Chapter 8 Blood On The Bed

Martha’s voice echoed from the entrance. “Are you awake, Ceci? I’ve made your favorite ravioli. Come eat while the food’s still hot.” Cecilia’s memories slowly returned with those words. After leaving Daltonia Villa, she had visited the hospital for a check-up and intended to see Martha after. Cecilia tapped her forehead, feeling uneasy. When did my memory become so poor? As she was about to stand, she noticed a large bloodstain on the floral bedsheets where she had slept. She touched her right ear and found it sticky. Opening her hand, she saw it was covered in blood, and even her hearing aids were stained red. Her eyes flickered with panic as she quickly wiped her ears with a piece of paper and hurriedly pulled off the bedsheet. Noticing that Cecilia hadn’t come down yet, Martha saw her washing the duvet cover on the balcony. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “My period came; I accidentally got it on the bed,” Cecilia replied with a laugh. After washing up, Cecilia joined Martha for breakfast, savoring a moment of tranquility. Sometimes Martha’s voice was clear; other times, it was faint. Cecilia was terrified, fearing she might never hear it again. She was also afraid of breaking Martha’s heart if she found out. After spending half a day there, Cecilia discreetly left some savings on the bedside table and bid farewell to Martha. When she left, Martha escorted her to the station, waving goodbye with reluctance. Only after Cecilia departed did she finally turn back. On her way back, Martha couldn’t stop thinking of Cecilia’s gaunt figure. She dialed the Rainsworth Group’s internal line. The CEO’s secretary, learning that Martha was looking for Nathaniel and that she was Cecilia’s nanny before, relayed the message. It was the third day since Cecilia had left, and the first time Nathaniel received a call about her. He sat in his office chair, feeling elated. Just as he’d predicted, Cecilia couldn’t hold on for more than three days. Martha’s weary voice came through the phone. “Mr. Rainsworth, I’ve been Cecilia’s nanny since she was a child,” she began, pleading. “Please, show her mercy. Stop hurting her. She isn’t as strong as she seems. Mrs. Smith didn’t want her from birth and left her in my care.” She continued, “She was only taken back when she reached school age… In the Smith family, everyone treated her like a servant, except for Mr. Smith. As a child, she would often secretly call me, crying, saying, ‘Martha, I don’t want to be Ms. Smith anymore. I want to come back, to be your daughter…’ You and Mr. Smith were the only ones she cherished in Tudela. Please, treat her well. She’s lived too humbly from her childhood until now.” Nathaniel’s mood suddenly turned oppressive upon hearing Martha’s choked words. “What’s the matter? Did shaming me with money not satisfy her? Now she’s playing the victim?” His voice was icy cold. “What does it matter to me how Cecilia lived!” “She had it coming, all of it!” He hung up promptly. Martha had only ever heard Cecilia praise Nathaniel. She realized then that he wasn’t good for her, not at all. He was far from the perfect match she had envisioned for Cecilia. Cecilia was in the car and on her way back to the city center when her phone buzzed. It was a message from Nathaniel: Didn’t you mention wanting a divorce? Let’s meet at ten o’clock tomorrow morning. Cecilia stared at the text message, momentarily lost in thought, before replying: Okay. It was just a single word. Yet it caught Nathaniel’s eye immediately. Fine! Let’s see how long you can keep this act up, he thought, completely losing his motivation to work. He called someone out for a drink. At the nightclub, Stella had also arrived. “Let’s drink till we drop today,” she declared. Zachary, sitting next to Nathaniel, couldn’t resist asking about Cecilia. “How’s the little deaf girl today?” Nathaniel arched his handsome brows slightly. “Don’t mention her anymore. Tomorrow, we’re getting divorced.” Upon hearing this, Stella poured him a glass of wine. “Nathaniel, here’s to celebrating your new life,” she said. Others joined in. Elite Club was lively that night. Zachary had reserved all the drinks. In private, he said to Stella, “I can tell that Nathaniel still has feelings for you. You must replace happiness.” Stella nodded. “Zachary, thank you. Without your help, I might not have even met him.” That was true. Stella had initially met Nathaniel after receiving financial support from the Smith family. When she went to express her gratitude, she happened to meet Nathaniel, who was visiting at the same time. Another incident happened four years ago at the hospital. Nathaniel’s mother, Elena, and Zachary were in the same car when they had an accident. By chance, Cecilia stumbled upon the scene and managed to save Zachary and Elena. After Stella discovered this, she found a way to take credit for Cecilia’s life-saving favor. That was why Zachary was so kind to her, and their relationship had evolved from gratitude to friendship and even love. It was also why, despite having many women pursuing him, Nathaniel chose her to be his girlfriend. This was a secret even Cecilia didn’t know—only Stella did. Cecilia always believed Nathaniel chose Stella out of love, and everyone assumed Zachary’s affection for Stella was due to her charm. Little did they know, his fondness for her stemmed from a life-saving favor. “Why are you being so formal with me? Aren’t we friends?” Zachary looked at her with undeniable affection. However, Stella pretended not to notice. That night, Nathaniel had consumed quite a bit of alcohol. Stella offered to take him home. When it came to going home, Nathaniel usually stayed at a hotel, his office, or his private mansion at night. But he still remembered how Cecilia once said, “Daltonia Villa is our real home.” “No need. It’s not convenient,” he declined. They were getting divorced tomorrow, and Cecilia might return to the villa. Stella felt frustrated at the rejection. “Why?” she asked. “You’re getting divorced anyway. What’s the inconvenience? Are you afraid she’ll replace out about us?” Find out about us? Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re overthinking it.” Inside the car, he arranged for Stella to be driven home. On the way back, he kept checking his phone, hoping for a text from Cecilia. When he returned home, the villa was pitch-black. Nathaniel’s expression darkened as he pushed the door open. He turned on the light, but there was no sign of Cecilia. She didn’t return. Everything in the house remained as it was when she left. His clothes, neatly placed by the washing machine, were still there—unwashed and not hung up as before. Frustrated, he threw them into the trash bin. The effects of alcohol were strong, and Nathaniel found himself sinking into the couch, uncomfortable. Once he fell asleep, he was haunted by nightmares. In the dream, Cecilia was covered in blood, yet she smiled at him and said, “Nathaniel, I don’t love you anymore.” Nathaniel jolted awake to replace the first light of dawn outside. He rubbed his forehead, freshened up, and changed into a sharp suit. Keeping an eye on the time, he headed toward City Hall.