Chapter 16
In their love story, Kendric’s always the one calling the shots, while Celeste
is the one to follow.
He’s dead certain that Celeste is head over heels for him, so when he
blurted out these words, he couldn’t care less about how she felt.
Because she’s so in love with him, he is given the courage to trample all
over her heart without any consequences.
With all her might, Celeste shoved him away, and the momentum made her
take a step back and plop down on the sofa.
“I… I’ll try my best to stop loving you.”
She stood her ground. “Even if it’s not possible right now… I’m damn well
gonna forget you in the future.”
Kendric’s frosty mask cracked as he heard her declaration.
He tried to hide the turmoil inside him. He said all high and mighty, “you
won’t get a chance.”
He’s not gonna give her a shot at forgetting him, and he sure as hell won’t
let her stop loving him.
That little bit of love left in Celeste’s heart was torn to shreds as well. She
hated the fact that Kendric took her love as poker chips.
This man is powerful and proud. Now, he’s treating her the same way he
treats his rivals in the business field, calculating his own advantages and chips,
and he’s come to one conclusion–she won’t leave him.
“I’ll give you a day to cool off. Day after tomorrow, I’m coming to pick you
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up.”
Celeste stared at Kendric, trying to come up with a firm rebuttal. But she
just couldn’t find the words to argue.
No one believed back then that Celeste could be so passionately in love with
Kendric for years, just like now nobody believed she would leave him.
After Kendric left the apartment, Celeste sat alone on the couch like a
statue, hugging her knees.
The sliver moonlight streamed in through the spotless windows, falling on
her. A wave of immense sadness washed over her, almost suffocating her.
How did things get this bad between her and Kendric?
They used to be the closest of lovers. Even when he wasn’t the influential
Mr. Melville he is today, she stood by his side.
For Kendric, the first five years of taking over family business were like
handling a ticking time bomb. No one knew if Melville family was getting better
or worse under his leadership.
Only Celeste invested whole trust on him.
But when Melville family started doing better and Kendric’s ambitions.
grew, it seemed like she became less important.
Honestly, she should have realized this sooner and ceased her waiting. Now
her flame of hope was put out.
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The next morning, Celeste went to the studio as usual. Her frequent visits
put pressure on Sienna.
At lunchtime, Sienna brought food over, “tomorrow is Prof. Becker’s
birthday. What should we get him as a gift?”
Celeste quickly checked the calendar. Sure enough, tomorrow was Prof.
Becker’s birthday.
Prof. Becker is Sienna and Celeste’s teacher in college. He’s been teaching
for over twenty years. He’s a person with a great deal of moral and academic
respect.
date!
Celeste smacked her forehead. How could she nearly forget such a crucial
“We’ve got to choose a gift this afternoon.”
Sienna chimed in, “absolutely, you’re her favorite student. I’m sure the gift
you pick out will suit her taste.”
Celeste is one of the few students who have made Professor Becker proud,
not because of her current achievements, but because Prof. Becker genuinely
adores her art works.
During her sophomore year, Celeste received an invitation to Prof. Becker’s
birthday party. At the time, she was quite strapped for cash, and she didn’t have
much to spend on a gift. So, she secretly snapped a photo of Prof. Becker gazing
out the window at falling autumn leaves during a break and then painted a
watercolor based on it.
She presented the gift on Prof. Becker’s birthday, the most modest gift
among the bunch. However, Prof. Becker showered it with endless praise. She
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cherished it a lot.
In the afternoon, they headed to the mall.
Celeste found herself in a dilemma. She took nothing with her when moving
out from Melville family, including credit card. She couldn’t afford these
expensive items.
After racking her brain for ideas, the most heartfelt gift she could come up
with was to paint a picture herself.
At that time, the portrait Celeste painted of Prof. Becker really tickled her
fancy. Perhaps it was that dancing and falling sycamore leaves in autumn that
got her heart.
Thus, Celeste decided to use sycamore as the theme of her painting again.
She spent the whole afternoon at it, immersed in painting without a break
until deep into the night.
After she finished the drawing, she displayed it to Sienna who couldn’t stop
singing its praises. This drawing was Celeste’s most stunning piece of work in
the last couple of years.
Bright and early the next morning, Kendric came to pick her up, just as he
promised.
Naturally, he needed to attend Prof. Becker’s birthday party.
Prof. Becker’s husband, Mr. Foster, was a distinguished economist, and he’d
been an advisor for Kendric for years. It could be said that Mr. Foster was his
guiding light in his career life.
Celeste put on a bit of makeup today. She picked a black velvet evening
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gown, highlighting her curvy figure. The off–shoulder neckline revealed her
shoulders, accentuating her graceful and trim neck.
It looked like you could easily wrap your hand around her neck. With that
thought, Kendric extended his hand to touch her neck.
Celeste instinctively dodged, her eyes betraying surprise and wariness.
A shadow of discontent crossed Kendric’s face. He gave a slight pinch on the
back of her neck, as if to warn her.
He’d gotten used to Celeste’s tenderness and submission, while now she’s
showing repulsion to his touch?
Celeste quietly gazed out of the window.
“When are you going to cease your tantrums?” his tone carried a subtle
hint of anger, as if reproaching her for her irrational behavior.
“I’m not throwing tantrums. And everything I have said means serious.”
Kendric knew she was referring to the breakup thing, but he clearly didn’t
wanna dwell on this topic.
“I gave you a day to cool yourself off, rather than dwelling on this issue.”
Celeste fell silent. Besides this topic, there was nothing more to discuss with
Kendric.
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