Married to the Cold CEO: From Hate to Love

004. The Cold Silence And Avoidance

Time passed slowly, and eventually, Aveline lowered her head again, the weight of Caelan’s words pressing down on her. Why did he have to humiliate her like this?

Over the next few days, Caelan didn’t return to the mansion. It was as if their marriage hadn’t even happened. Instead, he moved into a different residence, leaving the place they shared behind without a second thought. The tabloids soon picked up on his absence, with headlines speculating about his supposed affair, complete with photos of him rumored to be keeping a mistress.

In the luxurious estate, whispers among the servants began to surface. Whenever Aveline walked into a room, they would stop talking and scatter, their silence loud with judgment.

The rumors eventually reached Caelan’s grandfather. Furious, he picked up the phone and immediately called Caelan’s office.

“Boy, what’s this nonsense I’m reading in the papers?” his grandfather barked over the line.

Caelan remained calm, uninterested. “Grandfather, it’s just gossip. You know how the media works. Don’t let it bother you.”

There was a pause on the other end before his grandfather exploded again. “And what about the fact that you’ve moved out? That’s not something the newspapers made up, is it? I warned you, didn’t I? I told you to treat Aveline well. You just got married, and already you’re pulling this kind of stunt?”

Caelan sighed, his voice carefully controlled. “I’ve been busy, that’s all. You know how much work is required with the new acquisition of Horizon Group. I’ve hardly had time to sleep, let alone go home.”

His grandfather grunted in disapproval. “You’d better hope that’s the truth.”

Caelan rubbed his temple, trying to maintain his patience. “Grandfather, please don’t get worked up. It’s not good for your health.”

A scoff came from the other end of the line. “You think I’m on my last legs? Well, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll give me a grandchild soon. I don’t want to kick the bucket without having held my grandson. And trust me, if you wait too long, you’ll regret it.”

Caelan’s expression darkened at the mention of Aveline. His eyes grew cold, but his voice remained calm. “I understand.”

“Good,” his grandfather said, still irritated. “And don’t think I won’t call Aveline to check on her. If she’s unhappy, I’ll come for you myself.”

Caelan’s grandfather, Winston Lysander, had come from nothing. He had built the Lysander empire with his bare hands, rising from poverty to create one of the most powerful companies in the world. When Winston's son, Caelan's father, had taken over, the family business had only grown stronger. But tragedy had struck when Caelan’s father died, leaving behind a son who had been everything to him.

Caelan had worshipped his father, and losing him had shattered his world. And to him, the one to blame for that loss was the woman he had just been forced to marry.

Since that day, Winston had taken over Caelan’s upbringing, turning him into the man he was today. Though Winston was strict, even ruthless at times, Caelan respected him deeply. Winston had always been the only family Caelan had left, and he knew that every harsh lesson had been for his benefit. Caelan would never disobey his grandfather, even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness.

It had been over two decades since then, and both men had changed. Caelan had grown colder, more distant, while Winston had softened with age. Though he still had a temper, his greatest wish now was to see his family happy and thriving.

In Caelan’s mind, the only person who could ever calm his grandfather’s fiery temper was Aveline. She had entered their lives when she was just ten years old, and somehow, she had managed to win Winston’s affection. Now, she was his wife. And if it weren’t for his grandfather, she wouldn’t have lasted a day in the Lysander household. Caelan would never have married her, never have let her into his life, if not for Winston.

But now that the marriage was done, all Caelan could do was tolerate it for his grandfather’s sake.

He would never accept the woman who had destroyed his happiness.

Never.

So, despite his grandfather’s constant calls demanding he return home, Caelan refused to face the woman who filled him with so much bitterness.

A few days later, Aveline finally gathered the courage to call him.

When Caelan saw her number flash across his phone, he didn’t hesitate to ignore it. The phone rang again, the sound grating on his nerves. With an irritated sigh, he pressed the button to shut the phone off entirely.

