Ch. 1201..1210
Chapter 1201 Caught Together
The pain forced Nathaniel to pry open his eyes. His face was marked with displeasure, but his mood shifted when he saw Cecilia scramble up from the couch in a panic.
Elliot approached, asking, “Mommy, did you and Daddy sleep on the couch last night? Were you both sleeping together?”
He wore an expression of pure innocence.
Cecilia was left with a face burning as if on fire, unsure of how to respond.
At that moment, Nathaniel got up from the ground, free of the childishness that came with the previous day’s drunkenness, returning to his usual icy demeanor. “Kids should stay out of grown–up matters.”
Upon hearing that, Elliot couldn’t help but pout, wearing a clearly displeased expression on his face.
At that moment, Cecilia stepped forward, shifting the topic.
“Sweetheart, you should go freshen up. You’re going to preschool today.”
Only then did Elliot give up, heading off to the bathroom.
Once the child had left, Cecilia exhaled a sigh of relief. She turned to look at Nathaniel.
The man appeared as though he hadn’t slept well, his complexion somewhat pale.
Nathaniel sensed her gaze and looked up at her. Their eyes met, and he longed to pull her into his arms.
Regrettably, at that time, Cecilia was pregnant and still angry.
“I had a bit of alcohol yesterday and got somewhat tipsy,” he explained clumsily.
“Oh,” Cecilia responded indifferently.
“Aren’t you going to question what I discussed with Zachary and the others?” Nathaniel asked again.
As Cecilia was looking for clothes to wear, she said while walking, “What’s there to ask about? speaking the truth. After all, we’re divorced.”
Her nonchalant demeanor made Nathaniel feel particularly uneasy.
You were
He quickened his pace to catch up with Cecilia, saying. Let’s go. We’re getting remarried.”
Remarry? Cecilia halted and turned back to look at him. She then enunciated, “You were the one who suggested divorce, and I agreed. Why should I agree again now that you want to remarry?”
“When I chose to divorce you, it was out of desperation. You knew about it, no?” Nathaniel retorted.
Cecilia lowered her gaze, looking at the firm grip he had on her hand, her expression calm. “Yes. I know you did it for me and the kids back then, but I don’t want to remarry now.”
“Why?” would surely reconcile and remarry him. After all, there were no more misunderstandings left. Everything had been clarified.
“Perhaps it’s because I quite enjoy living alone right now,” replied Cecilia.
Living alone meant not having to worry about so much. Marrying Nathaniel brought about a multitude of troubles.
“Is it just because of that?” Nathaniel persistently asked Cecilia nodded. “Yes.”
After hearing that, Nathaniel fell silent.
At that moment, Elliot emerged from the bathroom, interrupting the conversation between the two.
“Mommy, I’ve finished washing up.”
Hearing that, Cecilia turned to him and said, “All right, we’ll head to preschool after breakfast.”
“Okay.”
After that, Elliot turned to look at Nathaniel. “Sc“mbag daddy, now that you’ve finally recovered from your illness, can you and Mommy drop me off at preschool together?”
Tears welled up in his eyes when he added, “Everyone else gets picked up and dropped off by their parents) every day, but for me, it’s always Mr. Sver who does it.
“They all think I’m Mr. Sven’s child…” Elliot sighed.
Initially, Nathaniel was unmoved. Upon hearing those words, however, he responded, “All right.”
Cecilia found herself in a bit of a predicament. “Eli, is okay if I pick you up in the evening? I have to go to the office for work today.”
Elliot pretended to accept that reluctantly, saying. “All right. In that case, you must come with Daddy to pick me up in the evening.”
“All right.”
Cecilia ruffled his hair.
The atmosphere at the office that day was off–kilter. The wedding debacle from the previous day had caused quite a stir. Upon returning to work, everyone was abuzz with chatter.
Chapter 1202 Six Months Along
Robert had also arrived at the office. He was then occupying the office previously used by Adrian. Standing on the balcony, he surveyed everything outside.
Miranda rushed over and said, “Dad, there’s news about Adrian.”
Upon hearing that, Robert turned around to ask her, “Where is Adrian now?”
Miranda didn’t respond. Instead, she handed over her phone, revealing an audio recording that had been opened.
In the recording, it was all the sound of Adrian pleading for mercy, accompanied by the sound of his sobbing and weeping.
Robert couldn’t believe it. “Where did this come from
“I woke up early this morning and received an email,” Miranda replied. “However, I couldn’t trace who sent it.”
After she finished speaking, she expressed some concern, saying, “Dad, Adrian isn’t in trouble, is he?”
Even though Adrian had betrayed her, he was, after all, the father of her child. They had been married for years, and she wondered what would happen to her and her child if something bad truly happened to Adrian.
Robert clenched his fists. “Who on earth did this? How dare they beard the lion in his den?”
After that, he still comforted Miranda, saying, “Miranda, don’t worry,” he comforted Miranda. “The Rainsworth and Leighton families will spare no effort to find Adrian.”
Miranda was already in a state of turmoil, so she just nodded.
She left Robert’s office only to see Cecilia striding in, brimming with enthusiasm for work.
