Chapter 24
"Cecilia, you'll be representing Eddie's public image. I know—let me lend you my personal styling team! From evening gowns to jewelry, they'll handle everything for you. Don't be shy about accepting—we both want what's best for Eddie, right?"
Rachel emphasized "lend" heavily, as if bestowing a great favor.
Cecilia withdrew her arm, looking at Rachel's expectant "you-should-be-grateful" expression. "No thanks," she said coolly. "The company probably has arrangements."
"How could the company's arrangements compare to my team?" Rachel's voice rose unconsciously, unwilling to have her "generosity" rejected. "It's settled then! I'll have them contact you right away!"
Before Cecilia could respond, Rachel spun on her heels and marched away with her entourage, as if afraid to hear another word.
Ariana rushed over, looking worried. "Cece, what are you going to do? If you use her team, you're at her mercy. If you don't, you're disrespecting Mr. Clifford, since Rachel's just being 'helpful.'"
"Free top-tier resources? I'd be silly not to use them."
If Rachel wanted to use her as a mannequin to showcase her team's abilities—or worse, to humiliate her in ill-fitting clothes—well, that would depend on how cooperative this particular mannequin decided to be.
---
Top floor, CEO's office.
"Eddie, how could you reject me in front of all those people..." Rachel's voice quivered with tears the moment she started speaking.
Edward continued reviewing documents without looking up. "I stated a fact."
"But that dinner is so important! What does Cecilia know? If she wears the wrong thing, it's your reputation that suffers!" Rachel persisted.
Edward gave her a cold look. Rachel gritted her teeth. "To prevent any problems, at least let me provide my styling team. That's reasonable, right?"
"Fine," Edward agreed casually. Rachel's styling team was indeed world-class.
Rachel's lips curved into a slow smile.
This could work out even better.
She would personally create a "battle dress" for Cecilia that would make her the laughingstock of the high-profile dinner.
---
The moment Rachel left, Ariana couldn't contain herself.
"Cecilia, I'm telling you, Rachel's up to no good! Are you really going to wear whatever she picks to a dinner full of high-society people? What if she gives you some hideous Christmas sweater?"
Cecilia turned to look at Ariana's panicked expression. "If she dares give me a Christmas sweater, I'll make it the most expensive fashion statement of the night."
Ariana froze, staring at the serene smile on Cecilia's face.
Suddenly, her concerns seemed completely unnecessary.
---
Just after three o'clock, Cecilia's personal phone vibrated abruptly in her bag. The screen showed an unfamiliar number from the hospital.
Her heart sank. "Hello?"
"Is this Lucas Mellon's family? The patient has just experienced an acute rejection reaction. The situation is urgent—please come to Building Three of the hospital immediately."
She jumped to her feet. "I'll be right there."
Cecilia quickly requested leave and rushed out of the company.
Marlee watched Cecilia's panicked departure through the slats of her blinds, a smile playing at her lips.
The taxi crawled through the congested rush hour traffic.
"Sir, please hurry—I need to get to the hospital, it's an emergency!" Cecilia's voice trembled without her realizing it.
The driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror, noting her pale face. Without another word, he yanked the steering wheel and took a shortcut.
Racing against time, Cecilia burst into the hospital building just as the elevator doors were closing. She squeezed in, frantically pressing the floor button.
Inside was a man who stared at her for several seconds before asking incredulously, "Cecilia?"
Cecilia looked up sharply.
It was Samuel.
Samuel's brow furrowed slightly. "What's wrong? You look terrible."
The elevator arrived. She rushed out without answering, heading straight for the nurses' station.
Samuel followed behind her, his gaze falling on the emergency room sign.
He seemed to understand.
---
With Lucas in surgery, Cecilia sat on a bench outside the emergency room, feeling every second stretch into an eternity.
A bottle of mineral water appeared before her.
"Drink something."
Samuel sat down in the empty space beside her. "I just spoke with the doctor. The situation is under control, but they need to keep him under observation."
Cecilia's tense nerves finally relaxed. She tilted her head back to drink, murmuring, "Thank you."
He looked at her thin shoulders and that stubborn strength she maintained. "Your brother... he's hospitalized here?"
Cecilia nodded without elaborating.
"So that's why you're staying with Edward?"
Cecilia froze. She turned to him sharply.
But Samuel's gaze was clear and understanding.
"I have a cousin who had a similar condition as a child. I know the treatment costs are like a bottomless pit."
He looked toward the window at the end of the corridor, his tone even. "Summit Enterprises Group has the best private medical resources in the country. One word from the Clifford family can bring top specialists flying in from around the world. I understand."
He laid everything out in the most compassionate way possible.
All of Cecilia's defenses crumbled instantly in the face of his quiet empathy.
She lowered her head, staring at the worn tips of her canvas shoes. After a long moment, she managed to squeeze out a single word.
"Yes."
"Is it worth it?" Samuel asked.
"I don't know," she said softly. "But I don't have a choice."
---
Lucas had been moved to a regular room.
When Cecilia pushed open the door, he was already awake. Though still pale, his spirits seemed good.
"Cece!" His eyes lit up when he saw her.
"How are you feeling?" Cecilia walked over and felt his forehead. Normal temperature.
"I'm fine, just took a nap. Cece, the doctor says I'm recovering exceptionally fast. I might be discharged soon!"
Cecilia smiled, ruffling his hair. She poured water and offered it to him, but Lucas didn't take it. Instead, he leaned closer, sniffing her like a puppy.
"Cece," he wrinkled his nose, "you smell like something."
Cecilia paused. "What smell? I didn't wear perfume today."
Lucas thought for a moment, trying to describe it. "It's like... um... pine trees in a forest after rain. Cool, but really nice."
Pine.
Edward's cold face instantly flashed in Cecilia's mind.
That afternoon in the elevator, in that confined space, he had stood behind her, surrounded by that crisp, woody scent. She'd thought it had dissipated, but apparently it had lingered on her.
"Maybe... it's from a new male colleague at work," she smiled casually.