Chapter 26
"What did you say?" Ophelia overheard her.
Cecily was undeterred, "I called you an idiot. It's massage therapy, a medical practice. And use your brain, would I kill Darian in the Fitzgerald mansion and sign my own death warrant?"
The mansion was crawling with skilled bodyguards. If a defenseless woman took on Darian here, it would be a suicide. It was as hopeless as an unarmed assassin trying to kill an emperor.
Sure, she despised Darian, but she had children to think of; she needed to stay alive for them.
Ophelia furrowed her brows, "Who knows what trickery you're plotting. I'm getting a doctor, and if you've lied even slightly, I won't let you off the hook."
Cecily gestured dismissively, "Have it your way."
After that, Cecily proceeded to remove the patches from Darian's head.
Once again, Ophelia stepped forward, attempting to push her aside.
Cecily, not one to be trifled with, forcefully swung her arm and sent Ophelia reeling away.
Ophelia let out a scream and fell to the ground with a thud. "Cecily!"
Cecily was engrossed in her task, totally unbothered.
Scrambling up from the floor, an infuriated Ophelia lunged at her with a raised hand.
Unflinching, Cecily's voice was calm and detached. "Stop her."
Larkin knew Cecily was tending to Mr. Fitzgerald's needs. If Ophelia continued her tirade, it could only disturb Cecily's work.
Stepping forward, Larkin blocked Ophelia's path. "Excuse me."
Red-faced and fuming, Ophelia shot back, "Larkin, you're siding with her? You know how vicious she can be. If something happens to Darian, can you live with the consequences?"
Larkin remained impassive. "I'm sorry, Ms. Ophelia, but Miss Cecily wouldn't harm Mr. Fitzgerald in front of everyone here. I can't say if she's cruel or not, but I do know you're interfering with his treatment."
He had the ability to discern right from wrong.
Ophelia found herself blocked by Larkin, unable to get any closer to Cecily, and glared at him with fierce resentment. "Larkin, remember I will soon be the lady of this house."
That was Ophelia's warning.
Larkin didn't take it to heart. As Darian's right-hand man, his priority was to consider his boss's best interests.
Anyone who threatened Mr. Fitzgerald would be met with resistance.
It didn't matter who claimed to be in charge.
With a sigh of relief, Cecily finally put away her patches. "Alright."
Larkin released his hold on Ophelia.
Brushing past them, Ophelia made her way to Darian and roughly shook the man who had just fallen asleep.
"Darian! Darian! Wake up, Darian, come on, wake up..."
"I'd advise against waking him," Cecily interjected, not wanting to see her hour's effort go to waste.
"Shut up." Tears flooded Ophelia's face without notice, her delicate features etched with vulnerability.
Darian had finally fallen asleep, only to be jolted awake by Ophelia's persistent shaking. Now, his expression was stormy, like a tempest ready to ravage the world.
Cecily raised an eyebrow and silently scooted aside.
Larkin moved in sync with her.
They exchanged a look, silently conveying their mutual disdain for Ophelia's display.
Ophelia pushed closer, burying herself in the man's embrace, crying, "Darian, you're awake. Cecily was just harming you. I thought... I thought you'd never wake up because of her."
Ophelia's voice was both tender and plaintive, her tears making her even more pitiable.
"Hmph," Cecily scoffed with a derisive chuckle from the sideline.
Indeed, Ophelia had a way of garnering sympathy.
Her soft voice combined with her reddened eyes stirred a sense of compassion.
With her eyes still brimming with tears, Ophelia looked at him and continued, "Darian, are you feeling alright? Shall I get a doctor?"
The anger in Darian's eyes intensified. He pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice icy as he spat out a single word, "Leave."
Overjoyed, Ophelia turned to Cecily and said, "Did you hear that, Cecily? Darian told you to leave!"
Cecily just twitched the corner of her mouth.
"I meant you. Leave," Darian’s voice was cold enough to freeze everything around him.
Ophelia's smile seized upon her face, then vanished. "Darian, are you telling me to leave?"
She couldn't believe it; she asked again as if to seek confirmation.
The answer was painfully obvious.
Inner turmoil shivered through Ophelia. "Why? Darian, I only meant well for you."
Darian coldly stared at her for a few seconds. "Don't make me repeat myself."
Biting her lip fiercely and seeing that Darian was truly enraged, Ophelia was at a loss for why he was so upset.
After all, she was just worried about him.
Wrestling with her thoughts, she just couldn't pin down a reason, and so she blamed it all on Cecily.
It was all because of her that Darian treated her this way.
Her teeth were clenched in fury as her gaze locked intensely on Cecily.
Cecily, on the other hand, smirked back, arching an eyebrow in clear triumph.
Naturally, this only served to infuriate Ophelia even more. Her teeth nearly shattered with rage.
Cecily chuckled, finding the mockery distasteful but incredibly satisfying when directed at someone like Ophelia.
Even if Ophelia ground her teeth to dust, she couldn't touch Cecily.
Left with no other option, Ophelia's features contorted with anger as she stormed off.
Cecily paid no further mind to them; her sole purpose here was to see that child.
But where was the kid?
Why wasn't he back yet? He should have been out of school by now.
Darian, now roused awake by the commotion, stood up. Drowsiness was gone from his face, but he still looked sullen. He too noticed Rowan hadn't returned.
Turning, he asked in a deep, somber voice, "Rowan hasn't come back?"
"He bumped into a friend and wanted to hang out for a bit longer, so he'll be late," relayed Larkin, passing on the message he'd received from the driver half an hour earlier.
Darian nodded. Rowan was usually a loner; he had few friends at school, so Darian was supportive of him spending time with others rather than sulking at home.
Cecily's hand, hanging by her side, tightened. This friend's timing couldn't have been any worse.
What was she to do? The day's treatment had ended; she should leave soon, but the thought was unbearable. She came solely to see the child.
If she couldn't accomplish that, it was as if this trip was for nothing.
Cecily's smile faded away.
Disturbed by these thoughts, the maid approached, "Sir, dinner is ready."
Darian just nodded, casting a glance at Cecily, who was still rooted to the spot with her brow furrowed with worry.
"Come and have dinner."
Cecily was so lost in thought that she didn’t even hear Darian.
Darian raised an eyebrow slightly.
Larkin's gaze shifted back and forth between the two before he gently patted Cecily on the shoulder.
Cecily snapped out of her daze, "What's up?"
"Miss Cecily, Mr. Fitzgerald is calling you over for dinner," Larkin reminded her.
"Me?" Cecily pointed at herself.
"Yes."
Cecily glanced at Darian, who was already seated at the dining table. He wasn't touching his food, as if waiting for her.
An excuse to stay was exactly what she was looking for, and here it was, presented to her on a silver platter.
She strode over, noting that the layout of the dining room had barely changed in the last five years.
Darian held the seat of honor, and as Cecily scanned the table placements, she remembered how, when they were married, she used to like sitting next to him. But he despised her and hated her being so close.
A sardonic smile played at Cecily's lips as she chose the seat furthest from him.
Darian glanced over, "Cecily, do you think I bite?"
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