Chapter 585: Eleven Years Ago, Imprisoned Not for Saving Someone
Nathaniel's face was all scrunched up.
Silence meant consent.
Cecily's anger flared up, and she snapped, "So, do you love Aurelie or not?"
That word was way too heavy. He didn't think so.
If he did, he should be protecting and cherishing her, not just standing there like a statue when she got humiliated.
If he loved her, he wouldn't have agreed to marry Lillian just to get what he wanted, leaving Aurelie in the dust.
But then, why did he freak out when Aurelie wanted to leave?
Why did it hurt so bad when she said she didn't love him enough to stay, and that all her kindness was because she thought he was someone else?
He looked up at Cecily, all confused, "You and Darian are together now. He loves you. How does he treat you? Would he hurt you? What would he do if you were wronged?"
Cecily looked at his confused eyes, surprised by his sudden question. After a moment of silence, she answered, "No matter what, it's definitely not like how you treat Aurelie!"
Nathaniel lowered his eyes and smiled.
So, he didn't love Aurelie.
They got together because she made the first move. Now he didn't want her to leave, maybe because of his possessiveness. Aurelie was his girl, and he wouldn't let her be with someone else.
Seeing his silence, Cecily knew the answer, "You saved Aurelie and spent ten years in prison, and she lived in endless guilt for ten years. After you were released, she humbly tried to please you, taking care of you in every possible way, hoping to repay some of your kindness. She would do anything for you because she felt she owed you. But she's a girl with principles. You want her to stay by your side after you marry Lillian? She can't do it."
Nathaniel's lowered eyes lifted again. Listening to Cecily's words, he felt a thorn in his throat, painful with every movement. He wanted to say he never saved Aurelie, but the words got stuck in his throat and were forced back.
Maybe it was selfishness. He knew if he said it, Aurelie would leave him at all costs.
So he didn't want to say it at all.
Opening his mouth, he finally let out a self-deprecating laugh, "Marrying Lillian isn't what you think."
"Then what is it?" Cecily frowned.
Nathaniel remained silent.
Seeing his silence, Cecily didn't press further.
Rowan and Griffin ran out, tugging at Cecily's hand, "Mommy, Aurelie is looking for you."
"Okay, I'll go in right away." Cecily had said what she needed to say. Aurelie had sent Rowan and Griffin to call her, not wanting her to continue talking to Nathaniel.
Cecily said no more, turning to take Rowan and Griffin into the hospital room.
Inside, Aurelie was already sitting up. Cecily walked over quickly, "Don't get up. After such a big incident, you still want to hide it from me. What were you thinking?"
"It's actually not a big deal. If you don't believe me, see for yourself." Aurelie extended her hand.
Cecily, suspicious, placed her hand on Aurelie's pulse. Soon, she looked up at Aurelie in shock, "The baby is still safe?"
"Yes." Aurelie recalled the scene in the emergency room.
In the end, she couldn't bear to lose the baby.
The reason why she asked the doctor to tell Nathaniel this was because she didn't want him to get any more ideas on the child again. She also thought that without the baby, Nathaniel would let her leave.
Aurelie's face was pale, her lips trembling, "I still couldn't bear to lose the baby."
"So you lied to Nathaniel about losing the baby to leave him?"
"Yes." Aurelie nodded, smiling bitterly.
"But the baby is getting bigger. You can't hide it for long." Cecily said.
She was three months along now. Usually, by five months, the belly would start to get bigger. She couldn't hide it for long.
Aurelie replied, "I know, but by then, he should be married to Lillian and won't have much energy to focus on me. As for the rest, I don't know what to do now. I'll take it one step at a time."
Cecily couldn't think of a better solution for her either and could only agree.
Cecily said, "Then you need to be careful from now on. It's not easy carrying this baby. I'll have someone from home make some nutritious soup for you. Did the doctor tell you to stay in the hospital to protect the pregnancy?"
"Yes." Aurelie nodded.
Cecily gently patted Aurelie's shoulder, "Then stay in the hospital and take it easy."
"Okay, I know." Aurelie knew it wasn't easy carrying this baby and cherished it even more. "Cecily, thank you for always helping me."
"It doesn't matter. You helped me just the same when I was in trouble." Cecily smiled.
