Chapter 2216

Madeline’s eyes burned with fierce concentration.

Cecilia, on the other hand, felt a wave of secondhand embarrassment. Over the past few hours, she’d watched several men step in, eager to win the plush toy for Madeline.

Every single one had failed.

Madeline’s beauty was striking—disarming, even. Despite being a young mom, she still attracted more than a few hopeful admirers.

Cecilia turned to Nathaniel. “Sir, could you just sell us the doll?”

“Well…” The shop owner feigned hesitation. “Every prize here has to be won fair and square.”

He had barely finished speaking when Calvin cut in.

“Forget redeeming tokens,” he said calmly. “Is this stack enough for the plush?”

The owner glanced at the pile of tokens and immediately nodded. “More than enough. Absolutely.”

He waved over an employee. The worker opened the machine, retrieved the plush, and placed it directly into Madeline’s hands.

She looked at Calvin, gratitude and admiration shining in her eyes. “Calvin, you’re incredible.”

“It’s nothing,” he replied lightly.

Madeline hugged the plush to her chest, joy lighting up her face.

Watching her, Cecilia couldn’t help but marvel. They had been there at least two or three hours, and Madeline hadn’t budged from that claw machine once—for this one toy.

“Come on,” Calvin said. “Let’s head back and get some rest.”

They returned to the hotel Sven had arranged.

The streets were nearly empty on the walk back.

After arriving, Cecilia collected her key card, parted from the others, and pushed open her room door.

The room was dark.

Before she could insert the card into the slot, a large hand grabbed her and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Ceci!”

The familiar voice carried a chill that made goosebumps rise along her skin.

Cecilia shivered. “Nicholas, let me go.”

He let out a low chuckle. “I wondered if you’d even recognize me. Back then, you could barely tell me apart from my brother.”

She wrenched herself free and flipped on the lights.

As expected—it was Nicholas.

He was already inside the room. His thinner frame leaned against the wall, his gaze fixed on her with an unsettling intensity.

“What are you doing here?” Cecilia demanded.

Nicholas smiled faintly. “I wanted to see you. So I came.”

“I thought we settled everything a long time ago.” Unease crept up her spine.

Now he looked like a wolf that had shed its sheepskin—no trace of gentleness left.

“That’s only what you think was settled.” He stepped toward her slowly.

Cecilia retreated, reaching for the door.

Nicholas moved faster, grabbing the handle and blocking her exit.

Her chance to escape was gone.

“What do you want?” she asked, forcing her voice steady.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled her into his arms again, locking his grip around her.

She struggled, but he didn’t loosen his hold.

He might be thinner than before, but he was still stronger than she was.

“Let me go,” Cecilia said through clenched teeth.

Nicholas only tightened his embrace. “Ceci… why did all of you leave me? Wasn’t I good to you?”

All of you?

Cecilia frowned. “Who are you talking about?”

“Jocelyn…” Nicholas breathed her name. “I thought the whole world might abandon me—but not her. And now she’s changed. She’s really with Yannick.”

At the mention of Jocelyn, something twisted painfully inside Cecilia.

She had noticed Jocelyn’s feelings for Nicholas long ago.

“Nicholas,” she asked quietly, “did you never realize she liked you?”