<strong>Chapter 231 A Stranger</strong>


    In an effort to avoid disappointing Cecilia, Nathaniel ultimately decided to take her out that night. The rain, which had been relentless earlier, finally gave way to a brief respite, allowing the full moon to cast its serene light over thendscape.


    Nathaniel drove to the location Cecilia had indicated, which turned out to be a small pond. Or rather, it used to be a small pond; now it had been transformed into a public park, with the pond itself expanded into a man–madeke.


    Fortunately, given thete hour, most people had already gone home, leaving the park quiet and almost deserted.


    Cecilia stepped out of the car, wrapping her coat more tightly around herself.


    Although winter had not yet arrived, she was dressed much more warmly than the average. person, her frail appearance making her seem almost delicate.


    Nathaniel walked beside her, his gaze scanning the surroundings. “Is this the ce?”


    “Yeah,” Cecilia replied, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “The changes are significant.”


    Nathaniel, however, found himself at a loss. He had visited the Smith residence a few times during his childhood, but he had never ventured to the back mountain and had no memory of a small pond being there.


    As they walked along the wooden bridge that crossed theke, Cecilia stopped at its center and gazed up at the full moon. The soft light bathed her face, and for a moment, she felt as though she had traveled back in time to her childhood.


    She remembered standing on this very spot with Nathaniel, making a wish together under the moonlight. Her wish had been simple and earnest: to marry Nathaniel one day. A wish that, in some ways, hade true.


    Nathaniel stood a short distance away, watching her intently. The moonlight seemed to cast a glow around her, making her appear ethereal, as though she were a part of the night itself. The scene before him was so captivating that he found himself momentarily speechless.


    Cecilia turned to look at him, her eyes searching his face. “Nathaniel, why aren’t youing over?” she called softly.


    Nathaniel snapped out of his reverie and slowly began to approach her. When he reached her side, he took her hand in his, but immediately noticed how cold it waspletely devoid of warmth.


    Why are your hands so cold?”


    With a yful smile, Cecilia replied, “One’s hands are cold because their heart is warm.” The words were a gentle echo of something Nathaniel had once said to her when they were children, but now they felt almost foreign to him.


    Nathaniel, who had no recollection of these past exchanges, pulled her into his embrace, tucking her hand inside his trench coat to warm it. “One more minute, then we’re heading back,” he said. firmly, as if trying to protect her from the chill in the air.


    “Is that all?” Cecilia looked up at him, her expression hopeful, as if waiting for a flicker of recognition, some sign that he remembered the past they had shared.


    But there was nothing–no hint of memory or sentimentality in his eyes. It was as if the Nathaniel she had known as a child had vanishedpletely, leaving only this stranger in his ce.


    When they returned home, Cecilia found herself unable to sleep. Shey in bed with her eyes tightly shut, but the words Miranda had spoken earlier that day echoed in her mind.


    “I’ve always had a question that’s been bothering me,” Miranda said, her voice carrying an air of mystery. “Back in the day, you described Nathaniel as a gentleman–kind and gentle, didn’t you?”


    These thoughts kept her awake long into the early morning hours. She had initially nned to find a way to take Elliot away with her today, but now she was filled with doubts. She needed to know if she had truly misced her love, and she needed to find out where Nichs had gone. Why had she never heard anything about him?


    After having breakfast, Nathaniel left to attend to some business matters. Meanwhile, Cecilia decided to confront Miranda directly. She made her way to Miranda’s residence, finding her sitting in the garden, basking in the rare sunshine.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Miranda seemed unsurprised by her visit, as if she had been expecting it. Removing her sunsses, she asked, “So how was your little adventure?”


    Cecilia wasted no time. “I want to ask you about Nichs,” she said, getting straight to the point.


    Miranda took a sip of her fruit juice, a faint smile ying on her lips as she spread her hands. “I’m sorry, I’m just a daughter–inw in the Rainsworth family. There’s a lot I don’t know, and even if I did, I wouldn’t dare to spread it around.”


    Cecilia wasn’t convinced. “What do you want?” she asked, her tone sharp. She was certain Miranda had an ulterior motive for bringing up Nichs in the first ce.


    But this time, Cecilia guessed wrong.


    Miranda wasn’t after anything tangible. She simply wanted to stir up trouble between Cecilia and Nathaniel, to see how Nathaniel would react once the truth came to light.


    However, she didn’t dare reveal everything to Cecilia, fearing Nathaniel’s retaliation. Instead, she wanted Cecilia to discover the truth on her own.


    “Why don’t you reach out to Elena? She knows her son better than anyone else, doesn’t she?” Miranda suggested with a sly smile.