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…”

the man slumped on the couch, yanking him up by the collar and dragging

I’m choking… This is

not even allowing him inside his

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

entire company prospered. One man’s happiness affected the well-being of thousands. Though it was Mr. Diaz’s

slowly, “Do

was taken aback,

“Then perform

to himself.

*

at noon, the doorbell at Cicely’s Mansion rang again. Cicely opened the door. There stood Seth, impeccably dressed, holding two

tilting her head slightly, “What’s

here to deliver Hugo’s

at him,

so I thought I’d

but twenty bottles of

down, silent for a moment, then turned and

*

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

humans are

let him mooch meals, let him see Hugo, and interacted with him with calm indifference. These things would have satisfied

heart was hanging in mid-air. And he didn’t dare bring it up, because any

But all that sensitivity and withholding disintegrated the day Lana came to Cicely’s Mansion for dinner a

brow creased slightly at the sight of him. “Well, ” she said, her tone laced with disbelief. “I didn’t think even you would have the nerve

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

an eyebrow, her gaze playful yet piercing. “Packing

gift he brought

aside, Lana

a plate decorated with animal-shaped fruits, obviously prepared for Hugo. Her expression remained neutral upon seeing Seth, as she walked over to the pillowed

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

a pear. Hugo

returned the smile with a gentle voice,

had become a natural part of Hugo’s vocabulary. Seth’s face, previously taut with tension, now forced a curve of

Cicely and Seth, sensing

too was baffled. Why would Seth come to her home, uninvited, and then act so coldly toward their son? Was she being too

within her, she restrained any outward display,

Lana’s departure being

was to stay

conversation dwindled,

Hugo

bathed and into bed early then. We have to rise

watched, his jaw

off the couch, shuffled into his

sofa, looking disinterested and lazily content. “Was there something else?” she asked without

mouth remained tightly shut as he

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

sound stern, but it came out soft and without

to hear her clearly, though. “I’ll carry you upstairs

her down, and removed her shoes. As soon as

lingered by the bed, his voice husky. “Aren’t you

Cicely hummed a response.

sleep without

her brow. “Can you just let me

moment longer before

guessed what he wanted to do; it was evident he was

dim light, Cicely slowly opened her eyes and stared at the curtains that Seth had just drawn. She seemed to be thinking about

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

wanted to ask about it, almost did a hundred times. But he didn’t know how to start, nor

do if she

*

remembering she had planned to bathe but instead slept straight through until dawn. She woke with a scowl, tossing the covers aside

freshening up, she descended the stairs to find the servants quietly tidying the living room. They looked

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