Cicely was never a stingy person. Kane might not be the most reliable guy around. But his gesture of buying ten bottles of Chardonnay from her was sincere enough. So it was natural for her to prepare this table full of delicious food.

Yeah, it was all about the Chardonnay.

Cicely guided Hugo to his chair, where the maid tied a bib around his neck and set out a non-slip fork and spoon in front of him.

Cicely was there just to tidy things up a bit, rolling up Hugo’s sleeves for him. Cicely was much calmer and relaxed now than at the beginning when she wanted to hug Hugo all the time and was all nervous and overwhelmed.

Grandpa was well, Hugo’s eyes were healed, and she was free, living here with improved conditions. Everything had settled down.

She was slowly reclaiming her own identity, the one she had three years ago, haughty, aloof, and heartless. No one could catch her eye.d2

Back then, everyone but Seth got that treatment. Now, it was the same for everyone.

Unchanged, yet changed.

Her radiant face had gained a touch of maturity and grace through those three years. The arrogance in her brow persisted, yet it now held a certain fully-formed allure.

Seth’s gaze never left Cicely.

She picked up the fork and served Hugo some food. “Want mom to blow on it?”

Hugo shook his head, “I can do it. You eat, Mommy.”

Cicely smiled gently, caressing his cheek. “Good boy.”

Even Kane found this version of Cicely unsettling. She was so different from before. He thought, in these three years, Cicely had grown more than any of them.

The once haughty woman who needed assistance for every task, and couldn’t lift a finger, was now caring for others.

Seth longed to sit next to Cicely, but ended up across from her. It was the safest distance to avoid irritating her and the perfect spot for discreet observation.

Kane, observing Seth’s unusual timidity, shook his head. Love was a strange and wondrous thing. He bet that after dinner, Seth would be back in his room, wide awake with insomnia.

Sighing, Kane attempted to broach a subject with an elder’s poise.

Cicely glanced at him, “Care for some peanuts?”

Kane, reading the hidden thorns in her amused eyes, opened his mouth in confusion. “Maybe a bit more wine?”

Cicely frowned, “No alcohol served.”

“C’mon, it’s a rare gathering. Besides…” Kane winked towards Seth, “a little drink might help with sleep.”

Cicely set down her fork, and Kane hastily added, “I will buy two bottles of Lafite in exchange for any wine you have. Is that OK?”

Cicely looked toward the maid, “Do we have any cheap beer?”

The maid nodded, “Two cases in the storeroom.”

“Bring one up.”

Kane was speechless.

*

Kane was all about helping Seth sleep, but in the end, he was the one who ended up paralyzed on the couch clutching a bottle of wine.

Once Hugo finished his meal, Cicely had the maid take him upstairs. She glanced at Kane, mumbling nonsense on the sofa, a shadow crossing her expression. “Get him out of here before he ruins my carpet.”

With that, she turned to head upstairs.

“Cicely.”

She paused, her delicate hand resting on the banister.

Seth forced a smile, “Goodnight.”

Sounds of the dining room being tidied up mixed with Kane’s muffled chatter. After a moment, Cicely’s voice floated down, soft and delicate. “Goodnight.”

Seth’s heart skipped a beat. He had never realized how enchanting those words could be.

Kane slurred, “Cicely, I swear that I’ve never seen him making such a fool of himself. Damn hilarious…”

Seth looked away from the man slumped on the couch, yanking him up by the collar and dragging him out of the

I’m choking… This

eventually pushed into a car, Seth not even allowing him inside his home. Charlie was instructed

dinner again soon?” Charlie couldn’t resist asking as he turned the car around. It wasn’t that he was particularly

One man’s happiness affected the

him, saying slowly, “Do you

was taken aback,

“Then

thought to himself.

*

again. Cicely opened the door. There stood Seth, impeccably dressed, holding

leaned against the doorway, tilting her head slightly,

here to deliver Hugo’s

looked at him,

I thought

but twenty bottles

moment, then turned and walked back

*

The third day.

The fourth day.

The fifth…

Cicely’s Mansion at least once a day for a meal. The gifts for Hugo piled up in the storage

humans are greedy

meals, let him see Hugo, and interacted with him with calm indifference. These things would have satisfied him in the past, but she never once mentioned their past, nor talked about the

was hanging in mid-air. And he didn’t dare bring it up, because any mention of the past was absolutely taboo

But all that sensitivity and withholding disintegrated the day Lana came to Cicely’s

his body coiling with an uneasy anticipation. “What’re

playful yet piercing. “Packing up some things before

gift he brought

Lana

obviously prepared for Hugo. Her expression remained neutral

on the floor, his nose buried in a picture book. Once blind, now that he could see, he dedicated hours each day to

pear. Hugo bit

a gentle voice, “You’re

Seth, Hugo greeted him with the same cheerfulness as usual. “Dad” had become a natural part of Hugo’s vocabulary. Seth’s face, previously

and

her home, uninvited, and then act so coldly toward their son? Was she being too kind to

within her, she restrained any outward

Lana’s departure being

to stay

conversation dwindled,

Hugo nodded

bathed and into bed early then. We have to rise with the sun tomorrow,” Lana

watched, his

the couch, shuffled into

of the sofa, looking disinterested and lazily content. “Was

her weary face, his lips parting slightly as she yawned. His mouth remained tightly shut

a clear look at him, she was scooped up into his arms. Holding

sound stern, but it came out

her clearly, though.

laid her down, and removed her

his voice husky. “Aren’t you going to take a

Cicely hummed a response.

sleep without

brow. “Can you just

delicate profile for a moment longer

warmth enveloping her. She guessed what he wanted to do; it was evident he was yearning

of the door closing. In the dim light, Cicely slowly opened

Cicely’s delicate scent still lingering in his nostrils, and his mind raced with the thought of Lana taking her

hundred times. But he didn’t know how to start, nor did he dare to

do if she really decided to

*

gone to bed early the previous night, vaguely remembering she had planned to bathe but instead slept straight through until dawn. She woke with

quietly tidying the living room. They looked surprised to see

in my room,” she instructed.Books Chapters

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