Chapter 1971


    Queen of the Night wasn''t a flower you could set your watch by - you knew it would unfurl under the


    cloak of darkness, but exactly when remained a mystery, which was why she didn''t n on heading


    home that evening.


    Creighton was out of town, and after Cicely had packed her bag and made her way downstairs, she


    found Joel already waiting in the living room. A quick word to the housekeeper, and they were out


    the door together.


    Curiosity tinged Cicely''s voice as she asked, "Do you think the entire acre of flower will bloom


    tonight?"


    "Yep, that''s what the folks at the conservatory are saying," Joel replied.


    "It''s going to be quite a sight. Did you remember to bring the camera?" she asked offhandedly.


    Joel chuckled and nodded, gesturing towards the trunk of the car, "Wouldn''t miss it for the world."d2


    Joel was a natural at keeping the conversation flowing, talking about everything from the cultivation


    of the rare bloom to the intricacies of photography as if he was a master of all trades.


    Cicely leaned against the car door, half-listening, asionally murmuring a response.


    The botanical gardens sprawled over acres ofnd, and it took them about ny minutes to reach


    the site, which was divided into sections with different nts cordoned off by wrought-iron fences.


    Summer was in full swing, and the gardens were a riot of color as far as the eye could see.


    To the north stood a series of vast, grey-white buildings housing greenhouses for the cultivation of


    precious nts and the research of new species.


    These were the public areas of the gardens, open for visitors to marvel and photograph - a


    profitable event for the conservatory each year. There were already plenty of visitors wandering and


    snapping pictures, but Joel noticed Cicely''s listlessness and didn''t stop the car, driving straight


    ahead instead. Ten minutester, they arrived at a secluded mountain spa resort.


    "Queen of the Night usually bloomte into the night. You look like you might notst that long, and


    we''ve got time to kill. Why don''t you go freshen up with a quick dip in the hot springs? I''ll have lunch


    sent up to your room," Joel suggested.


    Cicely settled onto a couch in the hotel lobby, feeling the fatigue of the long car ride. At Joel''s


    suggestion, she hummed in agreement, then added, "What about you? What are your ns for


    lunch?"


    Joel handed her a water bottle he''d just fetched from a cooler in the car and smiled, "Some


    ssmates have nned a lunch meetup."


    Raising an eyebrow, Cicely struggled with the stubborn bottle cap, wincing at the pain in her hand.


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    Joel took the bottle back, smoothly twisted off the cap, and handed it back to her. She took a sip


    and peered up at him, "You''d make a pretty great boyfriend, you know."


    Joel was briefly taken aback, "What?"


    Setting the bottle on the coffee table, Cicely borated, "Tall, wealthy, handsome, smart, and you''re


    kind and considerate too. Some girl''s going to be very lucky to have you."


    He watched her for a moment before letting out a sigh with a wry chuckle, "Is that so? I haven''t


    noticed. But I guess it''s different for everyone."


    Cicely paused, prompting him to continue.


    Joel inhaled deeply and exhaled with a shade of resignation, "Not everyone has the patience for


    people who don''t matter much to them."


    Cicely''s eyes shifted slightly, her expression seemingly inquisitive as she studied him, Joel even


    saw traces of concealment and evasion hidden within her gaze. After a pensive few seconds, Cicely


    nodded in agreement, "I haven''t really joined the ss for meals either. I think I''ll join in today. It


    sounds interesting."


    "Great, the restaurant''s on the top floor. I''ll give you a call when it''s time," Joel replied, pleasantly


    surprised at her decision. Cicely, needing a distraction from her gloom, would benefit from the


    company.


    After a refreshing shower and a short rest, Joel called her up for lunch. The weather outside was


    scorching, but the spa resort and its restaurant were a cool oasis in the heat, albeit an expensive


    one.


    Some treated the outing as a pic, bringing their own food to enjoy outdoors, while others


    splurged on the resort''s offerings.


    The gathering wasn''t limited to ssmates; there were families and friends who got along well with


    the ss. Cicely''s unexpected appearance, especially alongside Joel, raised eyebrows. After all,


    before the official announcement of the Ellis family princess with Seth, they didn''t spare any effort in


    teasing Cicely and Joel in the group. Now, seeing them together in person, the group''s spection


    ran wild anew. Wasn''t Cicely supposed to be in the throes of new love with Seth?


    Whispers and rumors spread like wildfire, suggesting trouble in paradise.


    Some bold soul, hungry for gossip, couldn''t resistmenting, "Cicely, this is a rare sight. You


    skipped our graduation party, but here you are."


    Cicely chose a spot by the window and settled in with a smile, "Yourpany''s fine, but it''s no


    match for Queen of the night." Cicelyughed heartily, her tone sounded like a retort, but also like a


    joke. Being angry would make them seem petty.


    "Let''s order, folks. We don''t know how long we''ll be waiting for the blooms tonight. Make sure you


    get some restter so you don''t miss out," Joel chimed in, his voice carrying the authority of years


    as their ss leader.


    The group quickly turned to teasing, "Underestimate us? We live for the nightlife."


    As Joel tallied up their orders, a few more people joined them, and the afternoon unfolded into a


    blend of food,ughter, and the anticipation of the night''s floral spectacle.


    Kane, Ollie, and Rose.


    The surprise etched on their faces was evident when they saw Cicely saunter into the room, none


    more so than Kane himself. He blinked a couple of times before leaning in, scrutinizing Cicely with


    an intensity thatsted a good while. "Holy smokes, it really is you."


    Cicely nced back at him, propping her chin in her hand, a ripple of amusement crossing her


    features like a gentle wave upon a sereneke, exuding that elusive, whimsical charm that was


    unmistakably hers. "Kane, don''t you think your reaction is a bit over the top?"


    Kane''s gaze lingered on her face for a moment longer before he straightened up and took the seat


    opposite her. "Well, it''s not every day we see you gracing these social gatherings. And here you are,


    not cozying up with Seth, but out here flying solo. You flouncing around with that pretty face of


    yours, isn''t Seth worried?"


    At that, Cicely''s lips curled into a half-smile. "And who could possibly do anything to me?"


    After a moment''s thought, Kane conceded, "Yeah, you''re right. Just the reputation of the Ellis


    family''s princess is enough to deter anyone from crossing the line. Indeed, you''re the perfect match


    for him - low maintenance."