Chapter 2040


    Everyone strives for a perfect oue in life, expending every bit of their energy and soul.


    When she finally achieved it and held it close, she realized the hardest part wasn’t reaching the goal


    but keeping it, because life was full of unexpected twists that she never sawing.


    Time and again, she wished he''d love her—not out of greed but out of a sudden realization that love


    could be a shackle. She needed this shackle to keep Seth firmly by her side.


    Her love for him didn''t guarantee he''d stay, but if he loved her the way she loved him, he''d never


    leave so easily.


    Yet, these shackles bound only her. He held the key, always able to slip away at a moment''s notice.


    She was left racked with insecurity, like a lunatic.


    The car fell silent, the chill of the night air was like countless needles piercing through her skin,


    bone-chillingly cold.d2


    "Cicely," Seth finally spoke after a long silence, his voice seemingly stiffened by the cold wind.


    "Don’t be too greedy. Why obsess over that one word? Beyond sentimentality, it holds no meaning.


    To associate us with that is an insult to both of us."


    Sentimentality? An insult? Were they the ones who insulted the very thing called love?


    A gaping hole seemed to tear open in her chest, the cold air rushing in, freezing even the blood in


    her veins. Her expression was distant, her gaze hollow as she stared at him. "Do you have to be so


    blunt and drag me back to reality? A man''s words are indeed best used for deceit."


    Even if he lied to her, spinning a web of falsehoods, it was better than dragging her into reality to be


    pricked and prodded over and over again.


    "If I lie to you, you won''t believe it. Why would I humiliate myself?"


    Cicely forced a smile, her legs numb from the biting wind. "It seems that whatever you do, in my


    eyes, you can do no right."


    Suddenly, Seth gripped her wrist tighter, "We have many reasons to stay together, and even more


    reasons why I won''t leave you. It''s not just love that binds people together."


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    He leaned over and grabbed the seatbelt by her side, "Buckle up, I''m taking you home."


    But Cicely pressed down on his hand that held the seatbelt, her beautiful eyes clouded with a mix of


    bewilderment and scorn. "Indeed, it''s not just that love that binds two people together. Guilt,


    obligation, and a life-saving debt can do just as well."


    Seth''s dark eyes suddenly grew heavy and frosty, as if brewing a silent, invisible blizzard. Even the


    arch of his brows seemed frosted with icy des, cold and sharp. "Do you have to be so


    aggressive? Cicely, is it that no matter what I say or do, you have already condemned me?"


    Cicely clutched the plush cushion, the high-quality velvet inside crumpled in her grip. "You made me


    sound like I''m more of a clueless judge who doesn''t know anything, hastily sentencing to death."


    "But Seth," Cicely closed her eyes briefly, inhaling softly, "maybe it''s because I''m clueless, so even


    if you deceive me, I might choose to pardon you."


    "Do you find such a hypocritical life entertaining?"


    Cicely smiled faintly, shaking her head, "I don''t find it interesting either. I guess I just got sentimental


    for a moment."


    "I still have dinner waiting, so go do what you need to do. Going to see Danielle, right? I''ll just


    assume you''re out drinking with Kane and the others." She pushed the car door fully open, letting in


    more of the frigid air.


    She stepped out tentatively, her injured foot reluctant to touch the ground after the sudden stop.


    Leaning on the door, she hid any sign of weakness. If he saw any hint of her pain, he''d likely just


    scoff, calling her sentimental once more.


    Seth watched her coldly, his eyes as deste as the aftermath of a storm, void of life. "No matter


    what I say or do, you keep associating me with Danielle. It''s as if your perception of me is deeply


    ingrained. Now, I think since I’m such a terrible figure in your heart, maybe I should really take some


    time to consider if I actually like Danielle, or maybe even give it a real try with her."


    Cicely’s already fragileposure flinched violently at his words, her gaze snapping to the man


    sneering before her.


    "Since you''re so set on getting out here, it seems pointless for me to say more." He leaned over,


    extending his long arm to grab the car door. His gaze swept from her tightly grasped hand on the


    edge of the door, to her face, adorned with neon lights that hid the pallor on her beautiful face.


    In a voice devoid of emotion, he said, "Call Issac to pick you up." With that, he closed the door with


    force, stepped on the elerator, and the car sped away into the night.


