Cecilia Gu had barely taken two steps when Mo Zixin reached out and grabbed her wrist.
Cecilia tried to break free, but once again realized that her strength was nothing compared to a man's—it was completely useless!
"You should at least hear me out before you decide whether to leave or stay." Mo Zixin's large hand gripped Cecilia's slender wrist, and the delicate feel of her skin made his heart flutter for a moment.
Mo Zixuan was right—he really did have some inexplicable feelings for Cecilia Gu.
He couldn't tell if it was because Cecilia looked like Nuo Nuo Yun, or if his emotional world had been dry for so long that meeting such an interesting girl had simply drawn his attention.
Cecilia stood still, refusing to look at Max Mo. "Mr. Mo, you just started working with Yin Enterprises. Isn't it a bit early to try to sabotage things?"
"I know you and Yin Sicheng are in a contract marriage. I know all your secrets." Mo Zixin said softly, "So, I mean you no harm. I just genuinely want to help you."
Cecilia was completely shocked!
What?
Just looking at his awkward expression and tone, she could tell it was the first time he'd ever explained himself to a woman.
How is that possible?
How could he possibly know?
This was supposed to be a secret between her and Yin Sicheng...
"Are you ready to hear me out now?" Mo Zixin gently released Cecilia's wrist.
For some reason, the moment Max Mo let go, he actually felt a faint sense of loss inside.
Cecilia hesitated for a moment, but eventually sat back down.
She wanted to hear what Max Mo could possibly say to shock her next!
Seeing Cecilia sit down again, Mo Zixin continued, "Of course I have my sources. Did you think my military and political connections were just a joke?"
Cecilia's expression grew serious.
All her life, she'd been nothing but an ordinary girl.
These high and mighty circles were things she'd never even dared to imagine before.
But now, people who could control life and death—one had become her husband, and another sat across from her, claiming to help her escape.
Real life really is like a fantasy!
"You've actually been looking for a chance to leave the Yin Family, but you're too weak, so you had no choice but to agree to marry Charles Yin. And for Charles, it's more about responsibility than feelings—he's only good to you because of the child you're carrying." Max Mo's gaze fell on Cecilia's belly.
Cecilia's belly seemed to change every day.
It had only been a week since they'd last met, and the bump was already clearly showing.
Cecilia gently touched her stomach. The little one inside was growing bigger, and its presence was becoming stronger.
Yes, Max Mo was right.
From the very beginning, marrying Charles Yin was all about the baby.
But somewhere along the way, she started to get confused about what marriage really meant to her.
Was it really just for the baby?
Or was it for something else...
And what about Charles Yin?
Honestly, when they first got married, both Charles Yin and herself were forced into it.
But these days, even though he sometimes acts impulsively and gets angry, his affection for her is obvious to everyone.
Especially after what happened yesterday, things got so intimate that she's suddenly unsure about her own feelings.
She couldn't figure out Charles Yin's feelings either.
He explained to her that he hadn't touched Lydia Lin.
Had he ever done something like that before?
Just looking at his awkward expression and tone, she could tell it was the first time he'd ever explained himself to a woman.
Mo Zixin saw Cecilia's expression change and thought he'd guessed her secret, so he continued, "It's true, the Yin Family is way too powerful for you. But even the strongest dragon can't suppress the local snake. If I step in, Yin Sicheng wouldn't dare go head-to-head with the Mo Family just to keep you."
Max Mo saw Cecilia's expression change and thought he'd guessed her secret, so he continued, "It's true, the Yin Family is way too powerful for you. But even the strongest dragon can't suppress the local snake. If I step in, Charles Yin wouldn't dare go head-to-head with the Mo Family just to keep you."
Cecilia lowered her eyes and softly said, "Mr. Mo, you're going out of your way to help me, even risking a fallout with Charles Yin. What do you want in return? You know I'm just an ordinary person—I have nothing, I can't give you anything. Someone as savvy as you wouldn't do a deal that loses money. So, Mr. Mo, what kind of price do you want me to pay?"
After she finished speaking, Cecilia suddenly looked up, meeting Max Mo's deep blue eyes.
In that instant, she actually caught a fleeting look of tenderness and pity in Max Mo's eyes.
Tenderness and pity?
What the heck was that?
How could he have that kind of look in his eyes?
"A price? Heh." Max Mo chuckled softly. "Like you said, do you really have anything I want?"
Cecilia fell silent.
