This was because Celeste didn't like The Dream of the Red Chamber either.Shortly after they moved into the villa, she had pointed to the deluxe edition of The Dream of the Red Chamber on Damon's bookshelf and said, "I've tried several times to read The Dream of the Red Chamber, but I never got past the twentieth chapter. I just couldn't keep going.""Even you found it tedious?" Damon was puzzled."It's not that. I just find Lord Cedric's writing too meticulous. It's like making a grand show out of trivial matters. The smallest things are made to seem monumental, which I find a bit pretentious."Damon had thought about it. Celeste was a straightforward person who didn't sweat the small stuff. It made sense she would find the story's lack of a clear main plot and its intricate details off-putting."It has literary merit, but I just can't get through it," she had said.Clearly, she hadn't shared this opinion with Leo. Otherwise, he wouldn't use her supposed liking of it as an excus
Damon went upstairs. He stood before Celeste's bedroom door, hesitating for a while. He had cold feet. Recently, he lacked the courage to face her.He lightly knocked on the door. After receiving no response, he rang the doorbell instead. Still, there was silence from inside. Damon felt uneasy and couldn't seem to calm himself down.The key to the room was in the study. Damon tried turning the doorknob, thinking he would go to the study if he couldn't get it. To his surprise, Celeste did not lock the door, which opened.Damon was inevitably stunned when he saw the condition of the room. Celeste was wearing a loose nightgown and curled up like a caterpillar. She seemed to have lost weight again. Her limbs were scrawny, and her complexion was unbelievably pale. The weather had cooled down in autumn, yet her forehead was drenched in sweat. Her long eyelashes cast a shadow on her face as they trembled restlessly.She had only been cooped up for three days but looked ghastly, like a wit
Celeste didn't complete the admission procedures. She quickly exited the VIP room clinic and ran into the elevator, seamlessly blending into the bustling crowd.This time, she made a tactical gambit. Damon refused to let her go, so she had to think of another way. She was really exhausted from her pregnancy. Initially, she had no phone and was bored, so she continued sleeping. Later, Edna was particularly concerned about her mental well-being. She repeatedly advised against always sleeping and suggested she go for a walk in the garden, watch a movie, or play games. She instinctually knew Damon suggested these, so she pretended to be depressed. Coincidentally, dragonfruit was served among the fruits after dinner tonight. She staged a scene for him when she heard Damon's car from the window. To make it more convincing, she had dragon fruit juice in her mouth and bit a part of her cheek to display blood.She achieved her desired outcome—Damon brought her out of the villa and into a publ
Celeste leaned against the passenger seat of Megan's car and explained the whole situation to Megan. Megan was silent for a long time. Then, she said, "This is the end of your relationship with Damon."Someone as proud as him wouldn't continue to pester Celeste after finding out she was pregnant with someone else's baby. Celeste softly murmured in agreement. This was exactly what she wanted; it wasn't surprising to her."Do you regret it?" "A little, but it's better this way. There's no point going back and forth for this." Life had so much more to offer than some petty love affair.Celeste didn't have a phone for now, so Megan took her back to her own house to rest and texted Sebastian to let him know she was safe.Early the following day, Celeste returned to her own house. The Bishop family had brought Leo back. His eyes lit up when he saw her, and he jumped into her arms."Dad promised me you would return today, and you did!" He said.Celeste's heart trembled slightly—Da
The oak and kapok trees were designed with magnetic clasps. Celeste brought the two trees together, and they connected with a "click." She had previously received a standing ovation for this clever design.Damon said she lacked integrity and humiliated her by giving her the lowest score. It was also the day she visited his villa for the first time, never expecting to stay there after for over a year.She considered herself somewhat educated and dignified. If she hadn't had a difficult life, determined to avenge her mother, she wouldn't have approached Damon in such an ugly manner, forcing him to marry her.A love that was forced would eventually be taken away. Even if it weren't Fiona, it would have been someone else. Their fate was destined.Celeste smiled bitterly as her tears moistened.Savanna's "An Ode to the Crape Myrtle" was her interpretation of love."I must be the kapok tree beside you, standing with you as the image of a tree. Our roots are grounded firmly on the earth
On that day, Celeste invited Megan for afternoon tea after finishing a day's work at home. Megan brought many beautiful dresses, baby pacifiers, and dolls and proudly showed them to Celeste."I've already picked out gifts suitable for ages one to six for my goddaughter. When she learns to walk, I'll take her to Disneyland and Universal Studios," Megan said.Autumn was approaching. Celeste wore a knitted cardigan over a pure cotton sundress. Her belly was slightly bulged and couldn't be hidden anymore."How do you know it's a daughter?" she asked Megan with a smile."I have a good feeling about it. Plus, she probably won't be as smart as Leo. She'll be a lively and cute ordinary little girl," Megan said. "I'm manifesting it.""But what if it's a boy?" Celeste teased her."Then, so be it. I won't buy anything for him. He can wear his big brother's old clothes and play with his old toys," Megan began to sulk.Then, she remembered something and said hopefully, "Lately, I've been rea
Henry was sentenced to 20 years, and everyone thought he would serve his full term. He was already nearing 50 when he went to prison, and if he served the entire sentence, he would be too old to cause trouble again. No one expected him to single-handedly reduce his sentence by more than 10 years, getting out of prison after only six years.Celeste's expression immediately turned serious. "He was sentenced to 20 years of prison. How did he get out so quickly?" Megan read Celeste's mind as she asked."Your father asked around, and they said he assisted the prison in upgrading the anti-jailbreak detection system, earning two major achievements. First, his sentence was reduced by five years, then by another eight years," Megan's mother said. She reminded, "Tell Cece that Henry will want his revenge. She must be careful and not fall for it. After all, it's no surprise what this man is capable of."Celeste felt fuzzy in her heart. "Auntie, I know. I'll be careful," she quickly replied on
When Henry was arrested, his assets were confiscated, and even the house was foreclosed, leaving him with nothing. Based on Celeste's understanding, Hannah had been living in a low-rent apartment outside the city since his release from prison. The Kissingers were not wealthy, to begin with, and they were not out in the woods yet from the implication in Henry's smuggling case. So, they couldn't help Henry in any way.Now, he willingly appeared in front of the media in such a high-profile manner. There was only one possibility for this—he had already thoroughly prepared for the next step. If he were ready to wander the streets and wait for his demise, there would be no need to establish an image of a reformed entrepreneur to elevate himself.Megan pondered for a moment and immediately understood what Celeste was implying. "Henry has done many treacherous things, taking people's livelihoods lightly. The people investing in him are not afraid of retaliation."She felt indignant.Howeve