    *


    Cicely stood numbly, staring nkly as his car vanished from sight, then mechanically dialed Issac''s


    number.


    Seth was seriously considering whether he liked Danielle? So now, was he off to the hospital,


    intending to give it a real shot with Danielle?


    Perhaps it was the cold weather, but Cicely’s blood felt frozen, and the pain in her ankle seemed


    less intense. Clutching the stuffed cushion, she stood at the deste roadside, as lonely and forlorn


    as an abandoned child.


    She didn''t know how Issac managed to arrive in less than ten minutes. When Issac saw Cicely


    standing alone by the empty street, his voice wasden with shock and urgency, as if the sky was


    falling.


    "Miss!"


    He got out of the car, immediately taking off his jacket and draping it over the woman who seemed


    lost in another world. Her face was a mix of helplessness and confusion, tinged with anxiety and


    disappointment.


    She’s such a young girl, but her expression was now moreplex than he couldprehend.


    Her clothes were hardly warm. When girls went out, unless they deliberately went out for a stroll,


    they didn''t dress themselves in a way that seemed bulky and cumbersome.


    "Issac, I hit my foot, and it hurts." Her voice was cool and emotionless, and her nose and eyes were


    red from the cold.


    Issac opened the passenger door, bent down to lift her up, carefully cing her in the passenger


    seat, and then fastened the seatbelt. His breathing became somewhat rapid due to the urgency of


    the situation.


    "I''m taking you to the hospital," he said, the words finally stirring a reaction from Cicely.


    Her thoughts seemed to return in fragments as she blinked her eyes and clutched the throw pillow


    in herp, "I don''t want to go to the hospital. I need to go home for dinner; Grandpa and Dad are


    waiting for me."


    "But..."


    "Issac, I''m really hungry."


    The look on Cicely''s face left no room for further argument. Issac reluctantly nodded in agreement.


    *


    The car sped down the highway, the side window rolled all the way down, letting the biting chill of


    the wind rush into the car and p against Seth''s tense, stoic face. The anger boiling in his chest


    felt like it was about to incinerate him from the inside out.


    The leather of the steering wheel deformed under the strength of his grip as Cicely''s face, cycling


    through various emotions, invaded his thoughts without pause.


    Mockery, scorn, indifference, ndness... Every expression seemed to taunt him about how utterly


    ridiculous he was.


    Ridiculously greedy.


    She took what she wanted without hesitation. When she liked something, she pursued it and made


    it known, with a candidness that was clear for all to see. When she despised something, she kept


    her distance, her disdain unmasked.


    Simple, mboyant, and self-assured, and she felt everyone should be the same.


    Feelings should be expressed, and dislike was not to be disguised.


    Ha.


    He scoffed.


    The harsh wind filled his lungs, chilling the fiery frustration that had built up in his chest. Thest


    image that shed in his mind was her standing at the doorway, with panic and helplessness in her


    eyes as shest stared at him.


    His heart suddenly clenched, and the shrill sound of tires screeching violently cut through the


    emptiness of the city. The car decelerated abruptly, the steering wheel whipping around.


    A series of honking horns erupted, one after another. Several cars behind hit their brakes


    sessively, and unsettled horns joined the symphony. Opening the window, the drivers loudly


    sweared at the luxury car that was driving against traffic on the overpass.


    Seth was deaf to their insults, his face set in stone as he navigated the gaps between each vehicle,


    rolling up the window and sting the heater to its maximum, turning on the seat warmer for the


    passenger side as well.


    Ten minutes back and forth, but by the time he returned to the spot he had left Cicely, she was


    gone. He stepped out of the car, finding no trace of her presence.


    He was getting angry with himself. What was he thinking, leaving her alone on the street with an


    injured foot?


    Sirens wailed as a police car pulled up beside him. He shut his eyes briefly, trying to contain his


    irritation.


    *


    As the car pulled into the Ellis family estate, Cicely spoke softly, "Don''t tell Grandpa and Dad where


    you picked me up today."


    Issac''s face stiffened, but he managed to mutter an affirmative.


    Seeing Cicely being carried into the living room by Issac, Erik and Creighton immediately broke into


    joyful smiles. "You are home!"


    A servant quickly wheeled over a chair, and Issac carefully transferred Cicely onto it.


