Chapter 41: The Promise and Unexpected Smile

Chapter 41: The Promise and Unexpected Smile


Marceline’s POV

"Kiara!" Roman’s voice rang out in the garden as soon as he saw Kiara, Celesta’s daughter. He shouted her name like they hadn’t seen each other in years, when in fact it had only been three hours since they parted at school.

"Romeo!" Kiara shouted back with the same excitement, and both of them ran into each other’s arms happily.

"Our children are just like us," Celesta said with a wide smile as we hugged each other too.

"Do they have a choice?" I raised a brow at her in tease, smiling as we pulled away.

"They really don’t have a choice. They must be friends," Celesta replied with a chuckle.

I laughed with her. Celesta had always insisted that since we were best friends, our children must also be best friends.

"Rome, is it only Kiara you saw? What about me?" Celesta asked Roman, pretending to frown.

"Hmmm… sorry… Aunt Celesta," Roman said shyly, avoiding her eyes. He was always shy around her, and I couldn’t blame him. Celesta loved teasing him.

"My Rome is shy again," Celesta said, rubbing his cheeks. Roman blushed so red he looked like a tomato.

I rolled my eyes inwardly at the scene and started walking back inside the mansion. I needed a drink.

"You both should play around, but no injuries! We’ll be inside," I heard Celesta tell the children as she hurried after me.

"Please, get me a glass of water," I said to one of the house helps I found near the kitchen. She nodded.

"Let’s sit down, she’ll bring it," Celesta said, dragging me into the living room. I sighed at her behavior. She couldn’t hold herself back—Celesta loved gossip too much.

"So," she began with a huge smile plastered on her face, urging me to start talking.

"So what?" I asked, pretending not to understand. The house help brought me the water, and I muttered a soft thank you before taking a sip.

"Marceline," Celesta hissed, folding her arms across her chest. She looked like she was about to bite off my head if I didn’t speak.

"Alright, alright," I said, raising my hands in surrender. Then I told her everything again, from the beginning, starting with the vice president scene.

"How I wish I was there to witness it," she said with clear delight.

I only smiled faintly and emptied my glass of water.

"She must be sad and heartbroken that her lover didn’t save her. That would hurt her the most," Celesta said with a mocking voice, shaking her head in fake pity.

"No," I said calmly, my lips curving in a faint smile. "What will hurt her more is that she’s out of Stanmore Global. That pain will be sharper than Philip not saving her."

Celesta frowned, curiosity shining in her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I strongly believe Anastasia never loved Philip. She only wanted the status," I said firmly.

I thought back on all my memories with her—how her eyes would sparkle whenever she visited my mansion, how she always wanted to attend wealthy social events, how every word from her mouth circled around money and luxury. She was full of greed. I realized it too late.

"You have another reason for refusing to sign the divorce, don’t you?" Celesta asked, staring deeply at me. "Not just because you don’t want to give them the happiness of being together, right, Marc?"

I smiled faintly. She knew me too well.

"Yes," I admitted. "I’m staying for Roman. I’m staying to fight for him. Every single asset that belongs to me and Philip will go to Roman. Nothing will slip away." My voice was steady, but every word carried my vow.

Silence fell between us.

"That’s a hard decision, Marc," Celesta finally said, exhaling deeply.

"Better than letting Anastasia reap where she didn’t sow," I replied with a smirk.

Celesta looked at me with concern but said nothing.

"Trust me, Celesta," I added calmly but firmly. "If Anastasia and Philip end up together, Philip’s love for Roman will vanish. Stanmore Global will be taken from him too...and that, I will never allow."

"I understand," she sighed. "But you can’t remain like this forever."

I knew what she meant. I was still young, yet my marriage with Philip had already crumbled. She feared I would stay lonely. But my mind was made up.

"Let’s say… until I’m sure Roman gets everything. Then I’ll think about myself," I told her, just to stop her worry.

"That’s better," she said softly, giving me a gentle smile before pulling me into a hug.

I chuckled and hugged her back. We stayed like that for a while, and somehow, it felt like she was giving me her strength.

"Honey, I’m back," a voice called from the entrance.

I didn’t need to think twice. It was Richard—Celesta’s husband. Celesta and I broke the hug and turned toward him. But he wasn’t alone. Dominic was with him.

My heart skipped a beat. I hadn’t expected to see him here. His eyes were already on me.

He looked surprised too, but then his gaze softened, and his lips curved into a wide smile. It was so contagious that I found myself smiling back before I could stop it.

"Welcome home, darling," Celesta greeted her husband warmly, walking to him. She then turned to Dominic with a grin. "Good to see you, bro Dominic."

Dominic gave her a nod, then walked straight to me.

"You’re here," he said in that deep, steady voice of his as he sat down beside me.

My breath caught in my throat.