Chapter 2008


    Cicely furrowed her brow and nced at her arm. "Hurt myself just to spite you? What would that


    get me?"


    When Seth''s gaze followed to the red marks on her wrist, he reached out to hold her hand,


    examining the small, prominent spots. "Why the sudden urge to cook? You do know your own limits,


    right?"


    Cicely withdrew her hand, "Is it a crime to want to make you dinner?"


    Seth stood up, fetched a first-aid kit, and sat next to her. "It stopped hurting a while ago."


    "I don''t like scars." Seth gently held her dodging hand and began to carefully apply antiseptic from


    the kit. "This first-aid kit wasn''t this stocked before. Ever wonder why that is? Hmm?"


    Apart from the standard emergency supplies, most of it was for Cicely''s frequent minor injuries.d2


    Watching his tender care, Cicely cracked a smile, "Who knows? Maybe I had it too easy as a kid,


    and now life''s paying me back with interest."


    "If you could just stay out of trouble, none of this would happen."


    "Stay out of trouble?" Cicely chuckled lightly, "What exactly would that look like to you?"


    Even Seth, usually slow on the uptake, sensed something off at herugh. He looked up into her


    eyes, brimming with mirth.


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    "I think I''ve been way too tamepared to my old self, and you take it for granted, or maybe you


    don''t even notice. I''ve held back and yielded where I should, and any other woman would probably


    not be as patient. But what can I do when I''m head over heels for you?"


    A flicker crossed Seth''s brow as he finished treating thest burn and packed away the medical kit.


    "So tell me, who''s got you upset today?"


    Cicely nced at the treated wounds and spoke indifferently, "No one else is quite capable


    enough."


    "That leaves me."


    Not keen on beating around the bush, Cicely cut straight to the chase, "What''s the name of the


    show you''ve recently invested in?"


    Seth''s brow furrowed.


    "I did some digging online, and there are a few shows with massive promotions, but they''re all about


    to air. The one that''s not yet shot but is already the talk of the town—Era of Elegance—is that


    yours?"


    "You''ve never shown any interest in this stuff before. Why bring it up now?"


    "Just got curious. It''s normal to be interested in things rted to you, right?" Cicely was always


    upfront with Seth, never hiding her feelings or thoughts from him.


    "It''s mine." Seth didn''t deny it.


    "So, as the sole investor, C&P Entertainment is yourpany?"


    "Yes."


    Cicely smiled, confirming her suspicions.


    "Did yourpany sign any new talent?"


    "Not yet."


    "Got a mistress on the side?"


    Seth looked at her coldly, "If there''s something on your mind, just say it. Don''t beat around the bush


    and make me guess."


    Her smile slowly faded, "Just a few words and you''re this impatient with me? If I''m not speaking my


    mind, it’s because I’m trying to save you some dignity, Seth. And I don’t want to make things


    awkward between us."


    "So if you can''t figure out why I''m being like this, then please discover the reason soon and give me


    an exnation, not to mention a satisfactory oue. I can’t wait too long, a day, two, maybe


    three."


    After her piece, she stood up, eyed the dishes on the table, then dumped them straight into the


    trash. "If it''s that unptable, no need to force it. My cooking isn''t up to scratch, and I''d hate for you


    to get sick over it. Make yourself some pasta or something."


    As she reached for the second dish, her wrist was grasped. Seth''s voice was as cold as ice, "Put it


    down." His gaze met hers, frosty, "Did I say I wouldn''t eat?"


    At his words, Cicely released the te, which ttered back onto the table, "Suit yourself."


    He looked at the oil sttered across the table, pursed his lips but released her wrist. Picking up a


    fork, he resumed eating. "If you''re not hungry now, wait until I''m done. I''ll make you some pasta."


    "I won''t be hungry tonight." Cicely rubbed her wrist and walked out of the dining room.


    Watching her leave, Seth silently finished his meal and headed to the kitchen to clean up the mess.


    The kitchen looked like a battlefield. Trash overflowed with broken tes and ruined food, the floor


    smeared with footprints, oil, water, and scattered herbs. He ced the dishes in the sink and began


    to prep for pasta, taking a moment to call Charlie.


    "Check where Cicely''s been today, what''s happened?"


    Charlie hesitated, "Mr. Diaz, I have to go back home tonight for some family matters, would it be all


    right to give you the results tomorrow?"


    "Fine."


    Cicelyy in bed scrolling through her phone, trying to distract herself from her sour mood.


    The bedroom door opened, and the tall figure of Seth entered.


    "Come eat."


    "I told you, I''m not hungry."


    He approached and pulled back her covers as if he hadn''t heard her. "Let''s go."


    Feeling a chill, Cicely set aside her phone, "So my words mean nothing?"


    "Starving yourself to make a point, you think that''s meaningful?"


    "Whether it''s meaningful isn''t really up to me to decide. Maybe I''m just too upset to eat right now.


    Forcing me will only make it worse. I''m not into self-torture, and when I''m hungry, I''ll find something


    to eat."


    Knowing these words would likely irritate Seth further, she conceded slightly, "Just keep it warm, I''ll


    come eatter."