    Cicely frowned, clearly unhappy, "Today''s meal was a total letdown. To think I purposely skipped


    eating all day, expecting something spectacr."


    "You are so spoiled. How could you be so picky." Erik chided.


    "Yeah, wonder who spoiled her to be like that."


    With Cicely''s return, the atmosphere instantly lifted.


    Brody hurried everyone to the dining room, "Miss, they learned that you areing home for


    dinner, Mr. Erik and Mr.Creighton barely touched their food."


    Cicely swallowed the lump in her throat, "Well, then, it''s perfect. They can eat a bit more with me."


    Brody beamed, "Exactly, the more the merrier, and it''ll make dinner more enjoyable."


    Once everyone was seated, Erik looked toward the dining room door, "Where''s Seth? Why didn''t he


    come back with you?"


    "Well, Kane called him out for a drink midway, so I told him to go. He''s been so busytely, and then


    he has to stick by me all through the holiday. I felt bad. I had to practically shove him out the door so


    he''d go have some fun and get some air."


    Hearing this, Creighton nodded, "That''s fair. Let''s enjoy our meal then."


    Cicely took a bite of her food and softly hummed in agreement. She ate heartily that evening, more


    than usual, until she felt a bit ufortable.


    The three generations sat in the living room, sipping tea and watching a variety show, as Cicely


    rubbed her belly and browsed trending topics on her phone. Most were about the variety show.


    Just as she unlocked her phone, a message popped up. It was from Issac. [I''ve bought the


    medicine.]


    ncing at her grandfather and father, who were engrossed in aedy sketch, she replied,


    [Leave it in my room.]


    [Okay.]


    But within minutes, Issac appeared in the living room, approaching her.


    Cicely looked up at him. Erik and Creighton also turned their attention to him. Issac spoke with a


    neutral expression, "You just messaged that you were going to freshen up."


    Cicely fell silent. Unable to deny it in front of the elders, she had no choice but to let Issac lift her


    and carry her upstairs.


    Issac brought Cicely straight to the bathroom. She noticed the bathtub was already filled with water.


    "I didn''t tell you that," she said to him.


    Issac acknowledged, "Your foot needs to be taken care of sooner rather thanter."


    He then turned to leave, "You wash up. I''ll wait outside for you."


    As soon as Issac stepped out, a maid came in. "Miss, let me help you."


    Indeed, Cicely couldn''t bathe herself, getting in and out of the tub was the issue. Normally, it was


    Seth who would strip her down and carry her straight into the bath. Now, clearly, Issac wouldn''t do


    the same.


    She didn''t take long, emerging about half an hourter in a clean and dry nightgown, the maid


    helping her to the bathroom doorway. Cicely leaned tiredly against the frame.


    Issac, waiting outside the bedroom, heard the movement, "Miss, may Ie in?"


    After soaking in the tub, the return of the heat made the pain in her foot more pronounced. She was


    too tired to walk by herself and gave Issac permission to enter. In seconds, he was by her side,


    lifting her into his arms and setting her down on the bed.


    The strap nightgown she was wearing was considered quite reserved. Her summer attire, with tank


    tops and shorts, was much more revealing than what she was wearing now. However, in the cold


    season, when people were bundled up, her appearance was a bit of a visual shock.


    Issac remained focused, kneeling on the floor, gently resting Cicely''s injured foot on his knee.


    Methodically, he unwound the sodden bandages, revealing the injury that looked even more swollen


    than before.


    Cicely''s eyes lingered on her foot before she bit her lip and averted her gaze. Throughout her


    pampered life, even the slightest mischief that led to a tumble would send the Ellis family into a


    frenzy of concern. This kind of injury was something she could never contemte.


    Issac''s expression was tight with concern as he nced up at her, his hands poised hesitantly over


    the injury. "I''ve taken some first aid courses, and I''ll be as gentle as I can. Just try to bear with me."


    Cicely, still biting her lip, gave a faint nod.


    "You can rx a bit," Issac reassured as he lifted her foot gently, examining the sprain before


    reaching for the ice pack he''d prepared, wrapping it in a towel and softly pressing it against the


    swelling.


    Cicely''s body jerked at the cold touch, her teeth clenching even tighter.


