Chapter 2034


    Danielle''s chest tightened with emotion. Cicely was here in Seth''s ce?


    Cicely said Danielle was nothing but trouble. Indeed, there she was, bedridden and unable to care


    for herself. If that wasn''t a bother, what was?


    Cicely sure had a knack for twisting the knife with her words.


    "Get out." Even as she tried to suppress her feelings, those words betrayed her anger and agitation.


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    "Don''t get all worked up, you know. Getting angry is bad for your health. If you end up bedridden for


    life, Seth and I will be driven to madness, won''t we?"


    Danielle red at her coldly and then let out a mockingugh. "You''re scared, aren''t you? If I really


    am disabled for life, you''ll never be able to shake me off."d2


    Cicely''s eyes flickered slightly as she looked at Danielle, who seemed to have given up hope. Cicely


    gave a faint smile. "How shameless are you to say such things? Sadly for you, even if you wish for


    a life of disability, the Ellis family won’t allow it, and neither will Seth. Even blood rtives fed up


    after years of care. How important do you think you are in Seth''s heart? You''ve got, what, another


    three or four decades to live? How patient do you think he''ll be, to tend to you day in and day out?


    Or rather, do you think Seth could ever love someone disabled?"


    Danielle''s pale lips trembled violently as she red at Cicely. Each word was a stab to her most


    vulnerable spots.


    "Don''t think for a second that you''re off the hook just because you''re disabled. Don''t even dream of


    running away. You were so proud, weren''t you? Well, even if you die, I will dig you up from your


    grave andsh your corpse to satisfy my hatred. Eat up. Maybe if you get better soon, you might be


    able to p me back. Otherwise, don''t me me for bullying you."


    Grinding her teeth, Danielle eyed the neatlyid out food before her. Her hand twitched, but Cicely''s


    icy, detached voice rang out again.


    "If I were you, I wouldn''t starve myself just to spite someone. I''ll prepare your meals over and over


    until you''re willing to eat, that''s if you don''t find me annoying."


    Just as her arm began to lift, it froze in ce. To eat or not to eat, either way, Cicely would win.


    "You''re ruining my appetite. Please, leave now."


    Cicely looked up at the nurse standing by. "Keep an eye on her. Let me know whether she eats or


    not."


    "Understood."


    Danielle took a deep breath.


    Cicely didn''t look at her again, turning towards the door to leave. But before Cicely could take two


    steps, the door swung open from the outside.


    She paused, her expression darkening as the man who entered caught her eye.


    It was Ray. The sight of Cicely brought a surge of intense hatred to his eyes.


    Issac, who had just returned from the restroom, rushed in, positioning himself in front of Cicely.


    Cicely, standing behind Issac, furrowed her brows as she recalled Ray''s expression when he


    opened the door. She reached out and pushed Issac aside. "Mr. Ray, feeling any better?"


    Ray''s face stiffened, his teeth clenched as he red at Cicely, embarrassment mixed with rage.


    Cicely smiled, "Mr. Ray, don''t you think you''re misdirecting your anger? You were the one who


    nearly took advantage of me that night when you were drunk. I haven''t evene to settle that


    score yet, and here you are looking as if I''ve castrated you myself."


    The words hit Ray hard.


    "Ms. Cicely," Ray stammered, "Seth never told you what really happened that night?"


    Her gaze lowered slightly, "Does what he say negate the fact that you almost raped me?"


    Raising her eyes with a faint smile, she added, "I''m aware of Mr. Ray''s current condition and


    genuinely regret it. Let''s put our grievances aside for now. But please, Mr. Ray, get your facts


    straight. It was your drunken folly that night that led to this mess, not anyone else''s doing. Ms.


    Danielle is the true victim here, now incapacitated and dependent. Let''s not make her situation any


    harder."


    Issac, listening to the exchange, could hardly believe the facade.


    Ray turned briefly to Danielle, his expression flustered, "I''m here to visit, not to cause trouble. Of


    course, I know Danielle is the biggest victim."


