Chapter 5

After several days of rest, Celia was finally discharged. She hated the sharp, sterile smell of the hospital. Violet was away on a business trip, so she sent a driver to pick Celia up.

Dragging a body that was still weak and shaky, Celia returned to the apartment she'd bought before marriage. It was small, but every inch was hers, and it felt safe.

Someone had been maintaining the place, for the whole unit was spotless and comfortable. Even the flowers on the table were fresh.

The apartment sat in the city's most bustling district, a place where every square foot cost a fortune. The view from the balcony was exceptional—she only needed to look out to see Fulton Tower, which was more than 80 stories high. It towered like a giant in the city's center.

Before marrying Basil, Celia loved standing there and gazing out, knowing that somewhere in that building was a person she couldn't let go of.

Now, her cool, distant eyes merely carried frost. It was all water under the bridge now, and she was about to start a new life.

She quietly stepped back inside and drew the curtains.

Her lower abdomen still tightened in waves of pain, a silent reminder of the life she had lost. She took a deep breath and shook her head, trying to fling off the sour ache clinging to her. There was no time to drown in grief. She had more important things to do.

Celia turned on the laptop she hadn't touched in a long while. The screen lit up, and sure enough, there was an unread email marked as important waiting for her.

She opened it and skimmed, her gaze turning colder with every word she read. Then, she typed a few words. "Proceed as planned."

She sent the reply and closed the laptop. In one smooth motion, the weak version of her seemed to vanish.

She took out the medication the doctor prescribed and swallowed it down with warm water. Bitterness spread across hr tongue, but she didn't seem to taste it at all.

Exhaustion washed over her like a tidal wave. She collapsed onto the soft bed and fell into a deep sleep.

…

That evening, Calvin knocked on Basil's office door and entered to report.

"Mr. Fulton, Mrs. Fulton was discharged today. She didn't go back to Verdant Court. Instead, she moved straight into an apartment under her name."

Basil was working through paperwork. At those words, his pen paused, but that was it. He grunted in response, his tone unreadable.

He looked up to reveal an unfathomable gaze. "Where she lives has nothing to do with me."

He and Celia hadn't been living together, anyway. They only saw each other once or twice a month. He had no idea that he would later break into her apartment again and again.

Calvin didn't dare respond. All he knew was that the temperature in the room seemed to drop a few degrees.

Basil tossed aside the signed document, his tone as indifferent as if talking about the weather. "Send her the divorce papers. Tell her to sign them as soon as possible."

"Yes, Mr. Fulton," Calvin answered, feeling uneasy.

He quietly pitied Celia, who had never truly received Basil's concern. This marriage was really nearing its end.

Basil lowered his head again, watching numbers flicker across the screen. It was as if what he'd just discussed was nothing more than an inconsequential contract.

However, his knuckles had gone a shade lighter as they tightened around his pen. He didn't know it yet, but the icier he was now, the more painful the reckoning would be later!

Just then, Stella walked in. Calvin grabbed the divorce papers and slipped out. He couldn't help but notice that she was dressed to dazzle that day. No wonder she was a top star.

Stella was in an excellent mood. Who would've known that the patient in that room at Central Hospital had been Celia? More importantly, she'd been hospitalized for a miscarriage!

Talk about bad luck—she couldn't even carry a pregnancy to term! It had just slipped away before Stella had lifted a finger. The heavens were practically rolling out a red carpet for her.

Not even a TV drama would have a plot this wild. Ha!

Without the baby, Celia could forget about clinging to Basil forever. And best of all, Basil didn't seem to know yet. This only gave Stella a better chance of playing her hand.

Basil looked up, a trace of gentleness appearing in his eyes. "What brings you here?"

"Dinner with you, of course. Since I've got a little free time right now, I want to spend more of it with you. Next week, I'm going to compete for a role in a very well-known show."

Stella beamed, not bothering to hide her excitement.

He smiled when he saw how happy she was. "If our superstar has her eye on it, it's definitely not some run-of-the-mill project."

Stella excitedly revealed the answer, looking as proud as could be. "It's 'Where the Blossom Falls,' a super hot novel right now. The female lead is decided by online voting, and I'm on the list. I'm in second place."

Basil knew about the project, of course. Last month, he'd already initiated the acquisition of Corolla Entertainment, planning to gift the agency she was signed to straight to her.

He never dipped into the entertainment industry, but he was willing to spend a fortune if it could safeguard her career. She didn't know yet, though. He wanted to surprise her later.

Basil nodded and took Stella's hand. "Not bad. With your ability, you should be first."

She slid onto his lap and looped her hands around his neck. She cooed, "It's so good having you in my life, Basil. I know you've always been supporting me behind the scenes. Thank you for backing my career."

He playfully pinched her cheek. "As long as you're happy."

Four years ago, if she hadn't saved him at Azure Bay in Firendia, he would've been swallowed by the sea. But what he didn't know was that the person capable of diving those depths wasn't the woman before him.

He believed she deserved the best of everything in the world, including his love.

Stella pressed her forehead to his, inching closer, ready to give him a sweet kiss. His warm breath brushed her face, and he didn't pull away.

Suddenly, the phone rang. Stella frowned.

Basil laughed and answered the call. Tim sounded excited on the other end of the line. "Basil, Theodore Sterling is back. Word is he's hosting a reception for a mysterious guest at The Brocade Banyan. Do you think that guest could be L-God?"

Basil froze for a beat. Then, a spark lit his eyes. "I'm heading over now."

He hung up and thought for a few seconds. Theodore was the heir to a major conglomerate in Firendia and the founder of the global medical summit. Four years ago, they'd crossed paths once in Firendia.

News that L-God would attend the summit had only just been released, and Theodore had quietly arrived in Hutton. Why choose Hutton?

Basil had to find out. One way or another, he needed to secure a collaboration between L-God and Fulton Group.

Stella looked at him, puzzled. "Basil, do you have something going on?"

He smoothed a hand over her hair. "It's nothing special. I'm taking you out for something good."

He grabbed his jacket, took her by the hand, and led her out of the office.

…

Ding dong!

The doorbell cut sharply through the apartment's silence, waking Celia up. She shuffled into her lounge slippers and ambled to the door, turning the doorknob.

The door swung open to reveal a man standing outside. His face was familiar and still as handsome as ever, now marked by a steadier, more mature edge.