Chapter 1991


    "I said, this is something between the two of us." Seth''s tone left no room for argument.


    Creighton squinted at him for a moment. "I thought you didn''t like her? I intended to entrust her to


    you, but if you feel it''s too much, I won''t force you. What''s important is that I don''t want to give you


    another chance to break her heart."


    Seth didn''t reply, but his intentions were clear and firm.


    At that moment, Brody walked in, followed closely by his son Issac. Both men wore grim


    expressions.


    "Sir."


    Creighton turned his attention to Brody. "What''s the matter?"d2


    Brody nced at Seth before saying, "We''ve just been to the hotel to get a handle on the situation.


    The banquet had to be cut short because of an incident. Mr. Ray’s personal misconduct has been


    leaked, and his family''spany is in damage control mode. But given the number of reputable


    media outlets present as witnesses, it''s unlikely their PR spin will do much good. We''ll have a


    clearer picture by tomorrow morning."


    This result was exactly what Seth had initially desired. He understood that, even without Brody


    spelling it out.


    Creighton snorted, unsurprised by the news.


    "There''s something else, sir." Brody hesitated, his expression more serious than before.


    "Out with it."


    "Yes, sir." Brody nodded. "ording to the hotel receptionist, Mr. Ray was forcing himself on Miss


    Danielle. She tried to resist but called for help when she couldn''t fend him off. However, in the


    end..."


    Creighton''s head shot up, his face a storm of rage. "In the end, what?"


    "Well, apparently, Miss Danielle was so frightened that when she saw Mr. Ray dragging Cicely into


    the room, she... she ran away."


    Creighton bolted upright from the couch.


    He stared at Brody for a long moment before bursting into a grimugh. "You''re telling me Cicely


    saved Danielle, and then Danielle left Cicely behind and ran off?!"


    Rarely had Brody seen Creighton lose his temper, and he dared not speak further.


    Issac stepped forward, pulling out his phone. "Here''s the security footage from the hotel. It should


    make it very clear whether Miss Danielle acted out of fear or deliberately."


    Creighton practically snatched the phone from his hand.


    Issac withdrew, casting a nce at Seth. "I bet you already have an idea whether Miss Danielle was


    deliberate or not, without even seeing the footage."


    Seth, with his stoic good looks, stepped beside Creighton.


    On the screen, Danielle was seen helping Ray into a room, struggling at the door. Barefoot, Cicely


    walked into the lounge, high heels in hand, trying to help Danielle.


    Then Cicely got caught by Ray, looking back at Danielle with a gaze that seemed to expect the


    obvious—that Danielle would help her in return.


    But Danielle just stood at the door, coldly watching Cicely struggle, shaking her head and deciding


    to leave.


    The confusion and fear in Cicely''s eyes as she was dragged into the room and the door mmed


    shut, cutting off all hope, sank into the hearts of the onlookers.


    The phone''s screen began to shake as Creighton''s hand trembled uncontrobly. The footage


    continued with Danielle encountering reporters, then meeting Seth, and pretending to know nothing


    as she hurried away with him.


    With a loud "thud," Creighton threw the phone onto the coffee table. "Where''s Danielle? Where is


    she?!" His booming voice detonated like a bomb in the living room.


    Knowing something had gone wrong that night, he had guessed what Seth had been plotting. Even


    if Cicely ended up the victim, he had thought it was just an unfortunate ident. He hadn''t


    anticipated that this "ident" was orchestrated.


    Issac said calmly, "I''ve sent people to look for her."


    Outside, two cars pulled up to the house.


    Danielle was brought out of one, followed by Erik from the other. He didn''t even nce at Danielle


    as he hustled into the living room, leaning on his cane. "Where''s Cicely?!"


    Issac had barely finished when Erik''s anxious voice filled the room. He was asking about Cicely''s


    condition as soon as he entered.


    Creighton tried to contain his rage in front of his father but failed.


    Brody quickly said, "Miss is resting now, sir. Please be at ease."


    Seeing so many people in the living room, Erik asked, "What in the world is going on?"


    There was a moment of silence. Then Creighton saw Danielleing in from behind, her hands


    crossed in front of her, her face a mix of anxiety and evasion.


    He approached her slowly, his icy gaze lingering on her face. Finally, he raised his hand and


    pped her hard across the face.


    Danielle fell to the ground from the blow.


    Erik furrowed his brow deeply. "What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?!"


    Creighton stood towering over Danielle, pointing shakily at her. "Ungrateful..."


    Blood trickled from the corner of Danielle''s mouth.


    Creighton swayed, and Brody quickly stepped in to support him. "We''ve always tolerated your


    mutual disdain, and if you think it''s your right as a member of the Ellis family, then fine. But just on


    the matter at hand, Danielle, how could you convince yourself to abandon her? She was trying to


    save you! And you deliberately left her to fend for herself! How could you!"


    Tears sttered onto the floor as Danielle clutched her face, but no words could escape her lips.


    "Do you really think you can keep this hidden? Or did you think, even if Cicely were in trouble, I


    wouldn''ty a finger on you?!"