Jealousy was all that could be seen in Miranda’s eyes as she stood in front of Cecilia.
“Did you know Nathaniel was fine all along?”
Being blocked by Miranda, Cecilia responded truthfully, “Yes. So what?”
“Why are you such a scheming person?” Miranda then enunciated, “Let me tell your something. Even if Nathaniel is okay, what difference does it make? Orion Corporation is no longer under his control.”
Cecilia found Miranda somewhat amusing, and she wasn’t bothered by the latter’s words. “Oh… It doesn’t matter to me. I don’t care about these things anyway.”
After Cecilia finished speaking, she brushed past Miranda.
Miranda gritted her teeth as she observed Cecilia’s lofty demeanor.
Even after she left Orion Corporation, her anger still had not yet subsided.
At that moment, her gaze was arrested by a figure.
Under a tree not too far away, Stella, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, was standing hesitantly, unsure of what to do.
Miranda composed her facial expression and walked toward Stella.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it. Ms. Ross?”
Stella was taken aback by the sudden shout, but when she saw it was Miranda, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Ms. Miranda, it’s been a while.”
Miranda sized her up, taking in her shabby appearance. A sense of disdain filled her heart, but she asked, “How did you end up like this? Did you come here for something?”
Stella was not oblivious to Miranda’s disdain toward her, yet she was left with no recourse at that moment.
Compared to these prominent young ladies, she, an orphan, was nothing more than a blade of grass, trampled upon by anyone who wished.
“I’ve come looking for Cecilia.”
Upon hearing that Stella was there to look for Cecilia, Miranda assumed she was there to cause Cecilia trouble.
“You’ve heard about Nathaniel’s eyesight returning, haven’t you? Well, after all those years you spent by his side, he still chose Cecilia in the end. Such a disappointment.” Miranda then continued, “However, you can’t really blame Nathaniel. It’s all because of Cecilia. She’s quite crafty, you know. Did you hear she’s expecting twins again? Seems like she’s already six months along. I would advise you to spare yourself the embarrassment…
Miranda purposely incited Stella’s jealousy toward Cecilia, and after saying her piece, she strutted off in her high heels.
Stella stood in place, indeed consumed with jealousy. Twins? Six months along? Why is Cecilia so fortunate?
A sinister thought then gradually took shape in Stella’s mind.
Chapter 1203 Just A Misunderstanding
Cecilia was at work when a subordinate came to report “Boss, someone is looking for you.”
“Who?” Cecilia asked.
The subordinate shook his head. “I’m not sure, but it’s a woman. She claims to have known you since childhood. She’s currently waiting in the waiting room
Upon hearing that, Cecilia stood up and said, “All right, I understand.”
Charlotte was off to the side, printing documents, when she heard about a woman Cecilia had known since childhood. She couldn’t help but feel curious, stealing a few glances in that direction.
As Cecilia approached, she instantly recognized Stella inside the room. Last time, Vivian mentioned that Stella was lured into a nightclub by her former best friend, Yvette. What is she doing here now? Is she here to cause me trouble?
Stella noticed the gaze from the doorway. As she looked over and locked eyes with Cecilia, her gaze quickly drifted downward, soon landing on Cecilia’s belly.
Cecilia was already showing, and judging by the size of her belly, it was more than six months along. It could be due to her carrying twins.
“Lottie, call security to escort this person out,” Cecilia instructed without hesitation.
Upon seeing Cecilia’s intent to send her away, Stella quickly made her exit. Amidst the gazes of numerous workers, she abruptly kneeled before Cecilia with a resounding thud.
“Ceci, don’t be in a hurry to send me away. I came here specifically to apologize to you. I’ve made too many mistakes in the past, and now I realize my wrongs. I’m sorry,” Stella said.
After she finished speaking, she respectfully bowed her head toward Cecilia with a rhythmic thud.
Cecilia’s colleagues around, one by one, found their gazes unconsciously drawn in this direction, curious about what had actually happened.
That day, Stella had put on a pale makeup. She looked frail and thin, appearing particularly pitiful.
In order to survive, she had been harsh on herself, bowing her head with such force that it had broken the skin.
Charlotte immediately arrived at Cecilia’s side, feeling utterly perplexed by everything that was happening before her eyes.
“Who are you? Why have you come here to apologize? What did you do wrong?” Charlotte asked.
Being mentored by Cecilia, Charlotte had a knack for getting straight to the point when she spoke.
Alihough Charlotte didn’t fully grasp what had transpired, she found Stella’s method of apology rather peculiar. So many of our colleagues are witnessing this scene Is she really apologizing or trying to guilt–trip someone?
Stella didn’t know Charlotte. When she heard Charlotte’s words, she stopped bowing and said, “I’ve been
Upon hearing those words, even Cecilia couldn’t help but smile. Friends? What about those so–called misunderstandings hat about stealing someone else’s husband? Is that just a misunderstanding?
Cecilia knew not to air her dirty laundry in public, and she also didn’t want to make a scene and let everyone know about it.
