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Chapter 20
But Celeste only furrowed her brows, as if she’d just passed by a stranger. Without stopping, she turned and walked
toward the departure lounge.
Lucian’s heart tightened. He pushed through the crowd, weaving between passengers as he sprinted in her direction.
Faster. Just a little faster.
After months apart, the moment he saw her again, his pulse thundered, pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of
his chest.
He knew she was still angry. That was fine–he’d beg for her forgiveness.
Mrs. Lewis had always said Celeste had a soft heart. If he showed weakness–if he got hurt–she wouldn’t be able to turn
her back on him.
Lucian finally reached her in a full sprint. “Celeste-”
The words of longing and apology were still caught in his throat when his pupils contracted sharply–in horror–as the sign above her head began to sway, ready to fall.
“Watch out!” Without thinking, he dove forward, shielding her with his own body.
The falling sign slammed onto his back, its sharp edge cutting deep into his shoulder. Blood spread quickly, soaking
through his shirt.
“Ngh… Are you okay?” Lucian grunted, wincing in pain, but still turned to check on her.
Celeste’s expression was complicated. She shook her head. “I’m fine. You didn’t have to do that. We’re not anything to each other anymore.”
The moment she said it, Lucian’s eyes turned red at the corners.
“Nothing? Celeste, I never agreed to let you go. You’re still mine. What happened with Vanessa was my fault–fine. I’ll
apologize, isn’t that enough?”
Even as he grew weaker from blood loss, the world dimmed around him, he clung tightly to her hand, refusing to let go.
Celeste’s brows knitted, and waved down an airport medic to tend to his wound.
“Lucian, it’s over. We’re divorced. Don’t follow me anymore. Vanessa has nothing to do with me–I stopped caring a long
time ago. You don’t need to say anything.”
“You saved me and I’m grateful. This money is for you–consider it your rescue fee. My flight’s boarding now. Don’t come
looking for me again.”
She pulled a wad of cash from her purse, placed it in his hands, and turned without another word.
Lucian stared, stunned, as she walked away without so much as a glance back.
She used to panic whenever he was hurt, hovering over him until she was sure he’d recovered.
And now? He’d taken a hit for her–bled for her–and all she left him was money?
The pain tore through him from the inside out. He gasped for breath, but he still gritted his teeth and shouted after her,
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“Celestel You can’t walk away! If you leave now, I’ll refuse treatment. I’ll die right here in front of you–do you hear me?!”
She paused for just a moment at his words.
Lucian’s eyes flickered with hope, and he pushed on. “Celeste, I took that hit for you. I don’t want your money. I want you
to take responsibility.”
“I know what Vanessa did made you lose faith in me, but if you come back with me–even just once–you’ll see what a
mess she’s become.”
“I don’t love her anymore. I know how she framed you and hurt you–I’ve made her pay for it. Please, Celeste, I’m begging
you. Just give me another chance.”
“No,” she said, coolly, without turning around. And with that, she kept walking, merging into the boarding line and
disappearing onto the plane.
She’d given him enough chances–more than he deserved. And every time, he let her down. Every time, he chose to hurt
her. It was never just about Vanessa.
If it hadn’t been her, it would’ve been someone else doing the same thing.
What broke Celeste the most wasn’t Vanessa–it was that the man who once loved her more than anything had fallen for
someone else and stood by that person as she was torn apart.
Lucian was the one who hurt her the most. No one else.
And she had no intention of forgiving him. Not now. Not ever.
So what if he’d saved her once? He’d nearly destroyed her a hundred times over before that. And no amount of blood
could repay what he’d taken from her.
