Gwendolyn and Cedrick looked at each other and smiled. From the way they gazed at each other with looks of adoring love in their eyes, they truly resembled a young couple in their honeymoon phase.
“Seeing that we're all here to visit the museum, should we go over to say hello and get acquainted?” she asked.
He glanced toward the exhibition hall on the opposite side. “Since Mr. Hall is also here to spend some alone time with his girlfriend, I'm sure he wouldn't want us to go over and disturb them. Why don't we wait until they've made their way through that section before we head over there?”
She nodded in agreement. I already don't quite enjoy socializing, let alone having to disrupt our sweet, quality time together to socialize. I'm guessing those two wouldn't like it either. Hence, it's better not to disturb them.
The brief interlude did not stop Gwendolyn and Cedrick from exploring the rest of the big museum.
Each time, they would wait for Paul and Annie to finish browsing before moving on to the next part of the exhibition.
They took their time exploring the exhibition at Astoria's largest museum at a leisurely pace, and the afternoon flew by just like that.
The sun was hanging low on the horizon and about to set when they exited the museum, and darkness gradually fell.
Shifting her gaze down from the sky, Gwendolyn saw someone ushering Paul into a car that would take him back to the hotel.
Meanwhile, his young girlfriend, Annie, had already gotten into the car ahead of him.
From where Gwendolyn stood, she could only see Annie's slender legs and a pair of white, diamond-encrusted heels. She must be an elegant and graceful lady.
Instead of hastily getting into the vehicle, Paul turned around, seemingly having noticed Gwendolyn and Cedrick as they stood at the museum's entrance.
Although the bearded man was in his forties, he was still handsome. He politely inclined his head in Cedrick's direction as a greeting, and the latter nodded in acknowledgment.
Seeing that the two men exchanged glances, Gwendolyn asked curiously, “Is that another friend of yours?”
“Not a friend. Just an acquaintance,” Cedrick answered flatly while watching Paul's luxury car drive away from the museum.
Having no interest in Paul, for the time being, she did not ask any other questions. She merely hummed in response and pulled Cedrick into their car.
After returning to the hotel, she immediately plopped onto the bed.
They had spent the whole afternoon walking around the museum, and her legs were tired and aching.
Cedrick crouched down, lifted her dainty feet, and gently massaged the acupuncture points on the soles of her feet. He was very skillful, and he did every movement lovingly.
Gazing at the look of deep concentration on his handsome face, Gwendolyn smiled and asked, “Why trouble yourself, Ceddy? Just find a massage parlor, and let's both go for a spa session. That'll make us feel thoroughly relaxed and refreshed. How about that?”
He did not smile, which was uncharacteristic for him. Instead, he raised his head solemnly and fixed his gaze on her. “No one else can touch my wife's feet or any inch of her skin. If someone accidentally touches you, I'll cut off their hands.”
He was blatantly staking his claim on her. It was as though he had stamped her body with a personal seal that showed she belonged to him.
Arching an eyebrow, she grinned impishly and deliberately asked, “So what will you do if I touch another man on my own accord?”
Cedrick stopped rubbing her feet. The corners of his eyes reddened as he stared at her. “If that happens, it must be because I did something to make you angry. Your desire to touch another man has to be because you didn't find me attractive enough. I'd reflect on my actions, get on my knees, and trade my life for your love.”
Her heart twisted painfully, and she stroked his handsome face pityingly. “Ceddy, the two of us are equals. You shouldn't think so little of yourself.”
Cradling his face in her hands, Gwendolyn added earnestly, “My heart will never change, and I won't touch another man. I only love you.”
Feeling satisfied, he hugged her waist and pushed her onto the bed. “We're still on our honeymoon, so how could you ask a question that could easily damage our relationship? Shouldn't you be punished?”
She nipped his chin gently. “It was my mistake. What punishment did you have in mind?”
He pinched her waist lightly with his hands and murmured in a hoarse voice, “Since it's your fault, we should let your slender waist atone for your mistake.”
Sighing, she shook her head and slid into a state of self-doubt. “In the past... Was I really a movie star who won the Best Actress Award?”
He nodded. “That's right. Until now, your gold trophy is still at my villa. You've seen it.”
Wearing a complicated expression, she looked dejected. “Then why don't I have any recollection at all? Since I've acted in so many movies, it stands to reason that tapping into my acting skills should be second nature to me. However, I... I can't do it at all.”
Jennifer could tell that none of the takes during those few hours of filming had been satisfactory. She knew the director was also in despair but dared not scold her because Treyton was there. She felt incredibly guilty, but she did not know what to do.
“I promise I'm not lying to you. These are all the accolades you won due to your hard work. However, you don't have to feel discouraged. You're just ill now. When you recover, you'll remember everything,” he reminded her patiently.
“Is that true? Do I really have a chance of getting better?” She was still somewhat uncertain.
Treyton was momentarily stunned. Then, he lowered his gaze that was tinged with guilt, and nodded.
In truth, however, Joshua had previously said that Jennifer's nerves had been damaged, and it would be difficult for them to heal.
Nonetheless, Treyton patted her arm reassuringly. “Even if you don't remember, it doesn't matter. You'll always be my fiancée, and yours will be the only name written on my marriage certificate. It's okay that you've forgotten me. I just hope you'll stop rejecting me, deliberately ignoring me, and refusing to let me get close to you. Give me a chance for a fresh start with you.”
Jennifer lowered her head and spaced out for a long time before finally nodding stiffly. Even so, she was absent-minded and did not seem to have paid close attention to what he said.
“Um... Mr. Treyton, it seems I've no acting skills at all. I feel lost in front of the camera. Perhaps losing the memories of the past four years is fate's way of giving me a chance to start over. I want to choose again. Is that okay?”
Treyton's fingers trembled. Suppressing the burgeoning fear in his heart with great difficulty, he asked, “What is it that you want to choose again?”
Choose whether or not she wants to be with me? Whether or not she wants to be my fiancée? Whether or not she wants to walk down the aisle with me in the future?
As those questions ceaselessly echoed in Treyton's mind, his eyes reddened, and he squeezed his hands together nervously as he awaited her reply.
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