When Her "Death" Couldn't Break Him (Cecilia and Nathaniel)

Chapter 3 Last Will

“You probably haven’t tasted the sweetness of love yet, have you? You know, when Nathaniel was with me, he would cook for me, and whenever I fell sick, he would be the first one to rush to my side. He once told me the most tender words, ‘Stella, I hope you’re always happy…’ Ceci, did Nathaniel ever tell you he loved you? He used to tell me all the time, but I always thought he was childish…”

Silently, Cecilia listened, reflecting on the years she had spent with Nathaniel over the past three years.

He had never once stepped foot into the kitchen.

When she was ill, he never once expressed a word of concern.

As for love, he had never spoken of it.

Cecilia calmly looked at her. “Are you done talking?”

Stella was taken aback.

Perhaps it was due to Cecilia’s overwhelming calmness or her piercingly clear eyes that seemed to see into one’s soul.

She remained in a daze until the moment Cecilia left.

For some unknown reason, at that moment, Stella seemed to have returned to her initial state—a poor orphan who had to rely on the charity of the Smith family.

Behind the image of the Smith family’s daughter, she was always playing the fool.

Of course, Cecilia couldn’t possibly remain indifferent to what Stella had said.

She had pursued the man she adored for twelve years, only to discover that he too had once passionately loved someone else with the innocence of a child.

Her ear began to throb with pain again. When she reached up to remove her hearing aid, she noticed blood staining it.

She habitually wiped off the blood from it, setting the hearing aid aside.

Unable to fall asleep, she unlocked her phone and tapped into Instagram.

She saw one post after another, all tagging her.

Upon opening it, she found it was filled with photos posted by Stella, visible only to her.

The first photo was a snapshot of Stella and Nathaniel from their university days. They stood side by side, with Nathaniel’s eyes radiating a gentle warmth.

The second photo was a record of their conversation. Nathaniel affectionately wrote: Ella, happy birthday. I will make you the happiest person in the world.

The third photo was of Nathaniel and Stella, hand in hand, leisurely strolling along the beach, their backs to the camera.

fifth, the sixth, and countless more

didn’t dare to continue scrolling, swiftly

moment, she suddenly felt the need to

penned a sentence in

read: I could have endured the darkness, but that

day, she habitually set about preparing

six o’clock had come and gone, and Nathaniel still hadn’t returned, that Cecilia realized she had forgotten his earlier mention of no

not return, so she sat alone on the

you don’t need

impatient voice

opened her eyes, only to see Nathaniel walking

“I’m sorry,

Again, those same words…

to look at her,

as usual, a modest shade of soft

penniless, suggesting he had been mistreating her all

you forget to come back? Why didn’t you forget that we got married? Why didn’t you forget yourself? You can’t bear to leave me, can you? You can’t let

knife, piercing straight

“Nathaniel, I never wanted

had always cared about

laugh laced with

the story behind your mother coming to my office this morning, asking

Cecilia was bewildered.

realized that his

bother engaging in idle chat

Daltonia Villa and keep the Smith family stable, you

finishing his words, he dashed to the study to grab something.

stark contrast to her earlier indifference. She gently took Cecilia’s hand and said, “Ceci, you should beg Nathaniel.

stared at her, listening intently as she continued

in these past three years, Nathaniel never laid a finger on

probably the final straw

world, there was never true empathy, only individual interests

comprehend why Nathaniel would disclose this

he truly

suddenly felt a sense

“Mom, let go.”

knitted together in

want to