He never said “I love you,” but his love never ceased.

Back in the day, Seth loved her, and she loved him back, so a little coaxing was all it took. Now, Seth still loved her, but she didn’t want to love anymore. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t coax her back into it.

Cicely’s love had been open and bold, but her decision to stop loving was swift and decisive. Once she made up her mind, she never looked back.

It seemed that in their relationship, the control was never really in Seth’s hands. The one who was truly afraid wasn’t Cicely; it was Seth. Even now, that hadn’t changed.

Lana closed her eyes briefly, suppressing the surge of sorrow. “What are you planning to do?” Lana asked.

Seth shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe, it’s enough if she just doesn’t leave. As long as she doesn’t vanish from my sight, and I can see her anytime and know what’s happening with her…”d2

Lana tugged at her lips. “And that satisfies you?”

Seth didn’t hesitate. “It doesn’t.”

Lana felt a tightness in her chest. It was as if she were Seth, trapped in a space with all exits blocked, unable to find a way out.

Irritation, anxiety, near madness.

After a moment of silence, she said, “She is not leaving today. Go back to the hospital.”

Seth looked at Lana and asked. “Really?”

“If you don’t trust me enough, then you can have someone else watch her.”

“She’ll get angry.”

Seth said softly, attempting to retract his arm from the pillar, his rigid body swaying slightly.

Lana pressed her lips together, looking at him solemnly, “She won’t be up this early. Come in and have something to eat.”

Seth didn’t move.

“When you’re completely drained, down with an illness you can’t shake off, or passed out for days, do you think Cicely will stay by your hospital bed or take the opportunity to run away with Hugo?”

Seth’s dark eyes finally flickered.

Lana lowered her gaze and opened the door to the house. Seth stood still for a moment before lifting his feet and walking stiffly inside.

Lana instructed the servants to prepare breakfast for Seth. It was a simple meal: oatmeal, some side dishes, and two fried eggs.

“Is this what she usually has for breakfast?” Seth asked.

Lana, with a cup of hot water in front of her, hummed a response, “Yeah, she usually eats with Hugo. It’s the same breakfast. Sometimes she makes Hugo a sandwich. Kids love those.”

Seth nodded, glancing at the fried eggs. “She prefers boiled eggs, a little runny in the middle. They should be soaked in saltwater for a few days first.”

Lana pursed her lips. “She never mentioned it.”

*

After breakfast, Seth didn’t linger. When he left, Charlie was already there. Noticing Seth come out, Charlie hurriedly opened the car door.

Seth was flushed. He had forced himself to eat breakfast despite having no appetite, his head spinning, his stomach churning. He stubbornly endured it.

His fever returned with a vengeance. Upon arriving at the hospital, the medical staff scurried around until they finally got an IV into him. By then, Seth was already deeply asleep.

*

Cicely came down for breakfast with Hugo, finding Lana already seated in the dining room.

“Good morning.”

“Morning, Grand-aunt.”

Cicely and Hugo greeted her, and Lana responded with a smile only to Hugo, “Good morning, Hugo. Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah.”

“Come here, today I will feed you.”

“Okay.”

Hugo and glanced at Cicely,

“Grandpa wants to teach Hugo

you going to

about him since he

“If you’d woken up

her eating, looking up at Lana.

know when he arrived. When I opened the door this morning, he

into Hugo’s bowl of porridge. “He had a car accident yesterday, got a fever, and is in

believe it either. The moment I opened the door and saw him, it felt like it was all happening yesterday. Who knows, he’s like a madman. I am afraid he might actually

Cicely didn’t respond.

stopped eating. “Is Daddy

is in the hospital now. He loves you so much,

nodded, his

*

playing chess, they went to Seth’s ward room. Charlie was there, keeping

was neither family nor friend, by his side. “It’s like he’s living the life of

bed, looking at Seth, deep in sleep, his dark eyes filled with hope and

layer of sweat, his face flushed and his brows furrowed while his thin lips flushed pale. For someone who typically showed little emotion, he must be in terrible pain to

seen Seth this

*

was a light sleeper, but despite the room filling with people, he showed

took Hugo out of the

Hugo and

“Mommy?”

“Yes?”

for a couple of seconds. “Is

hesitated. “It’s nothing,

a fever before, and it was awful. I think Daddy feels as bad now

softly, her mind seemingly

Lana watched on silently.

*

woke up around 9 p.m., and Charlie immediately notified the staff to

up expressionlessly, taking the glass of water

a little past nine

down the glass and threw

“Mr. Diaz!”

him, “I’ve got people

gave you the permission to do

assure you Ms. Cicely

his path, pleading earnestly. “Mr. Diaz, there are thousands of employees across our companies counting on you. Even if you

“It’s still early.”

*

the wee hours of the morning,

in the dimly lit room, she remained seated for what felt like an eternity before

while, then, with determination, she pushed one open. The chill air brought a cutting wind with it, nipping sharply at her bones. Cicely squinted her eyes

could react, she was enveloped in a man’s embrace. His open coat nearly swallowed

hoarse and fierce, but his thunderous

the time she gathered her bearings, she found herself

brought Cicely fully back to the moment, prompting her to shove

wasn’t exactly built like a brick house; her push sent him stumbling back

him lift his gaze to

“It’s cold outside.”

“Feeling cold

Adam’s apple

I wouldn’t choose to sneak away in the dead of night. What’s the point of standing guard all night? And if I truly wanted to leave,

if stumped. “Other

a while, then laughed, “Are you planning to

really

voice followed without

Cicely didn’t speak.

plan to leave, then there’s no need for me to force you to

me down for

eyes locked on her face, “I don’t want to wear you down. Tell me, what do I need to do for you to love me again, and to

body tense. “You don’t have to do anything. I’m already more than tolerant of

fever. The sound reverberated in her ears and vibrated through

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