《The Billionaire’s Secret Heirs》 Legacy 1 CHLINK ¡°Din pregnant¡± The worsh hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. I stared at the fourth text strip in my trembling hand. This couldn¡¯t be happening Panic crawled up my spine. My parents would lose it. Thad enough on my te already. Missing a period wasn¡¯t a big deal for me, so I didn¡¯t think much of it at first. But when 1 started eating more and my jeans teh tighter, Caroline had insisted I take a test And now here I was sitting on the toilet, whispering to myself, ¡°What am I going to do?¡± My art school entrance exam was next week. This was the kind of curveball I couldn¡¯t afford. A knock on the door jolted me out of my spiraling thoughts. I scrambled to my feet, pulling up my shorts. Stufting the text strips into a ck stic bag. I quickly tossed it into the trash and double checked the bathroom for evidence ¡°Celine, get out! It¡¯s my turn!¡± Jesse¡¯s voice cut through the door. 1 let out a shaky breath. At least it wasn¡¯t Mom. Gripping the doorknobs, I took a moment topose myself before unlocking it. Jesse shoved past me as soon as I opened the door. ¡°Were you giving birth in there or what?¡± I didn¡¯t answer. Her voice was as grating as ever Jesse was the golden child, studying medicine at NYU, the one my parents showered with attention and pride. Meanwhile, I was the disappointment who had to work two jobs just to get by 1 folded my arms as I watched her. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to yell¡± She shed me a middle finger before mming the door in my face I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from snapping back. My hands balled into fists at my sides. She¡¯s not worth it ¡°Batch.¡± I mumbled under my breath, turning toward the kitchen. My mom¡¯s sharp voice echoed through the house as I walked in. She was on the phone, scolding Monroe again about a gas cylinder at her food canteen At the dining table, breakfast wasid out like a fast Every dish was Jesse¡¯s favorite. Either she had big news to share, or Mom was doing her usual over the top routine to please her perfect daughter. I grabbed a grape and popped it into my mouth. Mom¡¯s head snapped up, her eyes narrowing in silent disapproval I rolled my eyes and kept chewing ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Jesse¡¯s voice came from behind me, and my stomach droppest I turned slowly, my heart pounding. She was holding a test strips 13 Readplete version only at find?novel 9:06 pm B BBB My blood ran cold. *Why the hell was she digging in the trash?* ¡°What is that, Jesse?¡± Mom asked, stepping into the room, her phone still pressed to her ear. Her face froze when she saw the strip. The person on the other end of the call faintly called her name, but she ended it without another word. ¡°Where¡­ where did you get that?¡± Mom¡¯s voice trembled, her expression shifting from confusion to suspicion. ¡°From the trash can in the bathroom,¡± Jesse said casually, as if she wasn¡¯t about to blow up my entire life. All eyes turned to me. My throat tightened, and I instinctively took a step back. ¡°Celine, don¡¯t tell me this is yours,¡± Jesse said, though her tone already held the answer she wanted. ¡°No, it can¡¯t be,¡± Mom interjected, shaking her head like she could erase the possibility. ¡°It must be a prank. Someone¡¯s ying a prank again.¡± ¡°Mom, it¡¯s obvious it¡¯s hers,¡± Jesse said, her voice cool and cutting. ¡°She was in the bathroom this morning. Plus¡­¡± She gave me a smug nce. ¡°I noticed she¡¯s been gaining weight.¡± I wanted to scream, but the words wouldn¡¯te. Jesse didn¡¯t even give me a chance to defend myself. Three years had passed since that awful day, but the memory of their judgment still stung. When Mom found out, she didn¡¯t waste a second throwing me out of the house. My dad didn¡¯t intervene. Jesse stood by with a smirk as I begged to stay. If it weren¡¯t for Caroline, I don¡¯t know where I¡¯d be. Her family took me in, and she even found me a job that I could manage until I gave birth. Because yes, I kept the baby. It wasn¡¯t an easy decision, but I don¡¯t regret it. My son is my joy, my strength, my everything. ¡°Caesar, stop running! You might fall!¡± I called after him, my voice echoing down the hotel hallway. His giggles rang out, bright and carefree. Despite numerous warnings from my coworkers, I¡¯d had no choice but to bring him to work again. ¡°You¡¯re going to get fired for this, Celine,¡± ke said as we foldedundryter that morning. ¡°I know,¡± I admitted, ncing at Caesar, who was fast asleep on a nket I¡¯did out on the floor. ¡°But I don¡¯t have anyone else to watch him.¡± ¡°What about your mom?¡± ke asked cautiously. I froze, gripping the towel in my hands. ¡°She wants nothing to do with me,¡± I said after a pause. ¡°And I¡¯m not taking my son there just to be insulted.¡± ke¡¯s expression softened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t realize-¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± I cut in quickly. ¡°My family¡¯s just¡­ Caesar¡¯s lucky to have you.¡± 2/3 9:06 pm Her words brought a small smile to my face. ¡°Thank you, ke.¡± But keeping Caesar out of sight was easier said than done. ¡°Caesar, mommy¡¯s getting mad-¡°I panted as I chased him down the hallway again. ¡°If you don¡¯t stop, I¡¯m going to-¡± The elevator doors slid open just as he ran toward them. A man and a woman stepped out, and Caesar collided straight into the man¡¯s legs. ¡°Caesar!¡± I called, rushing to his side. I knelt beside him, checking for bruises, but he was fine¨Cjust startled. Letting out a breath of relief, I looked up to apologize to the couple. The words died on my lips when I met the man¡¯s gaze. Piercing blue eyes stared back at me, freezing me in ce. They were the most striking eyes I¡¯d ever seen. And they looked exactly like Caesar¡¯s. 3/3 Legacy 2 -CELINE- Readplete version only at FindN()vel ¡°I can¡¯t believe they let a child roam around like this. The manager should be sacked,¡± the woman beside him said sharply, her arm tightly interlocked with his. I recognized her instantly¡­..charlotte Hill, a famous model. I have seen her countless times on TV and the promotional billboards for this hotel. She looks even more stunning in person, her sharp features framed by perfectly styled blonde waves. 38 Her words stung, but I forced myself to stay calm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said softly, hoping my apology would be enough to calm her. ¡°The Aurelia,¡± the hotel where I worked, was one of the most prestigious establishments in New York. Ranked number ten globally by Hotel Magazine, it catered to celebrities, tycoons, and politicians. A single night¡¯s stay here costs more than my monthly paycheck. The Aurelia had been founded by Sebastian Reid, a powerhouse in the business world, whose name still held eight years after his death. His son, Hunter Reid, had taken over the family¡¯s empire, growing their wealth and influence. He was often featured in Forbes and Fortune magazines and celebrated as a rising star in the world of billionaires. And now here he was, standing just a few feet away from me. I did not need an introduction to know who he was. His piercing blue eyes and cold,manding presence were enough. He had the kind of aura that silenced a room without a word, and right now, those eyes were locked on me. Under his gaze, I felt exposed, small. My breath hitched as I waited for him to speak, the weight of his silence pressing down on me. Ceasar, clueless to the tension, pulled at my work pants. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m sorry,¡± he whispered, his big blue eyes twinkling with guilt. ¡°It¡¯s okay, sweetie,¡± I murmured bending down to pick him up. His small arm wrapped around my neck, grounding me in the moment. Charlotte scoffed. ¡°This is why I always say children don¡¯t belong in ces like this.¡± Her tone made my stomach churn, but I kept my head down, trying not to show how much her words affected me. Finally, Hunter spoke. His voice was low and measured, yet it carried the kind of authority that demanded attention. ¡°Charlotte, that¡¯s enough.¡± I blinked, surprised. Charlotte frowned, clearly unhappy with his response, but she said nothing further. Instead, she tossed her hair over her shoulder, muttering something under her breath. Hunter¡¯s gaze shifted back to me, his expression unreadable. ¡°Is he hurt?¡± 9:06 pm BB BB ¡¤ It took me a moment to realize he was asking about Caesar. ¡°N¨CNo, he¡¯s fine,¡± I stammered, holding my son a little tighter. 38 He nodded once, his eyes staying on Caesar for a moment longer than necessary. My heart raced, though I couldn¡¯t pinpoint why. ¡°Good,¡± he said curtly before turning on his heel. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Charlotte.¡± Without another word, he walked away, his long strides carrying him toward the elevator. Charlotte followed closely, shooting me onest look of hatred before disappearing behind the closing doors. As soon as they were gone, I let out a shaky breath. My legs felt weak, and I leaned against the wall to steady myself. ¡°Mommy, did I do something bad?¡± Caesar¡¯s small voice broke through my thoughts. I kissed the top of his head, forcing a smile. ¡°No, baby. You didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± But deep down, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something had just changed. The way Hunter Reid looked at Caesar¡­ it was as if he saw something familiar. Something he couldn¡¯t quite ce. And for reasons I couldn¡¯t exin, that terrified me. Throughout the remaining hours, I tried to focus on my tasks. Caesar had finally fallen asleep after an endless game of hide- and¨Cseek around the staff quarters. At least nothing out of the ordinary had happened that day, and for that, I was grateful. This job wasn¡¯t just important¨Cit was necessary. The only thing keeping the lights on, the water running, and a roof over Caesar¡¯s head. I sighed, shifting my gaze from theundry basket in my hand to the oversized Hunter Reid poster across the room. Those damn blue eyes. I could still feel them boring into me, like they had in the hallway earlier. Cold, assessing¨Cnot threatening, but not kind either. There was something familiar about them, though I couldn¡¯t quite ce it. ¡°Celine! Celine!¡± ke¡¯s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. ¡°Oh, ke,¡± I said, forcing a smile as I carried the basket of freshly washed bed sheets to the ironing table. ¡°Where have you been? We¡¯re drowning in work.¡± ¡°Oh, forget theundry for a second!¡± ke¡¯s eyes sparkled mischievously as she stepped closer. ¡°Guess what?¡± ¡°ke, you know I¡¯m terrible at guessing games,¡± I replied, picking up the iron. She rolled her eyes. ¡°Just try.¡± I sighed, humoring her. ¡°Fine. Did another guest try to make a move on you?¡± ke groaned, but a grin tugged at her lips. ¡°Okay, yes, but that¡¯s not it.¡± I smirked, returning to my work. ¡°So, what is it?¡± ¡°Hunter Reid is back!¡± she announced dramatically, practically bouncing on her heels. I froze. 38 ¡°Girl, when I passed him in the hallway, I nearly died on the spot. He¡¯s so¡­¡± She trailed off, fanning herself theatrically. ¡°Hot doesn¡¯t even cover it. He¡¯s like a god walking among mortals. I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re breathing the same air.¡± ¡°I see,¡± I murmured, keeping my tone neutral as I folded a towel. ke frowned. ¡°That¡¯s all you¡¯ve got? I just told you ¡®Hunter Reid¡® is back, and you¡¯re acting like it¡¯s no big deal!¡± I didn¡¯t respond. Instead, I grabbed another towel and focused on smoothing its edges. ¡°Okay, spill,¡± ke said, narrowing her eyes. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to spill,¡± I replied, avoiding her gaze. ¡°Yeah, right. Not with that look,¡± she said, crossing her arms. ¡°Come on, Celine. What happened?¡± I sighed, setting the iron down. ¡°Fine. I ran into Hunter Reid and Charlotte Hill earlier¡­ while chasing Caesar. He bumped into Mr. Reid.¡± ke¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Celine! I warned you to keep Caesar out of sight!¡± ¡°I know,¡± I said quickly, running a hand through my hair. ¡°But you know how hyper he gets. Even for a three¨Cyear¨Cold, he¡¯s¡­ a lot. I try to keep him contained, but it¡¯s exhausting, ke.¡± ke¡¯s expression softened, but the worry lingered in her eyes. ¡°What are you going to do if¡ª¡± Before she could finish, Ka walked in, cutting through the tension. ¡°The manager wants to see you in his office, Celine,¡± she said briskly before disappearing back down the hall. ke and I exchanged looks, my stomach knotting at the assumed possibility. ke reached out and grabbed my hand, squeezing it. ¡°Go. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll watch Caesar until you get back.¡± The walk to the manager¡¯s office felt like a march toward doom. Each step was heavy, my palms slick with sweat, my heart pounding in my chest. I hesitated outside his door, staring at the namete as if it held the answers to my fate. Finally, I knocked, my knuckles barely making contact with the wood. ¡°Come in,¡± his deep voice called. I stepped inside, closing the door softly behind me. The manager sat behind his desk, his face set in a stern expression. ¡°Have a seat,¡± he said, gesturing to the chair in front of him. I sat up straight, my back stiff and my hands tightly sped in myp. He didn¡¯t speak at first. He just looked at me, his gaze intense and hard to read. The silence felt heavy, wrapping around me like a tight grip. Finally, he opened a drawer and pulled out an envelope, sliding it across the desk toward me. 3/4 9:06 pm B BBG I stared at it like it might burn me. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± I asked, my voice barely a whisper. He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands. ¡°Your final paycheck.¡± The words hit like a punch to the gut. My throat tightened as my fingers trembled against the edge of the envelope. ¡°What?¡± I managed to croak. ¡°Don¡¯t bothering back to work,¡± he said coldly. ¡°As of today, you¡¯re fired¡± My heart stopped as the reality of his words sank in. Fired. My only source of ie¨Cgone. The manager¡¯s face became serious, and I began to wonder. Did this have anything to do with Caesar? Or¡­. Hunter Reid? 4/4 Legacy 3 Chapter 3 -CELINE- +38 ¡°What do you mean by fired, sir?¡± I asked, my voice trembling as I squeezed the envelope in my hands. Surely, I¡¯d heard him wrong. Why was this happening? ¡°Yes, Miss Brown, you heard me correctly. You¡¯re fired,¡± he said, his tone cold and dismissive. ¡°Gather your things and leave the premises.¡± The words struck me like a physical blow, and my hands began to shake. My grip tightened on the envelope, its edges biting into my palm. This couldn¡¯t be real. This had to be Hunter¡¯s doing. But why? Earlier in the hallway, he hadn¡¯t seemed angry. If anything, he was indifferent¨Cpolite even¨Cwhen he asked about Caesar. Why would he do this? Was it some twisted feeling of control or punishment? None of this made sense. None of it was fair. ¡°Miss Brown, you might want to take your leave,¡± the manager said sharply, breaking through my spinning thoughts. His voice was cold, unbothered, as though throwing out someone¡¯s livelihood was normal for him. Anger bubbled inside me, a mix of humiliation and frustration. I wanted to scream at him, to ask for an exnation, to curse Hunter Reid for his heartlessness. But I couldn¡¯t. The words caught in my throat, and my feet moved before I could summon a response. I stood, legs stiff as I walked to the door. My grip on the handle tightened until my knuckles turned white. My chest felt like it was giving in, my breath rough as I bit down hard on my lower lip to keep the tears from spilling. Not here. Not in front of him. I twisted the knob and stepped into the quiet hallway. The air felt stuffy, and suffocating, and the fluorescent lights above buzzed faintly, casting a harsh glow over everything. Each step I took felt heavier than thest as I walked willy¨Cnilly, the world around me blurring. I needed to get out. I needed to breathe. Somehow, I ended up in the restroom. The stark white tiles and buzzing lights made the space feel cold and sterile. I struggled to the sink, gripping the edge as I stared at my reflection. My face was turned red, my eyes glistening with unshed tears. My chest heaved, and my breathing came in shallow, ragged gasps. Not now. Not here. I froze as faint voices drifted in from the hallway, growing louder. Someone was about toe in. Panic flooded through me, and I hurried into a stall, locking the door behind me. I sank onto the closed toilet seat, burying 1/3 38 my face in my hands. All the emotions I¡¯d been holding back hit me like a tidal wave. My chest ached as I tried to keep the panic at bay. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks, unstoppable and relentless. What was I going to do? This job had been everything¨Cmy lifeline. The only thing keeping Caesar and me afloat. I looked down at the crumpled envelope in my hand. My ¡°final paycheck.¡± A bitterugh escaped me, muffled by my trembling lips. It wasn¡¯t even enough to cover half of what I needed this month. This couldn¡¯t be happening. Not now. Not like this. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe. Caesar would be waking up soon. He couldn¡¯t see me like this. He needed me to be strong, even if I felt like I was falling apart. A sharp voice pierced the quiet. ¡°Did you see her? Acting like she owns him,¡± someone said, their tone cutting. I froze, the tears forgotten as I strained to listen. ¡°She¡¯s so annoying. I can¡¯t believe Hunter Reid has taken an interest in her,¡± another voice chimed in, dripping with disbelief and spite. ¡°It¡¯s obvious she forced herself on him,¡± someone else scoffed. ¡°You all know how Charlotte gets. With her many scandals, I still don¡¯t understand why Aurelia keeps using her face.¡± ¡°For her pretty face, of course,¡± a fourth voice added,ced with venom. ¡°Isn¡¯t that all she¡¯s known for?¡± Theirughter echoed off the tiled walls, sharp and cruel. Each chuckle felt like a dagger, slicing through the weakposure I¡¯d been trying so hard to maintain. I bit my lip to keep my breathing quiet. My nails dug into my palms as anger and humiliation churned inside me. Why was I sitting here, hiding, listening to them? My mind drifted back to Hunter Reid¨Chis cold unconcern in the hallway. He was probably out there enjoying his perfect life, surrounded by admirers. Meanwhile, I was here, in a restroom stall, drowning in the mess he¡¯d created. Theughter faded as their voices grew distant, leaving me alone in suffocating silence. I exhaled shakily, leaning back against the cold metal door. Frustration and helplessness pressed down on me like a heavyweight. Eventually, I made my way to theundry room, the sound of Caesar¡¯sughter cutting through my haze. It was a lifeline, pulling me out of my suffering. Pausing outside the door, I wiped at my face, taking a deep, steadying breath. ¡°Mummy!¡± Caesar¡¯s voice lit up the room as I walked in. His little face broke into a bright smile, and for a moment, the world didn¡¯t feel so heavy. ke, who was sitting on the floor with him, looked up and frowned as she stood. 2/3 9:06 pm BBGB ¡°Hey, what took you so long? I was starting to get worried,¡± she said, her tone gentle but concerned. ¡°What happened?¡± I didn¡¯t answer. I couldn¡¯t. I brushed past her, heading to my locker. My hands shook as I unlocked it, grabbing my belongings and shoving them into my bag. ke watched me, her concern growing. ¡°Celine,¡± she said softly, stepping closer. ¡°Why are you packing your stuff? What happened?¡± I finally met her gaze, my tears spilling over despite my best efforts. ¡°He fired me,¡± I choked out. Her eyes widened in shock. ¡°Oh¡­ Celine, I¡¯m so sorry.¡± She pulled me into a hug, and I let myself cry on her shoulder. 38 Through my tears, my gaze drifted to Caesar. He was watching us, his innocent face filled with curiosity. That look broke me all over again. It wasn¡¯t long before I pulled myself together. My bag was packed, and I was ready to leave. ¡°So, what are you going to do now?¡± ke asked, anger simmering in her voice. ¡°I can¡¯t believe Hunter Reid could be so petty¡­ that heartless bastard! And to think I was crushing on him-¡± She stopped, wincing. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± I said, forcing a weak smile. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have brought Caesar to work in the first ce.¡± ¡°But still!¡± she shot back. ¡°Do you know how hard it is to find a job these days? Especially with¡­ well, your situation.¡± Her words stung because I knew she was right. Finding another job wouldn¡¯t be easy. 1 sighed, slinging my bag over my shoulder. I knelt in front of Caesar, brushing my fingers through his soft hair. He smiled at me, and I couldn¡¯t help but return it, though mine was tinged with sadness. ¡°Come on, little champ,¡± I said softly. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Are we going home?¡± he asked, his speech slightly unclear but still understandable. Readplete version only at F¦ÉndNovel ¡°Yes, sweetheart,¡± I whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead. ¡°We¡¯re going home.¡± 3/3 Legacy 4 Chapter 4 -HUNTER- Three years away, and now I was back home. Back to the very ce I had sworn never to return. 38 It¡¯s strange how, despite everything that happened between my father and me, he never failed to remind me why I was able to enjoy the life I was living. ¡°Everything I own is yours,¡± he had once said. Well, now I nned to leave my mark everywhere until my father¡¯s name became nothing but a memory. A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I didn¡¯t bother turning away from the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window in front of me, my gaze fixed on the New York skyline. The sun was setting, its orange hues flooding the room in a warm glow. It was beautiful, almost peaceful. ¡°Come in,¡± I said, my voice sharp but low. The door creaked open, and Mr. Tace, the manager of this hotel branch, stepped in cautiously. ¡°Yes?¡± I asked coldly, not moving from my spot. He stammered, clearly nervous. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ve carried out your instructions, sir. Miss Brown has been fired.¡± At the mention of the name, I arched a brow. ¡°Miss Brown?¡± I asked, finally turning to face him. I walked to my chair and sat down, my eyes never leaving the trembling man before me. ¡°The young woman with a child,¡± he exined, his voice faltering. ¡°The one you asked me to get rid of.¡± Ah, yes. Her. How could I forget? Those eyes of hers¨Ctired, hopeless, and scared¨Cwere carved into my memory. But it wasn¡¯t her that stayed in my mind the most. It was the boy. His face was a mirror of my own as a child, and I hated it. Hated being reminded of the broken boy I used to be. I should have been furious at the hotel staff for hiring her in the first ce¨Ca young mother with a child in tow. ¡°The Aurelia¡± and its staff were supposed to symbolize perfection. I had worked too hard to secure our spot among the top ten globally for them to hire just anyone. ¡°Who authorized her employment?¡± I asked, my tone icy. ¡°A mother and her child in my hotel? Imagine what the guests would say if they found out. Some might even call it abuse.¡± Mr. Tace visibly flinched under my gaze, his knees buckling as he fell to the floor. His head bowed low, his voice trembling. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, sir. It was a mistake on my part. I didn¡¯t know she would bring her child to work,¡± he stammered. