Chapter 2029


    Santino''s apartment was spacious. By the time they arrived, the assistant had already finished


    shopping and returned. Along with assistants of other actors, they were busy preparing two pots of


    food.


    One pot for the assistants, another for the crew.


    The atmosphere was cordial, filled withughter and the asional line from a script yfully


    exchanged.


    Cicely, however, seemed out of ce.


    Santino yed the gracious host to a tee, cheerfully helping the assistants set up the tes and


    dipping sauces.


    "Any dietary restrictions? Onions, garlic, chili peppers, anything?" he asked, passing a te to


    Cicely in a rxed manner.d2


    After a brief "Thank you," Cicely continued, "I don''t eat onions, garlic, or chili peppers."


    A few odd looks were cast her way, but Santino just shrugged it off with a smile. "You can mix your


    own dipping sauce to taste. Although a hot stew without a kick is missing a bit of its soul, don''t you


    think?"


    Cicely forced a smile and stayed quiet.


    Santino, though, had a knack for easing any tension, and soon enough, everyone seemed to rx.


    Even Cicely, who was slow to warm up to the group, seemed far more at ease by the time they were


    halfway through their meal.


    His liquor cab was well-stocked, and since no one had early calls the next day, someone


    suggested they indulge. Soon enough, sses were clinking.


    They chatted about scripts, industry gossip, promising projects, and the future of the biz—especially


    whichpanies were the best bets for hitching one''s wagon. C&P was brought up often, but


    Cicely hardly reacted.


    The food wasn''t anything to write home about, but thepany made up for it.


    They dined from seven until nine, and as the assistants finished up, they joined in the revelry, partly


    to ensure no one said anything out of turn after a few drinks that could brew troubleter.


    But there were no slip-ups.


    While Cicely was caught up in the lively scene, Seth had already made rounds in his car to the Ellis


    family''s ce, their apartment, even the cafe and bakery she frequented. After numerous


    unanswered calls to both Cicely and Emiliana, he turned the car around in frustration, heading


    straight for Emiliana''s set.


    He hadn''t started there because he''d heard someone spotted Cicely leaving with Emiliana around


    six. Plus, she''d driven herself to the set that day.


    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Because Cicely had treated the entire crew to coffee and sweets, everyone had a deep impression


    of her.


    He confirmed with Issac that Cicely had indeed driven herself. The snow was still falling, and while


    the city had taken precautions and the radio constantly warned drivers to be cautious, the thought of


    Cicely, who rarely drove, out there on her own made Seth''s expression darken.


    Emiliana''s phone, mostly a gaming device during shoots, was left on airne mode in her bag once


    it ran low on battery.


    Seth, trudging through the snow, arrived at the film crew. Most of the people on set had already left,


    leaving a few behind to guard props and equipment. Other than having seen Cicely, they didn''t


    remember much else.


    Seth lit a cigarette outside the deserted set, the smoke mingling with the overcast sky as if to mirror


    his mounting frustrations.


    He thought he knew Cicely well enough, not because he was particrly concerned about her, but


    because her life was so simple.


    The ces she could go were limited, and she barely had what could be called friends, with


    Emiliana being the only one. She knew the scions and misses of the major wealthy families in P


    City, but their rtionships were superficial. Even if something were to happen, she wouldn''t really


    approach them.


    Firstly, their rtionship hadn''t reached that level, and secondly, because the proud little princess


    Cicely from P City wouldn''t easily let others see her as a joke.


    Having scoured every possible ce without a trace of her, Seth was at a loss.


    Then a car''s headlights swept past, and Issac stepped out, his gaze immediately locating Cicely''s


    car. It was a relief to find it, yet Seth, watching Issac''s movements, didn''t share in the reassurance.


    Seth''s phone rang, breaking the silence. Flicking his half-smoked cigarette into the snow, Seth


    answered.


    It was Shane, apologetic.


    "Mr. Diaz, I''ve managed to reach Emiliana''s assistant."


