Chapter 2023


    It was Seth. She could smell his scent and see his silhouette. Trapped between the wall and his


    chest, she questioned, "What are you doing?"


    Seth bent over, his handsome face just inches away. The slender dark pupils seemed to be filled


    with the lingering scent of aged wine, and even the warm breath sprayed on her face appeared to


    carry a hint of alcohol. His lowered, seductive voice was too easy to bewitch the heart. "I''m here for


    my reward, of course."


    Cicely blinked, "You''re not expecting me to sign the transfer deed right now, are you?"


    A firm squeeze on her waist answered her as Seth pressed his lips to hers in the midst of her


    protest.


    Cicely gasped, her hands instinctively rising, poised to push him away, but instead, they found their


    way to his shoulders.


    As the kiss deepened and showed no sign of stopping, Cicely began to struggle. When there was a


    brief pause, she managed to say, "Don''t tell me your reward involves even more."d2


    Seth''s lips brushed her cheek as he maneuvered her towards the bed, pinning her beneath him with


    a bent knee. His free hand reached up, deftly undoing the buttons of her blouse.


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    "Considering thepany shares could be given away as a reward, doing a bit more is well within


    my rights." he mused.


    Even after their many moments of bare honesty, Cicely still found herself easily allured by any move


    this man made. As her blouse fell open, revealing her porcin skin, she bit her lip, falling silent.


    Seth smirked, his fingers weaving through her hair, cradling her neck, drawing her close, and then


    effortlessly captured her lips once more. She was swept into the whirlpool he stirred, losing all


    coherent thought.


    Forget Patty, forget Danielle, forgetpany shares, forget love or not. She didn''t need to think


    about anything. Right now, she could simply indulge in what she had.


    It wasn''t toote. She retracted her earlier yearning for something called "love." Let it be as it


    started; he coveted what she had, and that was enough. She just needed this man to belong to her


    entirely.


    The curtains were drawn at some point, and as the evening sun zed, the room was enveloped in


    dimness.


    Curled in the nkets, Cicely''s hair was strewn messily over the pillow and bedding. Her eyes were


    half-closed, her longshes fluttering asionally.


    Her army casually across the mattress, her breathing slow and even. The flush on her delicate


    face deepened as she saw her slightly curled fingers move in the dim light, the ring on her finger


    catching a glint.


    The finger moved again, and a warm presence pressed against her back, interlocking fingers, and a


    warm kiss was nted behind her ear.


    She stared at the hand that was holding her, while a patch of chill lightly hit her skin from behind.


    She wasn''t sure whether to feel ironic or grateful. The ring was on him, but he refused to put it on


    his finger.


    Turning to face Seth, her gaze met his desireden handsome features. With easier ess, Seth


    buried his face into her neck.


    "Seth, do you believe I love you?"


    The one who falls first is destined to lose, and she never hid it. Perhaps it was youthful ignorance or


    simply an innate honesty.


    Could love ever be hidden?


    Even now, she''d likely make the same choice. In the Ellis family, she was never taught, nor did she


    learn, to be deceitful. Illusions always crumble, like over-edited selfies that can''t withstand the light


    of day.


    Why pretend not to love? Why fear the truth being uncovered?


    She never considered these questions, so she never thought about hiding.


    The kiss at her neck seemed to cool slightly. "Mmm." He knew, how could he not? Everyone knew


    Cicely loved Seth. He was too clever.


    With azy smile, she asked, "Do you love me?"


    He didn''t answer directly. Men have a million ways to dodge or gloss over a question when they


    wish to. "Have I ever done anything to make you feel unloved?"


    What a shrewd response. Was this a mere evasion, or did it imply that his love for her was genuine?


    "No, you''re wonderful. I guess every woman wants to hear those words."


    Seth chuckled softly, "Actions speak louder than words. Especially for men, that phrase is quite


    cheap."


    So cheap that even saying it felt beneath them. Insincere to the point of disbelief.


    As expected, she didn''t get the answer she probably wanted. Cicely closed her eyes and snuggled


    deeper into the pillow. "Let''s not. I''m tired."


    "Mmm, rest here. No need for the gym."


    Her brows twitched, eliciting a lowugh from Seth. Even the most seemingly reserved men


    be wicked in these matters, it seemed.


    Remembering their intimate moments and the raw words spoken in his deep, husky voice, her


    cheeks flushed with heat.


    Underneath his reserved exterior was a fierce passion, overwhelming in its contrast.


    After the day''s exertions, the gym was indeed unnecessary.


