The High-Libido CEO’s Cold Wife Chapter 09
I carefully explained that an experimental antidote might fail, cause unexpected side effects, or
require immediate medical treatment.
Lydia insisted that she was willing to accept them if it freed her from Sirenthorn’s control.
Her account expanded the scale of our problem, because Lydia had already found many other people with the same dependence.
She had joined an online support group for people who developed toxin dependence after being
pricked.
Some enjoyed the changes to their bodies.
For most members, the unpredictable attacks disrupted work, relationships, and ordinary routines badly enough that they were desperate for treatment.
They had visited hospitals and tried countless medications without success.
Lydia offered to ask whether those who wanted treatment would consider enrolling in a trial.
I promised to discuss the proposal with my research team.
We would contact her only after a new formulation passed basic toxicology assessment for human
use.
“When you get home, dispose of the Sirenthorn plant,” I warned her. “Do not expose yourself again.”
“I won’t.” Lydia nodded.
She took a small box of carefully decorated bear-shaped cookies from her bag and handed it to me.
“I’m sorry I ruined your cakes when we met.”
“I baked these for you. Please try one.”
The small apology warmed me because Lydia had remembered an accident I had already dismissed.
This was the Lydia I had believed I saw at the office..
Nothing in her expression or behavior suggested the calculating rival the comments kept trying to
create.
I tasted one of the cookies. It was crisp, buttery, and delicious.
“These are excellent.”
Her eyes brightened. “I almost forgot.
I’m meeting my boyfriend for a fishing trip.”
“He should be here soon, so if we’re finished, could I go?”
“Of course.” I waved as she left.
Lydia had been open and sincere throughout our conversation.
When she mentioned her boyfriend, she did not sound as though she were challenging me.
She sounded as if the man had nothing to do with me.
After several steps, Lydia turned back.
“Actually, you know my boyfriend,” she said quietly.
For one sharp second, I prepared myself to hear Julian’s name and felt the air leave my lungs.
Then she continued, “It’s Quinn. I’ve suffered from these attacks for six months, and he has been the one helping me through them.”
“He and Mr. Caldwell attended college together.”
“Quinn asked him to arrange my internship at Caldwell Holdings.”
“Once I’ve completed three months and gained some work experience, I’ll take a position at a
state-funded research institute.”
A low buzz filled my head.
Her boyfriend was Quinn.
Then Quinn must have been the man who kissed her in the assistants’ office.
Every scene I had misunderstood rearranged itself at once, and the suspicion clouding my judgment began to dissolve.
Lydia added, “Can I tell you one more thing? When you visited Mr. Caldwell, you asked me to throw
away the ruined cakes.”
“He saw me carrying the box, took it from me, and ate every last cake alone in his office.”
I smiled. “Thank you for telling me, Lydia.”
“You should go. Don’t keep Quinn waiting.”
She waved. “Bye, Mrs. Caldwell.
I’ll wait for your call about the trial.”
[My brain just stopped working.]
[Lydia is too honest. Why would she tell Chloe all of that?]
[Now Chloe knows everything.]
[Lydia is naive. Quinn may be her boyfriend today, but they could break up.]
[She should have destroyed any chance of Chloe and Julian reconciling. Then Julian would
eventually belong to her.]
[After this, the supporting character and Julian probably won’t divorce.]
[Is the supporting character taking the heroine’s place?]
[What do you mean? Chloe was already Mrs. Caldwell.]
[Their marriage failed because of their own problems, not Lydia.]
[Their personalities clashed, and their intimate life didn’t work.]
[Spending his entire life with Chloe would still suffocate Julian.]
[Have you forgotten the lipstick mark on his neck?]
[Even if Lydia wasn’t involved, Julian could be hiding another woman in that villa.]
As I reached for a third cookie, Julian appeared on the beach.
He moved slowly along the sand with no companion beside him, unaware that I was watching from
the café.
This time, I rose and went to him first.
