All Chapters of FOREVER CELESTE: From wife to aunt.: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

Celeste returned home and sank onto the living room sofa, staring blankly at her phone. The number she had just dialed remained on the screen.As the storm of anger and heartbreak slowly settled, reality came crashing down.Divorce required financial independence.For the past three years, Adrian had been paying her father's medical expenses. The monthly bills exceeded one hundred thousand dollars—an amount she could never hope to cover on her own.Taking a deep breath, she scrolled through her contacts until she stopped at a familiar name.Professor McFarland.Her graduate school research supervisor.She hesitated for a moment before pressing the call button."Professor McFarland? This is Celeste... Celeste Justin."She tried to sound composed, but her voice still wavered."Celeste!" the professor exclaimed in surprise. "My goodness! How have you been? I haven't heard from you since you got married three years ago."Celeste bit her lip."Professor... I'd like to return to research. I

The Blackwood family's ancestral manor was ablaze with light.Luxury cars lined the sweeping driveway, while elegantly dressed guests streamed through the grand, gilded entrance. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, classical music drifted through the towering ballroom, and servers moved effortlessly among the high-society crowd carrying silver trays of champagne.It was Old Master Blackwood's seventy-fifth birthday celebration,the most anticipated social event of the year.As Adrian's sleek, black Rolls-Royce came to a smooth stop at the entrance, a valet hurried forward to open the door. Adrian stepped out first, adjusting his cuffs before turning back toward the passenger seat.He extended his hand. "Careful, babe."Celeste looked at his open palm for a fleeting moment before placing her hand in his. To everyone watching, they looked like the absolute pinnacle of a perfect couple.Only she knew how cold his hand felt.The moment they entered the ballroom, countless eyes turned to

The terrace was wrapped in a heavy, suffocating silence.Beyond the carved marble balustrade, the city skyline glittered like a sea of fallen stars beneath the ink-black night sky. Strains of classical music from the ballroom drifted through the open French doors, muted and softened by the cool evening breeze.Vanessa Hale slowly swirled the golden champagne in her crystal flute, a slow, venomous smile spreading across her face as she lifted her eyes to Celeste."You finally came alone."The gentle, submissive smile she had worn inside the ballroom had vanished entirely. In its place was naked triumph."I've been waiting."Celeste calmly closed the screen of her phone, slipping it into her clutch with a steady hand. "So have I."Vanessa arched a perfectly manicured brow. "I expected tears.""You'll be disappointed."Vanessa chuckled, a low, mocking sound. "You've always been so good at pretending, Celeste." She took a slow, elegant step forward, her heels clicking sharply against the