CHAPTER 12 Celeste's POV The seatbelt pressed against my chest , but it wasn't what was making it hard to breathe I sat rigid in the passenger seat , my hands on my lap , but my mind wasn't here - it was still back in that hospital , tangled in Damien's presence . Beside me , Theo drove in silence . I was still lost in my thoughts when he finally reached out and touched my hand . " Are you okay ? " Jumping a bit , I gave him a startled look . T. I , uh … I don't know . I'm not sure . " I looked away , gazing outside and mindlessly watching the people we passed by " Celeste , you know you can tell me anything , " he began gently . " Is it because we saw Damien ? " He knew how deeply I had once loved Damien - probably still did . He wasn't asking just to be polite . He genuinely wanted to know if I could handle this . If I was truly ready to walk away , I swallowed , pushing down the tangle of emotions inside me . Then I exhaled slowly . " I'm not the same person anymore … Theo's brow furrowed slightly , his fingers tightening on the wheel . " What happened to you in that place , Celeste ? " I didn't answer right away . Instead , I reached for my sleeve and slowly pulled it up , revealing the scars and wounds that marted my skin Theo inhaled sharply . His knuckles turned white against the steering wheel I took a deep breath , steadying myself . The words felt foreign on my tongue , like they belonged to someone else's story , but they were mine " They drugged us , " I said finally , my voice quieter than I intended . " Every day . High doses . Enough to keep us docile , to make sure we didn't fight back . " Theo's jaw tightened , his eyes dark with barely restrained fury . Tears filled my eyes as I ran my fingers over the raised scars . "If I let myself slip under , if I let the drugs take over , I knew I'd lose myself . I saw what it did to the others , Hollow eyes , slack faces , people who forgot their own names . " I swallowed hard . " I couldn't let that happen to me . So , I did the only thing I could think of - I hurt myself . The pain kept me awake . It reminded me I was still alive . " A heavy silence filled the car . Theo's hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly I thought it might snap in half . " Those bastards , " he muttered under his breath . " Damien put me there , " I said in a whisper . " He and Genevieve did this to me . " Theo's hands jerked against the wheel , and the car swerved slightly before he corrected it . " I'll handle this , " he said , his voice dangerously low . They don't get to walk away from this . " " No , Theo " I said . " I don't want anyone else to know about it . It's too painful . I don't want to be ridiculed, and Genevieve . " " But- " Theo's eyes snapped to mine . But I interrupted him . especially by Damien " I don't want anyone to know Especially Damien . He might think I'm craving his attention again or just begging for mercy ! " A muscle in his jaw twitched , but after a beat , he took a few deep breaths , trying to calm himself down . " Fine , " he said at last . Then I'll make sure there's no trace left . I can erase the surveillance footage from the asylum - every +25 BONUS record , every shred of evidence that you were ever there . No one will know unless you want them to " I stilled , his words sinking in I nodded , fresh tears coming to my eyes . Thank " We'll keep it a secret until the time that you may need all of it again . " you , " I whispered . After that , we were quiet for a long time . Then to my surprise , he suddenly uttered , " I should've fought harder . " " What do you mean ? " I asked , searching his face . Theo didn't look at me , keeping his eyes trained on the road . But there was something in the way his fingers drummed tensely against the wheel , in the way his throat bobbed like he was trying to swallow down something he didn't want to say " I should have stopped you from marrying him , " he continued , different emotions reflecting on his face . " You wouldn't have suffered like this . " " Ch , Theo … " was all I could say : " It was my decision . It's not your fault " " No , Celeste . I should have stopped you from walking into hell " I opened my mouth to argue , but he shook his head . " I can't change the past , " he continued : " But I can damn well make sure you're never put through something like that again My breath caught . going to protect you . " Theo vowed . " No matter what it takes . No matter who I have to go against " I stared at him , my heart pounding . Theo had always been reliable , someone I could turn to when the world falling apart . But this … this felt different . This was a promise like it was The next days blurred together , passing in a haze of restless nights . Every morning , I woke up in a cold sweat , the remnants of nightmares clinging to me like a second skin But today , I woke up feeling better , the golden morning light filtering through the curtains of my temporary apartment . I still found it strange waking up in a place that wasn't the Vaughn estate . But it this place was all mine . I ran my fingers over the thick stack of documents in front of me , my heart unusually calm as I flipped through each page Divorce papers . There it was in black and white . The end of everything . My phone buzzed against the table , breaking the silence . I glanced at the screen - Nathan Carter , my lawyer . 