Chapter 2039


    "I''m feeling a bit under the weather. I''m going to lie down for a bit upstairs. Make yourself at home,"


    Patty said with a wave of her hand. Her disdain for Cicely was an open secret.


    Cicely nodded, holding her ss of water with care. "Take care of yourself," she replied.


    It wasn''t long after Patty had left that Creighton called Cicely. "Cicely, have you arrived at the Diaz


    residence?"


    Cicely hurt her leg, and although Patty had told her to do as she pleased, she was pretty much


    confined to staging her little rebellion from thefort of the couch.


    Gazing out at the sunny day beyond the window, Cicely replied with her usual calm, "I''m here.


    What''s up?"


    "Danielle''s there too?"d2


    Her eyes darkened a bit, but her lips held a steady smile. She could hear the barely restrained fury


    in Creighton''s voice. "No, why do you ask?"


    There was a pause before Creighton answered, "Nothing, I''m at the hospital. The doctor said Patty


    hade to take Danielle out, and I thought she might have brought Danielle back."


    "Well, Patty is indeed out at the moment, and with Danielle''s leg condition, they couldn''t have gone


    far. I''ve sent Seth out to look for them."


    "No need, I''ve sent someone."


    "He''s already gone."


    Creighton took a deep breath.


    "Alright then." After a moment, he added, "It''s your first time at the Diaz ce. Don''t be too quick to


    lose your temper or act out, okay? As tough as it is, you just need to get through today."


    "I know," Cicely said softly, "Dad, but I''ve seen the menu for the New Year''s Eve dinner, and I still


    prefer our family''s cooking. Save me some forter."


    "You little rascal. Just don''t be picky over there, alright?"


    "I know, I know. Just make sure to save me some of my favorite dishes."


    "Got it."


    Cicely chuckled lightly, her tone cheerful, and full of coquetry.


    "Hanging up now."


    "Alright."


    The moment the call ended, the smile on Cicely''s face faded, and her hand clutching the phone


    trembled imperceptibly.


    *


    Creighton waited at the hospital for Danielle''s return. When Seth arrived carrying her, his face


    darkened.


    However, since he had spoken with Cicely earlier and believed Seth had found Danielle and


    brought her back to the hospital, he didn''t ask any further questions. He simply stated, "I''ve spoken


    to the doctor. We''ll bring you home for the New Year''s Eve dinner."


    Danielle, seated on the bed and avoiding Creighton''s gaze, said, "I''m not going back." Her tone was


    defiant.


    Creighton, trying to keep his patience, said, "Granddad''s waiting at home."


    "My legs are a mess. Going back will only cause trouble for you all. It''s just a dinner, I can eat by


    myself. Don''t worry about me." With Seth there, Danielle didn''t say anything too harsh.


    "There are plenty of staff at home to look after you."


    "Uncle!" Danielle snapped, her patience wearing thin, "I really don''t want to be shuffled back and


    forth. It''s inconvenient for you, and for me. Just let me stay at the hospital."


    Seth nced at Danielle, then said to Creighton, "She has a point. It would be a hassle. You should


    head back. I''ll bring Cicely home early tonight."


    Creighton, his patience spent, was grateful for Seth''s intervention. "I''ll have someone send dinner


    over to you tonight." With that, he left the room in a huff.


    "You may not like Cicely, and that''s between you two, but you should be aware of how the elders


    feel about you. Don''t wear out everyone''s patience. A smart person wouldn''t push away the support


    of the Ellis family."


    Danielle scoffed, "The Ellis family is Cicely''s rock, not mine."


    "Do as you please." With a final cold remark, Seth exited the room.


    Left alone, Danielle sat on the bed for a long while before suddenly sweeping everything off the


    bedside table in a fit of rage.


    *


    Back at the Diaz residence, Cicely sat alone on the sofa.


    "Where''s mom?"


    "Not feeling well. She''s resting." Cicely''s tone was light as she added, "I need to use the restroom."


    Seth bent down to lift her in his arms.


    "Did you say anything to Creighton? Or did he say anything to you?"


    From outside the bathroom, Seth clearly heard her reply, "Nothing."


    "Danielle refused to go with him."


    "Whatever." Cicely stood up, leaning against the wall and straightening her clothes, "Her absence is


    a blessing for them anyway. After all, who wants to dine in the presence of a bitch face?"


    Exiting the bathroom, Seth stood in the doorway, watching her bnce awkwardly on one foot


    beside the toilet.


    Cicely dropped her clothes and looked at him expressionlessly, "What? Don''t like me calling


    Danielle''s face bitchy?"


    Seth carried her back upstairs, cing her on the bed in his room where she sat with an air of


    nonchnce.


