With fame came a flurry of events and admirers, many of whom were glamorous female celebrities from the entertainment world. Yet Cedric always brushed them aside, dismissing them as cunning women looking for a way to climb the social ladder.
Then there was Ophelia Morgan, the female apprentice who appeared six months ago. She came into the picture when Cedric was under pressure to finish a sculpture for a company’s anniversary celebration, so he hired extra help. Ophelia, who had been drifting through Cedar Ridge, taking on odd jobs to get by, was one of them.
By the time her stint with him ended, Ophelia had stripped bare and begged him to take her in.
Cedric had kicked her out without a second thought and later chuckled about the incident with Dione, recounting it like an amusing anecdote.
Half a month later, Dione walked into Cedric's studio, only to be confronted with an unexpected sight: there was Ophelia, still there. Not only had she managed to stay, but Cedric had even sorted out her passport issues.
Dione, her heart heavy with the weight of betrayal, couldn’t hold back. "What’s going on here?" she asked, her voice tight and disbelieving.