She Was Never Just the Wife novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Chapter 69

65 vouchers

The room was spacious, bright, and airy. Beyond the massive curved floor-to-ceiling windows was a breathtaking sight, an endless sweep of Eastetille Savanna, glowing with the last warm light of sunset, the whole landscape looking like an impressionistic masterpiece.

Acacia trees cast elegant, solitary shadows across the plains, and in the far distance, the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanivelle soared above it all, its sacred whiteness dusted with a faint golden-pink by the lingering twilight.

The room’s decor was the perfect blend of simplicity and comfort, featuring natural wood and soft gray accents. The furniture had smooth, graceful lines, and on the desk, alongside state-of-the-art communication devices, a slim vase cradled a few delicate local blue wildflowers in fresh water.

It was a little surprise clearly set out for her arrival. The air was lightly perfumed with the calming scent of lavender and cedar, making everything feel tranquil and welcoming.

“Please take a moment to rest. Dinner and your luggage will be brought up shortly. The network here is a top- tier encrypted satellite link, absolutely secure.

“If you need anything at all, press the call button anytime, day or night, and I’ll handle it personally,” Bobby said, bowing slightly before quietly closing the door behind him.

At last, the world was completely silent. Outside, the eternal wind swept across the savanna, and in the far distance, the distant, guttural calls of ancient life drifted faintly on the air.

Celia stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the vast, sweeping landscape that seemed to devour every trace of her troubles.

She drew in a deep breath of the cool, dry air, then slowly let it out, as if trying to purge all the toxic schemes and bitterness she’d carried from the East.

She walked over to the bed and sat down, pulling out her satellite phone from the shielded pouch inside her travel bag. She powered it on, and it automatically connected to the safehouse’s encrypted network.

The screen lit up, and the notification bar was instantly flooded with a barrage of unread messages and call logs.

She calmly scrolled through, filtering out all the news alerts and random numbers until her eyes locked onto dozens of missed calls and texts from Haley.

The most recent one had come in minutes ago: [Cece, call me the second you see this. It’s an emergency. Someone’s using fake photos to frame you for drugging Beckham. He actually bought it. He’s freaking out at my place. This is a total setup.]

‘Drugging? Fake photos? A setup?’ Celia thought, her eyes turning icy cold, but her fingers stayed steady. She immediately dialed Haley back on the encrypted line.

The call connected almost instantly, and Haley’s voice, which was urgent, angry, and still shaken, blasted through the phone. “Oh my god! Cece, you finally called! Where are you? Are you safe?”

19:39 Mon, May 11 d

Chapter 69

65 vouchard

“I’m safe, Hails. I’m in a completely secure place. Don’t panic. Take a breath and tell me what happened,” Celia replied, her voice calm and steady, like water flowing beneath ice, soothing and reassuring.

“Take a breath? I’m about to explode here!” Haley’s voice shot up, words flying out like bullets. “Beckham barged into my office this afternoon, slammed down a file stuffed with candid shots! It’s from Cloudscape, at night.

“There’s a woman in a cream dress, her profile kinda looks like you, talking to a waiter with her hand hovering over a glass! The angle and lighting make it look super sketchy! And like that, Beckham is convinced you drugged him!

“I checked those pics. No way that’s you! The details are all off! Someone hired a double to stage the whole thing!

“Someone’s definitely framing you, and it all blew up right when his scandal with Laylah hit this morning. Too much of a coincidence! This is a full-on trap!”

Celia went quiet for a couple of seconds, her gaze turning icy, but there was a flash of realization in her eyes. “Who has the photos now?”

“I’ve got them! Beckham stormed out after dropping them off. I locked them in the safe,” Haley said, her voice urgent. “Cece, this plot is huge! It’s good you’re out of the country, but the mess they’re stirring up back home.”

“Got it, Hails.” Celia cut her off, her voice icy and almost ruthless. “Keep those photos locked down. For now, don’t make any moves. Don’t contact Beckham, and don’t say a word to anyone. Pretend you don’t know anything.”

“But-” Haley said.

“No buts,” Celia replied, gentle but firm. “I’m in Kenyelle, not back home. I’m safe, and none of this can touch me right now. I need time and space to figure out the whole game.

“Whoever set this up is after more than my reputation. Sometimes, staying silent is the best armor. It lets the snakes in the shadows show themselves. Trust me. I’ve got this.”

Haley took a few shaky breaths, her nerves settling a bit under Celia’s steady vibe. “Alright, I’ll do what you say. But please, be careful! And don’t disappear on me!”

“I will. Stay sharp and watch your back,” Celia reminded her, then ended the call after a few more words.

She gripped her phone, her gaze drifting back to the window. Night had fallen, the savanna swallowed by deep blue, stars flickering to life one by one across the sky.

Celia wondered, ‘Framing me for drugging him? Tying it to the Laylah scandal? Are they trying to paint me as a jealous ex-wife who’d do anything, even break the law to get back at him?

‘Is this all to set up someone else’s poor act, making them look like the innocent victim forced into the spotlight? Or are they trying to take down both Beckham and me at once?’

The move wasn’t exactly clever, but it was vicious and timed to perfection. Too bad they picked the wrong target. These days, Celia had long since buried her weaknesses and forged her armor strong.

19:39 Mon, May 11 d

Chapter 69

55 vouchers

She scrolled through the rest of her messages. There was a long letter from Tanner, his words sincere, loaded with regret and helplessness.

He talked about the public backlash and the Lucero Group crisis, hinting that the family might have to go with the flow and put on a show for everyone.

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