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying she outsmarted you?¡± I asked, scoffing in disbelief. The girl I¡¯d seen earlier was weak, fragile, and terrified. Those were traits I hated, but watching her scramble in fear had given me a perverse sense of satisfaction. 9:06 pm BB BB It wasn¡¯t enough. I wanted to see her break even more. I hadn¡¯t felt anything since I arrived back here¨Cnot anger, not pain, not even joy. Just a hollow, numbing void. +38 1 Dr. Logan, my therapist, had once told me it was due to my unresolved childhood traumas. He had advised me to open up to people, try dating, find hobbies, or at least stop burying myself in work. But I wasn¡¯t the type to listen. ¡°That weak thing outsmarted you?¡± I repeated, the corner of my mouth twitching into a cold smirk. ¡°It seems I need to start cleaning the house. Ipetent workers have no ce here. You¡¯re fired.¡± ¡°What?¡± Mr. Tace gasped, his voice filled with disbelief. ¡°But¡­ but, sir, I did nothing wrong!¡± ¡°Nothing wrong?¡± I echoed, standing as I moved back to the window. ¡°You allowed a liability into my hotel. That, in itself, is wrong. See yourself out, Mr. Tace, or I¡¯ll call security to drag you out.¡± Silence hung in the air for a moment before the sound of scrambling footsteps filled the room. Mr. Tace had no choice but to leave, the soft click of the door signaling his exit. Once again, I was alone. The sun had almost disappeared now, the room growing darker as the skyline sparkled with city lights. hed my fists, staring into the ss until my reflection blurred. that boy. The one who had stared back at me through the child¡¯s innocent eyes. nated them both. And I wouldn¡¯t stop until everything in this ce¨Ceverything my father once held dear¨Cwas mine to destroy. -CELINE- A week had passed since I was fired from ¡°Aurelia.¡± Seven days of dragging Caesar from one hotel to another, filling out applications, and hoping for even the smallest chance of employment. The answer was always the same: ¡°We¡¯ll get back to you.¡± Some of them did. Only to tell me I didn¡¯t get the job. I sat in a small caf¨¦ near Caroline¡¯s workce, fingers wrapped tightly around a lukewarm cup of coffee. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was all I could afford. The thing I needed was for Caesar to notice how close we were to being out of money. At least Caroline was thriving. Her family¡¯s wealth and connections had paved the way for her to live her dream life. She¡¯d called me earlier to meet her for lunch. Not like I had anything else to do. ¡°What can I get for you and this little prince charming?¡± A cheerful voice broke through my thoughts. I looked up to see a brte waitress smiling warmly at me, her notepad suspended in her hand. ¡°Oh, hello,¡± I said softly, managing a faint smile in return. I picked up the menu, but the words blurred together. Nothing on it seemed affordable. 2/4 INTERROS 3/4 9:06 pm G BGB ¡°Your son is adorable,¡± the waitress said, her voice tinged with genuine admiration. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? findnovel +39 I lowered the menu slightly, ncing at Caesar. He was happily engrossed in his toy truck, humming a little tune to himself. For a moment, my heart eased. ¡°Thank you,¡± I said, my voice quieter now. ¡°He has such striking features,¡± the waitress added, ncing toward something behind me. ¡°He reminds me of him. Is he the father?¡± Her words froze me mid¨Cbreath. Slowly, I lowered the menupletely and turned to follow her gaze. Itnded on a billboard across the street. Hunter Reid. His face dominated above the city,rger than life, as though he owned every corner of it. My chest tightened, anger bubbling beneath the surface. That smug, arrogant face haunted me even when I wasn¡¯t looking for it. He was the reason I¡¯d been fired. The reason I was here now, sitting in this caf¨¦ with no job and decreasing hope. I scoffed internally. Caesar didn¡¯t look like him, not even close. And even if he did, the thought of Hunter being his father made my stomach churn. ¡°I don¡¯t know him,¡± I said bluntly, my voice sharper than intended. The waitress blinked, clearly caught off guard. ¡°Oh¡­ I just thought, with the resemnce-¡± ¡°He is not the father,¡± I cut her off, my tone rising before I could stop myself. My voice carried across the caf¨¦, drawing curious stares from nearby tables. ¡°A man like him could never be a father,¡± I added, bitterness dripping from every word. The waitress shifted ufortably, her earlier smile faltering. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she murmured, taking a small step back as though sensing she¡¯d overstepped. I clenched my jaw, heat rising to my face as I realized how loud I¡¯d been. My fingers trembled as they gripped the edge of the table. This was his fault. Even when he wasn¡¯t here, Hunter Reid still had the power to ruin my day. I looked at Caesar, who was ying with his truck. He seemed happy and didn¡¯t notice the tension around us. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm down. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± I said quietly, though my voice was tired. The waitress nodded quickly and hurried away, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I stared down at my coffee, the lukewarm liquid mirroring the pit in my stomach. No matter how much I tried to move forward, his shadow loomed over every step I took. Hunter Reid. The man who had destroyed my life with a single, careless decision¨Cand walked away smiling. Legacy 5 -CELINE- I nced at my wristwatch. 1:30 PM. Why was Caroline taking so long? With a sigh, I reached for my phone and dialed her number. Surely, she hadn¡¯t forgotten about our lunch ns. Across from me, Caesar started to squirm, tapping his toy truck against the table. His boredom was my cue to hurry, but Caroline still wasn¡¯t picking up. The soft ding of the caf¨¦ door opening caught my attention. I looked up and spotted Caroline standing by the entrance, scanning the room until her eyes found me. ¡°Caroline!¡± I waved, relief flooding me. She waved back with a bright smile and threaded her way through the crowded tables. As always, she looked effortlessly elegant¨Cher silk blouse and pencil skirt were perfectly tailored, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. I straightened in my seat, suddenly aware of the wild curls framing my face and the shadows under my eyes. ¡°I hope I didn¡¯t keep you waiting too long,¡± Caroline said as she slid into the seat across from me. Her voice carried a note of genuine apology. ¡°Work¡¯s been insane.¡± Her gaze softened as it fell on Caesar. ¡°Hi, sweetheart,¡± she cooed, her smile widening. ¡°My godson gets cuter every time I see him.¡± Caesar nced up, offering her a shy smile before returning to his truck. Caroline leaned in slightly, studying him with an expression I couldn¡¯t quite read. ¡°Those blue eyes¡­¡± she murmured under her breath. ¡°What was that?¡± I asked, my tone sharper than I intended. She blinked, her polishedposure slipping for a moment. ¡°Nothing,¡± she said quickly, brushing it off with a smile. But something stayed in her expression¨Csomething she wasn¡¯t saying. I let it slide, though her words stuck in my mind. ¡°How have you been, Celine?¡± she asked, her tone kind but cautious. ¡°Well,¡± I said, running my finger along the edge of the menu, ¡°I¡¯m unemployed, and my rent¡¯s due soon.¡± Caroline¡¯s expression softened with sympathy. ¡°Have you considered asking your mom or sister for help?¡± I stiffened. ¡°You know I can¡¯t do that.¡± She sighed, her frustration barely masked. ¡°I get it, but think about Caesar. You can¡¯t do this alone forever.¡± ¡°I am thinking about Caesar,¡± I snapped. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m not dragging him into their mess.¡± Caroline leaned back, raising her hands in surrender. ¡°Fair enough. But it¡¯s tough out there, Celine. If you need help¡­¡± ¡°I know,¡± I said quietly. ¡°And I do need help.¡± 1/3 9:06 pm G GGG. Chapter 5 I hesitated before continuing. ¡°If I don¡¯t figure something out soon, Caesar and I might not have a roof over our heads.¡± Her face softened again, and she reached across the table to squeeze my hand. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do, okay? Just trust me.¡± Relief washed over me, and I managed a small smile. ¡°Thank you, Caroline.¡± Two dayster, she texted me about a job opening at her cousin¡¯s mansion. The position was as a maid, and the pay was shockingly generous. For the first time in weeks, hope sparked in my chest. This job could be our fresh start. 38) Saturday morning arrived faster than expected. I bolted out of bed to the grating sound of my rm. ¡°Up, Caesar,¡± I called, pulling him from under the covers. With no hot water, I resorted to heating water on the stove for our morning wash. By the time we were both dressed¡ªme in a simple ck dress, Caesar in jeans and a T¨Cshirt¨CI was already exhausted. We left the apartment, dodging a sharp nce from Mrs. Martha. ¡°Morning, Celine. Rent¡¯s due next week. Don¡¯t make mee knocking,¡± she warned, her voice like gravel. I bit back a sigh, forcing a polite smile. ¡°Got it, Mrs. Martha.¡± We took a bus, then a cab, weaving through streets that grew more pristine and opulent with every turn. ¡°Wow,¡± I murmured, staring out the window at the towering mansions. ¡°It¡¯s something, huh?¡± the cab driver said with a chuckle. ¡°Wee to where the rich and powerful live.¡± The cab pulled up to a sleek, ss¨Cfronted mansion, and I stepped out, clutching Caesar¡¯s hand. The iron gate loomed ahead, its sheer size making me feel small. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± I whispered, giving Caesar a shaky smile. I pressed the buzzer, startled when a crisp voice crackled through the inte. ¡°Name?¡± ¡°Celine Brown,¡± I stammered. ¡°Do you have an appointment?¡± ¡°Yes. Caroline Crawford referred me for the maid position.¡± There was a pause, then a soft click as the gate unlocked. I tightened my grip on Caesar¡¯s hand and stepped inside. The path was lined with perfectly trimmed hedges, leading to the massive front door. A woman in a blue dress greeted us, her expression harsh. She looked me over, then nced at Caesar with a faint frown. ¡°This way,¡± she said curtly, turning on her heel. We followed her through a house that looked like it belonged in a magazine. Caesar¡¯s small giggles broke the silence, and I 9:06 pm B squeezed his hand, urging him to stay quiet. Atst, we stopped in front of a door. ¡°He¡¯s waiting,¡± the woman said, giving me a pointed look before walking away. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding. ¡°Well,¡± I whispered to myself, ¡°here goes everything.¡± Opening the door, I stepped inside with Caesar. The study was lined with bookshelves, sunlight streaming through the windows. A man stood with his back to us, leaning against a shelf. ¡°Hello?¡± I called softly. He turned, and my breath caught in my throat. Hunter Reid. His piercing gaze locked onto mine, and the room seemed to shrink around us. 3/3 ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Legacy 6 Chapter 6 38 -HUNTER- My brows furrowed as I set my eyes on the familiar feminine figure standing in front of me. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I questioned my hands fixated in my pockets. Celine fidgeted but my eyes remained fixed on her, I watched her every move. She pulled her son closer as she repeatedly opened her mouth with no wordsing out. I was getting irritated by the eerie silence considering the fact that I just asked a question. ¡°Are you going to talk or you want to use the door?¡± I further questioned and she finally stood frozen, as if she had finally picked up on what to say. ¡°No¨Cno sir. I¨CI am here for the job. The¨Cjob¨Ci mean the position of maid.¡± She stuttered through her reply, her voice sounding somewhat shaky but firm. I lifted a brow in curiosity as my eyesnded on the child in front of her. Everytime I stared at the child, it seemed like there was a connection between us but that would be too illogical to think. After all, whatever idea webbed that thought was probably from the fact that the little boy had blue eyes. My eyes shifted back to Celine¡¯s face and even though I hadn¡¯t uttered a word, she understood my gaze. ¡°Sir, I know you got me fired for working at the hotel while having my son y around. But sir, ever since I got fired, I have barely been able to live. My child¡¯s life and mine depended on that job and it was taken away from me so I-¡± ¡°Are you trying to put the me on me?¡± I cut Celine off mid sentence with my interrogation. Celine shook her head in the negative as she bit her lips nervously, ¡°No no sir. I was just- I was just trying to exin the situation because I know you¡¯d most likely not give me this job because of my son.¡± ¡°Did the hotel have rules or not?¡± I questioned, totally ignoring her exnation. She nodded in the positive. ¡°Great. Now just like the hotel¡¯s employee protocols, this job of a maid also has protocols and I certainly can¡¯t employ you if you got a kid around.¡± My tone was clear and sharp. As I finished, I watched whatever ray of hope Celine had wash away from her face as desperation crawled up on her temples. She stared at me with brown eyes that sparkled with pleas but her lips were snapped. I took a look at my wristwatch and I realized I had little time to meet up the meeting I had in the next fifteen minutes, ¡°Please leave.¡± I ordered her. But for some reason, Celine stood rooted to the ground, unwilling to leave. ¡°I said lea-¡± ¨CPlease sir, hear me out at least!¡± She pleaded with folded hands. A small sigh escaped my lips as I lifted my weight off the shelf, ¡°You have five minutes to say all you have to before leaving 9:07 pm GGG G +38 Upon my deration, Celine stepped forward. Her brown hair was tightly styled into a bun, making the veins on her temple more visible, an evidence of how nervous she felt I presumed. ¡°Sir. My child is literally my only family. I have no one else to cater for him in my absence. This is why I have to take him a long everywhere I go, Including to work.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that what daycares are for? Don¡¯t they take care of kids while their parents are busy with work or did they run out of business recently?¡± I fired back, leaving Celine speechless. Celine lowered her head while rubbing her palms together, ¡°I can¡¯t afford it.¡± I was just about responding to her when the voice of the little kid interrupted me. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m tired of standing! I want to sit down!¡± This text is hosted at fin?novel Celine ruffled his head as she scolded him, ¡°Ceaser please be quiet. I¡¯m at an interview! Just a few more minutes my dear.¡± Irritation surged through my veins, ¡°This is why we don¡¯t allow kids anywhere. It¡¯s highly unprofessional. Suppose I give you this job by chance, how do you n to attend to your duties when you got a three year old following you everywhere?!¡± Celine smiled softly, ¡°Sir, I¡¯ll honestly manage. I¡¯ll ensure he¡¯s on his best behavior really. Sir, this job is myst hope and I can¡¯t afford to leave this ce without being hired. If I do, I won¡¯t have a ce toy my head as my rent is due.¡± I hummed as I stared at her, considering the chances of hiring a single mother who was clearly not ready to work without her child. Would I be able to handle this? Nah. I don¡¯t think so. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but I can¡¯t hire you.¡± I dered in a firm but icy tone. Celine¡¯s eyes glistened with tears, ¡°Please sir. I really need this job. Please reconsider, I promise you¡¯ll not regret it. I¡¯ll work to the best of my abilities. Please just give me a chance.¡± But I couldn¡¯t imagine doing that. I knew how kids were like. One minute, they¡¯re all cheerful and happy and the next minute, they¡¯re wailing for hours. I doubt I¡¯d be able to handle any of that shenanigans and when I get angry about it in the future, Celine would stille up with an excuse for me to keep enduring that. I made up my mind on this and there was no going back. I stared at Celine again, she was doing really well to fight the tears back as she waited for me to speak. But I uttered nothing. I just circled her body and left the room. I presumed she would be smart enough to understand that I wasn¡¯t going to hire her regardless of whatever she said, or did. But Celine was quite the persistent woman. She tagged along behind me, pleading for the job. This time, the tears hade falling down and Christ knows how much tears irritate me. When I couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer, I turned back, ¡°Will you stop crying?¡± Celine wiped her face immediately. ¡°Don¡¯t you get it? I don¡¯t want you to work for me! What¡¯s so hard to understand?¡± Celine¡¯s face broke into a frustrated frown as she stared at ine, ¡°Sir, you don¡¯t understand. If I don¡¯t get this job, I¡¯ll basically be on the streets with nowhere to go and without money to feed my child. Please hire me, I¡¯ll forever be grateful¡± Frustrated by her persistence, I came up with a solution. 2/3 9:07 pm B ? ¡°I¡¯ll hire you on one condition.¡± 3/3 Legacy 7 -CELINE- The silence between us was palpable after Hunter¡¯s deration. I knew getting this job woulde with a price and I was ready to pay, even though I was scared of what Hunter was going to demand from me. ¡°There¡¯s a head maid in this house. One that receives theints of all the other maids and reports to me. If I will be hiring you, you will not be reporting to the head maid. You will report to me directly,¡± Hunter stated with assertiveness. This was rather a cheap price to paypared to what I had been initially expecting. This was really not a big deal for me but I couldn¡¯t help but shake off the feeling of curiosity. Why was Hunter changing the rules when it came to me? Why was he restricting me from reporting to the head maid and instead reporting to him? 38 Why didn¡¯t hee up with a condition that affected Ceaser since he was the sole reason for me getting rejected in the first ce? A lot of Why¡¯s surged through my mind but none of them really held water to me right now. All I cared about was the job and now that I got it, the burden of worrying about a ce to stay and Caesar¡¯s welfare was off my heart. ¡°Alright sir. I ept your condition.¡± I replied with a small smile. Hunter nodded, ¡°Go join the other maids downstairs, they¡¯ll show you what to do.¡± With Caesar in my head, I strided down the stairs to join the other maids who were d in red uniforms. ¡°I can¡¯t believe the boss hired her with a child!¡± One of the maids muttered as I approached them. ¡°I know right? She must probably be one of those night strippers who had a child out of wedlock!¡± Another said. ¡°I bet she¡¯s been abandoned by her family. And now this cute little boy is stuck such an irresponsible mother!¡± Another said. The gossips didn¡¯t stop even when I stood right in front of them. This was not a way to wee a new employee but I couldn¡¯t expect much from them anyways. Their words stung me but I didn¡¯t utter a word. ¡°The boss asked me toe join you guys. He said I will be shown where to work.¡± I announced, acting oblivious to their gossip. ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll show you where to work. Come with me.¡± The maid gestured for me to follow her but the scornful look on her face made me worry. I walked past the group of maids and that was when I heard one of the maids whisper, ¡°She¡¯s a whore but she can¡¯t even afford good clothes.¡± Those words put me to an abrupt halt and I sincerely wanted to shut the mouth of the maid who said that. But as I recalled how much I had begged for this, I realized it wouldn¡¯t be wise to get into a fight. That too, over something I could ignore. 1/3 9:07 pm GGG And with that, I charged forward, following the maid through a passageway. She soon stopped in front of a wooden door, from the dim light that hung at the passageway and the absence of rooms around, I figured we were probably at the back of the mansion. The part that wasn¡¯t frequently visited by people. The maid unlocked the door and it creaked open, revealing a dusty room with barely any space for one¡¯s foot as it was packed with cartons and spoiled furniture. ¡°This is where you have to clean up. The boss doesn¡¯t like a maid working on a particr spot for too long so you have two hours to take care of this mess of you¡¯ll face the visit of the boss.¡± And with that, the maid shoved a broom, a cleaning towel and some buckets in front of me before walking away. +38 I dropped the cleaning tools in front of the house and the first thought that came to mind was how Caesar would be able to breath in such a room that was filled with dust. I was an adult, I would be able to manage it but not Caesar. ¡°Mom, this ce is so scary! Let¡¯s leave here!¡± Caesar demanded and I couldn¡¯t help but smile at his innocence. If I had a choice, I would have left just like he said but this was my only means to take care of him. ¡°No dear, I have to clean up this ce. Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll soon leave here but for now,e here.¡± I pulled Caesar closer to myself as I tied a handkerchief around his nose. ¡°Mom, are you trying to make me look like a ghost?¡± Caesar questioned, his voiceing out muffled as a result of the handkerchief. I nodded, ¡°Yes, I am. I¡¯m making you look like a ghost so if the ghosts see you, they will be scared of you!¡± Caesar giggled excitedly, ¡°And then I can scare them away!¡± I smiled back in response, ¡°Exactly, my baby. Here, you sit here and y with this while I go in and start cleaning.¡± Caesar did as I said and I started packing out some of the cartons that blocked the entrance to the room. After what seemed like minutes, I was done with making a way into the room and as I got in, I drew the curtains to the side, opening the windows for venttion. Th?s chapter is updated by f?ndnovel As the fresh air blew into the room, it became easier to clean, I started with wiping the dust off the spoiled furnitures before cleaning the wooden tables and chairs in the room. 1 was really focused on my work, there were times where I would straighten my back when it became too painful to keep my body lowered. Beads of sweat rolled down every part of my body and by the time I was done, the joints in my body felt like they were going to disconnect. I was aching from head to toe but looking back at the room that was once covered in dust, now sparkling clean, I knew I did a good job. As I stepped out of the room, my eyes met Hunter¡¯s and my heart skipped a beat. 9:07 pm G GGG The maid had mentioned me working too long at a particr spot. Was that why he was here? Legacy 8 -CELINE¡¯S POV- A lump formed in my throat as my eyes locked with Hunter¡¯s. ¡°Please, God. Don¡¯t let this be the end of my job.¡± I swallowed hard, my fingers trembling as I reached for the door handle. ¡°Open it,¡± he ordered, his voice sharp, leaving no room for hesitation. I did as I was told, stepping aside as he walked in. His eyes scanned the room, his touch grazing surfaces as he moved around, quiet and calcting. I had worked tirelessly to turn this disaster into something spotless. And he saw it. I knew he did. For a brief moment, he nodded, and a flicker of hope sparked in my chest. Maybe¨Cjust maybe he was impressed. 38) But then he turned, and whatever softness I thought I saw was gone. His expression was cold, his stare sharp enough to slice right through me. I felt a shiver dance along my spine. ¡°Sir¡­ did¨Cdid I do well?