1 picked it up immediately . " Celeste , " he greeted , his tone as professional as ever , but there was something cautious underneath . I wanted to update you on the status of your divorce papers . " I sat up straighter . " Yeah , I'm looking at my copy now … Did he sign them ? " A pause * They were sent to Damien yesterday , " Nathan confirmed . " But he hasn't signed them yet . My office followed up this morning . but , well , he's ignoring us . " I exhaled sharply , rubbing my temple . " I sent them myself too . I emailed him last night . " " And ? " +35 BONUS " No response . " Nathan sighed . Thad a feeling . He's stalling . " My jaw tightened . Damien had been the one who humiliated me , who announced our divorce in front of everyone . Now , when I was ready to sign , he was the one dragging it out ? Tll handle it , " I said firmly . And before I knew it , I found myself standing in front of Vaughn Enterprises later that day , the tall glass building towering before me I stepped into the grand lobby , eager to accomplish what I came here for . The moment I approached the reception desk , all eyes were on me . I felt them The whispers . The judgment . They all knew who I was . The scandal had painted me as a pathetic wife , an adulteress and a thief ! The receptionist looked up , but it was the woman beside her that I recognized immediately . Eloise Holt , Damien's long - time secretary . She crossed her arms and smirked at me with that same air of superiority she always had around me " Mrs. Vaughn , " she greeted , her voice dripping with mock sympathy . " Or should I say , Miss Monroe ? It's hard to believe that an orphan like you even had a maiden name . Anyway Her brows arched high , her smirk deepening . " Have you finally come crawling back ? I held my ground , unmoved by her condescension . I knew this routine all too well . Almost every time I came to Damien's company , Eloise made sure to humiliate me in some way . Back then , I never understood her hostility . But now ? Now I knew exactly why . She wasn't just another cold , overzealous secretary - she was Genevieve's shadow . Her most loyal confidante ever since they had started working together a long time ago I should have seen it before . The way Eloise always followed Genevieve's lead , how she hung onto her every word , always quick to dismiss or belittle me in any way she could . But I am not the Celeste she used to step on . Once , this would have shaken me . I would have second - guessed myself , shrank back in shame . But this was all nothing compared to what I'd been through inside that asylum " My Auntie gave me that name , " I replied steadily , unaffected . " And allow me to remind you - your former superior , Genevieve , was also an orphan with a surname . Or did you forget ? " The smirk wiped clean from her face . Her eyes widened , as if she hadn't expected me to strike back . But the shock didn't last long . It melted into something uglier - rage . " How dare you compare yourself to her ? " she hissed " Genevieve found her family . You have no idea how powerful and wealthy they are = " "I don't care . " I cut her off , my voice sharp and emotionless . " I need to see Damien . Now , " Eloise's jaw ti tightened . For the first time , she was the one caught off guard . She took a second too long to react . Damien's office But I didn't wait for her response . I stepped past her , heading straight for " H - Hey ! You can't just- | just - r I ignored her and confidently strode toward the elevators , unbothered by the hushed murmurs behind me . If Damien refused to acknowledge me or sign the papers , then I'd make him . +25 BONUS Soon I reached his office . The heavy double doors were shut , but the sleek glass walls surrounding the room had curtains- curtains that weren't fully drawn Ihalted Through the narrow gap , I caught a glimpse of movement inside . Damien was standing near his desk , his back turned to me . And in front of him , leaning into him , was Genevieve . My breath stilled The scene unfolded like a slow - motion nightmare . Genevieve tilted her head up , her hands resting lightly on his chest . Damien didn't move away . And then- She kissed him . A cold , electric shock jolted through me , rooting me to the floor . + Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!