Chapter 141 What did it cost?
CHAPTER 141
What did it cost?
SCARLETT – POINT OF VIEW
“Yeah?” He hums his response and pulls a smile out of me.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love the whole wealthy man lifestyle, the mansion, flights and fleets of cars, but something as cosy as this sounds like heaven. Or, a cabin, just somewhere where we can rest and be with each other, away from the chaos of the company and life.” I get out of the car.
I pull off my sunglasses and stare at the house with warmth spreading through my chest.
“That sounds wonderful, Scarlett. We … we can have everything we want.” He tells me softly, trying to sound normal, but there is something in his voice, something off.
“Are you okay?” I ask, unable to hold back my worry.
“I … never better. You don’t have to worry about me. Everything will be fine, it’ll fall in place. Say ‘hi’ to Mom for me, and call me if anything comes up.” He clears his throat, but something is still off in his tone.
“Still at work?” I ask, trying to hold on to what is already gone.
“Yes,” he answers curtly.
“Alright, bye.” I clench my jaw, and he ends the call.
“Everything okay?” Adeline nudges my shoulder lightly.
I nod, a fake smile on my face, “Everything is perfect. Come on, I hope she speaks to us.”
Russell grabs the gift baskets we got for her, and we head towards the house. Roman’s mom has her own security detail, just two grown men, pot-bellied, which makes me frown. Are these two idiots supposed to protect her if push comes to shove? They can’t even protect themself. A tranquilliser will knock them out, but that is highly unlikely. Emiliano is not looking for her. She is safe here. No one can get her.
Still, I can’t shake the chill off my shoulder as if something bad is going to happen.
“Come on in,” the nurse smiles at us.
She’s young and beautiful.
“I’m Mirabel.” She introduces warmly.
“I’m Scarlett, and this is my friend, Adeline. We are here to see Mrs Celeste Sterling. Is she able to receive us?” I ask hopefully, and a bit impatiently.
“I’ll have to check with her. Mr Sterling called, and of course, she wasn’t interested. I didn’t tell her you were coming, though,” Mirabel explains.
“Why don’t you tell her now? We have come from very far and need to speak to her. It is very urgent, and I am sure she’ll want to speak to us, too.” Adeline cannot keep the authority out of her words.
Mirable nods and walks away, leaving us in the living room. We take that chance to snoop around.
“Check if you see anything out of the ordinary,” she tells our security detail, who get to work, checking the windows, door, and corners for security cameras. It seems she shares my paranoia. I cannot help but worry too, but if Emiliano wanted her dead, she would be dead, right? Unless he was keeping her for a reason.
Mirable returns and asks us to follow.
“Uh, your friends will have to stay back. Celeste does not like a crowd, and three is a crowd.” She smiles softly.
Addie narrows her gaze at her, but I nod, “It’s alright. They’ll wait here. It won’t take long.”
We follow her deep into the house. I look around, noticing how sparse the space seems. We step out to the backyard, and my heart races when I see Celeste.
I do not recognise her. I only see her son in her. She’s reading a book, and I have the chance to run my gaze over her. She’s stunning. Her long grey hair is pinned in a bun. Her dress looks flowy, and she’s reading the book I sent earlier.
“You have some visitors here, Celeste,” Mirable speaks nicely.
Celeste sighs, turns around, and freezes.
She looks at me, narrows her gaze, and sighs differently. She recognises me. How odd that our answers have been so close all this time?
“Thank you, Mirable. You can go now.” She tells the nurse, and I almost smile at the sharpness in her words, the steel that Roman got from her.
Mirable hesitates, but leaves us alone.
“Rosaline,” Celeste looks at me, brows furrowed.
“Come here, let me see you.” She orders.
I frown, but step forward, only to be held back by Adeline.
“You know her?” Addie asks, going straight to the point.
“Yes, I do. I’m not sure I know you, though.” Celeste says kindly.
I nod at Addie and walk to Celeste. Emotions flash over her face, and her eyes burn with tears. She tilts my chin up, looks at me, and whispers, “Look at you, Rosaline. Isn’t it odd how life works in mysterious ways? Somehow, you found your way to my son, no matter the cost.”
“What did it cost?” I rasp, heart aching.
“Everything,” she steps back, crying softly.
I watch her as she cries, her shoulders shaking. I can’t stand it. My heart shatters into pieces, so I wrap my arms around her and hold her as she cries. Her grief seeps into the air and slips into me. My heart is hollow, and I know that there are some things I won’t come back from. This is one of many.
Adeline hands her a tissue when she pulls away.
I watch with a knot in my throat as she dabs away her tears.
The fire didn’t do much damage to her body. Her hands are healed, and her neck, but that is all. I know that the fire broke her soul, though.
She sniffs, takes a seat, and smiles, “Why are you here?”
“You know why we are here,” Adeline tells her softly.
“You should be here with Roman. He has every right to know the truth finally.” She points out.
I nod, “All in due time. We are here, and he is not. Tell us everything, Celeste, start from the beginning.”