Creighton frowned slightly, a mix of joy and concern etching his features. He was pleased because, well, knowledge was power, and who wouldn’t be happy about their child gaining more power? But the worry was, could all this hard studying take a toll on her?

He didn’t exactly expect her to be a straight-A student or a valedictorian. In fact, he wouldn’t mind if Cicely turned out to be a carefree, happy-go-lucky “good-for-nothing.” After all, the Ellis family had the means to indulge such a lifestyle.

He had considered the future of inheritance. However, with his daughter’s temperament, she didn’t seem the least bit inclined to pour her heart into the family legacy.

It wasn’t like he hadn’t discussed it with her. More than once, he had tried every trick in the book – cajoling, enticing, but nothing seemed to sway her. Eventually, he had let go of that expectation.

She was, after all, Creighton’s daughter. Her future was destined to be with the cream of the crop. He wasn’t worried about the future of the Ellis family.

As the saying goes, “The children’s luck is their own.” To him, the Ellis family wealth was nothing more than the financial foundation for his daughter’s future happiness. Nothing was more important to him than her joy and well-being.d2

Besides, that young lad Seth had both the mind and the capability, and had won over the affection of his clear-minded Cicely. With a little nurturing, the Ellis family would surely not decline.

No one knew his daughter better than he did. If Cicely wasn’t thinking along these lines, he wouldn’t have entertained the thought either.

She had always been “without high ambition,” so why the sudden drive?

After pondering for a while, Creighton sighed. At the end of the day, more learning could only be a good thing.

He had barely hung up the phone with Cicely when Danielle’s call came through. She, too, was skipping dinner at home for a tutoring session. Now, dinner would be a solo affair for him.

Might as well, he thought, and instructed the kitchen to prepare just one plate of spaghetti for him.

After school, Danielle and Cicely had bumped into each other at the school gates. Danielle was alone, whereas Cicely was with Joel.

Cicely never hid her disdain for Danielle, and Joel was well aware of it. Now that the three of them had collided, he felt a touch awkward. He wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

Danielle glanced at him, surprised to see Cicely this close to him. Everyone knew that Cicely was a loner at school, never one to initiate or indulge in friendships.

“What are you looking at?”

Cicely loathed that scrutinizing gaze from Danielle, as if she was trying to probe her life through Joel.

Danielle’s eyes met Cicely’s, “I won’t be home for dinner tonight, and I’ve already called.”

Hearing this, Cicely frowned, “Are you trying to provoke me?”

Danielle’s expression remained neutral, “I just don’t want you to hassle me like you did last night.”

A faint smile played on Cicely’s beautiful face, “Are you deaf or has your brain been waterlogged?”

Danielle’s usually impassive face now clearly displayed irritation, “No one is more self-righteous than you.” Cicely believed the whole world was hers, that she was the best, irreplaceable, and everyone else was just background to her brilliance.

Danielle had no intention of engaging further, leaving Cicely with a parting shot before walking away.

Cicely watched her leave coldly, saying nothing more, and proceeded to the café she and Joel had reserved earlier.

fully immersed in college life, cruising with

night’s dinner, his mother had volunteered him to tutor Danielle. He always tried to avoid conflicts with Patty. Besides, tutoring wasn’t hard; he had

been anxious the previous night, but when he didn’t object, she felt an

for the tutoring session, but the anticipation and happiness were soon overshadowed by the scene she

a thinker, not a fighter. That polished demeanor made it impossible for her – or anyone, for that matter, including Seth’s mother – to envision the Seth she was seeing

stained and scuffed, his once pristine shirt missing buttons and bearing more stains and blood spots than his

meters from Seth, on the lawn, three guys were picking themselves up, nursing their

crazy, man.

gaze was seemingly light, but it

glances, and

went blank. “What

next to her. He shook his head, “I’m not too sure, it was

dropped a few notches, as if scared,

they watched the commotion from a safe distance. “Those

anyone just start a fight for no reason? But then again, even if there was a reason,

after the trio that

book it out of here before he turns on us. He’s terrifying. You… you can’t even imagine how vicious this guy can

didn’t say a word. Yeah, she couldn’t imagine. But there were plenty of others who had gotten a glimpse

realized that besides Patty, she probably interacted with Seth more than anyone else in the world. However, in reality, it felt like she and Seth were the farthest apart. She even felt like she was less

the area cleared out, she slowly

gaze was as icy and fierce as it had been when he looked at those three guys, and Danielle instinctively stepped back,

disheveled shirt, his long fingers stained with traces

the scene that

your curiosity to yourself, and don’t ask questions you shouldn’t. Head to the library,” he said, his voice deep and clear, devoid of

a few seconds before she murmured, “You’re in no

up for the tutoring session, we’ll do it. If not, then don’t bother in the future; I don’t have the patience to waste on the same thing over and over. If it’s the latter, you can explain it to my

felt a pang in her heart at Seth’s words, which were loud and clear to her.

understanding of him over the years to talk him

and unadorned. If Seth had a red line, it was definitely Patty. So, the night before, during dinner, she had cunningly mentioned her need for tutoring in front of Patty. She hadn’t

refused at the time, and she had been elated. Perhaps human

him to walk away. She had fought hard

a word, Seth stood up and walked towards the library. Danielle quickly followed, and after a while, she gathered the courage to speak up. “But Seth, you should really get those wounds taken care of

or

for wear, everyone turned to look at him.

approach him to ask what had happened. They knew better

familiar bookshelf, effortlessly found a book, and sat down to read. Danielle used this time to message the driver to

far from indifferent, despite his usual quiet. Danielle

dare ask him any questions. If she didn’t initiate a conversation, Seth certainly

to glance at Seth. As he appeared to be

she held a small bag in her hand, no

in front of Seth. “Seth,

of medical supplies.

“It’s

book. “If you don’t have any more questions, we’re done for

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