Chapter 1979


    Blinking her eyes, she seemed to perk up a bit, her little head swaying left and right as she took in


    the room''s minimalist decor, all shades of muted grey. It was exactly the kind of Spartan aesthetic


    Seth would have.


    After Seth set her down, he reached out to steady her restless head, straightening it. "Stay put, will


    you?"


    Cicely looked at him, puzzled. "Your ce... your own house? When did you..."


    She didn''t finish her question. After all, knowing Seth was a force to be reckoned with wasn''t news.


    That there was suddenly an apartment in the mix was hardly a shocker.


    She clutched the edge of the nket wrapped around her, her eyes bright with excitement as she


    looked at Seth. "Why''d you suddenly bring me to your ce?"


    Seth stood up and shrugged off his suit jacket, the easy, deliberate movement making Cicely''s


    cheeks flush. "Taking care of my sick girlfriend, isn''t that just the done thing?"d2


    Cicely tried to suppress a smile, "But what about my dad."


    "You think he wouldn''t approve? If that''s the case, I can take you back right now."


    Cicely curled a little deeper into the nkets, "I think it''s perfectly fine."


    "I''ll talk to your dad. I''ve kept him in the dark about how sick you''ve been, and it''s only fair you get a


    chance to recover before heading back."


    "I see."


    Seth gave her a faint nce and turned to leave the bedroom.


    "Where are you going?"


    "Just lie still."


    Cicely murmured an obedient "Okay," and truly didn''t move a muscle, her curiosity about the room


    waning as nearly an hour passed, and she felt her eyelids grow heavy.


    When Seth returned, he had swapped his formal wear for something more casual, the fatigue from


    earlier now washed away from his face. "There''s soup simmering in the kitchen. Do you want to eat


    in here, or shall we dine at the table?"


    "The table." Before Seth could even finish, Cicely''s voice piped up.


    He probably anticipated her answer, his expression unchanging as he approached the bed. He had


    barely bent down when her arms slipped out from under the covers and wrapped around his neck.


    Seth looked at her, "Aren''t you taking things for granted?" Despite his words, he lifted her in his


    arms.


    "It''s called being in sync. Didn''t you want toe over and carry me?"


    Cicely reveled in the rare moment of Seth being at a loss for words.


    Settled at the dining table by Seth, she watched him head back to the kitchen. The table was


    alreadyid out with a few simple but appetizing dishes, and a y pot that wafted the scent of rice.


    Cicely nced around once more, making sure they were alone in the apartment, then asked Seth


    as he returned with another pot, "Did you make all this?"


    "What do you think?"


    Clearly, he did.


    "I never thought you could cook..." Cicely was pleasantly surprised.


    "As long as you can read and follow instructions, and not make any mistakes in the regr process,


    there typically shouldn''t be any problems."


    Cicely understood what he meant. It''s basically the idea that you don''t have to have done


    something to know how it works. She became a little apprehensive about the taste of the food he


    had cooked.


    A soft clink, and Seth ced a bowl of steaming soup in front of her. "Drink up."


    She hesitated, but Seth''s kindness and tenderness that day were like a blue moon event, and for


    that alone, even if the soup were poison, she''d drink it.


    Her struggle and her resolve didn''t go unnoticed by Seth. He watched, a hint of amusement shing


    in his eyes, as she cautiously took a spoonful, blew on it, hesitated, and finally tasted it. Cicely''s


    furrowed brow rxed almost immediately.


    "Hmm?" She blinked at Seth, "This is actually really good."


    "It sounds like you expected less from me."


    Cicely immediately gave a thumbs-up, "Not bad at all, my man of many talents."


    Seth said nothing, sitting opposite her, sharing a quiet lunch.


    Through the evening, Seth never left the house, though his phone rang off the hook. Cicely often


    heard his deep voice on calls through the walls, a reminder of his presence and dedication to his


    work.


    Despite a twinge of resentment, Cicely kept herints to herself. A man with ambition


    deserved her support, she thought; she might not be able to help much, but at least she wouldn''t


    hold him back. After all, even if she offered him everything she had, he probably wouldn''t take it.


    Drifting back into sleep, she woke again at dinnertime.


    Feeling much better after the meal, Cicely, wearing Seth''s oversized slippers, roamed the


    apartment. She wasn''t quite sure of the specific address, but it seemed like a very ordinary


    apartment—three bedrooms, two living rooms, and two bathrooms. The decoration was simple yet


    luxurious, with fully equipped facilities. It looked very new, indicating that he probably hadn''t lived


    here much.


    She wondered, was she the first to stay here?


