CHAPTER SIX: The Bombshell Ex

JULIAN'S POV

Celeste Laurent ripped my heart out. My chest still feels hollow.

It’s been four years—four years since she leaked my client's confidential files to the press and nearly cost me my company. I lost everything—trust, investors, partnerships.

She never said why. One day we were happy, the next we were on opposite sides of a legal case.

And when I thought it couldn’t get worse, she took the one thing I had left.

My son.

They said I was unfit. She walked away with full custody.

She didn’t just hurt me. She ruined me.

Now she’s here again. Standing across the room in a black dress and red lipstick like she never burned my world to the ground.

The devil is, indeed, a beautiful creature. And I hate that I still felt something when I saw her.

My heart pounded in my ears as she strutted toward me, her lip curled in a delicious sneer.

“I'm guessing my invitation got lost in the mail.”

“You have some nerve coming back here,” I snarled.

She tutted.

“Now, Julian, there's no need to be cross. I'm just here to congratulate the new bride.”

Her eyes cut to Adele, and she grinned from ear to ear like a Cheshire cat.

“I must say, you really went to the bottom of the food chain for this one. Where did you find her? A garbage truck?”

“This bitch,” Adele hissed.

“Ooh!” Celeste clapped excitedly. “She also has the vocabulary of a truck driver.”

She was enjoying this. The rapid flicker of cameras showed the media would enjoy it too.

Not again. I won’t let her ruin this day for me. For Adele.

I reached out and grabbed her arm, turning and walking briskly toward the side doors.

She giggled and called over her shoulder,

“I'll return him when I'm done, I promise.”

I burst through the doors into the kitchen.

Several white hats peeked up.

The head caterer moved toward me meekly, but I was lost in my rage.

“Everybody out!” I barked, my voice rising several octaves.

Within seconds, the room emptied. Celeste wrestled herself from my grip.

“I'll cut the crap and be real with you, Celeste. I know you—and I know you didn’t just spawn here after four years for no reason.”

“We both know this isn’t about the wedding—”

I cut her off with a frustrated wave.

“This isn't a conversation, Celeste. I speak, you listen. If you think you can waltz in here after so long—with your little black dress—and undo everything I’ve worked so hard to rebuild, think again. I don't owe you anything. You will not take from me!”

I paused to breathe. My throat burned. My heart thumped against my ribs.

I planned this day down to the last detail. Someone must have been sloppy.

They're definitely getting fired tonight.

“I don't know what you think of me, Julian. I'm here to support you… and that rug rat you have outside.”

I whipped around, startling her. My finger pointed right in her face.

“You will not talk about my wife like that, you… viper! She's here to stay. You're not. I didn’t invite you. I don’t ever want to see your wretched face again.”

Her green eyes widened. They moistened instantly, but I wasn't moved. Her tears were liquid manipulation. Her grip on me doesn’t hold strong anymore.

Then why did I feel a tug in my chest?

What is this feeling? Empathy? Guilt?

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Her makeup stayed intact, but her lips quivered, giving her that same innocent look.

For a second, I forgot how much I hated this woman.

I wanted to wrap my arms around her waist, bury my nose in her hair, and tell her how much I missed her.

But that was four years ago.

“That’s some way to talk to the mother of your only child. Your son.”

“I'm sorry you feel that way. Surely you didn’t expect me to bring flowers and rub your feet after you left me and took MY SON!”

“I did it for you! You were sinking—”

“AND WHOSE FAULT WAS THAT?! You took everything from me, Celeste! And now you stand there and tell me to be grateful you took my son?”

Her tears flowed freely now.

I groaned and held my head in both palms. My wife is outside. The press is watching.

“Just… stay away. Leave now. If you have any dignity left, walk away and don’t look back. I’ve moved on. And you should too. For our son… who doesn’t even know what it feels like to fall asleep in my arms anymore.”

My shoulders dropped. A strange sadness overwhelmed me.

She sniffed and dabbed a black handkerchief to her eyes. Then, without another word, she brushed past me and threw open the double doors.

I watched her fade into the crowd, headed for the exit.

Adele appeared at the door. Her eyes lingered on the one Celeste disappeared through, then shifted to me—not with jealousy, but with worry.

“Are you okay?”

“I'm fine.”

She narrowed her eyes and nodded.

“Okay.”

“We’re going home.”

She glanced over her shoulder. The lights bounced off her hair.

“I'd love that… but the reception’s not over yet.”

“It's over when I say it is. Let’s go.”

And yet, even as I reached for Adele’s hand, Celeste’s perfume still clung to the air…

…like a ghost I hadn’t quite exorcised.

And for the first time in years,

I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

******

ADELE'S POV

Silence hung in the air like broken glass.

I sat still in the car on the way home, still clutching my bouquet. Some of the flowers had wilted.

I risked a glance sideways. Julian sat just as still, legs spread open. Our knees touched.

I wondered if he noticed. If he’d pull away.

He didn’t. I said nothing.

There was nothing to say.

The car pulled up in front of tall, black steel gates. They swung open automatically. The driveway was flanked by trees. The mansion ahead stood magnificent. Lights off. Of course.

Julian stepped out and stalked into the house.

I stayed behind in the silence.

This is my life now.

A silhouette emerged, moving toward the car. Then moonlight revealed his face.

Julian.

He opened the door and offered his hand. I stared at it, then looked up at him. Dark smudges stained beneath his eyes. His face looked ashen—a ghost of the smug man I hated this morning.

I took his hand. He flinched softly but didn’t move away. As I stepped out of the car, I underestimated my heels and tripped. His strong arms wrapped around my waist, steadying me.

