Chapter 1996


    "So you''re on board then," Seth concluded, clearly not keen on bboring the topic.


    Cicely''s voice was firm and clear, "Yes, I agree to marry you."


    Seth nodded, studying her for a moment before suddenly reaching out to cup her chin, "You


    remember my cell number, right?"


    "Why bring that up all of a sudden?"


    Though she might have the air of a pampered heiress, her memory was sharp, but only for the


    things she chose to remember. And Seth''s number was certainly one of them.


    "Forget about any other guys or things that shouldn''t be on your mind."d2


    Cicely arched an eyebrow, "Not much to forget."


    Seth''s fingers gently caressed her chin for a moment, "For the next few weeks, I''m with you, but just


    this once. I won''t ept you getting hurt in any way. If you do, get yourself to a hospital."


    "Any way? What, am I a porcin doll now?"


    "Yeah, a porcin doll," he murmured, almost absently, as his hand moved softly against her cheek.


    The mood was far lighter than before. Even though both of her feet were hurt like hell, Cicely felt


    there was no happier time than now.


    Marriage. A notion that once only existed in her imagination, something she''d only discussed


    hypothetically, was about to be a reality.


    She had never thought he would be the one to bring it up first. Even if she wanted marriage, she''d


    expected it would be her badgering him.


    "I thought you are feeling unwell? Not sleepy?"


    Cicely paused before shaking her head. "When do we get married?"


    "You''re too young; by the book, we can''t register for marriage."


    "Then we''ll do it off the books. Do you want to handle it, or should I have my dad step in?"


    "I''ll take care of it," Seth said coolly. He was the one who proposed, so naturally, he would arrange


    the wedding.


    "So when can we?"


    "After your injuries heal."


    Cicely paused, then reached into the nightstand drawer for a notebook, propping herself up against


    the headboard. "To prevent any future denials, we''d better sign a contract."


    As she spoke, she flipped open the notebook. It wasn''t long before she handed it to Seth.


    "On this date, Mr. Seth proposed to Miss Cicely, who has epted. They''ve decided to get a


    marriage certificate as soon as her injuries are healed. This document will hold, no backing out."


    She then signed her name in the bottom right corner.


    Seth nced at the writing, a smirk tugging at his lips, "It''s just a few days. I''ve made a promise; I


    won''t back out."


    Cicely pushed the pen into his hand, "No, we can''t be too sure about the future. Since you won''t


    back out, signing your name is nothing to you, but it will put my mind at ease."


    Indulging her, Seth''s hand flew across the page, leaving a bold, confident signature behind her own.


    Cicely was satisfied and put the notebook back in the drawer.


    *


    After Cicely fell asleep, Seth went straight to Creighton.


    "What did you say?" Creighton couldn''t believe his ears.


    "She''s agreed."


    Creighton took a deep breath, "You''re both young, haven''t been through much. Aren''t you afraid of


    having regrets?"


    Seth''s dark eyes reflected the fading twilight outside the window. After a moment of silence, he


    spoke softly, "I''m afraid. That''s why we need to get married right away."


    Creighton stared at him for a long while, "What are you afraid of?"


    Seth''s gaze dropped, his hand twitching at his side.


    "Do you love her?"


    "She said," Creighton''s question finally prompted Seth to speak up, "if we break up, she''ll find


    another man, fall in love, get married, and have kids."


    Creighton''s lips twisted into a smirk, "Yes. No matter how strong and independent a woman is, she


    still needs a man to apany her and a family to rely on. Especially Cicely, she''s never


    positioned herself as someone overly capable or independent. If not you, then someone else. If she


    doesn''t find someone, I''d help her look. She might act like she does what she wants, but she listens


    to me."


    Seth''s lips were pressed tight.


    "So then, her words hit a nerve?"


    "I don''t know. But she can''t be with any other man, no matter what."


    Creighton suddenlyughed. Two questions and non-answers, but his vague replies somehow


    cleared Creighton''s own doubts.


    Seth probably knew what he wasughing about.


    *


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    It took over twenty days for Cicely''s legs to healpletely, but they had already gotten their


    marriage certificate ten days earlier. The wedding would have to wait another two years until she


    reached the legal age for marriage. After all, a wedding was a public event; they couldn''t give the


    public something to talk about.


    Even with marriage, life hadn''t changed much.


    Seth needed to prepare a home for their marriage. The mansion for the princess of P City couldn''t


    be anything less than grand. He didn''t n to use his old apartment.


    Creighton suggested they move into the Cicely''s Mansion he had given her, but Seth declined


    without hesitation.


    He drove her to school and usually picked her up unless something urgent came up, in which case


    he''d have Charlie do it. Lately, it had been Charlie picking her up, so seeing Seth in the driver''s seat


    today was a pleasant surprise.


    "Finished with your busy schedule?"


    "Not quite, but not everything needs to be done today," Seth replied, his voice its usual cool


    detachment as he watched her buckle up. He started the car and pulled away.


    "Seth, we''ve been married three months now. How long are we going to live apart?" Cicely had held


    her tongue for three months, but she couldn''t keep it in any longer.


    Seth''s eyes flickered as he turned to look at her, "You''re that eager to live with me? You''re only


    eighteen. I don''t like leaving things unfinished."


    His words seemed innocent enough, but upon reflection, the implication was clear. Cicely''s cheeks


    flushed deep red.


    Her blush made a softugh escape Seth''s lips.


    "What''s so funny!"


    Seeing himugh was something she thought might be a once-in-a-lifetime event, but when he did


    laugh, he always managed to embarrass her further.


    Unfair.


    As they drove on, Cicely soon realized they weren''t heading where she expected. "Why are we not


    heading back to the Ellis ce? Where are we going?" Cicely asked, her voice tinged with a mix of


    curiosity and impatience.


    "You''ll see when we get there," came the vague reply.


    She had half-expected Seth to take her out for a fancy dinner, perhaps to one of those chic


    downtown bistros that served artisanal dishes, but as they drove on, the scenery became more and


    more familiar to her. It wasn''t until the car approached the impressive wrought-iron gates of Cicely''s


    Mansion that she realized where they were. "What are we doing here?" she questioned, peering out


    of the window.


    Seth remained silent, a mysterious smile ying on his lips. The car didn''t stop outside the grand


    entrance of Cicely''s Mansion but instead smoothly bypassed the gates,ing to a gentle halt on a


    vacant lot nearby.