Still You Still Me Still Falling novel Chapter 99

"Does it have to do with Cecil?" Sheila asked. "If so, I probably can't agree to it. To me, he's like family..."

"I don't care what your relationship is," Edmond interrupted. "When you're with me, you are not to bring him up, and you definitely aren't allowed to answer his calls. Can you manage that?"

Just when she was with him? That actually seemed doable.

Compared to whatever other unreasonable demands he might invent later, this was fairly easy to accept.

"Alright," Sheila agreed quickly. "I promise."

"Good." Edmond's tone noticeably lightened. "I expect you to keep your word."

"I will," Sheila said, feeling a wave of relief herself. "Was there anything else?"

She was already thrilled enough just to be able to see Tilly, let alone bring her back to the dorm.

For Sheila, this was more than satisfying.

Back then, Edmond had insisted she agree to three strict conditions before even letting her see the kid.

Now, she felt like she had somehow struck a massive bargain.

She needed to wrap this up before he realized it and changed his mind.

Sheila just wanted to end the call as quickly as possible.

"What, are you going to sleep?"

"It's getting late," Sheila said smoothly. "Aren't you going to bed?"

Only after the words left her mouth did she realize just how bizarre this was. Had her relationship with Edmond actually mellowed out to the point where they were casually exchanging goodnights?

If someone had told her a few days ago that she'd be sharing peaceful moments like this with him, she never would have believed it.

And all of it was possible because of his child.

A child... whose parentage was completely shrouded in mystery.

Edmond's voice drifted through the speaker.

"I still have some work to finish," he said. "Go to sleep. I appreciate you looking after Tilly."

"It's no trouble at all," Sheila replied. "If you're busy tomorrow, you don't have to come pick her up."

"We'll see tomorrow."

And her attitude toward the child was clearly less than welcoming.

Despite all of that, Edmond had still kept the little girl by his side, handling so much of her care personally.

Just seeing how attached Tilly was to him proved that his devotion was genuine.

But realizing all of this only made Sheila infinitely more curious about where Tilly truly came from.

And she had absolutely no way of asking him.

She could only suffer in silence.

She didn't know when she finally drifted off, but when she woke up the next morning and went to wash her face, her eyes were slightly bloodshot.

She had already finished her work for the day ahead of schedule, which meant she had the entire day to spend with Tilly.

Just as she was pondering what to do for breakfast, her phone rang.

"Are you at the dorm? I brought you breakfast. Want to come down?"

Sheila glanced at Tilly, who was still sound asleep, arranged two pillows snugly around her, and headed downstairs.