Chapter 1963


    Everyone knew what Cicely wanted, and that definitely included Seth. So when Creighton heard


    that Seth had actually agreed to Cicely''s unconditioned request, there was not a hint of surprise on


    his face. It was as though he had seen iting all along.


    Cicely, for her part, didn''t overthink it.


    The day she emerged from her final exam, Cicely was surprised to find Seth waiting under the


    shade of an oak tree outside the school. His rxed pose against the sleek ck car, a cigarette


    casually held between his fingers, asionally lifted to his lips, made him stand out amongst the


    crowd of anxious parents gathered at the gates. Though he looked young, an air of sophistication


    and an aura of cool detachment surrounded him, making him a beacon for curious nces, yet no


    one dared to approach.


    To Cicely, his presence was an unexpected delight. She had tossed her pencil case into the trash


    bin inside the exam hall, her hands free as she exited. Spotting Seth, she weaved through the


    crowd and ran straight towards him.


    Her presence was as conspicuous as a firework. Whether it was her looks, her demeanor, or her


    audacious spirit, everything about her screamed freedom and defiance.


    As she sprinted towards him, Seth didn''t even need to look up to sense hering. Crushing the


    half-smoked cigarette under his shoe, he tilted his head slightly, catching a glint of sunlight on his


    silver-framed sses that partially concealed his dark, narrow eyes and somehow made him


    appear even more mature and refined.d2


    Cicely, with her unique scent and her dress fluttering as she ran, threw herself into his arms. Her


    body, soft and fragrant, was pressed against him as her arms encircled his neck, nearly clinging to


    him. Even her breath, slightly erratic from the run, conveyed her happiness.


    “Seth,” she panted lightly, her voice close to his neck, her warm breath brushing his skin.


    Seth''s eyes narrowed just a touch.


    "You said you’d grant me that wish. I want you to be my boyfriend," she dered, holding him


    tighter.


    There was a brief silence before Seth spoke, “That''s assuming you''ve passed your exams.”


    “I will pass. No doubt about it,” she asserted confidently.


    “Let''s wait for the results then,” he replied.


    Cicely frowned, straightened her head to re at him. “I told you I''m going to pass. Don''t you


    believe me, or do you just find the idea of dating me for a few more days that unbearable?”


    Seth answered calmly, “It''s a matter of principle.”


    What a load of nonsense, she thought. “So if I really don''t pass, does that mean we can never be


    together?”


    Seth gave a half-smile, turning the question back on her, “If you really don''t pass, will you finally let


    me go?”


    Cicely''s eyes danced as she shook her head resolutely, “You might as well forget about that. You''ll


    never get rid of me in this lifetime.”


    Danielle, meanwhile, had just fetched her phone from the school''s security and saw the two from a


    distance, wrapped up in their own world under therge tree across from the school gates. Cicely


    was openly clinging to Seth, and he, a man who always kept others at arm''s length, allowed her to


    hang on him like a ko. His hand was curved behind her waist, almost touching her—just one


    move away from embracing her. It was a gesture less of affection, more of protection.


    A sneer escaped Danielle as she snapped a photo of the pair with her phone. Looking at the picture


    in her gallery, she felt a surge of irony. Seth''s warning from two years ago still rang in her ears. He


    denied that his dislike for her had anything to do with his feelings for Cicely. He told her not to


    overestimate herself.


    Was that really the case?


    Thinking back, it seemed his words were just a way to keep Cicely off the potential firing line, to


    prevent Danielle''s resentment from falling on her.


    But even if Danielle did harbor any ill will towards Cicely, what could she possibly do? Cicely had


    humiliated her worse than this before, yet she remained the cherished princess of the Ellis family,


    protected by her grandfather, adored by her father, and supported by everyone in the Ellis family.


    What could an orphan with no one to call her own do against Cicely? What was Seth so worried


    about? What did he have to fear?


    Seth, were you unaware, or just unwilling to admit, that you were just as ordinary, shallow, and


    superficial as everyone else in falling for the spoiled yet sublime and beautiful Cicely?


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Putting away her phone, Danielle stared coldly at the two figures not far away, swallowing the tears


    back from her eyes.


    Cicely. Just how long can your smooth sailingst?