    From those words, Erik could sense something amiss. When he spoke again, his voice was heavy


    with disappointment, "What happened, Danielle? What does it mean that you abandoned Cicely?"


    Creighton pointed an using finger at Danielle, "This... this ungrateful brat." He tried to speak but


    was too choked with rage to continue.


    Issac stepped forward, picked up the smartphone, and handed it to Erik. "This is the security


    footage from the hotel. You''ll see everything you need to know."


    Danielle trembled, suddenly looked up, and her gaze fell straight onto Seth, who was standing off to


    the side, his expression unreadable. He was cool and detached, revealing nothing but indifference.


    And yet, Danielle felt a shame so deep it seemed to scald her.


    Erik didn''t finish watching the video before tossing the smartphone at Danielle''s feet. "What did you


    think you''d gain from doing this, other than possibly destroying Cicely? All these years, where did


    your uncle fail you? Did Cicely ever wrong you in a way that warranted this betrayal? He pratically


    raised a wolf in sheep''s clothing, a snake ready to strike!"


    The humiliation, the crushing usations, they left Danielle with nowhere to hide. One was her so-


    called uncle, and the other was her grandfather. The two people in this world closest to her, now, for


    the sake of Cicely, they were dragging her name through the mud.


    Rising slowly to her feet, Danielle said, "I''m sorry, okay? I made a mistake. Everything you''re saying


    is right. I''m ungrateful, an ingrate. Cicely has her real father''s doting, and her grandfather''s love; if


    she''s wronged, you all jump to her defense. But it''s different for me. The whole sky falls down for


    Cicely''s slightest difort. The surveince shows I was the one insulted first. Yet none of you


    mention that?"


    Creighton''s face contorted with anger. "Don''t you dare distort the truth! Cicely was trying to save


    you!"


    "So it''s only right that I''m the one who should be bullied today?" Danielle said, her voice cold. "I''m


    not trying to excuse myself. It was wrong to leave Cicely behind, and selfish, too. I admit to all of it.


    So, what''s next? What do you want to do? Come on, I''m ready to pay for my actions."


    Creighton trembled with fury. She had been so sure from the start that he wouldn''t do anything to


    her, which was why she dared tomit such a heartless act. Sheckedpassion, but as an


    elder, he could not act without honor.


    "This matter is between her and me, Dad, Grandpa. Please, don''t interfere."


    A detached and indifferent voice came from upstairs – Cicely, leaning against the railing in her


    pajamas, looked down at the chaotic living room. With such amotion below, it was impossible


    for her not to hear.


    Seth looked up, Cicely was descending the stairs, barefoot. A flicker of concern crossed his face as


    he went to her and scooped her into his arms.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "Do I need to remind you how annoying you''ve been today?" Cicely asked, gazing at him.


    His voice low and husky, Seth replied, "You''re not wearing shoes."


    At that, Cicely barely smiled, and she let Seth carry her, her gaze settling on Danielle. Their eyes


    met, and Danielle felt another wave of embarrassment.


    "Hold me closer. I have a few things to say to Danielle."


    As Seth approached Danielle with Cicely in his arms, Danielle instinctively stepped back. Cicely''s


    eyes held a faint smile, "Seth just asked do I want to break up with him?"


    Seth''splexion changed subtly, his grip tightening.


    "Do you think if I told him I wanted to split, he''d choose you over me?"


    Danielle''s lips pressed tightly together, her fists clenched.


    Cicely turned to Seth, "Would you?"


    "No."


    Cicely looked back at Danielle and continued, "To be honest, before tonight, I might never have


    asked him that question because I wasn''t sure he''d say ''no.'' But now, do you know why I asked? He


    probably feels some kind of debt towards me. I''m okay now, so I can afford to feel relieved that it


    was me who took the hit tonight. If it had been you, his guilt would have shifted to you. And if you


    wanted to take advantage of that guilt to make him stay with you, it might just work.."


    Danielle''s eyes, which had been filled with doubt, widened in shock. "Why..."


    "Because I''m his girlfriend, but I had to y your knight in shining armor. So tonight, if either of us


    had gotten hurt, he would''ve been to me. Why do you think he''d feel guilty?"


    The possibility that had begun to dawn on Danielle shattered with Cicely''s words.


    Creighton frowned at her. After all this, she was still covering for Seth.


    However, having Danielle know the whole truth would cause trouble, not just for Seth, but for her,


    too, assuming she didn''t want to break up with him.


    "But let''s be clear, what you did tonight, abandoning me, that''s a debt I still intend to settle. I hold


    grudges, and I won''t let you off easily if I catch you. Can we just let it go for tonight? I''m feeling


    terrible, and I can''t sleep with all this noise."


    Grandpa and Dad couldn''t really kill Danielle, but without her stepping in, it seemed this scene


    tonight could never end.


    "I''m going back to bed. She was your responsibility, after all, so it''s only right you see her out. If


    you''re nning to take her home, put me down."


    Seth looked at her, said nothing, but turned and carried her upstairs.


    Cicely smiled, letting him take her away.