Chapter 11

Damien's face was stormy as he glared at Lucian. The tension around him thickened like a brewing thunderstorm. Celeste had changed drastically since getting out of prison. A wave of inexplicable resentment surged in his chest. It all came back to Celeste—how completely she had changed. Maybe it was because she didn't love him the way she used to. Maybe everything had finally slipped beyond his control. "That's enough! Celeste is divorcing you, and you still have the nerve to say something so heartless?" Alaric's deep, weathered voice echoed from the stairs. With Margot by his side, Alaric descended slowly. When he reached them, his expression was dark and unreadable. "Grandpa, I'm just stating the facts. She got out of prison and immediately asked for a divorce. But a woman like her—where could she possibly go without me?" Damien's voice was low and cold. "You think she's beneath you?" Alaric snapped. "Celeste carried herself with grace and dignity. She ran your household, sewed your child's clothes by hand and kept everything in order. "She was the very definition of a good wife. Damien, what the hell are you so dissatisfied with?" Damien was at a loss for words. Lucy, seated beside him, didn't dare speak either. "She's wonderful and far too good for you. Not only did you fail to appreciate her, but you never even investigated the case back then. "You testified against her without a second thought. You and your son threw her in prison together. Of course she resents you. Of course she wants a divorce." Lucy lifted her wounded gaze. "Mr. Wrenford Senior, are you saying this is all my fault?" "She'll find out the truth eventually," Alaric said sharply. "Don't accuse me of taking sides—truth stands on its own. And I trust Celeste's character." Alaric's stance couldn't have been clearer. "Alaric, please calm down," Margot said, worried. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. She wanted them here to ease tensions, not stir up more trouble. "She may have saved you once, but people change. You saw what happened today, Grandpa. She laid a hand on our son. If she's capable of that, who knows what else she might do?" "And that sauce—didn't it also pass through Ms. Vale's hands? Why aren't you saying that it was her?" With a sharp thud, Alaric slammed his cane onto the floor. The sound sliced through the silence, startling everyone. Whatever grievance Lucy had in her eyes vanished instantly. But that flicker of panic—of nervous uncertainty—was already caught by Alaric's sharp gaze. "Grandpa, we need evidence. Without proof, we can't just—" "And yet when you pinned everything on Celeste, you didn't care about evidence. But now that I say it might've been Lucy, you demand proof." Alaric's hand tightened around the handle of his cane. "Some CEO of Wrenford Corporation you are. So blinded by personal motives. It's only a matter of time before someone finds your weakness and uses it against you." "Alaric, please," Margot interrupted quickly. She glanced at Lucian, then added, "Lucian's not feeling well. Let's not say such harsh things in front of the boy. You'll scare him." Lucian, sensing the cue, quickly got off the couch and walked toward Alaric. "Great-Grandpa, don't be mad anymore. If you keep frowning, your beard's going to grow even longer." That made Alaric crack the barest hint of a smile. He looked down at Lucian. "Leave Lucian here tonight and let Margot take care of him. It's too late to drag a kid around. As for you two, go home. Damien looked like he wanted to say something, but he held his tongue. "And one more thing…" Alaric straightened. His sharp eyes locked onto Damien. "I heard Celeste didn't go back to Orchidea Villa. You're going to bring her home. If she refuses… then you can get out instead." With that, he took Lucian's hand and started up the stairs. Lucian glanced back at Damien but didn't dare say a word. … After returning to Aviso Tower, Celeste took a long shower and collapsed onto her bed. The fever was finally fading, and her mind no longer felt so foggy. As she turned over, her eyes fell on her bag by the nightstand. Reaching inside, she pulled out a luxurious business card. She lay back down and held the sleek black business card up to the light. "Adrian Wrenford, CEO of Grotto Corporation." She blinked slightly. In the entire Wrenford family, the man with the most real power was him. She unlocked her phone and saved his number. It might not be useful now, but it might be someday. Right after saving Adrian's phone number, an unsaved number appeared on the screen. Celeste recognized it instantly. It was Damien. She had a new SIM card after getting out of prison, but if he wanted to find her number, it wouldn't have been hard to do so. After a moment's contemplation, she answered. His deep voice came through the line. "I don't care where you are right now, but tomorrow, you're coming back to Orchidea Villa." Celeste didn't respond. Her mind was still echoing with the cruel things she'd overheard in Adrian's study. Every insult served like a dagger, slicing through her skin and stabbing deep into her chest. But oddly, she didn't feel pain—only bitter amusement. Her voice was icy. "Mr. Wrenford, have you had too much to drink? I asked for a divorce in front of everyone. "And now you're telling me to go back to Orchidea Villa tomorrow? Did I not make myself clear, or are your ears just failing you?" Damien went quiet. If Celeste didn't return tomorrow, Alaric would likely kick him out the next day, but she didn't know that. "We'll discuss the divorce when you're back. I'll be waiting for you tomorrow evening. I expect a proper answer. Otherwise, I'm not signing." "What's there to discuss?" Celeste couldn't help but grip her phone tightly. The divorce had been set in stone for a long time. During those three years behind bars, the one thing she'd wanted most was to sever ties with him. And now, just when she thought it was finally over, he pulled something like this. It caught her completely off guard. "If you want my signature, be there tomorrow. And if I don't see you, I have no problem dragging this out." Before Celeste could say another word, Damien hung up. She frowned, staring at the now-black screen. Her chest rose and fell with restrained anger. He was the one clinging to Lucy—and the one refusing to sign the divorce papers. She had no idea what Damien truly wanted anymore. Right as that thought finished, a beep chimed, and Annie's message popped up. " Your line was busy. I need to talk to you urgently. Call me as soon as you see this."