Celeste pov. Everywhere was silent. Everyone was stunned. The only sounds I could hear were my heartbeat, my ragged breaths, and the ticking of the clock, like it was counting down to something. Something terrifying that might happen. My hand stung from the slap, but as I watched my mother-in-law’s face jerk to the side, her eyes wide with disbelief and shock, I felt nothing but a deep sense of satisfaction. This was nothing compared to what she used to do to me when Ethan wasn’t home. Whenever she and Madison came to visit, she treated me like nothing more than a maid. She would make me cook for her and Madison whenever she pleased, and if the food was even a little salty or slightly too spicy, she would force me to cook it again and again until I got the taste just right. Sometimes, when she got really angry that I wasn’t getting it right, she would throw the food over my head and call me useless. She’d make me do her laundry and Madison’s too but I didn’t mind a
Celeste pov. When I was a child, I had a nightmare—one so terrifying it made me scream and gasp for air, one that left my body trembling and my heart pounding. I’ve never forgotten that nightmare or the way it continued to haunt me, even to this day. In it, I was alone in the middle of the sea at night. There was no one in sight, no land, just endless, stretching water all around me. And despite the fact that I was in the cold, freezing water, I wasn’t drowning. I wasn’t dying. But most of all, I couldn’t move. It felt as though an invisible rope was holding me in place, trapping me. Instead, I stayed afloat, my whole body submerged in water with only my head above the surface, while all I could do was stare as a number of sharks swarmed beneath me. They circled around me silently, like predators waiting for the moment I lost all strength and sank fully into the depths, before they struck, before they attacked. But what truly terrified me wasn’t the sharks, or even the fact th
Celeste pov. I had married the devil. I had always known this. The man who smiled for the public and spoke passionately about changing the country for the greater good was the same man who embezzled public funds and mocked how stupid and gullible the citizens were. The man who visited orphanages to donate and spend time with less privileged children was the same man who came home afterward and scrub his hands in disgust, like their touch was filth he needed to wash off. The people’s politician. That’s what they called him. The man who should win the presidential election. The man who would supposedly change the nation. The kind, selfless man who put others’ wellbeing before his own. That was the same man now staring at me, a sickening glint in his eyes as my body trembled with fear and disbelief. Jace had told Ethan everything I’d confided in him. He’d called Ethan a cruel man. Said he would publish the truth, told me not to worry, that everything would be fine, only
Rowan pov. "Do you know that the human mind is a complicated little thing?" I began, my voice low and emotionless as I rested my head on my hand. "It’s fascinating how it makes you feel so many things, happiness, sadness, pain, pleasure, and relief. That small organ holds an entire world of emotions and thoughts. But do you know what’s even more amusing? The way it pushes you to make unexpected decisions and take surprising actions, especially when you’re cornered. It reveals a side of you that even you didn’t know existed." I tilted my head slightly, lost in thought. "Take, for instance, someone who wouldn’t hurt a fly. They're kind, compassionate toward every living creature, holding firmly to the belief that no one should suffer pain. But what if that person’s life were suddenly threatened? What if they were faced with a choice— kill or be killed?" I leaned back, a humorless smirk tugging at my lips. "What do you think would be going through that person’s mind at that mo
Celeste pov. He caught it. I wasn’t surprised, of course he would. I didn’t flinch, didn’t show any pain as his hand tightened around my wrist, hard enough that I was sure it would leave a bruise. Before I could even process what was happening, he yanked me toward him by the arm, forcing me to meet his furious gaze, his face just inches away from mine. “How dare you” He hissed and time seemed to stop as he stared at me with a look intense enough to freeze my entire body. I had never seen him this angry before. Even though Ethan was a horrible man, he was never the type to lose his composure. He always made sure his expression remained neutral and cool, never revealing his emotions because, according to him, that’s what made a good politician: the ability to maintain a flawless facade. And that was exactly why I knew I had pushed him past his limits. I wasn’t sure where the courage came from, but I had been pushed to mine too and at this point, I didn’t care. The corner
Celeste pov. “Keep the change,” I said to the cab driver as I handed him the cash. I wasn’t sure how much I’d given him, but the way his eyes widened as he stared at the bills told me it was a lot. I took a deep breath and looked up at the house towering before me. This was the place I had called home for the past three years but it had felt more like a prison than a sanctuary. But, enough was enough. I was tired of everything, tired of being taken advantage of, tired of pretending things were okay. I didn’t care that Liora had tricked me into signing that prenuptial agreement anymore. I just wanted out of this toxic place. Even if it meant walking away with nothing from the divorce, I didn’t care. Spilling everything to that reporter had been my final act of revenge against Ethan and Liora for betraying me. Since they were going to be parents, I’d make sure the whole world knew. I reached for the door and pushed it open, ready to step out of the car, but the driver’s vo