Chapter 1980


    Seth gathered her damp hair, carefully drying it with a towel. Cicely remained passive, letting him


    take care of her. As she identally nced down, her expression froze for a moment, and a blush


    spread quickly across her cheeks. Instinctively, her hand moved to cover her chest, but she could


    hear Seth''s low chuckle from above. "Only realizing it now? Isn''t it a bitte?"


    Cicely bit her lip, still clutching the neckline of her shirt.


    Fresh out of the shower, she had slipped on one of Seth''s white shirts, and now, with nothing


    underneath, her wet hair had soaked through the fabric, making the shirt cling to her skin and


    leaving little to the imagination.


    "You... you noticed earlier?" she stammered.


    Seth tossed the towel onto the armrest of a nearby couch, his gaze brazenly sweeping over her


    chest. "You talk a big game about starting a family, as if you''re so worldly, but here you are, so


    embarrassed at the slightest nce, not to mention..."


    He paused, a sly grin breaking through his usuallyposed demeanor. "One touch, and you''re


    trembling like a leaf."d2


    Cicely tried topose herself, but his words sent a fresh wave of color to her cheeks. That "one


    touch" he referred to happened that morning at the clinic.


    "I''m just not used to it," she managed to say.


    Without a word, Seth switched on the hairdryer.


    Standing in front of him, Cicely fidgeted with the cor of his casual shirt. "You''re being unusually


    considerate today. Feeling guilty for crossing the line this time?"


    His fingers continued to work through her semi-dry hair. "Crossing the line? I only speak the truth.


    You don''t want to see me, so I won''t show up unless necessary. I doubt there''s a man out there who


    could please you more than I do."


    She hesitated before meeting his gaze. "I said I didn''t want to see you, and you didn''t even call or


    text?"


    "If I had reached out, would you have responded?"


    "No," Cicely said without hesitation, her tone tinged with defiance.


    Seth''s smile widened slightly.


    "That''s not necessarily true," she continued. "You didn''t even try. How do you know I wouldn''t have


    paid you any mind? Whether I do or don''t is separate from whether you should make the effort."


    She frowned, a new thought crossing her mind. "Or is there something else you''ve done wrong?


    And that''s why you''re suddenly being so nice today."


    A flicker of annoyance crossed Seth''s forehead. "What do you think I could have done to warrant


    this kind of groveling?"


    Cicely''s eyes darted around. "Another woman? Have you been seeing someone else behind my


    back?"


    The whir of the hairdryer was the only sound on the balcony. Seth''s silence weighed heavily on


    Cicely, her previously unconcerned mood growing darker. "You don''t really have someone else, do


    you?"


    Turning off the dryer, Seth looked at her indifferently. "So you''re saying if I did have someone else,


    this level of groveling would suffice for your forgiveness?"


    Her expression cooled instantly. "Do you think it would?"


    "A woman for me has a very clear boundary: If it''s not you, it will definitely be someone else. If I


    chose someone else, I wouldn''t waste my time with you. Understand?"


    Cicely nodded. "I''ll take your word as a promise for now. Cheating is despicable, and since I''m your


    girlfriend at the moment, it''s highly unlikely there''s another woman you''d even consider. But Seth, if


    you ever do find someone else, we''re done for good. Like you said, if that dayes, I''ll consider it


    your choice to leave me for her. I may like you a lot, but I have my limits, and another woman is


    where I draw the line. I hope she never appears. Got it?"


    Thest sentence was a clear challenge.


    "Go find something else to wear in the closet," he said, unplugging the hairdryer.


    Cicely let go of his cor and yfully pped his chest as she passed by.


    Opening the wardrobe, she saw rows of high-end suits and dress shirts. She grabbed another white


    shirt and turned to face him, holding it to her chest. "This is your bedroom? Where are you sleeping


    tonight?"


    Seth paused. "Where do you think I should sleep tonight?"


    Her gaze inadvertently swept over the adjacent bed. "You could sleep here if you like. It''s your


    house, after all." She stumbled over her words, nearly biting her tongue.


    Seth smiled faintly. "It seems you don''t really want me here."


    Cicely opened her mouth but said nothing.


    "Change your clothes and don''t get sick with a cold tomorrow," he advised before stepping out of


    the room. Before closing the door, he paused and added a cool "Goodnight."


    Those two wordsnded gently on Cicely''s heart. As he started to close the door, Cicely called out


    to him. "Seth."


    The door stopped and swung back open.


    She approached, looking up at his refined features with a radiant smile. "You shouldn''t leave things


    half-done. A goodnight and a kiss go hand in hand."


    Seth looked at her silently for a few seconds, then stepped through the door and bent down to kiss


    her.


