Chapter 2025


    As the year drew to a close, industries buzzed with annual reviews and projections for theing


    year. For celebrities like Danielle, it wasn''t just about attending award shows and gs; it was also


    about locking in their schedules for the new year.


    Danielle''s poprity had surged, and she had beenworking with producers and directors at


    various events.


    Offers poured in, including some from major productions. After much deliberation, Danielle secured


    a lead role in a big-budget historical drama that would be her focus for the uing year.


    Seth, too, had a fair share of events to attend.


    Given that they moved in the same circles, running into each other was pretty normal.


    It was the justifiable excuse Cicely had found for Seth in advance as she stood in the hospital


    hallway, propped up against the wall.d2


    When Cicely arrived at the hospital, Charlie was standing guard at the door of the patient''s room.


    From Charlie''s expression, Cicely deduced that Seth''s injuries weren''t too severe.


    Her stiff body, which had strained to get there, instantly rxed a bit as she supported herself with


    her hands against the corridor wall. She patiently waited for her legs, which had almost given way


    due to weakness, to slowly regain strength.


    Seth had been in a car ident, and Cicely couldn''t recall how she had managed to get to the


    hospital. It was as if she had amnesia, unable to remember how her heart had raced, as if it had


    stopped beating.


    "Ms. Cicely," Charlie began, "Mr. Diaz is okay, just a mild concussion, some cuts, and bruises, and a


    few scrapes from shattered ss. Nothing too serious. But Miss Danielle, she''s still in surgery."


    Cicely''s hand on the wall twitched slightly, her gaze flitting over the door of the patient''s room and


    settling on Charlie''s face as his voice trailed off. "I''m going to see him," she said.


    Charlie''s face stiffened for a moment, "Mr. Diaz is not in the room right now."


    Cicely blinked and nodded, her tone neutral, "Where''s Danielle''s operating room?"


    Charlie forced a smile, "Mr. Diaz asked me to wait here for you."


    Two secondster, Cicely chuckled, "Charlie, there''s no need to be so cautious. Danielle is my


    cousin, after all. I should check on her, whether or not she''s in there because of Seth."


    Charlie considered this and realized she had a point, but since Mr. Diaz had specifically instructed


    him to stay with Ms. Cicely, he must have had his reasons.


    Sensing Charlie’s hesitance, Cicely just turned to go. She didn''t need to wait for Charlie to guide


    her; if she was determined to find out, there were plenty of ways to do so.


    Charlie hurried after her, "Ms. Cicely. I''ll take you there." It was something they could have found out


    from the reception desk. Why hold back information and risk getting on her bad sideter?


    Before they even reached the operating room, they saw Seth''s tall and lean silhouette outside. Even


    in a hospital gown, he was instantly recognizable.


    His head was bandaged, and his face and neck had patches of medical tape. His arms and legs


    probably did too, hidden under the gown.


    He stood motionless in front of the operating room. His expression was characteristically stoic, but


    as Cicely drew closer, she saw the slight furrow of his brow, a clear sign of his concern.


    Upon seeing her, he nced briefly at Charlie, who immediately lowered his head.


    Cicely moved to stand beside him, facing the operating room door, "How long has it been?"


    Seth nced at her overly calm face, his brow creasing slightly before he looked up at the digital


    disy above the operating room door, "Seventy-six minutes."


    Cicely tugged at her lip, seventy-six minutes. So precise.


    "I see," she replied lightly, "Is it serious?"


    "Mhm." Seth kept his gaze on her, seemingly reluctant to discuss Danielle''s condition. He then


    asked, "Anything else you want to know?"


    Cicely smiled, turning to him, "You''re not a doctor, and neither am I. I wouldn''t understand the


    jargon. I guess neither of us really knows how severe it is. What else should I ask? Or maybe I


    should be asking something else?"


    Her smile remained gentle, her voice soft and slow, devoid of any aggression. It was as if nothing


    had happened at all. She also didn''t seem keen on putting on a show of sisterly concern while


    Danielle was undergoing a critical surgery. Her demeanor was too realistic and genuine.


    Charlie watched from the side, suddenly thinking it might be better to be a bit more pretentious in


    life. After all, it was two people who had been in the car ident that night.


    "Well," Cicely suddenly said as if remembering something, "How did the ident happen in the first


    ce?"


