Chapter One: The Woman In The Mirror.
The woman in the mirror was no longer that same woman who had stood on the pages of Forbes, Vogue and the New York Times wedding edition. Her face now quieter, softer and her eyes were no longer sharp with ambition but something much more subdued grief beneath determination.
Celeste Morgan adjusted the neckline of her navy-blue dress and breathed. It had been years she'd gotten dressed this nicely. Years she'd walked into a room not as the ex-wife or on the periphery as the single mom but as herself.
The charity gala tonight was the first public appearance she'd made since she vanished from New York. Not that anyone here in this serene California town had even a clue who she really was. There, she was still Celeste Carter, the artist who painted seascapes for the local gallery, worked at the library and brought up a bright-eyed daughter named Amelia.
She picked up the hand-painted auction piece, a moonlit watercolor of a crashing wave and pushed it into the portfolio case. Her friend and event planner, Sasha had begged her to part with something to help raise funds for the town's online learning initiative and Celeste couldn't say no as she was indebted to this town more than they would ever know.
"Mommy, do you have butterflies in your tummy" Amelia's voice called from the doorway.
Celeste turned to watch her six-year-old in a sparkly pink dress clasping tightly to her favorite bunny with her curl loosen hair and her cheeks rosy with excitement.
"A little" Celeste confessed squatting down on the floor "But you'll be with Miss Sasha, won't you?"
Amelia nodded vigorously bouncing up and down on her toes "She said there'll be cupcakes"
Celeste smiled gently placing a kiss on the forehead of her daughter "Then i think you'll be just fine"
By the time they arrived at the venue, a gleaming beachfront hotel wrapped in pale gold lights and the gut butterflies had multiplied tenfold for Celeste. The lobby was filled with muted whispers and elegant laughter as the Crystal chandeliers sparkled above with the sounds of violin wafted through the air.
She contracted to appear as herself and handed Amelia over to the party staff responsible for watching the children. Amelia clutched her bunny tight but waved with a gigantic smile before skipping down the hallway.
Celeste took a deep breath and walked into the ballroom and wasn't ready for the slap of recollections that hit her at once.
Men are in tailored tuxedos and women covered in silk and diamonds. Champagne fountains and waiters in gloves, It was the very kind of world she'd fled from and the kind she used to rule.
She reminded herself she wouldn't be staying and just leave the painting, say hello and go.
But once more, fate had other plans.
A ripple ran through the room. Guests shift slightly and their eyes slided toward the door. Curious, Celeste turned and froze.
Standing in the glow of chandelier light under the arch of the doorway was him.
Rafael Stone, her ex-husband. Her ex-fairy tale been bad.
Time hadn't diminished his impact, he's six-foot-three, lean and muscular build, raven-black hair brushed back and highlighting sharp cheekbones with a memorable jawline. He wore a charcoal tuxedo that probably cost her entire years' worth of rent and yet he pulled it off like he was second skin daring.
His coming had always been such a storm blowing into a room—silent, then utter destruction and here he was standing in front of her like a man who took up the entire world.
Celeste's stomach bottomed out.
Rafael belonged in New York. His business domain was on the East Coast and there was no way he'd be here, of all places—unless.
No, it was not coincidence as his eyes scanned the room and then they landed on her.
For a heartbeat neither moved and the air between them thinned as she could see the exact moment recognition struck him.
His brows knit together and his gaze darkened as he began walking toward her.
Celeste’s instincts screamed. Run, hide and disappear but her feet remained planted as she couldn’t breathe and couldn’t move.
“Celeste?” His voice cut through the noise low and stunned “You’re alive”
The room withdrew. She had a thousand options for how to respond. In fury, in disbelief and in sobs but all she said was "You shouldn't be here"
"And yet" Rafael cut in and his eyes reducing to slits "here we are."
She stepped back "This is not the time or place"
"I buried you" he growled, voice low and taut "Three years. I thought you were dead and now i discover you here?"
“I had my reasons” she whispered and her voice trembling.
“You left me without a word. You faked your death and you think that doesn’t deserve an explanation?”
People were starting to notice. Heads turned subtly and murmurs began.
Celeste turned sharply trying to escape but Rafael followed her gripping her elbow gently but firmly. “Celeste, wait”
Then, a small voice pierced the tension.
“Mommy!”
Celeste turned and saw Amelia running toward her, her little bunny dragging behind.
Rafael's entire body locked up.
His gaze dropped to the child then slowly rose measuring cold and tormented as his jaw clenched.
The air between them became so thick with silence it felt ready to explode into a storm.
Amelia caught up with Celeste and hugged her leg "The cupcakes are strawberry!"
But she was no longer the center of focus.
Rafael's gaze was on Amelia, every feature etched in stone.
"She's" he started and his voice barely above a whisper.
Celeste's breath caught. Don't say it, don't guess it and don't see it but it was already too late.
Amelia was just like him.
Same dark hair. Same golden-hazel eyes and same dimple when she smiled.
Rafael flinched as if punched "She's mine" he whispered "Isn't she?"
Celeste closed her eyes as the world spun, the ballroom spun.
"Rafael" she began.
He stepped forward, voice shaking with an anger she'd never seen before "You denied me my daughter"
"I did what i had to
"Three years?" he spat "You had me believing you were dead while my child grew up without me?"
Celeste's eyes blazed "You wouldn't have protected her. Not then, not with the others on your tail. I had no other choice."
"You had all the choices" he growled "You simply didn't choose me"
A flash burst from a camera and another.
Photos had been snapped. Whispers swelled like waves.
Within the space of just seconds, the room went berserk. Phones were held aloft as guests stared in horror.
Rafael's eyes never left hers and betrayal etched across every line of his face.
"I will find out what's going on" he snarled "And this time, you don't get to run away"
And with that, he turned and walked off right into the glare of exploding cameras.
Celeste stood stunned, Amelia clinging fast to her hand and the weight of all that she had attempted to keep hidden crashed down around her.
The truth came out, the past caught up and Rafael Stone wasn't going away this time. Not without a fight.
Will Rafael sue for custody? Will the media reveal Celeste's identity? And will the secrets she kept alive come back to ruin the fragile peace she built?
