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Celine’s POVWhen I open the door, the last person I expect to see standing there is Tiana Hawthorne.For a moment, I simply stare at her.She looks… troubled. Not disheveled exactly, because someone like Tiana Hawthorne probably couldn’t look disheveled even if the world were collapsing around her, but there is something in the set of her shoulders, something in the tightness of her expression that makes my brows pull together in confusion.Why is she here?The thought echoes loudly inside my head that I almost believe I voiced it out.Why would she come here? After everything, it feels unnatural to see her outside her fancy house, and frankly I don't feel so hot for visitors after the way everything between Lucien and I detonated so spectacularly.My voice finally finds its way out of my throat.“Why are you here?”Her lips curve slightly, not quite a smile, more like the ghost of one. She's wearing a pale blue dress shirt that's tucked into well-pressed black pants, making her look
Celine's POVI stare at Lucien for a very long time. He didn't look like he was just getting the news. If anything, he had known for a while because there is no trace of surprise on his face, just a slight hint of annoyance of some sort.His hair slightly messy, like he ran his hands through it a hundred times before walking over. His shirt sleeves rolled up. I hate that I notice everything about him. It was almost repulsive, given our history together.“I need to talk to you, Celine.”Yeah, no doy! But as I think about it, I can’t help but wonder if I even want to know. I've left that part of my fucked life behind. It’s no longer my concern.“There’s nothing left to say,” I mutter without much conviction as I slide the cover back over the trash.“There’s everything left to say,” he presses. That one lands somewhere I do not want to examine.I fold my arms over my chest, suddenly aware of how vulnerable I feel standing in the morning sun, exposed to my ex fake husband.“You’ve been tr
Celine's POVLucien, Lucien, Lucien!I'm starting to get annoyed by the mention of him, which is all the time. Apparently, my sister thinks he's trying to tell me something and I should give him a chance. You'd be shocked at how people switch up all the time.He's always in my face, trying to help me lift this and that, totally abandoning his company and family to be here when I don’t even want him, and I hate how much butterflies flutter in my belly whenever he shows up and offers to help with something—rubbing my feet, massaging my shoulders, even lifting my sore boobs so I feel relieved.They were all very tempting, but if I intended to avoid him, then accepting any help from him would be a totally horrible idea.I shut my eyes and made my way out of the building with two bags of trash dragging behind me. The morning sun was warm against my skin, and…“Need help with that?”Oh fudge.Of course he would see me just when I decided to step out of the house. He was stalking me. Of cours
Celine's POVI step inside the apartment, my bag heavy on my shoulder, my bump heavier than I expected. The air feels smaller here, tighter, like it’s been waiting for us to return.Especially with Lucien just standing around, staring at me.“You’re going to keep doing that?” I ask, slipping my shoes off slowly. “Or are you planning to say something?”His eyes don’t wander, don’t shift, don’t blink too quickly—they stay on me. My skin tingles under his focus.“You look tired,” he finally says, his voice low.“I just spent two days in a hospital,” I reply dryly. “What gave it away?”His jaw tightens slightly, but he doesn’t rise to it. He just keeps looking at me, like he’s trying to memorize the way my hair falls across my shoulder, the curve of my lips, the subtle swell of my stomach.I force a small smile. “What?”He doesn’t answer, doesn’t move.The silence stretches, and it makes my chest ache in a way I didn’t expect. Then the sound of footsteps, soft but deliberate. Celeste appe
Celine's POV His hand is still resting against my stomach when the baby moves again. His fingers are overly careful, like he’s afraid even breathing will disturb it. His eyes lift to mine, and there’s something fragile there. Something almost reverent. And then the monitor beside me changes. The steady rhythm shifts. Just slightly faster. I don’t notice it immediately, still focused on Lucien. But he notices. His head turns toward the machine before I even process the sound. “Is that normal?” he asks, his voice tightening. Before I can answer, a wave of dizziness washes over me. It hits fast. My vision blurs at the edges, like someone dimmed the room. My stomach twists. I inhale, but the air feels thin. Lucien’s hand leaves my stomach and grips my shoulder instead. “Celine?” I try to respond, but my tongue feels heavy. The door flies open, and a nurse steps in, then pauses when she hears the monitor. Her expression changes completely. A look of concern crosses her face as she
“I never should have left you like this.” His eyes drink me in, and I shut my eyes, willing myself to stay calm. I let out a small, humorless breath.“Then why did you?”The question sits between us for a long moment. He looks like he's weighing how much to say.Then his jaw tightens with conviction, and he finally meets my eyes.“I tried. I looked for you everywhere, but then I gave up,” he says, defeated, and I sit up a little on the bed, reaching to hold his face in my palm again. There’s a small stubble on his chin, and the smell of his aftershave battles the sharp hospital disinfectant in the air.“Why, Lucien?”He eases into my touch a little and works around a swallow before finally saying,“I didn’t think you wanted me here,” he says at last. I blink at him, stunned.“That’s your explanation?”His eyes flash with frustration.“You shut me out, Celine.”I almost laugh again, but it comes out strained. “You stopped listening,” I hiss, pulling my hand back and resting my head on t