    *


    When Emiliana''s assistant remembered the charging phone and saw the barrage of missed calls


    from the agent, their legs turned to jelly. The ensuing call was a verbalshing that left them


    trembling.


    Cicely sat in a corner, clearly having overindulged, her eyes bleary with intoxication.


    Santino rose, approaching Emiliana. "Ms. Cicely''s had a bit too much. Let''s get her to a room to


    rest."


    Emiliana nodded, struggling to help Cicely stand. Santino intervened softly. "I''ll carry her. Just stay


    by my side."


    He scooped Cicely up and headed to the guest room they had chosen earlier. To avoid any


    impropriety, Emiliana followed closely behind.


    Cicely, not used to the bed, frowned in her sleep. Her coat was shed at the door, revealing the hem


    of her woolen sweater riding up to expose a sliver of her pale waist.


    Santino averted his gaze as Emiliana quickly covered Cicely with a nket.


    "Thank you for tonight," Emiliana said, "for putting up with all of us. I hope we haven''t been too


    much trouble."


    Santino shook his head with a smile. "No trouble at all. It''s nice to have somepany. Beats being


    alone, any day."


    "Well, that''s good to hear."


    They stepped out of the room, only to be met by a knock on the door. Emiliana''s assistant trembled


    once more, sensing the night was far from over.


    Santino''s assistant scurried to the door, only to be met with two men standing there like winter''s chill


    personified, their faces clouded with gloom.


    "Who are you looking for?"


    Issac was the first to break the silence, "Excuse me, could you tell us if Ms. Cicely is here?"


    The assistant hesitated, then nodded, "She had a bit too much to drink, and Santino, uh, Santino


    carried her to a room to rest up."


    That one sentence was enough to darken Seth''s expression even more. His jaw clenched tight, and


    his lips pressed into a thin line.


    "Where is she?"


    His voice was colder than the air outside, making the assistant feel as if frost was forming in the air


    between them.


    Santino approached, his demeanor polite, "Can I help you gentlemen?"


    The assistant, still rattled by Seth''s presence, managed, "They''re here for Ms. Cicely."


    "Well, Ms. Cicely had a bit too much and has just gone to bed."


    Without another word, Seth strode past them, his handsome, impassive face barely containing his


    rage.


    "Where is she?" he demanded again.


    Emiliana, recognizing Seth, hurried over, "Right here, right this way."


    Seth''s gaze flickered towards her, and he moved straight for the room Emiliana pointed to.


    The bed indeed betrayed a human shape beneath the sheets.


    The woman he had braved a night''s snowstorm to find was lying there, frowning in her sleep,


    cheeks flushed with the remnants of drunkenness, even with her eyes closed.


    Another man had brought her here.


    "Get her clothes," Sethmanded, to no one in particr. Emiliana quicklyplied.


    Seth pulled back the covers and wrapped Cicely in a coat, lifting her effortlessly.


    Cicely, already ufortable, found the embrace only added to her difort. The arms were


    cold, yet familiar. Barely able to open her eyes, she recognized the man she expected, frowning


    deeply before closing them again.


    She didn''t know why he was here, but his determination to take her home was clear.


    Too tired to argue, she let it be.


    Issac watched as Seth carried Cicely out. His brow twitched, but he said nothing, simply followed


    and even opened the car door for him.


    Despite his own feelings, Seth was Cicely''s husband, and Issac had no right to interject or take her


    from his arms.


    Once in the car, Seth called Shane, instructing him to prepare a hangover remedy and send it to his


    apartment.


    Back home, Seth carried Cicely straight to the bathroom.


    After a quick shower together, heid her on the bed.


    Cicely''s drunken fog had lifted somewhat, but she was still ufortable. She crawled under the


    covers, turning her back to Seth, and closed her eyes.


    "Get up and drink this hangover remedy," Seth said firmly.


    Cicely didn''t move.


    "Cicely," his tone now carried a warning.


    Silence.


