My Fiancé's Scandals Never End, So I Married His Uncle Instead Chapter 207: Shadow

Silas Norwood was also on a plane. His private jet was equipped with a satellite communication system, so he had a signal even high up in the sky:

NSY: [Have you boarded yet, babe? I’m still about six hours out.]

Cece: [I just got on. We haven’t taken off yet, but it’s a closer trip for . Only two and a half hours.]

NSY: [I’ve already booked the hotel, and everything inside is brand new. Wait for in the room once you get there, babe.]

NSY: [Get so sleep, babe. I’m planning on pulling an all-nighter tonight.]

Cece: [Can’t you think about sothing a little more proper?]

NSY: [This is the best I can do.]

The plane was slowly ascending. Celia Sterling turned off her phone and noticed Sumr Sutton glancing at her from ti to ti, so she started making small talk:

"Are you a fan of concerts, Miss Sutton?"

Sumr Sutton was the brand ambassador for Delia Caine, so even without the connection to Kian Sterling, Celia Sterling was still technically her patron. Ever since learning she had no powerful backing and ca from humble origins, Sumr had taken every step with extre caution. Now, she replied with a polite smile:

"It’s a concert held by a friend in the entertainnt industry. They invited to be a guest perforr, and I just happened to finish filming, so I’m heading over to check it out."

Celia Sterling humd in acknowledgnt.

"You might know him, Miss Sterling." Sumr Sutton’s mind went to the variety show that had caused a huge stir online a few months ago. Although Miss Sterling hadn’t appeared on cara, the head of the Norwood family, Silas Norwood, had made a massive splash overnight. The buzz was quickly suppressed by the authorities, and Silas’s few stunning appearances were completely edited out when the recorded show was released. However, The Moneybags’ official social dia account had exploded with eighty to ninety million followers. People still brought up his few famous on-screen monts from the show, and the spectacular scene of him playing gas with a dozen top-tier celebrities at the sa ti remained a hot topic.

"I know him?"

"The Orchid Pavilion. He’s the biggest star in the dostic entertainnt scene and a multiple-ti Best Actor award winner. You probably crossed paths with him back in Silverwood," Sumr Sutton said with a smile. "Would you like to co and join the fun, Miss Sterling?"

"I can’t, I’ve been rather busy lately. But isn’t The Orchid Pavilion an actor? Since when does he sing?"

"He actually debuted as a singer. He was just so talented that he branched out into many areas, and now singing has beco more of a side gig for him. Still, when the mood strikes, he’ll hold a concert for fun and invite a lot of his friends from the industry."

Sumr Sutton hesitated for a mont. "I heard he sent an invitation to you as well, Miss Sterling. The call went to the Norwood Group’s secretarial office and was reported up the chain to Chairman Norwood, but then it just fizzled out."

"Oh. I really don’t have ti to go," Celia Sterling explained slowly.

Twenty minutes later, the plane entered the stratosphere and stabilized.

Celia Sterling thought about the reckless, wild streak hidden beneath Silas Norwood’s cool and aloof exterior. She pulled a thin blanket over herself, closed her eyes, and tried to catch up on so sleep.

She only woke up again when she felt the plane beginning its descent.

Holding a glass of warm water given to her by a flight attendant, Celia Sterling gently tucked her long, black hair behind her ear and casually gazed at the scenery, which was growing closer and closer outside the cabin window.

Sumr Sutton also ran her hands through her hair, slowly tying it up. Then she began to put on her sunglasses and a face mask, getting ready to disembark.

Celia Sterling’s gaze inadvertently lingered for a mont on Sumr’s long, wavy hair, which looked so much like her own.

She suddenly recalled the trending scandal from a few months ago involving Sumr Sutton and Declan Norwood.

At the ti, Declan Norwood had repeatedly claid it was a case of mistaken identity. Whether that was true or not was debatable. But in the photos, Sumr Sutton’s fashion sense, hairstyle, and even her slightly proud expression were indeed very similar to Celia’s own.

