Chapter 4

"He won't go back on his word."

Cecilia didn't know Charles well, yet she felt strangely at ease with him.

Power gives people confidence.

And Charles's power gave her the confidence to trust him.

"Good. The resort development was put on hold after your father left, so it makes sense for you to take it over. But even with the Westside District land, funding will be a serious problem. And Cecilia, you've been out of the industry for years now..."

The resort development had been her father's idea, led by the Davis Group.

Then the Davis Group went bankrupt.

The land had only recently come back on the market, changing hands until it was finally up for grabs.

For the past five years, because of Edward, Cecilia hadn't touched any work. She had devoted herself entirely to being Mrs. Percy.

But privately, she had never stopped thinking about her father's dying wish.

So when Charles proposed a partnership, the resort development was the first thing that came to mind.

It was her father's dream, and it would be her first step back into the business world.

Cecilia lowered her eyes.

Five years of a hollow marriage had taught her one thing.

Without a career, you have no leverage.

That was why she had pushed to reclaim the Westside District land.

She trusted Charles. But before any of that, she needed to leave Edward.

Two more days, and it would be their wedding anniversary.

Five years with Edward. It was time for that to end.

Edward hadn't come home all night, but Cecilia felt surprisingly clear-headed.

The next evening was a business dinner.

For the sake of Percy Group's image, Edward had no choice but to attend with her.

Or so she thought.

When Edward came to pick her up and the car door opened, Jessica's delicate, fragile face appeared from the back seat.

"Cecilia, it's been so long. Edward was worried about my health, so he brought me along. You don't mind, do you?"

It really had been a long time. After Julia died back then, Jessica had gone abroad for medical treatment and further studies.

Cecilia calmly looked up and met Edward's gaze.

Edward watched her with an amused look.

After what happened with the media last time, Edward shouldn't have been parading around with Jessica like this.

He was doing it on purpose.

Deliberately making things difficult for her, wanting to watch her lose face and squirm.

"I don't mind."

But Cecilia showed none of the embarrassment or hurt he had expected.

She adjusted the shawl around her shoulders, her red lips carrying a vivid, rose-like color, and spoke at an unhurried pace.

"You're the one who should mind. After all, being called a homewrecker to your face isn't a great look."

Last time, she had chosen to speak up for him because of her younger brother, and because of the five years they'd shared.

But the moment Edward abandoned her and walked away, leaving her alone to face the media—

she no longer owed this relationship anything.

She had already decided on divorce. What did his reputation have to do with her anymore?

Jessica hadn't expected her to say that.

Over the years, Cecilia had rarely been this sharp, not while she was still trying to win Edward back.

Jessica's face went pale. She looked at Edward with a helpless, wounded expression.

Edward was caught off guard too. His brow furrowed.

What had gotten into Cecilia lately?

He quickly pushed the thought aside and replied with cold mockery.

"I'm bringing Jessica tonight to help her meet people.

She's joining Percy Group soon as a designer. Stop projecting your dirty assumptions onto her."

A flicker of contempt crossed Cecilia's eyes.

She couldn't be bothered to say more. She simply pulled open the car door and got in.

The atmosphere in the car was strange and silent the whole way there.

When they arrived at the venue, the sight of the three of them together drew plenty of attention.

Not wanting to become a spectacle, Cecilia found a quiet corner near the pool, away from the crowd.

Vivian came over, glancing at Edward in the distance as he introduced Jessica to business partners, and frowned.

"What's going on? Has Edward lost his mind? Cozying up to Jessica in front of all these people — does he even care that you're his wife?"

"It's nothing." Cecilia watched the scene, lazily raising an eyebrow, then let out a small laugh.

"I'm just wondering how I could have been so blind for so long."

First love has a way of pulling you under.

She had been trapped inside her own love story for five years, struggling and suffering, barely keeping her head above water.

So much so that she had ignored how easily people change.

"Well, congratulations on finally seeing clearly." Vivian's voice carried an odd excitement.

"Your future second husband is supposed to be here tonight too. I hear Charles is incredibly handsome — puts celebrities to shame. No wonder you picked him."

Cecilia paused.

Charles was, admittedly, striking.

Meeting him had been an accident.

Last month, she had gone with Edward to visit Owen.

Edward got called away in the middle of it and made her get out of the car.

She stood out in the middle of nowhere and waited a long time for a ride.

Eventually, Charles's assistant walked over and said politely:

"Ms. Davis, my employer says it's getting late. Would you like a lift?"

Cecilia had been taken aback.

Everyone in Emerald City knew the name Charles Windsor.

But more than his face — which was somehow both gentle and cold, and almost unsettlingly beautiful — what he was truly known for was the Windsor family's wealth and power.

In Emerald City, Charles was synonymous with fortune and influence beyond compare.

Through the car window, she had caught only a glimpse of his profile in the hazy night.

And those eyes — calm, but deep.

Cecilia hesitated for a moment.

In the end, she didn't say no.

She had barely pulled open the door and settled into her seat when she found herself looking directly into Charles's dark, steady gaze.

He was leaning back in his seat. His expression was calm and composed as he looked at her, his features refined, his presence carrying a quiet coolness.

Nothing about his posture was threatening.

Yet somehow he felt unreachable. Like someone who existed on a different level entirely.

"Ms. Davis."

He looked her over slowly, his tone unhurried.

"I have a proposal you might find interesting. Would you like to hear it?"

Back then, Cecilia never could have imagined that Charles would be the one to pull her away from Edward — turning a married woman into the future Mrs. Windsor.

Cecilia came back to herself. A soft haziness lingered at the corners of her eyes, giving her an air of languid ease, like a rose blooming boldly through the mist — vivid and striking.

Even in the dark of night, she was breathtaking.

When Charles first made the offer, she had felt something stir inside her.

But it was never his looks that she valued.

Compared to his power, his appearance had never mattered to her.

Five years with Edward had left her completely disillusioned with marriage.

Five years of going from the Davis family's eldest daughter to Mrs. Percy — living under someone else's roof, humbling herself, trying to please.

And ending up with nothing.

But a good wind is worth riding.

For a moment, she had thought: use Charles's power to fulfill her father's dream. Let that wind carry her ambition somewhere worth going.

Only back then, she hadn't fully given up on Edward.

Now, though.

She was no longer that naive girl who had fallen apart over a love that had broken her.

At that moment, a soft voice cut through her thoughts: "Cecilia, what are you doing hiding over here? I've been looking everywhere for you."

Cecilia looked up to see Jessica walking toward her.

Vivian's expression tightened. "You're not glued to Edward's side for once — so why are you looking for Cecilia?"

"Just wanted to say hello. We'll be in the same city from now on, and Cecilia was my senior back in school. It's just a shame that..."

Jessica smiled faintly, a hint of regret in her eyes.

Cecilia had once been the star of the architecture program — brilliantly talented, head and shoulders above the rest.

But after what happened to the Davis family, and her refusal to let go, she had spent five years fading into obscurity.

Cecilia let out a short, quiet laugh. "Aren't you tired?"

Her expression was relaxed, almost indifferent, even in the moonlight.

Jessica blinked.

Cecilia's voice stayed flat. "You must be exhausted putting on this act. Back then, you deliberately led Julia up to that mountain. You framed her, destroyed her. Doesn't that wear on you?"

The color shifted in Jessica's face.

But a second later, she stepped closer, the corners of her lips curving upward.

"Cecilia, be careful about making accusations. And besides — after five years, do you really think Edward would believe me or you?"

Before the last word had left her mouth, she grabbed Cecilia and shoved her toward the pool.

They both went in.