Celeste’s POV
I woke up with a throbbing headache. And as soon as my eyes popped open, I jolted upright.
Wait a minute, this isn’t my home.
Looking around, I noticed that the room was spacious enough, but plain and simple. With everything a creepy white.
Where am I?
I winced in pain as I tried to move my hands. Both were bandaged.
Suddenly, the pain awakened all my memories. Isadora. Genevieve. Damien.
My mother-in-law slapped me. My best friend had betrayed me. My husband hadn’t even bothered to look for the truth before labeling me a slut in front of the whole world.
I held back the tears in my eyes and began to look around. My gaze fell on a brochure on the bedside table. It said: Welcome to Ravencrest Asylum!
It was… An asylum? A mental institution?! My eyes widened. Why am I here?
Suddenly, the door swung open and I turned sharply toward it.
Damien walked in, his presence commanding as ever, though his expression remained cold and detached.
Behind him, Genevieve followed in a wheelchair, partially covered in a soft shawl. Her delicate frame made her look like the perfect victim.
A myriad of emotions hit me hard. But I stared hard at her, waiting for an explanation. Hoping just a bit that this was some kind of mistake.
Her lips trembled, and as soon as her gaze met mine, she let out a quiet sob.
"I’m so sorry, Celeste," she whispered, her voice shaking. “You shouldn’t have done those things. I couldn’t hold back the truth anymore…”
The words slammed into me. I barely had time to process the shock before Damien tossed a folder onto the table. It slid across the surface, stopping inches from my fingers.
I hesitated before picking it up with trembling hands.
"What… what is this?" My voice came out hoarse and unsteady.
Damien’s stare didn’t falter. "Your medical report."
My fingers clenched around the papers. "This… is not true."
"Isn’t it?" His voice was ice. "You attacked Genevieve. You caused a scene at the banquet. You lashed out in front of hundreds of people."
"None of that was my fault!" I took a step closer, feeling desperate. "The video was fake! The injury—she framed me! How can you not see that?!"
Damien didn’t even blink. "You know what I see?” He paused, seething. “A woman who’s willing to protect her secret lover at any cost."
I let out a shaky breath, trying to hold myself together. "Damien, I don’t have any damn secret lover. There’s no one else!” I cried out. “You know how important you are to me! I gave you my life."
"Enough with the lies." He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair like he was forcing himself to stay calm.
"But I’m not lying!"
Suddenly, Genevieve let out a soft whimper. "Celeste, please... just admit it! You betrayed Damien. You hurt me. Haven’t you done enough?"
“Admit what?” I snapped. “Why would you say that? You’re supposed to be my best friend!”
"I’m your friend, but I’ve covered for you long enough, Celeste! This is for your own good!"
Genevieve stood tall, playing the role of a righteous savior—pretending she was delivering justice.
"You—LIAR!" I yelled, my anger ignited.
I lunged for her, but Damien was quick to step in between us, grabbing my wrists. “Stop this, Celeste! You’re unstable and dangerous!”
He jerked me so hard that I lost my balance, and I suddenly felt my body falling backwards. I hit the floor hard, the impact knocking the breath from my lungs.
Pain shot through my back, but it was nothing compared to the searing agony in my heart. I blinked up at Damien through my tears.
For just a second, his gaze shifted with something that surprised me. Concern? Regret?
But then, Genevieve sobbed again. Damien’s shoulders squared, his face hardening once more.
“Genevieve even tried to cover for you when I saw the video,” he muttered coldly. His gaze connected with mine, and I could see his eyes filling with sheer fury. "Celeste. I can’t believe you could be so cruel."
The words stabbed right through me. Tears spilled over, but still I forced myself to sit up, my hands pressing against the cold floor.
"Damien…" I pleaded. "Please. Don't do this to me."
"Don’t touch me,” he spat out. “Being with you disgusts me."
The breath left my lungs. A sharp, empty ache spread through my chest, crushing what was left of my dignity.
The man I had spent years loving was looking at me with even more wrath and revulsion than before.
I swallowed hard, shaking my head. "You’re wrong. I—"
"You should be thanking Genevieve," Damien cut me off. "If it weren’t for her kindness, you’d be in prison right now."
My mouth dropped open, and my blood ran cold. I couldn’t believe my ears.