    "Is that so?" Cicely nodded with a smile, "Then I must have misunderstood. With that cleared up, I''ll


    take my leave."


    Issac shielded Cicely as they left the hospital room. "Ray wasn''t involved in the ident, so we


    can''t hold him ountable. He''s been hospitalized here. He came by yesterday, but I didn''t let him


    in."


    Cicely clenched the bag in her hands until her knuckles turned white. Encountering Ray again


    brought back the chaos of that night, the helplessness and the fear, so vivid and terrifying that even


    the mere thought of it made her shudder.


    "Miss?"


    Cicely blinked away the memories, "It seems Mr. Ray is quite fond of Danielle."


    Issac had been skeptical. A rich yboy, surrounded by a constant stream of women, suddenly


    proiming true feelings for one seemed far-fetched. But now, it seemed genuine.


    "Perhaps."


    Cicely scoffed, "Not perhaps. With his family on the brink, he''s willing to throw money into this


    charade for Danielle. It''s clear she means a lot to him. I even suspect this ident was


    orchestrated by his family for her sake."


    Issac frowned at the thought.


    Ray liked Danielle so much he''d nearly get her killed? That seemed a bit far-fetched.


    *


    In the hospital room, Ray stood by Danielle''s bed. His handsome face etched with concern and


    guilt. "I''m sorry, I had no idea it would turn out this bad."


    Danielle wasn''t in the mood to give Ray any more attention than she had to. Holding her fork


    clumsily, she shoveled food into her mouth with mechanical indifference.


    "Ray, it''s a dog-eat-dog world. Regardless of the tactics used, your family is finished," she said, not


    looking up from her te. "Is it really necessary to go for the jugr? Nothing''s happening to him


    now, and your family is on itsst legs. Before, there was at least a chance for aeback, but


    now, you guys have blown it for good."


    Ray''s hands were clenched so tight his knuckles were white, and a vein throbbed on his forehead.


    "He orchestrated the downfall of my family from the very start, Danielle. I''ve told you not to be


    fooled by his act. His ruthlessness is beyond what you can imagine. My dad said the moment he


    entered showbiz and started his agency, he had his sights set on bringing us down."


    "A fledgling talent agency, run by a guy who hasn''t graduated from college yet. He relied on these


    things to make everyone rx their guard against him, and then suddenly delivered a fatal blow. He


    yed innocent but was actually cunning and ruthless. That night, I wasn''t simply drunk. I''ve never


    hidden my feelings for you, and if Cicely hadn''t shown up, who do you think would have been at the


    receiving end of my actions?"


    Danielle''s face drained of color. She had pondered this question before, but she was too afraid to


    delve into it. She didn''t want to confront the potential cruelty of this "possible truth."


    "That''s impossible." she whispered.


    Ray took a deep breath. "I know you wouldn''t believe it, which is why I never brought it up before.


    I''ve checked with the doctors about your condition, and the prognosis is optimistic, albeit a rough


    road ahead. I came here today to see you and to ask you something."


    Danielle still didn''t look up, her voice restrained and t. "Go ahead."


    "When you stepped in front of that car for him, was it truly out of a willingness to risk your life to


    save him, or was it just a ploy to achieve some ulterior motive?"


    Danielle paused mid-bite and finally turned to look at Ray. "Does it make a difference? Even with a


    motive, my only desire was to win him over."


    Ray gave a mncholic smile. "It''s different. The ident was unforeseen. Even I didn''t expect my


    father to be so obstinate. If you knew the crash would be severe, would you still have stepped in?"


    After a long silence, Danielle set her fork down and looked up at him. "What kind of answer are you


    hoping for?"


    Ray pressed his lips together. "You should know."


    "Then no, I wouldn''t."


    Ray stared at her quietly. "I didn''t expect you to brush me off like this."


    "It''s not brushing you off. If I had died, what would be the point of saving him?"


