Chapter 2071


    "It''s okay. I got this." She gulped down the lump of destion in her throat, her eyes red with


    unshed tears.


    "Danielle, you''re really hurt. Your knee is bleeding so much."


    Danielle let out a wryugh, the pity and doubt in the bystanders'' nces making her skin crawl


    with humiliation. "I''m not about to bleed out or anything."


    Destion was all she could feel.


    What was hurt? It was being pampered by Seth for three years, unted so everyone knew she was


    his precious gem, endowed with boundless pride and arrogance, only to have it all shattered in


    public.


    Three years. She stood by him for three grueling years, through his toughest times, thinking


    something would change. But in the end, she still lost to Cicely.d2


    Even with Cicely’s past, her time behind bars, Danielle couldn''t win.


    What was so special about Cicely anyway? Was it her privileged upbringing, her brattiness, her


    temperamental nature, or just her pretty face and figure?


    If it was thetter, was she not enough now?


    Pushing back the tears threatening to fall, Danielle shrugged off her assistant''s offer to treat her


    wounds. "No need, it''s not like I''m gonna die."


    "Danielle."


    "I said no!"


    Danielle suddenly roared, cutting off the assistant''s further attempts to help.


    The others nced her way, their looks tinged with a mix of emotions.


    *


    Cicely was carried straight into the hospital by Seth, with Charlie bustling around toplete the


    paperwork.


    Scrapes covered her left arm, half her torso, and legs to varying degrees.


    As she stripped down to clean her wounds, Seth stood by, a silent sentinel.


    Cicely had calmed down during the ride, but the thin summer clothes did little to shield her from the


    pain of her abrasions. She bit her lip, sitting as the nurse treated her, her face pale.


    Whenever the nurse touched a sore spot, Cicely''s eyes would flicker shut, her body tensing up,


    beads of sweat forming on her forehead and nose, but she never made a sound.


    Seth''s features were set in a stony mask, his mood sinking further. The woman who used to sob


    about a sore wrist was now silent.


    By the time the nurse finished, Cicely was drenched in sweat, and the doctor looked almost as


    frazzled. Seth''s intense gaze made the air in the room drop a degree colder whenever Cicely so


    much as flinched. The doctor seemed to struggle to breathe, suffocating under the pressure.


    "Ms. Cicely, you should avoid showers for now. Just wipe down with a towel, and stay away from


    spicy or irritating foods," the doctor advised, and Cicely nodded silently, memorizing his words


    before turning to find her clothes.


    Her clothes were a mess, torn and dirty. She''d been too distressed to care before, but now, in the


    sterile hospital room, they looked even worse. Cicely nced at them, still intending to put them on.


    This action made Seth''s heart clench inexplicably. He stepped forward and took her hands in his.


    Cicely frowned at him. "I''m not feeling great, and I don''t have the energy to talk. Can whatever you


    want to say wait?"


    Seth gave her a curt look. "I''ve brought you new clothes. Forget about those."


    Cicely didn''t respond, her silence cold. To her, Seth''s rescue was a fact, but so was his actions


    before he left days ago, almost cruel in its severity.


    She remained silent, her gaze dropping to his hands, which had been cleaned but still wore his


    bloodstained suit cuffs. From the moment they''d entered the hospital, she hadn''t seen him take a


    moment to tend to his own wounds.


    Cicely pressed her lips tightly together, then looked away.


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


    Seth''s phone rang, and he answered with a curt "Yeah" before stepping out. But within a minute, he


    was back, carrying a bag emzoned with the logo of Cicely''s favorite clothing brand.


    "Put it on." Seth ced the bag next to her.


    Cicely gave the bag a fleeting nce, then pulled out a simple, V-neck sky blue chiffon dress with


    bishop sleeves. The style was one she liked, and the conservative cut was undoubtedly Seth''s


    preference.


    As she began to slip into the dress, the movement tugged at her wounds, and she hesitated. In that


    moment, Seth had taken the dress from her and was helping her into it with an expressionless face.


    The dress fit perfectly.


    Cicely watched him throughout, the gesture feeling surreal, as if from another life. "Ready to go?"


    Seth suddenly asked, his voice smooth and deep.


    Cicely looked down at the dress. It was nice. She tried to walk toward the door, but her leg injury


    made her freeze mid-step. The next second, she was lifted into strong arms and carried toward the


    exit.


    Cicely''s expression darkened. "Put me down!"


    Seth nced down at her. "Can you walk on your own?"


    "No, but I hate feeling dirty even more."


    Seth stopped in his tracks.