    Without another word, Seth stood by the bed, his gaze fixed coldly on her back.


    The room fell quiet, his presence and unyielding stare made the air feel even thinner.


    Finally, Cicely sat up irritably, took the cup from him, and downed the remedy. Then, she snuggled


    back into the covers.


    "I feel terrible. Can we just sleep now?"


    Her words were sharp, tinged with exhaustion and annoyance.


    Despite wanting to say so much, Seth knew tonight was not the time. He climbed into bed and


    pulled the woman facing away back towards him, into his embrace.


    Cicely ced her hands on his chest, her brow furrowed, her fingers curling slightly. After a pause,


    she rxed, silent and still.


    She fell asleep quickly.


    Seth watched her peaceful face, his frustration growing.


    She was so carefree.


    *


    The next morning, Cicely woke with a headache that made her whimper softly.


    Seth emerged from the bathroom, his eyes fixed on her the moment he heard her.


    "Headache?"


    Cicely rubbed her forehead and whimpered again, sinking back into the covers.


    "Did you enjoy yourselfst night?"


    The sound of rustling clothes followed his casual inquiry.


    Cicely murmured an affirmative.


    "Did you like driving yourself?"


    Another murmur.


    Then, silence.


    Finally, Seth spoke again.


    "Why was your phone off?"


    After a pause, Cicely''s soft voice answered, "It died."


    "Issac and I searched for you all night. Issac even checked the entire car ident records of the P


    City fromst night."


    "I''m right here, safe and sound. What''s your point in bringing this up?"


    Cicely had anticipated this confrontation since the previous night. His questions were starting to


    annoy her.


    "My phone was off, I drove the car, and I will again. I wasn''t in an ident. Last night, I had dinner


    with friends; we had a good time and drank a bit. Surely you''re not so controlling that you''d deny me


    my own social space? What more do you want to hear? Should I apologize for these things?"


    A dark shadow passed over Seth''s eyes, "A good time and a bit of drink, then ending up in another


    man''s bed in his house, is that part of your ''social space'' too?"


    Cicely frowned, "I was drunk, but I knew it was a guest room."


    "Does being a guest room make it any less his house, his bed?"


    Cicely, exasperated,ughed bitterly, sitting up to face the man standing before her.


    "What''s this all about, Seth? Are you jealous, or do you think I''m so easy, ready to jump into bed


    with anyone I meet? There were others staying in that housest night. What do you think, in your


    eyes, was it an orgy?"


    Seth''s gaze narrowed dangerously, "You''re right; you should have your own freedom. If you think it''s


    perfectly fine to disappear without a word and note home all night, and that I''m being


    unreasonable for asking about it, then from now on, I can also choose to ignore such matters. You


    do as you please, as long as you''re happy."


    Cicely suddenly felt a sharp pang in her chest, her grip on theforter weakening as if all her


    strength had been siphoned away in an instant.


    "If you think the kind of freedom you''re giving me looks like this, then fine, do as you please. And for


    the record, I haven''t been out all night."


    "You think you would''ve just waltzed back on your own if I hadn''te for you?"


    "Come for me?" Cicely''s lips curled into a sardonic smile. "I haven''t been hiding or running. My life


    is as dull as dishwater; where I could go and who I could be with are limited, to say the least. Since


    when has Charlie''s efficiency plummeted to such depths that it took you hours to find me, almost


    causing me to be a no-show for the night?"


    Seth''s gaze tightened, and Cicely almost immediately let out a mockingugh.


    "Well, I almost forgot. You''re not surrounded by the seasoned, highly capable Charlie anymore.


    Instead, you''ve got a greenhorn assistant who''s barely cut his teeth. The fact that he found me at all


    is nothing short of a miracle. Lucky for me, I didn''t run into any trouble. Otherwise, by the time he


    got to me, all he''d find would be my cold, lifeless body."


    "I''m really curious," she continued, her tone edged with frost. "What kind of monumental task have


    you assigned Charlie that you could spare him during the busiest time of the year?"