¡± I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I needed to hear it. Just a word. Just something to confirm that all the scrubbing, the aching, the exhaustion¨Cit all meant something. Hunter parted his lips, and my heart picked up an uneasy, frantic rhythm. ¡°Go upstairs.¡± His tone was unreadable. ¡°There are seven rooms that haven¡¯t been used in months. Leave them spotless. You have two hours.¡± Two hours. Seven rooms. The frustration red in my chest before I could push it down. I had just spent hours scrubbing every inch of this one room, and now I had to do *seven more? My back already felt like it had been run over, and I was *so* damn tired. But I knew better than to argue. I had begged for this second chance. I wouldn¡¯t throw it away just because my body was screaming for rest. So, I forced a smile. Big, wide, and maybe a little too eager. ¡°Sure thing, sir! I¡¯ll get right to it.¡± My voice was filled with false enthusiasm, but I kept my chin high. ¡°Is there anything else you¡¯d like me to do?¡± For a split second, something flickered across Hunter¡¯s face¨Csomething I almost wanted to call surprise. But then, just as quickly, it disappeared. ¡°Get to work.¡± 1/5 9:07 pm B BBB Three simple words. Sharp. Cold. But right now? The sweetest thing I could¡¯ve heard. 38) I turned, ready to leave, but my body felt heavy. The exhaustion pressed against me like a weight, heat creeping up my neck from all the hours of hard work. Then- ¡°Mr, will you y with me?¡± Ceasar¡¯s small, bright voice cut through my thoughts. I froze. Oh, God. Thest time Ceasar crossed paths with Hunter, it had cost me my job. I *just* got this chance back¨CI wasn¡¯t about to let history repeat itself. Spinning around, I crouched down, my hands reaching for my son. ¡°Ceasar, sweetheart,¡± I whispered urgently. ¡°We have to go.¡± I scooped him up before he could say another word, my arms wrapping tightly around his little frame. I didn¡¯t dare meet Hunter¡¯s gaze¨CI could feel it, piercing and unrelenting. With quick steps, I walked away, not stopping until I was far enough to breathe again. The head maid was waiting for me, her expression unreadable as she led me to the seven rooms. I stepped inside the first one, and my stomach sank. It was a mess. Just like the first one. I inhaled deeply, pressing my fingers to my temples for a second before rolling up my sleeves. *You can do this, Celine.* Because I had no other choice. I pressed a trembling hand over my lips, forcing them to stay still, to keep from turning downward. Tears burned at the edges of my eyes, threatening to spill, but I refused to let them. Not in front of Caesar. Not when he needed me to be strong. Every muscle in my body ached. Not just a dull pain¨Cno, this was the kind of pain that settled deep in my bones, making it feel like if I moved too fast, my body might just fall apart. I squeezed my temples, willing myself to stay calm. *Celine, you can do this. Just a little more, and it¡¯ll be over.¡± I repeated the words in my head like a prayer. A desperate, exhausted prayer. I had been scrubbing, sweeping, and hauling things out of these rooms for what felt like forever, but now, I was down to the 2/5 9:07 pm GGGG 38 Caesar was starting to get restless, his little body buzzing with energy as he ran in circles. I wanted to stop him, to tell him to sit still, but I barely had the strength to stand upright. Thest box. I bent over, my spine screaming in protest, and grabbed the final dusty carton. *Almost there.* I carried it out, my back throbbing with every step. The second I tossed it away, I exhaled, long and deep. ¡°Phew,¡± I muttered, brushing the dust off my hands. And then I heard it. A cry. Not just any cry. *Caesar¡¯s.* My heart clenched as I turned, spotting him sitting on the floor, his tiny fists rubbing at his tear¨Cstreaked face. I rushed over, ignoring the fire in my legs. ¡°Sweetie, what¡¯s wrong? Why are you crying?¡± My voice came out soft, gentle, but my heart was racing. Caesar hupped between sobs. ¡°I¡¯m hungry, Mom. I want to eat something.¡± My chest tightened, my stomach twisting into knots. I hadn¡¯t fed him. Not properly. I had been so caught up in keeping my job, in making sure we had a future, that I hadn¡¯t thought about how long he¡¯d gone without food. *How could I let this happen?* I bit down on my lip, swallowing the lump in my throat. We were still too far from home, and I couldn¡¯t ask him to wait. Not when he was already falling apart. Then, I saw her. The head maid. She was walking toward me, her expression unimpressed, like she had better things to do than check up on me. ¡°Hey,¡± she said, stopping a few feet away. ¡°Are you done with your work?¡± Her tone was clipped, impatient. I forced my body to straighten, ignoring the way my muscles screamed in protest. ¡°Yes. Yes, I am,¡± I answered quickly. The rightful source is FindN()vel 9:07 pm G GGG She rolled her eyes. ¡°Good.¡± She turned to leave, and I should¡¯ve let her go. Should¡¯ve swallowed my pride and figured something else out. But then I looked down at my son¨Chis cheeks still damp, his little body curled in on itself¨Cand my ego crumbled. I sucked in a sharp breath. ¡°Please,¡± I blurted out, my voice shaking. ¡°Can I ask you for something?¡± The head maid turned back toward me, her brows pinched together. ¡°What is it?¡± I swallowed hard, gripping Caesar¡¯s tiny hand in mine. ¡°Please¡­ can you give me some food?¡± My voice came out small, desperate. ¡°It¡¯s not for me. Just¨Clook at my son. He¡¯s been crying. He¡¯s hungry. My house is too far.¡± She let out a slow breath, her gaze flicking from me to Caesar. Then, without a word, she turned and walked away. My heart dropped. But then I heard it. ¡°Follow me.¡± I didn¡¯t hesitate. I scooped Caesar up, pressing his warm little body against mine as I hurried after her, my heart pounding with something dangerously close to relief. We walked in silence down the stairs, through the long, elegant hallways, until we reached the kitchen. The head maid spoke a few words to the chef, and within minutes, a te of food was ced in front of her. Small. Too small. She turned, extending it toward me. ¡°Here. But listen to me carefully.¡± I took the te, holding it tight as if she might change her mind. ¡°This is the first andst time you ask for food,¡± she said, her tone sharp enough to cut skin. ¡°You¡¯re a maid, not a burden. You should be grateful the boss even let you and your child stay. Learn your ce.¡± Her words sliced through me, but I nodded anyway. I had no energy to fight, no pride left to defend. All I cared about was the food in my hands and the little boy in my arms. I turned and walked out, my eyes locked on the small, barely¨Cthere portion. My chest ached at the sight of it. It wouldn¡¯t be enough. Not even close. 38 A sob built in my throat, and this time, I couldn¡¯t swallow it down. Tears blurred my vision, sliding down my cheeks in quiet surrender. I blinked them away, focusing on getting to the servant quarters. I just needed to feed him first. Just needed to- I crashed into something. No- someone.* Firm. Solid. Warm. I gasped, stumbling back, and when I lifted my gaze, my stomach clenched. 4/5 9:07 pm GGG G *Hunter.* His presence sucked the air from the room. He looked different than he had this morning¨Clessposed, more¡­ tense. There was something in his eyes, something heavy, like exhaustion and frustration tangled together. I quickly swung the te behind my back, as if that would somehow make it disappear. As if he hadn¡¯t already seen it. His gaze darkened. But he didn¡¯t say anything. He just¡­ brushed past me. I exhaled, my shoulders sagging. Almost out. Almost¡ª Then his voice cut through the air, sharp and cold. ¡°Tomorrow. My study and room need cleaning.¡± A pause. ¡°The head maid will tell you what needs to be done.¡± I sucked in a breath. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± I took a step forward. ¡°And Celine.¡± I froze. ¡°If you really want this job,¡± he said, his voice slow, deliberate, ¡°don¡¯t show up a minutete.¡± His eyes met mine for half a second, just long enough to make my pulse stutter. ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡± I nodded. Then I walked away, gripping Caesar and the te of food like they were the only things keeping me from falling apart. 38 Legacy 9 -CELINE¡¯S POV- 38) The second my body hit the mattress, I let out a deep breath, one of those breaths that carry the weight of an entire day. My muscles screamed in protest, but I didn¡¯t care. Sleep was all I needed. Caesar had knocked out the second his stomach was full, and I should¡¯ve followed right after him. But exhaustion wasn¡¯t the only thing pressing against me. It was everything. The weight of today. The weight of tomorrow. The weight of having to wake up and do it all over again. I turned onto my side, pressing my cheek into the pillow, willing my mind to shut off. But my phone buzzed, dragging me right back into reality. I groaned and reached for it, the screen illuminating the darkness. A message from ke. And another from Caroline. I opened ke¡¯s first. ke: Hey Celine, how are you doing? We haven¡¯t talked in a while¡­ thought I¡¯d check in. My fingers hovered over the keyboard. A lump formed in my throat because the truth was, I wasn¡¯t fine. Not even close. I was drowning, barely keeping my head above water. But thest thing I wanted was to dump my problems onto someone else. So I typed: Me: Yeah. Everything¡¯s fine. A lie. But what else was new? I tapped Caroline¡¯s message next. Caroline: Hey honey, how are you? How did the job go? Did he hire you? Do you like it so far? A bitterugh slipped past my lips. Did I like it? The job that made me feel invisible? The job that had me scrubbing floors until my hands were raw? The job where Hunter looked at me like I was nothing? I wiped at my face, only to realize tears were falling. I hated that. Hated how easily the emotions broke through the surface when I was alone. I took a deep breath, forcing the lie through my fingertips. Me: Hey B. It¡¯s going great. I love my new job. I¡¯m so thankful you helped me get it. Another lie. An even bigger one. If Caroline were here, she¡¯d see right through me. I tossed my phone onto the nightstand and exhaled slowly, trying to pull myself together. But before I could, a small voice broke through the silence. ¡°Mom?¡± 9:07 pm G G G B 38 I turned to see Caesar blinking up at me, his tiny hands reaching for my face. He swiped a finger across my cheek, his brows pulling together in concern. ¡°Are you crying? What happened? Did you get eaten by ants?¡± That made me smile, even though it shouldn¡¯t have. Even though I still felt like breaking apart. I shook my head, brushing his soft hair away from his forehead. ¡°No, sweetheart. Just a small bite.¡± Caesar¡¯s face twisted in concentration, like he wasing up with a solution. Then, with the seriousness of a doctor delivering a diagnosis, he said, ¡°If I was a doctor, I¡¯d kiss your boo¨Cboos away.¡± I felt my heart squeeze. This boy. My sweet boy. The reason I fought so hard to keep going. I pulled him into my arms, and within minutes, his breathing evened out again, his small body warm and safe against mine. I stared at the ceiling, my mind drifting to work. To Hunter. To the way he looked at me like I didn¡¯t deserve to be there. I didn¡¯t understand it. I worked hard. I kept my head down. So why did he act like I was an inconvenience? But I couldn¡¯t waste my energy trying to figure him out. I had bigger things to worry about. More important things. Like making sure Caesar never saw just how broken I was inside. I turned onto my side, shutting my eyes, letting the exhaustion pull me under. ** When I opened my eyes again, I wasn¡¯t in my bed anymore. I was somewhere else. The neon pink lights flickered. The music pulsed through my veins, loud and rhythmic. The air smelled like cheap alcohol and cigarette smoke. Caroline¡¯s club. I remembered this night. The way I sat at the bar, trying to blend in but feeling entirely out of ce. I swirled the drink in my hand, my gaze moving over the room, watching people dance, saw him. A man sitting alone, his presence somehow louder than the music. I didn¡¯t know why I kept looking. Maybe because he wasn¡¯t trying. He wasn¡¯t putting on a show like everyone else. Or maybe it was because, for the first time that night, I wasn¡¯t the only one who seemed like they didn¡¯t belong. I couldn¡¯t breathe. Or maybe I could, but it didn¡¯t feel like it. Because the second his eyes met mine, something shifted inside me. Something deep. Something unexinable. And I hated it. 2/6 9:07 pm G GGG. +38 I wasn¡¯t the kind of girl who locked eyes with a stranger and suddenly felt like the universe was trying to tell her something. But here I was, feeling it anyway. I tried to look away. He did too. But we kept finding each other, like two mas caught in some invisible pull. He was sitting across the club, nowhere near me, and yet it felt like he was right here. So close, I could feel him. I was still staring when the lights cut out. A voice pulled me from my thoughts. ¡°Celine, hold this.¡± A bottle of wine pressed against my stomach. I could barely make out her face, but I knew the voice. Caroline. I barely had time to respond before she disappeared toward the bathroom, leaving me alone in the dark. The scent of the wine curled into my nose, sweet and warm. The room was shifting¨Cpeople moving, voices murmuring, feet shuffling toward the exits. I didn¡¯t like it. The closeness. The noise. I needed air. moved, slipping past bodies until I found a corner of the club that wasn¡¯t packed with people. second I sat down, I felt it. That presence. That pull. And then came the scent. Cinnamon and spice and something entirely intoxicating. My stomach clenched, my pulse quickened. I wasn¡¯t alone. I turned my head just enough to confirm what I already knew. Him. The stranger from across the club. He was sitting right next to me, his body still, his shirt dark enough to make him almost invisible in the dim lighting. But I felt him there. I pretended not to notice. Poured myself another drink. Took a sip. And then the lights came on. I swallowed hard. Because up close? He wasn¡¯t just attractive. He was¡­. breathtaking. Sharp jawline, tousled dark hair, piercing blue eyes. 3/6 9:07 pm BGGG If *cute was what I thought from afar, *devastating* was what he became under full exposure. He drummed his fingers against his knee, watching me. Studying me. And then he spoke. ¡°You¡¯re hot.¡± The confidence in his voice sent something sharp and electric through my body. I smirked, heat rushing up my neck. ¡°You¡¯re hotter.¡± His lips quirked up. ¡°I think you¡¯re hotter.¡± +38) I raised a brow, my pulse skipping, my vision blurring ever so slightly. The wine was kicking in, making me feel weightless. Like I could float. Like I could swim. Like I could do something incredibly reckless without thinking twice about it. ¡°Nah,¡± I teased, voice lower now. ¡°Those lips of yours scream fire.¡± His smirk deepened, his body shifting forward. ¡°I disagree.¡± His voice was smooth,ced with something dangerous. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go find out who¡¯s hotter?¡± ve said no. d¡¯ve thought about Caroline. But I didn¡¯t. Instead, I ced my hand in his, my body already deciding before my mind could catch up. I handed him the bottle of wine. ¡°Have some first.¡± He took it without hesitation, tilting his head back and drinking everyst drop before setting it down. Then he stood. I stood too. And the next thing I knew, we were outside. Follow current nov?ls on F¦Énd£Îovel His mouth was on mine. His hands were in my hair. My dress was slipping from my shoulders. Everything blurred into everything else. Lips and skin and heat and desperation. His touch burned through me, igniting something deep and uncontroble. We consumed each other like fire, over and over, until exhaustion finally won. And then nothing. Darkness. Silence. The sun woke me up. 4/6 9:07 pm GGGG A sharp, blinding light cutting through the hotel room window, slicing into my skull like a de. I groaned, pressing my palm against my forehead. The pounding in my head was unbearable, like my brain was trying to punish me for whatever the hell I¡¯d donest night. And then I remembered. I sat up fast, scanning the room, my heartbeat skyrocketing. The bed beside me? Empty. The floor? Empty. The whole damn suite? Empty. No note. No name. No way to trace him. I closed my eyes, rubbing my temples. *Shit. Shit. Shit.* I had a one¨Cnight stand with a stranger. Aplete stranger. 38 I swung my legs over the side of the bed, pulling myself to my feet. Every step felt heavier, my body still sore from the night before. I needed to get out of here. As I stepped into the hallway, whispers reached my ears. ¡°Did you see him?¡± ¡°Oh my God, I saw him too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s surprising. For a minute, I thought I was the only one who saw him. Hunter Reid is such a strange man.¡± My stomach plummeted. My eyes shot open, my breath caught in my throat. I was in my bedroom. Not in a hotel. Not hungover. It was a dream. It was just a dream. But the name. *Hunter Reid.* I sucked in a breath. Because suddenly, I wasn¡¯t sure anymore. Maybe it wasn¡¯t a dream after all. 9:07 pm GGGG Maybe the stranger from that night wasn¡¯t a stranger at all. Maybe I¡¯d just slept with the one man who hated me more than anything. And my entire world tilted on its axis. 6/6 Legacy 10 Chapter 10 -Celine¡¯s POV- The ring of my rm rips me from sleep, my heart mming against my chest like it already knows I¡¯ve messed up. Sunlight spills through the thin curtains, painting streaks of gold across the room. I rub my temple, blink at the numbers shing on the rm clock, and- ¡°Shit! It¡¯s seven¨Cthirty!¡± 38 Panic surges through me as Iunch out of bed. *God. No. No. No.* Hunter warned me about beingte. He warned me. And now I¡¯ve done exactly what he told me not to. I whip around and shake Caesar gently. ¡°Baby, wake up. I¡¯mte for work.¡± He groans, curling deeper into the covers like he¡¯s trying to escape the morning. ¡°No, Caesar, you gotta wake up!¡± My voice is soft but desperate, my hands moving over his back in frantic strokes. He still doesn¡¯t budge, so I do the only thing I can¨CI scoop him up in my arms and rush toward the bathroom. ¡°Mom, I wanna sleep,¡± he mumbles against my shoulder. I wish I could let him. I wish I had the luxury of slow mornings, of making pancakes and singing silly songs to wake him up instead of this¨Cthis rushed, chaotic mess of a morning. But I don¡¯t. So I set him down and grab his toothbrush, moving as quickly as I can. ¡°Ahh, Mom! That hurts!¡± He squirms as I scrub his teeth too hard. I bite my lip, guilt seeping in. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, baby. I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you. I just¨Cwe have to hurry.¡± Minutes bleed into each other, and before I know it, we¡¯re ready. Caesar in his white shirt and red jeans. Me in a simple yellow dress. I hoist him into my arms and rush toward the door when his small voice stops me. ¡°Caesar, please, not now,¡± I plead, already feeling the seconds slip through my fingers like sand. His eyes glisten as he points toward the kitchen. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m hungry.¡± My stomach twists. I exhale sharply, dragging a palm down my face. In the rush of getting ready, I didn¡¯t even think about breakfast. I force a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, honey. You¡¯ll eat at work, okay?¡± He sniffs but doesn¡¯t argue. I don¡¯t have time to feel like shit about it. I grab my bag, run out the door, and g down the first cab I see. ### I don¡¯t know how long I¡¯ve been working. Maybe hours. Maybe forever. Long enough to forget that I¡¯m not just a maxi. Long enough to forget that I have a son waiting for me. 39 I had left Caesar by the door before I started cleaning Hunter¡¯s study. Like always. But now- His cries rip through the house. Loud. Heartbreaking. Impossible to ignore. My blood turns to ice. I don¡¯t think. I just *run.* I fly down the stairs so fast I can barely breathe, my heart hammering against my ribs as I silently beg-*Please, God. Don¡¯t let Hunter be there. Don¡¯t let him see this.* But when I reach the living room, my worst nightmare unfolds before me. Hunter is standing in front of Caesar. Watching him. And Caesar¨Cmy sweet, innocent little boy¨Cis sitting on the floor, his tiny body shaking with sobs. *Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.* Before I can reach him, a hand yanks me back, pressing me behind one of the pirs. The head maid. Her f ed in fury, her voice slicing through me like a de. ¡°What the hell is your problem? You think this is a to speak, but nothinges out. Or just choosing not to answer?¡± she snaps, her words dripping with venom. ¡°Your son¡¯s crying has been eryone, and it was *so* loud that the boss had toe out and see what was going on.¡± e don¡¯t care about your past,¡± she continues, her voice a low hiss, ¡°but do *everyone* a favor and keep the product of your irresponsible lifestyle under control.¡± The words hit like a p. Like a punch straight to the gut. And suddenly, I can¡¯t breathe. My lips pressed into a thin line, heat rising in my chest. My voice came out sharper than I intended. ¡°He¡¯s not a product of an irresponsible lifestyle. That¡¯s such a mean thing to say.¡± Laughter. Sharp. Mocking. It sliced through me like a de. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel ¡°We didn¡¯t expect you to admit it anyway, so spare us the scolding,¡± one of them sneered. ¡°You better go handle that son of yours before the boss decides to do it for you.¡± And just like that, they walked away, leaving me standing there, fists clenched at my sides. I inhaled deeply, trying to steady the tightness in my throat, and the sting in my eyes. I wouldn¡¯t cry. Not here. Not in front of them. Because as cruel as their words were, they weren¡¯t wrong. 2/4 9:08 pm G G G G I needed to check on Caesar. A sharp, broken wail cut through the tension in my chest. ¡°My stomach hurts!¡± The second I heard him say it, my heart twisted violently in my chest. Oh God. I forgot to feed him. A wave of guilt crashed over me so hard it left me breathless. I felt it deep in my bones¨Cthis unbearable ache, this frustration at myself. How could I be so careless? He¡¯s only three. He depends on me for everything, and I forget the most basic thing. My fingers curled into fists, the anger¨Cat myself, at this job, at everything¨Cthreatening to consume me. ¡°Is that why you¡¯re crying so much?¡± Hunter¡¯s voice was quieter than I expected. Softer. Like he cared. I barely had time to process it before I saw Caesar opening his mouth to answer. ¡°Umm. Uhh, nothing¡¯s wrong with him.¡± My words rushed out as I forced a smile, my hand tightening around Caesar¡¯s shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s just upset that I haven¡¯t been with him all day.¡± It was a lie. A stupid, obvious lie. 38 Hunter¡¯s eyes darkened instantly, a silent warning shing through them. My breath hitched. My hands trembled. But I held his stare, forcing myself to stayposed. I crouched down, wiping the streaks of tears off Caesar¡¯s face. ¡°Sweetie, it¡¯s okay. Please don¡¯t cry. I¡¯ll get your toy. You love your toy, right?¡± Hunter didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t say a word. But I could feel the weight of his presence behind me, like an invisible force pressing into my back. ¡°I don¡¯t want my toy, Mom! I want to-¡± Before he could finish, I pressed his face into my chest, muffling his words. Hunter was still watching. I could feel it. ¡°There, there, sweetheart,¡± I whispered, my voice shaking slightly. ¡°I understand. But please, get up, okay?