Seth didn’t react.
Danielle glanced at Patty with a hint of panic, aware that she might not know as much as her, having been abroad. She then looked at Creighton. Her lips quivered before she spoke, “Since when?”
Creighton’s gaze was icy as he watched her for a few seconds. “Just now. While you were out quietly fetching Patty, planning to surprise us with her return.”
Creighton admitted to himself that his words carried a deliberate sting. For years, this girl, no matter what he did, never seemed to warm up to him.
He never judged the pursuit of love as right or wrong, but if from the beginning, Cicely had not expressed her love for Seth, had held back, and had concealed her feelings for Seth, then what kind of role would Seth be in Danielle's eyes? Would Danielle realize that there might be romantic feelings between her and Seth?
It was just because Cicely wanted him.d2
From the moment Danielle stepped through the doors of the Ellis family home, she had been competing with Cicely in the shadows. Over the years, she seemed to have used Cicely as a yardstick to measure the meaning of her own life.
Creighton’s dissatisfaction and sarcasm were evident in his tone.
Danielle took a small step back.
Patty, who had been smiling all along, silently watched everything unfold before turning her gaze to Seth. “You said yes?”
Seth calmly hummed in affirmation.
Patty was still smiling, “I had no idea.”
“It’s not too late to know,” Seth said coolly.
“Hmm.” Patty hummed thoughtfully, “How is it not too late? You’ve missed your chance to say no. Now all you have left is regret, which can hurt a girl’s heart even more.”
Creighton’s expression darkened instantly. “Patty.”
“Hmm?” Guests had started to leave, and the spacious living room was left to the butler and servants cleaning up.
Patty’s eyes twinkled with mirth as she turned to Creighton, her hands tensing slightly in the shadows at the sight of the coldness in his eyes.
“That look...” she muttered with a soft laugh, “Why does it always seem like I’m the one who has done wrong, no matter the circumstance? Seth is my son, and I have the right to an opinion. Your precious daughter is so delicate and fragile, I worry she won’t be handled with care. If she feels slighted, how am I supposed to explain that to you?”
Creighton’s voice was stern, “I don’t need your explanations, nor do you owe me any. This is between Cicely and Seth.”
Patty watched him quietly for a moment before speaking with a light chuckle. “True, young people in love, why should I take it seriously?”
Her eyes flicked to Seth, who stood with furrowed brow and a cold expression. “As a man, keep your boundaries. Don’t get in too deep.” Her implication was crystal clear.
“Patty, what exactly are you trying to do?”
Patty’s smile gradually faded, and her gaze, along with her voice, turned cold. “Am I wrong again? It’s not okay for him to back out, and you’re not happy if he dates your precious daughter. Tell me, what would be right?”
“Is this how you view a relationship?”
“And how do I view it? I know your daughter likes Seth, and I don’t want her to get hurt. Plenty of people get hurt in love. The person you love doesn’t always have to be an exception. Perhaps you still don’t understand that to others, love isn’t about fulfillment, but destruction.”
Creighton frowned. “Patty, your words make me doubt whether you ever truly loved Tod.”
For a moment, Patty’s face twisted. Then she smiled warmly, gazing directly at Creighton, and said slowly, “What do you think?”
Creighton’s frown deepened, and he was silent for a moment.
The atmosphere became tense, and even Danielle felt something was amiss. She harbored a full heart of doubts, suspecting some entanglement among the elders of their generation and perhaps... Her gaze lingered on Patty and Creighton, lips pursed, not daring to continue her thoughts.
If Danielle could sense the tension, Seth most certainly did. His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Patty, but Patty did not let the atmosphere linger long, soon covering her mouth with a chuckle. “I’ve had a son with him, and you question whether I loved him?”
The mood lightened somewhat.
“I was just preparing for the worst. They're young, who knows how long their romance will last, and how long the novelty will stay fresh? Love should be approached with caution, as in the end, it is the girl who suffers. I’d hate to see the relationship between our two families, years in the making, affected by their youthful love.”
Creighton composed himself, considering Patty’s words reasonable. Despite that, no one believed Patty’s words were without underlying meanings.
After seeing Patty and Seth off, Cicely’s coming-of-age celebration came to an end. Cicely was now in her room, elated with the evening’s events. She was particularly satisfied with this celebration
After all these years, her relationship with Seth had finally been confirmed.
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