Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 169

Nigel’s eyes slowly widened, his fierce gaze softening until his eyes appeared round. He looked at Cecilia with an expression of disbelief, rubbing his ear absentmindedly. Instead of the usual string of curses, a long sigh escaped through his teeth.

“Ha…”

His bewildered gaze flitted across Cecilia’s face and upper body, unable to settle. Finally, his eyes filled with anger as he shouted,

“What did you just say?”

“I told you to get a grip.”

“No, after that.”

“What about after that?”

Cecilia feigned ignorance, stepping back slightly before raising the corners of her mouth.

“Oh, are you talking about… ‘half-breed’?”

His knuckles turned white as he clenched his fist. Cecilia let out a mocking laugh.

“Did that really hurt your feelings?”

She spoke to him as if addressing a rude child.

“You’re being so sensitive over just one word. Do you know how many times I’ve heard that in my life?”

More times than she could count.

As Cecilia ignored his threatening demeanor, the fist he had raised halfway slowly lowered.

A shiver of electricity ran from the top of Cecilia’s head to her toes. She gripped the hem of her dress, trying to hold on to calmness in this overwhelming atmosphere.

This time, he could truly lose his temper. But so what? What could she possibly lose if he did? His violent behavior was nothing new.

If she bowed her head to the “Young Marquis” even here in the Duke’s mansion, where his power did not reach—

‘When will I ever get another chance to say something like this without hesitation?’

Cecilia didn’t miss the opportunity.

This man had walked right into his own reckoning. She had simply spoken the words he deserved to hear long ago. That was all. It wasn’t a reaction purely driven by emotion.

She convinced herself.

‘Half-breed.’

That word, which had come to her again and again, tearing her down each time.

He needed to hear it, even just once, with his own ears. He needed to know what it felt like.

‘So that he could become a mature adult who understands others’ perspectives.’

In the end, the fist that had once struck her no longer attempted violence, and as Cecilia observed his bewildering shift in emotions, she added firmly,

“From now on, don’t ever call me a ‘half-breed’ again.”

Unless you’re prepared to hear it in return.

* * *

Nigel no longer responded. His reaction was too quiet to be dismissed as mere shock or anger.

He stared intently at Cecilia, lost in deep thought, until she began to find his behavior odd.

The flush of anger that had reddened his face slowly faded, like ice melting in cold water. Regaining his composure, his expression became unreadable.

Cecilia held back the sharp words that threatened to escape her lips, waiting patiently. After all, she was the one who had called him here.

“You…”

He finally spoke.

“So what exactly is this proposal of yours? An alliance. Is that it?”

It was the question she had been waiting for. She had her answer ready.

Cecilia released the hem of her dress that she hadn’t realized she was still gripping. The once-smooth fabric was now creased.

“It’s exactly what I wrote in my letter. I’m proposing a relationship with you. But only on the surface.”

“You were serious about that?”

“Yes.”

If she hadn’t been, she wouldn’t have bothered to send such a cheesy, if not revolting, word in her letter.

“Well, I guess you wouldn’t go to the trouble of writing such a disgusting joke.”

…He knew that much, huh?

He’s surprisingly self-aware.

While Cecilia smiled slightly at the thought, Nigel crossed his arms and pondered.

“A relationship. A relationship, huh…”

For a moment, his serious expression turned to one of derision.

“A relationship?”

He spat out the word like he was chewing on rotten grass, full of disdain.

His hand, which had been clenching and unclenching repeatedly, pointed between himself and Cecilia.

“Between you and me?”

Cecilia responded calmly.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“You don’t want to be engaged to Miss Casey, right? I’m sure she feels the same, but her reasons are different from yours.”

Casey Heens wanted to break off her engagement for the sake of love. That’s why Cecilia had volunteered to play the role of Nigel’s lover and sided with her.

But Nigel was different. While he, like Casey, was reluctant to continue the engagement, he didn’t have the same strong desire to break it off.

‘Given that he had nothing to lose, being passive was probably his best option.’

At first, it had surprised Cecilia that Nigel had managed to suppress his fiancée’s infidelity, but on reflection, it was a rational decision.

‘His quick thinking won out over his fiery temper.’

Regardless of his personality, his resourcefulness was undeniable. He was clever. She hoped he would use that sharp mind to make a rational decision this time as well.

Cecilia asked him earnestly,

“Sir, are you still estranged from your stepmother?”

“Stepmother? I don’t know who you’re talking about. Did I ever have one?”

Seeing him raise his eyebrows as he spoke, Cecilia nodded.

“That answers my question.”