“Stella, we were never friends, so please don’t misconstrue our relationship. Do me a favor and leave immediately. Otherwise, I’d have to get someone to drag you out.”
True to her role as Cecilia’s trusted aide, Charlotte confidently stated, “I’ve already called the security guards. They’ll be here shortly.”
A chill ran through Stella’s eyes when she heard that security guards were about to arrive. She rose and made her way toward Cecilia.
Just as it seemed inevitable that she was about to collide with Cecilia’s stomach, Charlotte reacted swiftly. With a sweeping kick, she sent Stella flying, and Stella ended up sprawled on the ground with a thud.
“What were you trying to do? Can’t you see our boss is pregnant? What are your intentions?” moment. Charlotte could tell that the seemingly delicate woman in front of her was nothing
Cecilia couldn’t help but feel a chill of fear, instinctively protecting her stomach.
At that but trouble.
Stella fell to the ground, feigning innocence, “You’ve misunderstood. All I wanted was to ask for Cecilia’s forgiveness.
“Do you think everyone else is a fool? Gerlost!” Charlotte was not one to mince words.
Had it not been for the fact that the other party was a woman and they were in a public place, she would have already taken action.
Stella hadn’t anticipated the multitude of subordinates then surrounding Cecilia. She had no choice but to restrain herself, limping away.
After stepping out, she immediately called Zachary.
“Mr. Sinclair, I just went to apologize earlier. I even kneeled and bowed. In the end, I got pushed over by one of Cecilia’s subordinates, causing me to fall.”
Chapter 1204 Grow Old
Zachary was working at the hospital at the time. Upon hearing what Stella had said, he let out a yawn.
“Oh,” he responded.
Stella thought he had already forgiven her, so she immediately asked, “Are you going to let me off the hook now?”
A scoffing laugh echoed from the other end of the phon
“Stella, are you joking with me?”
Stella’s body stiffened.
“Did you think a few bows and an apology would suffice for what you did back then?” Zachary’s slender fingers drummed on the table. “I remember how much money I gave you when you deceived me years ago. You must have had a decent income at Royale Club, right?”
“I–I was pawned off by Yvette, that b*tch. I–I couldn’t make any money…” Stella stuttered.
“What should we do then? Debts must be paid, so you should start by repaying yours! Don’t worry. If you can’t find any clients, I’ll have someone assist you! If several clients come at once, you should be able to handle them, right?”
After Zachary finished speaking, he hung up the phone.
The thing he despised the most was deception. At this point, he wished nothing more than to see Stella dead. However, he wouldn’t let her off that easily.
That day, George’s illness had worsened, resulting in his hospitalization. Vivian and Jonathan kept him. company at the hospital.
George took Vivian’s hand and said, “Vivian, could you please fetch Zach for me?”
“All right.”
Immediately, Vivian went to find Zachary. However, at the entrance of the office, she overheard Zachary’s conversation.
Debts must be paid? Find clients? Handle a few at once? Vivian was astonished by what she heard.
Figuring Zachary was no saint, she wondered what he had been doing behind George’s back.
Considering George’s health, she knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Zachary said, his face devoid of any expression.
Vivian pushed the door open but didn’t step inside. “Grandpa wants you to go over,” she said.
“Has he woken up?” Zachary stood up.
It was no wonder George’s condition worsened suddenly. The truth was that too many unexpected and exciting events had occurred at Nicholas‘ wedding ceremony the previous day.
George was quite the social butterfly, often teased by Niel for having fewer descendants.
The previous day, upon seeing the numerous descendants of Niel arguing and fighting over inheritance, he was secretly more amused than anyone else.
“Yes. He has, but things aren’t looking too good,” replied Vivian.
After hearing those words. Zachary followed her toward the ward. With an air of nonchalance, he said, “That’s just how it is when people age. It’s troublesome.
Vivian heard Zachary saying it was troublesome, and if looks could kill, she would have slain him countless times over.
Zachary noticed her gaze and halted in his tracks.
“What’s wrong? Did I say something incorrect? Old people can be quite troublesome, after all.”
“Wouldn’t you ever age?”
“Once I’ve grown old, I’ll just meet my end on my own
The conversation between the two drew glances from passing nurses, who couldn’t help but take a few extra looks.
Vivian felt that he was absolutely insane. “You better mean what you say and not end up too scared to die when you’re old.”
Zachary chuckled and responded, “If you don’t believe me, wait until I’m old. You can give me a bit of poison and finish me off.”
The two of them bickered all the way to George’s ward
In the ward, Jonathan could hear the two adults arguing, leaving him somewhat speechless.
Thankfully, George had a good temperament. If he hadn’t, he probably would have been infuriated by then.
George even chuckled and said, “Jon, don’t you think Mr. Zachary and Ms. Kennedy make a great pair?”
Jonathan nodded emphatically. “Yes.”
George wasn’t mistaken about this. Jonathan had rarely seen such a love–hate relationship.
Vivian and Zachary entered the ward, instinctively falling silent. They were clueless as to why George was chuckling.
Zachary furrowed his brows and said, “Grandpa, have you forgotten what the doctor warned? Remember, extreme joy or sorrow is to be avoided.”
