Chapter 409: Handing Over Their Wealth to an Outsider

Cecilia gasped, breathless from the kiss, though thankfully short-lived. Nathaniel's hand lingered on her flushed cheek before he murmured, "I frightened you, didn't I?"

As Cecilia tried to pull away, Nathaniel drew her back into his embrace, holding her tighter. "You're pregnant; you shouldn't move so much."

"You knew I was pregnant, and you still acted this way?" Cecilia retorted angrily.

"We are husband and wife. A kiss is perfectly normal," Nathaniel said seriously, emphasizing each word.

Cecilia pulled the blanket around herself, choosing silence. She didn't want to continue this conversation.

Nathaniel, unaccustomed to her quietude, felt unsettled. "Can we talk, please?" he asked, a hint of unintended desperation in his voice.

"There's nothing left to discuss," Cecilia replied coldly. "I'm going back to my room. Let me go."

Nathaniel refused, tightening his hold, determined to keep her close, to prevent anyone else from approaching. "Recently, I've been remembering bits of my childhood," he began, his voice softer.

Cecilia looked up, puzzled by the shift in tone. Before she could question him, he continued, "Do you recall the first time I saw you? You were being bullied, fallen, your knees scraped raw."

Cecilia was surprised. She hadn't expected this. She still struggled to differentiate between her first meeting with Nathaniel and her first encounter with Nicholas. In her memory, she first met Nathaniel while accompanying the butler to the Smith residence, when their families were neighbors. He'd been standing in the courtyard, wearing a white shirt. It seemed she'd actually first encountered Nicholas.

"And then?" Cecilia asked, intrigued.

"Back then, you called me 'Nathaniel'," Nathaniel reminisced, hoping she'd understand. He wanted to dispel any confusion with Nicholas.

"Was it you who chased those thugs away?" Cecilia asked, gazing at his familiar face, a mix of surprise and admiration filling her heart.

"Yes," Nathaniel confirmed, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You looked so pitiful."

Cecilia's pupils dilated. "So, do you remember Nicholas?"

At the mention of Nicholas, Nathaniel's expression subtly changed. "I don't remember," he replied guardedly.

Cecilia felt a pang of disappointment. She wanted to ask why Nicholas had pretended to be him as children. A tense silence fell between them. "Are you that interested in Nicholas?" he asked.

Cecilia, not noticing the shift in his tone, quickly shook her head. "No, it's just... you two are twins, and I was curious."

As she looked up, she realized how close he was, his lips almost brushing her face. He seemed poised to kiss her again, but her phone rang.

Relieved, Cecilia answered. It was Sven. "Ms. Smith, there's news," he said seriously. Someone had provided him with information.

"Go ahead," Cecilia said, her tone turning serious.

"Paula and Ralph knew each other before your father's death. Someone revealed that after his death, Paula and Magnus transferred a significant portion of the assets to Ralph. He married into the Jamieson family, but he's now worth billions, largely thanks to the Smith family," Sven explained.

Cecilia listened, her hand clenching the phone. Was Paula ruthlessly cunning, or was her brother naive? They'd handed over their family's wealth to an outsider. No wonder the Smith family's fortunes had crumbled so rapidly.

"The informant also suggested an inappropriate relationship between Paula and Ralph before your father's death," Sven added.