Chapter 679 Not The World She Imagined

Chapter 679 Not The World She Imagined

Cecilia's heart was racing as she stepped out of the teleportation portal into the expansive garden of the Sterling mansion. The vibrant blue flowers and neatly trimmed hedges, once a source of calm, felt almost mocking in their serenity. Her blue bob hair was shiny from the hurried bath she had taken at another hotel, a desperate attempt to scrub away the guilt and shame that seemed to cling to her like a second skin. But no amount of scrubbing could cleanse the turmoil that churned inside her.

She forced a smile as the maids and servants around the garden greeted her, their faces a mix of surprise and respect. She nodded absently at their greetings, her smile tight, her mind racing with a hundred thoughts. She was dreading what awaited her inside. Derek must have known by now. He must have. The announcement he made regarding the Mars Vanguard Initiative had only added to the heavy cloud of guilt and confusion that loomed over her.

As she pushed open the door to the mansion, she barely took two steps inside before a voice, sharp and devoid of its usual warmth, cut through the air like a blade, "Cecilia. Where were you?"

Her heart froze, and her breath caught in her throat as she turned to see Derek sitting on one of the plush sofas in the hall, his gaze locked onto her with an intensity that made her feel like she was on trial. He rose slowly, his expression unreadable, though his eye held a storm she hadn't seen before.

"Honey... Were you waiting for me here?" she asked, forcing a surprised look onto her face, her voice so close to wavering ever so slightly.

Derek's gaze didn't waver, his eyes piercing into her like daggers, "You never came home yesterday. Where were you last night? I was so worried that I couldn't sleep or even work." His tone was calm, almost too calm, but she could feel the accusation simmering beneath his words.

Cecilia swallowed hard, a soft, apologetic chuckle escaping her lips as she tried to steady her nerves, "Oh... I am so sorry, honey. I was so busy in a meeting that I couldn't come home in time."

Derek's brow furrowed slightly as he stepped closer, his eye never leaving hers, "You could have called me or sent me a message. But you weren't even picking up my calls. So I had no choice but to send someone to look for you."

Cecilia's heart pounded against her ribcage as she blinked, the tension in her body tightening like a coiled spring, "Oh...you sent someone?" n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Derek nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing as he studied her face, "Yes. I was relieved when they managed to find you. But I am confused because they told me you walked into a hotel at night. And not long after, Advisor Ash seemed to enter the same building. Was that a coincidence, or... did you call him there?"

Cecilia felt her stomach drop as if she was teetering on the edge of a precipice, his words pushing her closer to the brink.

Why was she suddenly feeling like this? Was it because she spent a night in the comfort of another man? No...That cannot be...

"Alright. It's getting late," Derek continued, glancing at his wrist device, "I have to head back to work. But next time, I want you to let me know if something comes up. I love you so much. You know that, right?" His voice softened even more as he cupped her face gently, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks as he looked into her eyes.

"I love you too..." Cecilia whispered, her voice barely audible as she looked up at him, her gaze searching his face, hoping to find a trace of the man she once knew.

He smiled, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, before leaning in to press a soft kiss to her forehead. Then, with a last lingering look, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing through the empty hall, leaving Cecilia standing there, her hand pressed against her chest, feeling as if she was being torn apart.

She watched him go, a cold, hollow feeling spreading through her as his words replayed in her mind.

She couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of dread that had taken hold of her heart. Rachel's words echoed in her mind, adding to the confusion and fear that had settled deep within her.

'If only I could talk to...'

Her thought halted abruptly as Ash's face flashed in her mind. She felt a sudden wave of disbelief and shame wash over her.

How could she think about him now, after everything that had happened? She shook her head, frustrated with herself, as if trying to shake off the lingering thoughts that clung to her like shadows.

With a heavy sigh, she turned and began to walk away, her mind a chaotic whirl of conflicting emotions.

But she had barely taken a few steps when her wrist device vibrated, startling her. She glanced down and saw a new message notification blinking on the small screen.

Her heart skipped a beat as she tapped on the screen, and a small holographic display popped up, revealing a message from Ash. Her eyes widened, and her breath hitched as she read the words, [ I feel bad about how things happened. Can we talk? ]

Cecilia's eyes darted around the hall, panic tightening her throat as if someone could see the message she was reading, even if it wasn't possible. With trembling fingers, she hastily tapped the screen, closing the message before stuffing her hands into her pockets. She quickened her pace, her heart racing as she made her way toward the stairs, the weight of the message hanging over her like a dark cloud