As I got closer, Lucius’s displeasure was evident in the sharp glint in his eyes.

“Manager Morrow, care to explain?”

His tone was businesslike, cold and formal.

Before I could respond, Cecily beat me to it. “Lu, it’s not Sylvie’s fault. I’m just too clumsy,” she said, her voice tinged with self-reproach as she put on a regretful expression.

“Wait for me in the car,” Lucius said gently, his tone an attempt to soothe.

Cecily immediately glanced at me, as if seeking my permission.

I almost laughed out loud. With 'our company’s sugar daddy' standing right there, did she really think my opinion mattered?

Lucius, seeing she hadn’t moved, spoke again. “Be good.”

Only then did Cecily obediently gather her things and leave.

---

A few moments later, Lucius called me into Cecily’s office.

He stood with his back to me, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room before finally landing on my face.

“You still haven’t bought the air purifier?” he asked, his tone more like an observation than a question.

So, he cared for her that much.

“The store said it’ll arrive tomorrow,” I replied evenly.

Lucius didn’t respond immediately. His long fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk, and after a brief pause, he said, “Cecily isn’t you. She barely made it into NYU. Don’t push her so hard.”

Push her?

It was just a simple front-end coding task. Yet in Lucius’s eyes, that was “pushing.”

Fine. Whatever the boss says, goes.

I paused for a couple of seconds before asking rationally, “So, Mr. Albrecht, how do you suggest I assign tasks to Miss Linwood in the future?”

Lucius lifted his gaze, his eyes locking with mine again, unwavering and stern. “What happened today—don’t let it happen again.”

There was no mistaking the firmness in his voice.

In that moment, I finally understood what it looked like when Lucius went all out to protect someone.

A dull ache spread through my chest, each beat heavier than the last. I heard myself say, “Understood, Mr. Albrecht.”

---

By the time I saw Lucius out, it was already 8 PM.

Jackson was still at his desk. Noticing I hadn’t moved, he walked over and asked with concern, “Sylvie, are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine,” I said.

“Then why do you look so pale? Should I take you to the hospital?”

I waved him off. “Probably just hungry. You go ahead and head home.”

Jackson hesitated, clearly unsure.

He’d been sitting quietly in the corner during my tense exchange with Lucius earlier.

Sensing his reluctance, I added, “Really, I’m fine. Get some rest.”

Only then did Jackson leave.

---

I sat still for a long while, staring at my desk. Finally, I opened my laptop, hoping work would distract me.

But the more I typed, the messier the code became.

In the quiet of the night, memories crept in, tangling around my chest like vines, growing tighter and tighter until I could barely breathe.

Six years. Over two thousand days and nights.

And yet, to Lucius, they probably didn’t hold a candle to a single moment of Cecily’s discomfort.

I spent the entire night coding, meticulously breaking down the game’s front-end and back-end architecture.

If things went smoothly, I could complete the build in three months.

I just needed to push myself a little harder.

When Cecily bumped into me in the break room as I was brushing my teeth, a flicker of panic crossed her almond-shaped eyes.

“Sylvie, did you not go home last night?” she asked.

I replied calmly, “There was a bug in one of the lines of code. I stayed to fix it.”

Cecily looked at me with sympathy. “That’s way too much work. Wait, I have some nuts Lu sent me. Let me grab some for you!”

Before I could respond, she darted off like a playful little rabbit.

So carefree, as if nothing unpleasant had happened yesterday.

That must be what it’s like to be pampered and cherished.

Unlike me—my only claim to value is this mountain of code.

---

For two straight days, I threw myself into work, barely noticing the passage of time, until a phone call interrupted me.

It was Helena.

“Sisi, tomorrow’s the weekend. I know a great private dining spot. How about you and your boyfriend come over and give it a try?”

I had no idea how Helena got my number.

But I knew her dinner invitation wasn’t as innocent as it sounded.

What was she trying to probe now?

Could it be that Lucius still hadn’t told her about Cecily?

Whatever the reason, I wasn’t interested in getting further involved in the Albrechts’ affairs.

“Sorry, Auntie, but I have to work overtime tomorrow,” I replied.

There was a noticeable pause on the other end, as if she hadn’t expected me to refuse. Then Helena said, almost in a grumble, “Lucius mentioned that PrimeSphere is investing in your project. I’ll tell him not to put too much pressure on you.”

Ah, the investor’s mother card.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and relented. “How about tomorrow evening?”

“Great! I’ll send you the address. And don’t forget to bring your boyfriend!”

Boyfriend? What boyfriend?

Whatever. I’d deal with it when I saw Helena tomorrow.

---

By Saturday evening, I arrived at the private dining spot on the outskirts of the city.

The restaurant was elegantly decorated, with a traditional aesthetic. Even the waitstaff were dressed impeccably, making it clear this was a place meant for lavish spending.

It seemed Helena’s status had risen with the tide.

Inside the private room, Helena, looking well-maintained as always, greeted me with a surprised expression.

“Where’s your boyfriend? Didn’t he come with you?”

“He’s busy,” I replied casually.

Helena withdrew her gaze, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. “No matter. Lucius is on his way. Let’s order first.”

I froze with the teacup in my hand.

Lucius was coming tonight too?

Noticing my silence, Helena cast another probing look my way. “Sisi, does your company’s collaboration with Lucius mean you know a girl named Cecily Linwood?”

So, I was right. Lucius hadn’t officially introduced Cecily to his family yet.

I kept my answer neutral. “I don’t see Mr. Albrecht often, so I wouldn’t know.”

Helena sighed. “I stopped by PrimeSphere yesterday and overheard some gossip at the reception desk. Apparently, Lucius ordered a pricey designer dress for someone named Miss Linwood.”

Her eyes darted toward me as she spoke.

I smiled politely. “Auntie, that’s something you’d have to ask Mr. Albrecht about directly.”

It wasn’t my place to meddle in other people’s private lives, especially not Lucius’s.

Helena seemed dissatisfied with my noncommittal answer. She muttered, “Sisi, I’m just worried. To be honest, I looked into Miss Linwood’s background. She comes from a modest family—her parents run a small diner—and her school record is average. I can’t see what Lucius sees in her.”

The implication was clear: Cecily wasn’t good enough for Lucius.

I had to admit I was surprised too.

I’d always thought the girl Lucius cherished would be the daughter of some elite family in Kingport City.

“Look at me,” Helena said abruptly, covering her mouth as if she’d realized she’d gone too far. “I didn’t mean anything by it. Let’s order, shall we?”

I guessed she was more annoyed by the fact that Lucius had chosen someone who didn’t even measure up to me.

But favoritism isn’t something you can reason with.

---

Not long after, Lucius arrived, dressed impeccably in a suit. His eyes flicked across the room, and a smirk tugged at his lips when he saw it was just Helena and me.

“No boyfriend?” he asked, his tone teasing, like he already knew I’d been bluffing.

I could only blame myself for having shown such weakness in front of this mother-and-son duo, giving them the impression they could toy with me however they pleased.

A notification lit up my phone at the wrong moment.

I glanced at it: a message from Michael.

“Free tomorrow night? Heard this new mystery series is great. Want to watch it together?”

I gripped my phone tightly and said lightly, “Next time, I’ll be sure to bring him along.”