¡± ¡°No.¡± His refusal came so quickly, so firmly, it sent another wave of panic through me. Then I heard it. The sound of Hunter¡¯s footsteps moving toward us. My body went rigid. My heart pounded against my ribs. 3/4 9:08 pm G GGG *Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.* I stood up so fast my legs nearly gave out. But I kept my back straight, kept my face nk, even though I was unraveling inside. Hunter stepped closer, his gaze dropping down to Caesar, still sitting on the floor, tears staining his cheeks. I braced myself for it. For the words I knew wereing. You¡¯re fired. Get out of my house. But he didn¡¯t even look at me. His eyes stayed locked on Caesar as he spoke. His voice was quiet. Cold. Unshakable. ¡°Get up.¡± Legacy 11 -Hunter¡¯s Pov- I watch the ridiculous scene unfolding in front of me, arms crossed, patience wearing thin. The kid¨CCaesar¨Cis sprawled out on the floor like a protestor staging a hunger strike. Celine kneels beside him, her hands shaky as she tries to lift him. He kicks, wriggles free, flops t on his back again. I sigh. Loudly. ¡°Caesar, get up.¡± My voice is sharp, edged with the frustration I don¡¯t have time for. Nothing. No movement. Just two big blue eyes ring up at me. Familiar blue eyes. 38 Celine is still fumbling, still failing. I don¡¯t know why I hired her. I don¡¯t know why I hired any of them. This whole house is a circus, and I seem to be the only one who didn¡¯t get the memo. Mrs. Bartley, the head maid, marches over like she¡¯s about to solve the problem of the century. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. This won¡¯t happen again,¡± she says, throwing Celine a look that¡¯s sharp enough to cut. I scoff. ¡°This is what I get for hiring her?¡± Celine¡¯s head snaps up. And then, suddenly, she¡¯s on her knees in front of me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Hunter,¡± she whispers. Her voice is small. Fragile. There¡¯s something about it that makes my chest feel too tight like my ribs are pressing in on something they shouldn¡¯t. And then- ¡°Food! I want food!¡± The demand pierces the room, loud, unexpected. I blink. Celine pales. Mrs. Bartley gasps. Find the newest release on find(?)ovel This kid. I drag a hand down my face and exhale through my teeth. ¡°Mrs. Bartley, have the chef prepare breakfast.¡± She hesitates, surprised. So is Celine. So am I. Caesar, though? He just stares at me like I¡¯m the one being ridiculous. ¡°Get up,¡± I tell him, arms still crossed. ¡°If you want breakfast, stand up.¡± There¡¯s a pause. A tiny flicker of hesitation. Then, finally, he pushes himself up. I study him. That defiant re. That stubborn set of his jaw. That weird, nagging sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. I shove the thought away and leave the room. Breakfast is a disaster. 9:08 pm GGGG. Caesar refuses to sit anywhere except next to me. He pulls on my sleeve and yanks on my chair. ¡°Sit here!¡± Celine tries to pry him away, but he clings to the chair like I¡¯m the only thing keeping him tethered to the earth. I don¡¯t do kids. I don¡¯t do clingy. But I sit. I don¡¯t know why. Maybe because I¡¯m too tired to argue. He eats. He stares. I ignore him. But something about the way he looks at me makes my stomach twist. Later that night, I was in my study. I don¡¯t know why I open the photo album. I just do. I flip through the pages. Pictures of a past I don¡¯t think about. Pictures of a boy I don¡¯t remember being. Then- I freeze. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. The same stubborn expression. A boy who looks exactly like Caesar. I flip the picture over. The words on the back hit me like a freight train. ¡°My Hunter, three years old.¡± I grip the photo. My hands feel numb. What the hell does this mean? -CELINE¡¯S POV- r of Hunter¡¯s study, hands shaking, heart racing. disaster. clung to him as he belonged there. Like he belonged to *him.* And Hunter¡­ he let him. He didn¡¯t push him at alone is enough to make my stomach twist. What if he starts asking questions? What if he starts putting things together? I risk a nce at him. He¡¯s staring at something¨Ca photo. His fingers move over it, slow, deliberate. His face is unreadable, but I know what unreadable means when ites to him. It means something is shifting. Clicking. Realigning in a way that could shatter everything. Then, his jaw tightens. His fingers curl around the edges of the photo. And then- He drops it. Roughly. Like the weight of it is too much. A chill spreads through me, slow and suffocating. If he hadn¡¯t suspected anything before¡­ He does now. +38 9:08 pm GGGG And that? That terrifies me more than anything. 3/3 Legacy 12 Chapter 12 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- 38 The city hums beneath me, a dull, never¨Cending sound. Lights stretch across the skyline, flickering like tiny, distant ghosts. Everything looks the same as it always does¨Ccold, unreachable. And yet, my mind won¡¯t quiet. Three years. Three years, and the memory is still just out of reach. Like a dream I wake up from too soon. Like a song I almost remember but never fully do. I press my fingers against my temples, exhaling slowly. I¡¯ve tried. God knows I¡¯ve tried. I¡¯ve torn that night apart in my head, searching for something real, something solid. But all I ever get are fragments. Soft fingers. Warm breath. Augh that feels like home. But her face? Always a blur. And now¨Cnow there¡¯s him. Caesar. A kid with blue eyes that look too much like mine. A kid who stares at me like he knows me. Like he¡¯s waiting for me to recognize him too. I tell myself it¡¯s nothing. A coincidence. But my gut is screaming at me, and my gut has never been wrong. I don¡¯t even think before grabbing my phone. My fingers move on their own, scrolling through my contacts until Ind on the name I need. I press call. One ring. Two. Then a groggy voice. ¡°Boss?¡± ¡°I need you to look into someone. Celine Brown. Everything¨Cwhere she¡¯s been, who she¡¯s been with.¡± My voice is sharp, impatient. ¡°Go back three years.¡± A pause. Then, ¡°I¡¯ll start in the morning.¡± ¡°No,¡± I snap. ¡°Start now.¡± Another silence. Then a quiet, ¡°Understood.¡± I hang up. I don¡¯t move. I don¡¯t breathe. Because if my gut is right¨Cif Caesar is- I don¡¯t let myself finish that thought. I turn back to the window instead, staring at the city, letting the hum of it drown out the storm inside me. -CELINE¡¯S POV- 1/3 9:08 pm GGGG. 38 I let out a long sigh as I finally pushed open the door to my tiny apartment, the exhaustion of the day weighing down on me like a boulder. The moment I stepped inside, the familiar scent of home filled my nostrilsvender detergent, a hint of baby powder, and the lingering aroma of the dinner I had barely had time to eat. I set my bag down by the couch and exhaled, rubbing my temples. Today had been a disaster. I couldn¡¯t believe I still had a job after everything Caesar had pulled. I sank onto the bed, the events of the morning reying in my mind. Caesar refusing to get up. His stubborn little arms crossed, his defiant scowl making my stomach drop. The way Hunter had looked at him¡ªat me. God, what must he think of me now? Did he regret hiring me? Was he mad? I closed my eyes, pressing my palms against them. I couldn¡¯t afford to lose this job. Not when it was the only thing keeping a roof over our heads. Hunter had been patient today, but what about next time? What if Caesar pushed too far? What if Hunter decided he had had enough? The thought made my chest tighten. I couldn¡¯t risk it. I had to be more careful. I had to make sure Caesar stayed far from him¨Cno more idents, no more confrontations. Th?s chapter is updated by away I pulled myself up, dragging my feet toward the bathroom. A hot shower. That was what I needed. Something to wash away the tension knotting in my muscles. Turning the faucet, I stepped under the warm stream, letting it soothe my aching body. My thoughts drifted again, no matter how hard I tried to push them away. Hunter. That look in his eyes today¡­ It hadn¡¯t just been annoyance. It had been something else. Something I couldn¡¯t quite ce. Shaking my head, I let out a bitter chuckle. It didn¡¯t matter. Hunter was my boss. That was all he would ever be. And after today, I was going to do everything in my power to keep it that way. By the time I stepped out, wrapping a towel around myself, the exhaustion had truly settled in. I barely made it to bed before my body gave in, sleep dragging me under before I could worry about tomorrow. 2/3 9.08 pm BB BB Legacy 13 -HUNTER¡¯S POV Self¨Ccontrol. Discipline. Restraint. The three things I built my life on. The things that kept me grounded, kept me sharp, kept me from ever making a mistake. And yet,tely, every time Celine was near, all three seemed to disappear. At first, it was nothing. A nce. A fleeting thought. A moment so brief I could ignore it. But then it became more. It became constant. It became dangerous. I found myself watching her too often. Like when she moved through my office, careful and precise, dark hair falling forward as she bent down to pick something up Or the way she bit her lip when she concentrated,pletely unaware that I was watching. Or how, when she was with Caesar, she softened in a way that made my chest ache in a ce I didn¡¯t know could feel anything at all. I told myself it was just passing thoughts. Nothing real. Nothing that mattered. But my pulse begged to differ. And I hated it. Tonight was no different. I sat in the lounge, a ss of whiskey in my hand, pretending to be interested in anything other than the woman moving around my kitchen. She was wiping down the counters, tucking things back into their ce,pletely lost in her own world. She didn¡¯t know I was watching. She didn¡¯t know she had my full attention. I should have looked away. Gone back to my drink. But I didn¡¯t Because the longer I watched her, the harder it was to ignore the thought pressing against the edges of my mind- **Celine Brown was beautiful.** I exhaled sharply, tossing back the rest of my whiskey, setting the ss down harder than I should have, Enough. I needed water. That was all. Just water. But the second I stepped into the kitchen, she turned, and our eyes met. And just like that, the air shifted. 1/3 9:08 pm G G G It was subtle, but it was there. She quickly looked away, pretending to be focused on anything but me. I should have walked past her. I should have ignored this ridiculous pull. But I didn¡¯t. I watched as her fingers brushed the rim of a ss, reaching up to ce it back on the shelf. Instinct took over. I stepped closer at the exact moment she stretched her arm out, reaching for the same ss. **Our fingers collided.** A jolt. A spark. A slow, sinking realization. Celine froze. So did I. The air thickened, heavy and charged, the kind of silence that meant something even if neither of us were saying a word. Her skin was warm against mine, but the effect? **Anything but soft.** Neither of us moved. Neither of us breathed. Her lips parted, like she wanted to say something. But nothing came out. And then- A voice shattered everything. ¡°Why are you two staring at each other like that?¡± I yanked my hand back, turning sharply to see Caroline standing in the doorway, arms crossed, an eyebrow raised. Celine stepped away instantly, clearing her throat, face unreadable. But me? My mask was already back in ce. Because whatever that was? It couldn¡¯t happen again. -CELINE¡¯S POV- I was losing my mind. That was the only exnation for the way my heart was racing right now. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel 38 I clutched the edge of the counter, trying to steady my breath, but it was impossible when Hunter was still standing so close, his presence overwhelming. It wasn¡¯t the first time I had felt this tension between us. 2/3 9:08 pm G GGG 38 I¡¯d be lying if I said I hadn¡¯t noticed the way his gaze lingered on me sometimes, or how my body reacted whenever he was near. But tonight¡­ tonight had been different. That moment¨Cwhen our hands touched¡ªit was as if something raw and undeniable had sparked between us. And the worst part? I hadn¡¯t wanted to pull away. I swallowed hard, my mind reying the sensation of his fingers brushing against mine, the sharp inhale he took, the way his body tensed. Had he felt it too? God, what was I thinking? This was my boss. The man who held my job¨Cmy livelihood¨Cin his hands. I shook my head, forcing myself to move, to busy my hands with cleaning, but I could still feel his eyes on me. I made the mistake of ncing up. Hunter was watching me, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his eyes¨Csomething intense, something unfamiliar. I looked away quickly, pretending to be focused on wiping the counter, but my pulse was still erratic. Caroline¡¯s voice still echoed in my head. ¡°Why are you two staring at each other like that?¡± It had been a harmless question, but it rattled me. Because I didn¡¯t know the answer. And I was terrified of what it might be. 3/3 Legacy 14 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- I cut into my steak, but I wasn¡¯t hungry. Across the table, Caroline smirked like she knew something she shouldn¡¯t. Like she was enjoying a private joke at my expense. It was irritating. More irritating than usual. I didn¡¯t know if she was teasing me about earlier or if she was just reveling in being a general menace, but either way, I needed to shut it down before she pushed any further. ¡°You spend more time at my ce than your own,¡± I muttered, keeping my voice even. ¡°Should I start charging you rent?¡± Caroline gasped, pressing a hand to her chest in mock horror. ¡°Oh, how cruel! You wouldn¡¯t dare, cousin.¡± 38) I stabbed another piece of steak, unimpressed. ¡°You have a house. A very expensive one, if I remember correctly. Maybe you should start using it.¡± She rolled her eyes, swirling the wine in her ss like she was bored. ¡°And miss out on the joy of annoying you? Not a chance.¡± I shook my head. But at least she was distracted. That was all I needed. Then Celine walked by. She carried a tray, moving quietly, setting down a fresh dish with careful precision. She didn¡¯t look at me. Didn¡¯t acknowledge me. But I looked at her. I told myself not to. I told myself to keep my eyes on my te, on Caroline, on literally anything else. But I failed. Again. She wasposed, her expression neutral. Like nothing had happened earlier. Like she hadn¡¯t frozen under my touch. Like I hadn¡¯t felt the warmth of her skin against mine. But I saw it. The slight tension in her shoulders. The way her fingers curled just a little too tightly around the tray. She had heard Caroline¡¯sment. She had felt the weight of it just as much as I had. ¡°Why are you two staring at each other like that?¡± Damn it. I forced myself to look away. But Caroline caught me. She didn¡¯t call me out on it¨Cnot yet. She just smirked, sipping her wine like she was waiting for the perfect moment to strike. I clenched my jaw and pushed my te aside. 9:08 pm ¡°Where¡¯s Caesar?¡± she asked suddenly, turning to Celine. Celine stopped mid¨Cstep. ¡°He¡¯s ying in his room.¡± Caroline hummed, tapping her chin. ¡°Is my cousin bullying you?¡± Celine blinked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°My dear, serious cousin,¡± Caroline drawled, throwing me a sideways nce. ¡°He can be quite¡­ intense, can¡¯t he?¡± Celine hesitated, then offered a small smile. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that.¡± +39 Caroline leaned forward, her grin widening. ¡°Well, if he ever gives you a hard time, just ignore him. Works like a charm for me.¡± I red. She winked. Celine just chuckled softly, murmuring something polite before disappearing into the kitchen. I should have stopped watching her. I should have let it go. But I didn¡¯t. And, of course, Caroline noticed. This time, she didn¡¯t smirk. She outright grinned. I exhaled sharply. ¡°Finish your food and go home, Caroline.¡± Sheughed, slow and satisfied, like she had all the time in the world. Like she had already won. I was done. Pushing my chair back, I stood abruptly. ¡°I have a business meeting tomorrow. Lock the door when you leave.¡± I turned toward the stairs, eager to put distance between myself and this ridiculous dinner- But just as I stepped away, Caroline¡¯s voice cut through the room. ¡°She¡¯s different, isn¡¯t she?¡± I froze. Not for long. Just a second. Barely enough for anyone to notice. Except Caroline noticed everything. ¡°She¡¯s not like most girls you¡¯ve met.¡± Her tone was teasing, but there was something else there too. Something unsettling. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, cousin?¡± I didn¡¯t answer. Didn¡¯t turn around. I just walked away. Because maybe Caroline was right. And that was exactly the problem. -CELINE¡¯S POV- The water ran warm over my hands, but I barely felt it. My mind was still tangled in the mess of dinner. 9:08 pm G GGG Caroline¡¯s teasing. Hunter¡¯s unreadable expression. The way the air had felt thick with something I couldn¡¯t name. Something had shifted tonight. Maybe it was the way Hunter¡¯s eyes lingered on me when he thought I wasn¡¯t paying attention. Or how Caroline had grinned like she knew a secret I didn¡¯t. I shook my head. It didn¡¯t matter. I was here to do a job. That was it. Wiping my hands on a towel, I nced at the clock. It waste. I needed to get home. Caesar was probably already curled up in bed, his little stuffed lion clutched tight against his chest. The thought made me smile. He had been his usual, relentless self today¨Cchattering about dinosaurs, demanding extra syrup on his pancakes, and running around like the morning hadn¡¯t unraveled the way it had. I wished I could bounce back that easily. With a sigh, I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder, my feet already moving toward the back exit. And then- ¡°Celine.¡± breath caught. froze. That voice. Deep. Smooth. Cold. I turned slowly, pulse stuttering. 38 Hunter stood at the entrance of the kitchen. His sleeves were rolled up, his tie loosened¨Clike he had stripped himself of just enough control to be dangerous. His expression was unreadable. For a second, I thought I should say something. Anything. But my voice? Completely useless. He stepped forward. Not close enough to touch. But close enough to make me grip the strap of my bag like it was the only thing keeping me upright. He didn¡¯t speak right away. Just studied me¨Csilent, assessing. Like he was trying to figure me out. Like I was something that didn¡¯t quite make sense to him. And then- ¡°Ignore Caroline,¡± I blinked. ¡°What?¡± Hunter¡¯s voice was steady, measured. ¡°She likes to run her mouth. Don¡¯t let her get to you.¡± Oh. 3/4 terbated wall wa N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find?novel ww wwad tie de vit quite delere me. Then, with a sharp nod, he turned and walked aw AN **262/html/was holding her the bell was that? I didn¡¯t know. But my heart was still racing AS Legacy 15 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- 38) I tapped my fingers against the desk, skimming through the estate¡¯s daily operations report, but none of the words were registering. My patience was already razor¨Cthin, and I knew exactly why. Celine. She was getting under my skin. The way she had looked at mest night¨Csteady, unshaken¨Clike she wasn¡¯t afraid of me like she wasn¡¯t intimidated. It was¡­ frustrating. And I didn¡¯t like feeling this way. I needed to remind myself why she was here. To work. That was it. Nothing more. So I made a decision. If she was going to work under my roof, she would do so under my rules¨Cno special treatment, no leniency. That was the only way to handle this. I breathed out sharply and clicked open the security feed on myptop, scanning the live footage of the main foyer. And there she was. On her knees, scrubbing the floor. Her hair was tied back, but a few strands had escaped, clinging to her forehead. She moved with precision, her shoulders tense, her hands gripping the brush like she was scrubbing away something far deeper than dirt. She pushed forward, pressing harder. Too hard. Like she was punishing the floor for something it hadn¡¯t done. My jaw tightened. For a moment, she stopped, sitting back on her heels, exhaling slowly. Her fingers reached up to her shoulder, rolling it in small circles, working out a knot. She was tired. And yet, she wasn¡¯t stopping. I stared at the screen, a strange tightness forming in my chest. And then, before I could stop myself, I shut theptop. Hard. This¨Cwhatever this was¨Cit needed to end. Because she wasn¡¯t just an employee. She wasn¡¯t just anyone. She was a distraction. One I couldn¡¯t afford. -CELINE¡¯S POV- 1/4 9:08 pm G GGG. §Ó §Ó §Ó§Ó It wasn¡¯t even noon, and I was already running on empty. Hunter had been ruthless all morning, piling on task after task¨Cones I knew the other maids weren¡¯t dealing with. ¡°The table settings in the dining hall are incorrect. Redo them,¡± he had said earlier, his voice clipped, impersonal. I had redone them. Three times. Then came the staircase railings. Polishing, even though they were already shining. And now? Now, I was scrubbing the foyer floor on my hands and knees, my arms aching, my fingers raw. I paused for a second, rolling my shoulder to ease the sharp pull of exhaustion. My body begged me to stop. But I wouldn¡¯t. I couldn¡¯t. Not when I knew he was watching. Newest update provided by Find?Novel ¡°Mommy?¡± Caesar¡¯s voice snapped me out of my daze. I turned to see him standing at the bottom of the staircase, his tiny face scrunched in concern. I forced a smile, ignoring the way my throat tightened. ¡°What is it, baby?¡± He walked closer, his eyes flickering between me and the bucket of soapy water. ¡°You¡¯re working too much.¡± I breathed out, sitting back on my heels. ¡°It¡¯s my job, sweetheart.¡± His brows pulled together, frustration clear in his little face. ¡°Is the big man being mean again?¡± I almost choked on augh. ¡°No, honey. He¡¯s just¡­ particr.¡± Caesar didn¡¯t look convinced. And before I could reassure him, his voice cut through the room. ¡°Caesar.¡± A chill danced down my spine. Slowly, I turned. Hunter stood at the edge of the hallway, hands in his pockets, unreadable eyes locked on my son. Caesar hesitated, shifting on his feet. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°You should be at the servant quarter,¡± Hunter said, his voice steady. Controlled. ¡°Your mother is working.¡± Caesar nced at me, searching for an answer I couldn¡¯t give. I nodded, silently telling him to listen. With a reluctant sigh, he turned and padded back toward the stairs. Hunter¡¯s gaze flicked back to me then, lingering. Heavy. I held my breath. And then- ¡°Your break is over,¡± he said simply, before walking away like he hadn¡¯t just turned my entire morning inside out. I exhaled, my hands curling into fists. I had never met a man so infuriating. 2/4 9:08 pm G GGG And yet, here I was, scrubbing his damn floors like he hadn¡¯t just gotten under my skin all over again. -HUNTER¡¯S POV- I had expected her toin. I had expected her to slip up, to make an excuse¨Cany excuse¨Cthat would prove she wasn¡¯t cut out for this job. But no matter how hard I pushed, she didn¡¯t break. And I hated that I was starting to notice. Byte afternoon, I found myself standing in the doorway of the living room, arms crossed, watching as she knelt in front of Caesar, helping him button his tiny shirt. ¡°There,¡± she said softly, smoothing the fabric over his chest. ¡°Now you look very handsome.¡± Caesar grinned, his dimples deep. I clenched my jaw. ¡°He can dress himself.