The Platonic Trap novel Chapter 157

Celia felt like she should have checked her horoscope before leaving the house today.

—She was dealing with a literal demon.

Frowning, she stared at the text message, reading it over and over just to make sure she wasn't hallucinating.

Once she confirmed it was genuinely from Talbot, her first instinct was that he had lost a game of Truth or Dare.

It wouldn't have been the first time. Whenever he partied with his degenerate friends and lost a bet, someone always brought her up as a joke.

Her arrangement with him had been an agreement forged between her grandfather and Franklin.

But aside from that piece of paper, there was absolutely nothing to suggest they were actually an "engaged couple."

Hell, they had never even had a formal engagement ceremony.

Back when her grandfather was healthier, both families had wanted to finalize the engagement quickly. But when his health deteriorated, Franklin started making excuses to delay it.

Later, when Talbot met his "true love," Evelyn Morgan, the idea of an engagement was thrown entirely out the window.

So, while those in the know referred to her as his fiancée, in reality, they had no relationship whatsoever.

The title was completely empty.

Because of this, Celia simply assumed Talbot was playing another stupid game and brushed it off.

There was no overtime today. Once the new manager synced up the timeline with the team, he sent everyone home.

Holding her phone, Celia walked into the underground garage and immediately spotted The Sovereign parked nearby.

The tinted window rolled down smoothly, and Alistair commanded, "Get in."

Celia didn't argue. Ken opened the door for her, and she slid into the backseat.

Alistair had been staying at the Aerie Manor recently.

Even though Celia's cold had fully cleared up, he hadn't made any mention of moving out.

Naturally, she wasn't going to bring it up either. She preferred him staying right there.

The luxury car glided smoothly toward the Aerie Manor.

Her first instinct was to hang up, but she had to maintain her "devoted" persona in front of Alistair.

Reluctantly, she pinched the bridge of her nose and answered the call.

She didn't put it on speaker.

Even so, Talbot was yelling so loudly that Alistair could hear every word perfectly.

"Why did it take you so long to pick up?! Did you not see my message?!"

His tone was infuriatingly arrogant, as if she should be dropping to her knees in gratitude just for receiving a text from him.

Celia's brow furrowed, a flash of vicious annoyance crossing her eyes.

If Alistair wasn't sitting right next to her, she would have cursed him out on the spot.

Taking a deep breath, she forced her voice into a timid, gentle register. "I'm sorry, Talbot. Did you need something?"

"Celia, don't push your luck. I sent you a message. What exactly do you want me to say?"