Celeste’s POVDamien stood in front of me like a barrier. Calm, composed… but I could feel the tension radiating off of him.Then he turned his head slightly, his voice low but laced with steel.“Are you hurt?”I blinked, stunned. My mouth parted, but I couldn’t find the words.How did he even know I was here?Before I could ask, he’d already shifted his gaze forward again. No explanation. No time.John’s eyes darted wildly between us. When he saw Damien’s face, he froze. He clearly realized this man wasn’t someone he could intimidate or outrun.He wasn’t getting away today.He was like a rat in a cage it couldn’t escape, with a burst of false bravado. “Y-you better back off!” he barked, voice cracking. “I’ll—I’ll call the cops, you hear me?!”The words tumbled out fast and uneven, more panic than threat.He stared at us, eyes shifting nervously to Damien—wary, like he knew one wrong move might get him hurt. Suddenly, he turned on his heel, desperate to flee.But Damien moved like a s
Celeste’s POV“…Hello?”The voice on the other end was rough. Dry. Like gravel dragged across pavement.I steadied myself. “Hi, Mr. John Deaks? My name is Celeste Monroe. I’m sorry to call out of the blue, but I was told you might be able to help me.”A pause. Wariness instantly crept into the silence.“I’m looking into what happened at Rosehill Orphanage,” I continued carefully. “I’m just trying to understand—”“I don’t know what you’re talking about! You’ve got the wrong guy.” The man blurted, and then—CLICK.The line went dead.I stared at my phone, stunned.I tried calling back immediately.Nothing.The number was still active, but now it wouldn’t even ring. Straight to voicemail. He was cutting me off, for some strange reason. I stood in the middle of the room, the quiet pressing against my skin like fog.Just hearing the word orphanage had made him panic. Not hesitate nor deny calmly. He knew something.Something he didn’t want to say and was terrified to say.My fingers tighte
Celeste’s POVI called again.Still no answer.The night was growing quieter around me. But all I could hear was the unanswered ringing in my ear. ‘Come on, Theo.’ I whispered in my head. ‘Answer your phone. Where the heck are you?’I tried once more. My fourth attempt. This time, the call finally connected.“Theo?” I breathed out.“Celeste.” His voice came through low, slightly rushed, like he had only just stepped away from something urgent. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to miss your calls.”“Where are you?” I asked, trying—and failing—to hide the concern in my voice. I was certainly relieved to hear him on the other end. There was a brief pause. In the background, I could hear the shuffling of papers and some other people talking in low, hushed voices.“I’ve been asked to go to Switzerland,” he said. “A business negotiation. It came up at the last minute. I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone.”I frowned, confused. “Oh! But… I thought you said you were staying in the city this week.”“I
Celeste’s POVThe banquet was drawing to a close. And for the first time in a long while, I felt still.Fulfilled.Like maybe, just maybe, all the stress, the sleepless nights, the pressure I’d quietly carried on my back—had been worth it.Not only had Madam Diane publicly praised my work, but the buzz I’d been hearing all night—the sideways glances, the whispered names, the cards slipped discreetly into my palm—told me everything I needed to know.People were paying attention now. Not because of the scandal, but because of what I could create.This was another high point in my career—one that I had carved out with my own two hands.First, the recognition from Sebastian, a highly-esteemed icon in the fashion world who rarely praised anyone, and now this.I took a small sip of wine and let my shoulders relax.And in that moment of quiet—“Excuse me, ma’am?”I turned slightly, lowering my glass.A man in a tailored uniform bowed politely. “Our chairman would like to have a word with you
