Chapter 1 Lucille Radford heard water running in the bathroom . It should be Cedrick Maynard taking a shower . It was three in the morning , and he had just come home . Lucille stood at the door , waiting to discuss something with him . Her stomach knotted as she wondered if he would ever agree . While she was rehearsing her speech , a strange noise drifted out . After listening carefully , she finally realized - he was jerking off ! Every moan and groan hit her like a kick in the guts . Pain spread through her in thick , suffocating waves , leaving her struggling for breath . Today was their wedding anniversary . It had been five years since she married him , yet they had never once slept together . So , he'd rather play with himself than touch his wife . His breathing quickened until he finally bit out a low growl . " Mari ... " That name was the last straw . Lucille felt like her heart had been shattered into a million pieces . Trying to hold back her sobs , she clamped a hand over her mouth and bolted . But right after she took a step , she collided with the sink and hit the floor with a thud . " Lucille ? " Cedrick's voice was still ragged . He was trying to sound normal , but the heavy breathing betrayed him . " I ... I had to pee . I didn't know you were in the shower . " She rattled off the crappy lie as she clawed at the sink , desperate to yank herself up . But her frantic movements only made her clumsier . There was water all over the floor and the sink . She had just struggled to her feet when Cedrick walked out . His white robe was 0.00 % 09:24 D Chapter 1 288 Vouchers thrown on crooked , but the belt was knotted tight . " You fell ? Let me help . " He bent down , trying to pick her up . Though tears of pain shimmered in her eyes , she shoved his hands away , pathetic yet resolute . " No , I've got this . " While trying to stand up , she almost slipped again . Then she finally limped back to the bedroom . It was more like running away . That was what she had done the whole five years since marrying Cedrick : hiding from the outside world , the strange looks in people's eyes , and his pity and sympathy . Who would have thought Cedrick's wife was a cripple ? How could a lame girl deserve a golden boy who had it all ? But once , she too had legs that carried her with strength and grace. Cedrick came right after her , his voice gentle and worried . " Did you hurt yourself ? Let me check . " " No , I'm good . " She yanked the blanket over herself , hiding her mess and her shame . " You sure ? " He really cared . " Yeah . " She nodded hard with her back to him . " So , lights out ? Weren't you gonna pee ? " " Not anymore . Let's sleep , " she murmured . " Alright . Oh , today is our anniversary . I got you something . Open it tomorrow and see if you like it . " " Sure . " The box was right on the nightstand . Of course she had spotted it . She didn't even need to open it to know what was inside . Every year , he gifted her the exact same watch , wrapped in a box of the exact same size . Nine of them were sitting in her drawer , either from birthdays or anniversaries . This would be number ten . 09.23 Chapter 1 288 ( Vouchers The chat ended there . Cedrick clicked off the light and lay down . The damp , sweet smell of shower gel still drifted in the air , but Lucille hardly felt the mattress dip . On the king - sized bed , she hugged one edge while he hugged the other , with space for three more people in between . Neither of them brought up the name " Mari " or what he had just done in the bathroom . It was like nothing had happened . Lucille lay stiff on her back , tears welling up in her eyes . Maricela Archdale was Cedrick's first love back at college , the one he never got over . When they graduated , she went abroad , and they broke up . He almost fell apart , going on a drinking binge every single day . Lucille had known him since middle school . She admitted she had liked him back then . He was the cool , handsome top student , while she was in the art track - pretty , sure , but plenty of girls were . In a high school where grades were everything , art students were overlooked , even looked down on . So it stayed her little secret crush , and she never thought she'd actually end up marrying him . She only ran into him again that summer after dance - college graduation , when he was a total mess . That night , he was wasted , zig - zagging all over the road . He walked straight into traffic without looking , and a car came screaming . She had been tailing him , worrying something might happen , so she shoved him out of the way and got slammed herself . She was a dance student , grad school already in the bag . But the crash screwed her leg . She would never dance again . After that , he quit drinking and married her . He felt he owed her , so he'd say thanks and sweet stuff , but still kept his distance . And he flooded her with gifts and cash . But he never ever loved her . 09.24 Chapter 1 She thought time would fix everything . At the very least , it would make it hurt less . 09.24 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!