Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 171
“You donāt like him anymore?”
Nigel repeated the statement, confused.
“Yes.”
Cecilia responded and then, after a brief hesitation, added,
“Not even a little.”
She was more resolute than when she had proposed revenge. Her voice had the power to make even the most nonsensical statement sound true.
Thatās why it was even harder to believe.
Was this woman really aiming for a breakup?
“It doesnāt add up.”
“Is accompanying you in a path of revenge not enough?”
“Itās not meāitās you.”
He lifted his chin and crossed his arms, his gaze so arrogant it was hard to believe he was looking up at her.
Cecilia lowered her eyes to meet his condescending stare.
“It adds up just fine.”
“ā¦?”
“Because youāre a Rosencrantz.”
“Ahaā¦”
Nigel laughed.
“So, you’re planning to use me again and set the stage.”
Cecilia smiled back.
“Not useājoin hands. This time, I’m conscientiously asking for your permission like this.”
“Have you already forgotten how you declared yourself my lover without my consent?”
“If you donāt want it, you can deny it. But.”
Cecilia extended her hand.
“If Iām useful, thenā¦.”
“ā¦.”
Nigel slowly looked at her hand. His eyes traced each finger before he reached out.
However.
Smack!
With a sharp sound, he smacked her hand away with the back of his.
“I tend to stay away from things that are too toxic.”
“I can’t imagine why my hand is throbbing right now. Have you already forgotten?”
He raised an eyebrow in response.
“Iāll decline the handshake, but Iāll accept the proposal. As you said, I have nothing to lose.”
He ended with a ferocious smile, as if warning her to be prepared for the future.
Cecilia was unfazed by the reaction she had anticipated.
“Iāll take that as the contract being established and take my leave.”
“Wait a moment.”
He called after Cecilia, stopping her.
“Wouldnāt it be better if we left together?”
“What are you sayingā¦?”
“Youāre my lover, arenāt you? As a lover, you should act the part.”
Nigelās expression was mischievous. Declaring their relationship was something he could do personally, so there was no need to create a commotion now.
Yet, he insisted on this, likely just to humiliate her.
Cecilia stared at him, then squinted as she smiled.
“ā¦I am more partial to a spiritual type of love.”
“Oh dear, my lover has a different view on love than I do.”
“Your lover isnāt a beast.”
They smiled at each other, but their expressions soon hardened.
“Then, Iāll be goingā¦”
“How did you manage to win her over?”
Nigel interrupted her.
“Her? Miss Casey, you mean?”
“Yes. Sheās not the type to engage with someone like you.”
He seemed well aware of Casey Heens’ inflexible nature.
“She got caught by me.”
“Caught doing what?”
“Cheating.”
“Hooh.”
“I didnāt blackmail her with it. I just used it as a conversation starterā¦ I was lucky.”
“Lucky?”
Nigelās lips twisted into a crooked smile.
“You were lucky enough to drag things this far?”
“They say God is fair. Maybe He was compensating me for past misfortunes.”
“Youāre shameless for someone who doesnāt even believe in God.”
“ā¦.”
Nigel fundamentally distrusted her. If her circumstances didnāt seem entirely convincing or if he couldnāt trust her as a contractual partner, he would likely continue to doubt her endlessly.
Despite her exhaustion, Cecilia reluctantly opened her mouth.
“The truth isā¦.”
* * *
That day, Cecilia told Casey there was a way for them both to achieve their goals.
She then made this proposal:
“What if Sir Nigel and I publicly declared ourselves lovers?”
An idea unthinkable for Casey Heens, but for Cecilia, it was nothing more than a fake romance.
At first, Casey was horrified.
“No! What if your honor gets tarnished, Miss Cecilia?”
“Thatās why Iām asking for your help. Weāre allies who share a secret, after all.”
She skillfully egged her on.
“Is there anything I can do to helpā¦?”
“If only one side declares love, theyāll be condemned aloneā¦ But what if both sides confessed almost simultaneously that they loved someone else?”
Only then did Casey seriously consider Ceciliaās proposal.
