LOGIN(Celeste's POV)I stayed quiet for a moment before speaking."That sounds like a lot for one week."Vincenzo stepped closer to me, his expression calm."He'll be fine," he said. "The whole point is to let him sit with the discomfort he has earned. For sixty years, he's believed he could judge a person's character the moment he met them. Now he's about to learn that he isn't always right."I didn't smile, but I felt myself relax a little."What if he never accepts me?" I asked quietly.Vincenzo gently kissed my forehead."He will," he said. "He always comes around when someone is worth keeping."I didn't answer, but I didn't move away either.For almost a year, I had lived with people who made me feel like I was only tolerated instead of truly wanted. The Wynne family had mastered that kind of quiet rejection. It was never open or obvious. It was hidden in small things. A glance over the edge of a teacup. A pause that lasted just a little too long. The way Adelina would fold her hands
(Author's POV) Chloe fell silent. She sat there for a few moments, thinking everything through before letting out a quiet, bitter laugh. "Of course it was." She had spent her whole life watching Tiziana fool the people around her. She knew that gentle voice, those sad eyes, and the way Tiziana always managed to make herself look like the most helpless person in every room. It was all an act. Everyone believed it except Chloe. She had seen through her long ago. "Tiziana had her own grudge against Celeste," Chloe said. "She needed someone else to take the blame, so she used you." Tiffany lowered her head and stared at the ground without saying a word. "Think about it," Chloe continued. "Celeste walked away from her marriage to Stefano Conti. Do you understand what that means? Half the women in this city would have done anything to keep a husband like him. Why would a woman like Celeste waste even a second thinking about Zachary?" She slowly shook her head. "None of it ever made s
(Celeste Moretti's POV)I arrived at the entrance of Aetheris Biotech almost an hour early.It was the same place where Adelina had cornered me the last time. I stood there alone with both hands tucked into the pockets of my coat while I watched the morning sunlight slowly spread across the quiet plaza. The place was almost empty, peaceful even, but I knew that calm would not last for long.Two of the new security guards noticed me standing there and walked over. One of them cleared his throat awkwardly before speaking."Ms. Moretti... should we expect some kind of fight today? We were wondering if we should have riot gear ready... just in case."I looked at him with a straight face."Do either of you have any snacks?"He frowned in confusion."Sorry?""Snacks. Chips, crackers, anything."I pointed across the street toward a convenience store."You should go buy a bag and find a good place to sit. Trust me, you're going to want to enjoy the show."The guard looked even more confused.
(Author's POV) On the other side of the building, Bianca Conti read the same official statement that everyone else had seen. The moment she finished reading it, she walked straight to her father, Arturo Conti's office. Arturo looked up at her, but his face gave nothing away. His expression was calm, and his voice carried the firm tone he always used whenever a decision had already been made. "You're no longer working for the company," he said. "This doesn't concern you." Bianca held his gaze without looking away. "I'm not asking as one of your employees," she replied quietly. "I'm asking as your daughter." Arturo remained silent. His expression didn't change. After a few seconds, Bianca gave a small nod. "Fine," she said. "I'll find the answer somewhere else." She turned and walked out of the office. She didn't have to go far. Just outside, she found Vincenzo talking with Arturo in the corridor. Without slowing down, she walked straight toward them and stepped into the m
(Author's POV) When they got home, Celeste went upstairs to take a shower while Vincenzo headed straight for the kitchen. Cooking was not something he usually did. Mrs. Potts looked genuinely surprised when he walked in and calmly asked her to bring out everything he needed. She offered to prepare it herself, but he simply thanked her and asked her to leave the kitchen. He decided to make the soup himself. Cream of mushroom. From scratch. He had only watched it being made once before, but somehow he remembered every step. He worked patiently, taking his time instead of rushing through it, carefully stirring the pot until the rich smell filled the kitchen. By the time Celeste came downstairs wearing a soft robe with her damp hair hanging over her shoulders, everything was ready. She stopped the moment she reached the dining room. Her eyes landed on the bowl of hot soup waiting on the table before slowly moving to Vincenzo. She looked at him for a long moment without saying a
Writing Chapter 160: The Wrong Person (Celeste's POV) The moment I stepped out of the house, an uneasy feeling settled deep inside me. I could not explain it because nothing looked wrong. The morning was bright and peaceful. Vincenzo's car was waiting by the curb, my bag rested on my shoulder, and my phone was safely tucked into my pocket. Everything seemed completely normal, yet I could not shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen. Even so, I got into the car, and we drove into traffic. "Can I ask you something?" I said after a few minutes. Vincenzo glanced at me before returning his eyes to the road. "Go ahead." "Do you ever get that strange feeling that something is about to go wrong, even when you have no reason to think so? Like there's this heavy feeling sitting in your chest, warning you that something bad is coming." He was quiet for a moment as if he was actually thinking about it. Then he reached across the space between us and took my hand in his.
(Vincenzo's POV) I accepted that with a nod and let the silence settle comfortably between us for a moment. She ate. I ate. The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, filling the apartment with a rare sense of peace. For a brief moment, it felt as though nothing urgent existed outside t
(Author's POV) "Ms. Moretti!" Lorenzo quickly stepped sideways, positioning himself between Celeste and the elevator. "What are you doing here?" Celeste looked at him calmly. "I'm here to discuss the divorce settlement with my ex husband," she said. "The CEO of this company. The property divi
(Celeste's POV) Eleanor had already ordered by the time I arrived. She waved me toward the seat across from her and gestured at the table. Roasted chicken breast with asparagus, a bowl of cream of mushroom soup, and a salad platter arranged between us. "I hope you don't mind," she said. "Lunch
(Celeste's POV) I got to the office at ten. The internal announcement system notification was already sitting at the top of my screen when I opened my laptopâa formal statement, precisely worded, the kind of language that leaves no room for interpretation. I read it twice. Serena Conti, effect







