Chapter 81 Chapter 81
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Chapter 81
The drive was quiet. Ethan kept his hands on the wheel, eyes occasionally flicking to Celine but never meeting hers directly. He was careful not to speak too much, careful not to make a mistake, careful not to let her see how nervous he really felt.
Celine held the new phone on her lap, still adjusting to its weight in her hands. She wanted to say something, anything, but her words got stuck somewhere between excitement and shyness.
“Thank you… for everything,” she said at last, her voice soft, almost hesitant.
Ethan nodded slightly, a faint movement, his eyes returning quickly to the road. “You’re welcome.”
She bit her lip, thinking maybe that was it, maybe the drive would end without awkward silence. But then the words slipped out, anyway.
“I… I really appreciate it. The phone, the… the ride. You didn’t have to do any of this.”
He glanced at her for a brief second, his expression unreadable, then looked back ahead. “I wanted to.”
She smiled, a little embarrassed at how flustered she felt, but happy nonetheless. “You’re… very kind.”
“Don’t mention it,” he said quietly, almost under his breath, and then fell silent again.
The car slowed as it approached her building. Ethan pulled over, turned off the engine, and waited. Celine’s hands tightened slightly on the phone box in her lap.
She opened the door. “Thank you, Mr Castellan. Really… thank you.”
He didn’t move to speak, only nodded again. It was minimal, almost shy, but it was enough to make her heart beat faster.
“I… I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, stepping out.
“Tomorrow,” he echoed softly, his voice low, like he wasn’t sure she had heard him.
She waved briefly and walked toward the building, turning once to see him sitting in the car, rigid, staring straight ahead. She smiled faintly, just enough to make her cheeks warm. Then she disappeared into the lobby.
Ethan sat for a few seconds, hand still on the steering wheel, before finally starting the car again. He drove off without another word, but inside, his mind was racing faster than the car itself.
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Later, Celine stepped into her apartment. Ariana was in the kitchen, already preparing something for dinner. She turned immediately, noticing Celine was later than usual.
“You’re late,” Ariana said with a teasing smile. “Did the office keep you?”
Celine shook her head, holding up the phone. “Not exactly,” she said, blushing. “I… got a new phone.”
Ariana’s eyes widened. “Oh! Finally? Let me see!” She stepped closer, excitement dancing in her expression.
Celine handed her the sleek new device. “It’s… a gift,” she said softly, unable to meet Ariana’s eyes.
Ariana raised an eyebrow, playful suspicion in her gaze. “A gift? Who?”
Celine hesitated for a moment, then decided honesty was easier than inventing a story. “Mr Castellan,” she said quietly. “He… he got it for me.”
Ariana froze for a beat, then burst into a grin. “Ethan?”
Celine nodded, smiling nervously. “Yes… he was very… thoughtful. He—he didn’t have to, but he did.”
Ariana shook her head, still grinning. “I knew it. I just knew something was going on between you two. And now look at this!” She waved the phone gently. “He’s being so considerate, Celine. You deserve this.”
Celine laughed softly, feeling warmth spread through her chest. “I… I don’t know what to say. I just… I was surprised.”
Ariana placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry about saying anything. Just… enjoy it.”
Celine nodded, setting the phone carefully on the counter. “I will. I really will. He… he’s just… different. Thoughtful. Shy… but caring.”
Ariana laughed lightly. “Sounds like you’ve been paying attention.”
Celine blushed, ducking her head. “Maybe a little.”
They both stood quietly for a moment, the comfort of home wrapping around them. Ariana’s teasing had softened, replaced by a knowing warmth.
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Meanwhile, across town, Amelia slammed her bedroom door behind her. She kicked her shoes aside, scattering them carelessly across the floor. Her dressing mirror tipped over slightly, sliding to the side. She barely noticed.
Everything about her mood was spoiled, tangled with frustration and anger. She collapsed onto her bed, her arms thrown across her face.
“How… how does he do this?” she muttered through clenched teeth. “How can he be… so…” Her voice trailed off, frustration bubbling into something darker.