    Ray nodded slightly. "Whether true or not, that''s the answer I needed to hear. And you don''t have to


    y the viin in front of me to push me away. At this point, if I stop caring for you, it''s like denying


    everything I''ve ever felt. If I could go back, I would, but since I can''t, I need to find a reason for it all."


    Danielle had never seen Ray thisposed yet so obsessively insane. Her hand on the nket


    trembled slightly. She was afraid of Ray in this state. With nothing left to lose, there was no telling


    what kind of madness he might resort to.


    *


    Cicely and Issac stepped out of the elevator on the ground floor, only to see Seth standing across


    the hall.


    Tall, stoic, and brooding.


    His brow furrowed imperceptibly when he saw Cicely.


    Cicely''s grip on her purse ckened for a moment then tightened. She stepped out, with a familiar,


    faint smile on her face. "You''re here?"


    Seth''s gaze was heavy. "You hate hospitals. What are you doing here?"


    "I heard she had another episode. Came to check on her with some lunch," Cicely admitted. After a


    brief silence, she nced at him coolly. "I have no interest in bullying a cripple, so don''t worry."


    Seth appeared here not long after Cicely arrived at the hospital. Issac, standing on the side,


    instantly grasped what Seth was worried about. "Mr. Diaz, Ms. Cicely is here on your behalf to


    check on Miss Danielle, considering how busy you''ve beentely. She thought it might give you a


    break."


    Seth''s gaze faltered for a moment.


    Cicely adjusted the scarf around her neck, presenting only her profile to him, yet the subtle smile at


    the corners of her eyes and lips was evident.


    "Her moods are vtile, and your presence might exacerbate them, potentially even leading to


    harm."


    Cicely looked up at him with a light smile. "I have Issac with me. Do you think a crippled person


    could hurt me when I''m fully able and protected?"


    Seth''s expression darkened. "The sooner she recovers, the sooner I can sever ties with her."


    "I know," Cicely replied, hands tucked into the pockets of her down jacket. "That''s why I braved the


    disgust and came."


    Once again, that demeanor. No overt anger, just a serene and gentle defiance. But the more she


    disyed it, the clearer Seth could sense her underlying sarcasm and rebellion.


    "Have you had lunch?" Seth reached out to pull her closer, remembering the lesson he''d learned


    just a week prior.


    However, Cicely stepped aside, avoiding his touch. "Whether I have eaten or not, you probably


    don''t have the time to join me. And as it happens, I don''t feel like sharing a meal with you today."


    Faced with such blunt rejection, Seth''splexion soured.


    "Have you ever trusted me?" The question floated into Seth''s ears, simple yet profound. After a brief


    pause, he looked up to find the woman already walking away. She didn''t leave room for an answer,


    as if the question itself had a foregone conclusion in her mind.


    *


    Issac followed Cicely out.


    "Where to next, miss?"


    Cicely settled into the car and pondered for a moment, her expression neutral. "Let''s visit Dad at the


    Ellis estate."


    "Alright."


    As the car rolled through the gates of the Ellis family estate, Cicely gazed through the window at the


    sprawling manor, feeling an unexpected sense of destion. The dark green pines stood tall but


    failed to bring any sense of vitality.


    Cicely furrowed her brows, and the already somewhat suppressed emotions deepened a bit. She


    got out of the car and walked towards the vi. The living room was empty, with servants


    asionally moving about in silence. Even their breathing seemed to be cautious. "Miss, you''re


    back."


    Brody rushed over at the sound of her arrival, a look of surprise on his face. "Why didn''t you give us


    a heads up, Miss?"


    Cicely nced upstairs, "Where''s Dad?"


    "He finished lunch not too long ago and was reading in the study. Not sure if he''s fallen asleep."


    "What did he have for lunch?"


    "We made some buckwheat wraps."


    Cicely paused her ascent up the stairs, turning to look at Brody from the first step, "And what else?"


    Brody hesitated, "There were a couple of side dishes."


