Chapter 439: Settling Her Marriage

Vivian never expected Roland and George to settle her marriage so easily. She knew she couldn't refuse, so she accepted. "But let me be clear," she said, "Jon isn't his son. If he later rejects me, don't blame me."

"Stop your nonsense," Roland snapped. "Tomorrow, buy yourself some nice clothes. Now leave; don't interrupt Jonathan's and my chess game." He wished he didn't have a daughter, preferring to raise his grandson alone.

Vivian left, disheartened. Worried Cecilia might be unaware, she called her privately to inform her. Because of the incident with Adrian, Cecilia had stopped helping, and Elena remained silent; no one wanted to publicize their problems. Adrian remained hospitalized, the official story being an accidental fall into the river.

Cecilia, lounging on the couch, asked Nathaniel, "Do you remember Zachary now?"

Nathaniel lied, "Not really."

"Either you do or you don't. What does 'not really' mean?" Cecilia pressed. "I don't think Zachary is a good person." He had a volatile temper and was ungrateful; someone as devoted as Vivian would suffer with him.

"I think so too," Nathaniel quickly agreed.

Far away, at the Sinclair residence, Zachary sneezed.

Cecilia hadn't expected Nathaniel, Zachary's friend, to concur, so she continued, "But what if he bullies Vivian?"

Without hesitation, Nathaniel said, "Don't worry, he won't." Vivian was Cecilia's friend, and he wouldn't let Zachary hurt her.

"How can you be so sure? You know him well? I thought you didn't even remember him?"

Nathaniel hesitated, then quickly explained, "It's instinct." The head of the Rainsworth family, always acting strategically, was relying on instinct.

"I hope so," Cecilia muttered. "If he dares to hurt Vivian, I won't let him off!"

"I'll help you," Nathaniel added.

Reassured, Cecilia felt at ease. Though Zachary was unpleasant, he feared Nathaniel; even now, despite Nathaniel's blindness, Zachary respected him.

The house hummed with their conversation. Outside, however, Nicholas sat alone in his car, gazing at Nathaniel's room, lost in memories of his time with Cecilia. "Nathaniel," he murmured, "I don't want to go back. If only we could stay here forever. If only time could freeze."

Nicholas coughed violently, wracked by his illness. If not for his illness, Cecilia would have married him. Why hadn't he revealed his true name then?

He remained in his car all night. The next day, the engagement party began. Many prominent figures arrived early. Cecilia and Nathaniel, mindful of his blindness, found a secluded spot. Nathaniel's father, Wren, had also returned; he looked ten years younger than his age. He had several young girlfriends and rarely visited, even under pressure. Spotting Nathaniel and Cecilia, he sent someone to summon Nathaniel for a private conversation. Half an hour later, Wren approached Cecilia alone. "Ceci," he said, "Nathaniel has wronged you over these years."