Chapter 16
The stone paved streets of four squares were still damp with morning dew. Ethan held Cella’s wool shawl in his arms as he leaned down to adjust the slightly crooked silver bracelet on her wrist.
Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass exploded behind them.
“Cella?”
200
That familiar scent of cologne hit her nose, mixed with the sharp tang of spilled red wine. Mason stood there with his left arm wrapped around Brooklyn’s shoulder.
Celia tumed when she heard his voice. She saw Mason and Brooklyn strolling intimately together. The pain she thought she had long buried surged back with brutal clarity, as if the wounds had been inflicted just yesterday
The pain was row and fresh, searing into her chest.
The injury from the car accident that had long healed suddenly ached again. The scar t
that had closed over felt like someone had ripped it open.
Her eyes fixed on the new platinum couple’s ring gleaming on Mason’s left hand. At that moment, she recalled that he had never worn their wedding ring in all the years they were married!]]
So it wasn’t that he disliked rings. He just didn’t want to wear one for her.
And it wasn’t that he never had time to travel. He simply never had time to travel with her.
She fought the e instinct to flee, forcing herself to stay composed as she spoke to the pair across from her.]]
“Need something“]}
Meanwhile, Ethan’s hand silently came to rest on Celia’s trembling shoulder. That simple gesture made Mason’s pupils contract.||
“You were gone for only a month, and you’ve already learned how to find yourself another man? Mason coldly remarked.
He then deliberately guided Brooklyn right up to them. “What, no hello for an old friend?
He’d chosen the word “another man” on purpose, using it to insult Ethan and, by extension, demean Celia |
“I don’t think that another mad‘ is the right word.” Erhan said. He suddenly singled calmly
His fingers gently brushed against the red string around Cella’s wrist–afety charin he had spent hours weaving by hand the night before.
“After all, she’s already divorced. No?“||
When Ethan saw Mason, his mind flashed back to the file Hayden had sent him. Every detail in it had filled him with rage. He could barely restrain the urge march over and punch Masun jn the face.
He didn’t understand what kind of man would abandon his wife, leaving her in danger, just to chase after his so–called first love
Before, than didn’t have the right to interfere. But now that the divorce was final, he felt that Mason had no business patting on airs wasn’t informed about the divorce, so it doesn’t count.” Mason snapped, clearly embarrassed that another man had brought it up | “Celia, have you found a new fling already? Aren’t you going to introduce him? Brugklyn, who had been silent until then, finally spoke||
She was dearly unsettled by the man standing beside Cells. It was clear that the man’s presence rivaled Mason’s in every way. Brooklyn questioned why Celin rould stand there like an equal when she had just beaten the latter ||
“Do we know each other that well? Cell who was now calm had no desire to engage with two people she found utterly irritating
“The divorce is in black and white. The state courts seal is stamped on it. You don’t get to pretend that it doesn’t count just because you don’t like it[]
Try using your brain for oner,” she said coldly ||
She was just done swallowing her pride. Had she not endured enough humillation while she was still with him? Why should she continue to listen to him back like a rabid dog even after the divorce?
“What a way to ruin a perfectly good day How unlucky
Mason froze where he stood, stunned by Celia’s sharp tone. “Cells, what happened to you? You’re being very rude
I didn’t believe what Brooklyn told me before. But seeing you like this now, its dear that you really did bully her back then.“]
1 bullied her?” Cells couldn’t help but laugh. The theer absurdity of it made her chuckle aloud.
“That’s rich! Brooklyn Davis, was I the one who bullied you?”
Brooklyn looked visibly uncomfortable after being put on the spot. She didn’t dare confront Cella directly. After all, most of what she’d told Mason was pure fabrication
with no other option, the furned to Mason with a pitiful look. “Mason, let’s just go. It’s clear that Celia doesn’t want us here.“]
Even as the turned to leave, Brooklyn made sure to throw one last jab. “Sir, Cella has a bit of a temper. Please be patient with her, okay?:[]
“friend” even while poisoning the impression in front of her new companion.]
She played the victim to perfection, pretending to be considerate of her “f
“Brooklyn, you’re just too kind.” Mason sighed as he looked at her with a touch of sympathy in his eyes.
He was moved that Brooklyn was still trying to speak kindly about Cella
“Honey, do you feel that?” Ethan said, ignoring Brooklyn entirely as he turned to Celia. The smell of hitch in the air is suffocating.
Mhm, it’s nauseating, Let’s get out of here,” Cells replied, instantly catching on to the fact that Ethan was helping her throw shade. She followed his lead without missing a beat
“You-“Brooklyn was so furious she nearly stomped her foot
Shed always played the superior one before Cella. She couldn’t recall a time when she had been humiliated like this.
Mason stood frozen while watching the two walk away side by side. His expression turned sour, but he said nothing. He didn’t even notice the flicker of venom that passed through Brooklyn’s eyes
Wasn’t Celia deeply in love with him? How could the move on so quickly?
