Semua Bab The Deal in a Wedding Dress: Bab 61 - Bab 70

CelesteThe first winter after the fall was brutal. Not the snow—though it came early, blanketing the garden in white silence—but the quiet that followed the empire’s collapse. The phones stopped ringing. The gate stayed closed. The world forgot Killian Hart existed outside of headlines that faded like old ink.We didn’t mind. We had the studio. We had each other. We had a future we were building with our own hands.But empires don’t die quietly. They leave ghosts.---It started with a letter in February. Hand-delivered. No return address. Just a wax seal—Hart Industries’ old crest, cracked down the middle. Margaret brought it to the studio where I was mixing cadmium red with burnt umber, trying to capture the exact shade of Killian’s eyes when he was angry.“For you,” she said, voice tight.I wiped my hands, took the envelope. Heavy. Expensive. My name in calligraphy.Inside: a single card.> *The board regrets to inform you that due to outstanding liabilities from the trust

CelesteThe studio door opened like a wound. Evelyn stood silhouetted against the moonlight spilling through the skylight, red dress a slash of blood in the dark. Her hair was shorter now—sleek, severe—but the smile was the same. Sharp. Predatory. Like she’d been waiting years to bare her teeth.In her hand: a gun. Small. Black. Steady.“Tick-tock,” she said softly. “Time’s up.”Eleanor whimpered against my chest. I pressed her face to my shoulder, one hand over her ear, the other reaching blindly for the panic button Killian had installed behind the mural. My fingers found nothing but paint and fear.“Put her down,” Evelyn said. “We wouldn’t want the little princess to get hurt.”I backed up until my spine hit the supply shelf. Jars of paint clattered. A tube of cadmium red burst open, bleeding across the floor like an omen.“Evelyn,” I said, voice shaking but steady. “This isn’t you.”She laughed—low, delighted. “Oh, darling. You never knew me.”She stepped inside. Closed the do

CelesteThree days passed in a strange limbo.Killian kept his distance after our conversation in his study, but not the cold, deliberate distance from before. This was different—cautious, like he was afraid of getting too close. He still brought me breakfast every morning, still checked on me throughout the day. But the ease we'd found tangled in blankets on my bedroom floor had evaporated.The wedding ring on my finger felt heavier each day.I caught myself touching it constantly—spinning it, feeling the weight of the diamond he'd chosen. A perfect stone for a perfect lie. Sometimes I wondered if he'd picked it himself or had someone do it for him. Someone like Evelyn.The thought made my stomach turn, though whether from nausea or something else, I couldn't tell anymore.Dr. Chen had called twice. I'd ignored both calls.I knew what he'd say. That I needed to come in for more tests. That my symptoms were worsening. That I was running out of time to make decisions about treatment, a

CelesteThe pregnancy test sat on the bathroom counter like a loaded gun.I stared at it, my hands shaking so badly I could barely hold the box. Killian stood behind me, close enough that I could feel the warmth of him but careful not to crowd me."Do you want me to leave?" he asked quietly."No." The word came out too fast. "Stay. Please."He moved closer, his hand finding the small of my back. "Whatever it says, we'll figure it out.""Will we?" I turned to look at him. "Killian, if I'm pregnant—if this is real—it could kill me. Dr. Chen was very clear about that.""Then we'll find the best doctors. Get second opinions, third opinions. Whatever it takes—""Some things can't be fixed with money." The words came out harsher than I intended. "My body is already failing. Adding a pregnancy to that—" My voice broke. "I might not survive long enough to even give birth."His jaw clenched, pain flashing across his face. "Don't say that.""It's the truth.""Then we'll face the truth together.

CelesteDr. Chen's office felt different this time.Maybe because Killian sat beside me, his hand gripping mine so tight it almost hurt. Maybe because everything had changed since the last time I was here—I wasn't just dying anymore. I was dying and pregnant and terrified and hopeful all at once."Mrs. Hart," Dr. Chen said as he entered, then paused when he saw Killian. "Mr. Hart. I'm glad you could join us.""I'm not going anywhere," Killian said, his tone making it clear this wasn't up for debate.Dr. Chen nodded, settling into his chair with the folder that contained my entire medical history. My death sentence, documented in clinical terms and lab results."The pregnancy test was positive," I said before he could speak. "We need to know what happens next.""I see." Dr. Chen's expression was carefully neutral. "How far along do you think you are?""Six weeks, maybe? I'm not entirely sure."He made a note. "We'll do an ultrasound today to confirm. But first, we need to discuss the r