CELINE’s POV-“Is it possible for you to please continue with everything you’re saying, Celine?” Lance said without taking his eyes off me and the way he looked at me, there was fondness in his eyes.I shook my head once. Maybe I am only misinterpreting his perspective. Why would he give me that kind of expression when he doesn’t even have any sentiments for me?“I mean sir, I suggest you have a four course meal. You can find an example on the menu for both individual course meals and combined meals, making it easy for you to decide.”“No. no. That’s not what I meant, Celine. Your suggestions earlier? The foods you know are my favorites and what foods are good for me? Those–”“Sir, if you haven’t chosen yet, I can give you time to choose what you want to eat.”“No, need for that.” Lance said before I could step out in front of him, “I already decided what I will order.”I nodded, then prepared my pen and paper.“I would like the four course meal. Hors d’oeuvre, mushroom soup for my a
CELINE’s POV-“I beg your pardon?” I asked. I think I misunderstood what Lance said.Lance pointed the other chair with one of his hands. “Eat with me.”“No, thank you, sir. We can’t eat during work hours, let alone eat with our customers.”“Even if we’re going to talk about business?”“Business?” I couldn’t avoid scoffing.We have no business to discuss. The moment I signed the divorce papers, we had no more business to discuss.“If you need anything, you can call me–”“I won’t eat until you eat with me, Celine.”“It’s not my problem if you want to starve yourself. I’m leaving.”I gave Lance a fake smile before turning his back on him, but I hadn’t even taken one step before he got my attention when he spoke again.“Is it true what I heard while you were at the reception desk?”Which one is he referring to?I didn’t show my nervousness as I faced Lance again.“What did you hear?” I involuntarily question. I felt my lips dry and suddenly my heart beat faster in nervousness.“Is it
CELINE’s POV-Less five minutes after Lance finished eating all his food, that’s why everyone, including me, went home early.Now, I am driving to my apartment and the twins were waiting for me so we could eat together.When I glance to the rear-view mirror, I noticed the familiar car behind me. I stopped my car on the side of the road and he did the same. When I got out of the car, the driver of the car who was following me, and it was Lance.As Lance came down, he smiled at me together with he ignored the annoyed look I gave him.I marched towards him. “What’s your problem? Why are you following me?”“I want to make sure you get home safely where you live.”“Throughout a span of six years without you, I have been safe driving on my way.”“And also so I will know where you live, hence I can visit you–”“Don’t you dare.” I blurted emphatically. “I don’t allow you to come to my apartment, and if you intend to search where I live, I will never forgive you.”“Why don’t you want me to v
CELINE’s POV-When I was outside the apartment, I looked at myself in the mirror again to check if my eyes were no longer puffy because of what happened a while ago.In six years, I have only now come out with the genuine mixed with pain and anger that I felt towards Lance, so maybe I couldn’t stop myself from crying.I somehow covered my puffy eyes by patting a little powder on my face. I don’t want my twin to see me like this.When I got myself ready, I got out of the car and went straight to the apartment.As I opened the door, my twin greeted me.“Mummy!” the twins called me as they hurried over to me.I sat down to welcome their hug. I kissed their temples once they approached me.“Don’t run like that again. It’s dangerous to run like that.” I remind them.“Yes, mummy!” Skye answered happily.“We’re just excited to hug you, mummy!” Sunny also answered happily.I looked up at Tristan, who took my bag and the jacket that I put on the floor. “I’ll just put it on the sofa.”“Thank y
CELINE’s POV-“Why did you suddenly think of going to the Stellar restaurant, sweetheart?” I asked.I saw in my peripheral vision Tristan was also waiting for Skye’s answer.“Me too, mummy. I want to go to the Stellar restaurant again!”“W-Why… why do you want to go to Stellar?” I tried not to stammer out of shock.Not that I don’t want to go them to Stellar... just not now. As far as I remember, they had only been to Stellar restaurant three times and in those three times they were inside Tristan’s office.“Because I love daddy Tristan.” Skye replied.“Me too! I love daddy Tristan!” Sunny shouts happily.“What do you mean by that, sweetheart?” I question Skye again. I looked at Tristan and he shrugged his shoulders, even though he didn’t know what Skye meant.“Daddy Tristan said he named us.”I nod. “It’s true.”Overwhelmed by weakness, I succumbed to an extended period of sleep after giving birth to my twins. I had to take bed rest for six weeks. So during the twins’ first months
CELINE’s POV-My picture on Tristan’s lock screen is me looking at the camera, but as far as I can remember, no one took a picture of me like this when I was in school. I barely talk to others. I didn’t even have social media accounts because my parents forbade me to create any kind of account.Tristan glanced at me, then he took his phone and looked at my picture displayed on it.“About this?” When Tristan looked back at me, he paused for a while. “You look like you didn’t remember?” Tristan asked, laughing.“Which one? Which one did I not remember?” I asked in surprise. “You’re not a stalker, are you?”“What?” Tristan laughed out loud. “When I saw you again six years ago, I thought it was destiny that we would meet, yet you think I’m a stalker?”“I don’t understand, Tristan.” I was still confused as I asked him.Some of my memories then I forgot something, because nothing stuck in my mind was how I suffered from my family since I was a child and I only remembered a few things and t