He claimed that George was a nuisance, but deep down, he cared for George more than anyone else. He was profoundly afraid of losing George.
George knew his grandson’s temperament well. Zachary wasn’t a wicked person. He in
struggled to discern between right and wrong.
sometimes.
“Hey, what extreme joy? There’s nothing joyful happening.” George was staring at the ceiling, sighing repeatedly. “How can I be happy when I haven’t even held my great–grandchild yet?”
George covered his face and feigned crying. “Had it not been for Jon coming into my life, I might have never experienced exquisite pleasure in my lifetime.”
Zachary was already accustomed to watching George’s antics.
However, Vivian was not yet accustomed to it, and she immediately offered comfort.
“Grandpa, don’t overthink it. You have us by your side now. How could you not enjoy exquisite pleasure?”
George was waiting for Vivian to speak. Once she had spoken, he said, “But there’s something that’s been weighing on my heart. If it’s not resolved, I won’t be able to rest, even in death.”
“What’s the matter? Just say it, and we’ll certainly do what we can.” Vivian had never anticipated that George would put her in a tricky situation.
Upon hearing Vivian’s words, George didn’t hold back. “Well, I saw Nicholas getting married yesterday, and it made me think of you and Zach. You two have been engaged for almost half a year, right? Yet, you’re still not married.”
Vivian was at a loss for words..
Zachary saw it coming, but he remained silent.
George continued in a pitiful tone, “It seems I won’t be able to see you two finally get together before I die. Rather than waiting endlessly, I might as well die now.
As he spoke, he started to pretend to remove the medical devices attached to his own body.
Upon seeing the situation, Vivian immediately intervened, saying, “Grandpa, please don’t do this…”
“Vivian, you’re a good child. Don’t stop me. Let me meet my end!”
Jonathan watched drama within the family unfold, feeling somewhat weary. George’s acting skills were indeed rather crude.
Despite struggling for quite some time, not a single needle was successfully removed.
Luckily for him, Vivian was a kind–hearted simpleton. Had it been someone else, George would have been seen through long ago,
Chapter 1204 Grow Old
Zachary was working at the hospital at the time. Upon hearing what Stella had said, he let out a yawn.
“Oh,” he responded.
Stella thought he had already forgiven her, so she immediately asked, “Are you going to let me off the hook now?”
A scoffing laugh echoed from the other end of the phon
“Stella, are you joking with me?”
Stella’s body stiffened.
“Did you think a few bows and an apology would suffice for what you did back then?” Zachary’s slender fingers drummed on the table. “I remember how much money I gave you when you deceived me years ago. You must have had a decent income at Royale Club, right?”
“I–I was pawned off by Yvette, that b*tch. I–I couldn’t make any money…” Stella stuttered.
“What should we do then? Debts must be paid, so you should start by repaying yours! Don’t worry. If you can’t find any clients, I’ll have someone assist you! If several clients come at once, you should be able to handle them, right?”
After Zachary finished speaking, he hung up the phone.
The thing he despised the most was deception. At this point, he wished nothing more than to see Stella dead. However, he wouldn’t let her off that easily.
That day, George’s illness had worsened, resulting in his hospitalization. Vivian and Jonathan kept him. company at the hospital.
George took Vivian’s hand and said, “Vivian, could you please fetch Zach for me?”
“All right.”
Immediately, Vivian went to find Zachary. However, at the entrance of the office, she overheard Zachary’s conversation.
Debts must be paid? Find clients? Handle a few at once? Vivian was astonished by what she heard.
Figuring Zachary was no saint, she wondered what he had been doing behind George’s back.
Considering George’s health, she knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Zachary said, his face devoid of any expression.
Vivian pushed the door open but didn’t step inside. “Grandpa wants you to go over,” she said.
“Has he woken up?” Zachary stood up.
It was no wonder George’s condition worsened suddenly. The truth was that too many unexpected and exciting events had occurred at Nicholas‘ wedding ceremony the previous day.
George was quite the social butterfly, often teased by Niel for having fewer descendants.
The previous day, upon seeing the numerous descendants of Niel arguing and fighting over inheritance, he was secretly more amused than anyone else.
“Yes. He has, but things aren’t looking too good,” replied Vivian.
After hearing those words. Zachary followed her toward the ward. With an air of nonchalance, he said, “That’s just how it is when people age. It’s troublesome.
Vivian heard Zachary saying it was troublesome, and if looks could kill, she would have slain him countless times over.
Zachary noticed her gaze and halted in his tracks.
“What’s wrong? Did I say something incorrect? Old people can be quite troublesome, after all.”
“Wouldn’t you ever age?”
“Once I’ve grown old, I’ll just meet my end on my own
The conversation between the two drew glances from passing nurses, who couldn’t help but take a few extra looks.
Vivian felt that he was absolutely insane. “You better mean what you say and not end up too scared to die when you’re old.”
Zachary chuckled and responded, “If you don’t believe me, wait until I’m old. You can give me a bit of poison and finish me off.”
The two of them bickered all the way to George’s ward
In the ward, Jonathan could hear the two adults arguing, leaving him somewhat speechless.
