Chapter 1965
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Seth''s eyes narrowed in an instant. He stood still, his back arching under Cicely''s teasing grip,
immobilized, momentarily without action.
ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
Cicely lingered on his lips for a while, then began to press and rub on them, their lips touching softly,
devoid of any real passion.
The kiss was so clumsy that even Cicely thought it was embarrassingly inept. Looking up at Seth''s
nearly unresponsive expression, she bit his lip in frustration.
It wasn''t until she saw his brow furrow that she let go. Her ears were burning red. Yet, she held her
head high, her expression arrogant. "Get it now?"
Seth slowly straightened up, studying her feignedposure. His well-defined fingers gently
touched the spot where Cicely had bitten. There was a clear pain, a faint moisture.d2
Noticing the trace of red on his fingertip, he smiled. "I did promise you a wish. If that''s what you
want, I can oblige."
Cicely smirked.
"But Cicely…" Seth continued, "Do you really believe in a man''s promises? Especially those lifelong
commitments? How many of those grand derations made in the name of true love remain
unswayed? Besides, I may not love you, and you may not always like me. Don''t be so sure of
yourself. Always leave yourself a way out."
Seth indeed spoke quite a bit. However, Cicely only took that "I may not love you" quite seriously.
She paused briefly, her breathing halted for a moment, her heart aching fromck of oxygen. His
blunt honesty was infuriating.
She had forced him into a publicmitment, leaving him no easy way out, and he spared her no
dignity in return.
Taking a deep breath, she finally smiled faintly, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, you''re right. Maybe
my interest in you is just a fleeting affair. So be it, be my boyfriend, and when I''ve had enough, we''ll
talk."
Seth looked at her with a hint of displeasure in his expression.
Cicely then shed another carefree smile, "Don''t feel wronged. Even though you''re fulfilling your
promise, I''m genuinely sincere about this rtionship from the start. Don''t act like I''m forcing you.
Apart from me deciding when to break up, in every other aspect, you''re not the one at a
disadvantage, right?"
Seth found her smile somewhat blinding.
There was almost no sound around them. He pressed his lips together, suppressing the irritation
inside, and slightly lifted his eyes towards the two figures still standing on the stairnding.
Creighton looked at him and gently shook his head.
Looking back at Cicely, Seth''s jaw clenched tightly. After a while, he forced a smile, "Fine."
Cicely beamed, linking her arm with Seth''s, "This is the best adult birthday present I''ve ever
received. Come on, I''ll take you out for a bite."
Ah, the best adult birthday present, Creighton''s years of building Cicely''s Mansion couldn''tpare
to a romance that might not even involve love. Erik was genuinely upset, "Is that boy too out of line?
He doesn''t even like my precious granddaughter. Who else could he possibly like? To embarrass
Cicely in front of so many people..."
"Dad," Creighton interrupted Erik calmly, "Let the kids handle their own affairs. We can''t interfere too
much. Forcing things won''t necessarily lead to good results. It''s better to be honest than to lie.
Besides..."
He paused, looking at the retreating figures, slowly adding, "Seth might not be as indifferent to
Cicely as he ims."
Erik fell silent for a while, then exhaled deeply, "I just worry she''ll end up like you, willing to turn her
back on her family for someone, to the point of obsession."
Creighton smiled, "It''s a million times better than living with regret."
Erik said no more.
--
Cicely ordered several dishes from the kitchen, all tailored to Seth''s taste.
Despite everything Seth had said in the living room, Cicely acted like she didn''t care. She sat down
with Seth, her joy apparent. She didn''t seem to be pretending.
Her nonchnce made Seth feel like he was reading too much into her behavior, but he knew
Cicely wasn''t foolish. She saw things clearer than anyone.
Seth didn’t eat much, Cicely''s eyes never leaving him from across the table. Putting down his
utensils, he met her gaze, "Are you nning to get sick of me as quickly as possible so you can
make a clean break?"
Cicely blinked, "I haven''t gotten sick of you in over two years. Maybe you''re under some
misconception about yourself?"
Seth wiped his mouth with a napkin, let it fall, and smirked, "If you haven''t gotten sick of me in over
two years, maybe the problem is with you?"
"Well, maybe it''s because I like you too much."
Seth stood up, "I''m leaving."
Cicely caught up, "Are you not eating anymore?"
"Don''t forget, you''re the star today."
--
The two made their way through the veranda and entered the living room through a side door.
Cicely, arm in arm with Seth, reemerged before the crowd, her radiant smile betraying her
happiness.
Seth''s mention of the star of the show became clear as Cicely made her second appearance.
Creighton was surrounded by a few older gentlemen. Spotting Cicely, he beckoned her over.
"Cicely, this is Mr. Quinn. He''s been a reliable pir for our family for over thirty years. Don''t be as
casual as usual and forget your manners, you hear?"
"Got it. Nice to meet you, Mr. Quinn." Cicely was in high spirits, docile to a fault alongside Seth.
Her patience was limited to thepany''s shareholders and partners, and soon enough, she was
dragging Seth away.
Creighton''s calls went unheard, and he could only turn his attention to Seth, "Seth, keep a close eye
on her."
Seth nodded in acknowledgment.
Cicely thought she had finally escaped from such superficial socializing, but instead, Seth, now
taking her along, navigated through the crowd.
"That''s Mr. Grant from the Grant Corporation. The Ellis family is coborating with them on the
Extreme Amusement Park project. You should go say hello."
Cicely frowned, "Today''s mying-of-age celebration, not aworking event."
"Being an adult means embracing the responsibilities thate with it. Do you still want to live
carefree, frolicking and feasting like a child?"
Cicely blinked, her bright, beautiful eyes sparkling with excitement and a hint of shyness, "Embrace
adult responsibilities?"
Her eyes, alive with thrill yet tinged with bashfulness, caught Seth''s attention. He pursed his lips,
reached out to grasp her waist, and gently pulled her toward Mr. Grant from the Grant Corporation,
his voice steady and calm. "Mr. Grant, this is Cicely."
Cicely immediately put on a bright smile, "Hello, Mr. Grant."
"Ah, lovely, lovely," Mr. Grant beamed with joy. "Happy 18th birthday, Ms. Cicely."
"Thank you."
After a brief exchange, Seth guided her to greet other guests. Even with Seth, Cicely''s expression
was turning sour. "I don''t want to go anymore. I''m tired."
Seth looked down at her.
Indeed, Cicely''splexion was pale, and there was a sheen of sweat on her forehead and nose.
His brow furrowed slightly as he dropped his gaze to her feet. Before him were a pair of silver,
diamond-studded high heels, her feet nestled within, the slender curve of her ankle meeting her calf
in an elegant arc. Now, only one foot bore weight, the other side of her body leaning heavily against
him.
Perhaps realizing that Seth had noticed her difort, Cicely turned and buried her face in his
chest, wrapping her arms around his neck with a muffled voice thick with grievance. "Seth, my foot
hurts."
Danielle, arm in arm with Patty, had just appeared at the entrance when she saw Cicely clinging to
Seth near the doorway, her forehead rubbing against his shirt, boldly intimate. Seth seemed
unfazed.
Danielle''s steps slowed, and she stood rooted, her gaze fixed on the pair as if glued to them.
She couldn''t believe that in front of so many people, Seth would allow Cicely to be so close to him
without a care, but as she watched, hoping for what felt like an eternity that Seth would push Cicely
away, what she saw instead was him stepping back, bending down, and sweeping Cicely into his
arms.