Alaric let out a quiet scoff but said nothing.
Everyone in the Wrenford family knew his stance—he had no patience for women from the entertainment industry and had always been firmly against Damien's relationship with Lucy.
So when Damien brought her to a family dinner, it wasn't surprising that Alaric didn't bother hiding his disapproval.
Margot noticed Lucian was growing more uncomfortable by the minute, so she took him and moved to the other end of the couch.
Damien stepped forward, shielding Lucy as his voice tightened with frustration. "Grandpa, Lucy would never do something like this. It's clearly Celeste—just like three years ago when she set Lucy up!"
His voice was icy while his gaze was laced with a chilling intensity. But even then, Celeste's heart remained still, untouched by the chaos around her.
In this entire house, perhaps Alaric was the only one who still believed in her.
"Ms. Morin, even if you've always resented me, how could you involve a child—"
Before she could finish, Celeste raised her hand and slapped her. The sharp sound echoed through the room.
Everyone turned in shock.
Celeste, who had always been soft-spoken and composed, had never lashed out like this. She was the type to swallow her grievances. This was the first time anyone had seen her like this.
"I will never admit to something I didn't do. I let you accuse me once. But if you keep crossing the line, don't expect me to just stand by."
Celeste's voice wasn't loud, but it carried weight. There was a storm brewing behind her calm eyes—quiet, but unmistakable.
At the head of the table, Adrian raised an eyebrow as his fingers stilled mid-tap on the tabletop. A subtle smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Now this... this was interesting.
"Celeste, what the hell is wrong with you?" Damien snapped, stepping in front of Lucy and pulling her protectively behind him.
His glare was scorching. "It's been three years, and you've only gotten worse. Have you completely lost your mind?"
The family doctor arrived just then, and Margot, still cradling Lucian, led him upstairs.
Celeste ignored Damien. She wanted to check on Lucian before leaving. But as she turned to go, Damien caught her wrist. "Celeste, you're not going anywhere until we settle this."
"You want to settle it?" Celeste yanked her hand free as her eyes turned menacingly cold. "Fine. I want a divorce. Is that clear enough for you?"
The room fell into stunned silence. Everyone stared at her—even Damien. This was supposed to be a family dinner. No one expected her to drop the word divorce like a bomb.
She knew exactly how to hit where it hurt, huh? She was still as outrageous as ever.
Adrian, who had been quietly observing, finally landed his gaze on Celeste and focused on her fully.
She wore a long white dress that highlighted her slender frame, making her look even more delicate. Her beautiful face was pale, like someone who hadn't eaten properly in days. But right now, anger gave her a rare and striking vitality.
He hadn't expected those delicate hands to strike so decisively. But she was swift, unapologetic, and utterly composed.
And undeniably captivating.
Yet every time his gaze lingered on her face, a sense of familiarity stirred. He just couldn't place where he'd seen her before.
"Celeste, if you're going to make a scene, at least pick the right time. If you've got something to say, say it in private. Don't bring our personal issues to a family dinner. Aren't you even a little embarrassed?"
"Then tell me—what's the non-embarrassing way to handle this?" Celeste shot him a cold look.
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