My chest tightened and my breath hitched. I felt his warm breath down the side of my neck. His strong chest pushed up against my back.

It only lasted a few seconds, but I still felt the print of his hands even after he let go and avoided my gaze. The door slammed behind us. He led me into the house. It was dark inside.

The butler approached and offered to take his coat. He declined.

“Show Mrs. Hawthorne to her room, will you?”

Oh!

I never planned on sharing a room with him. But it still stung to know he didn’t plan to either.

I was his wife, after all.

But rules are rules. I signed the contract. Time to play the part.

Still, my fingers tingled with rage as I let the flowers fall.

“Goodnight, Julian. Try not to choke on your own ego while I'm gone.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“So… breakfast?”

Realization hit me again.

I’d be having breakfast with this man for the next two years.

'It’s just breakfast', I reassured myself.

You can’t talk when your mouth is full.

“Sure. Whatever. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, my beautiful bride. If you need anything, just ring the bell beside the bed.”

“How generous of you.”

I rolled my eyes and followed the butler up a dark, winding staircase to a dim hallway.

My room was pitch dark. I wondered why the lights were off.

A king-sized bed sat by the balcony doors. I groaned as I sank into it, lying flat on my back. Shoes off.

The silence buzzed in my ears like static.

I closed my eyes. I felt trapped. Like a butterfly in a cage.

I always imagined my wedding night.

It was never this.

Never lying alone in bed with tears stinging the back of my throat.

But I swallowed them.

I'm doing this for Mom.

That’s my consolation.

I reached for my phone and dialed.

She picked up almost instantly, her voice warm.

“How is my newly wedded princess?”

She sounded excited. But I still heard the tiredness.

“Mom…hi.” I choked. My throat was on fire. My tears stung like acid.

“Hi baby. Are you okay? How are you?” I heard her stir.

“No—yes. I’m fine, Mom. Just checking in. How are you feeling?”

I was lying.

I didn’t want to be here. I wanted to be with her. Holding her hand. Warming her feet.

But this is the price of saving her.

“Don’t worry about me. I’m getting the best care, thanks to your loving husband.”

Silence.

“Is everything okay, Adele?”

“Y-yes, Mom. I just… wish I was there with you.”

The tears fell.

“Aw baby. I miss you too. But this is your time. Shed that weight and focus on your happiness. I’m fine.”

I sniffed.

“Okay, Mommy. I love you.”

“Is he making you happy?”

“Yes. He is. He’s… the best.”

A lie.

“Then you’ve got nothing to worry about. It'll all be fine. I love you, sweetie. And remember—what happened to your father and brother is not your fault. Don’t let it hold you down.”

If only she knew.

The world darkened, and I slipped into a dreamless sleep in a too-tight corset and a wedding dress that never felt like mine.

I’d play the good wife.

But no one said I’d play nice.

******

Julian lay wide awake, the silence of the night refusing to let him rest.

There's a thin line between love and hate.

Of which Celeste had crossed, Julian wasn't sure.

But as he lay in bed,his thoughts took him down memory lane.

He thought of the first time he met Celeste. How a single strand of that golden blonde hair kept falling into her face when she struck a new pose on the red carpet. She just had her heart broken, and attended an event in Princess Diana's ‘Revenge Dress’.

How he held her in his arms as they mourned their first miscarriage. How their rainbow baby came just 11 months after.

Her tears of joy when their baby was placed in her arms.

The sound of Leo's laughter on their first day at the beach. Celeste's hair billowing in the wind as she ran up into his arms.

A warm fuzzy feeling spread across his chest for a second, quickly replaced by a dull stabbing pain.

She was once his light, now she's the storm that follows him into sleep.

He rubbed his fist against his eye softly and rolled over, covering himself in his duvet.

The air was cold and stiff.

He closed his eyes, and there was Celeste. But she was not the soft, delicate model he met anymore. This version of Celeste was a green eyed monster. Cold and vengeful, her eyes filled with greed.

She loomed above him—knife glinting, eyes dead and full of vengeance.

He tried to move. To shake her off him, but he was glued to the spot. Cold sweat broke out over his body.

“You can never get rid of me, Julian. I'm going to bury myself in your skin”

Her eyes shone brighter as she straddled him roughly.

She lifted the knife.

Julian screamed and rolled to the side. He landed hard on the cold floor, gasping for breath. He opened his eyes. The knife. Her eyes. The sound of her voice—

He looked around. No Celeste.

Just shadows and silence.

Julian scrubbed a hand over his face. The bed loomed behind him like a trap.

He wouldn’t be sleeping tonight.

*****

She dashed around the room wide eyed.

He can't win. I can't let him win!

Celeste grabbed a carry-on and stuffed clothes inside. Her dress ripped as she tried to lift the bag, and she cursed loudly.

Leo flinched. He sat perched on the mountain of clothes piled on the shiny marble floor. His hair fell into his face and he brushed it away sleepily.

“Where are we going, mom?”

Julian needs to know how irreplaceable I am.

Her lips formed a half smile as she crouched in front of Leo, ruffling his hair gently and pulling him into her arms.

“I have a surprise for you honey. I'm so giddy I don't think I can hold it in!” She kissed the side of his face.

“Huh? What's the surprise, mom?”

“Oh! Why bother? I'll just tell you so we can both be excited.”

She turned around and zipped up the bags breathlessly.

“We…are going to see your father. You've always wanted to meet him. Now's your chance “

Leo muttered a soft “yayy” and rubbed his eyes.

I'll never let you go, Julian. I'm bound to you.