I Smell Trouble.

JOHN POV

The morning light was too bright, cutting through the mansion’s heavy curtains like an unwelcome reminder.

I stood by the window when Celeste arrived, her presence like a cold draft in the room.

Celeste. My fiancée whom I’m not too fond of.

She didn’t call to inform me of her arrival else I’d have asked her not to come.

I watched her step inside—heels clicking sharply against marble floors.

May stood frozen in the hallway, clutching herself like she was about to be swallowed whole.

Saint peeked out timidly.

Celeste didn’t miss a beat.

“Oh, you must be May,” she said, voice dripping with saccharine disdain.

I stayed silent.

This wasn’t a negotiation.

I’d told her May was staying to care for Saint. That should have been the end of it.

Instead, Celeste treated May like she was an obstacle—ordering her around to fetch luggage, scrub the guest bath like a housekeeper.

My jaw clenched.

I wanted to say enough.

But I said nothing.

Because every word spoken to Celeste regarding this m