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Chapter 67 – Grounds of Inspection

Author: KillsInWater
last update Last Updated: 2025-11-22 20:02:42

The morning unfolded with a nervous stillness, as though the air itself understood the weight of the hours ahead. Rain clung to the windows like fingerprints, soft and persistent. Celine arrived early, unlocking the café with practiced motion, but her breath hitched when she turned on the lights.

Everything had to be perfect.

Counters wiped. Registers balanced. Receipts aligned.

Not because she feared discovery—but because she refused to crumble under someone else’s pressure.

Liam arrived a few minutes later, shaking his umbrella outside before stepping in. “Morning,” he greeted, casual but observant. “You look like you’re running a military base.”

Celine gave a thin smile. “Audit day. Not exactly a slow one.”

The Shift Begins

The café opened to its usual flow—students, workers, early commuters. Coffee orders layered over one another, but beneath the normal cadence, a quiet pulse of anxiety thrummed.

Ivy showed up promptly, clipboard already in hand. She straightened her blouse, squar
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  • Sips of Seduction: The Billionaire Heiress   Chapter 67 – Grounds of Inspection

    The morning unfolded with a nervous stillness, as though the air itself understood the weight of the hours ahead. Rain clung to the windows like fingerprints, soft and persistent. Celine arrived early, unlocking the café with practiced motion, but her breath hitched when she turned on the lights.Everything had to be perfect.Counters wiped. Registers balanced. Receipts aligned.Not because she feared discovery—but because she refused to crumble under someone else’s pressure.Liam arrived a few minutes later, shaking his umbrella outside before stepping in. “Morning,” he greeted, casual but observant. “You look like you’re running a military base.”Celine gave a thin smile. “Audit day. Not exactly a slow one.”The Shift BeginsThe café opened to its usual flow—students, workers, early commuters. Coffee orders layered over one another, but beneath the normal cadence, a quiet pulse of anxiety thrummed.Ivy showed up promptly, clipboard already in hand. She straightened her blouse, squar

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