The Fifth Year of Marriage to Him novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31

To everyone’s surprise, Aydan Hurley turned out to be Grandma’s student. He’d come for a charity performance at the local elementary school today. Just after stepping out of his car, he ran into Grandma. Chatting along the way, they ended up at her house.

And there he witnessed Lucille dancing.

That boy who once secretly wept under a tree because he couldn’t dance well–now he could lift her, broken as she was, and even use her own past words to teach her a lesson…

Since Aydan had an afternoon performance, he only stayed at Grandma’s for a short while, had a glass of water, and left, promising to return for dinner after the show.

Lucille’s inner dancer had been awakened today, restless and unstoppable. She spent the entire afternoon in her dance studio.

She practiced some basic moves, but her stamina soon faltered. She sat on the floor to rest, repeating this cycle until evening, when Aydan finished his performance and came for dinner.

When Aydan arrived, she was still in the studio, having just finished another round, sweating profusely as she sat catching her breath.

“Lucille!”

He bounded into the studio cheerfully, sitting cross–legged opposite her.

“Was the show a success?

You seem so happy?”

Lucille noticed the light in his eyes, brighter than the sunset outside.

He chuckled. “It was, but that’s not why I’m happy.”

Lucille knew what he meant. She stayed silent, not pressing further.

“Lucille, I heard the sound of life reviving.”

His eyes sparkled as he spoke.

17:1300

Chapter 31

289 Vouchers

Lucille frowned slightly, not understanding.

He fluttered his arms like wings. “A butterfly. The sound of a butterfly breaking free from its

cocoon.”

Then Lucille understood–he meant her return to dance…

But was this even dancing?

A moth could flutter more gracefully than this.

“Don’t be like that. You haven’t practiced in five years. Today was really good–truly beautiful. Here, I’ll show you.”

Aydan pulled out his phone, found their chat, and hit send.

So he’d recorded their dance earlier that day…

“I didn’t bring my phone,”

Lucille shrugged.

“Then look at mine.”

Aydan handed her his phone to watch the video.

Lucille stared at her own image, shaking her head with a bitter smile. How could someone once hailed as Birdie allow herself to dance like this?

“It’s already beautiful. You’ll always be the most stunning. Really. Even with flaws, breaking free means growing new wings, Lucille…”

Though Aydan’s comfort didn’t absolve her horror at her own dancing, it resonated with her thoughts. She would grow new wings. Life didn’t have to revolve solely around dance.

She sat by the window, sunset gilding her face in gold. She smiled, a radiant beauty glowing within that light.

Cedrick Maynard walked into the dance studio at that moment. He saw her smile–more intense than the sunset–and her head bent close to Aydan’s as they watched the phone.

Married for five years, this was Cedrick’s first time entering her studio. He’d always thought it was a storage room, forever locked in the past.

17.14

Chapter 31

288 Vouchers

Lucille surveyed the empty glass room, the ballet barres and mirrors, then took in her own dance attire and the sight of those two heads pressed together over a phone. Her expression instantly darkened.

A strange sense of oppression crept over Lucille. She glanced up to find Cedrick standing in the backlight, still wearing yesterday’s clothes.

Huh. Didn’t come home all night?

Didn’t even change?

Too busy caring for Maricela Archdale?

He looked haggard, exhaustion lining his face, hair disheveled. As he strode toward her, the setting sun behind him seemed to ignite, flames blazing in his eyes.

“Your phone’s been off all day?”