    He watched her for a moment, then left the bedroom silently. Cicely lost interest in her phone, her


    mood spoiled by Seth''s dismissive attitude.


    Half an hourter, Seth returned, clutching a bathrobe as he headed towards the bathroom.


    Pausing before her, he towered over her with a look that meant business. "I''m gonna take a shower.


    I expect you to, you know, go out there and finish your meal once I''m in."


    Cicely didn''t respond, but as soon as Seth disappeared into the bathroom, she reluctantly slid out


    from under the covers.


    The kitchen was almost sparkling, and the dining room was tidied up immactely. A steaming


    te of spaghetti sat on the table.


    The word "expect" from him just now sounded like an ultimatum and a threat no matter how she


    listened. For now, she chose to believe she had misunderstood.


    The spaghetti didn''t seem like it had been sitting out for half an hour; it looked freshly made. So his


    "expect" probably meant he''d tossed the old batch and whipped up a new te, hinting it''d be best


    enjoyed while hot.


    Cicely took a seat and picked up a fork, twirling a strand of spaghetti and taking a bite. It had Seth''s


    touch all over it.


    She couldn''t tell if she was just easy to appease or if his way of winning people over was just that


    good. Either way, most of her pent-up resentment had dissipated.


    She had never finished a whole te of spaghetti. Seth knew her appetite, but he''d still serve her a


    generous portion each time.


    She didn''t feel the need to cherish and force herself to finish the meal just because it was personally


    made by Seth. Like always, she left it half-eaten.


    When she returned to the room, Seth had alreadye out of the bathroom.


    "I didn''t wash the dishes." After a quick announcement, Cicely retreated to the bathroom to brush


    her teeth.


    Seth stepped out of the bedroom. When he returned, Cicely was already lying in bed. He slipped


    under the covers beside her, but she didn''t snuggle into his arms like before.


    Cicely couldn''t possibly fall asleep like this. She was aware of every move Seth made. Maybe


    sharing a bed for several nights had be routine, the initial excitement reced by


    comcency. Habits are indeed terrifying things.


    As the thought crossed her mind and she faced away from him, a sudden weightnded on her


    shoulder. The next moment, she was pulled into a familiar embrace.


    "I don''t think it''s wise," Seth''s voice rumbled in her ear, "to waste our time over external issues that


    have nothing to do with us, sleeping side by side but worlds apart."


    Cicely pondered for a moment and realized he was right. She was just trying to justify herself to


    Emiliana and for some unknown actress Seth seemed to "value" for reasons unbeknownst to her.


    Disrupting the rare harmony between her and Seth over such things was indeed unwise.


    With a soft "Hmm," she acknowledged his point, finding afortable position in his arms and


    nuzzling closer. Her breath, warm and soft against the open cor of his pajama shirt, seemed to


    stir a restlessness within him.


    The bedroom, lit by only a nightlight, was silent. Seth''s breathing grew deeper, a suppressed


    tension in the air.


    "Cicely." Finally, he broke the quiet.


    Cicely gave azy "Hmm" in response, but when no further words came, she opened her eyes and


    looked up at him. "What''s up?"


    "Your breathing is kind of annoying."


    Cicely paused, her hazy mind instantly alert. "I''m sorry my breathing bothers you."


    Before she could finish, her words were sealed by a firm kiss. Seth, guided by the dim light, found


    her lips with precision, leaving no room for air.


    Cicely''s indignation was cut short. As he kissed her, she realized that it was her breath that had


    enticed him.


    This realization barely settled when Seth suddenly rolled on top of her. Each kiss seemed as if he


    wanted to devour her. And when the fabric of her nightgown started to slide down, the kisses turned


    scorching, the caresses more deliberate, Cicely understood Seth''s intent.


    "You..."


    "It won''t hurt as much this time."


    As if anticipating her protest, Seth''s husky voice interrupted her, his kissing and teasing relentless.


    ...


    As he had said, it wasn''t as agonizingly painful as thest time. This time, the pain was almost


    negligiblepared to before. And soon, even the initial difort faded away, reced by an


    overwhelming sensation he forced upon her, almost vindictively, each wave stronger than thest.


    "Seth..."


    Her murmured pleas seemed futile. Eventually, she could sense Seth''s tenderness returning, his


    kisses softening, his voiceforting, but sleep took her before she could fully appreciate the


    change.


    When she woke up, Seth was gone. Blinded by the light peeking through the curtains, she realized


    it waste; Seth must have gone to the office.


    As she attempted to reach for her phone, a soreness reminded her of the previous night''s events.


    Yes, she and Seth had truly done it.


    She vaguely remembered refusing Seth''s offer to help her bathest night; now, the difort


    compelled her to head to the bathroom.


    After showering and feeling refreshed, she nced at the clock — it was just past ten. There was


    still time.


    *


    Era of Elegance set.


    Connections in the entertainment world ran deep. While the average Joe might not recognize


    Cicely, key yers in the industry certainly did.


    Everyone on set knew that C&P Entertainment was the sole investor in their show, yet they were


    clueless about Seth. So when Cicely appeared on set, the courtesy extended to her had nothing to


    do with the respect owed to their sole investor.