Chapter 5

When Celine got home, she headed straight for the master bedroom and had the maid bring up several large cardboard boxes. She started packing up everything that belonged to her.

Steven didn't return until 10:00 pm, and he came back alone. Celine glanced over her shoulder briefly but didn't ask any questions.

Steven seemed oddly guilty and offered an explanation. "Quinn's ankle is pretty badly sprained. I left Zane there to keep her company."

"Mm."

Celine had been unusually quiet all day, and it seemed to unsettle him. For once, he kept talking.

"I know you worry about Zane, but he's at that age where kids have a lot of energy. If you showed him a little more patience, he wouldn't dislike you so much."

"Mm."

He'd made two attempts at offering her an olive branch, and both had been met with the same flat, indifferent response. Irritation flashed in Steven's eyes. He watched her pack box after box without so much as looking at him, and his tone sharpened.

"Celine, what are you trying to pull now? I didn't drive you home today because Quinn was injured and there was no room in the car."

Celine found him standing there more of an obstruction than anything else. She finally stopped and looked at him. "I'm doing some spring cleaning. Do you need something? If not, move."

Steven had never seen her that detached before. He found it completely unreasonable. He'd explained himself. Why couldn't she just be understanding for once?

Years of this comfortable life had turned her into such a nag!

Steven stormed out and slammed the door behind him.

Once Celine finished clearing out the walk-in closet, she dragged the boxes to the recycling bins at the neighborhood entrance. When she looked up, she spotted Steven across the street in the yard of another house.

She paused mid-step. Standing in front of Steven was none other than Quinn.

"That newlywed couple has such a sweet relationship. They take walks in the yard together every afternoon. Makes you jealous just watching them." A voice sighed nearby.

Celine turned. It was a neighbor from the next building over, Lydia Wilkins. They'd run into each other a few times and occasionally exchanged pleasantries.

"I remember that house has the best layout in the whole neighborhood. I heard they even paid extra to get it. Oh, youth!" Lydia's face was full of envy.

Celine didn't know what to say. She just smiled.

It really was laughable when she thought about it. She'd been married to Steven for five years, and the neighbors didn't even know what her husband looked like. The outside world had never caught a single photo of her and Steven together.

For five years, she'd been invisible. She'd taken care of everything for him, seemingly holding the title of wife, but it had all been nothing more than smoke and mirrors.

When Lydia saw that Celine wasn't going to engage, she headed back home without another word.

Celine turned back to look at the scene across the street. It made her sick that he was keeping his mistress less than 200 yards from their home. Steven really wasn't even trying to hide it anymore.

In the small yard, Steven was talking to Quinn about something. Quinn laughed and threw herself at him. They embraced, and Celine figured a kiss would come next.

She didn't want to watch any longer. She turned and left.

Steven caught Quinn as she threw herself at him, his tone helpless. "Doesn't your leg hurt anymore?"

"Just a little!" Quinn blinked up at him, her eyes soft and adoring.

"Stand properly." Steven steadied her on her feet and looked away from her gaze. When he spotted Celine's retreating figure across the street, something like panic flickered through him.

"Quinn, I just remembered something. I need to head back for a bit."

Steven let go and strode out of the yard. Celine was about to close the door when resistance pushed back against it. She turned to find Steven standing there, slightly surprised.

"I thought you weren't coming home tonight." Her expression was blank.

"Quinn didn't have anywhere to go when she came back to the country. It's dangerous for a woman to live alone. The security in our neighborhood is good, so I rented her a place here. Don't read too much into it." Steven's explanation came quickly.

Celine nodded with what seemed like genuine appreciation. "A neighbor just told me what loving newlyweds you two are. She even mentioned you paid extra to secure that house."

The lie was exposed immediately, and Steven's face darkened with embarrassment and anger.

"Celine, can't you be a little more generous? It's just a house. What's the big deal?

"Why are you being so petty about every little thing? Quinn never makes a fuss over stuff like this!"