Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 151 - Chapitre 160

May (Celeste’s mother)“Richard, I’m leaving now,” I muttered, kissing him lightly on the cheek.Richard’s face lit up with that same warm smile he’d been giving me lately. He’d been such a wonderful husband these past few weeks—buying me everything I wanted, treating me like a queen.The guilt twisted in my stomach. If only I could love him the way he loved me. If only my heart didn’t belong to someone else. But it did. It belonged to Dave, and nothing could change that.“Okay, darling,” Richard stated. “Don’t stay out too long.”“Aww,” I purred, touching his arm and pretending my heart was his. “I love you, honey. I won’t be long. Just some shopping.”“I’ll miss you,” he said softly. “Come home soon.”“I will. I promise.” I grabbed my designer bag and waved goodbye, forcing myself not to look back at his trusting face.The moment I stepped outside, my mask slipped.“Madam, where to?” the driver asked.“Where did I tell you earlier?” I snapped. “Just open the door.”“I’m so sorry, ma

May“You’re back, darling?” Richard’s warm voice filled the entrance hall as I walked in. He was sitting in the living room, a glass of wine in his hand, looking perfectly at ease. “Welcome home. How was shopping?”“Yes,” I replied, forcing brightness into my voice. “It was good. Thank you.”Richard stood, setting down his wine, and moved toward me with that gentle, easy affection he always showed. He was about to pull me into a hug when he stopped dead. His eyes locked onto my face, onto the mark on my cheek, and his expression shifted instantly from warmth to sharp concern.“What happened to you?” he asked, his voice tight. “May, who hit you?”“Oh... that.” I touched my cheek lightly, wincing at the sting. I needed to think fast. “When I was leaving the mall, I saw two women having a terrible fight outside. You know me—I couldn’t just walk past and ignore it.”I blushed, looking down shyly. “I tried to step in and separate them, and one of them accidentally hit me. It hurts so much,

May“Celeste,” I whispered. “You know how heartbroken I was when things fell apart. You know what I went through. And now you sit here and hurt me more?”“Mother, I’m telling you the truth because no one else will.” Her expression softened slightly. “He doesn’t love you. Not the way you think he does. Stay with your husband. Richard is a good man, a genuinely good man. He treats you well. He cares about you. Why are you throwing that away for someone who’s been lying to you from the very beginning?”“You don’t understand,” I whispered, standing up abruptly. “You don’t understand what it’s like to love someone so desperately that you can’t just stop.”“I understand more than you think,” Celeste said quietly, but I was already moving toward the door, too hurt to hear it.“I love him,” I announced, turning back to face her one last time. My voice was thick with tears, but I held my chin high. “If I had known you could be this cold to me, to your own mother, I never would have come here t

RichardI was still lost in these dark, satisfying thoughts when my phone rang.I glanced at the screen and felt genuine warmth flood through me for the first time in days. Henry. My oldest friend and business partner.“Hi, buddy,” I said, answering on the first ring. “How are you?”“Richard! It’s been far too long.” Henry’s voice was warm. “I’m good. Just missing you, that’s all.”I smiled—a real smile this time, not the fake mask I wore for May. “Missing me? Henry, you sound like a lovesick schoolboy.”Ever since I’d married that woman, I’d had almost no time for the friendships that had once sustained me. May had slowly, systematically isolated me—not through direct demands, but through constant needs, constant crises, and constant subtle manipulations that kept me focused on her.I hadn’t even realized it was happening until it was done.“Yes, buddy. I really do miss you,” Henry laughed. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten what real friendship looks like.”“Never. I miss you too, my f

Richard “Oh, you’re awake.” I kept my voice soft and gentle as I looked down at May lying in her bed. I’d already bathed and dressed and had been sitting in the chair across from her for the past twenty minutes, watching her sleep and waiting for her to wake. I stood and moved to sit on the edge of the bed beside her. “How are you feeling this morning, darling?” “Richard,” she said, her voice still thick with sleep. She pushed herself up to sitting, wincing slightly. “What... what time is it?” “Almost ten,” I replied, reaching out to gently caress her hair. “What happened to me?” She asked. “I guess you don’t remember, honey.” “Yes,” she stated. “What happened to me?” “You passed out,” I answered. “During our lovemaking.” I watched her face carefully as the memories filtered back—my confrontation about the hickey, her fumbling excuses, the sex, and everything. “You call that lovemaking, Richard?” she yelled. “You hurt me.” “I didn’t.” I faked a sob. “I didn’t mean to. I was