    Her gaze swept the room, which had remained unchanged.


    Her stuffed pillow was still on the bed, her knick-knacks still on the table, and likely their toiletries


    were still in the bathroom. Yet all of it suddenly felt foreign to Cicely.


    These were things she''d bought when she used to cling to Seth, wanting to fill his life with her


    presence, hoping that even in her absence, these items would remind him of her. Now though, she


    found it all rather silly. The passion she once felt seemed to have cooled.


    Perhaps it was because her perspective had shifted. The man she once chased was now hers.


    What had been childish antics now seemed like the most natural thing in the world.


    "Can Ie here often?" she asked.


    Seth watched her silently, disliking the way she had looked around the room moments before.


    "Of course."


    Cicely smiled, "I suppose if I visit too often, Patty might have fewer years to live. But then again, I


    don''t care to see her anyway."


    "Then don''te."


    Cicely grabbed the pillow beside her andy down, hugging it to her chest. "I''ll try to visit less, then."


    ...


    A veritable feasty sprawled across the dining table, enough to feed a small army, yet there were


    only three of them to partake in this culinary extravagance. More than twenty dishes, each one a


    testament to the culinary skills of a dedicated host.


    The day''s earlier mishaps seemed to have dissipated into thin air.


    Patty was the life of the party, herughter and banter injecting warmth into the atmosphere.


    Seth, ever the stoic, barely said a word throughout the meal, asionally serving a helping of food


    onto Cicely''s te. Patty probably couldn''t stand how well Seth treated Cicely. Every time Seth


    served Cicely food, she would fall silent for a moment.


    Despite the three of them tackling the spread, the table was hardly less crowded by the end of the


    meal.


    They lounged in the living room afterward, engaging in small talk that felt painfully awkward to


    Cicely.


    Seth, sensing the mood, eventually announced, "It''s gettingte; we should head out. You should


    get some rest."


    Patty''s demeanor chilled instantly. "You''re not staying over?"


    "No, I''ve got ns with some friends. Might be outte, so I won''t being back tonight."


    Compared to the excuse of taking Cicely away from the Diaz family, the boys'' night out seemed far


    more believable. Patty didn''t press them to stay.


    On New Year''s Eve, even Charlie, dedicated as he was, decided to take a break and go back home


    to enjoy a reunion dinner with his family.


    Seth drove them back to the Ellis household.


    Cicely sat in the passenger seat, clutching a stuffed pillow she''d snagged from Seth''s bedroom.


    The normally congested streets were eerily quiet.


    Cicely rang Creighton, chirping over the phone that she was on her way back, just in time for the


    countdown to the new year.


    After hanging up the phone, Cicely fell silent once again, her tone a far cry from when she was on


    the phone just now.


    "Still upset?" Seth broke the silence about halfway through the journey.


    Cicely''s gaze was fixed on the rare expanse of open road, her voice tinged with a faint smile.


    "Which incident are you referring to?"


    Seth eased on the brakes as the traffic light turned amber. The three-second pause was telling. "All


    of it."


    The red light bathed them in its glow, the numbers on the signal ticking down, casting flickering


    shadows across their faces.


    "Do I seem to get angry often these days?" Cicely''s tone was indifferent, as if discussing someone


    else''s troubles.


    Seth’s jaw tensed, detecting sarcasm.


    "You''ve been off too," she continued. "You lost your temper this morning, right? I tried holding back


    today, and it was unbearable. Making it through dinner was a stretch for me."


    Seth''s eyes darkened.


    "Your mom even mentioned how patient I was today, that normally this morning''s words would have


    been enough for me to walk away. It''s not that my foot is temporarily disabled and I can''t walk. If I


    really want to leave, there would have been a hundred ways for me to leave the Diaz residence."


    "You wanted to take Danielle away and expected me to wait for you. Ha!" For the first time, Cicely


    turned to face him, her voiceced with scorn. "Seth, what makes you so sure I''d just obediently


    wait for you?"


    Seth''s grip on the steering wheel tightened but his face remained impassive. "Then why did you


    stay?"


    "Because I''ve always been the one giving too much, because you finally brought me to the Diaz


    family for the holiday, and because I love you, care for you?" Her voice rose sardonically at the end.


    Seth thought she''d been holding back, and now it was just the two of them, she should let it all out.


    He was ready for her tirade, but as she began, he suddenly didn''t want to hear the end of it.


    Yet he was inexplicablypelled to hear her real reason. "Isn''t that why?"


    "No."


    Cicely''s blunt response, free of hesitation, sent a wave of unease through him.


