Chapter 778

"What are you doing?"

Fiona's voice came unexpectedly from the kitchen doorway.

Cecilia Evans jolted violently, her heart leaping into her throat.

She turned around, forcing a smile onto her face.

"I... I just wanted to see if there was anything I could help with."

Fiona walked straight over, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"That won't be necessary. You are a guest now. Please leave."

"Really, it's no trouble. I can just help carry a dish," Cecilia said, reaching out to pick up a plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables.

She turned and walked towards the dining room.

Just as she entered, Aaron Truman approached, his brow slightly furrowed.

"I thought you said you weren't feeling well and went to the restroom? Why were you in the kitchen?"

Cecilia looked up, her gaze seemingly drifting past Evelyn Ross who was not far away before lowering her eyes again.

Her voice carried a hint of grievance.

"Your brother brought us here to try and mend fences, didn't he? I said the wrong thing earlier and upset Uncle and Aunt... I thought if I did more work, they might calm down, might... might look at me a little more."

Aaron was taken aback.

Cecilia continued in a low voice.

"I know my position is awkward. I'm a love child. I've never been welcome since I was little. When I was a child, every time my father came to see my mother, I had to try my hardest to perform, rush to do chores, be extra sensible, just so he would say a few more words to me... I don't feel wronged, really. I just want everyone to be a little happier."

After saying this, she gently placed the plate on the dining table.

Aaron looked at her cautious, self-sacrificing demeanor, and his heart gave a sharp pang.

Wasn't he the same? Orphaned early, living under the Truman family's roof, those days of watching people's expressions and treading on thin ice were etched into his memory.

He clenched his fist and suddenly stepped forward, grabbing Cecilia's wrist.

"It was my lack of consideration. Let's go. You don't have to endure this kind of humiliation."

Cecilia's heart tightened.

Her earlier speech was precisely to stir Aaron's guilt, but if they really left, what about her plan? That fish soup...

"No need to leave!" she hurriedly shook her head, her voice pleading.

"I want to try to repair the relationship too... I'm not wronged, really..."

Aaron's frown deepened.

"You don't have to force yourself!"

"I'm not forcing..."

Their tussle drew the attention of others.

Ethan Valentine's loud voice carried over.

"Hey, what are you two doing? Dinner's ready! Take your seats!"

Cecilia seized the opportunity to gently pat the back of Aaron's hand and pulled him towards the very end of the long table.

The long dining table placed the head and the far end almost the entire length of the room apart, requiring raised voices to converse.

The table was already laden with dishes.

Everyone chatted casually, the atmosphere lively.

Aaron and Cecilia sat in the farthest corner, almost completely ignored.

Unfortunately, sitting directly across from Cecilia were Ethan Valentine and his blunt fiancée, Kiki Cortez.

Kiki couldn't keep her thoughts to herself.

Now, with wide, curious eyes, she looked at Cecilia and asked directly,

"Hey, I heard... your dad was killed by your mom and her lover... is that true?"

Cecilia's face instantly turned pale.

Kiki was purely driven by gossip, not intentionally targeting her.

Rumors had been swirling fiercely in their circles lately, and she was genuinely curious.

Cecilia lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

"That's all... a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding!" Kiki slapped her thigh.

"I thought so! How would a mistress dare to kill her sugar daddy? That's cutting off her own lifeline! The rumors in our circles lately have been so detailed, they really dare to make up anything!"

The words were like a blunt knife, stabbing hard into Cecilia's heart.

Her eyes immediately reddened, tears welling up.

Seeing this, Ethan grew a bit flustered.

"Hey, don't cry! If it's just a rumor, what are you afraid of?"

Cecilia: "..."

She was so angry her fingertips turned cold, her chest tight.

These two were practically her nemesis!

Her hand trembling, she reached to pick up some food from the plate in front of her.

Whether it was the shock from Fiona in the kitchen earlier or being angered by these two now, she only felt her arm weak and lacking strength.

She didn't know this was her late-stage colon cancer, her body being slowly drained.

Her arms were already emaciated, skin and bones.

She managed to eat a few bites, suppressing the nausea churning in her stomach.

Aaron beside her immediately poured her a glass of warm water.

"What's wrong? Not feeling well again?"

Cecilia raised her reddened eyes to look at him, her voice choked.

"It's nothing... just feeling upset inside. Actually... I used to live in this house for a while too..."

Aaron sighed, his expression complicated.

A flicker passed through Cecilia's eyes.

She pointed to the creamy white fish soup in front of her.

"You... have some soup. Warm your stomach."

"Alright."

Aaron lifted the lid of the soup tureen.

Steam carrying a fresh, savory aroma wafted out.

Cecilia picked up a spoon, first scooping a small mouthful for herself and slowly drinking it.

The fish soup was deliciously rich and smooth.

What a pity... such a delicious soup was the "good stuff" to send Aaron on his way...

She sneered inwardly, but her face showed nothing.

She lowered her head and took another sip.

Aaron, originally worried the fishy smell might make her nauseous, saw her expression was normal and relaxed.

He picked up his soup spoon.

At the head of the table, Evelyn Ross and Alexander Vance were far away, conversing in low tones.

Evelyn tilted her head slightly, leaning closer to Alexander.

"I noticed you've installed a lot of cameras at home recently, even in the kitchen. Why?"

Alexander's gaze swept across various points in the dining room, his voice low.

"Since Scarlett King has come to the United States, she'll make a move sooner or later. Better to be prepared, just in case."

Evelyn nodded.

"Alright."

She privately thought it was a bit of an overreaction.

Who installed so many surveillance cameras in their own home? It seemed overly paranoid.

This thought had just crossed her mind when a violent, uncontrollable retching sound suddenly erupted from the far end of the long table—

"Urgh—!"