Chapter 66 Rufus Is Lying
Rufus didn't wait for Cecilia to say anything that might hold him back, but as he reached the doorway, something made him glance over his shoulder.
For once, Cecilia had managed to sleep well. Her breathing had settled into a slow, even rhythm, the faint rise and fall of her chest almost hypnotic. It struck him—she wasn't pretending this time. She was truly asleep
Across town, Blair checked the clock and decided it was the perfect moment to make her call.
The line rang. Once. Twice. The shrill tone seemed to stretch into forever, each second thickening the knot in her chest. By the time Brad picked up, she felt as if she'd been waiting an entire century.
"What's gotten into you?" Brad's voice came through warm, almost cheerful.
He sounded in good spirits, and Blair knew exactly why. With the full weight of the Chapman Group behind him, every Ember Group project was sailing forward without a hitch. They'd even landed several major contracts in quick succession. Brad had every reason to feel invincible.
Blair, however, was far from pleased.
Her tone was sharp. "We agreed you'd take care of it, Dad. So why is Cecilia still prancing around in front of me like nothing's happened? I've had enough of her."
Brad's voice hardened. "No matter how much you despise her, never forget your position. And never let Rufus see that side of you."
"I said I'd handle it, and I will. But you need to learn patience, Blair. I expect great things from you. I want you to be someone who can do more than just lash out."
He lectured her for another minute, promising to act soon. Only then did Blair hang up, reluctant but resigned.
Cecilia had no idea that danger was already curling its way toward her. She lay in her hospital bed, heavy-lidded and adrift in a haze of fatigue.
The weather outside was beautiful—sunlight spilling over the city, the kind of day that would have tempted her downstairs for fresh air.
Normally, she hated being boxed in by the four sterile walls of her room, the cloying tang of antiseptic pressing against her senses.
But not today. She simply didn't have the strength. The past few nights had been a blur of half-sleep and nightmares—those disorienting dreams where waking and dreaming seemed to bleed into each other.
Sometimes she would jolt upright in the dark, unsure if she had truly escaped whatever chased her in sleep.
Now, she found herself staring at the small pot of green ivy on the windowsill, her gaze unfocused. She wasn't even sure what she was thinking.
"Ms. Thorne, it's time for your glucose." Nurse Pippa entered quietly, pushing the cart with practiced ease.
Cecilia's condition had deteriorated quickly. Eating was no longer an option—anything she managed to swallow came back up within minutes.
Eventually, there was nothing left to throw up, and she'd spend hours hunched over the toilet, dry heaving.
The doctors had decided the only way to keep her going was to maintain her vitals with glucose drips.
She knew the drill. Years ago, when Patrick had been hospitalized after a severe injury, reduced to a vegetative state, he'd been kept alive the same way.
Back then, she'd watched over him with a heart full of worry. She never imagined she would one day be the one depending on the same lifeline.
Without complaint, she extended her arm.
The television murmured in the background, but a familiar figure caught her attention. Rufus was on screen, hand in hand with Blair, attending the charity gala he'd mentioned weeks ago. They looked almost perfect together—a striking contrast. He, bold and magnetic; she, delicate and demure.
Soft whispers floated from the TV.
"I swear, Mr. Chapman and Miss Ember are made for each other. Just look at them."
"Exactly. And Miss Ember is lucky. Since she got close to the Chapman family, the Ember family's climbed several rungs up the ladder. None of it would've happened without Mr. Chapman watching their back."
"That's nothing. Once they're married, half the Chapman fortune will be hers. Who cares about a few million now?"
Cecilia reached for the remote, ready to change the channel, but Pippa let out a wistful sigh.
"If I had a husband like that… handsome, rich, and devoted, I'd faint from happiness."
It wasn't just Pippa. Many people had mistaken Rufus and Blair's relationship for marriage. When Cecilia and Rufus had wed, they'd done so quietly, never bothering to set the record straight. Now, seeing him escort Blair to public events only fueled the rumors.
Cecilia's lips curved into a bitter smile. She slipped the wedding ring from her finger and dropped it into the trash beside her bed.
Her husband had poured all his patience, all his affection, into Blair. He'd even indulged her cruelty toward Cecilia.
Marriage had never been a safe harbor for her, and Rufus had never been the man to stand firmly at her side. The whole thing felt like a cruel joke. Letting go seemed easier than clinging to something that had never truly been hers.
"Ms. Thorne, call me if you need anything." Pippa smiled after finishing the drip, her small, sharp canines flashing in the light.
Pippa had always felt a strange fondness for Cecilia. Maybe it was because Cecilia never took her frustration out on the nurses. Even when a first attempt at finding a vein failed, she'd simply smile and say, "It's fine, try again."
Cecilia returned the smile with a nod.
That night, sleep came late. Cecilia finally drifted off after midnight, only to wake with a start. Something felt wrong—like someone was standing beside her bed, watching her.
Her skin prickled. She forced her eyes open, using the faint moonlight to make sense of the shadows. There was indeed a figure near her IV stand. Instinct screamed at her to cry out, but her voice caught in her throat, trapped.
It took her a moment to realize this wasn't another nightmare. "What are you doing?" she demanded.
The figure froze, then bolted—straight out the window, dropping from the second floor without hesitation.
Cecilia's heart slammed against her ribs. She hit the emergency call button.
Within seconds, the on-duty nurse and the security guards rushed in. Cecilia told them everything, every detail she'd seen.
The guards exchanged uneasy glances. Unsure of their next move, they called Louis.
Louis didn't hesitate. He dialed Rufus immediately.
Rufus was asleep when the phone rang. The moment he heard Louis's voice, a surge of adrenaline cut through his drowsiness. It felt like a narrow escape from something he couldn't yet name. He was already pulling on his clothes before the call ended.
Beside him, Blair stirred, rubbing her eyes. "Rufus… it's so late. Where are you going?"
His fingers paused on the buttons of his shirt. Then he lied without missing a beat. "There's something urgent at the Chapman Group. Go back to sleep. I'll be back soon."