Back at the mansion, Aveline lowered her phone, her heart sinking. She had been prepared for his rejection, but even so, the reality of it was difficult to accept. She had hoped, against all odds, that he might at least answer her call.

A few days earlier, when Winston had called her, Aveline had fought back tears as she lied to him, assuring him that everything was fine. She had told him that Caelan was treating her well, that she was happy.

But she knew Winston had sensed something wasn’t right, and that was why he had insisted that she and Caelan return to the family estate together. How could she explain to him that Caelan wouldn’t even take her calls, let alone agree to visit the estate?

After agonizing over it for a while, Aveline made up her mind. She would go to Caelan’s office. There was no other way.

Ignoring Mrs. Bates' gentle protests, Aveline left the mansion and made her way to Lysander Enterprises. The towering building loomed over the bustling city, a symbol of Caelan’s power and success. It was an impressive sight, one that always filled her with a strange sense of pride. This was the empire Caelan had built with his own hands, pouring years of hard work and sacrifice into it.

She stepped inside the grand lobby, her heart beating a little faster. She wore a simple white dress, her makeup minimal. Compared to her wedding day, where she had been meticulously styled, today she looked plain, almost forgettable. And that was exactly how she wanted it. She didn’t want anyone to recognize her.

Aveline approached the front desk, where a receptionist greeted her with a polite smile. “Good afternoon. How can I help you?”

The receptionist looked Aveline over carefully, a flicker of recognition in her eyes, though she couldn’t quite place where she’d seen her before.

Aveline hesitated, her nerves making her second-guess herself. “I’d like to see Mr. Lysander,” she finally said.

“Do you have an appointment?” the receptionist asked, her tone professional.

Aveline froze for a moment. She had forgotten about the need for an appointment. After a long pause, she glanced up at the receptionist, her voice quiet. “Could I call him directly?”

The receptionist hesitated, but then nodded, handing her the phone.

Aveline dialed Caelan’s number, her fingers trembling slightly as she pressed the buttons.

“Hello?” Caelan’s voice came through the line, cold and indifferent.

Hearing his voice for the first time in days, Aveline’s heart clenched. She had missed his voice, even if it was distant. It was pathetic, really.

“It’s me,” she said softly.

There was a pause on the other end before Caelan responded, his tone hard. “Why are you calling me on the internal line?”

Aveline’s heart raced, afraid he would hang up. “I need to talk to you,” she said quickly. “Can we meet?”

Caelan’s reply was as indifferent as ever. “I’m busy.”

Before she could say anything more, the line went dead.

Aveline stood there, staring at the phone in her hand, her chest tightening with frustration. The receptionist, who had been watching her, finally spoke up. “Miss? Are you alright?”

Aveline blinked, forcing a small, sad smile. “I’m fine, thank you.” Her voice wavered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. “Do you know when Mr. Lysander will be done for the day?”

The receptionist shook her head, her expression apologetic. “I’m afraid I can’t say for certain. His schedule is unpredictable.”

Left with no other option, Aveline decided to wait.

She found a seat in the lobby, settling down on one of the long benches. Hours passed. She had arrived at midday, and as the sun began to set, the building started to empty. Employees filed out in groups, talking quietly as they left for the night. But Aveline stayed.

She didn’t mind the waiting. After all, she had grown used to it. She had spent her entire life waiting for Caelan—for a kind word, for a glance, for anything that showed she existed to him.

As the night grew colder, Aveline pulled her knees up to her chest, shivering in her thin dress. The air conditioning in the lobby felt harsher as the temperature outside dropped. Still, she waited.

The receptionist glanced at her from time to time, her sympathy growing. It was nearing midnight, and Aveline hadn’t moved. Finally, unable to stand it any longer, the receptionist approached her.

“Miss, I think Mr. Lysander might be working overnight. Maybe you should come back tomorrow?”

Aveline shook her head, a soft, tired smile on her lips. “It’s okay. I’ll wait.”

The receptionist sighed, unsure what else to say. She returned to her desk, her heart heavy with pity for the woman who sat waiting in the cold lobby.