Chapter 1940

Seth's father hadn't left much for him and his mother. Patty was clueless about running a business, and she didn't have the skills to keep afloat a company that was barely scraping by as it was. But they couldn't just give up on it. It was all they had to support their lives.

Seth had to attend school, and Patty wouldn't dream of having him manage the company at the expense of his education.

If it weren't for these tough times, Patty would never have thought of going back to her home country, let alone entrusting Danielle, to the care of the Ellis family.

The young Henry Ellis had been entwined with Analia for years, and Patty had cared for Danielle most of that time, their bond as close as mother and daughter. However, it was for Danielle's good to leave her with the Ellis family. With them, Danielle could receive better care, if the Ellis family had any conscience left.

But did the Ellis family have a conscience?

Ever since Seth learned that the Ellis family had decided to hold a funeral only for Henry, and they actually did just that, he couldn't help but be biased against them. Their actions hadn't shown the slightest respect to Analia, even going so far as to insult her.d2

They were husband and wife, and Analia had given the Ellis family a daughter. Yet in the end, she didn't even have a proper status, let alone the right to enter the Ellis family's home. She died without that recognition. With the Ellis family being so heartless, what kind of life would Danielle have with them?

This is exclusive content from FindNovel.com (Swnovel). Please read it on FindNovel.com to support the author and the translation team!. And now, standing before him, was a girl with an

arrogant demeanor, intent on dictating his future. At twelve years old, the same age as Danielle, she was already thinking about controlling other people's lives.

But now wasn't the time to worry about Danielle. From their recent conversation, it was clear that his mother, who knew nothing about running a company, was still relying on the Ellis family's mercy. So, his situation wasn't any better than Danielle's.

Seth’s gaze shifted from the girl's pretty face, which kick-started his momentarily stalled thoughts. "I can't promise I won't make you mad, so you might as well like someone else."

"Is liking someone that casual?" Cicely's bright eyes sparkled with smile, clear and pure. "You're telling me to like someone else just because you say so? But I like you, and I want you to be my boyfriend, and later, my husband, and the father of my kids."

"I didn't say you can't make me mad, so I'm asking you to charm me, right?" Her laughter was carefree, and after a pause, she added, "But I'm not that easy to appease."

For the first time that day, Seth's face showed a significant reaction as he furrowed his brow at the beautiful girl in her white dress.

Shameless. She was twelve years old, but thinking so far ahead. How long can the affection and promises of a twelve-year-old last?

Was he actually concerned?

Danielle, standing aside, had forgotten to cry, observing the unusual behavior in Seth today. Today, he spoke at length, showed many expressions, and his gaze often lingered on the girl named Cicely. Was it because of Cicely's pretty dress, or because Cicely was naturally beautiful? Or maybe because she was a pampered princess, someone everyone instinctively paid attention to and liked?

Danielle's sobbing stopped as Seth glanced at her briefly, his face returning to its usual expressionless state before he walked away.

Danielle's eyes flickered, thinking this was the Seth she knew. She didn't chase after him, nor did she cry again, holding the two tissues Cicely had given her, standing still as Patty walked away with Seth.

A white figure dashed past, Cicely like a fluttering white butterfly, running to the doorway. "Seth, let's meet at school next week. I'll have my dad transfer you to my school too."

After Seth got into the car, he glanced at her through the still-open door, a faint smile so subtle it was almost imperceptible.

Three years' difference – quite the perfect age gap.

He rarely showed emotions, so that brief smile, to Cicely, was like witnessing a shooting star from a colorful storybook, exceptionally noticeable against the dark sky.

He looked good when he smiled. It seemed she'd have to find more ways to make him smile at her. She was still a bit puzzled about what exactly made him happy about her previous words though.

Watching the car pull away from the yard, Cicely lifted her dress and walked into the house, passing by Danielle, who still seemed a bit dazed, and approached her father, Creighton. "Daddy, you have to transfer Seth to my school, okay? It'll be easier for us to build our relationship if we're at the same school."

Creighton chuckled at Cicely's antics, playfully nudging her delicate nose. "What do you know about relationships at your tender age?"

Cicely snuggled into Creighton's arms, her little fingers fiddling with the buttons on his shirt.

"Daddy, do you think Seth is nice?"

Creighton paused, as if recalling his impression, "He has a long road ahead. What he becomes in the future, nobody knows."

Cicely's eyes gleamed with mirth, "So you mean he seems alright for now, right?"

Caught off guard by her cunning angle, Creighton laughed helplessly. "When will you use that clever mind of yours for something serious?"

Cicely batted her eyelashes, "Daddy."

"Hmm?"

