บททั้งหมดของ Billionaire Ex-Husband Wants Me Back, But I Want Revenge : บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

Caleb sat at his mahogany desk, his elbows resting heavily on its polished surface, his head in his hands. The air in his office felt stifling, suffocating, as if the walls themselves had closed in on him after the bombshell revelation he’d just heard.Zoey was Celine Santos. The president’s secret daughter.The words echoed in his mind, relentless and unforgiving. He had walked out of his mother’s room only moments ago, leaving behind her pale, tear-streaked face and his father’s grim expression. The truth had struck him like a thunderbolt, leaving his entire world shaken.“Why didn’t you tell me?” he had shouted at his father just minutes ago. “Why hide her identity from me? From all of us?”Lord Alcantara’s response was calm, too calm. “You weren’t meant to know, Caleb. It was safer that way—for her, for us.”“Safer?” Caleb had spat, his voice rising. “You turned her into a servant in her own home. You let us treat her like she was nothing! And you knew—” His voice broke, and he co

Celine entered the room alongside her father, President Santos, her navy gown flowing gracefully as her heels clicked against the polished marble floor.Dignitaries were already seated, their low hum of conversation falling silent as the president entered. Celine, standing tall beside him, nodded politely to those who acknowledged her.At the far end of the room, Linda Hestrel stood near the refreshment table, her emerald-green dress a little too bright, her stance a little too stiff. The governor’s daughter turned as Celine walked in, her lips curling into a bitter smile.“Well, well,” Linda said, her voice carrying across the room. “The prodigal daughter returns.”Celine stiffened but remained calm. “Linda,” she said politely, though the tension between them was palpable.President Santos glanced between the two women and then addressed Linda curtly. “Governor Hestrel is waiting for you at the head of the table. I suggest you join him.”But Linda didn’t move. Instead, she crossed he

Caleb sat in his dimly lit office, his elbows on his desk, fingers steepled as he stared into the empty glass in front of him. The day had been relentless, filled with the weight of knowing that Celine—his Zoey—was no longer the nobody he had dismissed but the president’s daughter.He was still trying to process the cascade of emotions—guilt, regret, confusion—when the door to his office swung open with a sharp creak.Linda stood in the doorway, her emerald gown slightly crumpled and her face flushed, though whether from exertion or irritation, Caleb couldn’t tell. “Caleb,” she said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “Did you hear the news?”Caleb looked up, frowning. “What news?”“There was an assassination attempt,” Linda said bluntly, crossing her arms. “At the palace.”Caleb shot to his feet, his heart thudding in his chest. “What?” he demanded. “When? What happened? Is Celine—” He cut himself off, realizing his slip too late.Linda’s expression darkened. “Celine?

A month had passed since the attempted assassination, and the tension that had gripped the presidential palace was beginning to ease. Security remained vigilant, but the heightened alert had given way to a more relaxed atmosphere. Tonight’s masquerade ball, held at the prestigious Grand Larmont Hotel, was a testament to the world’s gradual return to normalcy—or at least its pretense.Celine sat before her vanity, the soft glow of candlelight casting a warm light across her features. Her reflection showed a vision of elegance as her maid pinned the last golden strand of her hair into an intricate updo, adorned with delicate silver pins shaped like stars. Her gown was a masterpiece of sapphire silk, fitted at the waist and flaring into layers of shimmering fabric that seemed to ripple like water when she moved. A cascade of tiny diamonds adorned the bodice, catching the light with every subtle shift.Her mask was equally breathtaking—a delicate creation of filigree silver with sapphire

Celine paced anxiously in her study, her fingers trembling as she clutched her phone. The morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, but she felt none of its warmth. Her father’s words from the previous evening echoed in her mind: “This ring carries our family’s legacy, Celine. Keep it safe.”Her hand moved instinctively to her bare finger, her stomach twisting with dread.Taking a deep breath, she dialed the number for the ball’s organizer. The phone rang twice before a calm, professional voice answered.“This is Madame LaFleur, organizer of last night’s masquerade ball. How may I help you?”“Madame LaFleur,” Celine began, trying to keep her voice steady. “This is Celine Santos. I attended the ball last night, and I… I seem to have lost something of great value.”“Oh no,” Madame LaFleur replied, her tone instantly concerned. “What have you lost, my lady?”“A diamond ring,” Celine said, her throat tightening. “It’s an heirloom, very distinctive—a large diamond set in a silver