    Holding the ice pack in ce, Issac looked up at her again, "It might be another couple of weeks


    before you can walk on it, even just a little."


    Cicely blinked, turning to look at him, her face showing a hint of sadness. She had been so close to


    getting back on her feet.


    Issac remained silent. Cicely could sense a restrained emotion in him, but she wasn''t sure if it was


    because of her. She didn''t bring it up.


    After holding the position for a good ten minutes, Issac finally removed the ice pack and took the


    medication he''d bought earlier, applying it carefully and skillfully to Cicely''s foot. The pain seemed to


    subside, and Cicely''s tense nerves began to rx.


    "I always remembered you being so busy. How did you find time to learn nursing?" she asked


    curiously.


    Issac paused momentarily as he bandaged her foot, then continued without looking up, his care and


    precision evident in every movement. "When you were ten, you fell into the rose garden while flying


    a kite and got a nasty cut from a thorn. You cried so much, it seemed to hurt worse than when I fell


    out of the tree and broke my arm."


    A flicker of memory passed through Cicely''s eyes as she recalled such an incident. "I remember


    now. You were trying to retrieve my kite from the tree, and then you got a scolding from Brody,


    grounded for a whole week."


    "Mm," Issac acknowledged. "It''s my fault for not taking better care of you when we were together."


    The hint of a smile that had begun to form on Cicely''s face slowly faded.


    "But I suppose there will be times when I''m not vignt in the future, and I can''t always be right by


    your side. If you get hurt, at least I can do something to make it right." Issac still didn''t look up as he


    finished applying the anti-inmmatory lotion. "Turns out I was right to think ahead. It''s paying off


    now, isn''t it?"


    As Cicely watched Issac''s focused demeanor, she realized how silently he''d been there for her all


    these years, and how she''d taken it for granted. "Issac, if it weren''t for you, I might not have been


    able to be so carefree and willful. I act the way I do because I know you''ll never leave me and you''ll


    always solve any problems for me. I won''t have to worry about anything. Thank you so much."


    Issac''s voice was even, "You''re not willful. It''s my responsibility to solve problems for you, and it''s


    what I willingly do. If you didn''t need me, what purpose would I serve?"


    His words were simple, yet they carried an astonishing implication: Issac lived for Cicely.


    It was a thought Cicely had never entertained, but looking back, it seemed that ever since Brody


    had brought him into her life, he had been doing just that.


    Seth''s driving privileges were temporarily suspended, and on New Year''s Eve, he couldn''t find a


    designated driver. The on-duty traffic cop ended up escorting Seth back to the Ellis estate in a


    squad car.


    Upon his arrival in the grand house, Seth noticed the household staff exchanging odd looks as he


    descended from the police vehicle.


    He found Erik and Creighton lounging on the sofa, absorbed in a New Year''s Eve show. Erik looked


    up in surprise, "Back so soon? It''s rare for you to cut a night out short."


    Seth''s gaze flickered, his fists clenching at his sides. Tense and controlled, he asked, "Where''s


    Cicely?"


    "She''s upstairs freshening up. You''re just in time. Go fetch her so we can all ring in the New Year


    together."


    "Alright."


    The bedroom door was ajar as Seth approached, and he caught every word of Issac''s conversation


    inside.


    Was Issac''s existence meaningless if Cicely didn’t need him?


    Seth''s eyes darkened with realization. Issac, the man who had always been by Cicely''s side


    harbored deeper affections for her than he had thought.


    Stepping into the room, Seth only had to take a few strides to catch sight of Cicely sitting on the


    bed, gazing intently at Issac as he finished wrapping her foot.


    The tenderness in her expression, so different from how she had looked at Seth earlier that


    evening, was not lost on Seth.


    Issac wrapped thest loop of bandages for her, then secured it, but such a simple action, in Seth''s


    eyes, was far from pure.


    Issac held her slender legs in his hands. Her legs showed too much from under her nightgown as


    she lifted her foot, and from Issac''s kneeling position, with just a slight lift of his head, he would see


    even more.


    Issac was just cing her bandaged foot gently aside when he spoke up, "Are you going to sleep,


    or do you want to go downstairs?"


    Without hesitation, Cicely replied, "I''ll go down to be with grandpa and dad for the New Year."


