Chapter 1986


    Isaac became aware of his emotions, stayed silent for a few seconds, and then slowly said. "The


    scene inside isn''t as harmonious as it seems. It''s not safe for ady like you. Miss, let me


    apany you inside."


    Despite his concern, Cicely declined the offer. "Really, I''ll be fine. If anythinges up, I''ll call you."


    With a reassuring smile, she turned and headed towards the grand vi that had been converted


    into a boutique hotel for the evening''s soiree. She was wearing a pair of high heels she had bought


    earlier that day, her steps careful and slightly unsteady.


    Passing through the ornate entrance, the bright lights from the hotel''s ballroom spilled onto the path


    ahead. Silhouettes of guests mingled and moved within.


    Cicely paused just outside the doors, shifting her weight from one foot to the other before


    straightening her posture and stepping into the ballroom.


    Her silent arrival should have gone unnoticed. But there she was: a woman so strikingly beautiful


    and delicate that she captured attention effortlessly. Standing alone at the threshold, it was


    inevitable that she caught the eye of a few.d2


    After an initial wave of admiration, more curious and envious nces followed.


    Seth, lurking near a corner close to the entrance, caught sight of her and his gaze darkened. Before


    he could approach, whispers began to circte amongst the crowd.


    "Isn''t that the Ellis family''s darling? Why is she here alone?"


    "Didn''t her boyfriend just arrive with another girl?"


    "Is she dumped or cheated on? Her man arrives arm-in-arm with someone else, and here she is,


    solo at a party. What if they run into each other..."


    Cicely never cared for how others perceived her. And she certainly didn''t listen to the snippets of


    gossip, but even so, the deliberately hushed yet audiblements made her ufortable.


    She took a few more steps forward, then looked up to find Seth''s intense gaze fixed on her. He was


    alone.


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    Their first encounter of the evening could be considered passable, much better than she had


    expected, especiallypared to the prospect of him standing side by side with Danielle.


    With a quirk of her eyebrow, she walked directly towards Seth. "I''m curious, what kind of car did you


    bring tonight?"


    Seth''s eyes were cold and sharp as he replied. "A Maserati sedan."


    Cicely''s lips curled into a half-smile, nodding in approval. "Not bad. Quite an upgrade from your old


    Benz, I suppose."


    The weight in Seth''s gaze seemed to intensify, his voice as cold as ice. "Leave. Now."


    Taken aback, Cicely let out a soft chuckle. "What''s the matter? Is it that I shouldn''t be here, or are


    you afraid my presence will embarrass you? Considering my man is making a public spectacle with


    another woman, I should be the one who''s embarrassed."


    "I''m not foolish enough to be deceived by appearances. But Seth, you''re my boyfriend. Other than


    your mother, I''m the closest person to you in this world. Anything I have, you can use, and I wouldn''t


    mind. You could have simply asked for the invitation to tonight''s g from my father instead of


    going through the trouble with Danielle. Knowing it would upset me, why did you act so recklessly


    and seek trouble for yourself?"


    "I''ll give you an exnation, but right now, you need to leave this ce and go home." Seth''s


    expression was a mix of impatience and irritation, his words an unequivocalmand.


    Cicely''s expression cooled. "So eager to send me away? What else are you hiding, Seth?"


    "Seth, what''s going on... Cicely, what are you doing here?" Danielle, noticing the focus of


    everyone''s attention, approached out of curiosity, only to find Cicely.


    Before Cicely could reply, Danielle''s voice cut through the air, drawing Cicely''s gaze. In just a


    nce, she felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, leaving her chilled to the


    bone.


    Cicely also watched Cicely with some surprise, then nced down at herself. Her expression


    gradually turned grim. The dresses on both of them were exactly the same, but the styles worn by


    the two were worlds apart.


    Toplement the dress, Danielle had chosen an elegant updo and meticulous makeup, creating a


    crisp and clean look. In contrast, Cicely wore her hair loosely over her shoulders, her bright features


    lightly adorned with makeup, exuding a natural charm that was stunning and spectacr.


    Both women looked striking, but it was impossible to deny that Cicely had the edge. Danielle''s


    complexion soured with difort.


    As Cicely''s eyes moved from Danielle back to Seth, she suddenly broke into augh. "Don''t tell me


    this is why you''re in such a hurry to get rid of me. Seth, did you personally go to the store to pick out


    that dress for her?"


    Seth''s brow furrowed, but he remained silent. Cicely didn''t press him, instead, she scoffed, "I am


    furious right now, but I know better than to cause a scene here. So, Seth, either leave with me now


    or we can step outside to talk in private."