Thankfully, George had a good temperament. If he hadn’t, he probably would have been infuriated by then.
George even chuckled and said, “Jon, don’t you think Mr. Zachary and Ms. Kennedy make a great pair?”
Jonathan nodded emphatically. “Yes.”
George wasn’t mistaken about this. Jonathan had rarely seen such a love–hate relationship.
Vivian and Zachary entered the ward, instinctively falling silent. They were clueless as to why George was chuckling.
Zachary furrowed his brows and said, “Grandpa, have you forgotten what the doctor warned? Remember, extreme joy or sorrow is to be avoided.”
He claimed that George was a nuisance, but deep down, he cared for George more than anyone else. He was profoundly afraid of losing George.
George knew his grandson’s temperament well. Zachary wasn’t a wicked person. He in
struggled to discern between right and wrong.
sometimes.
“Hey, what extreme joy? There’s nothing joyful happening.” George was staring at the ceiling, sighing repeatedly. “How can I be happy when I haven’t even held my great–grandchild yet?”
George covered his face and feigned crying. “Had it not been for Jon coming into my life, I might have never experienced exquisite pleasure in my lifetime.”
Zachary was already accustomed to watching George’s antics.
However, Vivian was not yet accustomed to it, and she immediately offered comfort.
“Grandpa, don’t overthink it. You have us by your side now. How could you not enjoy exquisite pleasure?”
George was waiting for Vivian to speak. Once she had spoken, he said, “But there’s something that’s been weighing on my heart. If it’s not resolved, I won’t be able to rest, even in death.”
“What’s the matter? Just say it, and we’ll certainly do what we can.” Vivian had never anticipated that George would put her in a tricky situation.
Upon hearing Vivian’s words, George didn’t hold back. “Well, I saw Nicholas getting married yesterday, and it made me think of you and Zach. You two have been engaged for almost half a year, right? Yet, you’re still not married.”
Vivian was at a loss for words..
Zachary saw it coming, but he remained silent.
George continued in a pitiful tone, “It seems I won’t be able to see you two finally get together before I die. Rather than waiting endlessly, I might as well die now.
As he spoke, he started to pretend to remove the medical devices attached to his own body.
Upon seeing the situation, Vivian immediately intervened, saying, “Grandpa, please don’t do this…”
“Vivian, you’re a good child. Don’t stop me. Let me meet my end!”
Jonathan watched drama within the family unfold, feeling somewhat weary. George’s acting skills were indeed rather crude.
Despite struggling for quite some time, not a single needle was successfully removed.
Luckily for him, Vivian was a kind–hearted simpleton. Had it been someone else, George would have been seen through long ago,
Chapter 1206 Tying The Knot
Cecilia had only sent Stella away when she heard those words. She was taken aback.
“What? Getting married? With whom?” Cecilia asked, “Zachary…
Cecilia was completely bewildered.
It took her a while to process. After that, Cecilia asked, “Didn’t you say you weren’t going to marry him? Are you not just temporarily placating Old Mr. Sinclair?”
“Old Mr. Sinclair’s condition has worsened today,” Vivian said. “He expressed his only wish is to see me marry Zachary, I really don’t want to let him down.”
She hadn’t met anyone she was fond of at the moment, so it didn’t really matter who she married. Besides, if things didn’t work out, she could always divorce Zachary after George passed away.
Upon hearing that response, Cecilia couldn’t help but advise her, “Vivian, marriage isn’t a trifling matter. It’s something you must do willingly. Never let yourself be wronged because of some words from Old Mr. Sinclair.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t feel wronged. Marrying into the Sinclair family, just like my dad used to say, is like climbing up the social ladder,” Vivian said with an unusual air of nonchalance. “Ceci, rest assured. If you really think about it, I’m actually getting a good deal.”
Vivian had long since lost hope in love.
Once upon a time, she and Ernest were so deeply in love. However, he still abandoned her in the end
Hence, marrying someone she didn’t love seemed like a good idea. After all, she didn’t love Zachary, and there wouldn’t be any affection after the marriage. If she were to be betrayed, she wouldn’t feel heartbroken.
“Vivian, I’ll say it again. If you’re not willing, don’t force yourself.”
“Okay. I’m hanging up now.”
Vivian ended the call.
She then emerged from the restroom and bumped into Zachary in the hallway.
When Zachary saw her, he didn’t mock her as he used to. Instead, he said seriously. “That old geezer won’t die so soon. If you’re having second thoughts, I can tell him right now.”
Vivian had already made up her mind, her eyes filled with unwavering determination. “Don’t worry. won’t back out. Unless you’re not willing. I will respect your decision.”
Upon hearing that, Zachary shrugged off with a casual bugh. “I don’t really care. At my age, I should be married anyway. No matter who I marry, I’m getting married. If I marry you, at least it would make that old geezer happy”
The two of them exchanged some words, and it was sculed there and then.
Upon returning to George’s ward, they discussed matters concerning the wedding.
Meanwhile, since Cecilia had found out that Vivian was getting ready to tie the knot, as her best friend, she naturally had to prepare a gift.
