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Novel Catalog
Chapter 36 Keep A Close Watch On Her
Uninterested in continuing the conversation with Nathaniel, Cecilia quickly retrieved a check from her purse and handed it to him. “I’ve paid the money, so I’m taking the necklace with me.” Nathaniel gripped the check tightly in his hand, his gaze never leaving her as she walked away without a single glance back. He ordered his assistant, “Keep a close watch on her.”
At Ninth Ville, upon her return, Cecilia stood on the balcony, steadily drinking glass after glass of wine. She hadn’t developed a habit of drinking before, but ever since her time abroad, alcohol had become a way for her to numb the overwhelming emotions she couldn’t deal with alone. After the twins were born, their presence helped her gradually overcome this bad habit. But seeing Nathaniel again today brought everything back, and she found herself unable to stop herself from drinking.
The truth was, she wasn’t lying about her amnesia. The emotional burden had been immense. After moving abroad, she had struggled greatly with depression and, combined with her pregnancy, her memory had deteriorated. There were even times when she forgot about people like Martha, and the pain was overwhelming. During that period, her mind often wandered back to her childhood, to the years when her father was still alive, and sometimes even to the time when she was married to Nathaniel.
There was one day when she even forgot about their divorce, her decision to fake her death, and leave the country. All she could recall was their wedding day. That day, despite being pregnant, she had bought a plane ticket to return to Tudela, determined to find Nathaniel. But when she reached the airport, she saw a photograph of Nathaniel and Stella attending a banquet together. That’s when she remembered—they had already broken up.
The chaos of her memories—providing fleeting hope, only to be dashed again—was something only those who had been through it could truly understand. The pain was indescribable. She had always known Nathaniel didn’t love her. His relentless search for her over the years was not out of love, but out of resentment, his refusal to accept defeat.
That’s why this time, she had decided to pretend to have amnesia. Her plan was simple: to obtain Nathaniel’s sperm, but without physical intimacy.
Her phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. She picked it up, and a deep, magnetic voice came through the speaker—Calvin’s voice.
“How’s it going?” he asked.
“Well, the first step was a success,” Cecilia replied.
Noticing the change in her tone, Calvin’s voice turned concerned. “Have you been drinking again?”
Cecilia quickly fibbed, “No, I haven’t had a drink in a long time.”
Calvin paused, a low sound of acknowledgment escaping him. “Mm-hmm.” After a beat, he added, “If there’s anything difficult, I’ll come back.”
Before he could finish, Cecilia interrupted, “No need for that. Trust me, I can handle it.”
Over the years, Cecilia had learned that Calvin’s identity was far from simple, and his time was limited. She didn’t want to burden him with her own problems.
“Remember, if you need anything, contact me immediately,” he said.
“All right,” Cecilia replied before ending the call.
She glanced at the empty wine bottle on the table, then tossed it into the trash. To distract herself from the loneliness that seemed to weigh heavily on the room, she turned on the TV. A new story caught her attention.
“Does Stella Ross’ transition from singer to top-tier artist have any connection with Rainsworth Group’s CEO, Nathaniel Rainsworth? Rumor has it that their secret love affair has lasted for over a decade…”
For over a decade…
Cecilia couldn’t help but mock herself. If they had been in love for over a decade, then where did her three years of marriage to Nathaniel fit into that timeline?
Just then, a video call came through.
When Cecilia saw it was from her younger son, Elliot, she took a moment to ensure her drinking wasn’t noticeable before she accepted the call.