CELINE’s POV-I was dumbfounded by what I heard and speechless with astonishment at what I found out behind Tristan’s lock screen. It was so meaningful that even I couldn’t believe it.Tristan drank his ice chocolate drink before speaking again with a dazzling smile. “It’s okay that you still don’t remember what I said, but maybe you won’t think that I’m a stalker?” he playfully said.I shook my head. “No... But I am lost for words. Because I’m not… I can’t believe it.”Tristan moved closer to me. “Can I hug you?”I nodded absentmindedly. “Yes.”As Tristan gently hugged me, my chest tightened. I felt the edge of my tears. Suddenly, the fear and pain I felt at the hands of my parents returned. I was scared, I was helpless.....**(FLASHBACK: Third year middle school)**-Just like the previous years, no one planned to make friends with me this school year. Because besides the fact that I still don’t know how to talk to other people, my fellow students are already avoiding me because
CELINE’s POV - Tristan broke away from the hug and gazed at me. He cupped my face and wiped my tears with his thumb. “If you’re not ready for me to even hug you, that’s fine with me, Celine. Just because I told you I have been waiting for you to love me for a long time does not mean you obligate you to love me right away. I’d rather wait over ten years than force you to love me.” Tristan took a step away from me, then let out a sigh. “I thought I couldn’t talk about it. I have no intention of telling you about this matter yet.” “Why?” I question curiously. “You might think that I’m pressuring you to love me back. Because of this picture,” he said, laughing. If I hadn’t asked about that picture, maybe I wouldn’t remember what happened then. The thing I don’t even remember is that I once had a crush on Tristan. What a playful chance. My intense fear crippled me, preventing me from fulfilling my wish of being with my crush, Tristan, even for a moment at the prom. “Tristan, why d
CELINE POV-“Why did you do this?”“I didn’t. I just saw that your car’s tires were flat.”“Do you know how much perversion you have done?”“Your tire will be fixed right away. These people can take your car to wherever you are before the end of the day.”I glanced quickly at the two people Hendrix was referring to, then at him.What else can I do? I can’t change the tire if I get angry. This needs to be done immediately so my children don't have to ride public transportation, which could be harmful to their health.“Wait a second,” I told the two mechanics.I went to the passenger seat to get my kids’ bags. “Let’s go, sweethearts. Our car needs to get fixed first.”Skye got out first, followed by Sunny. After I got off them, I took the key and gave it to the two mechanics.Once the two mechanics reached for the key, they quickly moved. One opened the truck door and the other started my car. After they got in my car, they left immediately.“Mummy, why did they take our car?” Sunny as
CELINE POV-As soon as Conrad got out of the elevator, Lance went inside.“B-Boss…”As the elevator closed, Conrad looked my way. His eyes widened after he saw me.“Madame Celine,” he called me in surprise as he came closer to me.“Hmmm?” I asked without opening my lips.I forced both ends of my lips to curve upwards while holding back tears.“Have you been here a while, Madame?”I opened my mouth. When I felt my voice getting hoarse, I took a deep breath before speaking. “Yes. Before the elevator opened.”He turned quickly to the elevator that Lance had taken and then immediately looked back at me.“Did you hear what Boss Lance said?”“Why did you come here?” I changed the subject.“Have you talked to Boss Lance?”I shook my head. “I don’t think we need to talk anymore. I’ve heard his reason.”“I think you need to talk to him,” he handed me my car keys. “Your car is parked outside the building, Madame.”“Thank you.”I followed Conrad’s gaze as he walked back to the front of the elev
CELINE POV-“Are you sure of what you are saying?” I asked her.“Yes,” she answered confidently. “Conrad went to the restaurant to meet you there. He can’t call Sir Lance's phone either.”“Conrad couldn’t call Lance’s phone number?” I assured her.“Yes.”Is it just a coincidence that Lance’s phone number couldn’t be called and he didn’t come?“Celine!”I looked at Sabrina in surprise after she yelled at me right in my face.“Why?”“I am asking you why you are not with Sir Lance. Did you know someone rang the doorbell yesterday, and then I checked the intercom? The man had his back turned, but I doubt it was Sir Lance; that’s why I didn’t open it. Because Conrad told me not to open the door if he’s not the one outside. I’m not one hundred percent sure if it’s Sir Lance because he has his back turned and seems to be talking to someone on the phone.”I assumed Lance had come here. Maybe something unexpected happened that made him not arrive?“CELINE!”I felt like I was going to be deafe
