Damon had guessed correctly. That same afternoon, Sherry stopped Celeste at the entrance of Leo Jewels. Celeste had just got off work. "Celeste York, why did you lie to me?" Sherry was aggressive. Celeste was taken aback. "What did I lie about?" She had forgotten what she told Sherry. "You told me you were just Damon's employee in the past, not his ex-wife." Sherry remembered everything. "Uh, technically, I didn't lie to you. I just didn't tell you the whole truth. Besides, I did work for him before. I was the designer of Prestige." Celeste couldn't help but laugh. She thought about how innocent this young lady was, coming all the way here to demand an answer. "Then why did you not tell me that you were his ex-wife? Do you see me as your enemy?" Sherry was shorter than Celeste. She lifted her head up as she spoke grumpily. "I was worried you might be bothered by my presence, which would affect your relationship with Damon." Celeste was telling the truth. With her family b
There were a lot of people in the banquet hall. After having a few drinks, Celeste felt a little stuffy. She headed out from the backdoor. She walked up some stairs and arrived at the balcony to enjoy the evening breeze. At first, she didn't notice that someone was walking behind her. It wasn’t until the sound of footsteps became clearer. She turned around. It was a young man who looked familiar. "Ms. York, I'm the vice president of Diamond Dreams, Zach Cox." The man had the typical face of an elite which was commonly seen in the industry. Behind his golden-rimmed glasses, his eyes were brimming with interest in her. She instantly felt repelled seeing the look on his face. "Do you need anything from me?" She asked. "Our booth was next to your company's. We met each other during the day." "Sure." "Ms. York, I've had my eyes on you ever since you became popular on Twitter last year. Can you be my girlfriend? I'll treat you well. Besides, I don't mind your past at all!"
The footsteps on the balcony went further away. Celeste was overwhelmed as she lay in Damon's arms. She had always been conservative, so Damon didn't dare to overdo it. After tasting her a little, he carried her into his car. Celeste was exhausted and dizzy. She was biting her lips so hard to suppress herself that it bled. She pleaded with him to spare her again and again. In the end, she didn't even know how Damon sent her home. Celeste woke up in the morning after hearing the phone ringing. Her body was aching so much as if she just had a fever. She reached out to fetch the phone on the bedside table. "Hello?" It was a number which was not saved to her contacts. "Damon, I made you breakfast. Edna says you're not home. Where are you?" The girl sounded excited. Celeste was dumbfounded for a while before she recognized that it was Sherry. "Ms. Holmer, you called the wrong person. Damon's number is… " She told her the number swiftly. "Baby, you're holding my phone now
It was already noon when Damon left. Celeste's body was aching all over. Not wanting to move at all, she hid under her blanket and wanted to sleep. Spencer couldn't find her last night. He'd sent her a text on WhatsApp to ask where she was. She was only free to reply to him at noon. "I was tired last night, so I went back home first. I forgot to tell you," Celeste replied. Spencer texted, "Do you think I'll believe that, Celeste?" After he couldn't find Celeste, he went back to the banquet hall. Damon was gone too. He had a reason to believe that Damon took her with him. Celeste didn't answer him. Whether or not he believed her, she could do nothing about it. Spencer promised to give her two days off after the exhibition, so she rested more in the afternoon. Celeste wanted to take an afternoon nap, but she couldn't calm her mind down. She could only think of how Damon hugged her, called her his darling, and kissed her earlobe. After being separated for such a long tim
For a moment, Celeste didn't know how to comfort Megan. "I've decided to go on blind dates. I'll start tomorrow." The white wine arrived. Megan stumbled on her way to open the door and take it. "You're just 21. You're not in a rush at all." That was all Celeste could say. She didn't know what Winston could be thinking. Although he was handsome, rich, and charming, he was almost 20 years older than Megan. Perhaps he was afraid of holding her back. But since she didn't hear it directly from him, she couldn't defend him for this reason either. After the two of them drank half of the bottle, Megan went to the bathroom and threw up. Then, she lay on the couch and slowly dozed off. Celeste held her and helped her rinse her mouth. She was about to get a hot towel for her. "Winston, you're a bad guy. I like you." Megan mumbled in her sleep. "You're a bad guy…" She sounded like she was sobbing. When Celeste reached out to touch her face, it was wet with tears. Heartbroken, Cel
Winston's story was way more interesting than what he'd told Celeste. If Celeste was willing to delve deeper, she'd realize that the ways they'd grown up were almost identical. They even hired the same fixer, which was Kenny. The person who helped Kenny in earning his first paycheck was none other than Winston. The difference lay in how their relationships evolved respectively. Damon knew that Celeste didn't love him at first, but he gradually developed feelings for her. On the other hand, Winston and his wife shared a strong relationship since the start. But things started to fall apart when he managed to get what he wanted. His wife thought that he did everything just so that he could use her, and that she was just a tool to help Winston in reaching his goals. "I succeeded in taking revenge, but I lost her. That's the one thing I regretted the most in my life." Winston's eyes were soft and sad. "Misunderstandings can be explained. But she passed away. She got into a car acc
