"Back in the day, Danny and I used to play around here a lot," Leah said as she strolled alongside Celeste by the Bishop family's artificial lake. Her voice carried a gentle undertone."We would often play by the lake. One time, Danny wasn't watching me, and I accidentally fell into the water."He was so frantic, crying on the shore. The butler had to come and rescue me."Because of that incident, Mrs. Bishop made Danny kneel for an entire day and wouldn't let him eat."Danny lost his father at a young age. Since our family had no boys, my father treated Danny like his own son, stepping up as a male figure whenever he needed one."Of course, Danny was quite the protector. He got into plenty of fights at school to defend me."As they walked, Leah continued sharing her history with Damon."The night before I married Robin, I spent the whole night in tears with Danny. Ms. York, has a man ever shed tears for you?"Celeste, still caught up in the innocent and carefree childhood tale
Celeste stood on the shore, watching Leah splashing around in the lake.Her mind raced for half a minute.Serena had hoped for a rekindling of the connection between Damon and Leah.Whether Celeste could prove her innocence or not, this would surely be pinned on her.Moreover, everyone was busy at the banquet, with no witnesses around.If the accusation of "pushing Leah into the water" stuck, not only Serena, but even Damon wouldn't let her off.After all, they shared a bond deep enough to cry in each other's arms all night.This realization left Celeste with a momentarily suffocating feeling.Now, the only conceivable solution was to jump in herself.Fight fire with fire. It was a reluctantly chosen path to clear her name.Leah continued shouting, and without overthinking, Celeste hastily took a step and plunged into the water as well."Don't be afraid, Ms. Sullivan! I'll rescue you!" she yelled. She intentionally thrashed around a bit near Leah before sinking to the bottom
Did Celeste love him?Damon pondered on it, unable to be sure.Nicholas had left, leaving Damon looking at Celeste, both angry and frightened.This woman was truly insane. Setting aside the fact that Leah was Damon's childhood friend, her actions were inappropriate.Even for the sake of her well-being, she shouldn't act this way! Why couldn't they communicate properly?Just then, Celeste, seemingly disturbed by a dream, suddenly woke up and sat up.Her gaze around the room was vacant and fragile. After a while, her focus shifted to Damon's face.Damon's heart ached, but he kept a cold demeanor."Not afraid to die when awake, yet every time you sleep, nightmares terrify you. Celeste, you've done too much wrong."Celeste stared blankly for a moment before saying, "Still alive, huh? That's nice."After speaking, she surprisingly lowered her head and chuckled.Damon's suppressed anger erupted. He grabbed Celeste by the neck, veins bulging on his forehead."If you want to die so
Damon returned to the villa, still angry with Celeste.Edna greeted him, noticing his gloomy expression."Mr. Bishop, why did you come back alone? Where's Mrs. Bishop? I even made scallop risotto for Mrs. Bishop.""Are you all being so nice to Celeste because of me?" he suddenly asked, recalling Liam's phone call."I can't speak for others, but I certainly am not. Although Mrs. Bishop doesn't talk much, she's kind-hearted and gentle. I like Mrs. Bishop."Edna, who had served in wealthy households for many years, had encountered various high-and-mighty attitudes.Someone like Celeste, who was easy to serve, was a first."One time, I cut my hand while working, and Mrs. Bishop, to keep me from cooking lunch, specifically said she had no appetite."I later found her quietly cooking instant noodles in the kitchen in the afternoon.""Is that so?"Celeste had never shown such a side in front of him. She was like a hedgehog with all its spines intact, unwilling to reveal her soft sid
Damon escorted Kayden to the door of Celeste's hospital room."Go on, spend some time with Celeste. She's not in a good mood, be a good boy." He patted Kayden's head."Don't worry, I'm very gentle with beautiful ladies!" Kayden assured with a solemn expression. "Aren't you coming in, Damon?"Damon shook his head. He had more pressing matters to attend to.Sitting in the hospital lobby, about to call Liam, a WhatsApp message came in first."Mr. Bishop, there may be some misunderstanding regarding the incident with Ms. Sullivan and Mrs. Bishop falling into the water."…The Bishop's residence was filled with people. Surveillance cameras were installed in almost every corner of the courtyard.Exploiting her familiarity with the layout of the Bishop's residence, Leah had deliberately chosen a blind spot in the surveillance to jump into the lake.However, during her years abroad, Leah was unaware that the surveillance system at the Bishop's residence had been updated and upgraded.
"What do you mean?" Damon's expression immediately became serious."Nothing, just don't want something that doesn't belong to me. Wearing it feels like holding a hot potato," Celeste spoke with a cold tone as if Damon were a stranger.Damon felt annoyed under her scrutinizing gaze."If you don't want it, just throw it away. Toss it on the street and see if it doesn't cause a stampede among all the women in Taverdale!"Who do you think you are, Celeste? I forgot how you managed to look down on my filthy money!"In the moment she returned the bracelet, Damon felt an inexplicable sense of panic.Suddenly, it felt like Celeste wasn't rejecting the necklace, she was rejecting him!Compared to mistakenly thinking Celeste had dragged Leah into the lake, he was clearly more upset about her disregard for her well-being.But he couldn't bring himself to say it now."I'm tired. After you throw your tantrum, just leave. Remember to close the door on your way out," Celeste said dismissivel
Damon had the waiter bring a dry towel and handed it to Leah."Dry yourself," he said, leaning back on the sofa, observing her.Leah, noticing Damon's continued concern, felt a glimmer of hope. She took the towel with a pitiful expression."Danny, that day, when I saw Celeste wearing the Pink Diamond, I felt jealous. Can you forgive me?"We grew up together, and you always gave me the best things. Now, you suddenly started giving them to Celeste."I couldn't stand it, so I made a mistake," she explained while attempting to embrace Damon.Damon subtly dodged her, watching Leah dry her hair.He spoke slowly, his expression unusually serious and cold, "Leah, you learned to swim when you were a child, so you're not afraid."But this time, Celeste almost drowned. You should be thankful that Celeste is alive."Otherwise, you would never be given the chance to have a calm conversation with me like this again."His seriousness terrified Leah. She forgot to breathe for a second."Dan
Celeste spent quite a while in the hospital with a pulmonary infection. After the day she melodramatically returned Damon the Pink Diamond bracelet, she resumed interacting with him as if nothing had happened.Yet, Damon could sense subtle differences.In the past, despite not having heart-to-heart conversations, they had been close. Now, everything seemed a bit … restrained and formal."What's on your mind?"Megan was paying Celeste a visit at the hospital, cutting apples by her bedside."If I had no other expectations of him and he still distrusts me like this, the marriage would definitely end."But now, since I have something to ask of him, I can't let emotions get in the way. Let it be like this," Celeste spoke candidly.Growing up in such a dysfunctional family, she inherently lacked a sense of security. Her outlook on love and marriage was rather pessimistic.During the time spent with Damon, she gradually opened up emotionally. However, facing such a situation now was
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