Chapter 6

The man wore a perfectly tailored black suit, every inch of fabric radiating understated luxury. It traced his broad shoulders and narrow waist. The light cast faint shadows over his chiseled features, illuminating a face so handsome it stunned, yet so cold it could frighten.

Celia took in his high nose, his pursed lips, his jawline as sharp as a blade, and lastly, his eyes. They were as deep as a frozen lake and carried no warmth. A single indifferent glance from him pressed down with a power that decided life and death; it had the aloof authority of someone long at the top.

Most people would go weak in the knees under a gaze like that and stumble over their words. But the moment those eyes that could freeze anything met Celia's, they melted.

The ice thawed, leaving behind an emotion hard to name. It was something close to… tenderness.

Yes, tenderness.

That word sounded preposterous when used on him, but there it was. It was undeniable.

Celia went rigid, and her mind went blank. Theodore? How could he be here?

Before she could recover from the shock, Theodore moved. He stepped forward and reached out an arm to pull her tightly into his embrace, not giving her the chance to resist.

The door slammed shut, cutting off the outside world.

His embrace was wide and solid, carrying a reassuring warmth and a faint scent of pine that wrapped around her in an instant.

He held her so tightly that it was enough to make her bones ache, yet, strangely, it made her feel safer than she'd ever felt.

A hand gently stroked her soft hair, sliding from the crown to the ends, the motion impossibly gentle.

Theodore didn't say a word, yet Celia felt that this silent hug held a thousand things unsaid—suppressed longing, unspoken waiting, and worries he could never voice.

It had been three years. Three whole years without seeing each other.

"Lia, I'm back." His low voice rumbled above her head, carrying a barely-there rasp. "Three years is so long."

To him, three years felt like a century. He had waited until her ridiculous marriage, which was nothing but a contract, to end. Only then did he dare to inch closer.

"From now on, I won't let anyone bully you again."

His voice was resolute and held a promise that brooked no argument.

Celia's nose prickled, and her eyes stung. She broke free of his embrace—not to resist, just to get a breath. She kept her head bowed as she turned toward the kitchen. "Do you want something to drink?"

"The usual," Theodore said.

She deftly took out coffee beans, ground them, and brewed. Every motion seemed carved in her bones. This coffee was also Basil's favorite. Shame he'd never once drunk a cup she made.

Soon, a cup of hand-brewed coffee, fragrant and full, was set before Theodore. He took it, noticing that the porcelain was the perfect warmth against his fingers.

He lowered his head and took a light sip. The flavor was bitter and rich, with a subtle sweet finish.

These were Celia's usual beans, and she'd made the coffee with her unique pour-over technique. It was a taste branded deep in his memory.

"Why did you suddenly come back?"

Celia finally looked up, her voice still a bit unsteady as she carefully questioned him.

Theodore set the cup down. The porcelain tapped the tabletop with a crisp sound.

He met her eyes and smiled faintly with a hint of teasing and a claim that felt inevitable. "What's wrong? Three years, and you've already forgotten our bet?"

Bet?

Celia's heart jolted. Memories she had forced into dust began to rise.

"I came back to get you, of course."

Theodore leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking on hers, his powerful aura clouding her. "I'm waiting for you to get back in the game."

Get back in the game… Those words detonated in Celia's mind like a bomb.

"And then…"

He paused, his voice low and magnetic. Each word landed heavily on her heart. "…you and I will stand together again on the top of the world."

Celia froze. Her heart felt gripped by an invisible hand, making it ache and swell all at once. She tried to force a smile and say something playful to bury the storm of feelings crashing through her.

Like, "Dude, did you read too many superhero comic books?"

Or, "The wind's too strong at the top of the world. I can't stand the cold."

But she couldn't. She'd barely opened her mouth when tears spilled over first. They hit the back of her hand in fat drops, and they were scalding.

Theodore was her senior. Back when she was getting her PhD abroad with no one to rely on, he'd treated her like a true older brother would. He'd watched out for her and shielded her from every storm. He was also the partner who matched her best.

They'd practically lived in the lab together, and in the end, she'd derived the formula that could change the world.

And right then, Celia had chosen to step back to marry a man she'd only met a handful of times. She'd swallowed the humiliation of agreeing to a three-year marriage commitment.

No one understood her, and everyone thought she'd lost her mind, Theodore included.

He'd nearly flipped from rage. But ultimately, he'd given her a long, meaningful look, left behind a three-year bet, and turned away. He'd flown overseas to open up new frontiers.

Meanwhile, Celia had vanished completely from everyone's sight. These past three years had been… quiet, but also suffocating. She'd felt like a bird with broken wings trapped in a gilded cage.

Now, the cage door had opened, and the person who'd once soared alongside her had returned. He came back with a force that tolerated no refusal—he was determined to make her take to the skies again.

Only Celia knew that she had things to do before that.

Theodore didn't dare wipe her tears. He was afraid he wouldn't be able to stop if he started, so he only said, "L-God's tears are worth a lot, you know. Don't waste them. Get changed—I'm taking you to eat. You've gotten way too skinny."

Celia nodded and walked into the master bedroom. She and Theodore went downstairs together 15 minutes later.

A luxury convoy was already waiting below. Theodore opened the door, and they got in together.

He loved the faint fragrance on Celia. With her by his side, he felt like he had the whole world.

Half an hour later, they arrived at The Brocade Banyan. The car door opened to a strikingly handsome face. "Hi, Celia."

As Celia got out of the door, her juniors, Jesse Ford and Sierra Clark, saluted her. "Welcome back, Celia."

She was delighted to see them. Every familiar face there belonged to a partner who'd fought by her side. "You're all back here?"

Jesse stepped up, affectionally hooking his arm through hers. "We missed you like crazy, Celia. Thank goodness Theodore showed mercy and let us all return. We can keep you company and also make sure the global medical summit goes off without a hitch."

Sierra also stepped forward to link arms with Celia. She smiled sweetly and said, "That's right. With you here, we don't have to be enslaved every day. Theodore runs us really hard."

"Man, you're a proper lady now. You're not the crybaby you used to be." Celia pinched her cheek.

Theodore shot Jesse a sharp look. He immediately let go, feeling his heart race.

Theodore was terrifying!

He said, "Let's go in."