Chapter 98: Exceptionally Exhausted
In the end, Cecilia had no choice but to give up for the time being. Perhaps due to the prolonged struggle, she was exceptionally exhausted and fell asleep. The following day, sunlight warmed their faces.
"How unusual," Nathaniel murmured, opening his eyes. He looked down at Cecilia, curled up in his arms. His usually cold gaze softened remarkably. The air conditioning hummed in the room. Noticing her shiver, he quietly fetched a jacket and draped it over her.
At that moment, Cecilia opened her eyes. Seeing his gentle expression, she blurted out, "Nathaniel." He was taken aback. Regaining her composure, she tumbled from his arms, landing heavily on the ground. She winced, drawing in a sharp breath. Nathaniel, seeing her panic, swiftly pulled her up. "What did you just call me?"
"What?" Cecilia feigned ignorance. Seeing her act, he chose not to press further. He stood, his words laced with sarcasm. "Ms. Smith, you really do have a knack for forgetting, don't you?" The gentle gaze was gone, replaced by indifference and a colder expression. A hint of disappointment flickered in Cecilia's eyes; she realized she had misjudged the situation.
Since starting university and his joining the Rainsworth Group, Nathaniel's demeanor had drastically changed. He was particularly indifferent, lacking the gentleness he once possessed, and decidedly aloof. He certainly wouldn't have gone out of his way to find her if she'd been bullied. Initially, Cecilia attributed his increasing coldness to his workload and the pressure of his job. Later, she realized his temperament had always been this way; she simply hadn't understood him when they were younger.
When Her “Death” Couldn’t Break Him
“Mr. Rainsworth, I treated you to dinner yesterday, so I won’t be escorting you home today,” Cecilia said, essentially dismissing him indirectly.
Nathaniel, never one to lack a temper, retorted, "Are you sure you want me to leave?"
Cecilia remained silent. His countenance turned icy. "I'm asking you a question!" He found her silence particularly irritating.
Seeing his displeasure, Cecilia explained, "That's not what I meant. I just think it's time for you to be at work. I won't be going to the office today." Her justification only angered him further.
After he left, he sat in his car, restless. From his perspective, Cecilia had transformed into a completely different person—gone was the woman who couldn't bear to see him upset, the one who treated him with such care.
He reached for a cigarette, intending to light one, but found the compartment empty. The cigarettes he'd had prepared were all gone. Since Cecilia's disappearance, he'd developed this habit, along with insomnia. For five years, he'd often stayed awake until three or four in the morning, sometimes relying on medication. As his tolerance grew, he needed stronger doses, yet his sleep remained poor. This explained why last night's sleeping drug hadn't affected him much. His doctor had suggested the problem stemmed from excessive stress and the need for rest, but he couldn't rest. The moment he closed his eyes, Cecilia's words filled his mind.
After what felt like an eternity, he started the engine and drove away. Meanwhile, Vivian had arranged to meet Cecilia, handing over the organized documents for the lawsuit against Stella.
As Cecilia reviewed the documents, she found the evidence compelling and substantial. Surprisingly, it included evidence of internal collusion at Central Media, aiding Stella—chat logs and recordings of them buying or pirating others' work.
"Who gave you these?" Cecilia asked.
"Jon," Vivian replied, "claiming Mr. Reese instructed him."
Cecilia felt a pang of guilt. For so many years, Calvin had been the one to help her through difficulties, a debt that continued to grow.
"Stella is powerful and influential," Vivian said. "Bringing her down won't be easy, but I'm sure you can retrieve your work."