    "All the confidence you had in front of me, you got it right—because I loved you." Cicely clutched


    the pillow tighter, a mockingugh escaping her. "But not this time, Seth. Do you know why I


    insisted on sending Danielle away despite everything your mother said today? Do you know why my


    dad didn''t ask anything when he saw you carrying Danielle back to the hospital?"


    The green light suddenly illuminated both of their faces. Seth''s expression was chilling. The street


    was empty, and the car remained stationary as Cicely’s voice, cold and mocking, filled the space.


    "Because you brought me from the Ellis home to the Diaz family. Everyone knew I was supposed to


    be there for the holiday. If I had returned halfway, it wouldn''t have been me who suffered, but the


    entire Ellis family. What did my grandfather and father do to deserve such unhappiness during the


    holidays?


    "Think about it, what have I brought them over the years? It''s always been about me receiving their


    love, always taking. Suddenly, I thought, if I could give a little bit back, maybe they would be


    happier, and love me a little more. I poured all my attention into you; did you love me a bit more for


    it?


    "As I watched yoush out at me and then leave with Danielle, choosing to stay wasn''t about you. It


    was about my dad, who would''ve been heartbroken to know Danielle was with your mother, sharing


    a New Year''s Eve meal with me."


    After speaking, she turned to look out the window at the quiet, almost deste cityscape, taking a


    deep breath. "The reason I''ve been angry and felt wronged up to now, it really wasn''t all about you."


    She leaned against the window frame, a slight smile on her lips. "Maybe you''re not entirely absent


    from my thoughts, but definitely not as important as before."


    Suddenly, the car shot forward, pressing Cicely against the seat. Sheughed softly again. "Why so


    mad? Even if you''re not as important as before, it''s still more than the little affection you have for


    me. Slow down. Today''s meal was hardly to my taste. I need to save room for a proper feast at


    home."


    After speeding past a few cars, Seth finally eased off the elerator.


    Cicely''s tension quietly eased. "I hear you''ve got a shindig with the guys tonight. If you end up


    painting the town red and it''ste, don''t bothering back to the Ellis ce. I''m not a fan of being


    woken up."


    "No party, won''t disrupt your sleep, won''t wake you." Seth''s voice was tight, his handsome face just


    as frosty.


    "Then why did you just say..."


    Cicely''s words snapped shut under Seth''s icy gaze. "I haven''t stayed at hometely, and it''s New


    Year."


    That was the only way Patty would let him off the hook so easily. Seth''s response was nearly


    unintelligible, but Cicely managed to parse the answer on her own.


    N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.


    The mood was sour, and Cicely''s words only added to Seth''s irritation.


    Suddenly, the silence in the car was pierced by the ring of a cellphone. The phone, connected to the


    car''s Bluetooth, shed the name Kane Ziems.


    Seth hit the answer button, and Kane''s carefree voice filled the car. "Casa Club,e out and ring


    in the New Year."


    "Can''t."


    "Man, we''re all here, just missing you. If you don''t show, you''re picking up the tab next time."


    "Did I say I was going?"


    "You didn''t say you weren''t."


    Before Kane could finish, Seth ended the call.


    Cicely quirked her lips, "If you''ve got ns, go. It''s New Year, no harm in kicking back. Drop me off


    and you''ll still make it."


    No reaction from Seth. Cicely didn''t intend to press further.


    Less than two minutester, Seth''s phone rang again.


    Cicely thought it was Kane again, but when she looked at the screen, she saw an unfamiliar


    landline number.


    She noticed a slight furrow in Seth''s brow. He answered anyway.


    "Mr. Diaz, this is First Central Hospital."


    Cicely paused, a mock smile crossing her face as she straightened up and looked forward.


    "What''s up?" Seth''s detached voice asked.


    The voice on the other end sounded timid and uneasy, "It''s Ms. Danielle. There''s been an incident."


    Seth''s eyes darkened, unwittingly scanning the woman sitting upright next to him, her gaze forward,


    lips curled in a smile. "What happened?"


    "After you left this morning, her mood has been erratic, but someone was always with her. Aside


    from throwing things and losing her temper, she was fine, but it''s New Year, some caregivers


    gathered to have a meal. Miss Danielle tried to go to the bathroom on her own, but she fell out of


    bed. She''s been taken to the examination room for further tests."


    Cicely''s body lurched forward with inertia, her rxed feet suddenly bearing the brunt of her shifting


    weight, a heart-wrenching pain shooting through her. She bit down hard, closing her eyes to


    suppress the sudden agony. Her right hand clutched the armrest, sweat nearly seeping out of every


    pore. She didn''t see Seth''s expression, but she could guess the look on his face when he hit the


    brakes.


    "I''ll be right there." His voice was chilling, apanied by the screech of tires on asphalt.