"Uh, since you love me so much, you definitely want me to have the best things in the world, to marry the man I desire, and to live the happiest life, right? So finding a good man is the most serious thing I could do."

Once again, Cicely's words left Creighton speechless for a moment before he smiled joyfully. "Absolutely, finding a perfect man for you is the real deal."

Cicely couldn't help but smile with genuine excitement, feeling for the first time a genuine eagerness for school.

However, when the next week rolled around and she actually stepped foot on school grounds, Cicely finally realized what Seth's enigmatic smile had meant.

They were tragically three grades apart. She was just hitting sixth grade, while Seth was already almost high school freshman. By the time she'd be a freshman, Seth would be a senior. At best, they'd only have a single year together in college.

Cicely was far from happy about it.

Creighton noticed her moping around for days and, with a heart full of concern, took it upon himself to knock on her door.

Lying on her plush bed, Cicely turned to see her dad and managed to muster a response.

Creighton sat down beside her, his hand gently stroking her hair as he said in a soft voice, "How about I talk to Seth, see if he'd be willing to drop a grade to keep you company?"

Cicely paused for a moment, then sat up and leaned against Creighton's shoulder, her voice muffled against him, "Thanks, Dad."

Creighton reached out and patted her small cheek. Just as he was about to speak, Cicely's voice chimed in again.

"As much as I'd love for him to be with me, I don't want him to drop a grade."

"Why not?"

Cicely nestled against the headboard, hugging a cream-colored plush toy, her cute and delicate face half-buried in it, making it hard to tell which of them looked more adorable.

"Because he's a boy, and dropping a grade would be embarrassing for him, especially if it's just to be with me. He'd definitely be unhappy."

Creighton was taken aback that his usually spoiled daughter was considering someone else's feelings. Or was she worried that the boy might resent her?

But...

"If he's happy and you're not, that won't do. I can't allow that," he protested.

"But if he's unhappy, I definitely won't be happy either."

Creighton felt helpless.

The room fell silent for a few seconds before Cicely suddenly sat up, "Dad, why don't you let me skip a grade instead."

Creighton chuckled, "You want to skip a grade? Aren't you the one who dislikes studying the most?"

"But Seth is what I love most."

Creighton laughed softly, "You little brat."

What did such a young girl know about love?

Still, with Creighton's adoration for Cicely, he eventually agreed to her skipping a grade, but only after elementary school. She'd start directly in seventh grade.

So, for the entire summer, instead of gallivanting as usual, Cicely stayed home and diligently studied with several tutors.

Danielle, aware that Cicely was skipping a grade for Seth, watched tutor after tutor come and go during the summer with anxiety. She feared being left further behind by both Seth and Cicely. She wished to follow in Cicely's footsteps, but being new to the family, she didn't dare ask for such things as skipping a grade or having a tutor.

The very things she longed for, Cicely was squandering. Almost every day, there was a new tutor, sometimes even two.

Could the tutors Creighton hired for Cicely be anything but qualified? Still, Cicely somehow managed to send them away, running scared. How much could she possibly detest studying?

After just a week into the summer, the tutors stopped coming by. Cicely, having finished her breakfast, grabbed her backpack and hurried out. Creighton had no idea where she was going and didn't have time to ask. He simply instructed the bodyguard to follow her closely.

Seth looked at the girl in front of him, dressed in a light green skirt with her hair in a high ponytail, revealing her forehead, and frowned with indifference. "Why are you here?"

Cicely walked into the Diaz residence without waiting for an invitation, asking as she climbed the stairs, "Which one is your room?"

Impatient, Seth asked, "What the hell do you want?"

Cicely glanced around as she walked, finally stopping in front of a door. Seth's brow furrowed even deeper as Cicely turned to him with a triumphant smile, opened the door without hesitation, and barged in.

"Cicely!" Seth's dark voice followed her from behind. Cicely tossed her backpack onto the floor and jumped onto his bed before he could catch her.

Seth's face turned ashen with anger. "Get down!" he demanded, his voice laced with annoyance.

Cicely propped her head up with one hand while lying on the bed, looking at Seth and teasing, "So angry? Do you have a thing about cleanliness?"

Seth's expression remained stern and unyielding, but Cicely continued to survey his room, noting its cleanliness and simplicity. Turning back to Seth's handsome but scowling face, she raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is it that you can't stand having someone in your room? You've lived with Danielle for years. Has she ever been in here?"

Seth gave her a chilly glance.

She didn’t glean a clear answer from his expression, though she’s not really expecting a straightforward answer to her question. Cicely sat up on the bed and stated determinedly, "I'm here for you to tutor me."

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