    Seth pressed his lips together, fighting the throbbing in his temples, and took Cicely''s hand, leading


    her out.


    Danielle panicked and reached out to him, "Seth, are you going to leave me here all alone?"


    He withdrew his hand, "I''ll be back soon."


    Cicely’s beautiful face darkened noticeably.


    Seth led her to an isted spot near the vi, beside arge, tranquil pool. Releasing her hand, he


    spoke with a chilly voice, "If you have something to say, make it quick."


    "It can''t be made quick," she replied.


    His frown deepened, and as he lowered his gaze to her, his face was met with the sharp sting of a


    p. The sound echoed crisply by the poolside.


    Cicely shook her hand that throbbed from the impact, "No wonder when I went to get the dress, the


    salesperson had this mysterious look and told me that buying this dress was like getting a


    personalized one. At first, I found it inexplicable, little did I know it was like this."


    As she said that, she suddenly sneered. "They must have thought you were picking out a dress for


    me, and the secrecy was because you wanted to surprise me. Hah."


    Never had Cicely felt so aggrieved. No, she actually had never felt aggrieved before. Even after all


    these years of her father dividing his affection between her and Danielle, it had never hurt like this.


    Her heart felt sour and tight, painfully constricted.


    Cicely could only let out a bitterugh, "Starting tomorrow, I''ll be the joke of P City over coffee and


    bagels. Everyone will know that the surprise meant for me will drape another woman, and the


    punchline? The dress she unts was picked by my man while the one I''m wearing? Bought with


    my own cash, and to top it off, we''re shing at the same g."


    Saying it out loud only made her feel more ridiculous and sad. Her voice was tinged with the threat


    of tears, her eyes reddened but not a single drop fell.


    The icy look in Seth''s eyes melted away in an instant.


    "I''ve never been humiliated like this, Seth, not once in my life. Before I came, I crafted the perfect


    excuse for why you had to bring Danielle tonight. I smashed your car, vented my anger, and


    convinced myself you had your reasons, that I should let it slide. But even with all your justifications,


    did you really have to personally pick out a dress for her? Could she havee to the party naked


    without your dress?"


    "Still no words? Then what excuse should I make up this time to convince myself?" She looked like


    she might burst into tears any second.


    Seth''s Adam''s apple bobbed, his voice husky, "I''ll have someone take you home."


    Cicely tilted her head and stared at him silently.


    Not getting a response, Seth grabbed her arm, intent on forcibly removing her from the scene.


    Cicely stood firm, her voice cool and detached, "Are you personally escorting me home? If not, let


    me go."


    Seth''s expression hardened, "Is Isaac waiting outside for you? Call him or I''ll take you myself."


    Her heart sank, "Let go."


    Seth didn''t.


    "You''re hurting me." This time, he let go.


    Cicely''s head felt heavy, and her feet ached fiercely. "I don''t want to see you right now, so there''s no


    need for you to escort me. I''ll call Isaac, and you can go back to the party without worrying about


    me."


    Seth''s patience was running thin. He scooped Cicely up, his face set in a stone-cold mask, and


    strode out of the mansion.


    Cicely''s voice was t, without a trace of emotion, "I said, put me down."


    "Cicely." Seth didn''t heed her request, his deep voice echoing. "I don''t know what you ever saw in


    me. But since you keep saying you like me, you''ll have to endure whoever I bring to the banquet


    today or whatever rumorse out tomorrow. I told you not long ago, that if I truly choose another


    woman, I won''t waste any more time with you."


    Cicely''s eyelids twitched, her longshes fluttering briefly before she locked eyes with him, "Should


    I also thank you for not dumping me yet?"


    Seth''s jaw clenched, "I made a promise to you, and I don''t break my promises lightly."


    Cicely sneered, "So I should just endure it all? Do you think I''m heartless, that no matter what you


    do, I won''t be hurt?"


    Seth stopped, looking down at her, "Don''t you like me? Is this the extent of your trust in me? I said I


    wouldn''t leave you easily, and I meant it. Or do you see me as a hypocrite?"


    Cicely closed her eyes briefly, her head pounding, feeling a surge of anger giving way to a throbbing


    pain. "Fine. I''m not feeling well right now, I don''t want to talk, and I certainly don''t want to see you


    anymore. Put me down, I''ll call Isaac to pick me up."


    "Where does it hurt?"


    "My head."


    Seth quickened his pace.


    Cicely was thoroughly annoyed. She had never felt such disgust for Seth as she did in that moment,


    but she didn''t have the energy to keep fighting him.


    Just as she was about topromise and let him carry her out, Seth''s phone rang. He squinted in


    the dim light. ncing at Cicely, who had just reopened her eyes, he quickened his pace.