"You could say it's because I love everything connected to her. You look and act exactly like Nora, so I'm willing to help you unconditionally. In a way, it's also helping Nora, wherever she is now. I believe she'd be happy to see all this." Max Mo replied softly, quickly masking all emotion as his blue eyes calmly met Cecilia's gaze.
Cecilia just stared at Max Mo.
She couldn't even begin to figure out how much of what he said was true!
What if he was just testing her?
She couldn't deny it—her heart was moved!
But Max Mo and Charles Yin are rivals in business, their positions are totally at odds.
They're like frenemies.
With things so complicated, any reckless move she made could spell disaster for herself!
She could handle her own situation, but she absolutely couldn't let Helen Gu be put in danger!
Whether it was Charles Yin or Max Mo, both of them had the power to drag her mom—who'd just escaped the Gu family's mess—right back into disaster!
She absolutely couldn't take that risk!
Especially when it came to her mom's happiness in her later years—she couldn't afford to lose!
"Why?" Max Mo's frown was almost unnoticeable.
"Why?" Mo Zixin's frown was almost unnoticeable.
Why would she refuse?
Why would she refuse?
Could it be that she's already fallen for Yin Sicheng?
For some reason, just thinking about Cecilia possibly loving Charles Yin made Max Mo feel uncomfortable inside.
For some reason, just thinking about Cecilia possibly loving Yin Sicheng made Mo Zixin feel uncomfortable inside.
Even though he knew Cecilia wasn't Nuo Nuo, seeing a face identical to Nuo Nuo's standing next to another man was something Mo Zixin just couldn't accept!
Nora used to belong to him completely!
Cecilia stroked her belly and said, "Is there anywhere in the world that could take better care of me than the Yin Family right now? The child I'm carrying is Yin Sicheng's, the heir to the Yin Family. How could they let anything happen to me? Once I give birth, my contract with Yin Sicheng will be over. Then I'll be free to leave or stay as I wish. Why would I need anyone else's help? The Yin Family only cares about the baby, not me. When the child is born and they've gotten what they want, they'll let me go. So, Mr. Mo, you really don't need to worry about me."
"Also, I don't know how you found out about my contract with Yin Sicheng. But it doesn't matter. Even if you make it public, I'll still help Yin Sicheng keep up the lie in front of the media. That's what I promised him." Cecilia replied softly, "Five months—long or short, depending how you look at it. I've survived years of hardship, so what's five more months?"
Cecilia's answer really caught Max Mo off guard.
Just like Charles Yin, Max Mo was used to being in control and making all the decisions himself.
But when he faced Cecilia, he suddenly realized that none of his usual tactics or strategies worked on her!
He couldn't bear it; he couldn't let go.
Max Mo had wondered before—if Cecilia ever became disappointed in him, how would he feel?
Just imagining that face so much like Nora's looking at him with disappointment made his heart ache like he'd been stabbed.
He couldn't do it!
He couldn't let Cecilia be disappointed in him!
A trace of disappointment flickered in Max Mo's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Alright, since that's your decision, I respect it. Of course, if you ever need anything, you can come to me anytime! As long as it's something you don't want, I won't do it." Mo Zixin solemnly promised, "I've never made a promise to anyone before. Nuo Nuo never needed my promises, so my first promise is for you. This promise lasts a lifetime."
Max Mo probably never imagined that the words he said out of affection would become a lifelong obsession.
Years later, every time Max Mo thought of this moment, he wished he could slap himself!
Cecilia breathed a sigh of relief. The corners of her mouth lifted as she said, "Alright, I'll remember! And thank you! Whatever your reason, this is still a good thing for me."
Max Mo smiled as well and said, "I have a request—may I say it?"
Cecilia raised an eyebrow at Max Mo.
Seeing Cecilia's confused expression, Max Mo found her utterly charming.
Nuo Nuo was always too clever, so she never gave him a chance to show off his talents.
This Cecilia really was a woman men couldn't bear to refuse.
Smart, but not too smart.
She always managed to make men feel their own presence and confidence just right.
"We're pretty familiar now. Could you stop calling me Mr. Mo and use my name instead?" Max Mo's blue eyes sparkled as he smiled at Cecilia. "I'm genuinely hoping to be your friend."
Cecilia couldn't help but laugh, brushing her hair from her forehead.
Cecilia probably didn't realize that her relaxed smile was so refreshing, it left Max Mo dazed once again.