Post-divorce, this situation had become a regular happening for Celeste. She had become accustomed to Damon's unpredictable visits, and any lingering traces of anger had gradually faded away.Despite the late winter chill, Damon stood in the corridor sporting an autumn coat. As Celeste approached, a shiver ran down her spine."How long have you been waiting here?" Celeste asked. Given Damon's typical inclination toward indoor activities, chauffeured car rides, and upscale venues, the absence of heating in the ordinary apartment corridors caught him off guard."Not long… Achoo!" Damon couldn't help but sneeze. Celeste sighed, unlocking the door. "Come inside." "You have my WhatsApp and phone number. Couldn't you have contacted me instead of waiting here?" she scolded, motioning for Damon to take a seat on the couch before heading to the kitchen.Returning with a pot of steaming ginger tea, she explained, "I don't have brown sugar for ginger tea; I usually use cola. It's surpri
This was a sad story. Jane, heavily pregnant, discovered the truth about Winston's father, Malfoy Belasco, when someone approached her with a child in tow. For someone as prideful as Jane, the revelation of Malfoy's simultaneous relationships with two women was intolerable. Despite his extramarital affair, Malfoy clung to Jane, enticed by her beauty and support in his business. He resisted divorce for six months."You are not my firstborn. You have an older sister named Willow, three years older than you. Malfoy sent her away to relatives to control me. Later, they claimed she fell into the river and drowned." Jane's voice carried sorrow. "Willow was already gone when I had you. That's why I never told you about this." Winston hesitated for a long while before finally asking, "Are you suggesting Willow might still be alive?" "Malfoy could have easily lied about Willow's death to keep me from seeing her. Besides, he was under Mia Jenner's spell then. He would do anything fo
Unexpectedly, Damon stirred awake, catching Celeste off guard and leaving her feeling a tad awkward. Hastily, she turned her head away, and his kiss found its place on her cheek instead."Why did you suddenly wake up?" Her gaze happened to fall on his right ear. Was that a piercing? Celeste recalled that Damon didn't have any piercings. Why did he suddenly get one? Intrigued, Celeste leaned closer to Damon's ear to examine it. "What's going on? Since when did you get the piercing?" "About a month after we came back from the grasslands." That was when he got his ear pierced. Celeste suddenly remembered the ethnic-styled earrings she had designed. "Is it because of that earring?" "Wasn't that designed for me?" Damon retorted as if the answer was self-evident. However, the reality wasn't that. Celeste couldn't help muttering, "What a narcissist." Damon pretended not to hear her and pulled her into his embrace. He lifted her chin and met her gaze. "I'm planning to pursue you
Upon hearing Celeste's words, Jane lapsed into silence. A palpable sadness draped over her, and she seemed immersed in contemplation for nearly five minutes. Eventually, she refrained from probing further about Celeste's mother, Sylvia. Celeste reasoned that it was only natural for Jane to empathize with a woman whose appearance resembled her own. Midway through the meal, Jane's phone rang. She received a video call on WhatsApp. She carefully set her cutlery aside, wiped her hands clean with a napkin, and retrieved her phone from her bag.Jane's countenance had been veiled in gloom for some time, but a radiant smile finally adorned her face as she warmly greeted the person on the other end of the call. "Lily.""Grandma, did you enjoy your meal today?" A gentle and warm female voice resonated from the phone. Celeste speculated that the person on the other end must be Lilian, Jane's god-granddaughter."I did. How was your day, Lily?" Jane inquired, revealing the affectionate dem
Jane and Lilian continued their conversation for an extended period, mainly expressing concern for each other's well-being. Despite not being blood-related, their strong bond and affection were evident.After concluding the call, Jane turned to Celeste with an apologetic smile. "Lily's health isn't the best. I said those things because I was worried about Lily's feelings. I hope you don't mind?" Celeste shook her head. "It's okay." Understanding the recentness of their acquaintance, she acknowledged the profound connection between Jane and Lilian, realizing she couldn't compete for Jane's love."Lilian has had a difficult life. Her family was in a car accident, and she was the only survivor. I took her in and raised her," Jane shared, her voice catching and her eyes reddening. There was a poignant tug at Celeste's heart. In the midst of life's difficulties, Lilian's journey had been marked by greater struggles than Celeste's, earning her a place of deep sympathy.That Saturday
Megan, an honest and conservative individual, grappled with the ethical dilemma of approaching Winston for a DNA sample. Opting for a more subtle approach, she decided to wait until he was asleep after their intimate moments. She used a pair of nose hair scissors to collect a sample of hair. Winston was a light sleeper. Megan held her breath as she leaned in and carefully grasped a few strands of his hair before snipping them with scissors.The crisp sound of the cut caught Megan off guard.Relieved to find Winston undisturbed, Megan sighed softly as she carefully held the strands of hair. With a steady hand, she reached for the sealed bag on the bedside table, intending to store the collected hair securely.Unexpectedly, Winston rolled over, pressing her beneath his body, his eyes wide open, as he fixed his gaze on her. Megan's face instantly flushed red upon realizing she was caught in the act. "I…" Nervously, Megan searched for an excuse, unsure of how to react."Do you like
Celeste feared that she might come off as arrogant if she declined Lilian's personal invitation. That evening, she went to Winston's place, bearing gifts and health supplements. At the sight of Lilian, Celeste found herself surprised, even though she had mentally readied herself for the moment. Lilian appeared incredibly delicate and fragile, characterized by an extremely slender frame and a pallid appearance. The sole burst of vivid color on her face radiated from her pair of amber eyes, their unusual largeness accentuated by her slender features.Moreover, there was something about Lilian's gaze that seemed to convey a thousand words.Despite Lilian's undeniable beauty, it was her fragile and pitiful appearance that left a lasting impression. Anyone observing her would naturally feel compelled to show kindness and sympathy.Lilian, too, was taken aback at the sight of Celeste. She had never encountered such real-life beauty before. Celeste possessed an oval face and fox-like
"Grandma, I won't have any regrets if I can reunite with my family after I die. But I'm worried about what will happen to you..." Lilian's tone softened as she noticed Jane's eyes welling up, and she choked up a little.Jane already looked pitiful enough. But with her eyes and nose turning red, the sight of her was heart-wrenching. Even Celeste couldn't help but feel bad for her. "I know that others can take care of you, but I just can't stop worrying about you," Lilian uttered, feigning an effort to hold back her tears. Dabbing her eyes with a tissue, she put on a smile. "You now have Cece. I feel more at ease knowing that Cece is so reliable." Damon had previously criticized Celeste for her rigidity and headstrong nature. Now, she had a deeper understanding of the appeal of the opposite—the delicate and gentle qualities that some men preferred. In contrast to Lilian, Shannon and Leah's attempts at being gentle and soft seemed trivial.Though Lilian's theatrics were apparent, Ce