Celeste turned around and met Veronica's smiling eyes.Veronica, like her, had alluring features but an icy demeanor. She didn't need to give a big smile. The slight smile in her eyes was already a gesture of goodwill.It would be petty to pretend not to recognize her. Thus, Celeste smiled and said, "Ms. Salt."Was it her imagination, or did she sense a certain eagerness in Veronica's gaze?"We met a few days ago; I'm the barista at Cloud Cliff Cafe," Veronica said."I remember. It's quite a coincidence." Celeste wondered why Veronica was approaching her, Damon's ex-wife.After thinking for a moment, Celeste added, "Thank you for the small cake you treated me.""You're welcome." Veronica suddenly seemed a bit shy as she watched Celeste. She lowered her head and averted her eyes."Miss, you're so beautiful. You’re the prettiest girl I've ever seen," Veronica said after a while.For such a cold person like her to speak to sweetly was odd.Celeste's surprise deepened. Still, she
"What do you mean?" Veronica was suddenly confused.Damon noticed that she didn't seem like she was acting and grunted coldly. "If you don't know, then go find out."With that, he left Veronica standing there alone.The idea that someone was waiting to toast her was just an excuse.He knew Celeste would be present that night. Thus, he asked Veronica to be his date.Celeste wore a black suit, flat shoes, and understated colors and styles, yet she still stood out among the women in evening gowns.She seemed to have lost some weight and looked a bit pale.During dinner, Damon tried not to look in her direction, but he couldn't help himself. He noticed she hardly ate anything and saw when she went outside.Celeste, who was dressed in a black suit, blended into the night. One couldn't tell what was on her mind. Veronica felt utterly confused as she watched Damon leave. What was his purpose in calling her back? Besides, what he said a moment ago was clearly provocative. He told her
He was right.What did the daughter-in-law of the Miller family have to do with Damon?She was the one who had pushed him away."I'm sorry. I overstepped."Celeste felt as though someone had poured a liter of sand into her chest, making it ache and impossible for her to breathe. Yet, she maintained her signature smile."Celeste." Veronica hesitated to say something.Celeste smiled kindly at her. "Goodbye, Ms. Salt."With that, she got into the car without another glance at the two of them.Her assistant drove while Celeste sat in the back. She closed her eyes and was overwhelmed with bitterness.She was the one who had pushed him away. Thus, she couldn't blame him for not stepping in when she was in danger. It made no sense to do so.That comment she made was so out of line. It'd only make her a laughingstock for Damon.A tear escaped from her closed eyes, which Celeste wiped away casually with the back of her hand. She laughed self mockingly.……"Damon, I think what you j
Celeste was three months pregnant, and her growing belly would soon be hard to conceal. She sent Sebastian a WhatsApp message to discuss their next steps."I'm 11 weeks pregnant. What do you think about this?""…"Sebastian sent a series of ellipses in response. "What do you want me to think?"Sebastian, of course, knew that if Celeste cared about his opinion, she wouldn't have waited this long to tell him."This came as a surprise. If you can't handle it, we can get a divorce.""We can't divorce right now. It might shock my grandfather."Sebastian had already come out to his parents, who had kept it under wraps. His grandfather, Joseph Miller, was not doing well, and no one in the Miller family dared to act rashly. They wanted to ensure the old man had a peaceful final journey."Got it." Celeste figured that since the Miller family was far away in Freedonia, she might be able to have the baby quietly in Carlino, provided she kept a low profile."Is it Damon's?" Sebastian aske
Upon hearing what Sebastian said, Celeste was visibly taken aback but quickly regained her composure. "Why bother with someone as unimportant as him?"She didn't pull away the hand Sebastian was holding. Instead, she used her other hand to pick up some food and placed it on his plate.Given their relationship and the current situation, Celeste knew that if she fed Sebastian, he wouldn't refuse. But that would be too obvious. It'd be as though she wanted to show off to Damon how happy she was. It would be unseemly.There was no need for that. She only needed to show a little determination not to divorce.However, Sebastian misunderstood her intentions."My dear, I'll get angry if you keep forcing me to eat vegetables." He pouted childishly."Huh?" Celeste was slightly disgusted, and she frowned at him. "Forcing me to eat vegetables is one thing, but you haven't even said you missed me after all this time." Sebastian continued to act spoiled and overly dramatic.This was reall
The three had initially planned to meet up and catch up on recent events. They never expected to encounter Celeste and Sebastian.Damon, already in a foul mood, was accompanied by Nicholas and Jasper as they drank a few more rounds. They stayed at the bar until closing time. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense."Let's move to another place," Nicholas suggested, and the trio settled the bill and headed out.As they passed Celeste's table, Nicholas noticed other customers had taken it. This meant Celeste and Sebastian had left a while ago. He stole a glance at Damon, who maintained a poker face. One couldn't read his face."Let's head to the Echo Club," Jasper proposed.His driver was waiting outside. Thus, they were sent to the Echo Club straight away.It was quite a coincidence when, upon arriving, they saw Celeste and Sebastian getting out of a car and walking into the five-star hotel next door.Sebastian was being particularly attentive, fetching a coat from the car for Cel
Celeste stormed out of the hotel, fully intending to have a heated argument with Damon.As she stepped outside, furious, she saw Damon waiting with Nicholas and Jasper."Damon, go get treated if there's something wrong with your mind. Stop bothering others," Celeste was fuming with rage. Arms crossed, she sneered at Damon.Damon said nothing. He simply lifted her off the ground."Where's your coat?" he asked in a low voice.Celeste instinctively protected her pregnant belly with one hand. "What are you doing?"She was clearly flustered."Your coat, where is it?" Damon asked again, insistently.When they had entered, Sebastian had given her a coat to wear.Only then did Celeste understand what Damon was implying.It was cold outside, but the hotel office was comfortably warm. Taking off her coat inside was perfectly normal, but to Damon, it was evidence of her and Sebastian getting a room together.Thus, a hint of mockery appeared in Celeste’s eyes."Of course, I took it off
"Are you planning to lock me up here?" Celeste had no strength left to struggle. She looked around from Damon's arms while asking in an icy tone."Don't say it like that. This villa was bought as a gift for you." Damon's voice sounded as though thick with suppressed pain, tired and hoarse.As Damon carried her inside, Celeste knew things were going wrong. She forced herself to observe the surroundings to search for an escape route.Though uninhabited, the villa was well-maintained and lived-in. The courtyard was filled with broad-leaved plants, roses climbed the walls, and even a few cats roamed among the flowers.This was indeed a place Celeste would love. She had once told Damon that when she got old, she'd want a quieter place to live and tend to her flowers."Let Edna help you. You'd need to replace the flowers often, wouldn't you?" Damon had teased her then. He had kissed the top of her head and casually asked what she liked."I want either broad-leaved plants or masses of