When Her Death Couldn't Break Him (Cecilia and Nathaniel) novel Chapter 1757

Chapter 1757 Love Cannot Be Forced
Years ago, Nicholas had been the target of an assassination attempt.

Without hesitation, Cecilia had shielded him, taking the hit in his place. The scar on her back was proof of that moment—one she had carried with her ever since.

For the longest time, she had believed it was Nathaniel she had saved, convinced that he was the one indebted to her.

Nicholas swallowed, but the bitterness in his throat refused to fade.

“How could you give me psychological medication?” Cecilia demanded, her voice laced with disbelief.

Even now, she struggled to comprehend it. The person who had once been kind and outstanding in their youth had somehow twisted into someone paranoid and obsessive.

Across from her, Nicholas took a slow sip of his coffee, his fingers unconsciously tightening around the mug.

“I had no other choice. All I wanted was for us to start over.” As the words left his lips, he lifted his gaze to meet hers. “The truth is... you've already moved on, haven't you? You've been in love with Nathaniel all along.”

Cecilia's brows knitted together in confusion.

Nicholas pressed on. “You don't even remember Nathaniel, yet you still didn't want to be with me during the year we spent together. Why? Wasn't it because you had already fallen for him?”

That year abroad with Cecilia still haunted him. No matter how much time they had spent together, no matter how close they had been, she would always instinctively shy away from his touch—like a reflex she couldn't control.

Nicholas's gaze flickered to Cecilia's abdomen. “How many months along?”

<i>How many months?</i>

Cecilia frowned, caught off guard. “What do you mean?”

“How far along are you? Didn't you and Vivian go for a check-up recently?”

Realization dawned on Cecilia—he had completely misunderstood. He thought she was pregnant when, in reality, it was Vivian.

Before she could correct him, Nicholas' expression darkened. His voice dripped with sarcasm as he said, “You've really let me down. You claim not to remember Nathaniel, yet you're carrying his child? Tell me, did he force you, or was it your choice?”

This wasn't the Nicholas she had once known. The warmth, the gentlemanly demeanor—all of it was gone. What remained was a man whose words cut like a blade, sharp and bitter.

Just as she turned to leave, Jocelyn suddenly quickened her pace, hurrying after her.

“Ms. Smith, Mr. Nicholas meant no harm. You have no idea how difficult these past years have been for him. When he was abroad, he was confined to a sterile ward, unable to go anywhere. He spent countless days alone, just sitting there, staring at your picture.” Jocelyn didn't know what had come over her today, but for some reason, she felt compelled to tell Cecilia everything.

Cecilia stopped in her tracks. For a fleeting moment, she hesitated. A part of her wavered at Jocelyn's words, but she hadn't forgotten the outrageous things Nicholas had done.

She turned to Jocelyn, her gaze steady. “Let me ask you something. If you loved someone, would you do anything to have them—even if they already had a family, children?”

Jocelyn fell silent.

She already knew her answer. No, she wouldn't. She had watched Nicholas marry a woman he didn't love, had silently endured her own feelings, never once interfering—because she understood something Nicholas never did.

Love couldn't be forced.

Cecilia continued, “Besides, what he feels for me now... I don't think it can even be called love anymore.”