¡± Celine turned, her brows pulling together. ¡°He asked for help.¡± ¡°He needs to be independent.¡± ow breath, shaking her head. ¡°He¡¯s ¡°three*.¡± Sir. dn¡¯t have a response. od, brushing dust from the hem of her dress, before looking me straight in the eye. ¡°Is there a problem, *sir*?¡± The word sounded unnaturaling from her. Like she was forcing herself to say it. Like she hated the way it felt on her tongue. I stepped closer, closing the space between us, watching her carefully. Testing her. ¡°You tell me,¡± I murmured. ¡°Are you struggling with the workload?¡± Her lips parted slightly like she was trying to read between the lines of my question. Then, her expression hardened. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± My voice dipped lower, intentionally. ¡°Because if you *can¡¯t handle this job, you should leave now.¡± Her breath hitched. For the tiniest second, she hesitated. But then- She lifted her chin, fire sparking in her eyes. ¡°Not a chance.¡± Something sharp and unexpected cut through my chest. I exhaled slowly, letting the corner of my mouth tilt upward. Good. 3/4 9:08 pm B She was stronger than I thought. And for the first time in a long time, I wasn¡¯t sure if that was a good thing or a very, very bad one. 7 38 AD Legacy 16 Chapter 16 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- Caesar had an uncanny ability to dismantle my perfectly structured life. The constant talking. The endless questions. The way he looked at me with those too¨Cfamiliar blue eyes¨Clike he expected something from me. And the worst part? I let him. I told myself it was because he was just a child. That it was easier to give in sometimes. That none of it actually *meant* anything. But that didn¡¯t exin why I was already halfway out of my chair the second I heard his voice echo through the halls. *¡°I want a bedtime story!¡°* Loud. Unapologetic. Determined. I pinched the bridge of my nose. Relentless. ¡°No, Caesar,¡± Celine¡¯s voice answered, strained with exhaustion. ¡°I told you, I¡¯m busy.¡± That should have been the end of it. But then- A wail. Loud. Sharp. Real. I was already moving before I could stop myself. When I found them, Celine was standing stiffly in the middle of theundry room, her back to me. Caesar was on the floor, his small body trembling with the force of his cries. She wasn¡¯t looking at him. She wasn¡¯t looking at anything. Her shoulders were tense, her hands clenched at her sides, and when she finally spoke, her voice was tight. Too tight. ¡°You¡¯re being a bad boy, Caesar.¡± His breath hitched. ¡°But I just-¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired,¡± she cut him off, her voice cracking. ¡°I have so much to do. And you¡¯re crying because I can¡¯t read you a bedtime story?¡± Silence. Thick, suffocating silence. And then- ¡°I want my mommy too.¡± The words were barely a whisper, but they shattered something in the air between them. I stilled. Caesar stilled. And when she turned her head just enough for me to see her face, I felt something unexpected w at my chest. Tears. She was trying to blink them away, but they were there. And Caesar¨CGod, he didn¡¯t understand. How could he? He was 9:09 pm B BBG. Chapter 16 Checktest chapters at find?novel three. But even in his small, innocent mind, he must have realized something was different. Because his little hands reached for her. ¡°I love you, Mommy.¡± She let out a shaky breath, closing her eyes as she pulled him against her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, baby,¡± she murmured, pressing a kiss to his forehead. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to snap at you.¡± Caesar nodded against her, his arms tightening around her neck. And me? I stood there, useless. Unmoving. Watching something I shouldn¡¯t have been watching. Celine sighed, shifting him in her arms. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you to bed.¡± I turned away before she could see me. Because the way she had said those words- I want my mommy too¨Chad sunk into my chest like a slow, burning weight. And I didn¡¯t like the way it felt. Not at all. -CELINE¡¯S POV- Today had been too much. I had scrubbed floors until my arms ached. Polished railings that were already spotless. Redone table settings three times. And through it all, I had kept one eye on Caesar¨Cmaking sure he didn¡¯t say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, push Hunter too far. And yet, somehow, I had still ended up breaking. Right in front of him. I shouldn¡¯t have said those words. I shouldn¡¯t have let myself unravel like that. But the second I saw the confused look in Caesar¡¯s eyes, I knew¨CI had scared him. I carried him to bed, tucking the nkets around him as I could somehow wrap him in all the love I had as if it would be enough to make up for the fact that I was exhausted. That I was fraying at the edges. He sniffled once, rubbing his eyes, before peering up at me with sleepy concern. ¡°Mommy, are you okay?¡± I forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m okay, baby,¡± A lie. He yawned, shifting under the covers. ¡°Will you stay until I sleep?¡± I nodded, threading my fingers through his curls. ¡°Of course.¡± The room fell silent, the soft glow of the bedsidemp casting warm shadows across his face. His breathing slowed. His grip on the nket loosened. 2/3 And me? I just sat there, watching him, exhaustion pressing against my ribs like a weight I couldn¡¯t shake. For a moment, I let myself wish. 38) Wish that I could close my eyes and forget the way Hunter had been watching me all day. Forget the fear that coiled around my heart every time I thought about what would happen if he ever found out the truth. I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Caesar¡¯s cheek. ¡°You already have all the love you need,¡± I whispered. A promise. To him. To myself. I started to pull away- And then. That feeling. The unmistakable prickle at the nape of my neck. I turned slowly, my breath catching in my throat. Hunter. Leaning against the doorway. Arms crossed. Expression is unreadable. How long had he been standing there? I scrambled to my feet, my pulse hammering. ¡°I¨CI didn¡¯t know you were there.¡± He didn¡¯t respond right away. Just flicked his gaze to Caesar, then back to me. His fists curled at his sides. Why did he look¡­ angry? Or was it something else? I swallowed. ¡°Is something wrong, Mr. Reid?¡± His eyes locked onto mine, and for a second¨Cjust a second¨CI felt like he was seeing too much.* Then, finally, he spoke. Voice low. Controlled. ¡°Why does it feel like you¡¯re hiding something from me?¡± My stomach dropped. I forced a shakyugh. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡± His silence stretched between us, thick and heavy. I gripped the edge of the bed to steady myself, fighting to keep my expression neutral. Because if he ever found out the truth- Everything would change. 3/3 Legacy 17 Chapter 17 -CELINE¡¯S POV- The kitchen was chaos. Pots nged. Footsteps pounded against the tile. Orders were barked across the room, sharp and urgent. The air was thick with heat and stress, and everyone scrambling to prepare for Hunter¡¯s guests. +38 I moved quickly, arms full of fresh linens, weaving through the frenzy. My back ached. My legs burned. But stopping wasn¡¯t an option. Hunter had made it clear¨Ctonight had to be perfect. I dropped the linens onto the counter and wiped the sweat from my forehead, barely catching my breath before- ¡°Celine!¡± I knew that voice. I closed my eyes for a second before turning. Bianca stood with her arms crossed, a smug tilt to her lips. Two other maids hovered behind her, hanging onto her every word like she was the queen of this damn castle. ¡°The dining room floor still looks dirty,¡± she said, inspecting her nails like the floor was my problem and not hers. ¡°Go clean it again.¡± I gritted my teeth. ¡°I already cleaned it.¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Well, clearly not good enough. Unless you¡¯d rather exin to the head maid why you can¡¯t do a simple job?¡± I knew exactly what this was. Bianca loved making me jump through hoops. She made sure I had twice the workload of everyone else, always piling on extra tasks while she barely lifted a finger. She was testing me, waiting for me to crack. I wouldn¡¯t give her the satisfaction. I grabbed a cloth and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Her smirk deepened like she had won some imaginary battle before she turned back to her gossiping. I clenched my jaw and walked away. By the time I made it to the dining room, I wanted to scream. The floor was already spotless, but I scrubbed at it anyway, my fingers aching from hours of work. This wasn¡¯t about cleaning. It was about control. A quiet giggle pulled me from my thoughts. I turned, finding Caesar in the corner of the kitchen, rolling his toy car over the surface of the table. 1/4 +38 9:09 pm He was behaving, just like I had asked. But still¨Che shouldn¡¯t have to be here. I had to get through this shift as quickly as possible. Finish the work. Take him home. Get out. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find1Novel But Bianca wasn¡¯t done with me yet. ¡°The silverware needs polishing,¡± she called from behind me, her nails tapping against the counter. ¡°Make sure you do it properly.¡± I swallowed the irritation crawling up my throat. I had spent all day biting my tongue. What was one more task? I reached for the silverware, but before I could start, Bianca sighed dramatically. ¡°Actually,¡± she said, tilting her head, ¡°Mr. Hunter requested a specific bottle of wine for tonight. Go down to the cer and bring it up.¡± Something about the way she said it made my stomach twist. I hesitated. ¡°Which bottle?¡± She smiled. Too sweet. Too fake. ¡°You¡¯ll find it. I¡¯m sure Mr. Hunter would be very upset if you brought the wrong one.¡± I wiped my hands on my apron, ncing at Caesar. ¡°Stay here, okay?¡± He frowned, his small fingers curling around my sleeve. ¡°Can Ie with you?¡± ated. The wine cer. Bianca¡¯s smirk. The way my gut told me don¡¯t go. ad, nodding. ¡°Fine. But stay close.¡± noved down the narrow hallway, the air growing colder with each step. The scent of aged wood and expensive wine ung to the walls, wrapping around me like a warning. The wine cer was massive. Rows of shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, each bottle lined up like it belonged to some kind of sacred collection. I scanned thebels, my pulse steady¨Cuntil I spotted it. The bottle Bianca had sent me. Top shelf. Of course. I clenched my jaw, my fingers curling into fists. She had known. She had known. I nced around, spotting a wooden stool tucked near the corner. Dragging it over, I positioned it beneath the shelf and stepped up, bncing carefully as I stretched my fingers toward the bottle. Even on my toes, it was barely within reach. ¡°Caesar, stand back,¡± I warned, shifting slightly, trying to get just a little closer. The tips of my fingers brushed against the ss. Almost. I stretched further- The stool wobbled beneath me. 9:09 pm GGGG. And suddenly, everything happened too fast. A sharp gasp tore from my throat as I lost my bnce. The bottle slipped. Then another. And another. The sound of shattering ss filled the cer, sharp and violent. Wine sttered across the floor, dark red spreading like blood. For a second, everything was silent. Then¡ª ¡°Mommy!¡± Caesar¡¯s wail ripped through the quiet. My breath came out in shudders as I stared at the mess. The wine had soaked into my dress, my hands trembling as I lifted them, careful not to touch the jagged ss around me. I swallowed hard. I was so screwed. Hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway. A shadow appeared in the doorway. The head maid. Her sharp eyesnded on the disaster in front of her, her expression morphing into pure horror. Then¨Cher voice, like a de slicing through my panic. ¡°What have you done?¡± I opened my mouth, ready to exin¡ªready to beg if I had to. But before I could get a single word out, Bianca let out a dramatic gasp, her hand flying to her chest like she¡¯d just witnessed a murder. ¡°Oh no,¡± she breathed, shaking her head with pure, practiced disappointment. ¡°That was thest bottle of Mr. Hunter¡¯s favorite wine.¡± My stomach dropped. 38
  1. me.
nter. anged looks, their whispers hissing through the space, quiet but sharp. They all knew what this meant. meant. Then¨Cfootsteps. Heavy. Measured. A presence filled the doorway, thick and suffocating. ve to look up. I already knew. His energy wrapped around the room like a vice, squeezing the oxygen straight from my lungs. Every tiny hair on my body stood on end as I felt his gazend on me¨Con the wine staining my dress, on the ss scattered around me, on Caesar still hupping in the doorway. The silence was unbearable. my head. Then¨Chis voice. Low. Controlled. Lethal. ¡°What the hell is going on here?¡± I forced myself to lift Hunter¡¯s expression was unreadable, his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine like a loaded weapon. I opened my mouth- ¡°She broke it,¡± Bianca said quickly, turning to him with a perfectly rehearsed frown. ¡°Thest bottle.¡± 3/4 9:09 pm GGG G My hands curled into fists. Hunter didn¡¯t blink. He took a step forward. One slow, deliberate step that sent my pulse into a tailspin. ¡°You have five seconds,¡± he said, voice smooth butced with a quiet, simmering fury, ¡°to exin yourself before I decide what to do with you.¡± I inhaled sharply, my hands trembling. ¡°I¨CI was trying to reach the bottle. It was too high, and I slipped-¡± His expression didn¡¯t change. 38 ¡°That doesn¡¯t exin why Caesar is down here.¡± His eyes flicked toward my son, who was still sniffling, clutching his toy car to his chest. ¡°Why was he even near the cer?¡± I hesitated, scrambling for words, but Bianca got there first. ¡°She brought him with her,¡± she said, her voice dripping with false concern. ¡°Even when she knew how important this was. And now look at this mess.¡± The way she said it¨Clike I had done this on purpose like I had wanted to fail¨Cmade something inside me snap. ¡°I told him to stay back!¡± My voice shook, but I didn¡¯t care. ¡°I didn¡¯t n for this to happen, I-¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Hunter¡¯s voice cut through mine like a de. Silence mmed back into the room. His stare was heavier now. Colder. More dangerous. And as I sat there, covered in spilled wine and humiliation, I realized one terrifying truth. I had no idea what he was going to do next. Legacy 18 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- Caesar¡¯s tiny voice shattered the silence like a gunshot. ¡°It wasn¡¯t Mommy¡¯s fault! That meandy made her do it!¡± The room froze. Every breath. Every heartbeat. Every single ounce of tension thickened until it felt like the walls themselves were holding their breath. I stared down at the small boy clutching the hem of Celine¡¯s jacket, his little fists trembling with rage. His big, ssy eyes burned with something fierce¨Csomething raw¨Cas he looked up at her, demanding justice. I wasn¡¯t used to that. To people standing up for each other. For the first time in years, I didn¡¯t know how to respond. My gaze flicked to Celine. She was still kneeling in the mess, her hands shaking as she pulled Caesar close. Her lips parted like she wanted to say something¨Cexin¨Cbut nothing came out. Bianca¡¯s scoff broke the moment. ¡°Sir, you can¡¯t seriously believe¡ª¡± I lifted a hand. She shut up instantly. The urge to fire Celine burned through me. I¡¯d been waiting for an excuse to get rid of her. To sever this strange, irritating pull she had over me. But then¨CCaesar. Caesar, standing there like a tiny, furious soldier, defending his mother like it was the only thing that mattered. And suddenly, I wasn¡¯t so sure anymore. I let the silence stretch. Let it sink into every person in this damn room until they felt it. Until they squirmed under it. And then¨Ccalm. Controlled. ¡°You want to keep your job, Celine?¡± She swallowed hard, nodding. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± My voice was cold. Final. ¡°Then you¡¯ll serve the guests tonight. Personally.¡± The reaction was immediate. Her breath hitched. The maids exchanged shocked nces. Even Bianca¡¯s smug expression faltered for half a second. It wasn¡¯t kindness. It was punishment. A way to make sure she stayed right where I could see her. Her hands clenched around Caesar¡¯s small shoulders, but she didn¡¯t argue. Didn¡¯t beg. She just dipped her head. ¡°Understood.¡± I turned. Th?s chapter is updated by findnovel ¡°Get cleaned up.¡± And then¨C1 walked away. 9:09 pm -CELINE¡¯S POV- G I should¡¯ve seen thising. Hunter never missed a chance to make my life harder. But this? This wasn¡¯t just difficult. This was cruel. I moved fast, practically running to my tiny room, my breath shaky as I tore off my ruined uniform. The scent of spilled wine clung to my skin, thick and suffocating. I scrubbed at it until my arms burned, but no amount of washing could erase the humiliation. Just one night. I whispered it like a prayer. Like if I said it enough times, it would somehow make this easier. It didn¡¯t. Because the worst part wasn¡¯t the guests. Wasn¡¯t the way Hunter¡¯s eyes would burn into me all night, watching, waiting? The worst part was leaving him. 38 I found one of the kinder maids¡ªthe only one who didn¡¯t treat me like I was beneath her¨Cand begged her to watch Caesar. At first, she hesitated, her eyes darting around like she knew this was a bad idea. But I was desperate. ¡°Please,¡± I whispered. ¡°Just tonight.¡± She exhaled sharply. ¡°Fine. But just for tonight.¡± Relief hit me so hard that I almost sank to my knees. Instead, I crouched in front of Caesar, cupping his warm little cheeks. I need you to be good, okay?¡± My voice was soft, but firm. ¡°Stay here. No trouble.¡± His lip wobbled. ¡°But I wanna go with you.¡± My chest ached. ¡°Not this time, sweetheart.¡± He didn¡¯t argue. Just nodded, even as tears filled his eyes. I stood up, took a breath deep enough to hurt, and walked out the door. The night blurred around me¨Csoft murmurs, clinking sses, careful steps as I wove through the sea of expensive suits and elegant gowns, bncing trays, keeping my head down. Invisible. That was the goal. But then- I felt it. That pull. That weight of a stare pressed against my skin like a slow burn. Him. Even without looking, I knew Hunter¡¯s eyes were on me. Watching. Assessing. Taking apart something he probably didn¡¯t even want to understand. And suddenly, I wasn¡¯t invisible anymore. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to focus, to move, to keep my hands steady as I poured another drink. 9:09 pm 5 ? D But I wasn¡¯t the only one who noticed. Vincent leaned back in his chair, slow andzy, like he had all the time in the world to pick apart whatever tension was humming between me and his host. His gaze flicked between us, sharp and knowing. ¡°You¡¯re a new face,¡± he mused, swirling his drink, his voiceced with amusement. I tightened my grip on the tray, keeping my eyes down. Hunter didn¡¯t respond. Vincent smirked. ¡°No introduction? That¡¯s not like you.¡± He tilted his head, watching Hunter closely, reading between the silence. 38 ¡°You¡¯re usually quick to dismiss things that don¡¯t matter.¡± A pause. A longer sip of his drink. Then- ¡°But I suppose it¡¯s hard to dismiss something when your eyes keep lingering on her.¡± My breath caught. For a moment¨Cone impossible, fleeting moment¨CI nced up. And met his eyes. A single second stretched impossibly long, the air between us heavy, charged- And then¡ª ¡°She¡¯s nothing important,¡± Hunter said. His voice was cold. Unbothered. A de slicing through whatever that moment had been. ¡°Just a maid.¡± I nodded like it didn¡¯t sting. It didn¡¯t matter. Like I didn¡¯t matter. Vincent exhaled through his nose, shaking his head, smirking like he had just uncovered something interesting. ¡°Sure,¡± he murmured, tipping his ss toward Hunter before taking another sip. ¡°A maid that got you all worked up?¡± His smirk deepened. ¡°Right.¡± Hunter¡¯s gaze snapped to him, sharp. A silent warning. But Vincent only leaned back, looking thoroughly entertained. I moved too fast. One second, I was trying to get away from their words, their stares. The next- A ss slipped from my grasp. Water sshed. A sharp gasp cut through the room like a de. And then-¡°You clumsy idiot!¡± Charlotte Hill shot up from her chair, eyes wide with rage as the cold water seeped into her dress. My heart mmed against my ribs. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m so sorry,¡± I stammered, already reaching for a napkin, desperate to undo what couldn¡¯t be undone. But she smacked my hand away like I was something filthy. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me,¡± she snapped, her voice dripping with disgust. ¡°Do you even realize how much this dress costs?¡± She let out a bitterugh. ¡°Of course you don¡¯t. You don¡¯t belong here. Who even let you in?¡± 3/5 ? The walls felt too tight. The air is too thin. I could hear the whispers. Feel the amused smirks pressing against my skin like bruises. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay still. To stay small. ¡°I¡ªI didn¡¯t mean to¡ª* ¡°Oh, you didn¡¯t mean to?¡± she mocked, crossing her arms. ¡°Well, that changes everything.¡± Laughter. Someone covered their mouth, trying to hide their amusement. The head maid rushed forward, her voice frantic. ¡°Miss Charlotte, I am sorry! She will be dealt with immediately-¡± But Charlotte¡¯s attention had already shifted. To him. To Hunter. ¡°You should fire her,¡± she spat, flipping her damp hair over her shoulder. ¡°She¡¯s an embarrassment.¡± The breath in my lungs vanished. Slowly, painfully, I lifted my gaze. And met his. Hunter¡¯s expression was unreadable. But his eyes- Sharp. Cold. Unwavering. I had no idea what he was thinking. But I felt it. The shift in the air. The way the room hung on his silence. Vincent sighed, taking azy sip of his drink. ¡°Alright, Charlotte. That¡¯s enough. It was just water.¡± Charlotte scoffed, tossing him an incredulous look. ¡°Enough? Do you have any idea how expensive this dress is?¡± She gestured toward me, her lip curling. ¡°This pathetic maid doesn¡¯t belong here.¡± Hunter¡¯s grip on his ss tightened. And for the first time that night- He looked like he might just break it. He hadn¡¯t meant to watch me all night. Hadn¡¯t meant to notice the way my shoulders curled in, how my hands trembled as I gripped the tray, how myshes fluttered against tear¨Cstreaked cheeks as I fought to keep it together. But I was right there. Small. Unassuming. But standing. And it pissed him off. Charlotte¡¯s voice drilled into his skull, high¨Cpitched and grating, every word like nails against ss. He had tolerated her before¨Cher entitlement, her superiorityplex, the way she sucked the oxygen from every room she entered. But tonight? Tonight, her voice was unbearable. Because it was aimed at me. His fingers flexed. His jaw locked. He needed it to stop. And then- A sharp crack. His ss hit the table with force, a sound that sliced through the room like a de. 9:10 pm 13 B Silence. Everyone froze. Charlotte¡¯s mouth hung open in midint. The guests stiffened. Even Vincent, who never took anything seriously, sat up a little straighter. Hunter stood, slow and deliberate. His gaze cut through the space between us, burning, unraveling, undoing. I swallowed hard, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± The words were low, and firm. A warning, But even he wasn¡¯t sure who he was talking to. Charlotte sucked in a breath, clearly ready to argue. But something about his stare¨Csomething dangerous¨Cmade her think twice. No one moved. No one spoke. Hunter took a step forward. And just like that, the night became something else entirely. Legacy 19 -CELINE¡¯S POV- Hunter¡¯s gaze was like ice. ¡°Leave.