Celeste pov. As I sat on the bed, my mind clouded with a thousand thoughts. There were knocks on the door every now and then, but I didn’t respond. The first was my mother. She had kept knocking, over and over, trying to speak to me, trying to convince me to let her in so she could explain. She said I needed to understand that I was her child too, that she never meant to hurt me. But the part that truly made me want to laugh was when she said she loved both Liora and me equally, that she cared for us both and was only trying to do what was best for the two of us. I just sat there quietly, listening to her from the other side of the door. I didn’t say a word. Then Liora came, pleading with me to at least let our mother in, saying she was really worried. And when I still didn’t respond, the tears started. I could hear my mother-in-law downstairs, calling me evil and heartless. Eventually, my mother gave up. My father had called her, told her they should leave. He hadn’t ev
Celeste pov. The ride home was quiet, and neither of us spoke until we arrived. As the driver stepped out and opened the door for Ethan and me, I got out without sparing him a glance. I walked toward the house, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips as thoughts of tonight’s plan filled my head. Ethan was traveling, which meant I could sneak out undetected. And as for my mother-in-law, Madison, and Liora— I already knew exactly how to deal with them. I wasn't sure why I was feeling so excited, maybe it was because I truly wanted to relive that night again with Rowan, or maybe it was the thrill of being petty and cheating on Ethan again. Either way, I couldn’t deny I was looking forward to tonight. However, the moment I pushed the door open and stepped inside, my smile dropped faster than lightning at the sight before me. Seated in the living room were my mother-in-law, Madison, Liora, my mother, and my father. They sat together, talking, laughing, and casually sipping
Celeste pov. “You really are an amusing woman, Mrs. Maddox,” Rowan said, his voice cutting through the tense silence that had fallen after I asked him to have a secret affair with me. If you asked me, amusing wasn’t the right word for what I was. Crazy, insane, deranged, stupid, and delusional — those felt more fitting, especially considering the consequences of what I was doing. If Ethan ever found out I was planning to ruin him while cheating on him again with our therapist, there was no doubt I wouldn’t live to see daylight. But like I said… I didn’t care. I’d been pushed to my limit, and I had nothing left. No family. No marriage. Nothing left to protect. Unlike the people who had wronged me. Ethan and his family had their reputation to uphold. My sister had her rising career as an actress. My father had his beloved company. My mother had her favorite daughter—Liora. So why the hell should I be the one cowering in fear? “So… what do you say?” I asked, my voice coming o
Celeste pov. Ethan was outside—right at the door and he could come in at any moment. He could walk in and see our therapist in this position with his wife. I was so close to this man… though honestly, close was an understatement, considering his lips were trailing kisses down my neck, my legs were spread, and his sinful hand was pressed against my heat. My body felt hot, and my breathing was ragged as his words echoed in my head. “Just checking how desperately your body wants me.” What he meant by that, I had no idea. But I couldn’t even process it, not with the pressure of his thumb against my clit through my dress and panties. Just that light pressure made a soft whimper escape my lips, and my eyes fluttered shut. This was wrong. So wrong. I had to stop it. “R-Rowan, what do you think you’re doing—” “I bet you’re soaking your panties right now,” he murmured in that low, amused voice, his lips trailing kisses as he flicked his tongue over my skin, making me inhale sharply.
Celeste pov. “But Mrs. Maddox… with how you’re squeezing your thighs together and can’t even meet my gaze, I don’t think you can use that excuse.” His words kept echoing in my head, over and over again. I stared at Rowan, eyes wide in disbelief at what he’d just said and as he continued watching me, I found it suddenly hard to breathe. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze dropping to my thighs, and before I could stop myself, I followed his eyes… then bit my bottom lip and quickly unclenched them. Fuck. It was a habit. A bad one. Whenever I was turned on or horny, I’d squeeze my thighs together to relieve the pressure. It was something I always did—something I’d gotten used to. Because whenever I needed Ethan… he wouldn’t touch me. And so, I would do this. But now, the reason I was pressing my thighs together wasn’t Ethan anymore. It was this man, because I remembered the night we shared. “You know it’s impossible to forget what happened between us, Mrs. Maddox,” he began,
Celeste pov. He was just as handsome as I remembered—sculpted features, striking green eyes, and a body that looked like it was carved by the gods. My eyes were locked on the man sitting in front of me. He held a folder, a pen in his hand, one leg crossed over the other, his gaze focused as he jotted something down. Before I could stop myself, I swallowed hard, my eyes trailing along his sharp jawline, down to his neck. The world seemed to blur around me as I watched his Adam’s apple bob, and took in the way his sleeves were rolled up, exposing the veins stretched along his forearms. God, I never knew veins could be so hot to look at. No—what was I thinking? Was I crazy? I had just found out that my one-night stand was my couple’s therapist, yet I was still fantasizing about him. Still thinking about that night. “You taste so good. You feel so good. You look so good. You’re perfect. You should be worshiped, fucked, and ruined. Any man would be lucky to have a woman like you be