Chapter 21

After hearing all of this, Celia sat still for a long time before a buried memory finally surfaced. Dominic had been there, in the background of her past, more than once. She had simply never thought of him as anything other than one of Roman's friends.Now, listening to everything Dominic had just said, she felt genuinely moved. At the same time, a quiet panic stirred inside her. She wondered if she really deserved love this sincere.She was not there yet. She did not love him that deeply.Her relationship with Roman had drained every last reserve of emotional energy she had, and it had left her second-guessing everything. She was terrified of giving all of herself again, only to be torn apart by someone new.She could not afford another six years.Dominic sensed the fragility in her. He reached over and took her hand, lacing his fingers through hers without a word.The warmth of his skin traveled into hers, and something in her chest thawed along with it.His voice was gentle.

Chapter 22

"I'm sorry, Celia. I really do love you. Everything that happened with Lana, I can explain all of it. I was deceived. She manipulated me. I've already made her pay. Please, don't be this cruel."Give me one more chance. I swear I'll never hurt you again. If I do, I'll walk away with nothing. No, forget that. I'll transfer everything I own into your name right now."Roman begged, his voice stripped of all pride. He picked up a shard of broken porcelain from the floor and pressed it against his own throat. Then he seized one of Celia's hands and forced it around his, making her the one holding the blade to his skin.A wild, desperate smile twisted across his face, bitter underneath it all. "Celia, if you hate me that much, then kill me. Anything is better than hearing you say no. I can't face a future without you."Take everything I have. I don't care. Just don't take yourself away from me. Punish me however you want. Lock me in the freezer. Throw me in a cell. Hit me, curse me, I'll

Chapter 23

The photos looped through his mind like a nightmare that would not end. Even with his eyes shut, the images kept playing behind his eyelids.After what felt like an eternity, the guilt crushed him flat. He began to apologize, over and over, to no one."I'm sorry, Celia..."No matter how many times he said it, the torment did not stop.Cold sweat soaked through his clothes. He fumbled blindly around the room, desperate for a way out.He found a bathroom eventually. The moment he stepped inside, all he could feel was how filthy he was.He turned the hot water up as high as it would go and scrubbed at his skin over and over, long past the point of reason. It was as though he were trying to strip off a layer of himself entirely."Celia, I'm not dirty. I'll never touch anyone but you again. I'm not dirty..."The words fell out of him in a vacant murmur.The ordeal ended at some point, though he could not say when.When Roman had finally exhausted himself, his eyes were hollow and

Chapter 24

"I wouldn't... I'd never do that. I just wanted her to apologize to you. If you want me to pay for what I did, I'll go. I'll do it."Roman scrambled to explain himself. He wanted to move closer to Celia but was held back by the fear in her eyes. He did not dare take a single step.Dominic's brows furrowed together. He rested a hand on Celia's back and said to her softly, "Don't worry. I won't give him another chance to hurt you."When he turned to Roman, his expression went cold."Roman, do you even believe what you're saying? If you really wanted to make amends, would you need Celia's permission to go do it? Or is the truth that you're too afraid?"Before Roman could argue, Dominic continued, "Whether you're willing or not doesn't matter. I'll send you there myself."The moment the words left his mouth, several bodyguards stepped forward. They bound Roman and hauled him toward a waiting car.Roman did not resist. His eyes stayed on Celia the entire time."Celia, the only reaso

Chapter 25

Outside the door, Lana stood alone. A gust of cold wind swept past her, as if mocking how far she had fallen.She walked without direction. When she passed a fountain, she glanced down at her reflection in the water and nearly jumped out of her skin. A scream tore out of her before she could stop it. She clapped both hands over her face.The woman staring back at her from the surface was horrifying, and she could not believe it was herself.During her time in detention, there had been no time or energy for anything resembling self-care. Every day, before the old wounds could heal, new ones were added on top of them. Without proper treatment, they had festered and rotted.She had always been the kind of woman who cared about her appearance more than almost anything. She could not comprehend how she had ended up here.It was not just her own suffering. Her parents were in constant pain as well.While she was locked up, someone had shown her how Gerald and Patrice were doing. They w

All Chapters of Till Gray Do We Part: Chapter 21 - Chapter 25

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25