Chapter 22
The feeling was impossible to put into words.
Adrian watched Celeste, a faint smile tugging at His lips. His voice was as deep as ever when he spoke. “Be careful.‘
Celeste was about to respond, but the footsteps approaching the doorway cut her off. “Celeste,
we can go
11
She tried to pull away from Adrian’s grip, but it was too late. She looked up as Damien entered the ward, and their eyes met. He had seen how close they’d been just now.
“What’s going on here?”
Damien’s brow furrowed slightly, his voice tight with anger and disbelief.
Adrian released Celeste, his tone cool and indifferent. “Ms. Morin lost her balance. I was just steadying her. Now that you’re here, you can take her back.‘
With that, Adrian turned and walked out without another word. Only when his footsteps had faded did Damien finally look at Celeste.
She glanced at the papers in his hand and stepped forward without hesitation. “Thanks.”
She grabbed the discharge papers from him and walked straight to the door.
“Stop.”
Damien’s low voice came from behind her.
Celeste paused and glanced back at him. “Just finishing the discharge paperwork is enough. I don’t need you to walk me out. I can leave on my own.”
“Was what Uncle Adrian said earlier true?”
Damien stepped closer, his expression cold.
Celeste lifted her chin, her face unreadable. “What do you think?”
He looked down at her, his gaze dripping with condescension, his eyes catching the harsh hospital lights.
A faint smirk tugged at Celeste’s lips, as if she were waiting for his response. When he remained silent, she gave a cold, hollow smile. “Mr. Wrenford, don’t tell me you actually think I was trying to seduce Adrian?”
Damien’s lips twisted into a sneer. “Seduce him? As if someone like you could.”
His voice was quiet but full of contempt. Celeste’s ‘expression darkened for a brief moment. She held his gaze, saying nothing.
Chapter 22
“Let’s not forget you’re completely worthless, and an ex–convict, too.” Damien’s voice oozed with mockery. “Everyone in the Wrenford family knows how high Uncle Adrian’s standards
are.
“Beautiful women always surrounded him, but he never found good looks and a nice figure attractive. What really mattered was having something up here.”
He raised his hand and tapped his index finger against his temple.
Celeste, however, didn’t take the bait. Her voice was flat. “Mr. Wrenford, the fact that you’re infatuated with Ms. Vale proves your judgment doesn’t even come close’to Adrian’s.”
Damien frowned at her words. It was a pointed insult, suggesting his taste was awful and that Lucy didn’t have much of a brain.
“If you want to insult me, just say it. Why drag Lucy into it?”
Damien’s expression darkened. He reached out to grab Celeste’s arm, ready to demand an explanation. But she moved quicker. She had already stepped back and turned to walk away. His voice burst into a stream of curses behind her, but Celeste paid him no attention as she stepped into the hallway. By the time she reached the hospital entrance, she caught sight of a figure hurrying past.
She called out immediately, “Annie.”
Annie came to an abrupt stop at the sound of her name. She turned, and when she saw Celeste, her expression froze in surprise.
“Celeste, you were supposed to wait for me in the ward. What are you doing out here?”