    "Alright," Issac answered simply, slipping a pair offy slippers onto Cicely''s feet. He stood,


    approaching Cicely, and as he bent down, she naturally reached out to embrace his shoulders.


    Seth may had seen Issac carry her before, but it had never disgusted him as it did now. Seth


    stepped forward, his hand reaching out to Issac''s shoulder, pushing him aside.


    Cicely''s reaching hands were left suspended in midair. Realizing what had happened, her face


    darkened with anger. "What''s gotten into you?"


    Seth turned, looking down at the woman on the bed, her brow furrowed in a scowl, her expression


    stormy.


    Damp tendrils framed her face, the scent of her bath products more pronounced than before, and


    her makeup washed away, leaving her features clean and bare.


    "Fresh out of the shower?" Seth lifted his hand, intending to brush away the damp strands of hair


    from her ear, but she dodged with a turn of her head. "Indeed, just had a shower. Don''t fancy a


    second one, so hands off."


    Her words were icy, her expression frosty. She was implying he was dirty.


    Anger coiled in Seth''s chest. "Did you manage to shower all by yourself today?" He persisted.


    Cicely let out a soft chuckle. "What, can''t I take a shower without you? I don''t need you to hold my


    hand."


    Seth''s deep gaze settled on her lovely face, devoid of light makeup, her hair unstyled yet falling


    perfectly into ce, the damp tendrils curling naturally around her. It was a casual, homely charm


    that should have been reserved for him alone, yet now it seemed Issac had also been granted this


    privilege. He hadn''t seen her like this any more than Issac had.


    There were too many nks between them, and Issac had always been there.


    He didn''t press on who might have helped Cicely with her shower. He convinced himself that no


    matter how close she and Issac were, she wouldn''t allow such intimacies. "Your Grandpa and Dad


    are waiting for you downstairs to ring in the New Year. I''ll carry you."


    "I was nning to go down anyway." Cicely replied, her gaze shifting to Issac. "Issac, would you


    mind giving me a lift?"


    Seth stood still, a thin veneer of patience masking his irritation.


    Issac stepped around him, reaching to lift Cicely. Suddenly, Issac''s shoulder was seized, and a


    punch with the force of a gale came hurtling towards his face. Issac dodged quickly, but not quickly


    enough to avoid a blow to the cheek. Issac staggered, catching himself on the edge of the bed to


    steady his stance.


    Cicely''s world spun, and when she regained her senses, she was horrified. "Issac..."


    She moved to support him, but Issac stopped her with a hand and slowly stood up, wiping the blood


    from his lip. Issac''s face suddenly hardened, and he threw a punch back at Seth.


    Seth hadn''t expected that Issac, who always seemed like an emotionless robot by Cicely''s side,


    would actually strike back. He took two steps back.


    Cicely felt dizzy as she witnessed the sudden altercation.


    Issac advanced towards Seth again. As a man assigned to stay close to Cicely, his skills were


    undoubtedly exceptional. His movements were swift, but as he neared, he didn''t strike. Instead, he


    fixed Seth with a re, his eyes bloodshot and fierce, his voice emerging through clenched teeth. "I


    don''t know what kind of emergencypelled you to re-injure her foot on New Year''s Eve and then


    leave her to fend for herself on the street. But no matter your reasons, even if it was the sudden


    death of your mother, it''s inexcusable!"


    Seth''s features, as sharp as a repeatedly honed sword, flinched slightly upon hearing Issac''s


    venomous and outrage-filled words. He looked past Issac''s shoulder at the woman sitting on the


    bed.


    Her eyes were red with emotion, but as her gaze met his, she adopted an icy indifference and


    turned her head away. A weight settled in his chest, and his gaze involuntarily fell on her newly


    bandaged foot.


    Memories shed, and his expression darkened.


    "What could possibly be so urgent to make you do something so reckless? Did thepany go


    bankrupt, or did your mother pass away? Youe back without a single word offort or


    exnation, and then you want to pick a fight?"


    Issac''s words, shedding years of reticence, cut ruthlessly to the bone. Seth found himself unable to


    retort. No matter how much Issac''s words struck at his core, he couldn''t speak up.


    Leaving her alone on the cold, empty streets on New Year''s Eve was bad enough for him to realize


    the gravity of his actions. And now, it turned out he had hurt her foot again.