The Villianess story: A 100 ways to kill your husband Chapter 578: Closure

Strolling hand-in-hand as twilight descended, the scene was absolutely idyllic. Abrielle gazed at the evening sky, her heart overflowing with contentment and gratitude.

"Is there anything else your heart desires?" Cedric inquired, his eyes fixed on her, illuminated by the soft hues of the setting sun.

Abrielle pouted playfully, then her face broke into a radiant beam.

"There's just one more thing," she chirped, tugging her husband through the throng of people. Despite their day of activity, her energy remained boundless.

Abrielle led Cedric to a game booth, her attention captured by a giant blue teddy bear. "Win that for me, please," she exclaimed, directing his gaze towards the prize.

Cedric raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over the booth, observing the other patrons attempting the game. He immediately discerned the truth.

"This game is rigged," his voice echoed in her mind.

Abrielle blinked, momentarily surprised. She sometimes forgot Cedric's ability to read and communicate telepathically, though he still favored speaking aloud.

"I know..." Abrielle's eyes sparkled with determination as she paid for the game. She had attempted this booth several times before, always ending in defeat.

"You have three attempts," the booth operator announced with a grin.

Abrielle almost scoffed. She was confident Cedric would overcome his devious scheme. "Thank you," she replied.

"Damn it. Not again."

She detected a curse and her heartbeat faltered. Abrielle turned her head, her eyes falling upon two young women earnestly throwing darts, their efforts futile. One of them—a familiar blonde—caused a pang in her chest.

She nearly called out her best friend's name. Kimberly...

Kimberly, engrossed in the game, failed to notice her. Her hands were steady, yet each dart veered off course. Abrielle's gaze narrowed, stirring old recollections—how she and Hazel would invariably try this same game whenever they visited, despite its notorious reputation for being unbeatable.

Whispers of the game being rigged circulated, but concrete proof remained elusive. Kimberly launched her final dart, which missed the mark entirely. She hissed under her breath, her fists clenching.

Following last night's memorial service, an unease had settled in her heart. She recalled the intense desire she and Hazel had felt for that very teddy bear, a prize they never managed to claim.

Abrielle quickly averted her gaze. Encountering Kimberly here was entirely unexpected.

"I want another go," Kimberly muttered, pressing more money into the operator's hand, resolute in her quest to conquer the game.

Cedric sighed softly, his focus shifting to the darts. It was inconsequential. He could win this.

His eyes locked onto the target, and precisely as he'd predicted, the bullseye subtly shifted just as his dart approached. A faint smile touched his lips—he had foreseen this. To the operator's utter astonishment, Cedric's dart found its mark.

Abrielle's face lit up with joy. She knew he had manipulated the outcome—that was precisely the plan. She skipped forward, embracing him around the neck.

"You won!!!" she exclaimed with delight.

Cedric offered a gentle smile. "Did you doubt I would?" he teased playfully.

The owner stood momentarily dumbfounded, but quickly regained his composure, attempting to mask his surprise.

Kimberly, however, remained frozen, staring at the couple with disbelief. How had he achieved such a feat?

"You got lucky on the first one. Which teddy bear do you desire?" the owner managed to stammer out. A muscle twitched in his brow—the prize teddy was worth significantly more than the cost of the dart tickets.

Cedric smirked. "I still have two more attempts."

His confident demeanor caused the owner's face to contort. He longed to intervene but recognized his hands were tied.

Surely, there was no possibility Cedric could succeed in all three attempts.

But to his utter amazement, Cedric struck the bullseye with all three darts. A perfect score.

Abrielle was ecstatic, erupting into laughter as she observed the owner's darkening expression. Her mirth seemed to lighten the entire night.

"So, I'm entitled to three teddy bears." She shot the owner a smug look before pointing to three sizable plush toys.

"Congratulations. You're incredibly fortunate," the owner mumbled, reluctantly handing over the prizes.

The teddy bears were so large that Abrielle struggled to carry two at once.

"Of course, my darling husband is my lucky charm," she teased, deliberately sticking her tongue out at the flustered owner.

Kimberly could only watch, a helpless smile gracing her lips.

Their eyes met by chance. Abrielle offered a warm smile. Kimberly froze, stunned. For a brief moment, her thoughts ceased.

Then, Abrielle gently placed one of the teddy bears into Kimberly's arms. "You can have this one. We only need two," she stated, before turning and walking away with Cedric.

Kimberly gazed down at the brown teddy bear in her hands, her heart suddenly feeling heavy. She clutched it tightly. The mysterious woman felt uncannily familiar, reminiscent of the friend she had known since their kindergarten days.

It must be because her memorial was just yesterday, she rationalized, pushing away the unsettling thoughts.

However, the night was only truly beginning for Abrielle. She intended to cherish every single moment.

Departing the park, she meandered through the streets with Cedric, pointing out various locations steeped in cherished memories. She insisted he join her at her favorite street food stall, urging him to sample everything, all the while sharing anecdotes from her past.

The crescendo of their evening arrived as they ascended to the hotel's rooftop.

A helicopter stood ready for departure. Abrielle, practically vibrating with anticipation, guided Cedric towards it, eager to share a breathtaking aerial view of the city.

As the pilot ascended into the vast night sky, the city unfurled below like a carpet of twinkling stars. Abrielle, the self-appointed tour guide, narrated their journey with infectious cheer. With every familiar landmark that appeared, her smile radiated pure delight.

Cedric found himself pondering why Abrielle had opted for a helicopter when his own powers could effortlessly whisk them across the metropolis. Nevertheless, he indulged her wish, prioritizing her happiness above all else.

The cityscape glittered, transforming into luminous rivers of light. Abrielle paused, a gasp escaping her lips, before turning to face him.

"Isn't the city magnificent?" she inquired, her voice filled with wonder.

Cedric’s gaze remained fixed on her, his eyes softening with affection. "Indeed it is," he replied. In truth, his attention had been solely captivated by Abrielle, the city entirely overlooked.

Abrielle beamed, content that he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the experience.

Upon their return to the hotel after landing, Abrielle finally showed signs of weariness.

The hotel room door creaked open slowly.

The television was on.

A frown creased Abrielle's brow; she distinctly recalled switching it off before their departure. Cedric’s defenses immediately went up. Though he sensed no one within, they both advanced cautiously toward the living area.

Cedric instinctively positioned Abrielle behind him, offering protection.

A mellow chuckle echoed through the room, reaching their ears.

Abrielle craned her neck, peeking over Cedric’s shoulder. Her eyes widened in astonishment. A man with silver hair was lounging on the sofa, casually engrossed in a Netflix program. Dressed in modern attire, he exuded the effortless charm of a pop idol.

"Yuki," she exclaimed, the name slipping out involuntarily.

His familiar features seemed even more captivating now.

Maximus tilted his head, his violet eyes crinkling at the corners. "You've returned," he greeted her with a warm smile.

Cedric faltered, his frown deepening. "Yuki?" he echoed, observing his wife as she approached the individual renowned as the god of strength.

Could this irritating feline actually be Maximus?

A chilling coldness entered his eyes.

Abrielle let out a shaky laugh, realizing Cedric was unaware of Yuki’s true identity.

Maximus cast a noncommittal glance at Cedric, seemingly unfazed by the palpable, dangerous aura radiating from him. His expression then shifted to one of seriousness as he posed his question:

"Have you reached your decision?"