“You have to stay here and reflect on everything you’ve done, Celeste,” Damien said, his voice dripping with cold loathing.
Is he crazy? No damn way. I can’t stay here!
Auntie was still waiting for me with news about my biological parents. I was so close— finally so close to finding the truth!
"No!" I tried to stand, though my legs trembled beneath me. "I need to leave! You can’t keep me here!"
But Damien stood his ground, blocking the exit.
Then to my surprise, Genevieve touched his hand and spoke. "Damien… Let me talk to her alone."
Damien frowned, looking terribly worried. But it wasn’t for me. It was for her.
He’s thinking I might attack her again. He’s worried I might end up hurting his innocent Genevieve.
It was a sick joke, indeed.
Damien had never once looked at me that way. Never once been afraid to leave me vulnerable. But now, he was treating her like something fragile.
My scream got stuck in my throat.
“Fine,” Damien eventually said. “I’ll be right outside.”
His eyes moved toward me one last time before he turned and strode out of the room.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Genevieve dropped the act. The softness in her expression vanished, replaced with something sharp and cruel. Perhaps even victorious.
She let out a low, satisfied laugh. "My, my, Celeste," she purred, tilting her head. "Look at you now. How does it feel to lose everything?"
I gritted my teeth. "You piece of—"
"Don’t bother," she cut me off, rolling her eyes. "I don’t have time for your drama. No one’s going to believe you, anyway."
Rage boiled inside me, but I forced myself to stay still.
"Why?" My voice shook, but not from fear. From fury. "Why are you doing this to me?"
Genevieve smirked. "You still don’t get it, do you?" she sighed dramatically. "You still see yourself as a billionaire’s wife? Don’t be delusional. Now you’re just a famous high-society whore."
Her words twisted my heart, crushing something inside of me.
"You know, I did everything I could to get close to Damien…” she began to say with bitterness and anger. “I became his secretary. I worked harder than anyone. And yet, he still ended up marrying you." Her smile faded, eyes flashing with hatred. "A useless, pathetic little orphan girl with no potential. And you’re not even that pretty.”
I inhaled sharply, resisting the urge to shake her awake.
Genevieve leaned forward, her voice dropping to a whisper. "But don’t worry," she murmured. "Everything has finally gone back to where it should be."
She tilted her head, smiling. Like she had already won.
Without thinking, I jumped at her with rage. “You—vile, scheming liar! You’ve been playing me all this time, planning to betray me all along!”
But she just laughed.
"Temper, temper," she cooed, completely unfazed. "You might want to control that. It’s exactly why Damien thinks you’re insane."
A sharp inhale stuttered past my lips. And that was when she leaned in, her lips barely moving. "Enough of this, Celeste. Just stay here and be a good girl, alright?"
“You have no right—”
She didn’t let me finish. “Stay here or I’ll have the orphanage shut down. It’s just one call away.”
My eyes widened. The air left my lungs. No! Not the orphanage!
Genevieve sighed, inspecting her nails. "Auntie and those poor, helpless children... What would they do if they suddenly had nowhere to go? If they ended up on the streets, starving, straying?"
She tilted her head, smirking again. "You wouldn’t want to be responsible for that, would you?"
The walls of the asylum seemed to close in around me. My heartbeat pounded in my skull. And in that moment, I realized the hard, painful truth.
I was trapped, left with no choice. And she fucking knew it.
