Celine Blackwood

The lights in the house were dim when Thea returned. Even the house seemed sober tonight, as if the world itself knew how heavy her heart felt.

Butler John was standing by the door as usual, a smile playing on his lips as she stepped out of the car.

“Welcome back,Ms Thea.”

Thea offered a thin smile, fighting to keep herself composed. “I would like the halls to be empty please.”

“Yes, Ms Thea.”

And just like that, the entire building cleared. She barely made it towards the stairs leading to the second floor when her eyes started to burn from holding back tears during the drive.

Once she stepped inside, the silence hit her like a wave. The scent of polished wood and faint traces of Seth’s cologne lingered in the air. It was a cruel reminder of everything she was trying not to feel.

She shut the door quietly behind her. The sound echoed through the empty space.

Thea didn’t make it past the living room. Her knees gave out as soon as she reached the couch, and she sank onto it like a weight she’d been carrying had finally crushed her. The tears came then, hot and shaking.

Celine. She's dying. Sweet, radiant, selfless Celine… dying. Those words don't belong in the same sense. No, should never ever be in the same sentence.

Thea pressed her palms against her face, trying to stop the sobs that kept slipping out anyway. It was unfair.

That woman treated her even better than her own family and she's…dying?

She thought about the older woman’s laughter at the spa earlier, the way her eyes had sparkled with mischief as if life was still infinite. How could someone who smiled like that be fading away inside?

Thea drew in a trembling breath and tried to calm herself, but the sound of the front door unlocking broke her composure again.

She froze. Footsteps echoed behind and drew to a stop. Then that damned cologne.

Seth.

She wiped her cheeks hurriedly, though there was no hiding her red eyes.

He stepped into the living room, jacket still on, his hair a little messy from the wind. His gaze found her instantly. Whatever words he had planned to say to the person he was on a call with, died before they reached his lips.

His eyes settled on Thea, getting herself off the floor and turning her face away from him. The same face he'd just seen dampened either tears.

“I'll call you back.” He ended the call. In two long strides, he was standing next to Thea, face contorted in pain.

His voice was low, startled. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, looking away. “Nothing. It’s fine.”

But her voice cracked at the end, betraying her.

Seth crouches down in front of her. His eyes searched her face, and for the first time in weeks, his expression wasn’t guarded or distant.

He was worried.

"You're not fine,” he said softly. “Don’t tell me you’re fine when you’re like this.”

Thea swallowed hard. She wanted to tell him to go away, to let her cry in peace. But seeing him this close, his brow creased, his hand hovering as if afraid to touch her, shattered whatever resolve she had left.

“It’s Celine,” she whispered.

His breath stilled. “What happened to Celine?”

“I…I found something in her bag at the spa,” she continued, voice trembling. “She wanted to go to the spa and she wanted to go there with me. She had a call, bumped into her bag and I helped her to pick up the things that fell out of her bag right?. I… I saw a test result in her bag. She’s sick, Seth. Terminally. And she didn’t even tell anyone.”

Seth’s eyes dropped for a moment, and that was when she knew.

He wasn’t shocked. He already knew.

Her tears came faster. “You knew?”

He exhaled slowly, sitting back on his heels. “Yes.”

Thea covered her mouth, shaking her head. “How long have you known?”

“For a while,” he admitted. His tone was quiet, almost reverent. “She was ill before we met and it got worse at the resort.”

Thea’s heart sank. “You mean… the weekend you told me you..”

He nodded, and something inside her cracked open.

All this time, she’d thought he’d said those words because of guilt, or confusion, or because their marriage was starting to blur lines. But now…

“What happened?” she asked quietly. “She… she got worse at the resort? W…what happened to her?”

Seth didn’t answer right away. His gaze drifted past her, to the window where the moonlight spilled across the floor. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer than she’d ever heard it, like he was afraid the memory might break if he spoke too loud.

♤ Flashback

It was late.

The air at the resort was cool, tinged with pine and the faint sound of water rushing from the nearby waterfall. Celine was in the main cabin with Arian, Daisy and Thea for lunch that afternoon, but halfway through, her face had gone pale.

Seth had noticed instantly as soon as he stepped into the main cabin. He remained quiet, even offering to take her to her cabin while the rest headed to the waterfall.

“Celine, you look pale.” he said quietly, stepping closer.

She waved him off with a brittle smile. “It’s nothing, my dear. Just a little dizzy.”

But when she tried to stand, she winced sharply, her hand clutching her side. Seth was standing right next to her in a heartbeat.

“Celine,” he murmured, slipping an arm around her shoulders. “Let me take you back to your cabin.”

She didn’t protest this time. Her body felt frail against him, lighter than he remembered and that scared him more than he wanted to admit.