Sherry was from a prestigious family and was as pretty as a doll. Nobody had ever dared to belittle her. After not getting what she wanted, she went back home and cried to her parents. The next day, Damon just arrived at the company when Liam brought an invitation to him. He was invited to the Holmer residence. Jordan helped Damon out before after all, so Damon didn't dare to turn him down. He asked Liam to prepare a box of gold as a gift for them. He thought that he'd have to entertain Sherry again and he was mentally prepared for it. To his surprise, Jordan's secretary brought Damon to his tea room. Only Jordan was there. "Mr. Holmer," Damon greeted him politely as he passed Jordan the gift. "Damon, you can just call me Uncle Jordan." Jordan gave Damon a friendly smile, showing a warm attitude as a leader. Damon obliged. "Uncle Jordan." Jordan nodded in reply. He poured Damon a cup of tea. "It's my fault for not raising my daughter well. Sherry is too headstrong. Wh
From then on, Damon started to go out with Sherry as expected. The upper-class circle wasn't big in Taverdale. The news reached Celeste within just a week. "You'll be in my life from now on. Let's care for each other and not let each other down." Megan sent a screenshot of Sherry's post to Celeste. Sherry attached a picture of the back of a tall man. That silhouette was all too familiar to Celeste. She had gazed at his back countless times, marveling at how handsome he looked even from the back. His figure was so well-proportioned and regal. "Damon is such a piece of trash. He was going after you not long ago, but he has gone official with Sherry now." Megan hadn't even healed from her own heartbreak yet, but she had the energy to complain for Celeste. Celeste's heart throbbed. Her mind went blank for a long time. Sherry was adorable and pretty, so it wouldn't be strange for Damon to feel attracted to her. Celeste just didn't expect that they'd be together so soon. It d
He never would have imagined that the intelligent and aloof Celeste would have a day like this, appearing adorably naive and innocent.Damon used to like girls who were delicate and pure, but that changed when he met Celeste.She had a face full of charm and allure, but her expression and personality were always cold and unyielding. She was pale and slim, yet not childlike. On the contrary, she resembled a young poplar tree, proud and upright.Because of her, he began to like girls who sparked his desire to conquer, and he scoffed at those who were simply weak and shy.But now with Celeste like this, he didn't feel annoyed. In fact, not only was he not annoyed, he actually found it cute and interesting.“What's your name?” she asked again."Damon.""Oh, that sounds really nice."The initial confusion in her eyes was gone, replaced by a sparkling glimmer, and her tone carried a touch of a young girl's excitement."You are actually my husband… Wow, great job, me! I've managed to
"What? Aren’t you my husband? Do I still need to avoid you while changing clothes?" The confusion in Celeste's eyes didn’t seem fake.Damon was speechless and didn't know how to respond at that moment.When Damon didn't respond, Celeste suddenly felt a bit nervous."I'm sorry… I can't remember clearly. Aren't you my husband?"Damon raised an eyebrow casually and asked, "Why do you think I am?"Celeste innocently blinked, her eyelashes fluttering like fans. "The nurse said it. Besides, if you're not my husband, why would you sleep with me at night?""What did the nurse say?" Her reasoning was actually logical and undeniable. For a moment, Damon found it somewhat amusing."The nurse said that my husband is really thoughtful," Celeste responded seriously. Then she asked, "Aren't you my husband? Then why would you be willing to stay here with me so late?"This one sentence left Damon speechless.The reason he was willing was because he was a coward. He said that he didn't care abo
Damon frowned upon hearing the classic amnesiac questions being asked."Celeste, are you trying to act out a TV drama?"Celeste still looked at him blankly. "What do you mean?"Damon didn't answer and went straight to the director's office to get Nicholas.Knowing her, she wasn't the type to joke around, especially not with Leo still missing. She must have hit her head hard.Nicholas was equally surprised and hurried back to the room with Damon.Celeste was sitting up, hugging her knees and staring into space."You're awake? How do you feel?" Nicholas asked with a smile as he entered."Why am I here?" Her voice sounded hesitant, and she turned to look at them.Her confusion seemed genuine. Nicholas and Damon exchanged worried glances."Celeste… you don't remember?""Celeste?" She asked, "Is that my name?""Yes.""I don't remember. My mind is blank.""Do you remember… Leo?" Nicholas hesitated. After all, if she knew that her child had been missing for three days, he was wo
