Eight Years Married to a Liar

Chapter 7 Give It Back

Cedric and Ophelia rushed outside.

Ophelia pulled her hand away from his. "That's it. I'm done. This is embarrassing. We could've gone to the hotel. But no, you had to bring me to your place. Do you even have money, or are you just pretending?"

Cedric opened his mouth. Nothing came out at first.

Then he recovered. "Ophelia, I gave you a watch worth over one hundred thousand dollars. And this is how you talk to me? Look, I'm about to land a huge project with Reed Group. Once that happens, money won't be an issue."

At the mention of Reed Group, Ophelia's attitude shifted.

She clutched his arm, all sweetness. "Why didn't you say so? Reed Group is one of the biggest in the country. If you get that contract, you'll be rolling in it."

Cedric puffed up. "Obviously."

Ophelia pressed her advantage. "So... I've had my eye on one bag. Eight hundred thousand dollars. Think you could get it for me?"

Cedric froze, then forced a nod. "Sure. If you're good, that's nothing."

A few days later, Seraphina went to the hospital to pay Lavinia's next bill.

The clerk ran her card, then shook her head. "Insufficient funds."

Seraphina blinked. That couldn't be right.

She'd just gotten the down payment on the apartment.

She asked the clerk to try again—same result.

Then it hit her. She pulled out her phone, opened her banking app, and stared. Transaction after transaction, Cedric had drained the account.

Years ago, when he was unemployed, they'd opened a joint account. Either of them could withdraw.

She'd been in such a hurry to sell the apartment, she hadn't noticed which account she'd given the buyer.

Now it was all gone!

Her hands shook as she scrolled through the charges—a Hermès bag, candlelit dinners, a luxury hotel, two sets of lingerie, even multiple boxes of condoms.

It was all for Ophelia. It had to be!

Rage burned through Seraphina. She ran out of the hospital, flagged a taxi, and gave the driver the hotel name from the transactions.

At the hotel, she went door to door. Finally, a door opened—and there was Cedric.

Seraphina shoved him. "Give it back. That was my money. How dare you?"

Then she saw the Hermès bag on the table, costing eight hundred thousand dollars.

Seraphina pointed a shaking finger at Ophelia, who was just stepping out of the bathroom, fresh from her shower.

"You spent eight hundred thousand dollars on a bag for her? Are you out of your mind? Do you even know where that money..."

Cedric knocked her hand away. "What's wrong with you? It's just a little money. Calm down. The real question is—why were you hiding that much from me?"

Ophelia sat on the bed, legs crossed, cool as anything. "Probably wanted to keep it for herself. Or maybe it's dirty money. Either way, she didn't want you to know."

Seraphina's face went pale. She lunged and slapped Ophelia across the cheek. "Watch your mouth!"

Before she could move, Cedric's hand cracked across her face—hard, like he was getting payback. "Are you done?"

Seraphina's ears rang. Blood trickled from her lip.

She stared at him, tears streaming. "You're defending her? After all this? You believe everything she says? Have you no shame?"

Seraphina took a shaky breath. "I don't care what it takes. You're paying me back."

She pulled out her phone and dialed 911.