CHAPTER 6 +35 BONUS Damien's POV " Is this some kind of joke ? " I mocked back . But inside , my heart was hammering . I could tell that he was truly concerned But no , it's impossible Celeste is in a sanatorium , under expert care . They know what they're doing . How can she be in danger ? " Isn't this what you've always wanted ? " Theo spat with venom . Then the line went dead I stared at my phone , stunned and confused Was Celeste really in danger ? Had I somehow caused it ? A strange , uneasy feeling formed in my gut . I tried to push it away , to remind myself that Theo was probably exaggerating . But panic began to take over me . My pulse pounded in my ears . Just then , Genevieve reached out , her fingers brushing against my arm . " Damien . " Her voice was soft , soothing , but it made me even more uneasy . " What ? " There was hesitation in her eyes . "I didn't want to tell you this , " she murmured , lowering her gaze as if reluctant . " But since Theo is getting involved … I think you should know the truth . I frowned . " What truth ? " She exhaled , as if choosing her words carefully . " Celeste and Theo … " She paused , glancing at me as if gauging my reaction . " They've known each other for a long time . Since college . They had … quite a good relationship . " My eyes widened . I could feel my heart hammering against my chest . I never knew about this , Celeste never told me " How do you know this ? " I asked sharply . Genevieve hesitated , then gave me a small , almost regretful smile . " Because we were classmates . Celeste and I. And Theo . They were … very close . " I clenched my jaw . " What do you mean ' close ' ? " She gave a small shrug " She never cut ties with him , even after marrying you . I always thought it was strange , but I didn't say anything because I didn't want to cause unnecessary problems . " Her words sank into me , slow and poisonous . They've known each other for years ! And who knows what kind of relationship they had then ? So this is why . Theo's so damn concerned about her ! Everything was starting to make sense . I stood up and started pacing the room . How many men did she have ? Did she ever really love me , or was she that great of an actress ? Genevieve watched me carefully , then sighed . " Damien , I know this is frustrating for you , but maybe you should let her stay there a little longer . " I stopped pacing and turned to her . " What ? " She tilted her head slightly , giving me a look of concern . " She's clearly still in denial about everything . Definitely not realizing her mistakes . Maybe a few more days in the sanatorium will help her … fully realize who her husband is and what she has done to you . " Genevieve was right Celeste had always been proud , stubborn - but once she faced reality , she would have no choice but to crawl back to me She had nowhere else to go . +25 BONUS Celeste's POV I barely slept that night . Curled up in the cramped utility room , my body aching from the abuse , I stared at the ceiling , willing the hours to pass . But my mind wouldn't quiet . Had something happened to Auntie ? What about the kids in the orphanage ? Did Theo understand what I was trying to tell him ? Would he come ? My stomach cleathed in pain , the hunger gnawing at me after going an entire day without food . My body was weak and barely holding on . Just then , the door creaked open . Igasped , expecting another round of torment . But instead , the janitor stepped inside . The only one who hadn't treated me like an animal Without a word , he slipped a single apple into my hands . " You need to eat something . " he whispered , glancing nervously at the door . My throat tightened . It was the first act of kindness I had received in so long " Uh .. Thank you …. " I bit into the apple , the crisp sweetness almost unbearable in its relief . However , his next words destroyed me . s voice dropped lower . " She's in a vegetative state now . " " Your aunt . She's still plive , but HIS The apple slipped from my hands . I was even forgetting to chew . " That's not possible , " Frasped . " She was in the hospital … She was going to be fine .. " 1 shook my head , my vision blurring with tears The janitor looked at me with pity . They say she won't wake up In that instance , something inside me snapped . The last thread holding me together shredded apart . A ragged sob tore from my throat as I curled forward , clutching my arms , I had lost her . Auntie Eleanor - the only person who had ever truly cared about me - was gone . And with her , the last clue to finding my parents . I had no one left . I was a pariah . A discarded pawn . Stripped of everything . And the man I once loved - the man I had devoted myself to - had done this to me . I pressed a trembling hand to my mouth , suffocating the sound of my grief . Oh , God . A deep , hollow a ache settled in my chest , squeezing tighter with every breath This isn't fair . It shouldn't have ended like this +25 BONUS Auntie Eleanor had spent her whole life caring for others . She doesn't deserve this , I thought , a sob escaping my lips . Slowly , the ache twisted into something heavier . Darker . My nails dug into my skin nas I fought against the wave of despair . A rage I had never known began to rise and consume me . Why did Damien lock me away with fabricated evidence ? Why did Genevieve go out of her way to keep me from Auntie ? If I had been with her that day . No - I should have been with her . I had the tickets ready , I was supposed to go to the orphanage . I could have saved her . Or I could have been with her before she'd lost consciousness And if it weren't for Damien and Genevieve , I would have had the chance to uncover the truth about my biological parents . Auntie and I would have found them together . None of this would have happened ! The grief burning in my chest turned and twisted , morphing into a monstrous fury . An intense fire ignited inside me , boiling past the pain . Past the heartbreak . They thought they had won ? They thought they could destroy me and walk away unscathed ? No fucking way . I'm not letting them get away with this . They are going to suffer and pay . I will take back everything they had stolen from me . And they're going to be sorry they did this to me . With a sharp , furious gesture , I yanked my wedding ring off my finger The cold metal bit into my skin one last time before I hurled it to the ground , watching as it clattered against the concrete floor . I had wasted years on Damien Vaughn But not anymore . Those days are over . Damien and I are over . For good Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!