    *


    For three days straight, Seth was practically glued to her side. A goodnight kiss had be a


    nightly ritual.


    Cicely had nned to stay a few more days, but in just three short days, his phone calls grew more


    frequent, and his hours in front of theputer stretched longer.


    "You don''t have to stay with me all day. I''m feeling much better. Go take care of your business." She


    had enjoyed her stay, and her color had returned.


    Seth nced at her. "I''ll take you home tomorrow."


    Cicely frowned. "Can''t I stay here?"


    "Leave you alone in the house?"


    "No problem. Just make sure youe back on time at night."


    "I can''t promise that," he replied coolly. "With you here, I can''t focus on my work. I can''t take care of


    your meals, and I can''t guarantee I''ll be back at a set time in the evening."


    Cicely leaned back on the couch, hugging the plush toy Seth had bought for her, her beautiful face


    full of reluctance.


    Seth remained steadfast, "I''ve got a lot on my te right now. You either head back to the Ellis


    estate, where you''ll be well looked after, or I clear my schedule and stay home to focus on you. It''s


    your call."


    *


    Ultimately, Cicely chose to return to the Ellis estate.


    Maybe Seth had her number, knowing she wouldn''t put him in a tight spot, which was why heid


    out such a stark choice.


    He seemed to take their previous conversation to heart this time, keeping in touch daily through


    calls or texts, though face-to-face encounters were rare.


    She''d casually inquired about his ventures into film and television. Seth admitted there was truth to


    it but divulged no further details.


    Seth was indeed a busy man. The rare evenings he did appear were around ten, and even then, he


    wouldn''t leave his car. Cicely would join him for a chat in the vehicle before he drove off.


    She didn''t know what he was busy with, and he wouldn''t say when she asked. Perhaps he thought


    there was no substantial use in telling her, just a waste of words. Or maybe, he was haughty and


    self-reliant, ustomed to resolving things on his own.


    Aside from their scarce meetings, their rtionship remained amicable. asionally, he''d surprise


    her with a gift, or, after much cajoling, bring her ate-night snack, and never failed to leave her with


    a goodnight kiss.


    On the rare days he wasn''t swamped, Seth would take her out for a splendid dinner.


    Life glided on peacefully.


    His cool detachment wasced with a gentle warmth towards her. Apart from work, he yed the


    boyfriend role to near perfection. She couldn''t find a single w.


    It was mundane yet satisfying. Everyone says that after enduring a certain stretch of ordinary time


    together, marriage bes the next logical step.


    Cicely was looking forward to that.


    *


    Life''s monotony was asionally broken by vibrant streaks. Like when Danielle caught the eye of a


    well-known talent agency, Apex Media.


    Ray, Apex Media''s young scion, took a particr interest in her. The kind of interest where a man


    set his sights on a woman.


    Ray, a junior at Summit Ridge University, didn''t have the best reputation, especially with women.


    Born into a showbiz family, wealth and influence at his disposal, he had his pick of beauties—no


    reason to y the saint.


    However, his pursuit of Danielle seemed earnest. It was hard to tell how much of his sincerity was


    true affection for her and how much was wariness of the Ellis name.


    Life is a mix of effort and fortune, and Danielle had luck on her side. A regr in a theater troupe fell


    pregnant unexpectedly, and Danielle was called in as ast-minute substitute. Her performance was


    a hit and she secured her spot in the cast.


    The y demanded a blend of vocal prowess, presence, acting chops, and dance skills. Clearly,


    having grown up in the Ellis household, Danielle excelled in all these areas.


    Her role in the y was what drew Ray''s attention and his subsequent pursuit. He followed her


    around campus, attended six or seven of her performances in various cities.


    Creighton, aware of Ray''s attentions, broached the subject when she was home for a rare visit.


    "Have you considered Ray''s advances, Danielle?"


    Cicely, within earshot, heard Danielle''s scornful chuckle. "Everyone knows what he is like. Should I


    even consider him?"


    Cicely''s expression turned cold, matched by Creighton''s icy demeanor. "It''s your decision whether


    to consider him or not. If his advances trouble you, I''ll arrange protection."


    "No need." Danielle rejected Creighton''s offer with aloofness. "If it''s my business, I can handle it.


    Better save your concern for your precious little girl."


    Rtions between Danielle and Creighton grew tenser by the day. Danielle''s frosty arrogance


    grated on Creighton''s patience.


    "I''ve found an apartment in the city. I want to toughen up, live independently. I''m going upstairs to


    pack and will leave this afternoon. Here''s my address, and please, don''t worry about me." She


    ced a piece of paper on the coffee table and headed upstairs.


    Creighton sat on a single sofa. Despite trying hard to endure it, hisplexion was particrly


    unpleasant. His breathing was uneven, and his chest was visibly rising and falling.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Cicely frowned, approached him, "Dad, are you okay?"


