Cecilia Gu let out a gentle sigh. She really shouldn't have held out any hope.
Why can't I ever learn my lesson?
He has so many people by his side; why would he ever need me?
Cecilia Gu, get a grip.
Cecilia turned to Rona Muir and said, "Let's go back. I'm a little tired."
Rona Muir's gaze lingered on Cecilia's face. Even though Cecilia tried hard to act calm, the pain in her eyes still made Rona's heart ache.
"Okay, let's go back," Rona replied softly, helping Cecilia up from the bench.
The streetlights stretched their shadows longer and colder.
Cecilia's legs had gone numb from sitting for so long.
She hadn't walked more than a couple of steps before her legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed!
At that moment, a hand grabbed Cecilia, catching her just in time and stopping her from falling to the ground.
"Let me do it," Max Mo's voice sounded above her head.
Rona thought for a moment and handed Cecilia over to Max Mo.
She was wearing high heels, which made things even more difficult.
Just now, she had almost failed to catch Cecilia...
Cecilia didn't look up, only murmured softly, "Thank you..."
Seeing that Cecilia's legs really were numb, it was clear she couldn't walk anymore.
Max Mo hesitated for a moment, then said quietly, "Miss Gu, pardon me!"
After saying this, Max Mo slipped his right arm around Cecilia's waist and, in one swift motion, lifted her up in a princess carry.
Cecilia was flustered. She never expected Max Mo would actually pick her up like that...
Panicking, Cecilia could only bury her face in Max Mo's chest.
Max Mo had a very pleasant scent, subtle and elegant.
It was completely different from the way Charles Yin smelled.
Charles Yin always gave off an intense, masculine aura.
But Max Mo just made people feel at ease.
Rona Muir didn't object to Max Mo's actions.
Right now, Cecilia was really quite fragile.
Max Mo carried Cecilia with long strides, and an assistant had already opened the car door.
Max Mo carried Cecilia into the car. As soon as they entered, a middle-aged maid was already waiting inside.
"You've been sitting too long. Let me help get the blood flowing in your legs," Max Mo explained simply.
Rona Muir saw this, and the corner of her eye lifted as she gave Max Mo a scrutinizing look.
Cecilia could really feel the soreness and numbness in her legs. It was awful.
So Cecilia didn't resist when the maid started massaging her legs.
Not far away, a Lamborghini Gallardo was parked.
Inside, Charles Yin's gaze was locked on that car.
He had just driven over and, of all things, happened to see Max Mo carrying Cecilia into the car.
And Cecilia didn't even resist!
She actually... didn't resist...
Charles Yin's fists clenched tight, his eyes icy cold.
He'd finally gotten Sylvia Ran to sleep, and rushed over to find Cecilia without even stopping for a drink of water.
He'd been worried all night long!
He was worried about Cecilia Gu. Damn it, it was the first time he'd ever worried about someone!
He'd even left his first love, Sylvia Ran, to come look for Cecilia!
But why?
Why didn't she reject Max Mo?
Cecilia Gu, you can do better!
Charles Yin wanted to rush over and take Cecilia back, but he held himself back. He couldn't do that.
His gaze fell on the ring on his finger—the one Cecilia had personally put on him.
That's something Max Mo could never touch, right?
Fine, if you dare covet my woman...
Then bring it on!
The Lamborghini Gallardo turned and quickly drove away.
Rona Muir and Max Mo both noticed the Lamborghini Gallardo parked by the roadside.
Charles Yin had lots of cars, but his license plates were all exclusive.
So even if Charles Yin didn't say a word, his presence was still announced to everyone.
That's Charles Yin for you!
Whenever he showed up, it was always so domineering!
He just had to let everyone know: Charles Yin was here!
And he knew everything that was going on with you!
He was always so flashy, so over the top!
Who could blame him? He had the means to do it.
Cecilia had no idea Charles Yin had been there. Once the maid helped her regain feeling in her legs, she said to Max Mo, "Thank you, I feel much better now. Could you please arrange a car to take us back? It's getting late, and the wedding is early tomorrow morning! We're guests, after all—we can't keep our host waiting."
"I'll drive you back," Max Mo said with a gentle smile.
The driver had already started the car and headed back to Qiao Qi's villa.
After dropping them off, Max Mo politely said goodbye and left.
Back in the room, Cecilia looked gloomy as she said to Rona Muir, "I'm sorry, I kept you up so late tonight."
Rona Muir shook her head and said seriously to Cecilia, "Cici, we're friends now, right? I want to ask you something, and you have to answer me honestly."
Cecilia nodded.
