Chapter 2066


    The curve of Cicely''s lips widened slightly, her reddened eyes holding Seth captive, unable to look


    away.


    "Maybe I haven''t lost enough for you to understand, but there''s no one left around me to lose.


    Perhaps if I spend a few more years behind bars, you''ll finally remember that the you from back


    then and the you now are doing the exact same thing," she said.


    A sudden tension seized Seth''s brow, as if stung by an unseen force. Abruptly, he let go of Cicely.


    Silence descended upon the room. The icy chill and hostility that had filled the space began to


    dissipate.


    Seth stood behind her, staring at the reflection in the mirror for a long while. He probably should


    have said something, but the sight of her red-rimmed eyes silenced him. It felt like no matter what


    he said, it would be wrong.


    The ring of the phone came as a lifeline to him. It was Colorado—someone he hadn''t been in touch


    with for a long while.d2


    Clutching the phone, he turned and left the bedroom. "I''ve got things to do. You should get some


    rest."


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    The door to the room opened and closed, and only after the room had beenpletely quiet for


    quite some time did Cicely close her eyes and be still for a moment before slowly walking over to


    the bed and sitting down. The hands resting on herp were still vaguely shaking.


    After what felt like an eternity, there was a knock at the door. Her body tensed instantly, she


    grabbed a nearby throw nket and wrapped herself tightly, eyes fixed on the door, silent.


    Seconds stretched on, each one fraying her nerves to a thread.


    "Ms. Cicely, your milk is ready."


    Cicely rxed once more. She didn''t respond, but the maid entered anyway. cing the milk on the


    nightstand, she took a swift nce at Cicely. "Ms. Cicely, Mr. Diaz will be traveling abroad for


    business and won''t return for several days. If you need anything, please tell us."


    Cicely breathed a sigh of relief. Going abroad meant he wouldn''t be back for a while, and she


    certainly didn''t want to see him anytime soon.


    ＊


    Emerald Valley Estates was one of P City''s most prestigious addresses, where owning a home


    wasn''t just a matter of money. For some people, it''s merely a step down. However, for Cicely, who


    had nothing and had just been released from prison, this ce was her recent best, absolutely


    splendid dwelling.


    Seth was right; not many could provide what he had given her. Except, she''d rather not live here,


    not ept anything from him.


    After breakfast, Cicely received a call from Crysti. "Girl, I''m off for a day, not out of the business. You


    better pick me up and take me to the set, or the director might just fire me."


    Cicely was nonchnt, "What are you worried about? With yourst name, who''d dare give you


    trouble?"


    "This is show business. Even before I make it big, I''m already being used of throwing tantrums.


    How am I supposed to survive? Hurry up, there''s an evening fight scene I need to rehearse."


    Cicely took a deep breath and put down her fork, "I thought you''d be the least of my worries, but


    you''re the biggest hassle. Is making money supposed to be this hard?"


    Crysti: "or maybe you should consider letting my brother keep you. It''s quicker money."


    "Am I supposed to cater to his whims? If that''s the case, it wouldn''t be so bad."


    The idea of that germophobe sponsoring a woman seemed less like getting money and more like


    risking her life.


    "In your dreams."


    Cicelyughedzily, "I''m heading out now."


    Crysti, frustrated, snapped, "You haven''t left yet?! You…"


    Cicely hung up without giving Crysti a chance to go hysterical.


    "I won''t be back for a few days if nothing unexpectedes up." She said indifferently, changed her


    shoes, and left.


    She thought she''d finally get some peace, but seeing Charlie downstairs, her face turned dark.


    "Ms. Cicely, Mr. Diaz has gone abroad on business and left me to attend to you."


    Cicelyughed in anger, "Are you his personal assistant or his personal servant?"


    Charlie offered an awkward smile, "It''s primarily because Mr. Diaz is concerned about you. Where


    would you like to go, Ms. Cicely? I''ll drive you."


    Straing at the car door Charlie had opened for her, Cicely took a deep breath.


    "What if I say I don''t need ''attending''?"


    "That might not be possible."


    With a scoff, Cicely slid into the car.


    After closing the door, Charlie let out a breath, wiped the sweat from his brow, and hurried into the


    vehicle.


    They picked up Crysti and headed to the set.


    After practicing the uing fight scene with the stunt coordinator and waiting endlessly for


    Danielle, who waste for her scene with Crysti, the atmosphere on set grew tense. The director


    was visibly impatient, and the understudies naturally bore the brunt of his irritation.


    Cicely sat next to her, sipping her juice and shaking her head as she watched Crysti sweat


    profusely.


    Why did a fine youngdy have to subject to such hardship?


    Checking her bank ount on her phone, she took a deep breath. Crysti wasn''t like her, who was


    so desperately in need of money.


    As the sun was about to set, Danielle finally arrived, apologizing profusely to everyone, "I''m so


    sorry, everyone. I was at the airport sending someone off, and I got stuck in traffic on the way back.


    I''ll treat everyone to dinner tonight as an apology. Please don''t be too angry."


    She bowed continuously, her hands sped in a pleading and apologetic gesture, making it hard for


    anyone to continue being upset with her. Besides, she didn''t ask anyone to forgive her, she just tried


    to quell their anger.


    And truly, whether they forgave her or not didn''t matter to her, nor did their anger affect her,


    because she had Seth backing her, the biggest investor of the production. Even if the schedule was


    dyed, it was his money being wasted, not theirs.


    Somebody schmoozed, "Who''s so important that our big star has to personally drop them off at the


    airport?"


    Danielle smiled, ncing over at Cicely, who was sitting there, idly chewing on a straw with a look of


    utter boredom. "It''s Seth. He''s off on a business trip abroad, won''t be back for a few days."


    "Well, that exins it."


    A few in the group started to tease, while others cast nces at Cicely, who was once the renowned


    Ellis family''s darling, the petite princess of P City. And now, what exactly was her rtionship with


    Mr. Diaz?


    Cicely, phone in hand, tormented by the bnce in her bank ount, was now flipping through her


    contacts, looking for a sucker to lure into splurging at the No. 8 Mansion. She was both aware and


    oblivious to the surrounding stares.


    Danielle nce at Cicely and then spoke up, "Can we push back the action scene scheduled for


    today? By the time I''m done with makeup, the sun will probably have set. Can we shoot something


    else first?"


    The director furrowed his brow and nced instinctively at Crysti. The kid had been practicing here


    all afternoon.


    It was a tough spot; he couldn''t afford to upset either party. His gaze thennded on Cicely, hoping


    to use her as a mediator. After all, she was the one who hated hassle the most and would love


    nothing more than to wrap up early every day.