<strong>Chapter 229 I Need To Ask You Something</strong>


    The sight of Cecilia in a state of utter disarray caught Nathaniel off guard, sparking an inexplicable panic within him. Without wasting a second, he gently took her by the arm and led her back home, his mind racing with concern.


    Once they had returned to the residence, Nathaniel swiftly picked up a piece of clothing and. draped it over her shoulders. “What do you want to ask?” he inquired, his voice a mix of worry and irritation.


    Cecilia, holding onto the photograph tightly, hesitated for a moment before asking, “Do you have a twin brother?” Her voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of tension, as if she feared the answer.


    The instant Nathaniel heard the word “brother,” his expression turned icy. He let go of Cecilia’s arm, stepping back slightly. “Yes,” he answered curtly.


    “Why have I never heard of him before? Where is he now?” Cecilia pressed, her eyes searching his face for any sign of emotion.


    Nathaniel’s lips thinned into a tight line, and his eyes zed with barely concealed anger. “You sought me out at the party just to ask about this?” he retorted, his voice cold and cutting.


    Cecilia held his gaze, unwavering, even as his words pierced through her like a knife.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    “This is a family matter,” Nathaniel snapped, his tone final. “You don’t need to know.”


    Family matter….


    Family matters, secrets buried deep within the Rainsworth family–Cecilia understood now that she would learn nothing more from him. She subtly slipped the photo into her pocket, relieved that she hadn’t revealed it to him. “I understand,” she said quietly, “I won’t ask again.”


    Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized her. “Why did you suddenly bring him up?” he asked, his voiceced with suspicion.


    In the Rainsworth family, Nichs Rainsworth’s name was taboo, never to be spoken aloud. The housekeepers who knew of Nichs’s existence were well aware that Nathaniel didn’t tolerate gossip about his younger brother.


    “Did someone say something to you?” Nathaniel persisted, his gaze boring into her.


    Cecilia decided to lie, knowing that the truth would only raise more questions. “Thest time I overheard your conversation with Elena, I learned about your younger brother. Just now, when I came back from a walk, Thappened to hear someone mention it, so I wanted to ask you about it,”” she exined, hoping her words would satisfy him.


    im out


    But the clumsiness of her lie was apparent, and Nathaniel’s expression remained hard, unconvinced. He had seen how frantic and distressed Cecilia had been when she sought him at the party, as if something far more significant had urred.


    “I’m sorry,” Cecilia said, her voice softening as she tried to calm herself down. “I was too hasty earlier, and it must have made you ufortable.”


    Nathaniel seemed to relent slightly, though his demeanor was still guarded. “Don’t talk to me about him in the future,” he warned.


    The banquet was still in full swing, but Nathaniel had no desire to return. Instead, he left the house, his mood darkened by the encounter.


    Once the house was empty, Cecilia finally dared to retrieve the crumpled photo from her pocket. As she looked at the image of the gentle, warm–hearted young man, a sharp pain gripped her throat, and her eyes began to burn with unshed tears. Her fingertips gently traced the smiling. face in the photograph, over and over again.


    “I couldn’t have mistaken it, could I… Nathaniel?” she whispered to herself, but the only response was the sound of the wind rustling the leaves outside.


    With the photograph in hand, memories of her childhood began to surface, clear and vivid. Cecilia sat on the couch, her mind flooded with thoughts of that gentle young man who had been such a pivotal figure in her life.


    He had taught her with a smile, showing her how to solve problems, how to y the piano. He had chased away those who bullied her and had even sought her out in the dead of night to bring her back home.


    Cecilia remembered it all, especially how, during a particrly difficult time in her life, he had. told her, “Ceci, we each face the greatest trials of our lives. Oveing them is akin to being reborn.” Those words had given her the strength to face the challenges that followed.


    How could I possibly have mistaken such a good person for someone else?


    Cecilia carefully tucked the photo into her clothing, clutching a pillow as she leaned against the sofa, lost in thought.


    When Nathaniel returned home, he found her asleep on the couch, still fully dressed. He moved quietly toward her, intending to wake her so she could change into something morefortable. But as he reached out, she suddenly grabbed his hand in her sleep.


    “Nathaniel, I miss you so much…