CELINE POV-Hendrix extended his palm. “Shall we go in together?” He asked me.We toured the theme park, rode the few rides we had planned to ride before, and we also played the machine games as well as the arcade games.Now we were in front of the Ferris wheel, and we planned to ride it last.“No, thank you.” I refused the hand he offered.I rode the Ferris wheel first and as he rode someone locked the door and started it.During the few hours I was with Hendrix, I didn’t think about anything else. I tried to focus and try to enjoy this place.Once we reached the top, the Ferris wheel stopped whirling.It was scary, but I still found myself smiling slightly after I saw almost the entire theme park.“The Ferris wheel is actually what you've wanted to ride the most since then.”I nodded without taking my gaze down. “The way you drew the Ferris wheel before, it was colourful, and you could see a lot from just one seat. Then it was close to the stars, and this is the exact one you showed
CELINE POV- “I don't have time to joke around.”“Likewise,” he said meagerly.I calmed my feelings down first. “You won’t hurt me, will you?”“No,” he answered sparingly but directly.Somehow his answer made me feel at ease. I had no choice but to just believe what he said. I didn’t have anything with me except the mini makeup kit in the purse I was carrying.“Where are you taking me?”“To my gift for you.”“Gift?”“Don’t you accept late gifts?”“No. That’s not what I meant.”I didn’t explain anymore, and I didn’t open my mouth for a while.I’ll wait until we get to where he wants to go, so his nonsense can end.“We’re almost where we’re going,” I heard him say as I looked out the window.————About ten minutes later, he stopped in front of an amusement park.“Come on!” He was so excited that he even giggled.I laughed a little at his reaction.I also got out of the car. I looked around; except for the amusement park staff, Hendrix and I, I didn't see anyone else.What was surprising
CELINE POV-“Thank you,” I said with a smile to the manager and the female server who served me a glass of water earlier when I saw them in the lobby.“Ma’am, wait!” They exclaim at the same time.I stopped walking when they ran towards me.“I want to apologize again for what happened earlier,” the woman regretfully said.“I also want to apologize for my negligence,” the manager said and bowed his head.“Don’t think about that. It’s okay,” I told them. “Is that all you want to say?”“Ah, no.” They suddenly panicked.The manager handed me a paper bag. I took it and peeked at the contents. Inside the paper bag was a suit coat and a familiar calling card.“What is this for?” I asked.“Sir Hendrix Morgan left those. He asked me to give you the paper bag.”I returned the paper bag to the manager, but he didn’t take it.“Give it back to him,” I stated.The manager took a deep breath. “I…” then he exhaled, and his face was covered with worry. “I’m sorry, ma’am. If you give back to me, he war
CELINE POV-“You should have let the woman kneel down earlier,” my eyebrows furrowed at Hendrix’s words. “Or you should have let her terminate her job.”Is that the kind of person he is? He likes seeing other people suffer? Didn’t he think about that person’s situation? Maybe that person’s job was too valuable to her. That person wouldn’t dare to lower her knee to the ground if she did not badly need the job.“Don’t judge me,” he said, laughing.He read my thoughts?He faced me, he crossed his legs, and rested his elbow on the table. “Someone like her needs to learn a lesson; she needs to pay for her mistake—that’s all I’m saying. It’s not just the surprise that that person ruined but also your feelings. That person not only ruined the surprise for you but also your feelings. She hurt you badly, and your mind was confused by what happened. Who wouldn’t think and be glad that you were expecting someone, but then the wrong person would come in front of you? Right?” He raised his pointed
CELINE POV-I couldn’t move from where I was standing as I turned to look at the man who uttered my name.My forehead wasn’t wrinkled, but my body was full of wonder as I looked at him, and I was sure the question was, 'why is he here?' was printed all over my face.What’s going on? Why is he here? Why is he in front of me? Why is he in front of me in this situation?“Hendrix?” I utter hoarsely.After seeing his face, my tears came back to my eyes; I felt again the pain in my back from sitting for over five hours and the hunger I was feeling. Most of all, the hope may be that the proposal was from Lance.I couldn’t make a mistake in my gaze; I’ve been looking at his face for a few seconds, and his appearance hasn’t changed. I also couldn’t be hallucinating because there was no reason why I should see him in my mind. I never thought about him after our last encounter.Why is he here? Why isn’t the person I expected and waited for here? Why isn’t Lance in front of me now? Where is he?
CELINE POV-Here’s my tear again while looking around. I smile and quickly wipe away the teardrop before it even falls down my cheek.I was taken to a high-end and exclusive restaurant where Lance rented the entire building. It was quite far from the hotel, which took more than an hour to travel.When I looked around again I smiled. The only light at this time was the scented candles that each table had. What made the ambiance even finer was the night view from where I was sitting overlooking the bright city lights outside the glass wall. Each table had a single red rose flower and on my table there was a bouquet of red roses.The surroundings were quiet until my attention was caught by a server who went to three tables and replaced the scented candles there. She checked on me and smiled at me.“Ma’am, would you like us to serve food for you? We have an appetizer ready for you.”“No,” I refused. I coughed softly because I felt my throat tighten and dry. “Can I have a glass of water?”