Chapter 1

Lucy’s face turned pale. "Hon!" she exclaimed, quickly grabbing Samson's arm. "Mr. Stone, what's going on? Didn't we agree that if I delivered Celine to your bed, you'd help me arrange a meeting with Dr.—"

Her voice trailed off as her eyes fell upon a slender, elegant figure standing near the doorway. Celine had arrived. No one knew when she'd entered, but now she stood silently, her clear, luminous eyes calmly observing Lucy's panic and disarray.

Lucy froze, her body stiffening. Samson, meanwhile, scurried to Celine's side, bowing and scraping with a fawning smile. "Ms. Tate!"

Celine pulled a pen from her pocket and casually tossed it into the nearby pool. "Mr. Stone, I've dropped my pen."

"Ms. Tate, I'll get it for you right away," Samson replied, dashing outside without hesitation and diving into the pool, unfazed by the icy autumn water.

Lucy watched incredulously as Samson surfaced, soaking wet but triumphantly holding up the pen like a prized treasure. He grinned at Celine. "Ms. Tate, I found your pen!"

Lucy stared at Celine as if she were a monster. Celine smirked. "What's wrong? Don't you recognize me?"

Lucy struggled to comprehend the scene. She couldn't understand what Celine had done to Samson to make him so obedient.

Celine's voice sharpened. "I've never understood why you treated me this way. What more do you want? You took over my father's house, stole his company, and abandoned the daughter he loved most. Not to mention, you ruined the Château Lafite wine he left me." She stepped closer to Lucy. "Today is just a small warning. Let me reintroduce myself—I'm not the same Celine you knew back then. Next time, you'd better think twice before crossing me."

Lucy stared in shock, unable to respond. Celine's clear eyes had become cold and impenetrable, like a dark, dangerous abyss that sent shivers down her spine.

Without waiting for a reply, Celine turned and walked away.

Outside on the lawn, a Rolls-Royce Phantom sped up the driveway. Adam had arrived to take Carly home. He was wearing a black suit, his presence as dignified as ever. Beside him, Carly, in a striking red gown, looked radiant and delicate. Together, they seemed the picture of a perfect couple.

Celine stopped, watching them approach. She thought she had healed, but the memory of last night—when Adam had abandoned her and suggested she find another man—resurfaced. The wound she thought closed felt like it was ripping open again.

Lucy's voice called out from behind her. "Carly didn't come home last night. Mr. Alvarez brought her to Westwood Villa, and she stayed there all night."

Celine understood immediately. Adam and Carly had spent the night together. Westwood Villa was Adam's private residence—a place she had never set foot in, a place she wasn't worthy to enter. Her heart ached.

Lucy smiled smugly. "What a pity, Celine. Mr. Alvarez doesn't love you. Even if you patch things up with Mr. Stone, it won't matter. Mr. Alvarez will do whatever it takes to get Dr. C for Carly!" Her confidence was unwavering.

Celine glanced at her, as if questioning her statement. She suddenly seemed to look forward to something.

At that moment, Adam and Carly walked over. Carly looked surprised. "Celine, what are you doing here?"

Celine lifted her gaze, meeting Adam's. He hadn't expected to see her either. After the events of the previous night, this was their first encounter. He stopped walking. Carly clung to Adam's arm, her tone light and smug. "Celine, Adam chose me over you last night. You're not upset, are you?"

Lucy stood beside Carly, both waiting to see Celine crumble, but Celine straightened her slender frame and curved her lips into a smile. "Don't flatter yourselves. A man with terrible kissing skills isn't worth getting upset over."