Brandon smiled. "Indeed. It's not bad at all."Upon finishing his words, he asked again, "Aren't you busy with your painting? Why are you here?""Well, I didn't want you to think that I wasn't a good host, so I came over to take a look.""Go take care of your stuff; don't disturb me while I watch the match."However, Harry stayed. When the Shaws and Lockets heard Brandon and Harry praise Wynn, smiles spread across their faces. A lot of people there knew Wynn, and many felt both envious and jealous of her. After all, Wynn had the looks and the credentials. And now, thanks to her chess skills, she caught the attention of Harry and Brandon. Besides, Wynn's charm had earned Trevor's affection, helping both the Shaws and Lockets rise effortlessly in status. What parent wouldn't want a daughter like that?With envy, someone remarked to the Lockets and Shaws, "What a fantastic daughter and granddaughter you have.""Exactly!" the others agreed, then asked, "How did you manage t
Just then, Trevor spoke. "Okay."Celeste sat across from him. Once the shock wore off, Wynn's face returned to its usual calm. After greeting Harry, she went to stand beside Trevor. It wasn't just Beck, the Lockets, and the Shaws were surprised; Caleb and Harry were just as stunned. While Harold had introduced Celeste to them in the gallery earlier, they still didn't know much about her. Seeing how quiet and reserved Celeste was, they figured she wasn't the type to draw attention to herself. Hence, they assumed that even if she knew how to play chess, she wouldn't just challenge others publicly like that. Brandon didn't know Celeste as well, but he did notice her presence. With her striking appearance and gentle, well-mannered personality, Celeste came across the picture of a well-raised, polite young woman. To him, this kind of young woman seemed to be a great fit as his grandson's wife. He didn't expect Celeste to know how to play chess too. Trevor looked at Ce
From then on, Wynn started paying more attention to Celeste's moves. When she saw Celeste resolve the tricky situation Trevor had set up for her in a way she hadn't anticipated, she felt a sense of unease. Hearing Brandon's praise, her heart sank even lower. Celeste was fully absorbed in the game, blocking out everything around her.She was holding her ground for now. However, she knew that winning was almost out of reach. Thus, she paused for a second, looking at Trevor. Trevor made another move. And Celeste halted her movements. Harry chuckled. "This is incredible. I never imagined I'd witness such an amazing game here, especially played by two young ones. Well done!"Brandon was frustrated since he broke his concentration. "Shush, shush!"Harry was at a loss for words. After a few minutes, Celeste made her move, subtly shifting the game back to her advantage. Two minutes later, Trevor countered with a move. Then, Celeste set the chess piece down and said, "I l
Harry and Brandon glanced at Trevor, then at Celeste. As their gazes landed on Wynn, they furrowed their brows. After a moment of silence, Trevor spoke up. "It's been a while since you played chess, hasn't it?"While examining his setup, she simply nodded and hummed in reply, not looking up.She barely played chess anymore after marrying him. "I can tell you're a little rusty," Trevor remarked.Celeste didn't say anything in reply, her attention fixed on the chessboard. The game wasn't going well for her right now. It looked like there was a promising opening on Trevor's side, but in truth, his hidden pieces were lying in wait, ready to trap her. She pondered for a moment. Then, she avoided the trap he had laid and made her move somewhere else.And now, Trevor was at a disadvantage. He smirked and, after a long moment, placed his next piece on the board. The tension in the game increased again. After several more moves, Celeste was defeated, but it was a close game.
That wasn't a good sign. Hence, they wanted to talk to Celeste about it. Harvey spoke first. "Cel, I…"Before Celeste could respond, Matthias chuckled and interrupted, "Mr. Locket, are you here to announce your relationship with Cel?"Harvey's smile faltered, and then he awkwardly laughed. "Mr. Yoder, I need to talk to Cel for a moment, can you…"Matthias cut him off. "If you're eager for everyone to know about your relationship with Cel, you're welcome to say anything."Harvey didn't want to upset Matthias. Hence, he could only leave with Lennox. However, before he left, he turned to Celeste. "I'll call you later tonight. Don't forget to pick it up."Celeste remained silent. She couldn't be bothered with him. As for the call, there was no way she was answering it. Matthias was frustrated. "Man, I really want to just lash out at him."How could Celeste not feel the same? The problem was, when it came to her situation with Trevor, she had never been able to prove h
