Episode 4:
1263 Words
Caleb cut off Celeste's words. The coldness in his tone left her unsure if he was happy or upset.
At least, Celeste didn’t think there was anything wrong with his current demeanor. Compared to three years ago, having him abandon his wife to return to her was the best outcome she could have hoped for. And for Celeste, that was enough.
Still, she persisted. “I’ll try to persuade her. As long as she lets me stay by your side, I don’t need any title or status.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
His voice was clearly cold and emotionless, but Celeste, nestled against his chest, smiled smugly. Outwardly, she said, “You’re not angry with me?”
“It’s not your fault.”
His words were affectionate, but his tone carried no warmth. His cold gaze remained fixed somewhere far away, unnoticed by Celeste.
She smiled again, leaning even closer into him, feigning vulnerability. “Caleb, no matter what happens this time, I won’t leave you again—not even if they put a knife to my throat to force me away.”
What was hers would always be hers.
Caleb didn’t respond. However, the arm he wrapped around her tightened to the point where Celeste felt a pang of pain. Yet, she mistook this for a sign of his deep passion, making her feel even more triumphant.
Two weeks passed since that day.
“Thank you, come again.”
Seraphina smiled politely, bidding farewell to a satisfied customer. Then, she immediately turned her attention to the next waiting customer, her demeanor brisk and composed, showing no trace of sorrow.
After leaving the Ravenswood estate, Seraphina rented a small apartment and started job hunting. It didn’t take long for her to find work at a café that also sold baked goods. Much like before, she used it to occupy her time.
Perhaps that’s why she didn’t feel like she was thinking about anything. Everything seemed as though it hadn’t changed.
If anything had quietly changed, it was… But it behaved well, not adding any burden to her. If possible, she thought, she could live this way forever.
Meanwhile, things were different back at the Ravenswood family.
“Caleb! Where’s my daughter-in-law!?”
Mrs. Victoria Ravenswood stormed into the company, loudly demanding an answer from the aloof man seated in the CEO’s chair.
The secretaries outside his office shrank back at her intimidating presence, too frightened even to bring her water.
But could anyone blame her? Anyone else would be furious, too, if their beloved daughter-in-law suddenly disappeared without a trace.
She hadn’t expected this to happen. From the start, even though the marriage lacked love, Caleb’s behavior had always been commendable. For three years, he had maintained the arrangement flawlessly. Everyone thought it would last forever.
Seraphina wasn’t the type to stay idle at home, so it wasn’t unusual for Victoria to go a week without seeing her daughter-in-law. What upset her was that Seraphina, whenever called, seemed evasive. It wasn’t until a nosy security guard at the estate mentioned not seeing Seraphina for days that Victoria became alarmed.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She had no reservations about berating Caleb in front of his subordinates. “Raising you was a waste of effort!”
“Look at what you’ve done! Is this how a proper man acts? Where is my daughter-in-law? Go and bring her back now! If not, the Ravenswood family will disown you!”
Her words left everyone outside the CEO’s office in shock.
Before Caleb could say anything, Celeste—whom he had inexplicably promoted to secretary and moved into his office—decided to speak up. “Madam—”
“Who are you? Is this your place to speak? Get out!” Victoria snapped coldly, dismissing Celeste without hesitation.
Turning her glare back to Caleb, she demanded, “Where is my daughter-in-law?”
Victoria couldn’t believe that Caleb would truly treat Seraphina this way. But she didn’t dare gamble on her son’s ice-cold heart. She feared that Seraphina might be suffering somewhere alone, unwilling to cry or complain to her. Even now, Seraphina had been covering for Caleb. Victoria had refrained from confronting her directly, worried that exposing the truth would drive Seraphina further away.
And here her damned son sat, calmly letting his office become a den for flirtation with this shameless woman.
“Why are you still here!?” Victoria roared, startling everyone once more.
Celeste paled, instinctively adopting a pitiful expression as she glanced at Caleb for help.
Caleb didn’t send her away but instead looked at his mother and said, “Mother, this is the company.”
His indifferent tone made it clear he was shielding Celeste. Even Victoria could see it, let alone Celeste, who felt secretly pleased but didn’t dare show it.
Victoria, thoroughly incensed, snapped, “The company! The company! All you care about is the company!”
“I’m asking you—where is my daughter-in-law? Did you really cast her aside for another woman?”
Her voice rose, disbelief evident in her eyes.
At this point, most people would have avoided provoking her further. But Celeste was different.
“Madam, please don’t blame him! It’s my fault—”
“Shut your mouth! Get out!” Victoria, enraged, grabbed the pen holder from Caleb’s desk and hurled it at Celeste.
The girl yelped in fright, ducking behind Caleb for cover. Even then, she insisted on speaking. “Madam, I’m sorry! But I truly love him. Please don’t tear us apart anymore!”
“Please, I’m begging you!”
“You—!” Victoria was livid, nearly gasping for breath. Just as she was about to do something more drastic, Caleb intervened.
“Mother.”
“You’re defending her!?” Victoria glared at him, as if ready to bring out the family’s disciplinary measures if he didn’t give her a satisfactory answer.
Caleb met her gaze with icy calm. “I just want to ask—was it you who drove Celeste away all those years ago?”
“Hah!”
Victoria let out a bitter laugh, her face showing no trace of guilt. Especially as she caught sight of the expression on the woman hiding behind Caleb.
She spoke with a steely voice. “Back then, she happily took the money. Now that it’s gone, she comes back playing the victim. And you believe her? You’re even throwing away your wife for this?”
Victoria laughed in disbelief, her anger flaring again. Celeste, on the other hand, became flustered and cried out, “That’s not true! Caleb!”
“It was… it was…”
Celeste stammered, her hesitation painting her as someone too afraid to accuse an elder yet unwilling to endure injustice. She eventually broke down, crying helplessly. “I shouldn’t have come back or destroyed your family’s happiness. Caleb, I’m sorry. Madam, I’m sorry. I won’t bother anyone anymore!”
With that, she turned to leave, tears streaming down her face.
Predictably, Caleb grabbed her hand, stopping her.
“Mother, my happiness is mine to decide. Don’t interfere anymore,” he said coldly, his gaze piercing.
Victoria’s laughter was tinged with fury. “So, your decision is to abandon the vows of your marriage?”
“Very good, Caleb. Tell me—did we hold a knife to your neck to force you to marry Seraphina?”
“You didn’t,” Caleb replied, his tone as cold as ever. “But you chased Celeste away behind my back.”
- Writer
