Chapter 2019


    Apart from heart issues, Creighton had several chronic conditionsmon among the middle-aged


    and elderly poption that, with careful management, shouldn''t pose serious problems.


    Initially, due to the strained rtionship between Cicely and Danielle, his condition was indeed


    unstable. However, in the past half-year, after Cicely tolerated that matter and Danielle didn''t make


    any further moves, he had settled down. His emotions stabilized, and his condition indeed


    improved.


    But, mortality is an inescapable truth.


    He wasn''t afraid for himself, but he feared Cicely being afraid.


    *


    After work, Seth took Cicely to the newest bistro in downtown. They dined with the kind of leisurely


    elegance that bespoke refinement.d2


    Sipping on his iced water, Seth eyed the woman across the table, whose poise never wavered as


    she ate, and ventured, "Not to your liking?"


    Cicely gave a casual shrug, "Itcks a certain novelty in vor."


    Maybe it was the abundance of upscale restaurants they frequented, but the vors seemed all too


    familiar. High-end dishes, no matter how expertly prepared, couldn''t seem to surprise her pte


    anymore.


    "Itcks the personal touch of your cooking," she added.


    Seth shed a teasing smile. "Mrs. Diaz, I''ve never made these dishes before. ttery will get you


    nowhere. I can''t satisfy your appetite right now."


    "Next time, then. It''s been ages since I''ve had a meal you''ve made," Cicely confessed, her voice


    taking on a intive tone as she caught his gaze.


    "The housekeeper''s cooking is quite exceptional," Seth remarked, deftly piercing the pretense of her


    wistful act.


    Her beauty, charm, and the way she knew how to y up her vulnerability were indeed irresistible


    traits.


    Cicely was clever. Over the months of living together, she hadn''t just settled into the role of a


    pampered and privilegeddy entitled to everything. She had been crafting a unique way of


    interacting that was hers and his alone. She seemed to have found the secret to what men desired.


    She was naturally gifted with beauty, grace, and an enchanting figure. Now, she certainly knew how


    to keep and enhance them.


    She used skincare products that were best suited for her, ate the finest foods, and Seth had even


    seen her calcting those so-called calories.


    To the outside world, she was untouchable—a paragon of poise, dignity, and restraint. But with him,


    she was tender andpliant, and in the privacy of their bedroom, she transformed again, into a


    being of such sensuous openness it was overwhelming.


    She yed every part wlessly.


    "Hmm," he murmured, leaning casually in his chair, a faint smile gracing his handsome face. "What


    would you like to eat?"


    Cicely''s eyes gleamed with delight, her triumph unabashed. "Anything you make is my favorite." Her


    words were honey-sweet.


    Seth smiled as he observed the dessert in front of her morphing under her spoon. "Done with your


    sweet?"


    She nced down and put aside the spoon. "I''m good, thanks."


    "What''s next on the agenda?" he asked.


    Cicely pondered for a moment, "How about a movie?"


    Seth nodded, reaching for his phone. "Got one in mind?"


    As he prepared to buy tickets, Cicely watched him, her gaze impassive yet clearly deep in thought.


    He frowned almost imperceptibly, pocketed his phone, and asked casually, "What''s on your mind?"


    This expression had be all toomon for him to see on her face.


    "It''s just that you''ve been so agreeabletely. Any ce I want to go, you''re there with me."


    Seth paused, "Lately? Haven''t I always been?"


    "No," Cicely answered bluntly.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    In the past, he had been evasive. Even his apartment hadn''t been a ce he intended for her to


    stay indefinitely. But now, it had been over half a year without a word about her leaving.


    Had Patty stopped objecting? But the ring still hung around his neck.


    "What time''s the movie? Should we hurry?" Cicely didn''t intend to let Seth dwell on her question; in


    truth, if he didn''t ask, she''d never speak of it.


    The answer didn’t matter. Caring too much would shatter the calm of the present. She couldn''t have


    that.


    Seth had always felt there was a barrier in their seemingly harmonious rtionship. He knew she


    was aware of something, but he didn''t bring it up, and neither did she.