    Cicely''s frown deepened as she turned and headed straight for the kitchen. With a stern face, she


    ordered the servants to bring out what Creighton had for lunch.


    Half a te of the brownish buckwheat wraps remained, along with two side dishes—one being a


    light sd of carrots and celery, the other a chilled tter of ham and cheese.


    Gripping the back of a nearby chair, she lifted her gaze to the servants, "Is this what you prepared


    for my father''s lunch?"


    The servants were too frightened to reply, their heads lowered in silence.


    "Miss," Brody said helplessly, "Sir has been preferring lighter meals these days, and he specifically


    asked for these dishes. Even if we prepared more, he wouldn''t touch them. Elderly folks'' meals are


    quite simple. When you''re not home, sir says there''s no need to cook so much."


    Cicely knew Brody well enough not to doubt his words, but in her memories, the Ellis family''s dining


    table was always a feast of variety.


    Upon reaching the study, she found Creighton slumped in a chair by the window, a book resting on


    his chest, his head tilted, seemingly asleep. A sudden pang of sorrow hit Cicely, and her eyes


    began to redden.


    This vast estate now had but one master. That grand dining table now set with only a humble corner


    for his simple meal.


    She had married early, head over heels in love, insisting on living with Seth and leaving her father


    alone in the house.


    She med herself deeply in her mind.


    She didn''t wake Creighton, gently covering him with a nket before tiptoeing out of the study.


    When Creighton woke from his nap and came downstairs to find Cicely discussing something with


    the servants, his face lit up with an unmistakable joy. "You little rascal, why didn''t you tell me you


    wereing?"


    "What, got secrets to hide before I arrive?"


    Creighton yfully red at her. "You''re not fighting with Seth again, are you?"


    "How could there be so many quarrels?" Cicelyughed, linking arms with Creighton and settling


    onto the couch. "He''s busy with work, and I was getting bored on my break, missing all the home-


    cooked meals. Dad, how about inviting Grandpa over for dinner tonight?"


    Creighton nodded, "You''ll have to ask him. He listens to you more than he does to me."


    "Alright, I''ll talk to him."


    Cicely stayed glued to Creighton for the rest of the afternoon. She badgered him into teaching her


    chess, yfully demanding take-backs that left Creighton both amused and exasperated.


    When Erik arrived, father and son squared off while she ced bets and sipped tea, asionally


    chiming in with unsolicited advice.


    Erik bristled, "Silence is golden; don''t meddle in the game."


    This afternoon was lively and bustling, and even the servants were working energetically. The entire


    Ellis family seemed to have returned to how it used to be.


    During dinner, Creighton inquired about Seth.


    Cicely said he was too busy to make it back. Creighton frowned, giving her an extra nce, "Are


    you two really okay?"


    Cicely, exasperated, "Just hope for us to be alright, will you?"


    Creighton relented.


    After dinner, Cicely still sent Seth a message. [I''m at the Ellis estate, won''t being home tonight.]


    She wasn''t about to create a dramatic runaway scenario with Seth, spending a night away from


    home. After all, she couldn''t let Grandpa and Dad sense anything amiss.


    Seth didn''t reply, and she didn''t wait up for him.


    At eight, Seth showed up at the Ellis estate''s doorstep. Cicely concealed her slight frown and


    moved to assist Seth with his coat. "Why are you here?"


    "Didn''t your message imply for me toe?"


    Cicely hung his coat on the rack, her voice neutral, "No, it was just to let you know."


    "Unless it''s unavoidable, there''s no reason for a married couple to sleep apart. I took your message


    as an invitation for us to stay here tonight."


    Before she could respond, he had pulled her into his embrace and they walked together into the


    living room. "Good evening."


    Creighton, seeing the couple''s closeness, smiled, "I’ve heard you’ve been working hard these past


    few days, have you eaten dinner?"


    "Not yet."


    "Well then, go ahead, I''ll have the staff whip up a few dishes. Cicely, take care of it."