Chapter 21
With those words, Edward turned and rushed out after the stretcher, not looking back once.
As Rachel passed Cecilia, she threw a glance mixed with contempt and triumph, then lifted her skirt slightly and hurried after Edward.
The heavy doors of the Clifford Villa closed with finality.
Cecilia stood alone in the center of the vast living room, the angry red marks around her wrist burning painfully. As if all strength had been drained from her body, she slowly slid down the sofa to the cold floor.
From midnight to dawn, then until the first light broke the horizon. She had been forgotten.
Cecilia finally stood up, her concern for Joanna overriding Edward's warning to stay put at the villa. She left the Clifford Villa and hailed a taxi.
"Serenity Health Center, please."
At the reception desk, Cecilia inquired about Joanna's room floor.
A nurse emerged from the hospital room, pausing when she saw Cecilia. "You are...?"
"I'm... family," Cecilia replied, her voice dry. "How is the patient?"
"Oh, Mrs. Joanna Clifford," the nurse glanced at her clipboard, her tone relaxed. "She's out of danger now. Vital signs stable. After twenty-four hours of observation, she can be moved to a regular room. The old lady is blessed with good fortune."
The tension that had gripped Cecilia all night suddenly released. Her legs weakened, and she instinctively steadied herself against the wall.
Thank goodness she's alright.
"Lurking around here first thing in the morning—who's this pity performance for?"
A sweet yet barbed voice sounded behind her.
Cecilia turned to find Rachel leaning against the corridor wall, arms crossed. She looked at Cecilia as if she were a cockroach that had accidentally crawled into her living room.
"Cecilia, I'm truly impressed. Eddie abandoned you at the villa, yet you still have the nerve to show up here."
Rachel clicked closer in her high heels. "Do you think that by being this clingy, you can secure your position as Edward's wife?"
Cecilia's gaze fell on the suit jacket Rachel wore. The size, the familiar pattern—it was Edward's.
Suddenly, it all seemed so pointless. What was there to argue with Rachel about? What was there to explain? In Rachel's world, she was merely an obstacle to be removed. Every word would be wasted breath.
Cecilia withdrew her gaze, turned without a word, and walked away.
Rachel stamped her foot in frustration, then, as if struck by an idea, pulled out her phone and made a call.
Cecilia's pace was unhurried. Just as she reached the corridor corner, she heard Rachel's voice transform into something sweet and wounded.
"Eddie, I just saw Cecilia at the hospital."
"I—I said a few words to her, tried to tell her Grandmother was fine. But she didn't seem happy to hear it. Her eyes were so cold... I don't know if I said something wrong."
Whatever was said on the other end made Rachel laugh softly, her voice sickly sweet.
Cecilia paused at the corner, staring at the glaring red marks on her wrist and the pearl bracelet. Then, she forced the corners of her mouth into a smile.
It felt as if a large hole had opened in her chest, letting in a rush of cold air.
---
Cecilia left the hospital and went straight to the office.
News that Rachel had spent the night with Edward at the hospital spread through the company gossip channels overnight. Cecilia ignored the prying, gleeful glances thrown her way.
She had barely reached her desk when her phone rang.
"Ms. Mellon, Mr. Clifford would like to see you upstairs," came Teddy's voice.
"I'll be right there."
She hung up and walked to the elevator under the weight of the entire office's suppressed curiosity.
Top floor, CEO's office.
Edward stood with his back to the door. Hearing her enter, he turned around. His face showed neither the fury of last night nor his usual mockery.
"Grandma is fine," he began, his voice slightly hoarse. "She's been moved to a regular room for observation."
Cecilia hadn't expected him to personally share this news. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded.
The office was frighteningly quiet.
"The living room at the villa has security cameras," Edward said flatly. "I watched the footage."
Cecilia's eyelashes trembled.
Security cameras.
"So, it wasn't you."
He hadn't had a change of heart or sudden realization—he'd simply discovered he was wrong about her.
Edward waited quite a while for her reaction, but none came. Her silence triggered an inexplicable irritation in him.
"Don't you have anything to say?"
Cecilia looked up.
"What is there to say?" She forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "You're a busy man. Getting things wrong occasionally is perfectly normal."
Edward's brow furrowed.
Cecilia continued as if she hadn't noticed. "I took the money, signed the contract—I should expect to be misunderstood, blamed, used as a punching bag. These are the unwritten clauses, but I understand them."
Her gaze was unflinchingly direct, almost cruel. "It's part of my job description, isn't it? You needn't bother explaining yourself to me. I'll just endure it."
Edward's expression darkened inch by inch.
"Cecilia Mellon," he practically hissed through clenched teeth.
"If Mr. Clifford has no other instructions," Cecilia interrupted, "I should get back to work. There are many details to handle for the Southeast Asia project."
With that, she left without another glance at him.
In the vast office, Edward remained alone. He suddenly raised his arm and violently swept a stack of freshly signed documents to the floor. For the first time, he realized that his prized control completely failed when it came to Cecilia.
This feeling of powerlessness irritated him more than being pressured by the old guard of the board.
When Teddy entered, he was startled by the chaos in the office.
Edward looked up coldly. "Keep a close eye on Cecilia. Report anything unusual to me immediately."
After work, Cecilia went to the hospital.
Some things were transactions. But Joanna's kindness to her was genuine.
As she approached the hospital room, the door was slightly ajar. Rachel's sugary voice drifted out.
"Mrs. Clifford, drink slowly... Is this pillow too high? Let me adjust it for you..."
Cecilia pushed the door open.
Joanna was half-reclined on the hospital bed.
"Cece?" Seeing Cecilia, Joanna's eyes brightened, her face immediately showing genuine delight. "You're here."
"Grandma." Cecilia approached, her voice unconsciously softening. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine now. Just my old condition acting up." Joanna patted her hand reassuringly.
Rachel's smile froze momentarily when she saw Cecilia, then quickly warmed again as she stood. "Cecilia, you're here! Eddie just called asking about you. He said you might be busy and asked me to take good care of his grandmother."
She deliberately emphasized "Eddie" and "me," her claim to territory unmistakable.