When they reached her cabin, he helped her to bed and immediately called the doctor who had been staying discreetly nearby, one of the staff members Celine trusted.

The man arrived quickly, checked her vitals, and left just as quietly after administering something to ease her pain.

For a while, Seth just sat beside her bed, listening to her shallow breathing. He knew she was ill, he knew it was terminal but he wasn't prepared for this. Nothing in the world would prepare him for this..

When she finally stirred, her eyes fluttered open and landed on him. A small smile curved her lips. “You always were so serious, Seth. I'm fine."

He exhaled shakily. “You scared me.”

She chuckled weakly. “It’s not the first time, dear. I’m getting old.”

He didn’t laugh. His hands curled into fists on his knees. “You should’ve told me how bad it’s gotten.”

Celine turned her head toward him, her gaze steady despite her exhaustion. “And what would you have done? Worry more? Pity me? No, boy. I didn’t want that.”

Seth shook his head. “I could’ve helped. There are treatments..”

“There’s time,” she interrupted gently. “But not much of it. And that’s all right.”

Her words struck him silent.

Celine reached for his hand, her fingers cool against his. “Do you know what I regret most, Seth?”

He looked at her, throat tight. “What?”

“That I spent so long being afraid to love again after your grandfather died. He was the love of my life. But when he passed, I shut down. I thought keeping busy, keeping control, would make the loneliness easier.”

Her voice trembled. “It didn’t. It only made it quieter.”

Seth blinked, his chest aching.

Celine smiled faintly. “You’re like him, you know. Stubborn, proud, brilliant. But also so afraid to lose control that you forget what you’re fighting for.”

He didn’t respond, but his silence said enough.

“You’ve found someone. Thea. I know you two are married but I can tell you're keeping your walls very high.” she asked softly.

Seth stiffened. “Celine..”

“Oh, don’t look so alarmed. I’m not blind. I’ve seen the way you look at her. You're not…showing her enough.Thea that is.”

Her name alone made his heart stutter.

Celine smiled knowingly. “You love her. But you don't want to admit it.”

He looked down. “Love is a strong word.”

“It always is,” she said. “But tell me, my dear. What’s there to lose? Time is short, Seth. Love her. Completely. Let her love you back. Don’t make the mistake I did and wait until it’s too late.”

Her voice softened further. “If you’re afraid, that’s how you’ll know it’s real.”

Seth’s eyes burned as he squeezed her hand. “You should rest.”

She smiled again, closing her eyes. “I will. Go to her. You have a good heart, Seth Blackwood. Don’t waste it on fear.”

He stayed by her side long after she fell asleep, watching her chest rise and fall.

And that afternoon, under the same sky that hung over the resort, he went to find Thea.

He’d found her by the waterfall, sunlight spilling across her skin, the sound of rushing water like music in the distance.

And he’d told her. Not the entirety of it all but he told her what he felt.

Celine was right, what did he have to lose?

♤

When Seth finished speaking, the silence that followed was thick with everything Thea couldn’t put into words.

She could see it now. The pain behind his eyes, the exhaustion that had nothing to do with work. He wasn’t the cold man who’d thrown a contract in her face that day.

Not now.

“She said that?” Thea whispered.

He nodded slowly. “She did. She hoped you'd never find out she was that ill. Celine…didnt want you to worry about her at all.”

“And you’ve been carrying that around since then.”

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “I didn’t know how to tell you. I didn’t want you to look at her differently. She wanted things to stay normal… to stay happy.”

Thea’s throat ached. “You’re terrified, aren’t you?”

His eyes met hers, tired but honest. “Terrified doesn’t even begin to cover it. But I can’t show her that. She’s fought too hard to spend what time she has left worrying about me.”

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Thea’s tears had slowed, but her heart still felt heavy, swollen with the ache of everything she’d learned tonight.

Without thinking, she reached for him and he let her.

Her arms wrapped around him gently, the scent of him grounding her in a strange, bittersweet way. He hesitated at first, then melted into her touch, his head resting lightly against her shoulder.

For the first time since everything fell apart, Seth allowed himself to breathe.

They stayed that way for a while, two people sitting in the dim glow of the living room, saying nothing.

When Thea finally pulled back, she looked at him through tear-streaked lashes.

“I won't treat her differently. I promise.”

Seth nodded. “Thank uou.”

Another round of silence. Thea wiped her face and picked up her bag, preparing to head to her quarters.

“Thea..” he called, his voice carrying something she knew all too well. “About us, I..”

“This doesn’t fix us, Seth.”

He nodded. “I know.”

“But…” she paused, voice trembling. “I will do my best for Celine.”

A faint, weary smile touched his lips. “That’s more than I deserve.”

She didn’t argue. She turned on her heels and walked away.