    Creighton took a deep breath, gesturing that he was fine. His voice carried an unmistakable tinge of


    sadness and helplessness.


    She poured him a ss of water, "Dad, we owe her nothing. You don''t need to indulge her. Some


    people only take advantage when shown kindness."


    Creighton sighed, "I''m her elder. And she''s your uncle''s only daughter." As his brother''s child and


    part of the Ellis lineage, he couldn''tpletely abandon her, no matter his personal feelings.


    Cicely urged him not to dwell on it and helped him upstairs to rest.


    After chatting until he fell asleep, she tiptoed out, shutting the door gently. Noticing Danielle''s room


    door ajar across the hallway, Cicely''s expression turned icy. She strode into Danielle''s room and


    mmed the door.


    Startled, Danielle, who was packing, turned to face an irate Cicely. "Did I give you the permission to


    enter my room? Is this the upbringing of Miss Cicely from the Ellis family?"


    Cicely retorted coldly, "Is this your room?"


    Sensing Cicely''s hostile mood, Danielle stood up, chin tilted defiantly. "Get out."


    Cicely''s coldugh preceded her approach. Without pause, she pped Danielle across the face.


    The sharp smack echoed in the solitude of the room, an unanticipated strike.


    Danielle never expected that Cicely would suddenly p her. Her cheek stung as if touched by a


    branding iron, and a ringing filled her ears.


    "Cicely!"


    Cicely tossed her head back with a defiant tilt of her chin, "What?" It was almost the same gesture


    Danielle might make, but when Cicely did it, it was tantly brazen and arrogant. Natural,


    unapologetic, as if she was born to look down on the world with that haughty sneer.


    It’s in stark contrast to Danielle, who always seemed to be trying too hard to maintain her


    composure.


    Clutching her reddened cheek, Danielle''s lips quivered with suppressed rage, yet she couldn''t


    muster a single word in response.


    Cicely watched her for a moment, then let out a cold, mockingugh. "Are you cursing me out in


    your head, Danielle? Does that make you feel better? Does it ever get tiring, holding yourself so


    high and mighty all the time? If you''re trying to put on an act, you might want toy it on thicker.


    You, with your cold arrogance, your book smarts, your talent in the arts, you''re the untouchable


    debutante, a seemingly perfect fa?ade. But what about respect for your elders, and gratitude? Are


    those concepts foreign to you, or did they just get omitted from your vocabry?"


    "Danielle, I''ve told you time and again, for better or worse, but you never listen, and you just get


    more and more insolent. You''re practically begging for a p. And this one was long overdue. I''ve


    never so much as shown a frown to my dad, and who are you to give him grief the moment you see


    him?


    "Without my father, where would you be? Your life of pride, your status, your piano, and your dance


    lessons – would any of it exist? I''m not asking for undying gratitude, but even a stranger at the door


    shows my father some respect. After all he''s done for you, are you here to make him sick?


    "Think you can stand on your own two feet just because you got into some shabby drama troupe?


    What if I told you I could make them disappear with just one word?"


    Danielle''s eyes zed with anger, bloodshot and fierce.


    "Gratitude?" Danielle''s teeth chattered with fury. "I have the blood of the Ellis family too, and


    everything I have now is what the Ellis family owes me. I''m no different from you. You talk to me


    about gratitude – on what grounds? Where do you get off positioning me like this?"


    "What ''favors'' have you done for me? Enjoying the lifestyle owed to an Ellis family member is a


    favor from you? The man I care for is pushed towards you, and now he asks me to consider some


    notorious trust fund buffoon? What exactly do you expect in return?"


    Cicely''s expression turned even colder. "You''ve always acted as if we owed you something,


    watching us with detached indifference – isn''t that you? You set the boundaries with us from the


    start, and now you use us of being the cold ones? Drinking too much of that fancy drinks


    must''ve soaked your brain, Danielle."


    "Bringing up Ray was just to get your opinion. Who knew you''d absolutely despise him? There are


    plenty of scumbags out there , and who''s to say they can''t change? It''s up to you who you like, and


    if you don''t, we''ll deal with the hassle. But you twist everything, being sarcastic with my father,


    causing him stress, and you still think you''re the one in the right?"


    Cicely truly wanted to p Danielle again. Her days with Seth had been too smooth, making her


    quick-tempered and impulsive now. "And for the record, I chose Seth myself, and I pursued him. My


    father forced him on me? Do you think I''m not good enough, or is it an insult to Seth, suggesting


    he''s so easily manipted?"


    At that, Danielle, who had been ring murderously, suddenly let out a sardonicugh. "Do you


    really believe that Seth is with you just because he likes you?"