After work in the evening, she waited for Nathaniel to fetch her before they went to fetch Elliot from preschool together.
Inside the car, the silence was unending.
Mason was also in the car, finding the atmosphere quite peculiar. I thought they had reconciled. Why is there silence now?
Finally, it was Nathaniel who couldn’t hold back his patience and spoke first. “How’s your work going?” he asked.
Cecilia merely responded, “It’s still the same, pretty good.”
At that moment, Nathaniel picked up a file that was set aside. Under Cecilia’s puzzled gaze, be handed it
“This is for you.”
Cecilia was a bit dazed. “What’s this?”
“Take a look.”
When she opened the file, she was surprised to find that it actually contained all the information about Evans Group from back then.
Cecilia knew that Ralph lacked the knack for running a company. A while back, when the stock market took a nosedive, he had to liquidate all his shares just to get his hands on some cash.
Unexpectedly, it was actually bought by Nathaniel.
“Why are you giving me this?” Cecilia didn’t know what was going on.
Nathaniel’s stern brows furrowed slightly. “Why so many questions? If I’m giving it to you, just take it.”
As Cecilia flipped on, she saw that the transfer agreement had been penned, ready to be handed over to her.
Without much hesitation, she simply handed it back to Nathaniel.
“I don’t want it.”
Chapter 1207 Holding Hands
Cecilia thought she had done nothing to deserve a reward, and she didn’t want to casually accept things given by Nathaniel, fearing he would regret it later.
Besides, they were former partners. It just wasn’t appropriate for her to receive such a huge gift from him.
Nathaniel had never anticipated that Cecilia would reject him so outright.
“Are you sure you don’t want it?”
Cecilia nodded. “Yes. This is too valuable.”
“Consider it for Jon and Eli.” Nathaniel paused before adding, “They’re still young. You have custody, as their guardian, you’ll temporarily manage these assets.”
, and
Upon hearing that. Cecilia didn’t think much of it and simply said, “When they grow up, you can give it to them then
The temperature inside the car had dropped.
should take it. Mr. Rainsworth is giving it to the kids now. There’s no guaranainsworth, I think you
Sitting in front, Mason couldn’t help but lend a helping hand by saying, “Mrs. Rainsworth, I think you
he could do it in the future. What if Mr. Rainsworth marries and has children with someone else? By then, Eli and Jon would surely be at a loss.”
Nathaniel was silent.
At first, Cecilia was taken aback, but soon after, she found herself agreeing with Mason’s point of view. That’s right. Since the kids father is giving them something should just take it.
“All right, then. I’ll accept this on behalf of Eli and Jon.
Cecilia neatly put away the documents.
The vehicle quickly arrived at the preschool.
Inside the preschool, Elliot was particularly popular at the time. Firstly, it was because of his adorable and handsome appearance. Secondly, the kids‘ parents saw him getting into Rainsworth Group’s car during the last parent meeting. As a result, they specifically instructed their own children to spend more time playing with Elliot.
“Eli, your mommy and daddy are coming to pick you up today, aren’t they?” a child asked.
Elliot kept nodding. “Yes.”
“I’m really envious of you. Both your mommy and daddy are coming to pick you up.”
Elliot was also brimming with joy. When he finally saw the arrival of Nathaniel’s car, he purposefully stood at a distance, making a call to Cecilia.
“Mommy, can you and sc*mbag daddy please come over hand in hand to pick me up?” he asked.
Cecilia was somewhat puzzled. Why must we go hold each other’s hand?
“Why?” she asked.
The car was evidently not too far from the entrance.
Elliot then replied in a cute tone, “The other kids‘ parents always come out of the car together to fetch their kids. If you guys don’t do the same, how is it different from Mr. Sven picking me up?”
The words carried a particular sense of grievance. Looking at Nathaniel, Cecilia sought his opinion.
In the next moment, the man had already taken hold of her hand.
“Let’s go.”
Two figures emerged from the car. The woman was stunningly beautiful and intelligent, while the man was tall and handsome, with an aura of charisma about him. They quickly drew the attention of many onlookers.
Elliot said to the child beside him, “See? Those are my parents. I have to go now. Bye.”
After he finished speaking, he walked toward Cecilia and Nathaniel.
Cecilia was still somewhat uncomfortable, being led by the hand by Nathaniel.
Once Elliot reached them, she tried to pull her hand away with all her might. However, Nathaniel’s grip only tightened, making it impossible for her to withdraw her hand.
Involuntarily, Cecilia found herself glaring at him.
At that moment, Nathaniel could see clearly. His captivating eyes were intensely fixed on Cecilia, his gaze, profound.
When he looked at her, Cecilia’s heart pounded uncontrollably, causing her to immediately avert her gaze.
After Elliot came over, he watched the interaction between the two people, and his heart was filled with joy. Oh, dear… What would this household do without me?
Even after they had settled into the car, Nathaniel had yet to let go of Cecilia’s hand.
Unable to hold back any longer, Cecilia blurted out, “Let go of me.”