    Charlie closed his eyes briefly.


    Seth''s eyes narrowed slightly, "It was intentional. We''re still investigating."


    Cicely nodded, "I see," and turned back to the operating room door.


    "Cicely," Seth''s deep voice lingered on her name.


    "Hm?" She turned to him, a puzzled look in her eyes.


    "Aren''t you going to ask how I''m doing?"


    Cicely finally gave him a once-over. Just one nce. Then her soft gaze softened further with a


    smile, "Charlie told me you weren''t seriously hurt."


    "He says it''s not serious, and you don''t ask?"


    "I''m not blind." She looked up at the digital clock overhead, "You''ve been standing out here for


    eighty minutes and seem fine. Do I really need to ask how serious it is? If you want me to ask, I can.


    So, how badly are you hurt?"


    Charlie''s heart skipped a beat. This was it. Mr. Diaz had fallen into his own trap. If he said it was


    serious, standing outside Ms. Danielle''s operating room for so long would seem like an act of


    profound concern and affection.


    Seth stared at Cicely''s ever-gentle face and finally said, "Not serious."


    Cicely raised an eyebrow and, after standing for a moment, sat down on a nearby chair.


    Charlie took a call and left, apparently regarding the car ident investigation.


    Twenty minutester, with no change at the operating room door, Cicely stood up, "I''m tired. If


    you''re not going back to your room, I''ll go home. I''lle back to see you tomorrow."


    Her rtionship with Danielle didn''t warrant keeping vigil at the door of her operating room.


    It was past 1 a.m.


    She hadn''t rmed her father or grandfather with the news of Danielle''s ident, not wanting to


    spook them in the dead of night.


    Seth must''ve been concerned for Patty, hence aside from himself, Cicely, Issac whom she called


    later, and Danielle''s assistant Allie who rushed over, there was no one else.


    The mood was somber, but what else could you expect? It was bedtime for most, and energy was a


    scarcemodity.


    Cicely''s voice seemed too distinct in the silent corridor. Allie nced at her, then at Seth, unsure


    what to say next.


    Seth turned to look at Cicely, his eyes red with fatigue.


    Seeing this, Cicely offered, "How about I go back to the room with you to rest?"


    Seth was silent for a beat, "You can head home first."


    Issac''s expression turned a shade colder.


    Cicely nodded, "Alright, I''ll leave then ande back tomorrow."


    "Mm."


    With that single syble response, Cicely turned and walked away, her figure disappearing around


    the corridor''s bend while Seth watched until she was out of sight.


    Now it was just Seth and Allie in the hallway. Allie, feeling awkward, ventured, "Mr. Diaz, there''s no


    need for us all to be here. You''re hurt too. Why don''t you get some rest? I''ll stay on watch and let


    you know if anythinges up."


    Allie''s words hung unanswered in the air.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    It was nearing 2 a.m. when Cicely saw Charlie still in the parking lot, clearly worn out himself.


    "Ms. Cicely."


    Charlie was surprised, "You''re heading home?"


    "Yeah. You should get some rest too."


    Charlie was still a bit dazed, "And Mr. Diaz?"


    "He''s at the OR. If you need him, go there."


    Charlie mped his mouth shut.


    Once in the car, Cicely leaned against the window, rubbing her temple. "Tell grandpa and dad about


    Danielle''s ident tomorrow morning."


    Issac, who was driving, simply acknowledged.


    After a silent ten-minute drive, Cicely, who seemed to have dozed off, suddenly spoke up. "I heard


    Danielle''s crash was bad."


    Issac nced at her through the rearview mirror. She was reclining against the seat, her face partly


    hidden by hair, her expression unreadable.


    "I checked with the paramedics. They said her life''s not in danger, so don''t worry too much."


    Cicely, exhausted, snorted softly. "The way things are between us, I''d be the happiest if she kicked


    the bucket. If I''m worried about anything, it''s that she''s badly hurt but not quite dead."


    The words sounded spiteful, but Issac knew that no matter how much Cicely detested someone,


    she''d never lift a finger to cause their demise.


    "I''m beat. Just carry me upstairs when we get there."


    "Okay."


    *


    At the hospital, Charlie reported his findings to Seth. "It was Ray''s family. They took a hit out."


    Seth''s expression didn''t change much. The news wasn''t a surprise.