When Celeste Rodriguez arrived at the airport in Andostan, it was already past 9:00 pm.It was her birthday that day. Therefore, she received a bunch of birthday wishes from her colleagues and friends when she turned on her phone. However, there was no message from her husband, Trevor Fleming, at all.Celeste's smile faded.By the time she reached the villa, it was already past 10:00 pm.Hannah Lynd, the housekeeper, was startled when she saw her. "Oh, Mrs. Fleming… Why have you come here?""Where are Trevor and Jo?" Celeste asked. "Mr. Fleming hasn't returned yet, and Ms. Fleming is in her room, playing," Hannah replied.Celeste handed her luggage to Hannah. When she went upstairs, she found Jordyn wearing a pair of pajamas and sitting at her table, fiddling with something. She was so focused that she didn't even notice anyone entering the room."Jo?" Celeste called out.Jordyn turned her head when she heard her. In a happy tone, she greeted, "Mom!"Then, she turned back
At around 9:00 pm, Trevor and Jordyn returned home.Jordyn clung to the hem of Trevor's coat and got out of the car sluggishly. Because Celeste was at home, she was reluctant to return that night.But Wynn had said that Celeste came specifically to be with her and Trevor, and if they didn't return, she would be sad. Trevor also said that if they didn't go home that night, Celeste would definitely insist on joining them on their outing to the sea the next day.Reluctantly, Jordyn agreed to come home.Still worried, she muttered gloomily, "Dad, what if Mom insists on tagging along with us tomorrow?""She won't," Trevor replied confidently.In all the years they'd been married, Celeste had always tried to find ways to spend more time with him. But she was also sensible. As long as he made his stance clear, she wouldn't dare make him upset.In Jordyn's memory, Celeste always listened to Trevor. Since he said she wouldn't, she felt reassured. As a result, her mood lifted. She made he
Zeke was one of Trevor's personal secretaries. When he saw Celeste's resignation letter, he was extremely surprised.He was one of the few in the company who knew about the relationship between Celeste and Trevor.Anyone familiar with Trevor knew that he didn't love Celeste. So, he had been cold to her and rarely went home after their marriage.To get closer to and win over Trevor, Celeste had chosen to work at Fleming Group.Her initial goal was to become his personal secretary, but Trevor refused vehemently. Even when Arnold stepped in, he couldn't get Trevor to agree. In the end, Celeste had to settle for a position in the secretarial team, becoming one of Trevor's many ordinary secretaries.At first, Zeke had worried that Celeste's presence in the secretarial team would create chaos. But to his surprise, she didn't bring them any trouble. Although Celeste used her position to get closer to Trevor, she was mindful of her timing and never overstepped her boundaries. On the con
That wasn't a good sign. Hence, they wanted to talk to Celeste about it. Harvey spoke first. "Cel, I…"Before Celeste could respond, Matthias chuckled and interrupted, "Mr. Locket, are you here to announce your relationship with Cel?"Harvey's smile faltered, and then he awkwardly laughed. "Mr. Yoder, I need to talk to Cel for a moment, can you…"Matthias cut him off. "If you're eager for everyone to know about your relationship with Cel, you're welcome to say anything."Harvey didn't want to upset Matthias. Hence, he could only leave with Lennox. However, before he left, he turned to Celeste. "I'll call you later tonight. Don't forget to pick it up."Celeste remained silent. She couldn't be bothered with him. As for the call, there was no way she was answering it. Matthias was frustrated. "Man, I really want to just lash out at him."How could Celeste not feel the same? The problem was, when it came to her situation with Trevor, she had never been able to prove h
Harry and Brandon glanced at Trevor, then at Celeste. As their gazes landed on Wynn, they furrowed their brows. After a moment of silence, Trevor spoke up. "It's been a while since you played chess, hasn't it?"While examining his setup, she simply nodded and hummed in reply, not looking up.She barely played chess anymore after marrying him. "I can tell you're a little rusty," Trevor remarked.Celeste didn't say anything in reply, her attention fixed on the chessboard. The game wasn't going well for her right now. It looked like there was a promising opening on Trevor's side, but in truth, his hidden pieces were lying in wait, ready to trap her. She pondered for a moment. Then, she avoided the trap he had laid and made her move somewhere else.And now, Trevor was at a disadvantage. He smirked and, after a long moment, placed his next piece on the board. The tension in the game increased again. After several more moves, Celeste was defeated, but it was a close game.
