Chapter 2309
Elliot hadn’t changed at all. He still knew exactly what people liked to hear, and once he latched onto Cecilia, he stayed glued to her.
Nathaniel looked like he had more to say—
but Elliot let go of Cecilia and turned to him, piling on the praise.
“Dad, you’re seriously glowing today. You look more manly every time I see you. I need to learn from you.”
Nathaniel didn’t buy a word of it.
“If you want to learn from me, then follow your brother’s example and start taking the company seriously.”
The moment the company came up, Elliot scratched his head.
He just wasn’t interested in being a boss.
All he wanted was to sing.
He had inherited Cecilia’s musical talent, and his gift in that area was undeniable. Among the younger generation, he was already a top pop idol.
Cecilia understood that even children from the same family could turn out completely different.
“Alright, if Elliot wants to do something else, let him. Jon is already handling the company.”
“Or when Quentin and Luke grow up, they can take over too.”
The moment she said that, Nathaniel had nothing left to argue.
Elliot immediately broke into a grin.
“Mom, you’re the best.”
But the next second, his smile froze.
“Since I’m so great,” Cecilia said casually, “when are you getting married and giving me a grandchild?”
Elliot stiffened. “…Why are you just like Grandma? No rush, no rush. I’m still young. I don’t want to get married or have kids yet.”
Cecilia looked at him helplessly.
Elliot seized the moment and hurried back to his room.
The weekend arrived.
Cecilia and the whole family returned to Rainsworth Manor.
Now that Elena and Wren were getting older, they spent their days tending flowers, playing cards, and enjoying a quiet life.
Neither of them had remarried.
Maybe time had softened things. They had both let go of the past and now got along peacefully—nothing like the constant clashes before.
Elena said to Cecilia, “A lifetime passes in the blink of an eye. Before you know it, the children are all grown. Ceci, you’ve done more than anyone.”
Cecilia smiled.
“Mom, we still have a long road ahead.”
Elena’s lips curved upward. “That’s right. A long road. We can take it slow.”
“By the way, how have things been with the Sinclair family lately?”
“It’s been about a month since George’s funeral. Right now, they’re focused on stabilizing things internally.”
“Jon goes over sometimes when he has time—helping out and showing his younger brother the ropes.”
Jon’s “younger brother” was Zachary’s son.
Back then, George had formally acknowledged Jon as his god-great-grandson.
Elena nodded. “Mm. When Jon has time, he should help them more.”
Cecilia nodded in agreement. “He will.”
When George passed, Jon had appeared calm on the surface.
But Cecilia had seen him crying when no one else was around.
George had always doted on him, treating him like his own great-grandson.
And Jon had loved him like a real great-grandfather.
With Jon there, the Sinclair family would only continue to grow stronger.
Cecilia spent the day at Rainsworth Manor talking with Elena and the others.
That night, she returned home.
Not long after, she received a call.
It was from Ashcroft Asylum.
“Ms. Smith, you mentioned you’d be visiting Stella this week?”
“Yes,” Cecilia replied. “Can it be arranged?”
“Of course. You can come anytime.”
The next day—
Cecilia went to Ashcroft Asylum.
That was where she saw Stella.
More than ten years had passed since their last meeting.
Stella had aged as well. The light that once filled her face was gone.
When she saw Cecilia, it was as if she were looking at someone from another lifetime.
“Ceci…”
Cecilia turned to the director beside her. “Why does it feel like she’s changed?”
The director handed her a diagnostic report.
“She shows signs of mild dementia. It may be hereditary. Sometimes she’s slow and unresponsive… but other times, she’s completely normal.”
Cecilia nodded.
“From now on, let her go wherever she wants.”
After all these years, Cecilia looked at Stella without the slightest ripple of emotion.