Chapter 13

Celeste tried to pull her hand away from Damien, but the difference in their strength made it impossible to break free. She had no choice but to let him drag her into the living room. It was the weekend, the day the housekeepers always had off. Only Celeste and Damien were in the living room. He flung her onto the couch, then sat across from her. After that, he picked up a cup and poured himself some coffee. "You owe me an explanation for the divorce," he said, not bothering to look at her. "So? What's the reason?" Celeste smirked. "Do I even need one?" After filling his cup, Damien slammed it down on the coffee table and finally looked up, meeting her indifferent gaze. A heavy thud echoed through the room as the coffee pot landed on the high-end marble table, breaking the silence. "Celeste, have you ever thought about how hard your life will be after divorcing me? Let's be real—you're a woman with a prison record. No one would hire you even if you went job hunting." Celeste sneered. She had no interest in looking for a job. What she had in mind was building a future of her own. "You're only saying this because you're scared Alaric will throw you and Lucian out, aren't you?" Celeste got up from the couch. "Don't worry. I'll call Alaric and set the record straight. None of this will fall on you or Ms. Vale. I'll take full responsibility." With that, she turned to leave. "Did I say you could go?" Damien's voice was low and firm. He quickly rose to his feet. But Celeste kept walking. "Mr. Wrenford, I suggest you sign the divorce papers as soon as possible." The moment she finished speaking, Damien grabbed her arm from behind. In the next instant, her feet were off the ground again. Damien flung her back onto the couch and climbed over her, his knees on either side of her waist. He grabbed her wrists and pinned them firmly against the cushions. Celeste was trapped in an instant. They'd shared tender moments before, but she was usually the one to make the first move. Whatever was happening now was rare. She looked up at him, wary. "What are you trying to do?" "You're staying at Orchidea Villa for the next few days. You're not going anywhere. Don't even think about asking me to sign the divorce papers until things are settled with Grandpa." Damien's voice was low and steady, his eyes calm in a way that felt like the quiet before a storm. "You have no right to keep me here." Celeste struggled against his grip. "Let go." But Damien didn't budge. His hold remained firm. "Damien, aren't you worried about embarrassing the Wrenfords by harassing your ex-wife in broad daylight?" A deep, authoritative voice rang out from the direction of the villa's front entrance. Both of them turned at the sound. Celeste tensed for a moment when she saw who had arrived. Adrian? What was he doing here? When Damien saw Adrian, he immediately released Celeste and stepped back. "Uncle Adrian? What brings you here?" Celeste quickly sat up straight and instinctively smoothed down a few strands of her tousled hair. "I heard your grandpa was really angry yesterday. Since you're free today, you should visit him. Lucian stayed at the Wrenford residence last night, and when he saw I'd returned, he insisted I bring him back here." Adrian spoke casually, briefly glancing at Celeste on the couch. Their eyes met for a second before he looked away. He had heard the commotion as his Maybach pulled into the courtyard and told Joshua to take Lucian to the back garden. "Where's Lucian now?" "Did you really think I'd bring him inside with the two of you carrying on like this?" Adrian slipped his hands into his pockets and sat across from Celeste. Her eyes followed him, drawn to the effortless authority he carried, which seemed to fill the room. Damien poured Adrian a cup of coffee. "Uncle Adrian, we were just talking about the divorce. You know how angry Grandpa was last night. I need to calm him down first." Adrian glanced at the coffee cup but didn't reach for it. His voice was cold when he asked, "Why does anyone else's opinion matter if you've already decided on a divorce?" Damien hesitated, his words caught in his throat. The truth was that most of his business empire had been handed down by the Wrenfords, especially Alaric. What he had now was largely due to Alaric's support. Because of that, Damien had no choice but to follow Alaric's opinion. "I'll call Alaric later and make it clear that this divorce is my decision alone. So please, Mr. Damien, don't make this harder than it needs to be," said Celeste. She quickly stood up from the couch and walked out without looking back. Adrian's arrival had given her the perfect chance to leave. She might actually end up staying the night at Orchidea Villa if she didn't go now. Damien watched her walk away, his grip tightening briefly around the coffee cup. He was about to speak when Adrian's cold gaze met his. In the end, he looked away. "Uncle Adrian, since you're here, why not stay for dinner tonight?" "Another time. I have things to take care of." Adrian stood and followed her out. "Mom, you're here?" As Celeste reached the doorway, Lucian suddenly appeared in front of her. His question made her lips curl into a mocking smile. Lucian always knew how to put on a show, while Damien played the fool. How laughable! "I had some things to discuss with your dad. I'm leaving now." She walked away without waiting for Lucian's response. Lucian watched Celeste walk away, a strange heaviness settling in his chest. He wanted to call out to her, but what if she actually stayed? The last thing he wanted was to see her at home. Besides, Lucy was picking him up for school in the morning. She wouldn't be able to take him if Celeste were there. In the end, he said nothing and let her go. After leaving the courtyard, Celeste was about to flag down a cab to take her home. By the time Adrian's Maybach pulled out of the driveway, she was already in the cab. Through the windshield, he caught a brief glimpse of her as she got in and watched the cab pull away. From the driver's seat, Joshua noticed Adrian's somber expression in the rearview mirror. He couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Wrenford, is there anything else you want to say to Ms. Morin? Should I speed up and catch up to her?" "No." Adrian turned away, focusing on the tablet in his hands. A moment later, as if something had just crossed his mind, he looked up at Joshua. "Still no word on that emerald carver, Shelley?" "No," Joshua answered quietly. "Nothing yet." Adrian's voice was deep and gravelly. "When's the last time anyone saw her? Three years ago?"