¡± The word sliced through me, cold and final. For a second, I didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t breathe. 38) 11 Charlotte opened her mouth like she wanted to argue, but one look from Hunter had her mping it shut so fast I almost heard her teeth click. She huffed, crossing her arms like a spoiled child. I curled my fingers into the fabric of my uniform, grounding myself. A part of me wanted to fight back, to demand some sort of dignity. But what was the point? Without another word, I turned and walked away. I kept my back straight. My shoulders squared. Only when I reached the storage room did I finally let myself feel it. The weight of the night crashed over me, pressing me down until my knees buckled. I locked the door, slid to the floor, and buried my face in my hands as the tears came. Silent at first. Then in waves. The humiliation. The exhaustion. The constant battle of existing in a ce that wanted nothing more than to spit me out. I just needed one moment. But of course, I didn¡¯t get it. A sharp knock jolted me back to reality. ¡°Open the damn door,¡± Bianca hissed from the other side. I wiped my face fast, forcing back thest of my tears before unlocking it. The second I did- Crack. The p came hard and fast, stinging my cheek before I even processed what happened. 1 staggered back, my ears ringing, my body frozen. Bianca sneered, arms crossed like she had just done something noble. ¡°Look at you. Pathetic. All you do is screw up. First, you embarrass yourself in front of Hunter¡¯s guests, and now-¡± I barely heard the rest. Because my mind was still processing the sting, the sharp burn of skin against skin. And then- Then she made the biggest mistake of all. 9:10 pm B B She smirked. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re here, acting like a desperate little servant. Who would want a child like yours anyway? A fatherless little burden-¡± The crack of my palm against her cheek was just as sharp. Bianca gasped, stumbling back, her hand flying to her face in shock. My vision burned. My breath came fast and unsteady. My hands shook. ¡°You can talk about me all you want,¡± I said, my voice trembling with rage. ¡°But my son? He¡¯s off¨Climits. If you ever say something like that again, I don¡¯t care who you are¨CI swear I will never forgive you.¡± Bianca stared at me, stunned into silence. I didn¡¯t wait for a response. I turned and walked away, fists clenched, heart pounding, knowing one thing for certain- I wasn¡¯t crying anymore. The night dragged on. The party ended, but I didn¡¯t go back to the mansion. Hunter had made it clear¨Che didn¡¯t want to see my face again tonight. So I stayed in the servant¡¯s quarters, curled up beside Caesar. I kissed his forehead as he slept, running my fingers through his soft curls, my heart aching with the weight of everything. He was my world. My reason to keep going. But I was exhausted. Once I was sure he was deep in sleep, I slipped out, heading back to the mansion. There was still work to do. The kitchen was silent when I stepped inside. No voices. No clinking sses. Just the soft hum of the night pressing in around me. I sat on a stool without meaning to, my body sinking, my hands burying my face before I could stop myself. I just needed a second. One second to breathe. Then- ¡°You missed a spot.¡± My head jerked up. Hunter. 1 straightened immediately, wiping my face as fast as I could, praying he hadn¡¯t noticed the exhaustion painted all over it. He wasn¡¯t supposed to be here. 38 He was supposed to be upstairs with his guests, swirling his expensive wine,ughing at whatever snide remark Vincent had thrown his way. But he wasn¡¯t. He was here. Standing in the doorway, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, watching me. 9:10 pm GGGG I stood too fast. ¡°I was just-¡± He stepped inside. +38 His eyes flickered over the room before settling back on me. Then, without a word, he moved toward the counter, rolling his sleeves up further. And then- He picked up a cloth. I blinked, confusion crashing into me as he wiped down the very spot I had been about to clean. ¡°What are you doing?¡± My voice came out hesitant like I was afraid saying the wrong thing would make this moment disappear. He didn¡¯t look at me. Just kept wiping. ¡°Helping.¡± I stared at him. ¡°What?¡± A low sigh escaped his lips like even he wasn¡¯t sure why he was doing this. But he didn¡¯t stop. I watched his hands, the way his fingers moved, slow and deliberate, as if cleaning this stupid counter was the most important thing in the world. This man¡ªthis cold, ruthless man¨Cwas helping me clean? My exhaustion made my thoughts sluggish, but my pulse hammered anyway. And then- Without thinking, I reached for the same cloth. Our hands brushed. It was barely a touch. A whisper of contact. But the second it happened- Everything shifted. Hunter stilled. So did I. The air thickened, crackling with something unspoken. Something sharp and strange. Something I didn¡¯t want to name. Neither of us moved. Neither of us spoke. We just stood there, hands barely touching, both too afraid to acknowledge what we already knew- Whatever this was, it wasn¡¯t nothing. My breath hitched. Slowly, I looked up. Hunter¡¯s gaze locked onto mine, and for a second¨Cjust one second¨Ceverything else disappeared. His blue eyes were unreadable, but there was something there. Something deep. Something dangerous. The space between us felt too small. The silence was too heavy. And just when it felt like something might crack- His phone rang. The sharp sound shattered the moment like ss. 315 9:10 pm GGG G +38) Hunter exhaled, stepping back, pulling his phone from his pocket. His eyes stayed on me for a half¨Csecond longer¨Cjust long enough to make my chest tighten¨Cbefore he turned away, pressing the phone to his ear. ¡°Talk.¡± His voice was cold again. Like whatever just happened between us hadn¡¯t happened at all. I barely breathed as I watched his posture shift. His grip on the phone tightened. His jaw clenched. Whoever was on the other end of that call¡ª It had changed something. And I had a feeling I was about to find out exactly what. Hunter turned away from me, fingers dragging through his dark hair, tension radiating off of him. ¡°What do you mean you found something?¡± His voice was calm. Too calm. That kind of calm that wasn¡¯t calm at all. A prickle of unease crept down my spine. I knew who he was talking to. The investigator. My hands curled into fists at my sides. Of course. Of course, he was looking into me. Rich men like him never trusted people like me. I turned away, forcing myself to focus on the counter in front of me instead of the way my stomach twisted. I shouldn¡¯t care. I shouldn¡¯t care. But for some reason, I did. ¡°Where?¡± Hunter¡¯s sharp voice cut through the kitchen, dragging me back into the moment. He was pacing now. Restless. Unsettled. Then He stopped. ¡°¡­You¡¯re sure?¡± Silence stretched between the words, thick and unspoken. I could hear the faint murmur of whoever was on the other end, but not enough to make out the words. Hunter exhaled slowly, his fingers flexing at his side. ¡°Send me everything.¡± Then¨Cclick. The line went dead. The pressure in the room was suffocating. I turned away, pretending not to notice the way his eyes burned into me like he was trying to piece something together in his mind. Then- His voice, lower this time. ¡°What else haven¡¯t you told me?¡± ?? 4/5 9:10 pm G G G G Not cold. Not angry. But something else. Something dangerous. +38 I stiffened. My heart pounded. Slowly, I turned to face him, keeping my expression neutral. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡± Hunter took a step forward. The space between us shrank. ¡°You worked at a ce I used to visit,¡± he said, his voice careful, measured. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you mention that?¡± My breath caught. So, that¡¯s what he found out. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? F¦Énd£Îovel My mind raced. Every possibility, every potential moment where our paths might have crossed before now- Because if he remembered- If he knew. I swallowed hard. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it was important,¡± I said, forcing my voice to stay even. Hunter¡¯s gaze sharpened. Lies. He didn¡¯t believe me. I could see it in the way his fingers twitched. In the way his expression hardened, just slightly. ¡°Have we met before?¡± he asked. His voice was different now. Lower. Almost careful. Like he already knew the answer. Like he was waiting for me to slip. I swallowed. No. Not like this. Not when I had everything to lose. ¡°I don¡¯t remember,¡± I lied. Hunter stared at me for a long moment. Too long. And then- His phone buzzed again. But this time, he didn¡¯t answer it right away. He just kept looking at me, something unreadable shing in his eyes. I held my breath. Then- Without a word, he turned and walked out. Leaving me standing in the kitchen. Heart pounding. Knowing damn well that this was far from over. 5/5 Legacy 20 +38 -CELINE¡¯S POV- The next morning, Bianca was watching me like she was waiting for me to trip over something. Her eyes were sharp, unforgiving. Like she was still tasting the sting of my hand on her cheek from the night before. I let her stare. Let her think whatever she wanted. I had bigger things to worry about than her bruised pride. I spent most of the day doing what I always did¨Cworking myself into a sweat, pretending I was invisible. It was easier that way. Until it wasn¡¯t. I was wiping down the dining room table when I heard it. A scream. High¨Cpitched. Sharp enough to crack through my skull. ¡°Where is it?!¡± Charlotte¡¯s voice echoed down the staircase, and the weight of it sank straight into my bones. ¡°My gold bracelet is missing!¡± I turned, cloth still in my hand, as Charlotte descended the stairs like some furious queen whose castle had just been robbed. Her hair bounced with every step. Her rage multiplied with every second. And all I could think was: ¡®Don¡¯t look at me. Don¡¯t look at me. The staff froze. Silent. Waiting. And then- Bianca. She tilted her head. Sweet as sugar. Rotten underneath. ¡°This is serious, Miss Hill,¡± Bianca said, her voice almost gentle. And then she looked at me. Right at me. The corners of her lips pulled up like she was already celebrating. ¡°Maybe we should search everyone¡¯s things¡­ just to be sure.¡± I stopped breathing. Because I knew what this was. Bianca wanted me gone. And this? This was how she¡¯d do it. Frame me. The head maid hesitated for half a second before nodding. ¡°Fine,¡± she said. ¡°Everyone. To your quarters.¡± I didn¡¯t argue. Didn¡¯t flinch. I walked. Quiet. Steady. Even though my heart was threatening to split open. Bianca hummed behind me as she followed. Like she was already singing my funeral song. They tore through my room like I wasn¡¯t standing there. Like wasn¡¯t even human. And it didn¡¯t take long. Of course, it didn¡¯t. ¡°Oh,¡± Bianca gasped, like she hadn¡¯t expected this. She reached under my folded clothes and pulled out something that sparkled under the dim lights. Charlotte¡¯s gold bracelet. 9:10 pm BBGG The room was so quiet, I could hear myself breathe. Or maybe that was me trying to breathe. I couldn¡¯t tell. Bianca turned to the others like she was on stage. 381 Holding the bracelet high. ¡°I found this hidden in her things,¡± she announced. Her voice was thick with triumph. ¡°I guess we know why she¡¯s here.¡± The whispers started immediately. Like a ripple in the water. Nods. res. Eyes that wouldn¡¯t meet mine. ¡°I didn¡¯t take that,¡± I said. But my voice sounded like it belonged to someone else. ¡°I swear, I didn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°Liar.¡± Bianca crossed her arms. ¡°You¡¯ve been ying innocent this whole time, but we knew,¡± she said. Her eyes flicked up, toward the ceiling. ¡°Why else would the boss keep you around?¡± And that- That was the one thatnded hardest. I could feel it twist somewhere deep inside my chest. I shook my head. This wasn¡¯t happening. I turned to the headmaid. Begging her to see me. But before I could speak- ¡°My mommy didn¡¯t steal anything!¡± The voice was small. But loud enough to slice through everything. I spun around. Caesar. Standing there. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find{n}ovel Tiny fists balled at his sides. His face is red and furious and heartbreakingly brave. ¡°You¡¯re lying! Mommy would never steal!¡± Bianca rolled her eyes. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s cute,¡± she sneered. ¡°Now you¡¯re hiding behind your kid?¡± I reached for him. Tried to pull him back. But he didn¡¯t move. He stood his ground like he was made of something stronger than both of us. And then- Another voice. Low, Cold. Final. ¡°That¡¯s enough, what is going on here?.¡± The room stilled. Like it always did when Hunter spoke. I felt the breath I¡¯d been holding rattle out of me. And in that moment, I knew- This wasn¡¯t over. Not by a long shot. -HUNTER¡¯S POV- I heard the noise from my study. I ignored it. At first. I¡¯ve learned the hard way not to get involved in every little drama that takes ce in this house. Staff bickering. Women whining. All of it¨Cbackground noise. But then I heard Caesar¡¯s voice. And I moved. When I reached the main floor, I took in the scene with a practiced detachment. Charlotte¡¯s bracelet. Celine, pale and still, her fingers trembling where they gripped Caesar¡¯s hand. Bianca, smirking like she¡¯d just won something. 9:11 pm BBGG For a moment, nobody moved. They were all waiting for me. I walked forward. Slow. Controlled. The way I always did when I needed to remind people who was in charge. The staff shifted away, making a path. I stopped in front of Bianca and held out my hand. She ced the bracelet in my palm with a look that said she thought she¡¯d won. She hadn¡¯t. I turned the jewelry over once, then again. Gold. Useless, if you asked me. My gaze moved to Celine. Her breathing was shallow. Her lips parted like she wanted to speak but didn¡¯t trust the sound of her voice. ¡°Tell me the truth,¡± I said. Quiet. Sharp. ¡°Did you take this?¡± She shook her head immediately. ¡°No,¡± she whispered. ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Biancaughed under her breath. ¡°She¡¯s lying,¡± she said. Confident. Like she knew something I didn¡¯t. I slowly lifted my gaze to Bianca. She faltered. Good. ¡°You take me for an idiot?¡± My voice cut through the air. Her brows pulled together. ¡°What?¡± I turned the bracelet over again, letting the silence stretch. ¡°You expect me to believe Celine stole this? That she¡¯s been working here for months without issue, and now¨Ccoincidentally¨Cshe chooses to steal from Charlotte Hill?¡± No answer. Just the faint sound of someone swallowing their fear. ¡°If you¡¯re going to frame someone,¡± I said, taking a step closer, ¡°do it properly.¡± Bianca¡¯s face drained of color. ¡°I¨CI found it¡ª¡± ¡°Enough.¡± The word sliced through her weak defense. I turned my attention to the head maid. ¡°I want her gone.¡± Bianca spun toward me. ¡°But, sir, you can¡¯t-¡± ¡°I can,¡± I cut in. ¡°And I just did.¡± The staff exchanged wide¨Ceyed nces as Bianca stumbled back. Desperate now. ¡°Sir-¡± ¡°I¡¯m not in the habit of repeating myself,¡± I said, my tone low, final. ¡°Pack your things. You have until sunset.¡± I didn¡¯t wait to see if she obeyed. I nced back at Celine. She was still holding Caesar¡¯s hand, her knuckles white from the grip. Her eyes were wide, conflicted. Relief. Disbelief. And something else. I clenched my jaw, shoved the bracelet into my pocket, and turned away. I needed a drink. But my 3/4 9:11 pm G GGG phone buzzed in my jacket. I pulled it out and stared at the screen. The investigator. I answered. ¡°What?¡± There was a pause on the other end. And then- ¡°Mr. Reid. We found something.¡± I sighed. ¡°Spit it out.¡± Another beat of silence. Then- ¡°She was at a club that night. I think 3 years ago.¡± I stopped walking. My fingers flexed around the phone. ¡°What Club?¡± The investigator didn¡¯t answer right away. But I wasn¡¯t patient. ¡°It exins why she looks familiar,¡± he said. My gaze slid back to Celine. She was watching me now. But she wasn¡¯t seeing me. She was hiding something. Maybe she wasn¡¯t the only mystery here. But I was about to uncover every single one of her secrets. And when I did¨D She wouldn¡¯t be able to run. AD Comment Send gift No Ads 38 Legacy 21 ~HUNTER¡¯S POV- The investigator¡¯s voice was steady as if he wasn¡¯t unraveling a thread that could snap at any second. ¡°I confirmed it, sir. Celine Davis was at The Royale Lounge about two years ago. She wasn¡¯t on staff-she was just¡­ there. A guest. A party.¡± I pressed my thumb against my temple, leaning back in the chair behind my desk. The leather creaked under the shift of my weight. The Royale Lounge. The ce was upscale, but it was still the kind of ce that left a film on your skin afterward. A ce where people lost their limits. A ce I¡¯d only gone when I didn¡¯t care about mine. I went there for business. Not pleasure. I told myself that then. I told myself that now. But no matter how far back I searched in my mind, flipping through nights that blurred together in dim lighting and expensive whiskey, I couldn¡¯t see her there. I couldn¡¯t picture Celine sitting in a corner booth, or at the bar, or anywhere at all. ¡°She wasn¡¯t seen there again,¡± the investigator continued, dragging me back. ¡°Not long after, she had her son.¡± Caesar. My hand lowered from my temple to my chest, pressing t for reasons I didn¡¯t understand. It was like hearing that her life had existed before me made something shift inside my ribs. Made me wonder what else I didn¡¯t know. ¡°She had no record,¡± the voice said again. ¡°Nothing suspicious. No history of theft or lies. Whatever¡¯s been said about her in your household doesn¡¯t line up with what I found.¡± I let out a breath I hadn¡¯t realized I was holding. It burned on the way out. ¡°Understood,¡± ¡°You want me to keep looking?¡± he asked. I should¡¯ve said yes. I should¡¯ve told him to turn her life upside down and shake it until every secret fell out. But¡­ I didn¡¯t. I stared at my desk. At nothing. At everything. ¡°No,¡± I said quietly. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Lended the call, but it didn¡¯t feel like an ending. It felt like a beginning. I stood, pushing away from the desk, but the questions followed. They stayed pressed against my skin, beneath the cor of my shirt, behind my ribs. She had been somewhere I had been. But I didn¡¯t see her then. Now? Now I couldn¡¯t see her. And I wasn¡¯t sure if it scared me more¡­ Or if it made me want to know her even more than I already did. I walked out of the room. Down the stairs. Toward her. Because there was something between us, and no investigator could ever exin it. ~CELINE¡¯S POV~ Bianca was still at the gate. Her voice-shrill, desperate-carried through the air like nails dragging across ss. ¡°I was framed!¡± she screamed. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong! I belong here!¡± The guards didn¡¯t flinch. They didn¡¯t believe her. And honestly? Neither did I. I stood by the kitchen window, pretending not to watch the scene unfold, but my reflection in the ss gave me away. My hands were still trembling even as they gripped the edge of the sink. Behind me, the staff whispered, their words like small needles pressing into the back of my neck. ¡°Did you see the way Mr. Hunter looked at her?¡± ¡°She must be important to him.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him like that before.¡± I squeezed my eyes shut. Just for a second. They didn¡¯t get it. They didn¡¯t know what it was like to be me. They didn¡¯t know what it felt like to be stripped bare in front of them all, to be used of something that could¡¯ve taken everything from me. But the worst part wasn¡¯t the humiliation. It was the way Hunter had looked at me. Like I wasn¡¯t a stranger anymore. Like he saw something he wasn¡¯t sure he liked. I shook my head and forced myself back to the countertop, scrubbing it even though it was already clean. I needed to do something. I needed to pretend I was fine. But the silence behind me changed. I felt it before I turned around. He was there. Hunter. Standing in the doorway like he was debating whether or not to step closer. And when our eyes met, it was like everything inside me stopped. I swallowed hard. ¡°Sir.¡± He didn¡¯t answer right away. He looked at me like he was trying to solve an equation that refused to make sense. And then he asked it. ¡°Are you okay?¡± I didn¡¯t have an answer for him. Not a real one. Because no, I wasn¡¯t okay. I was holding on to a thread, and it was fraying in his hands. But I nodded anyway. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m fine, sir.¡± His jaw flexed. He didn¡¯t believe me. ¡°And Caesar?¡± I lifted my chin. ¡°Sleeping.¡± Something shifted in his expression. Not softer. Just¡­ quieter. Like he¡¯d swallowed something he wasn¡¯t ready to taste. I wanted to ask him why he cared. But I was too afraid of the answer. And then his phone rang. He nced at it. Didn¡¯t answer right away. ¡°Goodnight, Celine,¡± he said. And just like that, he turned and walked away. Leaving me staring after him, wondering if the sound of his voice saying my name was something I should be afraid of. Or something I was starting to need. The next morning, the kitchen felt different. Like something had cracked open overnight and no one was quite sure what was going to spill out. I could still feel yesterday on my skin. In my chest. In my head. The usations. The looks. The way Hunter had said my name was like it was a question he didn¡¯t want to be answered. It was all there, reying on a loop I didn¡¯t ask for. Bianca was gone, but she¡¯d left something behind. Suspicion. Whispers. Curiosity dressed up as judgment. I could feel their eyes on me before I even made it past the doorway. Some of them looked at me like I¡¯d won a prize I didn¡¯t deserve. Some like I¡¯d gotten away with murder. And some, well¡­ they just stared like they were waiting for the next twist in the story. And I didn¡¯t me them. Because I was starting to wonder the same thing. The metal of the knife was cool in my hand as I sliced through a ripe tomato, and I focused on the way it felt. The way it grounded me. I didn¡¯t focus on the voices behind me. On the words that weren¡¯t meant for me, but somehow always were. ¡°Looks like someone¡¯s moving up in the world,¡± one of the younger maids said, her voice a little too loud to be an ident. I set the knife down. Quietly. Carefully. Like it might break if I held it too tight. Like I might. I¡¯d been through worse. I reminded myself of that. Over and over. But this¡­ this was different. And I couldn¡¯t exin why. A soft tug at the hem of my skirt broke through the noise in my head. ¡°Mommy?¡± I turned. Caesar stood there, his hair sticking up in a way that made me smile, even when I didn¡¯t want to. ¡°You should be sleeping,¡± I said, kneeling so we were at eye level. He shrugged. ¡°Didn¡¯t want to.¡± And just like that, my heart forgot about breaking for a second. I ran my hand over his curls, smoothing them back. ¡°Alright. But you have to be quiet, okay?¡± He nodded. But then his face scrunched up like it always did when he was thinking too hard about something. ¡°Are you sad?