Chapter 96
Early the next morning, Celeste had to continue her work and stay at the
hotel as a guide. In the morning, the hotel lobby began to fill with guests. Celeste
started introducing the exhibited artworks to the visitors, including the one she
painted on her own.
The moment Kendric entered the lobby, he witnessed the scene – Celeste
stood in the crowd, explaining the paintings. Her confidence made her smile.
even more bright, a side of her that Kendric had never seen before.
“What are you staring at?”
Ezra followed Kendric’s gaze. As he recognized who was standing there, he was shocked, “oh my goodness! Tell me, you’ve known that she’ll be here today, right?”
Kendric adjusted his cuffs, “how could I have known?”
Ezra didn’t believe him.
Kendric chuckled, “it’s fate.”
He straightened his tie and walked toward Celeste.
Celeste was checking the time as she heard her name.
“Celeste!”
Kendric halted in her paces. He frowned as he followed the voice. A man was waving at Celeste.
Kendric stood silently in his place. The two of them had their backs to him, and he could vaguely hear them talking.
The man asked Celeste if she had breakfast. She said no, and he invited her out for breakfast. Kendric felt a lump in his throat, clearly in a bad mood.
They walked out the hotel. Ezra came to pat his shoulder. He gestured
toward Celeste and that man, “see? New boyfriend. How’s your mood now?”
Kendric elbowed him, “shut up!”
After finishing breakfast at the hotel, Celeste packed her things and left.
While she was on the bus, she received a call from the hotel.
The hotel claimed that a guest was interested in buying the painting she had exhibited at the exhibition. She had no choice but to get off the bus and
return to the hotel.
Upon her arrival, it was already noon. The waiter led her into the hotel’s restaurant, “the guest will be here shortly.”
Celeste never expected the guest to be Kendric.
She blinked at him. She looked momentarily stunned, her surprise undisguised on her face.
“You…”
Kendric quickly understood what was going through her mind. He was surprisingly forthright, “I bumped into you last night. You pressed the wrong floor button and stopped on the 11th floor. I was right on the 11th floor as well.
They sat at the table, enjoyed lunch and discussed. It was mainly Kendric Squiring about her life a
happened in the new campus. Her life sounded vibrant and colorful.
“Kendric, do you know why I feel so happy now?”
“Why?”
“Because in the past, my heart was filled with you. But now, it’s filled with my favorite thing–painting.”
In the following days, life continued as usual for Celeste. She spent her days shuttling between campus and apartment,. Kendric’s sudden visit seemed causing no significant difference to her life.
Kendric had a hectic schedule as well. He would occasionally invite Celeste to dinner in the evenings.
Soon it was Christmas Day.
On Christmas Day, heavy snowfall blanketed the city. The spires of the church pierced the hazy gray sky. The ancient buildings gradually swallowed by the encroaching darkness of night.
Beneath the soft glow of streetlights, snowflakes swirled in the air. The city was transformed into a fairy–tale realm by the vibrant hues of Christmas lights.
Celeste ventured out in the evening to a nearby grocery store. Stepping outside, the festive ambiance was heavy. Colorful Christmas tree ornaments and reindeer toys adorned every corner.
Holding a bag of food, Celeste made her way back home.
The snowfall intensified. Some flakes fell on her head, melting into droplets
Chapter95
that seeped into her hair.
The snow on either side of the road had turned into slush under the tread of
countless pedestrians.
Celeste quickened her pace, regretting her decision to venture out on such a snowy day.
Not far away, a black Bentley followed her at a discreet distance. Cade glanced at his boss through the rearview mirror. “Shall we offer Miss Alinsky a ride?” he inquired.
Kendric rested his forehead against his hand.
“Pull the car over,” he ordered.
“Sir, are you sure…?” Cade asked, but Kendric had already grabbed his coat and swung the car door open. Cade hurriedly called after him, “sir, you forgot the umbrella!”
However, Kendric’s figure quickly vanished into the snowy night.
Celeste was burdened by a hefty bag of food, her pace turned slower. It
didn’t take long for Kendric to catch up with her. He quietly walked shoulder to shoulder with her.
you
She turned her head and saw him, surprised, “Kendric.”
Kendric bent down to take the bag from her hands, “let me handle this.”
“Just you alone?”
Kendric replied, “yeah, I just came out for a stroll and happened to see
Chapter 6
But who would come out for a stroll in such a snowy night?
Kendric stayed silent. The biting wind tousled his hair and stung his face.
Celeste asked, “you cold?”
Kendric shook his head, “no, I’m good.”
Celeste handed him one of her gloves, “put this on, or your hands will freeze later.”
The gloves were mittens and connected by a string. Kendric glanced at the glove she offered, then at the one she wore on her own hand.
He freed his right hand and extended it towards Celeste.
She gently slipped the glove onto his right hand, allowing him to carry the bag with his left hand.
“Isn’t it a bit small?” she inquired.
“It’s fine,” he said.
Despite the distance between them, they were linked by a string, much like their intertwined destinies.