His Untamed Rose novel Chapter 37

She wiped the smudged lipstick from her lips—the mark of his kiss—then turned away, facing Cedric.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

After collecting herself, Lumina finally asked, “When did it start?”

Cedric paused in the middle of changing his shoes, then turned to face her.

“You and Ms. Tatum. How long has it been going on?”

Lumina’s gaze was unwavering as she looked straight at him. Her almond-shaped eyes seemed calm, but there was a sharpness beneath the surface.

Her tone held not a hint of doubt. It was absolute certainty. She knew there was more than just a professional relationship between him and Ms. Tatum.

Years in the business world had sharpened her instincts and intuition to a fine edge; they rarely failed her.

Ms. Tatum claimed she’d only recently started working as a driver, yet she never once asked for directions, somehow knowing exactly where Cedric liked to buy his suits.

And today, Ms. Tatum had worn a tailored jacket. Lumina had discreetly measured her figure with a practiced eye—smaller than hers, probably about a size 32.

That explained the ill-fitting cocktail dress at the last party. Clearly, Cedric had once taken Ms. Tatum shopping, and the sales clerk had mixed up their measurements, ending up with the wrong dress for Lumina.

Every detail pointed to the same conclusion: No matter how carefully they tried to hide it, Cedric and Ms. Tatum were far more intimate than they let on. With the effortless understanding between them, Lumina guessed they had known each other for years.

She’d pieced it all together on the drive home. Cold sweat had broken out along her back, and by the time she stepped inside, her stomach was churning with nausea.

Lumina fixed Cedric with a steady, almost unnaturally calm stare. “It’s been over three years, hasn’t it? Before you and I ever started, you already had something going on with Ms. Tatum, didn’t you?”

A cold, almost mocking smile twisted his lips. He stretched out a long leg, blocking her path, his shadow falling over her like a chill. “And who told you ending things is your decision alone? This is the second time you’ve tried to run. Haven’t you learned by now?”

Lumina lifted her pale chin defiantly. Her voice was steady, resolute. “No one can force me to do anything I don’t want.”

He smiled faintly, the light from the balcony casting his face into shadow—unreadable, as deep as the ocean.

Just then, his phone rang, shattering the tense silence between them.

Cedric answered, and Winona’s voice came through, choked with tears. “Cedric, what do I do? The teacher just called—Ansel… Ansel passed out in class!”

Cedric’s face tightened. Without another word, he turned and strode for the door. “Don’t worry. I’m coming right now.”