Chapter 119 You Said You'd Treat Me Like Your Own Daughter
"I... I didn't! Alex, listen to me! Please!"
Celeste crawled toward Alexander on her hands and knees. Her face was streaked with tears, her voice shaking with desperation.
"I just... I just love you too much! I was scared Caroline would fool you with that innocent act of hers! I was scared you'd throw me away!"
Her hand trembled in the air, reaching for the hem of his pants.
Alexander's expression didn't flicker. He lifted his foot and kicked her away like she was something filthy.
Celeste hit the floor hard. A sharp pain stabbed her chest. She coughed, looked up at him, eyes wide with disbelief.
Alexander's mouth curved into a mocking smile.
"Who told you that without Caroline, I'd love you?"
Celeste's pupils dilated. Her lips trembled violently.
Alexander laughed, cold and merciless. He crushed whatever hope she had left.
"I did say I'd marry you. But did I ever say I'd love you?"
He leaned back in the chair, at ease, almost lazy.
"Besides, when a man's sick of being hounded by a woman, do you really think his promises mean anything?"
The color drained from Celeste's face completely.
She sat slumped on the floor, staring up at him. Hollow. Empty.
Alexander delivered the final blow.
"I used to think you were like Edith. But now I see you're nothing alike."
His eyes narrowed.
"At least Edith was rational. Honest. Even when she rejected me, I realized just how cold her logic could be. But that was the real her."
His gaze dropped back to Celeste.
"You're just a cheap imitation."
"No!"
Celeste's mind snapped. She let out a shrill, desperate scream. Then she dissolved into hysterical sobbing and accusations. She called Alexander a liar, said his love for Edith was nothing but narcissism. Her words tumbled out, incoherent and wild.
Alexander's brow furrowed. The noise grated on him.
One of the guards stepped forward. He pulled a filthy rag from somewhere and shoved it into Celeste's mouth.
"Mmph!" Her voice cut off instantly.
Alexander didn't waste any more time. He turned his attention back to the two women.
"Last chance. Whose idea was it?"
Isabella and Celeste stayed silent. They huddled together, shaking.
Alexander's patience evaporated.
He waved his hand.
The guards understood. One of them signaled toward the door.
Moments later, two men dragged in the unconscious guard who'd been sent to kill Caroline. They dropped him on the floor.
Alexander's voice was flat. "Since they won't talk, show them what happens."
"Yes, sir."
Two guards stepped forward. Each held a machete.
"No... please..." The guard on the floor stirred. His voice was weak, pleading.
The blade came down.
A sickening crack of bone. A scream that tore through the air.
Both of the guard's hands were severed at the wrists.
Blood gushed in a crimson arc. Some of it splattered across Isabella and Celeste's faces.
"God—" Isabella gagged. She doubled over, retching.
Celeste's body convulsed. She tried to scream but no sound came out.
The guards raised their blades again, this time aimed at the man's ankles.
Celeste broke.
She made a strangled, desperate sound. Then she spat out the rag and screamed, her trembling finger pointing at Isabella.
"It was her! It was Mom! She wanted Caroline dead! I just... I just complained to her! She decided everything! I didn't know anything, Alex! You have to believe me!"
Isabella's head whipped around. She stared at Celeste in disbelief.
"Mom!" Celeste lunged forward and grabbed Isabella's arm.
Her eyes were red and wild.
"Mom! Don't you remember?! When you adopted me, you promised! You said you'd always take care of me! That you'd love me like your own daughter! That I'd have everything the Neville family could give!"
She shook Isabella hard. Tears streamed down her face.
"Please, Mom! Don't drag me down with you! Just admit it! I'm still young! I don't want to die with you!"
Isabella's shock faded. Her face went blank, hollow.
After a suffocating silence, her shoulders sagged.
She turned slowly toward Alexander.
She closed her eyes. When she spoke, her voice was resigned.
"It was me. I planned everything. She... had nothing to do with it."
She opened her eyes and met Alexander's gaze.
"I just... couldn't stand watching you protect the woman who got Edith killed. I thought... you were betraying her."
Her voice dropped lower. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"And I always hoped Celeste could marry you. That she'd have the Hamilton family's wealth and power. Not like Caroline. Useless. Bringing nothing but disaster and shame..."
Alexander listened in silence. When she finished, he nodded slightly.
"Good."
He tilted his head. His gaze slid over Isabella like she'd aged a decade in seconds.
"Mrs. Neville, since you didn't want my wife to die quickly..."
He paused.
"I'll return the favor."
He lifted his chin.
The guards moved immediately. They grabbed Isabella, who didn't resist, and started dragging her toward the basement.
Suddenly, the living room door slammed open.
A voice roared. "Alexander! Stop!"
Everyone turned.
Armando and Damon stood in the doorway, side by side. Their eyes locked onto Alexander in shock.