"I’ve happened to see so photos of you over the years, Miss Sutton. It seems like your style is quite different in each period..." Celia Sterling mused.

Sumr Sutton gave a soft laugh. "It was all based on The Ninth Master’s preferences."

"Hm?"

It wasn’t sothing that couldn’t be talked about. Sumr Sutton said softly:

"Starting from when I was in my early teens, The Ninth Master’s preferences would change from ti to ti. He liked listening to the piano pieces ’Für Elise,’ ’Fireflies,’ and ’Mariage d’Amour.’ I would play them every ti he ca to Port Sovereign. I wasn’t very good at the piano, but he would listen with great relish. Later, when I improved, he lost interest in hearing them."

’I rember when I was learning piano,’ Celia Sterling thought, ’I stumbled through those sa pieces, making a complete ss of them. Even later, after I’d mastered other songs, ’Für Elise’ and ’Mariage d’Amour’—though not ’Fireflies’—still sounded incredibly stiff. Kian Sterling would sit beside every other day, elegantly reaching out to correct my posture while listening with a casual air.’

Sumr Sutton continued, "When I first debuted, I got my hair curled, and he was very unhappy. He said, ’What’s a young girl doing perming her hair?’ So I maintained the ’good girl with long, straight, black hair’ image for several years. But then, one day, he suddenly said that wavy hair actually looked good, maybe in a chestnut color. Later, he had change it to milk tea brown, then smoky brown. I even tried bright, exaggerated shades of red, yellow, and purple."

Celia Sterling lowered her eyes, remaining silent. ’My own youth had caused Kian Sterling several years of chaos. I used to secretly dye my hair for school and would get a stern lecture from him every ti. But once I grew up, he stopped managing that aspect of my life so much. I started trying new hair colors all the ti—chestnut, milk tea brown, and smoky brown lasted the longest, but I also occasionally tried bold colors like wine-red, soft yellow, and shimring purple...’

"He managed my clothing style too," Sumr Sutton said with a laugh. "And his tastes were never fixed. I’ve worn everything from laid-back and sexy styles to sophisticated and sweet-and-edgy looks..."

’Celia thought back to the photos of Sumr Sutton she had secretly looked up online after learning her true identity. Upon closer inspection, Sumr’s fashion style from each period seed to be the very sa style Celia herself had favored during that exact sa phase of her life...’

Kian Sterling had indulged Celia in everything, spoiling her completely. He gave her enough freedom to live her life exactly as she pleased.

And yet, he had deliberately crafted a shadow in her likeness.

’It was clear he had long since paved a path for my return. He was probably even afraid the transition would be too abrupt for , so he made sure the stand-in’s style followed the sa trajectory as the original’s life.’

A wave of complex, indescribable emotions washed over her.

But she couldn’t shake the feeling that Kian Sterling’s level of devotion was a little too extre.

The plane landed. Celia Sterling and Sumr Sutton politely went their separate ways. With her thoughts still on Kian Sterling, Celia gave him a call:

"Kade."

Kian Sterling’s voice was as doting as ever. "Did you just land?"

"Just now. I ran into Sumr Sutton on the plane."

He humd on the other end. "Don’t let anyone or anything influence you. Like I’ve said, follow your heart."

"Okay." Celia wanted to ask him why he had molded Sumr Sutton’s style after her own, but then she thought about all the things Kian Sterling had done for her over the years and held her tongue.

"Let know you’re safe when you get to the hotel," Kian Sterling said. "And send lots of pictures."

Celia Sterling’s almond-shaped eyes softened, and she replied obediently, "Okay."

After showering at the hotel, she started going over so basic information about the local base with Miles Trenton.

Miles Trenton sounded a little exasperated on his end. "Miss Sterling, you’ve been contacting more and more frequently lately. Can’t you go to the boss? He’s got nothing but ti on his hands."

Celia Sterling scoffed. "Oh, he *definitely* has too much free ti!"

’So much free ti that he uses it to send dirty texts,’ she thought.