Before Nathaniel could speak, Elliot, who was nearby, blurted out, “Mommy, why do you want Daddy to let go of you? Don’t you love Daddy anymore?”
After hearing that, Cecilia was somewhat taken aback. Don’t I love Nathaniel anymore? What does that mean?
Elliot’s eyes were shimmering with moisture. “Other parents would hold hands, kiss, and hug each other. However, even holding hands seems to be a struggle for you two.”
Chapter 1208 Stirring The Pot
After hearing that, Cecilia was somewhat at a loss. “Eli, everyone has their unique way of expressing themselves.”
Nathaniel was sitting off to the side, unable to help but chime in, “So, are you rejecting the way I express myself? You don’t even want to hold hands?”
Cecilia choked up and said, “I didn’t say that.”
“In that case, why don’t you give Daddy a hug, maybe a kiss?” Anticipation was written all over Elliot’s wide eyes.
Cecilia’s face instantly turned a deep shade of red.
“Eli…”
“It seems that Jon and I will never have a complete family. The belle from my class once told me that her parents initially were also reluctant to show affection toward each other. Eventually, they divorced, found new partners, and had children with their new partners.
After Elliot finished speaking, he lowered his head, and tears began to roll down his cheeks.
“Did you two get divorced, and now you’re just deceiving me? Once you have other kids, you won’t care about me and Jon anymore.”
His tears were particularly moving.
Upon seeing the situation, all other concerns fled from Cecilia’s mind. She grabbed a tissue, wiping away the tears, doing her best to soothe Elliot.
“Sweetie, don’t let your thoughts run wild. How could we ever not want you and Jon?”
With that, Cecilia turned her gaze toward Nathaniel and asked, “Right?”
Nathaniel didn’t respond to the question. Instead, he said, “If we continue like this, it will indeed affect our relationship.”
Right then, Elliot’s sobbing grew even louder.
Nathaniel gently patted him. “Don’t worry, Eli. I will never marry another woman. Even if your mommy doesn’t want you, I will always want you,”
“What are you babbling about?” Cecilia shot him a look.
Nathaniel remained utterly unmoved, continuing to say, “Did I say something wrong? Eli and Jon already know that in your heart, Calvin and Eric matter more than I do.”
His words were dripping with sarcasm..
Cecilia had no idea that after he regained his sight, the first thing he searched for was a picture of Eric.
After all, Eric was his love rival. Nathaniel was curious to know what Eric, the male celebrity, looked like.
“Mommy, who would you choose to be with, Mr. Eric or Mr. Reese?” Elliot asked with teary eyes. “Would you still love me and Jon if you were with them? Are you going to have kids with them?”
Cecilia was left feeling overwhelmed by the relentless questioning from Nathaniel and Elliot.
She patiently replied, “Silly, I won’t leave you and Jon behind. I also won’t be with them.”
“In that case, you should hug and kiss Daddy. Otherwise, I won’t believe you,” Elliot insisted stubbornly.
After hearing that, Cecilia really didn’t know what to do.
Nathaniel was gazing intently at her as he said to Elliot, “Eli, don’t make things difficult for your mommy.
Cecilia felt that this man was deliberately stirring the pot.
After all, it wasn’t like they hadn’t hugged or kissed before.
There and then, Cecilia suddenly embraced Nathaniel.
Nathaniel’s heart softened before he could even react, and then, Cecilia lifted her head, planting a kiss on his cheek.
Right after that, she pulled back.
Nathaniel’s profile had a somewhat stiff expression, his deep–set eyes gazing at Cecilia, his Adam’s apple subtly moving.
“Eli, you see, the love between your daddy and me is still very strong.
Only then did Elliot give in and say, “Yes, Mommy. You guys keep it going.”
After such a long and tiresome journey in the car, they finally arrived home.
Elliot was the first to get out of the car, walking forward
Nathaniel also followed suit, but Cecilia said, “You ought to return to your private mansion.”
“Are you getting rid of me as soon as I’ve ceased to be useful?”
Chapter 1209 On A Mission
Cecilia wasn’t bothered. “What do you mean? We’re already divorced. We shouldn’t even be living together in the first place.”
Nathaniel gazed down at her with a composed demeanor and saw the smug look on her face. He then turned to look at Elliot and called out, “Eli.”
Elliot halted in her tracks, turning back to look at Nathaniel. “What’s up, sc*mbag daddy?”
In a moment of panic, Cecilia lowered her voice and said, “Can you stop being so childish? It’s not like you don’t have a place to live.
Nathaniel’s lips gently parted when he said, “Eli, this is as far as I can take you.”
Elliot looked utterly bewildered. “Sc*mbag daddy, aren’t you going to live with us?”
Nathaniel feigned innocence, casting a fearful glance toward Cecilia.
Cecilia was livid when she saw how he looked at her.
“Do you really have to be so shameless? Are you taking advantage of the child?” she asked softly.
Nathaniel remained nonchalant and responded softly. “How can you say I’m taking advantage of the child? Eli is my son, and he just wants our family to be happily complete.”