"Aurelie, we'll be here with you. You have to take care of yourself." Griffin said.
Aurelie reached out and pinched Griffin's cheek, nodding firmly, "Okay, I will."
Cecily hung out at the hospital with Aurelie for dinner before heading home. When she got back, Darian was already there.
Seeing Cecily return with Griffin and Rowan, Darian smiled, "Did you go shopping?"
"No, we went to the hospital to see Aurelie," Cecily answered.
Darian took Cecily's hand and casually asked, "What's up with her?"
Cecily thought for a moment but decided not to spill the beans. After all, he didn't really care about this stuff.
"Nothing serious. Have you had dinner?" Cecily asked.
"Yeah, I have." Darian didn't push further because he didn't care. If Cecily wanted to tell him, he'd listen; if not, he wouldn't pry. It was someone else's business, not his concern.
"Got more work to do tonight?"
"Nah, finished everything at the office. Just wanna chill with you, but you seem to have something on your mind." Darian led Cecily to the sofa and sat down.
Hearing this, Cecily's brow furrowed. She had some questions about what Nathaniel had said at the hospital that morning.
"Darian," Cecily said.
"Yeah?"
"Why is Nathaniel marrying Lillian? And do you know anything about Lillian?" Cecily had been curious since the last time at the bridal shop.
Karen had said Lillian was crazy, and that she had lost her uterus and couldn't have kids.
Moreover, Lillian had returned suddenly, and Nathaniel had suddenly decided to marry her. There didn't seem to be any affection between them. Cecily couldn't wrap her head around it. Even if he didn't love Aurelie, Aurelie was still carrying his child, and they had been together for a year.
Cecily couldn't understand why Nathaniel would choose Lillian over Aurelie.
And today, he said that marrying Lillian wasn't what they thought it was.
This made Cecily even more puzzled.
Cecily continued, "Also, you mentioned before that Nathaniel didn't go to prison for saving someone. Can you tell me more about that? Seeing Aurelie like this, I still want to help her."
Darian thought seriously, "I don't know much, but if you want to know, I can call Hayden over. He knows more, and you can ask him."
"Okay," she nodded.
Darian called Hayden, who was drinking at a club. Hearing that Darian needed him, he came over quickly.
Hayden walked in with his coat, joking, "Darian, you're not being a good friend. I asked you to come out, but you refused. Turns out you're at home with your wife. Truly, you've forgotten your friends for your wife."
"I'm a family man, we're different," Darian said, glancing at him.
Hayden plopped down on a single sofa, looking at Darian's proud and smug expression of having a wife. He really felt like Darian had changed, "Cecily, how did you manage to keep Darian so well-behaved at home?"
Cecily raised an eyebrow and glanced at Darian, "Does he misbehave and go out fooling around when I'm not around?"
"I don't," Darian said seriously, looking at Cecily.
Hayden laughed, "Cecily, he does. He used to be quite the troublemaker, always at bars or clubs with a bunch of women around him. You should keep a close eye on him, especially on his money. Men with money tend to go bad."
Hayden's tone was joking, and Cecily didn't take it seriously. But Darian looked like he was ready to swear his innocence to his wife.
"I don't. He's lying," Darian shouted.
Cecily smiled, "I believe you. Even if you did before, you won't in the future."
"I really didn't, not even before," Darian's face was tense as he tried to explain.
This time, Hayden couldn't hold back his laughter.
Darian was really afraid Cecily would misunderstand.
"Cecily, I was just joking," Hayden explained, but Darian didn't even want to look at him.
If he had known, he wouldn't have called him over.
"But why did you call me over?" Hayden asked.
Cecily got back to the point, "I wanted to ask you something. Do you know why Nathaniel went to prison eleven years ago?"
Cecily's sudden question about Nathaniel surprised Hayden.
Talking about serious matters, Hayden put away his playful demeanor, "That matter is quite complicated. It's hard to explain in a few words. But why are you asking about it now?"
"Complicated? Wasn't it because he saved someone and accidentally killed someone in self-defense?" Cecily was surprised.
That didn't seem like a complicated or hard-to-explain matter.
Hayden was puzzled, "Cecily, who told you that? Nathaniel did go to prison for excessive self-defense and manslaughter, but he definitely didn't save anyone. Those people were after him in the first place."
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