Chapter 118 His Gifts

Cecilia dined at Vivian's house, and they spent a long time talking. As it grew late, Cecilia decided to drive back to Daltonia Villa. She worried Jonathan might overthink things, so she asked Vivian not to mention Elliot or her current residence.

Jonathan had, in fact, noticed his mother seemed off. However, being considerate, he chose not to pry, instead planning to subtly elicit information from Vivian later.

At Daltonia Villa, Nathaniel returned from work at five. He sat on the living room couch, an exquisite gift box on the coffee table before him.

Ding!

The Epean-style clock showed ten o'clock. Ten o'clock, and Cecilia hasn't returned? Nathaniel had never waited this long for anyone. He tugged at his tie, a slight frown furrowing his handsome brows. He picked up the gift box, repeatedly examining it to ensure its contents would please her, before carefully closing it again.

Another half hour passed, intensifying his irritation. He stood, reaching for his coat, prepared to fetch Cecilia himself. At that moment, the sound of the door opening echoed from the entrance. Nathaniel looked up, his gaze meeting Cecilia's. She stood in the doorway, clad in a long begonia-colored dress and high heels. For a moment, neither spoke.

Cecilia finally said, "You're still awake?"

He was awake, and he hadn't eaten. His mind was a whirlwind. "Where have you been? Why are you only just getting back?" he asked.

"Oh, I had dinner at my best friend's," Cecilia replied, exchanging her shoes for slippers and walking past him towards her room. She found his behavior odd. Hasn't he always had someone watching me? Why is he asking now?

Nathaniel couldn't contain himself. His imposing figure blocked her path. "Aren't you going to ask me where I went today? What I did?"

"What else could you have been doing? Weren't you at work?" In the past, Nathaniel worked all weekend; she hadn't even needed to ask. Cecilia was puzzled.

Facing her direct gaze, Nathaniel found he couldn't muster anger, no matter how hard he tried. He approached her, offering the gift box. "It's a gift from a client."

In the past, whenever Nathaniel made a mistake, he would give Cecilia gifts originally intended for his company clients. Once, she'd been pushed into a pool by Zachary's men, nearly drowning and suffering painfully swollen eardrums. He'd casually gifted her a necklace, saying, "Avoid those places in the future, and you'll stay out of trouble."

That was the first gift she'd ever received from him; she'd been overjoyed. In the past, whenever she was hurt, he'd appease her with gifts. Once, a friend had remarked, "A woman like her, a few lavish gifts would keep her happy for a long time. She's no different from her mother, both greedy for wealth."

Hearing this, she'd wept and returned all his past gifts. Nathaniel had been furious, gripping her hand tightly. "What on earth are you playing at! If you don't want them, there won't be any in the future!"

After that, Nathaniel stopped pretending. Regardless of her hurt or insult, he offered no comfort, no more gifts. Recently, their interactions had brought back a flood of overwhelming memories she found impossible to forget.

Cecilia snapped back to the present. "I don't want it."