Chapter 575 - 571: Couple for a Day

Cecilia Sterling lowered her gaze to where Emeric Grant held her hand.

His hand had been a little cool then, but now it was warm and thick, giving her a sense of security.

"Great-Grandfather, Cecilia has class tomorrow morning, and her dorm is closing soon. I’m going to take her back first."

Before they left, Emeric Grant made sure to bring Cecilia Sterling to say goodbye to his great-grandfather.

Cecilia Sterling spoke up as well. "Great-Grandfather, I wish you happiness, good fortune, and good health. I’ll come visit you again when I have the chance."

"Good, good child." The great-grandfather nodded with a joyful expression, not forgetting to remind Emeric Grant to take good care of his girlfriend.

Nearby, Emeric’s father watched with a gratified expression. Mrs. White leaned in and whispered, "I’ve never seen Emeric act like this. Whenever they’re together, he’s always holding that girl’s hand, unwilling to let go for even a second. It seems he really likes her."

"Yes, liking her is what’s most important. It’s just a pity the girl is still in school. Any talk of marriage will probably have to wait for several years."

"You’re certainly impatient. This sort of thing depends on what Emeric and the girl want."

"Yes, of course it gives me something to look forward to. I was anxious when I hadn’t met his girlfriend, and now that I have, I’m even more anxious." He stood up and instructed Emeric, "Call a designated driver. Make sure you walk her to her dorm building before you leave. It’s not safe after dark."

"I know, Dad. You stay here with Great-Grandfather. I’ll be back after I drop Cecilia off."

Cecilia Sterling also said her goodbyes to each of the elders present. Amazingly, even though Emeric had only introduced them once when they first arrived, Cecilia remembered every single person’s identity as she was leaving.

All the various uncles and grandfathers—she remembered them all.

Such a thoughtful girl instantly won over all the elders.

"You have a really good memory," Emeric Grant said with a quiet laugh.

Cecilia Sterling raised an eyebrow smugly. "Didn’t I tell you from the beginning? I never bluff."

Hand in hand, the two of them left The Courtyard under the watchful eyes of the crowd of elders.

Once outside the main gate, Emeric Grant took out his phone to call for a designated driver. Cecilia Sterling glanced down the alley and saw a public restroom with its lights on not far away.

"I’m going to the restroom," Cecilia Sterling said.

Emeric Grant looked up. "You should use the one inside. There’s one in The Courtyard."

"No need, isn’t there one right up ahead? I’ll be right back." As Cecilia Sterling spoke, she was already several meters away.

Emeric Grant held up his phone. "I’ve got a driver. I’ll wait for you here."

Cecilia Sterling quickened her pace and gave him an OK sign.

In Lorcain, public restrooms in alleys like this were staffed even at night, with an attendant in the duty office. The inside was kept very clean, with no unpleasant odors at all.

This was because the surrounding courtyards were all inhabited by the rich and powerful. This small public restroom occupied a spot in Lorcain where every inch of land was as precious as gold. Elsewhere, the space for a single stall here could be worth an entire apartment.

After using the restroom and washing her hands, Cecilia Sterling checked her reflection in the mirror. Her long-lasting makeup showed no signs of caking, and she still looked flawless.

She gave a satisfied smile before walking out of the restroom.

The sky had grown completely dark, with only a few red lanterns in the alley casting a dim glow. Cecilia Sterling started back the way she came, but as she drew near, she heard the deliberately hushed sounds of an argument.

She stopped in her tracks. Listening closely, she recognized the voices.

In a dim corner behind a car, Cecilia Langley had cornered Emeric Grant. Perhaps because of the alcohol, all her pent-up emotions were rushing to the surface.

"Emeric Grant, I can let it go that you’ve been deliberately avoiding me, but what was all this today about?"

"Cecilia, you’ve had too much to drink." Emeric Grant’s back was already pressed against the cold wall as he tried to keep as much distance as possible from Cecilia Langley.

"I haven’t had too much to drink! I’m perfectly sober!" Cecilia Langley exclaimed, her body suddenly lurching forward. Her face nearly pressed against his, but Emeric Grant reacted quickly, sidestepping to escape the confined space.

Annoyed, Cecilia Langley grabbed Emeric Grant’s arm. "How long are you going to keep avoiding me? Do you hate me that much?"

"Cecilia." Emeric Grant said her name, but his hands were already forcefully prying her fingers off his arm. "I don’t hate you, but we can only be friends. Friendship is our limit. We won’t and can’t ever be anything more."

His words were clear and resolute, definitively drawing the line in their relationship.

But Cecilia Langley refused to listen. "Have you ever truly liked a single girl in your entire life? Don’t you dare say you like this so-called girlfriend of yours. Others might not know you, but I do! She’s just someone you brought along to put on a show for your great-grandfather!"

"You’ve never liked anyone. You don’t even know what it feels like to like someone, so how can you be so sure you don’t like me?"

At this, Cecilia Langley suddenly grew agitated, pressing her body against Emeric Grant’s with aggressive desperation. She pleaded nonstop, "Emeric Grant, just try to like me, please? You’ll fall in love with me, I know you will. Because I’m the person who understands you best in this world."

The next second, Emeric Grant shoved her away forcefully and without a shred of pity. "Cecilia, you’re a girl. Have some self-respect!"

"Self-respect?" Hearing those words, Cecilia Langley’s brow furrowed, and she let out a cold, self-mocking laugh. "I just want you to love me..."

"If you want someone else to love you, you first have to learn to love yourself."

In the dark of the night, Cecilia Sterling’s voice rang out eerily.

’This love-hate drama is actually quite captivating.’ She had almost gotten lost in the spectacle from the shadows before she suddenly remembered that, at this very moment, she was Emeric Grant’s girlfriend.

And another girl was right in front of her, begging her boyfriend to love her instead.

Cecilia Langley saw Cecilia Sterling’s figure slowly emerge. She was about to speak but was cut off by Cecilia Sterling, who simply raised a hand and said, "I know you’re eager, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves."

Cecilia Sterling walked to Emeric Grant’s side. Before she could even make a move, his hand proactively found and held hers.

Cecilia Sterling was very pleased with his reaction. She then looked at Cecilia Langley and declared, "At the very least, you can’t be eager right now. He’s mine at the moment."

"I know what your relationship really is! You can fool everyone else, but you can’t fool me!" Cecilia Langley retorted.

’This girl is actually quite clever,’ Cecilia Sterling thought, looking at her. ’It’s just a shame she uses that sharp mind only to think about things like this.’

Even so, Cecilia Sterling wasn’t about to admit it.

"You’re quite good at deluding yourself. Believe it or not, Emeric Grant and I are dating."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Cecilia Sterling suddenly turned her head, stood on her tiptoes, and, under the shocked gaze of Cecilia Langley and the stunned eyes of Emeric Grant, pressed her lips to his.

But Emeric Grant was only stunned for a moment. Feeling the softness and fragrance of Cecilia Sterling’s lips, his instinctive reaction was to wrap an arm around her waist, cup the back of her head with his other hand, and deepen the kiss.

Because today, they were a couple for a day!