In the elite social circles, where old money and new fortunes collide, there was a
whispered rumor everyone knew but no one dared to speak aloud. Creighton Ellis, the
people in charge of the affluent Ellis family, was rumored to have had a true love—a
woman named Millie.
Millie was the talk of high society, a social butterfly whose grace and beauty were
matched only by her cunning and charm. She was known to captivate the wealthiest
bachelors with her enchanting ways.
Despite the knowledge that she was trouble, many men fell prey to her allure. The ladies
of the circle would bitterly dub her “the temptress,” hoping evilly that her string of
conquests would no doubt lead to an untimely and sordid demise.
But then, as suddenly as she had appeared, Millie vanished.
Months later, the Ellis estate was abuzz with the birth of a daughter, Cicely. It was then
revealed that the child’s mother was none other than Millie, the once notorious
heartbreaker of P City’s elite.
Creighton’s love for Millie was undeniable, and it extended to his daughter Cicely, whom
he spoiled without limit. Tragically, Millie’s life was cut short, passing away when Cicely
was only eight. While some whispered of karmic retribution, others pitied the young
daughter.d2
Still, Creighton’s doting ensured that Cicely lacked for nothing, except for the absence of
her mother.
Cicely grew up to be a stunning young woman, her beauty a testament to her mother’s
legacy. The Ellis family had long since warned against idle gossip about their affairs, and
though murmurs persisted, they faded with Millie’s passing.
Cicely was known for her radiant looks and her defiant spirit, intelligent yet indolent. She
seemed to believe life would always be a breeze, never taking anything too seriously. Her
moods were as fickle as the wind—one moment content, the next irked. Her tastes could
shift overnight, from craving a simple salad to indulging in a succulent plate of roast beef.
To the Ellis family, her whims were no surprise.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBut Cicely had her obsessions.
At twelve, she met Seth, three years older than her, under less than joyous circumstances
—her uncle, Creighton’s brother, had died in a plane crash. The Ellis funeral lasted three
days, and it was there she first encountered Seth.
Seth stood quietly, a handsome, lanky figure beside a beautiful woman, exuding an air of
calm and an indescribable presence.
Cicely, having slipped away from the service, was caught by Seth’s gaze as she presented
a flower at her uncle’s memorial. Unfazed by the attention, she offered him a smile, which
seemed to trap him in an unwanted cage.
Cicely put the flower down, put her hands together and prayed silently. When she turned
around, the place was empty.
Quickly turning her gaze, she saw the woman and her father disappearing at the door.
She chased all the way to her own living room. Because she was running in such a hurry,
her beautiful white gauze skirt flew in the air. When she stopped, the skirt swayed to the
front again and again, like a mischievous wave. Her pretty face was slightly reddish, and
through the smooth and delicate skin, it looked particularly like a juicy peach.
Cicely saw Seth obediently sitting on her couch and sighed a breath of relief.
“Cicely, are you running around again?” Creighton was scolding her, but there was
undeniable doting in his voice.
“Is this your daughter?” The young and beautiful woman sitting next to him opened her
mouth. Cicely turned her head. The woman must be a guest. But after all, Cicely was also
the little mistress of the Ellis family. At least in her own home, wasn’t a polite or even
distant smile a basic courtesy? This woman, however, seemed incredibly arrogant.
“Dad, who is she?”
Creighton touched her beautiful braid and laughed: “She’s a friend of your mom and dad.
Call her Aunt Patty.”
Yet Cicely shifted her gaze to the boy next to her, “Who is he?”
Patty, who was ignored by Cicely, paused and then put on a smile.
Creighton had always indulged Cicely without limit, but in terms of basic courtesy, he was
not one hundred percent lenient. “Cicely…”
Creighton looked helplessly at her, but saw her gaze seemed to be on the boy across her
all the time. He sighBooks Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books
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ed, and said, “He is Aunt Patty’s son, Seth. He is three years older than you.”
Creighton once again happily yielded to Cicely, who smiled beautifully at Seth. “Hey Seth,
my name’s Cicely. Got it memorized?”
Creighton let out a resigned sigh. This girl was definitely spoiled rotten. Her voice still
carried the traces of youth, tinged with an unmistakable blend of petulance and pride.
Did she really expect Seth to remember? It sounded more like a command than a request,
as if he had no choice in the matter.
Seth just watched her impassively, his indifferent gaze saying nothing.
Cicely didn’t seem to wait for an answer. She turned to Patty, who stood beside her, and
chirped, “Hello, Aunt Patty.”
Patty was amused by Cicely’s sudden change in demeanor and didn’t mince words. “You
didn’t seem to like me much a moment ago.”
Cicely nodded, “You’re Seth’s mom. I like him, so I guess I have to like you too.”
Patty was momentarily taken aback by Cicely’s candidness.
Creighton couldn’t help but chuckle and ruffled her hair affectionately. “You’re something
else, kiddo.”
A few seconds later, Patty regained her composure and with a detached tone said, “You’re
quite the spitfire, just like Millie.”
Cicely knew that Millie was her mother, and the mention of the name dimmed the smile on
her face. At twelve, she was still learning to mask her emotions.
Seth observed her quietly. The sorrow and longing soon vanished from Cicely’s face. She
glanced sidelong at Patty’s left, where a girl about her age sat quietly, the model of
decorum, the type that adults usually doted on. “And who might she be?”
Patty spoke up this time, “That’s Danielle Clandon, your uncle’s and my friend’s
daughter.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Why is her last name not Ellis?”
A sardonic smile played on Patty’s lips as she turned to Creighton.
“She’ll always be a Clandon. It was Analia’s dying wish.”
Creighton pursed his lips, his expression darkening, and took a deep breath. “Let’s leave
her with the Ellis family. It’s our responsibility to look after her.”
Patty’s lips twisted slightly, “Can you ensure she’ll always be a Clandon?”
Creighton frowned, “Let her decide when she’s older.”
Patty nodded, “Fair enough.”
Danielle seemed uneasy with the outcome. When Patty and Seth started to leave, the girl
chased after them to the door, gripping Seth’s arm, her eyes brimming with tears.
Seth looked at her expressionlessly. It was then that Cicely first heard his voice. “Stop
crying.”
Cicely couldn’t help but find his attempt at comfort almost laughable. It was so pale and
emotionless.
Danielle’s tears refused to obey. Cicely noticed Seth’s fingers twitch at his side. His gaze
suddenly and unexpectedly swept toward the living room, catching Cicely’s mischievous
smile. His brows knit slightly.
Unashamed, Cicely walked over to the coffee table, grabbed a couple of tissues, and
approached Seth. “Looking for these?” she asked, offering the tissues with a playful smile.
Without a word, Seth reached out to take them, but Cicely pulled back teasingly. Seth’s
hand grasped at air.
In the next moment, Cicely was wiping Danielle’s face with the tissues, her motions far
from gentle and hardly heartfelt.
Danielle flinched, and Cicely, done with pretenses, thrust the tissues into her hand. She
then turned to Seth with a soft smile and said, “You’re the guy I like, so whether it’s now or
in the future, don’t you go wiping away any other girl’s tears, or handing out tissues. It
would upset me, and if I’m upset, I sure as heck won’t let you off easy. You’d end up
spending time and effort to cheer me up. So to save yourself the trouble later, it’s best if
you don’t do such things at all, don’t you think?”
Cicely had always been beautiful, spoiled into a uniquely captivating presence as if it was
her birthright to be doted upon. Even with an off-putting personality, you couldn’t deny
that when she smiled, she was truly stunning.
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