Celeste’s POVThe fluorescent lights in the hallway felt colder than they had a few minutes ago. Or maybe it was just me—rattled, confused, and already regretting everything.Damien didn’t say a word as he led me away from the room, one hand lightly pressing against my back. I could still feel the imprint of her fingers on my wrist, still hear the way she cried out Genevieve’s name and not mine. And when she did finally look at me—really see me—it was only to beg for silence. Not love. Not forgiveness.I stared down at the tiled floor as we walked. Maybe coming here had been a mistake.And yet… a small part of me was still wondering what Damien was doing here. He always seemed to show up at the strangest moments. At the exact right moments.But before I could open my mouth to ask, a tall man in scrubs rounded the corner and froze when he saw us.“Mr. Vaughn?” he said, blinking behind wire-rimmed glasses. His expression quickly shifted from surprise to concern.Damien’s jaw tensed. “Dr
Celeste’s POVI was scrubbing the already-clean stovetop for the third time, trying to keep my hands busy and my mind from spiraling, when the doorbell rang.My heart jumped—ridiculously, reflexively—as I straightened up, wiping my hands on a dish towel. Damien? Theo? I wasn’t sure which name my brain reached for first, and I hated that I even had to wonder.But when I opened the door, it wasn’t either of them.It’s Nathaniel Lancaster. What the hell is he doing here?!I froze, hand still gripping the edge of the door, unsure whether to slam it shut or step back and let the man in.He looked just like he had the last time I saw him—sharp suit, solemn eyes, and that quiet storm energy beneath the surface. There was something restrained about him, like he was always holding back more than he let on. Maybe that’s what unsettled me the most.“I hope I’m not intruding,” he said gently. “May I come in?”I hesitated for a breath too long, then stepped aside.He walked in, slow and respectful
Damien’s POVI took a sharp breath as I stared at my mother in disbelief. Even after all these years, she still managed to take me by surprise. She stood across from me, arms folded, like she’d just handed me a golden strategy. Like she hadn’t just stripped me bare of choice.“You should reach out to Amaya,” she said again, her voice calmer now, almost coaxing. “Invite her for dinner. A few photos together would go a long way. Gregory would see. As long as you can become his son-in-law, he will naturally persuade your father to restore your status as the company heir. I don't need to elaborate on his influence over your father…”I turned my head slowly. “No.”She blinked. “No?”“I said no.” I faced her fully now, my voice quiet but deadly. “I'm not parading around like some trained poodle just to impress my father.”Her expression cracked. “Damien—”“I’ve already taken over the underworld,” I cut in, sharp. “The real empire which I’m now building with Darrow and the others. Remember
Damien’s POVThe gates of the Vaughn estate creaked open like the jaws of some old, sleeping beast.I sat stiffly in the backseat as the car rolled up the long gravel driveway, my temples throbbing in rhythm with the rumble of the engine. Cole, the same driver who’d dropped me off at Celeste’s place just recently, opened the door with a small nod and started unloading my luggage. My legs felt like stone as I stepped out, my side still sore from the stab wound, every breath a quiet reminder that I wasn’t anywhere near one hundred percent. And yet, here I was—back in the lion’s den—because Liza had called me in a near-panic, telling me my mother was losing it and my father had returned... with an illegitimate child in tow.Perfect.Just what I needed. Family drama layered on top of mafia threats, attempted murder, and a woman I still wasn’t over.Celeste.I tightened my grip on the duffel bag slung over my shoulder, her face flashing in my mind. I hated that I’d had to leave. Hated ev
Damien’s POVThe hot water did little to settle my thoughts.I stood under the shower longer than I should have, the sting on my chest reminding me of what was still healing—and what wasn’t. I need answers. Real ones and fast. If what Mark said was true—if the Black Reapers were somehow connected to that motorcycle nearly running down Celeste—then sitting around in this apartment, playing the obedient patient, wasn’t going to cut it.I dried off roughly, wrapped the towel around my waist, and stepped out of the bathroom. Darrow was already coordinating with the team. I just had to get dressed, make a plan, and—I stopped mid-thought as I turned into the hallway and nearly collided with Celeste.She froze right in front of my semi-naked self. And damn, it definitely had an impact on me. My heart raced and my body heated up. Her eyes flickered to my bare chest, then lower—to the taped bandage just below my ribs. Was she checking the wound?Or remembering how we used to be?Her expre
Damien’s POVShe stopped just short of the balcony door.My question hung in the air between us like smoke. Have you really let go of me?For a moment, I thought she’d walk away without a word. But then, slowly, she turned.The light from inside cast a faint glow across her face, outlining the curve of her jaw, the hesitation in her eyes.She looked at me—not like she was angry. Not like she pitied me.Just… conflicted. And maybe tired. Then, without a single word, she turned again and went inside. The door slid shut behind her with a soft click.She hadn’t said yes. But she hadn’t said no either.But for some reason, I could feel a glimmer of hope inside me. I stayed on the balcony long after she was gone, staring into the dark city below, holding onto that silence like it might carry me through the night.When I woke the next morning, it was too soft light filtering through the guest room curtains and the faint scent of something warm and buttery drifting in from the kitchen.For