    Charlie added, "The police are involved now." Which meant Seth didn''t need to step in. Things were


    likely to proceed smoothly.


    Seth merely grunted in response.


    Charlie nced at the OR door, hesitated, then said, "Mr. Diaz, you still need to be on IV. I can stay


    here for you."


    Seth started to rub his temple but stopped midway, his arm stiff. Charlie stepped closer, "Mr. Diaz,


    be careful with your injury. Maybe you should go back to your room to rest. I''ll stay here."


    "It’s okay."


    He had no reason to leave before, even less now. But he did sit where Cicely had sat earlier, his


    movements betraying a hint of difort that Charlie noticed despite his smooth facade.


    Charlie looked back at the sealed OR door, thinking of Cicely he''d seen earlier that night, and


    pursed his lips.


    *


    Issac carried Cicely into her room,ying her on the bed and removing her shoes with care. She


    was too tired to even open her eyes as she snuggled under the covers. "Remember to close the


    bedroom door."


    "Will do."


    Issac watched her, now just a sliver of her face visible, the rest obscured by her hair. To anyone


    else, she might''ve seemed just ordinarily peaceful, unaware of the night''s drama involving Danielle


    and Seth''s ident.


    Issac left, and Cicely remained motionless. She was indeed asleep.


    *


    Running on little sleep, she was up early the next day. When the maid entered and saw Cicely


    already in the living room, she checked her watch in confusion. "Ma''am, you''re up early today."


    Working here for so long, she''d never seen this little miss at this hour.


    "Seth had an identst night. Make three breakfasts. I''ll eat here and take his with me to the


    hospital."


    "Oh my, an ident? Is he alright? That''s..."


    "Not serious. They said a mild concussion, some scrapes, bruises, and cuts from the ss."


    The maid paused. That didn''t sound ''not serious'' at all. "Didn''t you stay with himst night?"


    Cicely remained silent.


    Realizing she might have overstepped, the maid hurriedly excused herself to prepare breakfast.


    The inte was aze with news of the ident. It seemed there was no need to tell grandpa and


    dad; they were likely already informed.


    After pocketing her phone, Cicely got dressed and packed a couple of outfits for Seth in a small


    suitcase. Issac was waiting in the living room and quickly took the suitcase from her.


    The suitcase wasn''t heavy, and it even had wheels, but Issac insisted on taking it from her hands


    without a word the moment she arrived. It was simply second nature.


    That was Cicely for you, pampered from birth, never having to lift a finger for anything.


    Issac, suitcase in tow, was heading for the door when Cicely made a beeline for the dining room,


    "I''ve prepared breakfast. Let''s eat together before we head to the hospital."


    Setting the suitcase down, Issac watched Cicely''s retreating figure for a brief second before


    following her into the dining room and taking a seat across from her.


    The maid, packing up Seth''s breakfast to go, paused when she saw the man sitting at the table with


    the young mistress. She hesitated, her gaze sweeping over them, before slowly cing the food


    box on the table. "Mr. Diaz''s breakfast is here."


    Cicely acknowledged with a nonchnt "Hmm."


    *


    Upon their arrival at the hospital, Seth''s room was empty. Issac ced the suitcase and food box


    down, his expression turning sour.


    It was then that Cicely''s phone rang; it was Creighton. She stepped out of the room, expressionless,


    and answered the call, "Dad..." but before she could continue, Creighton''s voice came through, "Did


    you know Danielle was in a car identst night?"


    "Yes, I''m aware."


    There was a brief silence on Creighton''s end, "Where is she now?"


    Cicely stopped a passing nurse with a hand gesture, "Could you check where Danielle, the woman


    who was in an identst night, is?"


    The nurse checked her phone, probably essing the hospital''s internal system, "She''s in V66."


    "Thank you." Cicely headed towards the VIP elevator, "You got that?"


    There was an audible "Hmm" from Creighton, and Cicely hung up.


    When Cicely reached Danielle''s room, Patty stood at the bedside, looking down at the still-


    unconscious Danielle with an expression of pain and concern. Then her gaze shifted to the man


    standing beside her, his face emotionless.


    "Danielle would give up her life for you, and yet, what about Cicely? She leaves you alone in the


    hospital to go home and sleep? Can you see clearly now who you should love and who you should


    not?"