    Seth appeared out of nowhere, "Go take a shower in the en-suite."


    His suddenmand startled her, and she clutched her chest, "You scared me."


    But the mention of a shower reminded her that she indeed needed one. Holding her chest, she


    headed toward the bedroom, passed Seth, then paused and backtracked.


    Seth looked down at her, "Need help?"


    Her cheeks reddened, "Do you have clothes for me?"


    Seth frowned slightly, returned to the bedroom, and pulled out a shirt from the wardrobe, handing it


    to her. "We''ll shop tomorrow."


    She epted it, wrinkling her nose at the thought of wearing a shirt to bed—not the most


    comfortable sleepwear, but better than nothing.


    Before she entered the bathroom, Seth called out, "You''ve got half an hour. If you''re not out, I''m


    coming in."


    "Okay."


    Cicely wasn''t used to timing her showers, but figured she could manage.


    The bath was already drawn, and Cicely thought that Seth was unusually tender today, almost


    unnaturally so. Just as she finished washing her hair and rxed into the bath, the door knock and


    Seth''s voice came again. "Time''s up, Cicely."


    At his words, she scrambled in the water.


    "Just a minute—so soon, wait up."


    Hearing her voice still brimming with energy, Seth didn’t say anything and waited.


    Cicely stepped out of the bathtub and gave herself a quick rinse under the shower before slipping


    into Seth''s oversized shirt and opening the door.


    Steam billowed from the bathroom, clouding the air. As the door swung open, Seth had to squint to


    make out the figure in the doorway. The steam was thick from her hot bath, leaving her face flushed


    and dewy.


    The shirt hung loosely on her frame, yet to be adjusted, and her hair cascaded over her shoulders,


    dripping wet at the ends.


    Seth frowned slightly, "What on earth were you doing in there for half an hour?"


    Emerging from the bedroom, Cicely retorted, "Half an hour? You know how long it takes just to wash


    this hair of mine? I barely soaked in the tub before stepping out." Her voice wasced with


    dissatisfaction andint.


    Muttering, she stepped out of the bathroom when Seth suddenly grabbed her. "What''s up?" Cicely


    asked, puzzled.


    "Don''t tell me you have a habit of not blow-drying your hair after a shower."


    "It''s pretty ufortable, true." Cicely ran her fingers through her hair, sending droplets flying onto


    Seth.


    Seth’s gaze lingered on the dripping ends of her hair, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    Cicely wrinkled her nose, "Washing my hair is exhausting, toweling it off is a pain, and blow-drying


    is the worst. My arms get so sore every time."


    "Why not just cut it short if it''s such a hassle?" Seth''s voice was low and husky, as if his words were


    coated with a hint of bourbon, creating a somewhat seductive illusion.


    "Because it''s beautiful," Cicely said straightforwardly, looking up at him. "Don''t give me that ''inner


    beauty'' spiel. Whoever came up with that was full of it. We''re all visual creatures. If you''re not


    caught by the looks, who''s going to take the time to see the inner beauty?"


    Seth''s eyes lifted slowly, giving her a once-over before he retreated into the bathroom, reemerging


    with a clean towel and a hairdryer in hand. "You''ve got nothing but appearances."


    Cicely nodded, "I guess so. But being pretty is enough. One of these days, when you take me out,


    I''ll make sure you look good, too."


    "Let''s go to the balcony," Seth instructed dryly.


    Cicely did as told, moving to the balcony where Seth draped the towel over her head before


    plugging in the hairdryer.


    Watching herzily towel her hair on the spot, he tugged her closer, his touch devoid of gentleness.


    Cicely bumped into him, unprepared for the vigorous towel-drying.


    "Can''t you be a little gentler.." Sheined but wrapped her arms around Seth''s waist.


    Seth paused.


    "Later on," Cicely continued, "I''ll be in charge of looking gorgeous, and you can take care of earning


    a living and supporting the family, okay?"


    "That sounds like you''ve got the easier job."


    "How''s that?" She tilted her head back, her chin resting against his chest, her radiant face wearing a


    soft, innocent smile. "I have to take care of you, and our future kids. How many do you want?"


    Seth looked down at her for a moment, his gaze unreadable, his voice slightly hoarse, "How many


    do you want?"


    "Hmm." Cicely drew out the sound as if deeply contemting the question, "I don''t know, maybe


    start with two?"


    Seth gave a half-smile, "We could afford them."


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Cicely beamed, "That''s true. Then maybe we''ll have a few more." She moved to bury her head in


    his chest again but he held her head still, stopping her motion.