CELINE POV - I removed his grip on my hand without taking my sharp gaze from him. “Now you want to know?” I could feel my eyes hurting from the formation of tears on both sides of my eyes. Lance nodded. “Yes…” he begged. “What for?” I scoffed. “Why do you need to know? You didn’t even believe me when I begged you. Now that you’ve seen them alive, do you want to know?” I asked sarcastically. “Go away.” Before I could walk away, he blocked my path. “I’ll listen, I’ll believe everything you say, I promise. Please, tell me how it happened? What happened to you after–” “After you threw me out?” I cut him off. He nodded. He opened his mouth but immediately closed it for a second. “I want to know everything.” He said almost in a whisper. “I have no intention of going back to what happened before.” I was about to take a step back when he grabbed my wrist again. “Celine–” I turned to face him again as I released his grip. “I was ready to kill anyone,” I cut off whatever else he wa
CELINE POV - I felt my chest tighten after I remembered that day. Looking at him, I wanted to laugh at his reaction. His eyes were red from the tears, he didn't blink his pair of eyes for a second as if he had seen a ghost. His lips were pale and barely opened. His reaction was very different then than now. “I don't know…” I laughed without a sound. “Really?” I bitterly questioned him. “You know I was still pregnant but you didn't believe me.” .. .. .. • • • • • ( FLASHBACK ) • • • • • - After he took me to my room and was sure I was alone, I forced myself to get up. I went to the bathroom. I cleaned my wound. I'm not sure how deep the wound I made was but it seemed like I did something pretty deep because my wound still wouldn't stop bleeding. I bandage the wound. Because of my experience with my parents' possession, I learned to at least clean my own wound. After treating the wound, I wrapped a tissue paper with all the things I used until the blood was invisible and
CELINE POV-He involuntarily let go of the envelope he was holding, which contained the DNA result of his saying.“No matter where you test my children’s DNA, the result will remain positive. But don’t forget that you tried to k*ll our children more than once and accused me of being crazy for saving them.”"Celine,” he called me in his rattled voice.I waited for what sweet things he would say this time, if he would again explain that he didn’t mean to do everything he did, but this time he remained silent for the next few minutes.“I can accept it better if your enemies or other people threaten my life and our child’s life, but you yourself, their father, are the ones who repeatedly tried to k*ll them. You should just believe that they are not your children so that I can feel more at ease that no one will try to k*ll them.”"N-No. I will not… I will never...” He stopped speaking on his own. He opened his mouth and took a deep breath while placing both hands on his neck. “F*ck! Sh*t!
CELINE POV-After I met Tristan Carter yesterday, he said he would come back to take me out. I wasn’t sure where he was going to take me, all I was thinking of was taking this opportunity to escape from all of them. I didn't know how, but I would find a way.When I finished fixing myself, I lay down on the bed while waiting for Tristan to arrive.I feel heavy; I feel like my whole surroundings are spinning, maybe because of the fever.Tristan shouldn’t know I have a fever. He might not continue to take me out, and I wouldn’t be able to escape from them right away. I have to bear my feelings; I can't take medicine either because it might harm the baby.As I closed my eyes, my phone suddenly rang. I took it out of my small bag and answered the call without looking at who the caller was.“Celine, where are you?” Astrid’s voice sounded like she was mad again. “What the h*ll is this? I received a wedding invitation yesterday and I only saw it today. Why are Lance and Freya getting marri
CELINE POV-As we went to the Fire-Hart Castle hotel before reaching the main gate, Lance's men blocked us. They didn't know me, so they didn't let me in. Most of all, we don't have a wedding invitation. It's a good thing Butler Arthur came and took care of us.“Are you aware whose property this is?” Butler Arthur interrogated Tristan.“Yes,” Tristan replied with a smile.I noticed Butler Arthur and his gaze at Tristan became intense. It's not easy for Butler Arthur to show this kind of emotion; in the three years I've seen him, I've never seen him look at someone as if he's annoyed or angry with this person. It's just strange how he looks at Tristan, even though Tristan isn't doing anything annoying.“I forced him to come with me, Butler Arthur.” I grabbed his attention.I think the reason he thinks badly of Tristan is because he just saw Tristan because he can't let random people into Lance's property.“How long have you known him, Madame Celine?”"Uh...” I don't know how to explai
CELINE POV-I ended up telling him everything. He made me tell him not in a harsh way, but calmly, saying he wanted to understand what was happening to me. After that, the doctor came back to see me and told me I needed bed rest until my condition improved.Tristan was now feeding me quietly.“I'll take you to my condo first.” He broke the silence.“Why?”“Why do you still want to go back to your parents?”I shook my head.“Do you want to continue our marriage?”I shook my head again. “I still love Lance,” I added.Tristan nodded. “I understand that part. I actually plan to leave New York after we get married.”“Are you leaving New York?”“Yeah. If you don't want to go back to your parents and you don't have an ex-husband to go back to, do you want to come with me?”“Yes. I want to leave New York.”I didn't think about my answer; all I want to do is leave New York and keep my unborn child out of harm's way.“I'll fix your discharge bill. Just rest. Wait for me.”I nodded.————Jus
CELINE POV-Just as I was leaving the library, Tristan called and said he was outside the gate.“I’m on my way there,” I said, then ended the call and quickly walked towards the main gate of the university.Four years.In the past four years, I still can’t believe how my life has gradually changed with Tristan. Not even in my dreams did I think this would happen along with that I would be able to do the things I do now.Tristan is still with me. He helps a lot. When I was pregnant, he never took his eyes off me until I gave birth. My children were triplets, but one died. I also suffered for a long time because of that, and if Tristan wasn’t by my side during those times, I still don’t know and can’t imagine what would have happened to me.My body was too weak to give birth to triplets, but fortunately I survived, as did my two other children, Skye and Sunny.Tristan built a restaurant last year while I was graduating. Aside from running the restaurant, he helps me look after my child
FREYA POV-“What are you saying that you don’t have duplicate keys?” I asked the people at the reception desk irritably.I waited for three hours outside of Lance’s penthouse last night, but no matter how hard I rang the doorbell, he wouldn’t open it. That’s why I decided to check into a suite room in this hotel. And now that I’m asking for any duplicate key to Lance’s penthouse, they won’t give it to me.“Do you know who I am? I’m the wife of the owner of this hotel. Right now I can fire you from your job, and you won’t be able to find a job here in Chicago.”These women quickly got scared when they heard that I was Lance’s wife.“Where are the duplicate keys?”“I’m sorry, Ma’am–”“Madame.” I corrected it.“Madame. I’m sorry, Madame Hart, but we really don’t have duplicate keys to that floor.”“What the hell are you talking about? Why don’t you have duplicate keys to that floor?”“It’s because that floor is exclusive only to people with Boss Lance’s authorization.”I looked at the o
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?”