Chapter 1990


    Cicely fell silent.


    Seth remained standing there, watching her. A minute of silence stretched achingly long between


    them in the dimly lit room.


    How could she sleep with such a palpable presence right beside her?


    "Aren''t you leaving?" she said coolly, her voice tinged with a trace of anger.


    "You haven’t finish your water yet," Seth''s voice came from the same spot, calm and deep.


    "I don''t have a habit of drinking water before bed."d2


    "You need to take your medicine now."


    Cicely''s breathing hitched, but Seth continued. "There''s no need to make yourself feel worse just to


    spite me."


    It was that kind of talk again. Doing nothing was spiting him. Cicely wouldn''t do that, but not taking


    her medicine wasn''t about spiting him, either.


    Seth was really annoying today.


    She turned over, sat up from the bed, and glimpsed the mug and the medicine cap on the


    nightstand. She reached out to grab it. Seth''s hand intercepted hers midway, "Still hot."


    Cicely lifted her eyelids to re at him, "Are you purposely keeping me from sleeping?"


    Seth stared at her indifferent, using face for a moment, then shook the mug slightly. "Drink up."


    She took the mug, and when Seth passed her the cap filled with pills, her brow furrowed in distaste,


    her whole body resisting.


    Seth watched her quietly. Feeling utterly miserable, she steeled herself, tilted her head back, and


    tossed the pills into her mouth.


    The bitter medicine contorted her features, and after two sips of water, she ced the mug back on


    the nightstand and burrowed back into the covers.


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    "Get out!" Having taken the medicine she loathed, Cicely''s patience had run out, and suppressed


    anger surged forth.


    Seth didn''t say another word, and after a while, Cicely heard the sound of him leaving.


    Once the door closed, the room fell intoplete silence. Cicely opened her eyes to peer at the


    pitch-dark sky outside the window and then closed them again.


    Downstairs, Creighton was still seated in the living room. Seth walked straight to him. "I''m sorry."


    Creighton looked up at him coldly. His usual warmth reced with a chilling anger and authority that


    was strikingly different.


    "I understand the dignity and pride you want to hold as a man, but if you can see through the grime


    and corruption of society, and if you''re willing to scheme ruthlessly for what you want, then what''s


    that dignity and pride worth? You want sess but refuse to bow to power. You could''ve solved


    everything quietly, but instead, you''ve made a mess. Is this what you wanted?!"


    Creighton''s usually gentle voice was heavy with anger, sending chills down one''s spine.


    Seth pursed his lips and expressionlessly said, "No."


    "You take risks without certainty of sess. Have you considered the consequences if you fail? If


    your ns are exposed, how will you exin to that other woman? Danielle is also of the Ellis


    lineage. Do you expect me to pretend I know nothing? A simple cost-benefit analysis would tell you


    it''s better toe directly to me than to use Danielle. You refuse to bow to me, but what now? How


    should I settle the score with you for Danielle''s sake? And how should I settle another score with


    you for Cicely''s sake?"


    Creighton''s face was flushed with anger, his chest heaving. After several seconds of silence, he


    closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "If you think I''m forcing you to be with Cicely against your


    will, and you''re reluctant, then it''s better to end it early. She''s young; she has plenty of time to move


    past this rtionship."


    Creighton''s heart ached for Cicely. The words he spoke pained him for her sake. A forced love


    would never bring her happiness.


    Seth''s hands at his sides curled slightly. "She won''t agree," he said stiffly, his mind reying


    Cicely''s recent attempts to push him toward Danielle.


    He had no confidence. Maybe he once did.


    "She will be heartbroken," he added.


    "She didn''t agree when her mother left, either. She was more heartbroken then." Creighton roared,


    his voice shaking Seth to his core. His slightly curled fingers instantly balled into fists.


    "She''s survived separation and loss, and nothing can knock her down now. She''s been through the


    worst pain already. I just... I just don''t want to see her suffer anymore, not even a little."


    Creighton''s voice trembled, his eyes reddened, his lips quivered, his emotions verging on copse.


    "I''ve coddled her, she''s spoiled and headstrong, but no child is smarter, more considerate, or more


    sensible than she is. I''ve entrusted her to you, and do you think she''s a burden? If you don''t want


    her, fine. There are other men. I will find someone better for her."


    "There will be someone who will treat her well. Falling for the one who truly cares for her is just a


    matter of time. She''s not foolish. She knows who has her best interests at heart."


    Seth''s face was taut, his body rigid. "This is between her and me."


    Creighton looked into his eyes, "If you don''t care for her, then stop giving her hope. You''ve wasted


    so much time. You can leave at any moment, but she''s falling deeper. If you don''t love her, at least


    don''t hurt her. Out of respect for her unwavering loyalty to you. End it. Set yourself free, and let her


    go."