From then on, Wynn started paying more attention to Celeste's moves. When she saw Celeste resolve the tricky situation Trevor had set up for her in a way she hadn't anticipated, she felt a sense of unease. Hearing Brandon's praise, her heart sank even lower. Celeste was fully absorbed in the game, blocking out everything around her.She was holding her ground for now. However, she knew that winning was almost out of reach. Thus, she paused for a second, looking at Trevor. Trevor made another move. And Celeste halted her movements. Harry chuckled. "This is incredible. I never imagined I'd witness such an amazing game here, especially played by two young ones. Well done!"Brandon was frustrated since he broke his concentration. "Shush, shush!"Harry was at a loss for words. After a few minutes, Celeste made her move, subtly shifting the game back to her advantage. Two minutes later, Trevor countered with a move. Then, Celeste set the chess piece down and said, "I l
Just then, Trevor spoke. "Okay."Celeste sat across from him. Once the shock wore off, Wynn's face returned to its usual calm. After greeting Harry, she went to stand beside Trevor. It wasn't just Beck, the Lockets, and the Shaws were surprised; Caleb and Harry were just as stunned. While Harold had introduced Celeste to them in the gallery earlier, they still didn't know much about her. Seeing how quiet and reserved Celeste was, they figured she wasn't the type to draw attention to herself. Hence, they assumed that even if she knew how to play chess, she wouldn't just challenge others publicly like that. Brandon didn't know Celeste as well, but he did notice her presence. With her striking appearance and gentle, well-mannered personality, Celeste came across the picture of a well-raised, polite young woman. To him, this kind of young woman seemed to be a great fit as his grandson's wife. He didn't expect Celeste to know how to play chess too. Trevor looked at Ce
Brandon smiled. "Indeed. It's not bad at all."Upon finishing his words, he asked again, "Aren't you busy with your painting? Why are you here?""Well, I didn't want you to think that I wasn't a good host, so I came over to take a look.""Go take care of your stuff; don't disturb me while I watch the match."However, Harry stayed. When the Shaws and Lockets heard Brandon and Harry praise Wynn, smiles spread across their faces. A lot of people there knew Wynn, and many felt both envious and jealous of her. After all, Wynn had the looks and the credentials. And now, thanks to her chess skills, she caught the attention of Harry and Brandon. Besides, Wynn's charm had earned Trevor's affection, helping both the Shaws and Lockets rise effortlessly in status. What parent wouldn't want a daughter like that?With envy, someone remarked to the Lockets and Shaws, "What a fantastic daughter and granddaughter you have.""Exactly!" the others agreed, then asked, "How did you manage t
As Celeste reviewed the moves, the comment made her pause, a flicker of interest surfacing.Just then, she heard Wynn's voice. "Mr. Keller Senior, I'd love to give it a shot after seeing your match. But with my abilities, beating Trevor might be…""Ah, it's all in good fun; I wasn't being serious." Brandon laughed. "If you'd like to play, go ahead."Wynn was about to speak when someone chuckled. "If Ms. Locket joins, the game could go either way.""Right? Mr. Fleming might be great at chess, but if he actually defeats Ms. Locket, he'll probably have some explaining to do at home."With that, laughter rippled through the crowd. Brandon wasn't aware of Wynn and Trevor's relationship. Upon hearing the remark, he observed Wynn's elegance and confidence. She truly seemed like a fitting match for Trevor. Then, he smiled, looking at Trevor as he teased, "Oh? In that case, I'm curious to see if you can still keep your cool playing against your girlfriend like you did with me."Unfa
Trevor put away the glass and responded, "The honor is mine, Mr. Keller Senior."Then, he settled into the seat across from Brandon. "Mr. Keller Senior, please go easy on me."Wynn, Beck, and the others came over to spectate the match. Celeste and Matthias joined the crowd as well. However, they were standing behind Brandon. Wynn, Beck, and the others knew how to play chess. Seeing Celeste watching intently, as if she was familiar with chess, Beck headed over to her. He asked, "You play chess?"Celeste answered, "A little bit."With that, Matthias went speechless.A bit? More like a whole lot. But he didn't say that aloud. Since they weren't familiar with each other's playstyles, Brandon and Trevor started off with cautious, unclear moves. Over time, they seemed to grasp each other's tendencies, and Brandon adopted a more offensive strategy. Trevor, on the other hand, was countering Brandon's aggressive moves and searching carefully for his own openings. It loo
After briefly greeting everyone once more, Harry left and disappeared into his private quarters. Celeste, Matthias, Trevor, Beck, the Shaws, and the Lockets all went inside as well. With so many people inside, the Lockets and the Shaws didn't stand out at all. Everyone took their seats in the pavilion while the servants served tea and snacks. Harry and Betty had a lively and cheerful discussion. Apart from Betty, Harry had two friends who were also well-versed in painting. In high spirits, Harry and his friends opted to create a painting right then and there, asking Betty to join in. Harry instructed Caleb, "Go to my study and get me my painting tools, Caleb.""Okay."Upon finishing, Harry spoke highly of Betty's artistic skill. Then, they started talking about the painting again. Celeste and Matthias chose not to interrupt their conversation and instead relaxed in the pavilion, enjoying the tea and snacks. Her seat was quite a distance away from the Lockets and S
Wynn replied politely, "That's very kind of you to say."Harry then glanced at the group and teased, "Looks like it's time for you guys to step up, too."Just then, Harold arrived with Celeste and Matthias in tow. He turned to Harry. "Father, meet the youngest Yoder. His company, YodaVision, has seen remarkable growth and is on the government's priority list for future support." He continued, "This is Celeste Rodriguez, the core technical developer at YodaVision and a rare talent in the field. The company owes much of its success to her." People of the older generation often had a greater concern for the future of the country. Hearing Harold's words, Harry's smile softened as he remarked, "That's wonderful. With the talent we have, there's a lot to look forward to."Harold also took the opportunity to introduce Betty to Harry. Then, Harry and Betty started chatting about art. Having been raised in a cultured household, Betty regularly practiced calligraphy and painting.