Dear Ex-wife, Marry Me novel Chapter 1357

August watched with a detached expression as Dylan carried Judith upstairs, followed closely by Arlene. As they reached the midpoint of the staircase, she called back to him.

"Honey, why don't you come up and see for yourself?"

August was in his fifties, an age where his eyes should have reflected the warmth of lived years, yet they held a chilling serenity as if untouched by life's tempests.

"No need."

Left alone at the foot of the stairs, Arlene looked lost.

"Is it because something I did? You seem to be growing colder toward me."

"Cynthia."

"Honey, who's Cynthia?"

Confusion washed over Arlene's face, her complexion turning pale as if drained by the very mention of the name. Memory dawned upon her - her sister was Cynthia Abbott.

"You can't still be pining for Cynthia, can you? She ran off with some penniless writer, didn't she? You loved her when you were young, and your infatuation was the talk of the town. You thought that would win her over, but our family's patriarch saw right through her. He knew she wasn't worth your love, which is why he arranged our marriage. She gave you up, and that's on her – she was the one with poor judgment."

Arlene approached him slowly, her face etched with sincerity.

"Haven't we agreed never to bring this up again?"

August reached out, his hand patting her head in a gesture that might have been consoling.

She was like a fine actress, indeed. No flaw betrayed her performance.

With all his years of experience, he could not detect a single ounce of deceit in her gaze or demeanor.

Unless, of course, she believed her own act.

A frown creased his brow.

Upstairs, Judith wept in Dylan's arms.

"Dylan, please don't meet with Phelps. He's a bad man. I'm begging you, if you go see him, I'll never cooperate with the doctors or take my medication again."

Fear glittered in Judith's eyes. She couldn't afford to lose her status as the princess of the Sanders family.