LOGINChapter 032WHY SHOULD I RUN?I stepped out of the taxi and stood in front of the restaurant Vivienne had sent me to.It felt like I'd been holding my breath the entire time, so I let out a loud exhale.I walked into the restaurant and found her sitting at the very end.For some reason, there was no one else in the space, and I could tell it wasn't natural."You're late," she said, as if it were the most casual thing to say in that situation."I couldn't find a taxi," I lied, hiding the fact that I was scared of facing her again."Sit," she ordered, but the thought of sitting with someone whose plan was to ruin me seemed gut-wrenching."I think I'll remain standing.""Suit yourself." She smirked, the corners of her lips curving cunningly."Why am I here?"She pulled out a brown envelope and tossed it at my feet."Open it."I glared at her, but she only smiled harder. I knew my pride meant nothing at that moment.I picked it up and pulled out the papers inside.They contained transacti
Chapter 031THE VIDEOCELESTE The video.Vivienne did one thing right: picking the worst weapon to use against me.It was a video of Alan assaulting me, compiled with a lot of personal recordings of me being assaulted.I didn't cry. I couldn't.It felt like my tears had dried up completely, like I was tired of shedding tears when I was hurt.My entire body felt weak as I realized the pride I fought to keep intact had come out in the open.Pity? No one would pity me, they would simply judge me."Celeste, are you okay?" Bob shook me when she saw how frozen I was, and I could only meet her eyes while trying to process everything."Yes, I-"My phone beeped.Another notification I was scared to check, but I did anyway."I don't feel good yet, so wait till I tell the world about your junkie parents."Another text from Vivienne.The tears came rolling down faster than I thought they would, and I immediately tried calling her number, but she kept rejecting the call."Don't you f*cking dare!"
Chapter 030PROFESSIONALSCELESTE"Let's be professional, Mrs. Celeste."His voice grew colder with each passing second, but the tears wouldn't stop flowing."Celeste! What's wrong?" Bob rushed toward me when she saw me walk out of his office, breaking down in tears.I tried to wipe my tears and be strong, but the harder I tried, the more the tears betrayed me.*** • *** • *** • ∆ • *** • *** • ***Troy Anderson hurt me.I didn't realize how much his coldness would break me.I didn't realize how much my wish would hurt me."I'll be right there, sir." Bob finished talking on the telephone and stood up to arrange some files."What are you doing? It's my job to deliver them, right?" I tried to take them from her, but she pressed them to her chest and smiled gently.As if she could see how anxious I was, how much I really wanted to see him again, even after what he did."He doesn't want you in his office from now on."As soon as those words landed, my hands fel
Chapter 029THOSE COLD EYESCELESTEI slammed the door in his face and lay on my back while staring directly at the ceiling.I realized I was crazy because even at that crucial moment, I still thought about him.What if I hadn't met Troy?What if he hadn't walked up to me that night and asked for a dance? What if he hadn't seen my bruises, or what if he had chosen to ignore me when I asked for help?Would I have realized how much I needed freedom?He did me a favor, but at the same time, I couldn't help but wish I shouldn't have gotten involved with him in the first place.Vivienne.She was the only mole that seemed hard to destroy.I could simply avoid Troy, but I doubted she would sit back after what transpired at the hospital."Celeste, are you out of your god-damned mind?" I mumbled to myself, kicking my feet in the air as though it could lessen the weight of my actions.The Vivienne I heard about would definitely kick me out of the company.*** • *** • *** • ∆ •
Chapter 028I'VE HAD ENOUGH CELESTE My hands trembled in my lap.He really passed out.I couldn't breathe until the ER door glided open."We stopped the minimal bleeding, and he should be awake in an hour."The doctor said, and I sighed heavily."Thank goodness," I mumbled under my breath, but as I turned to the hallway, a group of five came towards me, and just in front of them was Vivienne."Where's Troy?""He's fine, he just needs—"A slap tore across my face before I could process anything, and hot tears ran down my face.I held my cheek while staring directly at my feet."This is the whore I was talking about, Mother. She's the one ruining everything!" Vivienne yelled in the hallway, and the people behind her started to murmur.I bit my lower lip, forcing my emotions back."I've had enough," I murmured, my head still hanging."What did you just say?" She tried hitting me again, but I held her hand."I said I've had enough of your bullsh*t!" I yelled into her face.My hair clung
Chapter 027A Crazy StrangerCELESTEMy eyes snapped open, and I realized what was against my lips. The flower vase he held to my face was cold against my skin.His hand, however, was wrapped around my back.I couldn't move for a moment. I froze in place.I was going crazy because I couldn't see him clearly through the flowers. His eyes weren't on me, but somehow, I saw them.His phone buzzed, and he immediately let go.He picked up the call. It seemed important, so I immediately grabbed the flower vase from him.The flowers were my favourite kind.How did he know?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"I'm sorry we have to part ways so soon, but something came up. I'll make it up to you, I promise." Jason apologized as he dropped me off at the hotel."It's fine. It was getting late anyway." I waved at him as his car sped away.My eyes fell on the flowers, and they made me smile.I turned to enter the hotel building and froze.Troy Anderson.It was some kind of charm, the kind that made me melt at the





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