She sat up abruptly, tossing her hair back. “That woman… who is she?”
Her hands flew over her dresser, scattering makeup, jewelry, and other personal items in the process. Her mind spun with jealousy, confusion, and disbelief.
She grabbed her phone, opening it to scroll through Ethan’s recent activity. Anything. But the screen offered nothing. No messages, no hints. Nothing.
Her breath hitched. “He’s… he’s moved on,” she whispered harshly. Her fingers tightened around the phone as if she could squeeze the answer out of it.
Her jaw clenched, her entire body trembling with a mix of anger and heartbreak. She kicked a small stool aside, sending it clattering across the floor.
“Why does he… care about her like that?” she hissed, voice low and bitter. “Why isn’t it me?”
For a long moment, she sat in silence, staring at the ceiling, trying to calm herself. But the image of Ethan with the unknown woman, laughing, carrying bags for her, kept flashing in her mind.
Finally, she collapsed back on the bed, covering her face with a pillow. “I need to know who she is… I need to know everything,” she muttered, the edge in her voice sharp and unwavering.
Her anger and jealousy twisted with determination. This wasn’t over. Not even close.
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Amelia’s fingers shook as she dialed Richard Hales’ number for what felt like the hundredth time. Her nails tapped anxiously against the phone as it rang, each second stretching longer than the last.
“Richard,” she said the moment he picked up, her voice sharp and tense. “Have you found anything? Any trace of her? Anything at all?”
There was a pause on the other end. Amelia’s stomach twisted.
“I… I haven’t found anything yet,” Richard admitted, careful with his words.
Amelia’s chest tightened, and she let out a frustrated groan. “Nothing? After everything I’ve asked you to do? After everything I’ve told you to check?”
Richard cleared his throat. “I’m still looking—”
“Still looking?” Amelia’s voice cracked, disbelief and anger intertwining. “Richard, this isn’t a maybe! I don’t care what it takes, I don’t care about the cost! I need results!”
“I’m doing everything I can—” Richard tried again, his voice steady but cautious.
“You can’t just say that!” Amelia snapped, her hands trembling as she gripped the phone tighter. “I’ve trusted you, I’ve paid you, and I’ve told you—no stone unturned! And now what? Nothing?!”
Richard swallowed audibly. “I’m trying my best, Amelia. I—”
“I don’t want excuses!” Her words erupted, shaking with fury and desperation. “I need answers, Richard! I need to know who she is! Who he’s with! Don’t tell me you don’t know—it’s your job!”
Her voice hitched, a mix of panic and anger as tears threatened to spill. She slammed the phone down on the bed, the sharp sound bouncing off the walls. Her chest heaved with each breath, every inhale harsh and shaky.
For a moment, she just lay there, face buried in the pillow, willing herself to calm down. But the frustration wouldn’t leave, bubbling under her skin like fire. She grabbed the phone again, pressing it to her ear.
“Richard!” she barked. “Tell me you have something! Anything!”
“I—I’m checking all my sources,” Richard stammered, trying to placate her. “I can’t give you anything concrete yet, but—”
“I don’t care about yet!” Amelia’s voice cracked into a shout. “I don’t care about not having proof right now! I want something! A name, a clue, anything at all!”
Her hands shook violently, and she pressed the phone to her chest, closing her eyes, trying to stop the racing thoughts. But they wouldn’t stop. Her mind kept looping: the woman, the curvy figure she had seen, the way Ethan was acting… it was all too much.
“I can’t…” she whispered, almost to herself. “I can’t just sit and wait. I won’t wait.”
Before Richard could respond, she slammed the phone back onto the bed, this time harder. It bounced against the mattress and skidded across the sheets. She threw herself onto the bed, arms stretched out, body tense, head spinning.
She stared at the ceiling, unblinking, breathing hard, feeling both helpless and enraged. Her jaw clenched. Her fingers dug into the blankets as if she could squeeze the answers ou
t of thin air.
“I need to know,” she whispered again, voice low and strained. “I will know. I won’t let him have her in my life… not her, not anyone.”
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