¡± he asked. I wanted to lie. But I couldn¡¯t. Not to him. ¡°I¡¯m just tired,¡± I said instead. He stared at me like maybe he didn¡¯t believe me, but he was going to let it slide this time. Then his eyes shifted. Past me. Toward the doorway. I followed his gaze. And froze. Hunter was there. Leaning against the frame like he had all the time in the world. But his eyes said something else entirely. I didn¡¯t know how long he¡¯d been standing there. Watching. Listening. But it felt like long enough. He pushed away from the door and took a step forward. ¡°I need to speak with you.¡± I stood up, smoothing my hands over my apron. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± His gaze flickered to Caesar. Then back to me. ¡°Alone.¡± And just like that, my stomach dropped. ¡°I-¡°I started. But I didn¡¯t get the chance to finish. ¡°I¡¯ll watch him,¡± a voice sang out from across the room. Fresh chapters posted on find~novel Charlotte. Of course. She walked in like she owned the ce, her hair perfect, her smile sharp. ¡°I don¡¯t mind looking after the little prince,¡± she added with a sweetness that tasted more like poison. I hesitated. Everything in me screamed *no*. But Hunter didn¡¯t even flinch. He nodded, already turning away like the decision had been made long before I got a say. I knelt back down to Caesar, my hands resting on his tiny shoulders. ¡°Mommy?¡± he whispered. I smiled, but it didn¡¯t quite reach. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± I didn¡¯t wait to see if he believed me. Because right now, I wasn¡¯t sure if I believed me either. I followed Hunter into his study, the heavy door closing behind me with a soft thud. The sound felt final. Like a period at the end of a sentence, I hadn¡¯t had time to read. He didn¡¯t move right away. Just stood there, hands in his pockets, staring out the window like maybe the answers he wanted were hiding somewhere in the trees outside. Maybe they were. I wouldn¡¯t me him for looking. I stood there awkwardly, like a guest who had overstayed her wee but didn¡¯t know how to leave. ¡°Sir,¡± I said, my voice small but steady. ¡°You wanted to talk?¡± When he turned, his eyes pinned me in ce. And I mean pinned. Like I was a butterfly under ss and he was the kind of man who liked to study things that couldn¡¯t fly anymore. ¡°I heard you visited The Royale Lounge,¡± he said, his tone casual, but there was nothing casual about the way he was watching me. I blinked. ¡°Excuse me? Did Caroline tell you that?¡± He tilted his head a little, something like amusement flickering in his gaze. ¡°Why would my cousin do that?¡± His voice was slower now like he was giving me time to eithere clean or build a better lie. ¡°Tell me, Celine. What made you stop going?¡± I swallowed, suddenly very aware of how small the room felt. How big he was standing there. ¡°I got pregnant.¡± There. Simple. True. But somehow, it still felt like a confession. His eyes darkened at my words. ¡°And the father?¡± I stiffened. My hands balled into fists at my sides before I could stop them. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate to share my personal bife with you, ale ? That word-sir-felt sharp between my teeth. The silence that followed wasn¡¯t empty. It was loaded. Heavy. Then he smirked. But it wasn¡¯t the kind of smirk that made you feel warm. It was the kind that made you check if your heart was still beating ¡°You always get defensive when you¡¯re hiding something,¡± he said. The anger bubbled up faster than I expected. ¡°I¡¯m not hiding anything.¡± He took a step closer, slow, deliberate. ¡°Then look me in the eye,¡± he said, his voice low, ¡°and tell me the father was a man you loved.¡± And that¡¯s when the air left my lungs. Because I couldn¡¯t. I couldn¡¯t say it. Not because I was hiding something-but because love had never been part of the story. Not even close. He saw it. The way my mouth opened but nothing out. And his smirk faded. His jaw clenched. Like something inside him had snapped tight, but he wasn¡¯t about to show me where. He turned away from me, muttering something I couldn¡¯t quite catch. Maybe I didn¡¯t want
I stood there, gripping my dress like it might hold me together. Just when I thought he was done with me, his voice cut through the quiet. ¡°Stay away from Charlotte.¡± I blinked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°She¡¯s been eyeing you since yesterday,¡± he said, turning back to me. There was something different in his expression now-something careful. ¡°And she doesn¡¯t like losing.¡± I didn¡¯t know which part of that stunned me more. The warning. Or the way his voice softened ever so slightly like he was worried. Like I mattered. I didn¡¯t get a chance to ask him. His phone rang, and he nced at it, his features hardening all over again. ¡°Go,¡± he said, voice rough, like the sound of a door closing. Not softly this time. I turned, forcing my feet to move toward the door. Forcing myself not to look back. But I could feel it. The way he¡¯d rattled me. 29 Like he always did. 1 AD Comment Send gift No Ads Legacy 22 29 JUI GM CELINE¡¯S POV- CELINE DAY OFF: The morning started with the news I wasn¡¯t expecting. Hunter gave everyone the day off. No warning. No exnation. Just a casual message passed down through the staff like we were all supposed to ept it without question. And we did. Because that¡¯s what people do when they work for someone like Hunter Reid. But the second I heard the words day off, I stopped thinking about him. Because all I could think about was Caesar. For days, he¡¯d been asking to go to the park. And every time, I¡¯d said soon. Soon was today. I made him breakfast, tying his little shoces tighter than they probably needed to be because my hands were shaking. Not with nerves. With excitement. Because¡¯l don¡¯t get to give him things like this very often-things that feel normal. Easy. Things other moms give their kids without thinking twice. ¡°Are we going, Mommy?¡± he asked, his little fingers clutching mine like he was waiting for the punchline to a joke. I leaned in and kissed his nose. ¡°Yes, baby. We¡¯re going.¡± ke showed up twenty minutester, sunsses on, coffee in hand like she hadn¡¯t spent thest week texting me park soon. Every night. When she saw Caesar, practically vibrating with happiness, she grinned. ¡°Wow. He¡¯s more excited than you are.¡± Iughed. ¡°He¡¯s been counting down the minutes.¡± She linked her arm through mine, tugging me toward the front door. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mother of the Year.¡± The park was everything I didn¡¯t know I needed. Sunlight warming my skin. The wind pulled at Caesar¡¯s curls as he ran toward the yground. The sound of hisughter carried across the grass like it was the only sound that mattered. I let him go. I let him be. And for the first time in what felt like years, I sat on a bench with ke and breathed. She handed me a cold drink, clinking hers against it. ¡°You¡¯re allowed to be a person, you know.¡± I rolled my eyes, taking a sip. ¡°I am a person. I¡¯m here, aren¡¯t I?¡± She gave me a look. ¡°No, I mean¡­ a person who does things that don¡¯t involve juice boxes or bedtime stories.¡± I sighed. ¡°What does that even look like?¡± ke grinned. ¡°It looks like going out. Meeting people. Having fun. Maybe even dating.¡± I barked out augh. ¡°Okay, now I know you¡¯re delusional.¡± She nudged my shoulder with hers. ¡°I¡¯m serious. When¡¯s thest time you did someth hat was just for you?¡± I didn¡¯t answer right away because I couldn¡¯t think of one. ke leaned back, her sunsses sliding down her nose a little. ¡°You¡¯re an incredible mom, Celine. But you¡¯re also¡­ you.¡± Her words hit me somewhere I didn¡¯t know was raw. I watched Caesar as he climbed to the top of the jungle gym, holding my breath the way I always did when he got a little too high. 11:01 Tue, 29 Jul? GM ¡°I don¡¯t have time for things like that,¡± I said quietly. ke shrugged. ¡°You say that. Until you don¡¯t.¡± And maybe she was right. But I wasn¡¯t ready to admit it. Before I could argue, Caesar came running back to me, his cheeks pink from ying. ¡°Mommy! Ice cream?¡± I smiled and smoothed his sweaty hat back ¡°Of course, baby.¡± ke shook her head,ughing under her breath. ¡°Case in point.¡± I shrugged. ¡°And I don¡¯t regret it.¡± We spent hours there. Caesar fell asleep in the car on the way home, his head on myp, his little hand holding mine in his sleep. ke nced back at him, then looked at me. ¡°You¡¯re doing a good job,¡± she said, I blinked back the sting in my eyes. ¡°Thanks.¡± When we pulled into the estate, ke¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Holy crap.¡± I already knew what she was about to say, but I let her have her moment. ¡°Celine. This is Hunter Reid¡¯s house?¡± I sighed. ¡°Yes.¡± She smacked my arm. ¡°And you¡¯re just telling me this now? Do you know how many women would kill to be you right now?¡± I gave her a look. ¡°Trust me. It¡¯s not as morous as you think.¡± She snorted. ¡°If I worked here, I¡¯d be living like a queen.¡± Iughed. ¡°The paycheck¡¯s great. Everything else? Not so much.¡± ke leaned in close, lowering her voice even though no one was around. ¡°What about him?¡± I frowned. ¡°What about him?¡± Her eyebrows did a little dance. ¡°Hunter. What¡¯s he like?¡± I sighed, rubbing my temples. ¡°He¡¯s¡­plicated.¡± ke grinned. ¡°Complicated¡¯s just another word for hot and broody.¡± Iughed again, but it was softer this time. More tired. ¡°If you knew half of what I¡¯ve dealt with since working here, you wouldn¡¯t be calling it that.¡± Before she could ask me what I meant, a sleek ck car turned onto the drive. I knew that car. And the man behind the wheel. Hunter Reid was home. And suddenly, I wasn¡¯t sure if my day off was over. Or if it had just begun. HUNTER¡¯S POV~ The day had been long. Too long. I¡¯d spent most of it pretending to give a damn about numbers and meetings, when the truth was, my mind wasn¡¯t in any of it. It was with her. Celine. I hadn¡¯t nned to give the staff the day off. That wasn¡¯t something I did. I wasn¡¯t¡­ generous like that. But I¡¯d woken up with this weight in my chest I couldn¡¯t exin. And space-quiet-had felt like the only thing that might keep me sane. Funny how space didn¡¯t do a damn thing to clear my head. 11:01 Tue, 29 Jul GM If anything, it made everything worse. By the time I pulled back through the gates, I wasn¡¯t sure if I was relieved or dreading being hocke The house was too quiet when I walked inside. Too still. Until I heard them. Voices. Hers. And another woman I didn¡¯t recognize. I didn¡¯t n to listen. I didn¡¯t n a lot of things. But her voice pulled me in like it always did. Soft. Honest. Like she didn¡¯t think anyone was Esterang ¡°I have no idea who Caesar¡¯s father is. It was a reckless one-night stand.¡± The words hit me harder than I was ready for. I stopped walking. Stopped breathing for a second, too. Because reckless felt like a hell of a word to describe the night that gave her a son like Caesar. And no idea? That felt even worse. Like something sharp The other womanughed. ¡°Well, at least he gave you a under my skin. Something I couldn¡¯t get out. Celineughed with her. Soft. Easy. This wasn¡¯t the kind of conversation that could break a person. ¡°If I could turn back time,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯d do things differently.¡± Original content can be found at find¡¤novel I don¡¯t know why that made my jaw clench. But it did. Tight enough to hurt. And suddenly, I wasn¡¯t standing there anymore. I was moving. Quiet at first. Until I wasn¡¯t. ¡°Come on,¡± her friend pushed. ¡°You never even thought about looking for him?¡± Celine¡¯s voice came slower this time. Like maybe it wasn¡¯t something she wanted to admit. ¡°What would be the point? I don¡¯t know anything about him. Not his name, not where he¡¯s from¡­ nothing. I wouldn¡¯t even know where to start.¡± Her friend snorted. ¡°That¡¯s wild. Imagine if he¡¯s some big-shot millionaire.¡± And then Celineughed again. That softugh I was starting to hate, because of how much I noticed it. ¡°Yeah, right,¡± she said. I didn¡¯t notice I was holding my keys tight in my hand until they bit into my palm. Didn¡¯t notice the heat crawling under my skin until it was already burning. I stepped into the room without thinking. Her friend noticed me first. But it was her eyes I was looking for. Celine¡¯s. Big. Wide. Like she wasn¡¯t sure if I¡¯d heard. But I had. Every damn word. ¡°Is that so?¡± My voice didn¡¯t sound like mine. It sounded like something sharper. Something that might cut if I wasn¡¯t careful. She froze. And I swore, at that moment, the entire house did too. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Legacy 23 CELINE¡¯S POV I hadn¡¯t noticed him at first. Not until it was toote. Not until his voice-low, sharp, and dangerously calm-cut through the air like it had every right to be there. ¡°Is that so?¡± Four words. But they gutted me anyway. I turned so slowly that I was sure the world had stopped spinning. And there he was. Hunter Reid. Leaning against the doorway like he owned the moment. Like he owned every thought running through my head. He had been listening. I blinked at him, stunned and trying to figure out what the hell he was doing. Why he was ¡°always¡± doing this-this thing where he looked at me like he could see straight through my skin? It was ke¡¯s voice that pulled me out of the fog. ¡°Uh, Celine¡­¡± She gave me a look. ¡®A this is your problem now¡¯ look. ¡°I should get going.¡± ¡°What?¡± My voice was tight. Panicked. ¡°No. Please-stay.¡± I didn¡¯t care how desperate I sounded. I didn¡¯t want to be alone with him. Not when I could barely breathe right with him in the room. ke shot me a look that screamed ¡®What the hell are you doing?¡¯ But she didn¡¯t stop. ¡°I¡¯d love to, Celine,¡± she said, voice higher than normal, trying to peel my fingers off her arm. I hadn¡¯t even realized I was holding on to her. ¡°You¡¯re embarrassing me,¡± she hissed under her breath, yanking herself free. And then she was gone. Just like that. Leaving me standing there with a sleepy Caesar in my arms and Hunter¡¯s eyes pinning me in ce. He pushed away from the doorway, slow, deliberate steps bringing him closer until there was nowhere for me to look but at him. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m going to bite you?¡± he asked his tone that frustrating mix of amusement and something harder. I swallowed. ¡°No.¡± His head tilted slightly, studying me like I was something he couldn¡¯t quite figure out. ¡°Then why are you always so nervous around me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not nervous,¡± I lied. ¡°Hmm.¡± His eyes narrowed, catching on the way I gripped Caesar tighter. ¡°You¡¯re hiding something.¡± I shook my head quickly. ¡°No.¡± But the word sounded weak. Like I didn¡¯t believe it. He didn¡¯t say anything for a moment. Just stood there, staring. Then his gaze dropped to Caesar in my arms. ¡°Don¡¯t your arms get tired?¡± he asked softly. ¡°Carrying him around all day?¡± I blinked at him, confused. What was he even asking? Why did he care? ¡°Do you¡­ need something, sir?¡± He looked at me then. Looked at me. And there was something behind his eyes that made my stomach twist. ¡°I was just wondering,¡± he said, his voice quieter now, ¡°if you regret that reckless night you had with a stranger¡­¡± { froze. He kept going as if he hadn¡¯t just cracked something wide open inside me. ¡°If you regret it so much, why did you keep the child? My throat closed. I opened my mouth to say something-anything-but the words wouldn¡¯te. It didn¡¯t matter. He didn¡¯t wait for an answer. ¡°I¡¯m hungry,¡± he said suddenly. The sharpness was gone from his tone, reced with something t. ¡°Fix me something to eat.¡± I stared at him, still clutching Caesar close. And then, before I could move, he reached out. Took Caesar from my arms like it was nothing ¡°I¡¯ll watch him,¡± he said, almost like a promise. ¡°Just this once.¡± He turned and walked away before I could stop him. But I wasn¡¯t thinking. I followed. ¡°Please-give him back,¡± I said, trailing after him, my heart racing. ¡°I can carry him. He¡¯s not heavy.¡± Hunter nced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. But his grip on Caesar stayed firm. ¡°I know he¡¯s not,¡± he said quietly. And he kept walking. ~HUNTER¡¯S POV~ I ignore her protests. I¡¯m good at ignoring things I don¡¯t want to hear. I¡¯ve had practice. But this¡­ her voice¡­ I hear it anyway. I shift Caesar in my arms, adjusting him easily, his soft weight settling against my chest like he was meant to be there. He doesn¡¯t even stir. His tiny fingers curl into the fabric of my shirt, and I don¡¯t know why that does something to me. Something I don¡¯t like. Something I can¡¯t name. Celine watches me like I¡¯m holding something breakable. Like I¡¯m the danger. And maybe I am. But not to him. Her eyes are wide and full of something close to panic, though she¡¯s trying to mask it behind the practiced nkness I¡¯ve seen on her face too many times. I¡¯ve never been a fan of liars. Or masks. I prefer the ugly truth. I nce down at Caesar again, my thumb brushing over his curls absently. His breathing is soft and even, aplete contrast to hers. She¡¯s holding her breath. I can tell. And I hate it. I hate the way she looks at me like I¡¯m the enemy when I haven¡¯t even figured out which side I¡¯m on yet. ¡°Go make the food,¡± I say, my voice sharp enough to leave no room for argument. She hesitates like she¡¯s still weighing the risk. ¡°But-¡± I lift my eyes back to her. I don¡¯t say anything for a second, and it¡¯s long enough for her to get ufortable. ¡°What?¡± My voice drops lower. ¡°You don¡¯t trust me with him?¡± I watch the war happening behind her eyes. It¡¯s not about trust. ake a step forward. Not really. It¡¯s about fear. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s for him. Or for herself. But it¡¯s there. Loud and obvious. And I don¡¯t know if I hate that or if I get it. 214 11:01 Tue, 29 Jol GM She swallows Hand. And then she finally turns and the rhen One step that¡¯s all de mangers before i spise p. *You never did answel my question¡± She stops. I knew she would. She grips the doorframe like as the only thing hotting her up. Her shevders are tight and gue I can see the shiver run through her even from where i stand, I keep my voice quiet this time. Quieter is better. Quieter makes people listen. ¡°If you regretted him so much¡­¡± I pause, letting the words breathe before I finish them. ¡°Why did you keep him?¡± I stare at her back, waiting. Lalready know what she¡¯s going to say. Nothing. Because it¡¯s written all over her. She doesn¡¯t have an anguer d¡¯ag give me. Not yet. Caesar shifts against me, sighing in his sleep. And for reasons I don¡¯t understand, I bring my hand up and cradle the back of highered Gently. More gently than I knew I was capable of. I don¡¯t take my eyes off her. And I don¡¯t say anything else. Not until she does She doesn¡¯t answer. I didn¡¯t expect her to. Celine stays there in the hallway, her fingers digging into her skin like it¡¯s the only thing keeping her upright. I watch her shoulders rise, then fall, like breathing is something she has to remind herself to do. I can almost feel it-the battle she¡¯s having with herself. The need to run. The need to stay. The guilt. The pride. All of it crashed into each other inside her. She turns her head slightly, not enough to look at me, but enough for me to see her profile. Hershes lower, her jaw tight. ¡°I didn¡¯t keep him because I regret it,¡± she says, her voice so soft it¡¯s almost an apology. ¡°I kept him because I couldn¡¯t¡­ I couldn¡¯t get rid of the only good thing that ever came out of something so¡­ so wrong.¡± Her words are jagged and raw like they hurting out. Like she¡¯s choking on them. And I feel something twist in my chest. Tight. Ugly. Real. For a long moment, I don¡¯t say anything. I can¡¯t. Caesar shifts in my arms again, and I look down at him. He¡¯s peaceful. Completely unaware, Like none of this matters. Like none of this will ever touch him. And I want to believe that. I want to believe that she¡¯s made his life different. Better. ?????? ???? find?novel But I also wonder¡­ If she thinks it is wrong, why is he the only thing she calls good? I clear my throat. My voice is rougher than I meant for it to be. ¡°Go make something to eat, Celine.¡± She turns fully then, her eyes searching mine like she¡¯s looking for something she¡¯s scared to find. ¡°I can hold him,¡± she says quietly, taking a step toward me. ¡°He¡¯s not heavy.¡± ! tilt my head. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that?¡± I ask, shifting Caesar slightly. ¡°He doesn¡¯t weigh anything.¡± I pause. ¡°He feels like nothing.¡± And that¡¯s the part that feels wrong. Because there¡¯s nothing about him that¡¯s nothing. He¡¯s everything. I can feel it. And I barely know him. Her lips part, but I don¡¯t wait for whatever she¡¯s going to say. I turn, carrying Caesar toward the living room like I¡¯ve done this a million times before. Like it¡¯s natural. It makes sense. ¡°Just this once,¡± I tell her over my shoulder. But the second the words are out of my mouth, I already know it¡¯s a lie. Because there¡¯s nothing about this- About him, About her- That feels like it¡¯s only going to happen once. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Legacy 24 ~CELINE¡¯S POV~ I force myself to walk away. To pretend like Hunter¡¯s question didn¡¯t shake me. To pretend like I didn¡¯t feel like the floor had been ripped out from under
