..."

Heidi still wanted to argue, but under Audrey's stern look, she finally lowered her head and reluctantly helped her up.

Before going upstairs, Audrey looked at Roxanne with concern, then patted Cedric's shoulder and sighed.

"Cedric, I hope you and Roxanne will be happy."

Soon, the dining room was left with only the two of them. Roxanne quickly pulled her hand away. "Thanks for earlier."

In their three years of marriage, it was the first time Cedric had defended her so firmly in front of Heidi.

He wanted to say that they were husband and wife, and protecting her was natural. She didn't need to thank him.

But seeing her calm, emotionless look, the words stuck in his throat.

In the end, he only sighed and helped her stand up.

"If you don't feel like eating, I'll take you to the hospital first."

"I don't—ah!"

Before Roxanne could refuse, Cedric used the same move again and lifted her into his arms.

His embrace was wide and warm, carrying a faint cedar scent. It reminded her of the first night she moved into the Glenwood Estate, when she suddenly got a high fever in the middle of the night.

Cedric had rushed her to the hospital in his arms just like that.

That was the moment she first fell in love with him.

But now, in that same familiar embrace, Roxanne only felt suffocated.

By the time they left the hospital, it was already afternoon. Roxanne thought Cedric would drive her home, but he headed toward the airport highway instead.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll find out soon," Cedric said mysteriously.

Half an hour later, he stopped at a private airstrip.

Roxanne looked out the window and was surprised by what she saw.

On the grassy runway sat Cedric's beloved private jet.

The silver-gray Cessna Citation CJ4 was decorated with roses and ribbons, and the boarding stairs were already down.

"I've applied for a flight route. I'm taking you to Starrest Island."

Cedric carried her up the stairs with steady steps.

"Relax. It'll be just the two of us. No one will disturb us."

Starrest Island was a resort island that the Glenwoods had developed in the southern sea. It was famous for its beautiful and romantic views.

It was also the place Roxanne had long dreamed of going for their honeymoon.

But the day after their wedding, Cedric received an important flight assignment. Their honeymoon kept getting delayed until it never happened.

It used to be the trip she looked forward to the most. Yet now, looking at the carefully decorated cabin filled with floral perfume, her heart stayed completely calm.

"Cedric, is this how you're trying to make it up to me?"

"Yes."

Cedric gently placed Roxanne in the copilot seat and personally fastened her seatbelt. His voice softened, which was rare for him.

"Roxanne, I know the anniversary incident made you unhappy. I'm sorry. I'll pay more attention next time."

So even now, he still believed she was just upset about their wedding anniversary.

The faint flicker of emotion in her heart vanished instantly. Roxanne smiled mockingly and looked at him calmly.

"And how will you be more careful? The next time Estella calls, will you tell her you need my permission first? Or will you bring me along so I can help you take care of her?"

The plane started rolling down the runway. Cedric had been adjusting the controls, but her words made him frown.

"Roxanne, I'm apologizing sincerely. Why do you have to be so sharp? Estella is pregnant right now. Her situation is special."

"Then tell me—when has she ever not been special?"

Roxanne slowly clenched her hands, trying hard to keep her voice steady.

"She's pregnant now, so she needs your care. What about after the baby is born? When she's recovering? After that? You're already going to prenatal checkups with her as her family. Will you go to her child's school meetings as the father as well?"

Every question felt like a blade stabbing Cedric's heart.

He wanted to answer, but he realized he couldn't promise anything.

Because Estella did need help.

Kevin had once saved his life. He was also Cedric's closest friend. Both Kevin and Estella were people he had known since their air force academy days.

No matter what, he couldn't just ignore Estella.

The plane lifted into the sky and climbed higher. Roxanne watched his silent profile and smiled faintly.

"See? You can't answer me. Yet you're still talking about the future."

"That's completely different. Roxanne, can you stop being unreasonable? My patience isn't endless."

Cedric switched the plane to autopilot and turned to her, irritation showing in his voice.

"I've already apologized, and I'm trying to make it up to you. What else do you want from me?"

The plane had already reached cruising height. The feeling of weightlessness made her heart sink as if it were falling into a deep pit.

She closed her eyes for a moment before speaking slowly, "I want a divorce."

"I told you before—don't mention divorce again!"

Cedric slammed his fist against the cabin wall. His sudden anger stripped away his usual calm and refined image.

"Roxanne, when will you grow up?! If you keep acting like this—"

"If you refuse to divorce me, I'll report you and Estella to the aviation authorities for flying while hiding a pregnancy."

Roxanne cut him off flatly. Her icy tone stunned him. Cedric stood up instantly, his eyes dark and dangerous as he glared at her.

"Roxanne, are you threatening me right now? You want a divorce so badly that you'd use something like this to force me?"

"I'm not forcing you. I'm just tired." Roxanne smiled faintly, but her face looked worn out.

"Cedric, our marriage is already broken. Before we start hating each other even more, wouldn't it be better to part with some dignity?"

Broken? Hate each other?

With the roar of the engines around them, those words felt like an invisible hand squeezing Cedric's heart until he could barely breathe.

He stared at Roxanne's indifferent face and suddenly realized she might actually mean it.

She wasn't throwing a tantrum. She wasn't being petty. She truly wanted a divorce.

The plane reached the stratosphere and leveled out smoothly, but the atmosphere inside the cabin froze.

After a long silence, Roxanne finally heard Cedric speak again.

"Fine. If you really want a divorce, then let's make a bet."

His expression was dark, his voice hoarse.

"We'll separate for one month. During that time, we won't meet or contact each other except for work. We both take time to cool down."

Cedric returned to the pilot seat and started guiding the plane into a slow descent.

"Roxanne, if you still feel the same way after one month, I'll sign the divorce papers right away."

He was so confident she loved him that he made such a bet.

Roxanne nodded. "Okay. I'll move out once we get back."

"You don't need to."

Cedric hadn't expected her to agree so quickly. His annoyed gaze briefly lingered on her swollen ankle before he spoke coldly.

"You stay at the house. I'll move out."

Right. If he moved out, it would be easier for him to stay with Estella and take care of her day and night.

Roxanne gave a quiet scoff and silently accepted the arrangement.

Cedric could tell she had misunderstood again.

But the words "I won't live with Estella" just wouldn't leave his mouth.

Forget it! Let her misunderstand.

A trace of stubborn confidence flashed in his eyes.

Only then would Roxanne truly understand what it meant to lose him and realize how important he was.