    She was too easy to read. Sometimes, Seth didn''t want to understand her too well. Because the


    more he knew about her, the more he realized she loved him more than he thought. How much had


    she endured for him, swallowed her pride, made concessions, yed the fool, and stayed silent?


    She lived the best life, enjoying the finest things. To the world, she was the pampered Miss Ellis, a


    princess cushioned by wealth, arrogant with entitlement. But knowing what she did for him, it only


    made him feel restless.


    After the movie, Cicely was in high spirits, seemingly oblivious to any underlying issues. She gave a


    mixed review of the film, which, despite the hype, was not up to par with expectations. Cicely knew


    the difference but chose to be happy. Just as his home-cooked meals couldn''tpare to high-end


    restaurant dishes, yet she found them delicious.


    He knew that he was overestimating himself. His endurance wasn''t that strong. Perhaps, he was


    underestimating Cicely''s influence.


    Not everything improves with time. The first to reach a breaking point would likely be himself.


    Watching Cicely slip into her slippers, clutching her clothes with a bounce in her step as she entered


    the bathroom, Seth shut himself in the study. Sitting in his chair, a lit cigarette in hand, the room


    filled with a haze and the heavy scent of smoke.


    *


    After going through a series of post-production work and negotiations with a certain television


    network regarding broadcasting rights, Era of Elegance ultimately decided to air during the


    Thanksgiving period.


    With its heavy investment, star-studded cast, experienced directors, and aggressive marketing,


    expectations were sky-high. Thework had been hesitant, fearing an over-hyped flop, dragging


    its feet and considering pushing the release to the Christmas season. But Seth''s patience had worn


    thin by Thanksgiving, and thework, unwilling to let the series go, bravely scheduled it.


    Fortunately, the quality lived up to the hype. It was a hit. Political intrigue, action, sets, locations,


    actors, special effects, plot, logic - every aspect set an unprecedented standard of excellence.


    What followed was a flurry of requests for online streaming rights.


    Over the course of a month and a half, the TVwork aired all fifty episodes of the show, while


    various streaming tforms, biting their nails at the slow pace, followed suit right behind them.


    They''d attempted a few times to offer an early ess membership to cash in on eagerness, but


    they were turned down t.


    Thework wouldn''t have it, and Seth was after nationwide appeal.


    Even so, the daily teasers alone on the online tforms would smash through a hundred million


    views within 24 hours.


    As the plot thickened and the fans'' rmendations and fervor propelled it, the show''s poprity


    soared. International rights were up next on the agenda.


    Sadly, Era of Elegance missed the cut-off for the year''s heavy-hitting awards and would have to wait


    until next year, but for the other trophies up for grabs, Era of Elegance practically swept the floor.


    Any awards it didn''t have time topete for were pretty much in the bag. For a show that was a hit


    at home and abroad, snubbing it would tarnish the reputation of the award organizers.


    This one show had catapulted C&P Entertainment from an unknown startup to a force to be


    reckoned with in the industry.


    Everyone involved saw their fame and fortunes rise. Danielle was no exception.


    Her screen time was not scant. Bolstered by stunning costumes and makeup, coupled with the


    director''s high standards and slick editing, the tables had turned beautifully from her darker days


    when she was the subject of much vitriol.


    Thinking back, the one who had thrust her into the limelight was herself, the sponsored diva who


    had joined the cast.


    If one were to measure cunning and strategy, Cicely had to admit, she was outyed.


    Now Danielle had a good reputation, and she even got nominated for Best Supporting Actress at a


    certain year-end awards ceremony. She seemed to have tasted the sweetness of being an actress.


    Her affection for stage ys had shifted to a focus on film and television development in her career.


    Numerous agencies hade knocking, eager to sign her, but she''d turned them all down.


    Cicely had her suspicions about what Danielle was plotting. She was without an agency of her own,


    instead paying out of pocket for an assistant, an intern from C&P Entertainment.


    Her connections may have seemed inconsequential, but in the industry,works were like


    spiderwebs—once you were in, everything connected.


    That assistant frequented C&P Entertainment, and there were rumors that some had suggested the


    company sign Danielle, but it seemed to have led nowhere.