    Cicely leaned askew against the car door, veins on her pale forehead standing out amidst beads of


    sweat.


    "Seth." Her eyes shut tight, her voice strained to its limit.


    Seth nced at her, but didn''t slow down. "We need to make a stop at the hospital."


    Cicely''s heart tightened for a moment, and before she could fully grasp how sad she felt, the pain


    from her foot was a more tangible and intense reminder of reality.


    The heart...


    No cuts, no blood, no swelling, no bruises.


    Whoever said a wounded heart hurt more than the body was wrong.


    He spoke without room for argument, not amand, but leaving no space for rebuttal.


    "I need to get home for dinner."


    Seth''s brows furrowed, "You''ll make it."


    His speed unyielding, Cicely''s closed eyes trembled, pushing the unbearable pain deep down,


    emotions following suit.


    "Seth, pull over." Her voice was calm, almost soothing.


    Sensing something, Seth slowly decelerated, easing to the roadside. Cicely took a deep breath,


    unbuckling her seatbelt.


    Hearing the click, Seth turned to look at her. "I told you, I need to get home for dinner. I''m no use at


    the hospital, Danielle won''t be happy to see me, and with my leg, I''d just be in the way. So, I''m not


    going to the hospital. I''ll get out here."


    As she spoke, she pushed open the car door. A hand clutched her wrist tightly.


    Cicely''s expression didn''t waver. "Something else?"


    "You heard..."


    "Oh, right." Cicely cut him off as if suddenly remembering something. "Don''t let the hospital call


    Grandpa or my dad. Even if they find out, Danielle''s broken leg is still broken, they''re not miracle


    workers. It won''t heal just because they arrive."


    Seth''s grip on Cicely''s hand loosened slightly. Her ostensibly caring words sounded more like


    sarcasm.


    In his brief distraction, Cicely shifted, her uninjured foot reaching outside the car. The hand on her


    arm tightened once more.


    "You know I''m aware of your leg trouble. I can''t leave you here alone. I''ll take you home first." He


    paused, as if holding back unsaid words.


    Cicely clutched the pillow in herp, refusing. "No need. This road doesn''t allow U-turns, you''ve


    already broken thew once, so let''s not do it again. Seeing how you were earlier, it felt like Danielle


    was about to die. Don''t waste time here with me, go save her before it''s toote and you end up


    ming me forever."


    Wasn''t it almost like Danielle was dead?


    He hadn''t thought about Cicely’s leg possibly being hurt again after that abrupt stop.


    He''d used a drink with friends as an excuse to get Patty to let her go home early. He''d coldly turned


    down Kane''s invitation, saying he was busy. But in two minutes, without a second thought, he''d


    disregarded the trafficws, ignored her injury, forgotten his eagerness to take her home for dinner,


    all to rush to the hospital.


    “Cicely, what exactly does it take for you to let it go? If I genuinely wanted to have something with


    Danielle, I certainly wouldn''t let you find out. I thought by being open with you, you''d feel secure.


    But now it seems like you''d be okay as long as I keep my affairs out of sight, right? As if ignorance


    would somehow make everyone happy?”


    The door was ajar, and the warmth from the car''s heater had dissipatedpletely. The icy air


    seemed to solidify between them.


    “How do you define letting it go? Seth, how does her condition have anything to do with me? And


    why do I have to let her affect my mood every day? She inexplicably stands in my way, an


    unexpected hurdle I''m supposed to jump over without question? Everything about this situation has


    been thrust upon me by her and all of you. I didn''t do anything—I just loved you, and now I can''t


    escape or hide from her. It’s like I’m forced to face her.


    “Is it me who can''t get over it? No, it''s you all! You''re driving me absolutely mad!


    “You and her have nothing going on? Are you really sure you don''t have even the slightest bit of


    affection for her?”


    Seth''s face, already clouded with frustration, sunk deeper, but upon hearing her usation, his


    eyes snapped up, pinning her with a heavy gaze. “Do you think there''s anypelling reason why


    I''d harbor feelings for her and still choose to be with you?”


    Cicely let out a scoff, “That sure sounds like an insult to you, doesn’t it?”


    Seth, trying to keep his patience, asked, “Did something happen between me and Danielle, or did I


    ever say I had feelings for her? What exactly are you worried about?”


    Cicely’s smile was faint, yet her eyes were as cold as the chilling air that lingered in the dark night


    outside. “You don’t love her, but you don’t love me either.”


    That was the crux of it all.


    She had always thought it didn’t matter if he didn’t love her; as long as he belonged to her, that was


    enough. She loved him, and that was her possession.


    Everyone spends their lives striving for a perfect oue, giving their all.