The kitchen is too quiet, my thoughts too loud as I gather ingredients to make him something to eat. My hands tremble slightly as I reach for the cutting board. I tell myself it¡¯s just from exhaustion, but I know better. Why does he care? Why is he asking these things? I clutch the knife tighter, pressing my lips together. The way he looked at me. The way he kept looking at me-like he could see straight through my carefully built walls. It¡¯s not fair. It¡¯s not fair that he keeps pushing. It¡¯s not fair that he keeps making me think about things I have buried for years. I focus on chopping the vegetables, letting the rhythmic sound of the de hitting the board drown out the noise in my head. But it doesn¡¯t help. Because no matter how much I try to block it out, I can still feel his presence. Even from the other room. ~HUNTER¡¯S POV~ Caesar stirs slightly against my chest, his tiny hand resting against me. I tense. I¡¯ve never held a child before. I don¡¯t know what to do with this feeling. It¡¯s unfamiliar. Unsettling. I nce down at him, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest. He¡¯s so¡­ small. Fragile in a way that makes me feel like if I move too quickly, he might break. Celine holds him like it¡¯s second nature. Like breathing. But me? I feel like I¡¯m holding something I wasn¡¯t meant to touch. And yet, I don¡¯t move. I just keep watching him. Studying him. Trying to understand why this moment felt like something I wasn¡¯t supposed to have. ~CELINE¡¯S POV~ I take a deep breath before carrying the tray of food back into the living room. My heart is already hammering in my chest, but when I step through the doorway, I freeze. Hunter is still holding Caesar. He hasn¡¯t moved. But it¡¯s not just that. It¡¯s the way he¡¯s looking at him. His expression is unreadable, but there¡¯s something there-something deep, something dark, something ¡®I don¡¯t want to name.¡¯ The sight makes my stomach twist. I grip the tray tighter, clearing my throat. 11:02 Tue, 29 Jul G M ¡°You should put him down,¡± I say, my voiceing out sharper than I intended. Hunter doesn¡¯t react right away. His gaze lifts slowly, locking onto mine. His blue eyes are sharp, pinning me in ce. He doesn¡¯t look guilty. He doesn¡¯t look surprised. He just looks¡­ like Hunter. ¡°You didn¡¯t all of my questions earlier,¡± he says, his voice quieter this time. But heavier. I swallow hard. ¡°What questions?¡± I feign ignorance, praying he¡¯ll let it go. But he doesn¡¯t. He smirks slightly, but it¡¯s not the kind that reaches his eyes. ¡°You know exactly what I mean.¡± My pulse spikes. I don¡¯t want to have this conversation. Not now. Not ever. Before I can say anything, Caesar shifts in Hunter¡¯s arms, his tiny voice breaking through the thick tension. ¡°Mommy?¡± My heart clenches as I watch his sleepy blue eyes flutter open. He blinks up at Hunter first, confusion crossing his face, before his gaze finds me. Hunter looks at him for a second longer before finally exhaling through his nose. ¡°Eat the food,¡± he orders, standing abruptly. His movements are fluid, and controlled-like he hadn¡¯t just been sitting there holding a child as if the world depended on it. He hands Caesar back to me, and I instinctively tighten my arms around him, inhaling the familiar scent of my son. But before I can fully process what just happened, Hunter¡¯s next words send a chill down my spine. ¡°You must be starving after all that admission.¡± My eyes widen. My stomach twists with something cold. He heard me. He heard me. I open my mouth, but before I can deny it before I can even attempt to exin, he steps past me, his voice low, unreadable. ¡°Be careful what you say next time, Celine.¡± I turn, watching as he reaches for the door, pausing only to nce at me over his shoulder. ¡°You never know who¡¯s listening.¡± And then he¡¯s gone. And I¡¯m left standing there, my son in my arms, my entire body frozen in ce. I don¡¯t know who¡¯s listening. But for the first time in a long time, I realize¡­ I don¡¯t know who I should be more afraid of. I stand there for a long time after he¡¯s gone. Long enough Caesar shifts against my chest and lets out a small, tired sigh. I whisper into his soft curls, ¡°It¡¯s okay, baby.¡± But the words aren¡¯t for him. They¡¯re for me. And I don¡¯t believe them. I can¡¯t. Because nothing about this feels okay. Hunter¡¯s voice keeps echoing in my head. Be careful what you say next time, Celine. Like a warning. Like a put my finger on. But also¡­ like something else, I can¡¯t And it¡¯s that part that rattles me the most. Because I¡¯m not sure which side of him I should be protecting myself from. I take Caesar upstairs. Iy him down in his bed, brush his hair back from his forehead, and kiss him goodnight even though it¡¯s barelyte afternoon. He stirs, but he¡¯s too tired to open his eyes again. He¡¯s safe. For now. But me? I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll ever feel safe here again. When I finallye back downstairs, Hunter¡¯s nowhere to be found. ZYVUL The te of food I made for him is untouched on the coffee table, still warm enough that it hasn¡¯t lost its steam. I stare at it like it¡¯s a bomb about to g off. Part of me wants to dump it straight into the trash. Original content can be found at F?ndNovel But I don¡¯t. I sit down across from it, staring at the way the steam curls into the air like smoke from something burning. Maybe that¡¯s what this is. Something burning. Something I can¡¯t stop. I rub my hands over my face, willing the tears not toe. Not here. Not where he might see. Because if he sees, he¡¯ll know he¡¯s winning. And I can¡¯t let that happen. Not again By the time I¡¯m back in my room, it¡¯ste. Later than it should be. And I¡¯m so tired, my bones ache. But sleep doesn¡¯te easy here anymore. Not under this roof. Not with him two doors down. I slide under the covers and stare at the ceiling. And I think about his question. Why did you keep him? It¡¯s one I¡¯ve asked myself a thousand times. And every time, the answer is the same. Because I couldn¡¯t not. Because I wanted him. Even if I didn¡¯t want to face what that meant. Even if I didn¡¯t want to face the man whose blood runs through him. Even if I didn¡¯t want to face Hunter. But now I have to. And I¡¯m not ready. Not for him. Not for what he¡¯s going to do with the truth. Not for what he¡¯ll do when he realizes Caesar is his. Because that¡¯s what I¡¯m most afraid of. Not a lie. Not the secret. But him. Because men like Hunter Reid don¡¯t just walk away. They take what¡¯s theirs. And I¡¯m terrified he¡¯s about to take everything. Çú AD Comment Send gift No Ads Legacy 25 HUNTER¡¯S POV- I close the door behind me and press my back to it for a second, breathing her in. Her words. Her hesitation. Her lies. But it¡¯s the truth I caught in between all of them that¡¯s stuck inside me. She regrets it. The night. The choice. Me. But not him. Not the boy. And I can¡¯t stop thinking about why. Why did she keep him? Why does she choose to carry the weight of that night with her for years instead of walking away from it like it never happened? She said she didn¡¯t know anything about the father. Said it like it was just some random, reckless mistake. But watching her- Holding him-I know better now. She¡¯s been carrying more than just a child all these years. She¡¯s been carrying a secret. And something in me tells me it¡¯s mine. I just don¡¯t have the proof yet. Not enough to pull it out of her. But I will. I always do. I¡¯m in my study. But I¡¯m not working. I¡¯m watching the monitor on my desk. The one that shows the living room. And her. Sitting there. Staring at that te like it holds all the answers she doesn¡¯t want to give me. I lean back in my chair, steeple my fingers under my chin, and watch. Wait. Because Celine is predictable in the ways that count. When she¡¯s angry, she¡¯s quiet. When she¡¯s scared, she¡¯s stubborn. And when she¡¯s hurting¡­She¡¯s vulnerable. And that¡¯s when she makes mistakes. That¡¯s when I¡¯ll get what I want. I just have to wait. But not for long. I¡¯m standing outside her door. I shouldn¡¯t be here. But I am. I listen to the silence on the other side. And I wonder if she knows I¡¯m here. If she can feel it. The same way I feel her everywhere in this house. Like a ghost, I can¡¯t outrun. Like in the past, I¡¯m still paying for it. -I press my hand against the wood. It¡¯s solid. But it wouldn¡¯t take much to break through. Nothing does. Not for me. And soon enough, I¡¯ll break through her. One way or another. But not tonight. Tonight, I let her sleep, Because tomorrow Tomorrow, everything changes. ~CELINE¡¯S POV~ I should¡¯ve said no. When they told me to help with the wine disy in the foyer, I should¡¯ve told them I needed to stay with Caesar. But I didn¡¯t. Because this night wasn¡¯t about me. It wasn¡¯t about him. It was about Hunter¡¯s business dinner, and I was supposed to be invisible. But nothing about tonight was going the way I wanted it to. ¡°Mommy,¡± Caesar whined beside me earlier, tugging at the edge of my apron while I polished silverware. ¡°I want that one.¡± He pointed a sticky finger toward the tiered tray the caterers had set up, loaded with delicate desserts that probably cost more than my entire paycheck. ¡°Those aren¡¯t for us,¡± I whispered, ncing around. ¡°They¡¯re for Hunter¡¯s guests.¡± ¡°But-¡± His eyes welled up instantly, that ssy blue that always cracked me. ¡°I want one.¡± I sighed, pressing a hand over his. ¡°If you keep crying, you won¡¯t get any leftovers at all. Do you understand?¡± His bottom lip quivered, but he nodded. Quiet. And that should have been enough. I thought it was enough. But now, standing in the middle of a room full of people, I realize nothing is ever enough. Because the next time I see him, he¡¯s on a stool. Reaching. And falling. ¡°Caesar!¡± My scream tears from my throat, but I¡¯m not fast enough. The dessert tray crashes to the ground, ss shattering, cream fruit and chocte spreading across the pristine marble like a crime scene. Hends hard, a muffled thud followed by a collective gasp from the room. ¡°Someone get Celine,¡± a voice cuts through the air. I¡¯m already running. I push past two caterers and nearly slip on frosting, but I don¡¯t care. My knees hit the ground hard, scraping against the tile as I reached for him. ¡°Oh my God. Caesar.¡± My hands search for him. His face is flushed and sticky, and dessert smeared across his cheeks. There¡¯s a red mark blooming on his elbow. I pull him into my arms, cradling him tight, ignoring the mess, the stains, and the fact that my uniform is ruined. He¡¯s breathing. Sniffling. He¡¯s okay. But when I look up, Hunter is standing there. Silent. Staring. The room feels colder with him in it. I feel his gaze before I see his eyes. That same sharp blue that I¡¯vee to fear. They don¡¯t soften when theynd on Caesar. They harden. He pinches the bridge of his nose like he¡¯s exhausted, but I can see his jaw tightening under his skin. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I say quickly. Too quickly. ¡°I was-the-I didn¡¯t think-¡± ¡°That¡¯s the problem,¡± he cuts me off, his voice like a de. ¡°You didn¡¯t think.¡± I flinch. Everyone is staring. The guests, the staff. I can feel the judgment pressing against my spine like a hand shoving me forward. Pushing me toward the edge of something I don¡¯t want to fall into. Caesar stirs in my arms, his voice small. ¡°Mommy/I¡¯m sorry.¡± I swallow hard, pressing my lips to his temple. It¡¯s okay, baby. You¡¯re okay.¡± But I¡¯m not. Hunter¡¯s eyes are still on me. Heavy. Unrelenting. ¡°You left him alone,¡± he says after a moment, his tone clipped. ¡°I told you to keep him out of sight.¡± ¡°I was working,¡± I say, my throat dry. ¡°I didn¡¯t think-¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t think,¡± he repeats. ¡°And now we have a disaster in the middle of my dinner.¡± The caterers are already scrambling to clean the mess, but no one moves fast enought to erase the weight of what just happened. Of how small feel right The rightful source is fin?novel now. I tighten my grip around Caesar, standing slowly. ¡°I¡¯ll clean him up.¡± H¨²nter¡¯s silence stretches too long. And when he finally speaks, it¡¯s not a relief. ¡°Take him away,¡± he says. ¡°And make sure this doesn¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°I will.¡± My voice is so soft I barely recognize it. I start to turn, desperate to disappear, but his voice stops me cold. ¡°Celine.¡± I turn slowly, bracing myself. He doesn¡¯t yell. He doesn¡¯t raise his voice. But the way he speaks makes my stomach twist in knots I can¡¯t untangle. ¡°I won¡¯t be this forgiving next time.¡± My breath catches. Forgiving? Was this forgiveness? I walk away with Caesar pressed against my chest, my legs shaking so badly Em not sure how I¡¯m moving. ~HUNTER¡¯S POV~ I watch her walk away. Her back is straight, but her shoulders are tense. Like she¡¯s holding in something. Probably tears. Maybe anger. I don¡¯t know which would be worse. Caesar¡¯s head is tucked under her chin, his small arms looped around her neck. He looks like he belongs there. Like he¡¯s always belonged there. I press my thumb against my temple, trying to dull the headache that¡¯s building. I didn¡¯t want this. Any of this. The dinner was supposed to be smooth. Controlled. Instead, I¡¯m standing in the middle of chaos, with dessert on the floor and whispers in every corner of the room. ¡°She¡¯s the housemaid with a child, right?¡± someone mutters. ¡°Poor kid,¡± another says. Their pity irritates me more than anything. Because they don¡¯t know her. They don¡¯t know anything about her. Or him. I exhale slowly, dragging my fingers through my hair as I step into the hallway. The staff is scrambling. Cleaning. Fixing. But all I can think about is Caesar on that stool, Wobbling. One wrong move and he would¡¯ve hit his head. Worse. And where was she? I find myself walking toward the east wing before I realize what I¡¯m doing. Their room. I shouldn¡¯t. But I do. The door is cracked open, and I hear her humming softly. She¡¯s wiping Caesar¡¯s face clean with a damp cloth, her fingers gentle. Tog gentle ¡°You have to be careful, baby,¡± she whispers. ¡°You scared me.¡± Caesar sniffles. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°I know,¡± she says, pressing a kiss to his forehead. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± I should leave. But I can¡¯t. I remember what I asked her earlier. About regret. ¡®If you regretted him so much, why did you keep him? She didn¡¯t answer. But I¡¯m starting to understand why. There¡¯s no regret in the way she looks at him now. Only love. And it makes something twist deep in my chest. Something ufortable. Familiar in a way that makes me want to walk away and never look back. But I don¡¯t. Instead, I lean my shoulder against the doorframe and say the thing I probably shouldn¡¯t. ¡°You handled that poorly.¡± She startles. Her eyes sh when she sees me. ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep saying it.¡± I shrug. ¡°Maybe I do.¡± She stands, moving between me and Caesar like she¡¯s shielding him from something. From me. ¡°You said you¡¯d be forgiving,¡± she says tightly. ¡°That didn¡¯t feel forgiving.¡± I study her. She¡¯s still wearing the stained uniform. There¡¯s a smear of chocte on her cheek she hasn¡¯t noticed. ¡°Forgiveness looks different to different people,¡± I say. She crosses her arms. ¡°And to you, it looks like humiliation?¡± I tilt my head. ¡°To me, it looks like not firing you on the spot.¡± Her jaw clenches. But she doesn¡¯t say anything. ¡°I told you to keep him out of sight,¡± I remind her. ¡°For your sake.¡± Her eyes narrow. ¡°And yet you¡¯re always watching.¡± There¡¯s a beat of silence. She¡¯s right. I am. And I don¡¯t know why. I push off the doorframe, stepping closer before I can think better of it. ¡°Clean up,¡± I tell her quietly. ¡°Come back downstairs when you¡¯re ready.¡± Her throat works around a swallow, and she nods. I take onest nce at Caesar. Hisshes are damp from crying, but he¡¯s already drifting off Safe. For now. And then I leave. Because if I stay any longer, I might say something I can¡¯t take back. Something true. Back in the dining room, I lift my ss to my lips, watching the door. And waiting cause I know she¡¯lle back. She AD Comment Send gift No Ads Legacy 26 ~HUNTER¡¯S POV- I shouldn¡¯t be watching her. But I am. I shouldn¡¯t be tracking her every move like it matters. But it does. And that bothers me more than I can admit-especially to myself. She¡¯s standing near the floral arrangement by the east hallway, her hands busy adjusting a set of wine sses on a polished tray. Her hair is tied back in something loose and careless, wisps escaping to brush against her cheek. She¡¯s wearing a in dress. One of the spares the staff keeps on hand. Beige, gray, or some color that has no business being worn at an event like this. It¡¯s wrinkled. A little too big at the waist. But somehow, on her, it works. Maybe because she doesn¡¯t seem to care about any of it. Or maybe because I care too much. I lift the whiskey ss to my mouth, but the burn of the alcohol barely registers. The only thing I can feel is the pulse in my jaw, ticking harder the longer watch her. I set the ss down a little too hard on the nearest table. Some of the bourbon sloshes over the rim. I don¡¯t bother wiping it up. I¡¯m already moving toward her. She doesn¡¯t notice me right away. She¡¯s busy, focused, tucking a cloth napkin into the space between a folded set of silver. Like it¡¯s the most important thing she¡¯ll do all night. Like it matters. I stop two feet from her. Close enough to feel the tension in her shoulders before she even turns. ¡°What are you wearing?¡± I ask, my voice low. Too low. She startles slightly, her eyes flicking up to mine. Wide. Uncertain. And for some reason, that hesitation irritates me. She nces down at the dress. ¡°It¡¯s a spare,¡± she says quietly. ¡°From theundry room.¡± I arch a brow. ¡°And you thought it was appropriate for this event?¡± Her lips part. Then close. Her fingers twist around the hem of the apron she¡¯s still wearing, stained faintly with dessert. ¡°It¡¯s clean,¡± she says finally. I want to push. I want to tell her it¡¯s not about cleaning. It¡¯s about the fact that she stands out. Not because of the dress. But because she¡¯s wearing it like armor. And I can¡¯t tell if she¡¯s hiding from the room, or me. But before I can figure it out, I hear someone approach from the side. Augh. Light. Easy. ¡°Hunter,¡± the man says. A handshake follows, firm and practiced. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such good taste inpany tonight.¡± I don¡¯t recognize him immediately. Not until he¡¯s close enough that I can see the gold si ring on his right hand. Nathaniel Cross. A venture capitalist with deep pockets and deeper rumors. He nods toward Celine, his gaze sweeping over her with too much interest for my liking. ¡°Your girlfriend is beautiful.¡± Celine stiffens beside me. I feel it. The way her body freezes for a half-second then shifts. She opens her mouth-probably to correct him. But I beat her to it. ¡°She¡¯s not ¡°I stop. The word hovers there, half-spoken. Sharp and final. It would¡¯ve been easy to finish it. To deny it. To say what needs to be tai, But instead, I look at her. At the way her breath hitches. The way hershes lower just enough to shadow her expression, She¡¯s waiting. Expecting me to draw the line in the sand. I don¡¯t. ¡°She¡¯s¡­¡± I murmur, but the sentence dies again. Nathaniel smiles, slow and amused. ¡°Ah,¡± he says, sipping his scotch. ¡°One of those situations.¡± I don¡¯t answer. I¡¯m still watching her. Her hands are shaking. Barely. But I see it. On the way, her fingers clench and unclench around the edge of the serving tray in the way her throat moves when she swallows. ¡°Excuse me,¡± she says suddenly. Her voice is too soft. Too thin. She steps away before I can say anything, her back straight but her head down. And I watch her go, something sharp twisting in my gut. Read full story at Find_Novel(. Nathaniel chuckles under his breath like this is all some game. ¡°Interesting,¡± he murmurs. I don¡¯t respond. I pick up my ss again, though my hand is tighter around it now. Celine disappears down the corridor toward the service hallway. I keep my eyes on where she vanished. Like an idiot. Like someone who doesn¡¯t know better. Nathaniel clinks his ss against mine in azy toast. ¡°You didn¡¯t deny it,¡± he says, his voice low but clear. And I feel the weight of it. I feel it in the silence that follows, in the eyes that linger a little too long, and in the whispers that ripple behind my back as I take another drink. But most of all, I feel it in the space where she stood. Where I should¡¯ve let her correct him. Where I should¡¯ve told them the truth. I didn¡¯t. And I¡¯m not sure why. As I stand there, I realize something. She¡¯s no longer just the housemaid in a in dress. She¡¯s the rumor I didn¡¯t stop. And maybe¡­ I don¡¯t want to. ~CELINE¡¯S POV~ I don¡¯t breathe again until I¡¯m halfway down the hall The sound of polished shoes on marble follows me long after I¡¯ve left the room. Except they aren¡¯t footsteps. They¡¯re the words. ¡®He didn¡¯t deny it.¡¯ I grip the edge of the nearest doorway to steady myself. My heart is thudding so fast I can feel it in my teeth. The murmur was faint, barely louder than the string quartet ying in the distance, but I heard it. ¡®Interesting¡­ he didn¡¯t deny it.¡¯ I press my palm t against my chest, like maybe if I hold it there long enough, it¡¯ll keep my ribs from splitting open. I need to breathe. I need to think. But all I can think about is how Hunter was looking at me just now. Like I was something he wasn¡¯t sure he wanted. Or like he was sure and didn¡¯t know what to do with that certainty. I hate the way it makes me feel. Like I¡¯m waiting for him to decide. Like I¡¯m something to be decided on. My fingers curl against the doorway tighter, the smooth wood digging into my skin. Maybe if I squeeze hard enough, the sting will distract me, But it doesn¡¯t. I close my eyes for a second and pull in a breath that¡¯s too shaky to be convincing. I¡¯ve worked here for two months. I¡¯ve cleaned vomit off imported rugs, listened to insults from friends of his, and bnced Caesar on one hip while negotiating with staff who only spoke in threats. I can handle this. Except, I can¡¯t. Because this isn¡¯t work. This is Hunter. And I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s doing. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing, A maid brushes past me, her arms full of linens, and gives me a quick, curious nce. I push off the wall and keep moving. I have to I¡¯ve got a job to do. Caesar is asleep upstairs after everything that happened earlier, and I need to make sure everything stays in ce so I don¡¯t get that look from Hunter again. The cold, disappointed one. But when I step into the staff corridor, the mirror near the serving entrance catches me off guard. I look¡­ I don¡¯t know what I look like. The in beige dress one of the housekeepers loaned me clings in ces I¡¯m not used to. It was the only thing that wasn¡¯t stained after Caesar¡¯s ident, but now, under the low lights, I can¡¯t stop seeing what Hunter must have seen. Why did that man think I was here as his date? I smooth my hands down my sides, and my skin prickles under my touch. I¡¯m still standing there, staring at a version of myself I don¡¯t quite recognize when I hear footsteps behind me. Slow. Purposeful. I know who they belong to without turning around. ¡°Celine.¡± His voice is low. Not sharp, not cold like before. Just¡­ quiet. It almost makes me more nervous. I turn slowly, tucking my hands behind me because they won¡¯t stop shaking. ¡°Sir,¡± I say. My voice sounds thinner than I want it to. He¡¯s standing too close. Not close enough to be inappropriate. Just close enough to make the space feel smaller than it should be. His blue eyes flicker over my face, then drop to the dress. His jaw tightens. ¡°Why are you wearing that?¡± The words aren¡¯t exactly fude, but they aren¡¯t kind either. They sound like an usation. I swallow. ¡°It¡¯s Margaret¡¯s,¡± I say quickly. ¡°Mine was ruined after¡­ after Caesar-¡°I don¡¯t finish. I don¡¯t need to. He doesn¡¯t say anything for a long moment. I wonder if he¡¯s regretting not denying ballroom. I hate that a part of me doesn¡¯t want him to. gretting whatever that look was he gave me back in the Then I hear voices down the hall. A small group of men, expensive suits, and louderughter. One of them steps forward, his grin wide and easy. ¡°Hunter,¡± he says, pping him on the back. ¡°Didn¡¯t know you hadpany tonight.¡± He nces at me, and his grin softens in that practiced, predatory way I¡¯ve seen before. ¡°She¡¯s beautiful,¡± he says. He raises his ss. ¡°Your girl is beautiful.¡± I open my mouth to correct him. But before I can, I hear the sharp clink of ice against ss. Hunter¡¯s hand tightens around his whichuy. His eyes fo me-once, quickly. ¡°For thest time She¡¯s not-¡± He stops. His gaze settles back on me. And he doesn¡¯t finish the sentence I wait. I wait because he always finishes his sentences. But he doesn¡¯t. The investor ps him on the shoulder again. ¡°Didn¡¯t think you had the type,¡± he says with augh. ¡°Good for you.¡± They walk off. The other men follow, their voices trailing behind them in waves ofughter and spection. I¡¯m still standing there, my face burning when Hunter takes a slow sip of his drink like nothing just happened. Like he didn¡¯t just leave me standing in a room full of unanswered questions. I can¡¯t do this. Not tonight. ¡°I should get back to work,¡± I say, my voice tight. He doesn¡¯t stop me. He just watches. I turn the corner so fast I nearly trip over the edge of the rug. And that¡¯s when I hear it. Low. A murmur from one of the guests as they pass by the hall. ¡°Never knew he like them young,¡± he says. ¡°He didn¡¯t deny it either. He is a man after all.¡± AD Comment Send gift No Ads Legacy 27 ~HUNTER¡¯S POV- ