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Chapter 36: Prepared

Author: Sacred Heart
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

“Franco Jackson.” My breath caught in my throat.

“What's wrong?”Irene's voice, usually so bubbly, was laced with concern.

“He's... he's coming,” I whispered, my throat constricting.

Irene followed my gaze. “Oh, Celine. Don't let him ruin this for you.”

Franco. The name resonated with a painful ache in my chest.

“I can't let him in,” I said, my voice shaking.

“Not on the party. He'll ruin everything before. My life, my heart.”

Irene's hand clasped mine, her grip firm and reassuring.

“He won't, Celine. He's not going to ruin anything. You're not that vulnerable girl anymore. You're the CEO of CLN, a woman who built an empire from scratch. Look at him, look at what he's become. He's just a washed-up nobody, clinging to the last vestiges of his privileged past. Don't let him dim your shine.”

Her words, though simple, ignited a spark within me. The spark of defiance, of strength. I wouldn't let him ruin that night, that victory. I'd face him head-on, not as the heartbroken girl I
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