"Alright," Celeste said in a deep voice. "Let me see Leo first."They pushed open the hidden door, revealing a staircase leading to the basement."Have Leo come to the stairway corner." She stood at the dark staircase and negotiated with the kidnapper."Mommy!" Suddenly, Leo's desperate cry echoed from inside."Leo!" Celeste ditched everything else and rushed down the stairs.She ran ahead, and as soon as she reached the corner, there was a loud explosion, and a wave of heat hit her face."Celeste!""Celeste!"Damon and Winston's faces changed drastically, shouting in alarm.The basement was empty. It was a trap.Had they been more careful, they would have noticed that both the kidnapper’s voice and Leo’s cry were artificially synthesized. But Celeste, in her desperation to save her son, had been too frantic to discern this.The basement was rigged with landmines. Unfortunately, something went wrong. The mine exploded when Celeste reached the stairway corner, instead of when
What? Damon was also coming? Celeste felt her heart leap, and her voice became sharper as she said, "I can handle this. You can't come!"There was no response from his end.Observing Damon’s silence, Celeste quickly softened her tone. "Damon, listen to me. I can handle this alone. There's no need for you to get involved… because I'm their main target, and they likely won't harm Leo. You need to stay home and wait for him. You need to take care of him later on…""Celeste," Damon interrupted coldly. "Are you planning on not coming out alive?"Of course, coming out alive would be ideal, but she couldn’t guarantee that."Damon, I do have a chance of surviving, but when it comes to exchanging myself for Leo, there can be no room for error. We must follow the kidnapper's instructions to ensure Leo's safety."It was out of the question to provide a false sense of security and pretend to comply with the kidnapper, only to backtrack and get Leo killed.She needed to ensure Leo’s safety a
They checked all the surveillance footage near the Bishop residence and investigated every suspicious vehicle. They also had people keeping an eye on Henry, but after half a day, there was still no breakthrough.The kidnappers had taken Leo to threaten Celeste, and the lack of communication was meant to unnerve her. If it was according to predictions, she was supposed to wait for their demands. But, as a mother, she couldn't just sit and do nothing.Celeste remembered that Shannon had called her, so she found her contact in the blacklist and called."Shannon, did you and Henry kidnap Leo?" she demanded.Shannon laughed coldly. "Don't accuse us without any evidence. Your son is missing? Maybe it's karma. Hahaha!"Celeste hung up, unable to stand Shannon's smugness.Several teams searched for over 20 hours, even involving the police, but still had no solid leads. Celeste suspected Henry, but they couldn't just arrest him without any proof.She was extremely desperate. She didn't e
"Lester isn't as clever as Leo. He's just a four-year-old child, and he shouldn't have done anything like that," Serena instinctively defended Lester. Then, recalling the last time she had misunderstood Leo for similar reasons, she felt a pang of guilt and added, "I don't mean to imply anything… I'll have someone bring Lester here."Celeste nodded. "I'm not blaming Lester. I just want to understand what happened."Soon, the nanny looking after Lester brought him in. Unexpectedly, upon seeing Celeste, Lester burst into tears."Aunty Celeste, please don't hit me. I didn't mean to lose my brother!""Lester, I just want to understand what happened." Celeste was taken aback by his crying but kneeled down to speak gently. "I'm not blaming you. Can you tell me what you saw that day?""Aunty Celeste, don't hit me!" Lester kept crying, not saying a word about Leo's disappearance."Am I that scary, Lester?"At this moment, Celeste felt at a loss. She could communicate normally with Leo,
Celeste perfectly understood what Cedric's implied. "I mean, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to entertain me today."Cedric had indeed wanted to help her that day, but his identity was too special to admit it openly. The scratch on the paper was a subtle hint, and whether or not she could interpret it depended on her intuition. The fact that she could decipher such a subtle hint proved her intelligence and luck.Over the years, Cedric had developed a sense of respect for Celeste after learning about her. He felt she was deserving of assistance, but he couldn't make it obvious."However, be careful. I see that Henry is at the end of his rope and might act irrationally. You should be on guard," Cedric warned.Celeste nodded, having considered this as well. "Henry wants me dead."This was why she had her brother stay abroad and sent Leo to the Bishops. With only herself remaining, it was harder for Henry to use her loved ones against her."Take care of yourse
Celeste's deduction was correct. Cedric intentionally left the mark. As Winston dug deeper, he slowly uncovered a series of issues.It was a bridge project on a highway in a poor mountainous area. Not uncommon.The problem was that the person in charge of this project was a leader assigned from a first-tier city to oversee the development. Officially, he was recognised for his capabilities, but in reality, this task was one he had to succeed in without failure.He had offended someone, and this transfer was a disguised punishment under the guise of a major responsibility.If he had managed it well, the chances of him returning to a higher development role would have been slim. At best, he could stay in this position until retirement. If he didn't manage it well, his entire career could be ruined.Someone of such status naturally had supporters as well as opponents. In such a situation, it was impossible for anyone to sabotage and create pitfalls along the way."It seems the next