    A figure approached rapidly with a phone in hand. "Sir, they have left."


    After ncing at the woman in his arms, the man lowered his voice, "We need to hurry, otherwise,


    she might actually be in danger."


    Despite his hushed tone, Cicely caught every word. Seth stopped, looked down at her, and then


    gently put her down. "Call Isaac toe get you."


    Cicely countered, "My head is pounding, and you insisted on taking me out."


    Seth''s face was tense, "I have other matters to attend to now. Tell Isaac toe in for you."


    Without giving Cicely a chance to respond, he turned on his heel and strode away.


    Cicely stood dizzily, watching Seth''s retreating figure with an expression of indifference and irony.


    A gust of wind blew through the corridor, and she shivered. Each step in her high heels felt like


    walking on sharp stones, so she bent down and took them off.


    She walked a few steps, saw a swath of light ahead, and turned into the hotel''s front desk lobby,


    sinking into a sofa in the rest area. Then she fished out her phone and called Isaac. "I''m not feeling


    well, my feet hurt like hell, and I don''t want to walk out alone. Find a way toe get me."


    After getting a response from Isaac, she hung up. She sat for a minute before standing and


    approaching the front desk. The staff, noticing her paleplexion, asked softly, "Miss, are you


    alright?"


    Cicely replied, "A cup of water, please."


    "Of course, just a moment."


    In the short wait, across the lobby, near a room, two figures seemed to tangle from inside to the


    doorway.


    The woman''s hair was disheveled, her posture in disarray. Her one arm iled, and the other


    seemed trapped.


    Cicely frowned. The distance wasn''t far, and she would never forget that dress on the woman for as


    long as she lived.


    "Ray, let go of me!"


    "Danielle, you look so beautiful today. I genuinely like you. You love theater, right? I''ve picked out


    the best two scripts. One''s a stage y, coveted by many directors. Just be with me, and I''ll give


    you the lead role, isn''t that what you want? I bought it just for you."


    "I don''t need it! I cannd roles on my own merit, without your help."


    "Danielle, you''re so naive. How many in this industry actually get ahead based on talent and hard


    work alone? You think you''re not an outcast in the Ellis family without your parents? The head of the


    Ellis family won''t treat you like his own daughter. If you don''t have my help, you might make it on


    your own, sure, but it''ll take at least twenty years. Can you wait that long?"


    Danielle''splexion changed ever so slightly. Ray''s words had struck a nerve, but no matter what,


    she wouldn''t associate with someone like Ray and ruin her life.


    "That’s none of your business. Let me go."


    "Danielle, I like you, and I can give you whatever you want."


    She couldn''t match Ray''s strength, and as she struggled to break free, a mix of urgency and


    irritation flooded her mind. Looking for someone to help, she caught sight of Cicely watching them.


    She hesitated, not wanting to ask Cicely for help.


    A staff member brought some water over, nced in Danielle''s direction, and quickly looked away,


    pretending to have seen nothing.


    Cicely, carrying the water, walked over to the sofa in the lounge area. The standoff continued, and


    the reception staff seemed oblivious. Cicely knew that the staff, probably ustomed to seeing


    such scenes, would rather secure their own livelihoods than provoke the ire of some rich brats.


    "Let go of me. Ahhh!"


    Danielle''s sudden scream turned heads. Cicely frowned and looked back, only to see Danielle


    enveloped in the man''s embrace, his head buried in her neck.


    Disgusting.


    "Help! Cicely!"


    Cicely closed her eyes, took a deep breath, grabbed the high heel next to her, and strode over. She


    raised the shoe high and brought it crashing down on Ray''s head.


    Ray cried out in pain, pushing Danielle away while clutching his head with one hand and grabbing


    Cicely''s arm with the other. "How dare you hit me?"


    Ray''s eyes were bloodshot, his grip unnaturally hot. After all, Danielle was the daughter of the Ellis


    family. If he was in his right mind, he wouldn''t dare act so recklessly.


    Realizing the gravity of the situation yet unable to free herself, Cicely was suddenly yanked into a


    room. Staggering, she instinctively looked back at Danielle.


    Danielle looked panicked, standing in ce and staring at her. When their eyes met, her expression


    turned even more startled. She understood what Cicely meant, but as she watched the now


    irrational man, she shook her head, took two steps back, and finally turned around. Covering her


    mouth in a state of panic, she ran away.


    A loud thud of the door closing echoed behind her. Danielle paused, looked back, and saw the


    corridor had returned to its eerie quiet. Biting her lip, she finally turned and ran away.