"Are you in love with Charles Yin?" Rona got straight to the point.
Cecilia was stunned for a moment, but then she nodded softly.
It was the first time she'd ever faced her feelings in front of someone else—faced her own heart.
Even though she'd kept telling herself to move on, even though that afternoon she'd sworn to cut ties with Charles Yin...
But tonight, when she got that call from him, her dead heart came back to life in an instant!
In that moment, Cecilia knew she was done for.
She was really done for.
She'd fallen in love with him!
She'd actually fallen in love with her contract husband!
She knew full well he didn't love her, knew he was still hung up on his old flame, knew there was always a part of his heart she could never reach.
But she still couldn't help falling for him.
Rona Muir flopped onto the sofa and sighed helplessly, "I knew this would happen..."
"But don't worry. I won't let myself keep sinking any deeper," Cecilia continued. "Rona, did you have something you wanted to tell me?"
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Rona Muir nodded seriously.
"Do you know who Charles Yin was with tonight?" Rona sighed and said softly, "I just got a call from my boss—Sylvia Ran is sick. She's having trouble adjusting to the climate and is in the hospital. Charles Yin took her there and has been with her all night. My boss drank a bit too much, heard Sylvia Ran was sick, stopped by for a bit, then left. Charles Yin will be at the hospital all night."
It felt like a heavy blow landed squarely on Cecilia's chest.
Cecilia didn't need a mirror to know how awful she must look right now.
The pain in Rona Muir's eyes was like needles stabbing into Cecilia's heart.
"Is that so?" Cecilia forced a stiff smile, turning to look out the window.
In that moment, Cecilia suddenly wanted to leave.
Everything here had nothing to do with her anymore.
Charles Yin, now that the person you truly care about has returned, should I step aside and let her take my place?
Thank you for tonight—it showed me my real place in your life.
And thank you for the patience you once showed me.
I'll bury these feelings deep and never let them trouble you again.
From now on, we'll go our separate ways.
"Cecilia, if you really want to leave Charles Yin, I have a suggestion. Do you want to hear it?" Rona Muir continued, "But it's a bit... ruthless, and it needs the other person's cooperation."
"Go ahead," Cecilia replied calmly.
"Use Max Mo," Rona Muir said, biting her lip. "He's smart. He'll know how to help you."
Cecilia turned to Rona Muir, looking utterly confused.
"If you can't let go, tomorrow is your chance," Rona Muir continued. "At Dieyi Chen's wedding, she'll toss the bouquet. If I'm right, Dieyi's bouquet is meant for Charles Yin and Sylvia Ran. If... if I'm right, then Charles Yin and Sylvia Ran are probably really getting back together. When that happens, you..."
Cecilia nodded lightly. Though her face was pale, at least she still had her wits about her.
Cecilia understood exactly what Rona Muir meant.
If Dieyi Chen's bouquet is thrown to Sylvia Ran and Charles Yin, then the next to get married will be Charles Yin and Sylvia Ran.
It would mean Charles Yin intends to marry Sylvia Ran!
It would also mean... Charles Yin is just waiting for Cecilia to divorce him, so he can marry Sylvia Ran!
Rona Muir continued, "When we toured the Yun family estate today, Max Mo said something to me. He said: 'I would hurt everyone in the world, except for you.' So, Cecilia, if Dieyi Chen's bouquet really goes to Sylvia Ran and Charles Yin, you can tell Charles Yin you won't be his obstacle. And the best way to convince him is to get together with Max Mo."
Cecilia felt another sharp pain in her chest hearing Rona Muir's words.
"I didn't believe it at first," Rona Muir sighed softly. "My boss said... said..."
"What did Sean Kerr say? What could possibly still be left unsaid?" Cecilia forced a smile. "It's fine, I can handle it."
"My boss said that the person Charles Yin cares about most deep down is still Sylvia Ran. Even after six years apart, he still remembers every detail about the medicine she took when she was ill—the names, the dosages, everything, as if he were a living medical record. He didn't need any tools; he could tell the doctor everything about Sylvia Ran from all these years," Rona Muir said seriously. "I'm a woman too, so I know what it means when a man can do that. That's why I made that suggestion earlier. Cecilia, Charles Yin is my boss's friend, but you're my friend too. I can't just stand by and watch you get hurt!"
"I understand," Cecilia replied softly.
So that's how it is!
No wonder Charles Yin could be so ruthless to Lin Xiaoya!
No wonder Charles Yin never got married.
No wonder Charles Yin never said he liked or loved her.
No wonder... no wonder...
It was all because of Sylvia Ran.