Chapter Twenty Six
Ryan’s POV
The color drained from Celeste’s face as she processed Bonnie’s words. She was frozen in place, as pale as a sheet of paper, and I worried she might collapse. I immediately stood behind her, holding her arms carefully to support her.
“Celeste, are you okay?” I asked in a soft tone, my eyes scanning her face.
Her defeated gaze was glued on her daughter as she shook her head.
“Bonnie, is that truly what you want?” She choked back tears as she spoke. “Are you sure you don’t want to live with Mommy?”
The child gave a firm nod. “Yes. I want to live with Daddy and Auntie Vanessa.”
“That’s right, Bonnie.” Vanessa stroked the girl’s hair as she sneered at us. “We’re happy together, so stop disturbing our lives, Celeste. It’s getting old.”
The tears Celeste had been blinking back came streaming down her face. My heart ached as she covered her mouth and stepped out of my steadying hold. She turned and hurried away.
Iwas about to chase after her when Vanessa’s snarky words stopped me in my tracks.
“Run away Celeste.” She called out. “Bonnie is better off without you.”
I couldn’t hold myself back any longer.
Celeste put on a strong front as she dedicated herself to her work, but she couldn’t hide her pa rom me. Grief darkened her eyes whenever she gazed out of her studio windows. She bit her lower lip every time she picked up her phone and saw Bonnie on her lock screen.
And this woman was twisting the knife in her heart.
“Why are you sowing discord between Celeste and Bonnie?” I turned to Vanessa, my voice even despite my anger. “If you care about Bonnie at all, you’ll stop damaging her relationship with her mother. It will only bring her pain in the long run.”
I hated watching Celeste suffer. I hoped my words would get through to Vanessa and she’d stop damaging their relationship.
But it was wishful thinking.
Vanessa laughed scornfully. “Celeste is a useless bore, and it’s better if she has nothing to do with us. Besides, Bonnie is happier than she’s ever been. Isn’t that right, sweetie?”
Bonnie smiled at her, nodding.
“How could you speak that way about Celeste in front of her daughter? Where is your sense of decency?”
My words were cold as it became harder to suppress my anger.
“Excuse me?” She propped her hands on her hips and scowled. “How dare some struggling designer’s assistant talk to me like that? You’re just a nobody.”
Her insults didn’t faze me. Whether I was a prince or a pauper, it didn’t change the fact that I was a good person.
I couldn’t say the same for her or Damien.
Chapter Twenty Six
+25 BONUS
“Money doesn’t matter when it comes to morals.” I said sternly. “You need to stop sabotaging Celeste’s relationship with Bonnie.”
“Of course you’d say that.” She scoffed. “You can’t even afford decent clothes for this event, while Damien sponsored at least a million bucks for this exhibition.”
Damien stood straighter, preening over her words.,
“We’re in different leagues, Ryan.” He leered. “So leave while I’m asking nicely.”
I sighed.
How did Celeste deal with these two for so long?
“This isn’t a contest to see who’s the wealthiest person in the room. It’s about right and wrong.” I tried to reason with them.
“You know what? I’m sick of dealing with this peasant.” Vanessa waved a waiter over. “Call security. Tell them to take out this troublemaker.”
This was bad.
I didn’t want to draw attention to myself here.
“Don’t do this Vanessa.”
She smiled sadistically. “There’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
Security arrived swiftly, and she pointed at me with a frown.
“Please remove this man from the venue. I don’t know how he got in, but he’s been harassing us.”
A security guard looked at Damien for approval.
“Is this true, Mr. Kent?”
He nodded. “Get this man out of my sight.”
The men turned to me and I took a step back, astounded.
“Wait.” I said as more people noticed the commotion. “Please let me explain.”
They simply walked up to me and grabbed me by the arms, pressing them firmly behind my back. I struggled against them but couldn’t break free.
How could they refuse to hear my side of the story?
I opened my mouth to reason with them when their grips went slack. I pulled my arms free and stepped away from them, but their wide eyes were fixed on something over my shoulder.
Puzzled, I turned around.
Exhibition guests were scrambling to clear a path, an air of reverence in their gazes. A tall, powerful man strode towards us. His assistant walked a step behind him, flanked by six men in suits who moved in unison.
The procession oozed dignity and importance.
They came to a halt in front of us. The assistant stepped forward, hands clasped professionally, as he addressed us.
“I’d like to introduce the Chairman of the International Jewelry Association and the CEO of Crown Luxe Jewelry Group–Maximilian Edwards.”
+25 BONUS
Chapter Twenty Six
The jewelry industry mogul zoned in on me. I gulped as his salt and pepper eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
My father would want an explanation.
