Julian’s Stand-In Wife

Larry had finished hanging all the wedding decorations. The somewhat dilapidated room, combined with the decorations Cecilia
had mentioned earlier, gave the old house a somewhat bright feeling.
However, she had no interest in appreciating it. This house was going to become her grave, after all.
“Is anyone there?”
Suddenly, Cecilia heard a familiar voice. It was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
It was Noel’s voice.
She hadn’t heard it in a long time.
Noel?!
Cecilia suddenly realized something, and her eyes lit up with anticipation as she looked towards the door.
Was he...here to save her?
Larry noticed Cecilia’s unusual expression, and abruptly turned to her.
“Do you know the person outside?” His expression became even more menacing. “Just like Lulu, have you found another man?!”
Why were women so good at betrayal?
Larry was so angry that his chest trembled. He stopped what he was doing, pretending there was no one in the room.
Noel knocked a few times, but received no response.
He then said, “Is anyone there? I really need to use the bathroom, and I’m in a hurry. I can pay!”
This became even more peculiar.
Who would come to this floor to use the bathroom? Larry sneered; he continued to maintain silence with Cecilia, whose mouth
was taped shut.
Only when there was no movement outside did he smile at Cecilia.

“Sorry. I didn’t want to keep your mouth sealed all the time, but for the sake of our wedding, it’s better this way. I want to avoid
any complications.”
If Cecilia could move, she would definitely use the vase to strike him.
She had never seen such a shameless man. When did she ever say she wanted to marry him?!
Cecilia was furious, but she also felt melancholic. She looked towards the nowsilent door, the hope that had just ignited in her
heart gradually extinguishing.
Noel had come-and he had left.
Cecilia couldn’t express whether she felt happy or sad. She couldn’t pinpoint her emotions; she wanted Noel to rescue her, but at
the same time, she hoped it wasn’t him. She didn’t want to owe anyone a favor.
Noel didn’t leave. He just walked to the corner of the staircase outside Larry’s house, and lit a cigarette.
If Larry’s house was a normal place with no secrets, he would surely come out and check when the door was knocked.
Yet, Larry didn’t.
Noel became even more convinced that Cecilia was in this house. His gaze drifted, landing on the house upstairs in Larry’s
building.
The decorations outside the household were brand new, and Noel could smell the aroma of cooked food wafting out.
Knock! Knock!
A lady opened the door, and Noel took out a hundred dollars from his pocket, and said, “Hello, I’d like to borrow your bathroom to
use. I’m really desperate, and the unit downstairs wasn’t willing to let me in...”
Noel looked distressed, his face turning red. It seemed he had urgently sought a restroom all the way, and had been rejected at
each stop.
“Don’t worry about the money.” The lady made way for Noel to enter. “Go on, then.”
After Noel came out, the lady muttered, “Have you knocked on the door downstairs?”

Noel nodded. “I did, but no one answered.” “That’s strange,” the lady said, confused. “Larry’s usually very kind. I heard there
were burglars in their house today. Could it be another break-in?”
Noel feigned surprise. “A break-in?!” “Yeah,” the lady said. “Several people in black clothes came, breaking everything in Larry’s
house, I heard.”
That was Larry breaking things himself!
Noel didn’t reveal the truth, and said, “Based on what you said, something might really be wrong downstairs.”
He took out his phone. “Shall we call the police?”
The lady shook her head. ’’No, we can’t. What if it’s not a robbery? We’d end up making a joke and wasting public resources.
How about this? I won’t take your money for using my bathroom, but could you accompany me downstairs to take a look?”