Chapter 2

The next morning, I drove Celeste to the hospital.

When I pushed the door to the ward, I was genuinely taken aback. On the bed, Felix had visibly lost weight.

"Edgar, you're back," he said, giving me a weak smile the moment he saw me.

Guilt surged inside me. I walked over, patted his shoulder, and handed him a get-well-soon gift I'd readied earlier.

"You should've told me you were sick, kid. Focus on getting better. Let me know if there's anything you'd like to eat."

Felix grinned. "You're the best, Edgar."

Seeing how loose his clothes hung on him now, I felt a wave of shame over last night's suspicions. Right now, even an L-sized shirt would be too big on him.

I finally heaved a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, Celeste's phone rang. When she stepped into the hallway to answer it, I faintly heard her say, "Understood. I'll handle it right away."

Then, she hung up.

"Who was that? Did something come up at the company?" I casually asked.

She walked back in and packed her stuff as she replied, "From my secretary. It's just a minor work issue."

My heart skipped a beat as I remembered that Celeste's assistant was a woman, but I'd clearly heard a young man's voice on the call.

My guard went up again, though I kept my expression neutral. "Did you switch to a different secretary? I thought the woman from before was doing just fine."

Celeste explained naturally, "Oh. Since we're preparing to expand into menswear, I thought it'd be better to hire a male secretary. He used to be a model and knows the menswear market.

"While you were away last month and Felix was sick, he stepped in and helped me with the fittings."

She finished with a teasing smile. "What? Are you jealous? If it bothers you, I'll fire him right now."

At this point, I'd look petty if I pushed any further. So, I waved and said, "Not at all. I understand that it's for work."

Though I said so, something sharp and prickly had lodged itself in my chest.

That afternoon, I came up with an excuse to visit Celeste's company as an investor. The moment I walked into the design department, I spotted the new male secretary.

He was young and handsome, with a tall, well-proportioned build. There was a youthful energy he carried that hovered between a boyish and a mature man's charm.

A few senior staff members warmly greeted me the moment they saw me. "Mr. Dalton! Great to see you!"

I smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries. "How's the company doing lately? I heard a handsome new secretary was hired for the menswear line."

A senior female designer beamed and said, "That's right, Mr. Dalton. Kai's a sharp kid, and he's been a great help to Ms. Beaumont. Besides, with that gorgeous build, he's basically a walking mannequin. He's saved us so much trouble fitting samples."

Someone else nodded along. "Ms. Beaumont's got an eye. The menswear design process has efficiently sped up."

The more they praised him, the more unsettled I was.

Smiling, I walked into Celeste's office and set an astronaut figurine on her desk equipped with a hidden security camera.

For the next few days, I checked the footage whenever I had a spare moment. Everything in the feed looked normal.

Kai Carter rarely stepped into Celeste's private office. Most communication happened through the internal phone line.

Even if he had to enter the office to report his work, he stood orderly in front of the desk and left within minutes.

Nothing inappropriate or out of line happened between the two.

For a moment, I felt a sudden flush of shame for my actions. Celeste might be a powerhouse at work, but at home, she was affectionate and clingy toward me. Her desk was covered with our wedding photos, and she called me to give updates whenever she had a break.

I started wondering if I was just too doubtful and insecure…

However, the shirt still lingered in my mind.

Would a designer so sensitive to measurements really make such a mistake?