With that, he turned to look at Elliot, saying, “I also want to live with you guys, but-
Before he could finish his sentence, Cecilia noticed something off about Elliot’s expression and quickly said, “Of course, your daddy is living with us. However, Lottie, Lucy, and Maddie are all staying at our place, so it might be a bit inconvenient for your daddy to move in all of a sudden.”
Only then did Nathaniel remember that there was such a situation.
In the end, he was still driven away by Cecilia’s reasoning.
Although Elliot really wanted Cecilia and Nathaniel to live together, he considered that there were three beautiful women and a baby at home, and he also thought it wasn’t quite appropriate.
Elliot then approached Nathaniel, whispering softly to him,
Sc’mbag daddy, just bear with it for pow
A warm gentleness filled Nathaniel’s eyes. “Okay. Our family is counting on you now,” he said.
This kind of talk was particularly pleasing to Elliot’s ears.
“Don’t worry.”
After he bid farewell to Nathaniel, he felt the weight of his responsibilities even more.
Cecilia was somewhat puzzled. “What secret conversation were you having with your daddy?”
“Nothing much. Daddy asked me to take good care of you, Mommy.”
“Oh.”
Without giving it much thought, Cecilia took Elliot’s hand, and they headed home together.
Inside the house, the three wo
Chapter 1210 Ran Out Of Luck
“There’s no need for you to do that. The mansion’s cleaning is taken care of by the housekeeper,” said Cecilia.
Madeline was resolute. “No. I said it that time. I’ll clean the place. I can’t go back on my word. Ceci, don’t assume that I’m incapable of anything just because of my relationship with Darren. Even if I don’t know something. I can always learn.”
“There’s no need for you to do that. The mansion’s cleaning is taken care of by the housekeeper,” said Cecilia.
Madeline was resolute. “No. I said it that time. I’ll clean the place. I can’t go back on my word. Ceci, don’t assume that I’m incapable of anything just because of my relationship with Darren. Even if I don’t know something. I can always learn.”
She was apprehensive that Cecilia might refuse her proposal. Without waiting for Cecilia to say more, she started to clean the room.
Seeing her like that. Cecilia didn’t say anything more.
She then summoned the butler of the mansion, instructing him to ensure that Madeline received a portion of the salary every month from then on.
The reason she didn’t want to let Madeline do the cleaning had nothing to do with Darren. She was merely concerned that Madeline’s health might not be up to the task. Additionally, she had someone look into Madeline’s background.
Madeline was once a prominent young lady who had never had to do such things before.
At that moment, however, as Cecilia watched Madeline working so hard, her heart ached for her even more. What exactly has she gone through after her marriage?
Madeline cleaned up the house and then voluntarily sought out Charlotte to learn about work matters.
Cecilia was resting on the couch. She didn’t know when Charlotte had left, but Charlotte walked in from outside and said, “Boss, Sven is looking for you.”
“All right
Cecilia leaned on the couch to stand up and walked outside..
Sven held a stack of documents in his hand and said, “These are the details you asked me to look into about Cassina. It includes information about her birth hospital, blood type, and other records. If there are no discrepancies, it’s likely she isn’t Queenie’s biological daughter.”
Cecilia went through the documents, which clearly detailed Cassina’s birth and her comprehensive identity records.
If Bailey had adopted her, she probably couldn’t have managed all these procedures.
“Have you heard anything about Mdm. Bailey?” Cecilia asked.
With a grave expression, Sven said, “I had someone comb through all the surveillance footage around Mdm. Bailey’s house. We only spotted her in one of the videos. After a car passed by her, she vanished from the surveillance camera’s view. We’ve looked into that car, and it’s already been scrapped. Seems like her luck’s run out.”
After Sven made his point, Cecilia couldn’t help but turp her thoughts toward Cassina.
“Could it be possible that Cassina was the one who harged Mdm. Bailey?” Cecilia asked. Could it be possible
After all, she had witnessed it herself. In order to become Queenie’s adopted daughter, Cassandra had cut ties with her biological mother, Paula.
“Indeed, that could be a possibility,” Sven said..
“Do me a favor. Keep an eye on Cassina,” Cecilia uttered.
She felt there was definitely something worth investigating about this matter. She hadn’t forgotten about what Queenie and the others had done to her and Jonathan.
“All right.”
After Sven left. Cecilia returned to rest.
Around seven in the evening, a message popped up in Jonathan’s group chat. His teacher told him that a parent–child activity was scheduled for the following day, urging the children’s parents to try their best to attend.
Jonathan then sent a message to Cecilia that read: Mommy, are you free tomorrow?
Naturally, Cecilia wouldn’t miss out on the child’s growing moments. Hence, she replied: Yes.
After responding, she thought of Nathaniel again and couldn’t help but ask Jonathan by texting: Jon, is it all right if I attend alone?
Jonathan quickly replied: Sure.
Cecilia: All right, then, See you tomorrow.
Jonathan: See you tomorrow.
After closing the chat window, Cecilia noticed the parents‘ association group chat was bustling with activity. Everyone was discussing the parent–child activity scheduled for the next day.
The teacher mentioned that they would be heading to the outskirts tomorrow, and one needed to pack some food for their children.