Chapter 6

After two days of rest, Celeste was feeling slightly better. But on the evening of the family dinner, her head was still foggy. That night, after getting ready, she took a cab to the Wrenford residence. Perched halfway up the hill, the Wrenford residence stirred up mixed feelings in her—it had been three years since she'd last set foot there, and much had changed in her heart since then. As she arrived at the gate, a familiar license plate on a Rolls-Royce Cullinan caught her eye. So, Adrian really was back. "Mom, dinner's about to start. Why are you just getting here? You're always so slow…" Lucian's impatient voice came from the front door. Celeste shot him a glance, but her attention was quickly drawn to two figures walking just behind him—Damien and Lucy. He actually brought her to a family dinner? Without hesitation, Celeste stepped inside. The moment she did, Lucy spotted her. "Ms. Morin, perfect timing! The kitchen's a bit overwhelmed today. Let's go help out. What do you say?" Though the Wrenford residence employed plenty of staff, most were off for the holiday. In past family dinners, Celeste had even taken it upon herself to cook, hoping to give Damien and Lucian a better meal. Yet despite her efforts, she was still labeled "lazy". Looking back, it felt almost absurd. Celeste didn't move. Instead, she stood in place as Lucy walked off. "Mom, just go and help Lucy out! She's been at it for a while now. You wouldn't want her to overdo it, would you?" Lucian called out, even giving her a slight push. Meanwhile, Damien and his mother, Margot Sinclair, were deep in conversation. They didn't even look her way. Celeste didn't bother acknowledging them either. She made her way to the kitchen. As soon as she stepped inside, Lucy handed her a small dish of dipping sauce. "Ms. Morin, this one's for Lucian. I can't leave the kitchen right now. Could you take it to him?" Celeste was about to refuse, but a maid placed the sauce dish in her hands before she could say anything. Holding the small plate, she walked out, just in time to see two familiar figures descending the staircase. "Celeste, you're back?" Alaric called out. She turned immediately, and the first thing that caught her eye was Adrian's strikingly handsome, cold face. Dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit, a black ring on his right index finger made his long fingers appear even more elegant. His presence was enough to stop anyone in their tracks. Every time Celeste saw him, four words came to mind. "Cold, distant, untouchable, and refined". Adrian walked beside Alaric as they descended the stairs, offering Celeste only a brief glance before looking away. Celeste's fingers tightened around the sauce dish. Adrian—the man at the top of everything. She never imagined their paths would cross again under these circumstances. After a beat, she shifted her gaze away. "It's been a while, Mr. Wrenford Senior…" It had been three years since Alaric had seen Celeste. He pulled her down onto the couch, making small talk until everyone finally gathered at the dining table. Alaric sat at the head, with Adrian on his right. Celeste sat beside Damien, with Lucian seated between him and Lucy. Dinner seemed to be going smoothly—until a sudden retching noise shattered the calm. "Dad… I feel so sick. My body's itching…" Lucian barely got the words out before his plate crashed to the floor. Grabbing Damien's hand, his body trembled violently as he vomited. "What's happening?" Alaric stood up in alarm. Seeing Lucian's reaction, Damien immediately rolled up his sleeves. His arm was covered in a large, angry rash. "He's having an allergic reaction!" Lucy's voice was filled with urgency as she glanced at Lucian with a frown. "But he's only allergic to mustard… There's no mustard in today's food!" He was, after all, the child she had carried for ten months. Even if they were on the brink of divorce, Celeste couldn't just stand by and do nothing. She stepped over to Lucian and lifted his shirt to check his stomach. It was definitely an allergy—and it was severe. Lucian had been allergic to mustard since he was little. A maid's careless mistake had once landed him in a coma. This time, the amount must've been smaller—he was still conscious, but barely. Damien picked up the dipping sauce and sniffed it. His expression darkened. "Who made this?" Without thinking, Celeste's gaze shot to Lucy. "She did." Lucy immediately denied it. "But I didn't put any mustard in it! I made the sauce and handed it to Ms. Morin to bring out…" The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Celeste. "What are you trying to say?" Celeste's voice rose as her face fell. "You think I was the one who put mustard in it?" "Ms. Morin, I don't want to accuse you, but I know I didn't add any. I also know that you've had a grudge against me ever since the prison sentence. "But even if you wanted to set me up, there's no need for something like this. That's your son, after all…" Her words cut through the air, and in an instant, the blame shifted to Celeste. A cold rage burned in Celeste's eyes. So this was Lucy's plan all along. No wonder she insisted on going to the kitchen to help. As the tension escalated, Alaric's voice cut through like a blade. "Summon the family doctor now." "Yes, Mr. Wrenford Senior." The butler hurried off to make the call. Damien grabbed Celeste's arm. "Is it true what Lucy said? Did you put mustard in the sauce?" "I didn't," Celeste blurted out. "Mom, Lucy's always been kind to me. She's never hurt me. But you… You've hurt her before. How could you do this to me, too?" "I said I didn't," Celeste repeated, but no one seemed to hear her. No one wanted to believe her. Of course. A beloved public figure and an ex-convict—there was no contest. No matter what she said, her words didn't matter. "Three years in prison, and you're still this cruel? Even a tiger wouldn't hurt its own cubs. And yet here you are, using your son to frame Lucy. What kind of mother does that?" "I'm so disappointed in you, Mom…" Lucian's sobs filled the room, adding to the chaos. "Damien, don't jump to conclusions. We haven't even gotten to the truth yet. I don't believe Celeste would do something like this." Alaric's low growl cut through the chaos, drawing everyone's attention. Celeste instinctively turned—and her eyes locked with Adrian's. He sat back in his chair, watching it all unfold with cool detachment, as if it were nothing more than a show. "Mr. Wrenford Senior… are you saying…" Lucy's eyes were filled with tears as she turned toward Alaric. "Are you saying I'm the one who did this?"