Damien’s POV"I know she's with someone else," I said quietly, setting my glass down harder than necessary. "But I can’t live without her."The words felt heavy coming out, raw and ugly in my throat. Admitting it made me feel like I was tearing open a wound that had never fully healed.Rob just stared at me.He opened his mouth once like he wanted to say something, then closed it again. Ran a hand down his face. Shook his head in disbelief.Finally, he leaned forward, elbows braced on the table. "You’re serious," he said, as if he still couldn’t believe it.I nodded once.His mouth twitched, like he wanted to curse or laugh or maybe both, but he didn’t. He just sighed heavily, his voice turning more serious than I'd heard it all night."Then you can’t fight her," Rob said. "And you sure as hell can’t fight him either."I frowned. "Then what?""You offer her something she can’t ignore," he said simply. "You figure out what she needs most... and you give it to her."I stared at him, his
Damien’s POVI left the room.I needed to find Celeste first—she would know more about Genevieve’s plans—she was part of this.And that Genevieve...How many more secrets was she hiding?I thought back to the moments I had spent with her. She had always worn that sweet, flawless smile.But who knew what lurked beneath it?I pushed through the thinning crowd, ignoring the fake smiles, the clinking glasses, the meaningless noise.At the entrance, I caught sight of an event staff member adjusting a clipboard under her arm. I cut straight toward her."Celeste Monroe," I said tightly. "Have you seen her?"The woman blinked up at me, startled. "Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. Vaughn. But Miss Monroe left a little earlier, sir."The word hit harder than it should have."With who?" My voice was sharp, clipped.She glanced at her notes. “I believe it was someone who was inquiring about her designs. Perhaps a new client? I’m so sorry, I don’t have more information.” “Was it a man or a woman? What did they l
Genevieve’s POVMy pulse skipped. Damien glanced at me once, cool and unreadable. “D-Damien…” I stammered, fear rising in my chest. “I… I didn’t know you were there.” My fingers clenched around my phone, cold sweat prickling at the back of my neck.Were my hands shaking? I curled them tighter to hide it.I forced a small, broken laugh, desperate to fill the awful silence. “Were you… waiting to use the room?”“Yes,” he said with a blank expression. “Didn’t realize you’d be in there so long.”My mouth went dry. I stepped aside quickly. “S-sorry.”I couldn’t tell if he’d heard anything. His face gave nothing away, and that scared me more than if he’d been angry.He walked past me and into the room without another word.But I could feel his gaze trailing after me as I walked away. I didn’t dare look back. ***Damien’s POVI watched her walk away, her steps too quick, too stiff—like she knew I was still standing there. Like she knew I’d heard something.And she was right.I had.Not ever
Genevieve’s POVIsadora swooped in the second Damien walked away, grabbing my arm with perfectly manicured fingers and a sharp whisper."Did you see that?" she seethed. "My son—he didn’t even spare me a second look! After everything I’ve done for him!"Isadora didn’t stop, “And now? He walks past me like I’m a stranger on the street!"I barely managed to suppress the urge to roll my eyes. If I were Damien, I wouldn’t want to bother with you either.Is throwing tantrums really the only trick you know? Have you ever tried using any other way?I shifted my gaze away, careful not to let my disdain show. Swallowing all my irritation and keeping my expression neutral.But Isadora, of course, wasn’t satisfied with my half-hearted silence. Her voice pitched just slightly louder, “What are you looking at?”“Em… Damien,” I conjured the first excuse that came to mind. “It’s just… it’s been so long since I last saw him. And Celeste is here tonight too. I’m worried…”I trailed off deliberately,
Celeste’s POV“An invitation,” she said. “To the event I’m attending. It’s a political summit, but the social side of it is just as important. Every major name will be there. I want you there—to represent your work. People should know who designed this.”I stared at the envelope in awe. She smiled again. “Besides, it’s about time you got the spotlight you deserve.”And just like that, everything I had worked for—every sleepless night, every doubt, every tear I didn’t let fall—felt worth it.*****The ballroom shimmered with gold and glass, every surface reflecting wealth and power. People weren’t just arriving—they were arriving to be seen.And tonight, I had every right to be one of them.I walked in alone, head held high, and took it all in. I hadn’t even reached the center of the room when I heard it—“Celeste?”Genevieve stood just a few feet away, mouth slightly parted in shock. Her eyes scanned me up and down, clearly not expecting to see me here.Standing beside her, Isadora h