Chapter 311

At Cozyroom, Sienna and Cedric sat opposite each other. Cedric picked up the menu, seeking her opinion. "How about these choices?" he asked.

Sienna nodded. "That's fine."

"Alright then," Cedric said, handing the menu to the waiter and pouring Sienna a glass of water.

Noticing his calmness, Sienna couldn't help but ask, "Cedric, do you know something?" His sudden contact today was unusual; he had been distant ever since she'd been with Josiah.

"Yes," Cedric replied, setting down the water jug, his voice cheerful. He couldn't hide his elation. "I know you and Josiah have broken up."

Sienna pursed her lips, took a sip of water, then retrieved her phone, opened a photo of Joyce, and showed it to him. "Take a look," she said.

"What is this...?" Cedric questioned, examining the picture. Joyce was held close to Sienna; their faces were strikingly similar, even the curve of their smiles identical.

"She's my daughter," Sienna informed him before he could ask. "Her name is Joyce. She's three years old."

Cedric's head snapped up, his eyes wide with shock. "So she is... she is..."

"That's right," Sienna nodded, understanding his surprise. "She's Josiah's daughter. I got pregnant the year I left Jescrity."

Cedric's lips parted slightly, speechless. He'd never heard of this; neither Josiah nor his cousin Yosef had mentioned it. He realized Josiah had been in the dark as well.

"You raised her... all by yourself!" Cedric exclaimed.

"Yes," Sienna replied calmly, a faint smile playing on her lips—a smile of hard-won composure. "Josiah only found out recently." She recounted the events leading up to this moment.

"That's how it is," Sienna concluded. A long silence followed. They looked at each other, the air momentarily still.

"Cedric," Sienna said, putting away her phone, "you should understand, we're not a good match."

"Sienna!" Cedric grasped her hand. Regret and heartache clouded his expression. "Back in Flirty, when you said, 'Let's talk after I've rested,' you were referring to Joyce's situation, weren't you?"

"Yes," Sienna nodded. That had indeed been her intention; Joyce had been awaiting surgery.

"Sienna," Cedric loosened his grip, his eyes reddening.

Sienna understood; he was grappling with his own feelings.

"You should have told me," Cedric said, his voice thick with emotion. "It would have been so much better if you had told me earlier." He wouldn't have minded; he would have been heartbroken for her. He had no prejudices; he liked Sienna and would have accepted Joyce.

Sienna remained silent. She knew this; otherwise, she wouldn't have considered it then. But there was no need to dwell on it now.

Sienna pulled her hand away. "It's all in the past. There's no need to bring up old matters. It's meaningless."

"How could it be meaningless?" Cedric looked at her, a fire burning in his chest. "It means something now. You and Josiah have broken up. You're single, and I can pursue you."

Sienna's heart skipped a beat—surprise and a touch of something else, but not joy.

"Sienna," Cedric said, his eagerness evident. "You would have considered me then, and it's the same now."

"It's not the same," Sienna denied immediately, meeting his gaze. "Back then, there was hope for Joyce's cure, but now…" She continued gently, "If Joyce's condition doesn't improve, I'm afraid I might still need to have a child."

Cedric's face paled. He understood. To have a child would naturally be with Josiah.

"But, but…" Cedric stammered, his eyelashes trembling. "Even for Joyce's sake, there are other methods, like artificial…"

"Yes, that's true," Sienna admitted. She'd considered it since confronting Josiah. But…

"Cedric, even so, I can't accept you," Sienna said. The thought of having two children with Josiah while being with Cedric, a man untouched by such a history, felt impossible. It would require a courage she didn't possess.

"I don't care!" Cedric insisted. "Life is short; I just want to spend it with the person I like!"

"But I do care," Sienna said, her eyes moist with heartache for his sincerity. "We can't be, and that's why I'm here today, to make this clear."

"But, but…" Cedric was reluctant to give up. "You and Josiah, you haven't reached that point yet, right? The future hasn't happened yet. Who knows what could change?"

Sienna sighed, surprised by his stubbornness. "Cedric, there are plenty of great girls out there. Don't just focus on me."

"Hmph," Cedric let out a bitter laugh. "But there's only one you." His eyes were filled with sorrow.

They fell silent as their meal arrived. Exiting Cozyroom, they encountered the first snowflakes of the season. While Cedric retrieved the car, Sienna looked around, relieved not to see Josiah's car. He had left.

Cedric drove her back to Sunshine Neighborhood. Before getting out, Sienna turned to him. "Let's say goodbye here. Don't come looking for me again, and I won't seek you out either." Seeing him again would only hurt him.

"Cedric, you must take care. Otherwise, I will always blame myself," she said, regretting her initial attempt to accept him. Their relationship had ended naturally, yet Cedric remained fixated.

"Sienna," Cedric called out as she turned to leave, his gaze almost greedy, memorizing her features. "I respect your wishes. I won't bother you; I won't disturb you…"