His Secret Wife Was My Best Friend Chapter 21

His Secret Wife Was My Best Friend Chapter 21 I Knew You Would Come

They took opposite ends of the sofa, almost as though they were old friends. catching up.

Only Cecily’s guarded eyes betrayed the truth.

Gareth lifted the teapot on the table and shook it. Finding it empty, he restlessly took a candy from his pocket and put it in his mouth, then offered her another.

She shook her head. “I don’t eat candy.”

He looked startled. “What? You’ve always…”

“Daphne likes candy,” Cecily interrupted evenly. “Not me.”

His face went pale for a moment. Slowly, he withdrew his hand.

“I’m sorry.”

Cecily sat curled into her corner without speaking. Gareth lowered his head further.

Once, he’d moved between her and Daphne so easily, smugly certain he could keep both of them for as long as he wished, until he tired of one or the other.

Now he’d lost his balance and fallen in full view of Cecily and the world. Overnight, he’d gone from admiration to relentless ridicule and abuse.

He wondered whether getting Cecily back might somehow restore his old life.

His voice was rough. “When I saw Daphne at the bar, I helped her because I knew she was your friend. I found out later she’d planned it. But by the time I understood, it all seemed too late.

“I knew I was hurting you. I knew I shouldn’t be doing it. But I kept telling myself we were going to get married. I’d settle down afterward. Everything would be fine.”

He hadn’t expected one wrong choice to lead to so many more.

He covered his eyes with one hand, as though he couldn’t bear to face the past.

Cecily watched him quietly, unmoved.

“People have to live with their choices.”

He wiped his face and looked at her with a seriousness she had never seen before.

“I know I was wrong. I want you in my life again. After everything we’ve shared, can’t you give me one more chance?”

He looked at her almost pleadingly, but she remained wary.

She neither nodded nor shook her head. She only sighed.

“Do you know something, Gareth? I hate Daphne, but I hate you more. She’s a greedy fool who thought she could get away with anything. You’re the one who destroyed my life.

“You lied to me, blamed me for things I didn’t do, and stripped me of my dignity. Then you tried to break me into obedience after you were the one who’d done wrong. Do you understand that the person you marry isn’t a machine or a spreadsheet? She’s a human being.

“You’re the one so wrapped up in your own superiority that you can’t tell right from wrong.”

Gareth sat slumped on the sofa, unable to look at her.

After a long silence, he spoke unsteadily. “I was arrogant. I’ll change, Cecily.”

She gently shook her head.

“That’s your business. It has nothing to do with me.”

He suddenly looked up, his smile desperate and bitter.

“Then what does concern you? Benedict? You’re too naive. Men are all the same.

“At least I’ve made my mistakes and learned from them. I know how I should treat you now. But him…”

Cecily frowned at the mention of Benedict.

“He’s nothing like you. He’s been doing everything he can to help me get past that nightmare.”

Gareth smiled with bitter contempt.

He began rambling about their past, mixing in complaints and sneers about Benedict. He never noticed someone quietly climbing through the window.

Cecily saw Benedict come in and blinked without otherwise reacting.

Her phone had been vibrating in her pocket for some time, but she had stayed silent.

Benedict was the only person likely to contact her at this hour. When she didn’t answer, she knew he would come back.

He moved quietly behind the sofa, locked his arm around Gareth’s throat, and hauled him up before kicking him.

By the time a police siren sounded outside, Gareth’s face was bruised and swollen.

Cecily caught Benedict’s arm.

“That’s enough.”

Still breathing hard, he pulled her into his arms, shaken by what might have happened.

“You weren’t answering. I came back and saw your lights were still on. I knew something was wrong. Thank God…”

Cecily curled against him, an ache rising in her chest.

She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “It’s okay. I knew you’d come.”

He went still for a moment, then held her a little tighter.

He kissed her temple.

“I will. I won’t leave you to face this alone.”