    Seth adjusted the room temperature and tucked the nkets around her. Then there was


    movement from the bathroom, sounds of ease as if at home.


    How long had it been since Seth felt thisfortable with the Ellis family?


    Dismissing the foggy, useless thoughts from her mind, Cicely drew a long breath and burrowed her


    face into the pillow.


    When she awoketer, the room was dark. Groggily turning over, her hand stretched out from under


    the covers and encountered warmth. The next second, it was held.


    She paused, turning her head to peer through the darkness. "Seth?"


    "Sleeping until now. What are your ns for tonight, hmm?"


    Cicely inhaled deeply, sighing long and hard. "What time is it?"


    "Seven."


    "Hmm..."


    After sleeping the afternoon away, she certainly wouldn''t sleep early in the evening.


    *


    So, after finishing dinner, the two of them returned home. After washing up, Cicely hugged her


    laptop and searched online for wedding videos, wedding styles, wedding venues, and even went as


    far as nning the honeymoon.


    The two stayed in the study together, with Cicely wearing headphones. Except for asional faint


    sounds, there was hardly any noise.


    Several times Seth looked up to see her utterly engrossed in the screen, her expression one of


    intense focus.


    Seth furrowed his brow in thought. Was this okay?


    He knew what she was up to and could see her excitement about the wedding. But given her


    personality, shouldn''t she being over to ask for his opinion now and then? Yet, she was too


    quiet, as if her excitement was hers alone.


    He waited for her toe over and share something—anything—but as the clock ticked past


    eleven, there was no sign of her doing so.


    "Gettingte, we should go to sleep," Seth said, his voice carrying a chill.


    "Well, I''m not sleepy yet. You go ahead," she replied, unfazed.


    Seth stood up with a frosty expression and walked over to her. Towering above Cicely, who was


    nestled on the couch, Seth didn''t wait for her to look up before he removed her headphones, took


    theptop away, and scooped her into his arms.


    Cicely opened her mouth to protest but ultimately, nothing came out. It wasn''t until heid her down


    on the bed that she finally voiced her discontent. "I feel like there are still so many things I haven''t


    considered. I told you I wasn''t tired."


    "I am," Seth replied curtly.


    "If you''re tired, sleep. I''m not holding you back."


    "Sleep with me."


    She paused, a bit taken aback. "What, can''t sleep without me now?"


    Seth didn''t answer, just pulled her close into his embrace. Cicely didn''t struggle. She just cozied up


    within his arms.


    "The wedding''s next year. No need to rush things now."


    "That''s not it. Just getting a head start, you know? My wedding has to be the best-prepared event


    ever."


    "So, what have you figured out? What kind of wedding do you want? Have you decided?"


    She sighed. "I can''t decide. I want a beach wedding, but then a church is ssic. Those traditional-


    themed weddings have their charm. But I can''t quite picture you in anything but a suit. Maybe we


    should stick to a hotel wedding—it''s timeless and foolproof."


    Her voice was filled with indecision, and even her final decision seemed driven more by his


    preferences than her own wishes. She still hadn''t asked what he thought.


    *


    Come the weekend, true to his word, Seth took Cicely to a bridal boutique to try on wedding gowns.


    Men trying on formal wear seems a simple affair. d in a tailored ck suit, Seth embodied an air


    of indifferent nobility, the crisp lines entuating his tall figure. His calm demeanor belied his


    youthful age.


    Seth sat on a plush sofa reserved for grooms-to-be, casually flipping through a bridal magazine, his


    long fingers idly turning the pages.


    The staff, cheeks flushed, kept stealing nces in his direction, their gazes periodically drawn to


    him.


    After some time, the automatic doors before him glided open. There stood Cicely, radiant in a white


    wedding gown under the spotlight, as an attendant meticulously adjusted her train before stepping


    back with an approving smile aimed at Seth. "The bride is ready."


    Seth’s gaze had already lifted to meet Cicely, adorned in a simple bridal makeup. The mermaid-cut


    gown hugged her figure from chest to waist to hips to just above the knees, showcasing her


    stunning silhouette. The off-shoulder design revealed her graceful corbones, dotted with faint pink


    marks.


    The staff''s initial gasps of admiration quickly turned into blushing whispers as they noticed the


    marks on Cicely''s skin. Their eyes darted back to Seth, their minds undoubtedly concocting a vivid


    narrative of passionate intimacy behind closed doors. Just by looking at the marks left on her, they


    could imagine the fervor of their private encounters.