Chapter 24 The Ex
In the time that followed, the two of them aimlessly wandered around.
When they passed by the cultural center, the sound of a piano could be heard from inside. Jeremiah suggested they go in for a visit and asked her. “If my memory serves me right, you were quite the piano prodigy as a child. I suppose you’re at a performance level now, aren’t you?”
As his words echoed, Raylee paused in her tracks.
Her gaze unnaturally fell on her own hand, clad in a glove.
She had been fond of playing the piano since her childhood, captivated by the sensation of her fingertips dancing across the black and white keys.
Had it not been for those four years of imprisonment, she would probably be on stage then, captivating audiences with her piano performances.
After the previous person finished playing, Jeremiah approached the plano, looking at her with anticipation and asking. “Ms. Goodridge, may I have the honor of listening to you play something?”
After a moment of hesitation, Raylee took off her gloves.
Revealed were a pair of hands, thin like crab legs, covered in wrinkles like the bark of an ancient tree.
The chilblains that had swollen her fingers were still yet to heal completely
Despite being in her early twenties, her hands were weathered, resembling those of a woman in her late seventies or eighties
Raylee initially thought that Jeremiah would be scared off.
Unbeknownst to her, he did not avert his gaze. Instead, he took her hands, his brows furrowing deeply in a sign of distress. His tone carried a hint of anger as he questioned, “Did this happen in the prison?”
Raylee didn’t deny it. “I can no longer play the piano. They look ugly, but I also had two broken fingers before, making it difficult even to bend them.”
“D*mn it!” Jeremiah couldn’t help but utter a curse.
Raylee withdrew her hands, releasing a soft sigh. “That’s just my hands. There are more wounds you can’t see… Mr. Lorimer, all I can say is, at this point, I’m no different from a disabled person. Someone like me is simply not worthy of being your wife.”
“It’s up to me to decide if you’re worthy or not!” Jeremiah gritted his teeth, a flash of resentment flickering in his dark eyes. I despise the fact that I’m part of the Lorimer family. The wounds you bear and the misfortune you’ve suffered are all inextricably linked to me!”
Raylee shook her head. “It has nothing to do with you. Despite both of you being from the Lorimer family, you and Layla are good people.”
“No worries if you can’t play. I’ll play for you in the future!” With that, Jeremiah made a sweeping gesture and sat down at the piano.
Following that, his nimble fingers began to lightly tap the piano keys, producing a crisp sound.
From the moment the first note sounded, he was completely engrossed.
Upon hearing that, Raylee immediately recognized the song. That’s “Rebirth”
The melody surged passionately like a mighty river, its crescendo deeply stirring the soul.
With the performer’s striking good looks and heartfelt rendition, this was undeniably an auditory feast that could cleanse the soul.
Chapter 24 The Ex
Everyone present paused to listen. As the final note fell, a thunderous applause erupted on the scene.
Finished
“This song is called ‘Rebirth, and it is dedicated to my future wife, Raylee. I hope she can let go of the past and embrace a fresh start!”
The fervent encouragement and confession stirred Raylee’s heart, causing her to fight back tears of overwhelming emotion.
Jeremiah pulled out a tissue, gently dabbing away the tears at the corner of her eyes. He teased, saying, “Moved so easily? My wife is truly easy to please!”
“Your wife‘ I never agreed to be your wife,” Raylee said, finding the situation both amusing and frustrating.
“You really don’t have a say in this. After all, it’s been since fifteen years ago that I-”
Before Jeremiah could finish his sentence, a sudden burst of applause interrupted his words.
The applause earlier came from a group of listeners. After the melody ended, they all went their separate ways, heading back to their respective homes,
Hence, the applause that interrupted Jeremiah’s speech was somewhat baffling.
The two of them looked in the direction of the applause.
Raylee was dumbfounded. Casimir? Why on earth is this guy here?
“The epic love story between Mr. Lorimer and Ms. Goodridge is truly enviable!” Casimir said, applauding
Even a deaf person could have detected the sarcasm in his tone
In a fluster, Raylee hastily took a step back, ensuring to maintain a certain distance from Jeremiah.
For reasons unknown, she felt as though she had been caught in the act by Casimir. We have nothing to do with each other anymore, so I shouldn’t feel this way!
“Mr. Sutherland? What are you doing here?” Jeremiah was taken aback. After that, it dawned on him that Casimir was previously Raylee’s fiancé.
Looking again at Casimir’s furious gaze and tightly drawn face. Jeremiah thought things were getting interesting.
Jeremiah’s gaze turned playful, and he looked at Casimir calmly and collectedly. “Could it be that you’ve been specifically stalking me and my fiancée, Mr. Sutherland?”
“Who would be so idle as to stalk you? I’m only here because Sutherland Group is hosting an event at the cultural center!”
Slightly annoyed, Casimir explained, his voice deep and heavy, as if he was holding back a surge of resentment.
“Why are you so worked up, Mr. Sutherland? It’s not like it’s your first time tailing someone, Jeremiah retorted with a mix of sarcasm and mockery.
A while back, the two were vying for a project from the city council. Casimir resorted to underhanded tactics, sending someone to tail him and steal a portion of his secrets. Ultimately, he won the project.
Simply due to certain reasons, Jeremiah chose not to argue with him.
With a cold chuckle, Casimir said, “So, have you resorted to snatching someone’s woman after losing out on the project, Mr.
Lorimer?”
“Snatching someone’s woman? I wonder if the woman you’re referring to is my beloved Ray–Ray, Mr. Sutherland?” A hint of a nonchalant smile briefly crossed Jeremiah’s handsome face. “From what I know, you already dissolved your marital ties with Ray–Ray four years ago, Mr. Sutherland.”
After that, Jeremiah turned to ask Raylee, “Ray–Ray, am I right?”
Faced with Jeremiah’s heartfelt inquiry and the intimate nickname he used, Raylee furrowed her brows before finally giving a
Chapter 24 The Ex.
“Thats right. I no longer have any relationship with Casimir,” she answered.
Once those words fell, Casimir’s anger was completely ignited.
Finished
Casimir’s handsome face bore no expression when he said. “Oh You don’t have any relationship with me, but do you have a relationship with him? He even calls you his future wife. When did you two become so close! You’ve just been released from prison, so there’s no way you could have established such a good relationship in just a few days! Could it be that you were with him four years ago Raylee, you were unfaithful, weren’t you?”
Facing such blatant and unfounded accusations. Raylee was also provoked.
“Mr. Sutherland, my affairs have nothing to do with you. As of now, we have no connection whatsoever.”
Her non–denial caused Casimir’s jealousy to reach its peak.
It felt as if he had been cuckolded, a potent sense of humiliation enveloping his entire being
Casimir then pointed at Jeremiah, his thin lips curving into a smirk of sarcasm. “Raylee, are you losing your mind? Have you forgotten who caused you to spend four years in prison? It was the Lorimer family! Are you actually considering marrying into the Lorimer family now? You’ve just escaped from one disaster, and you’re about to leap into another! The Goodridge family had a tough time getting you out of jail, and yet you’re courting disaster like this. No one can save you if you continue. understand!”
Raylee couldn’t help but laugh in frustration, her eyes filled with a potent bitterness. “Did the Lorimer family harm me? Mr. Sutherland, are you joking: Wasn’t it because Waverly falsely accused me, and you all, in your attempt to protect her, made me the scapegoat! Wasn’t that the reason I ended up being imprisoned? Have I lost my memory, or have you forgotten? How could you twist the truth, claiming that the Lorimer family was the one who harmed me?”
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