Chapter 174: Social Suicide
Beneath the seemingly composed words lay the man’s hidden passion for a certain something.
A strange atmosphere hung over the lounge area.
Celia Sterling was only vaguely aware that her phone had chimed a few times, but she paid it no mind. She was inundated with so many work messages daily that she often couldn’t get through them all. Director Linden and the others would handle anything that wasn’t important.
However, the women who had been about to return her phone suddenly froze as if petrified. To say their feelings were complex would be a massive understatement.
Twice a day?
And still think it’s not enough?
’How could an ethereal, untouchable man like him say something so audacious? Shouldn’t it be Celia Sterling initiating, with him politely declining or, at best, reluctantly obliging?’
The women, who had been determined to watch Celia Sterling make a fool of herself, stared intently at the new messages, rereading them over and over, word by word. They opened their mouths, but none of them could utter a sound.
Jealousy... it was enough to drive a person mad...
"Give me my phone." Celia Sterling glanced quizzically at the group, whose eyes were practically glued to her phone screen, then leaned forward and took it from Nina Sterling’s hand.
Then she glanced casually at the screen.
She froze.
Several minutes later, the women gradually composed themselves. Nina Sterling, a far cry from her usual arrogant and domineering self, asked in a listless tone, "Was Silas Norwood’s account hacked?"
Celia Sterling let out an "oh," seizing the out she’d been given. "Probably. He’s not usually like this."
Another strange silence followed.
The sound of elegant footsteps came from around the corner.
Then, a refined, cool, and dignified voice called out softly, "Wife."
Celia Sterling reflexively stuffed her phone into her bag and, along with the other women, looked behind her.
Silas Norwood was coming up the stairs. His handsome face retained its frosty aloofness, like something carved from ice and jade. His amber eyes swept coolly over the lounge area where Celia Sterling sat. He hadn’t said a word, but his mere presence radiated an oppressive aura, and Nina Sterling’s group reflexively shuffled to the side.
"Wife, you have friends with you?" Silas Norwood’s tone was impossibly proper. "I was wondering if you could spare a moment. I’d like to take you downstairs to meet someone."
’Meet someone? The traditional Chinese medicine practitioner he mentioned in his text?’
Celia Sterling’s face burned. "I... I have time," she stammered.
Silas Norwood reached out, pulled her to her feet, and placed a gentlemanly arm around her waist. Only then did he turn his polite yet distant gaze to the silent young ladies.
"My wife and I have important business to attend to, so if you’ll excuse us."
With that, he led Celia Sterling downstairs.
His noble, dignified back, his cold and ascetic aura, and his ethereal air that seemed completely untouched by the mortal world—the socialites simply couldn’t reconcile this man with the messages they had just read.
The socialites stared blankly as the two departed, feeling as if they were trapped in some absurd dream.
As he walked away, Silas Norwood remained oblivious to the fact that his public persona had shattered moments before. He half-turned his head to speak gently to Celia Sterling.
"Wife, that elderly practitioner is an old friend of The Norwood Family. He’s quite renowned."
Mortified, Celia Sterling tugged lightly on his sleeve and whispered, "Let’s talk about this downstairs."
Silas Norwood fell silent, but his hand on her waist grew a little more intimate.
Not until their figures had completely disappeared from view.
Back in the second-floor lounge, the group of socialites finally snapped out of their daze and stared at one another.
Miss March spoke faintly, "Just now... did Silas Norwood say something about seeing an elderly practitioner?"
Nina Sterling sneered. "Hacked? Hah... Hacked, my ass."
"What do we do..." someone murmured. "I’m even more jealous of Celia Sterling now. So jealous I want to bang my head against a wall."
Downstairs, Celia Sterling followed Silas Norwood into the banquet hall. Finally away from the gossiping women, she couldn’t stop herself from saying quietly:
"Silas Norwood, how could you say something like that in a text?"
"Say something like what?" Silas Norwood sounded slightly puzzled, his tone gentle and calm. "None of the phrases I used were inappropriate. It was just a normal conversation between a husband and wife."
"I’ve just never seen you be so..." Celia Sterling searched for the right words, flushing with mortification at the thought of those women seeing everything. "...so forward about that sort of thing in a text."
"Our texts are a private space for you and me. It’s not like anyone else would see them." The oblivious Silas Norwood gazed at Celia Sterling, then leaned in to whisper, "Since we’re married, our conversations don’t always have to be so proper. Sometimes, you need to spice things up."
"’Spice things up?’ Where did you learn to talk like that?" Celia Sterling asked. "Have you been getting advice from someone behind my back again?"
Of course, Silas Norwood wasn’t about to admit that he had used an alt account to add a large group of resourceful, like-minded individuals.
"No," he said, casually changing the subject. "The practitioner is over there. I’ll take you to meet him."
It was late by the time the banquet ended. After staying at Sterling Villa for a few days, the couple had moved back to Jade Orchid Manor yesterday. The guests had all dispersed. As hosts of the project launch, Silas Norwood and Kian Sterling remained until the end. Once almost everyone had left, they each headed home.
On the ride home, Silas Norwood looked pleased, a hint of a smile in his eyes. Beside him, Celia Sterling was buried in her phone, scrolling through their socialite group chat, which was blowing up. She was also being bombarded by private messages from Nina Sterling and her friends. Too embarrassed to reply to a single one, she just kept clearing the chat history over and over.
They finally arrived at Jade Orchid Manor.
It was still early, so Silas Norwood put his arm around Celia Sterling and led her for a walk in the garden. He grabbed a fishing rod, planning to take her through the garden to the lake for a bit of fishing.
Jade Orchid Manor was brightly lit at night, giving it a wilder charm than it had during the day. With no one else around, Silas Norwood spoke without reservation, and even his usually proper tone took on a sexy edge.
"Wife, you’ve met the practitioner. He said your constitution is quite good. Once your period is over, shall we... increase the frequency?"
"Where would we find the time?" Celia Sterling leaned lazily against him. After days of his persistence, she had no fight left in her. Her voice was soft, delicate, and tinged with exhaustion. "Before bed, and again in the morning... I have to work during the day. I’m at the office all day, there’s really no time."
Silas Norwood hummed. "What about your lunch break? Cece, why don’t you come over to my office? The top three floors are my private space. The layout is almost like a villa."
Celia Sterling said, "...Silas Norwood, can’t you have any other ambitions in life?"
"I’m successful and have everything I need," Silas Norwood sighed leisurely. "What I’m asking of you now, my dear wife, is the one thing I want most."
「Sterling Villa.」
Kian Sterling had just returned to the villa when he saw June Coleman sitting elegantly in the living room, drinking tea.
He paused. "Why are you here?"
"I just got back in the country this morning. I brought some souvenirs for you and Cece." June Coleman’s tone was gentle and a little placating. "I also stopped on the way to pick up her favorite from Glazed Cup."
Kian Sterling gave a soft hum. "I’ve received the gifts. You can go now."
"Nia has been staying with you for two days. Thank you for taking care of her." June Coleman looked at the outstanding son in whom she had once placed such high hopes, her gaze softening. "She can be quite a handful at home. She didn’t disturb you, did she?"
"She did," Kian Sterling said coolly. "I won’t hold it against a child, but I hope, Mother, that next time you won’t be so presumptuous."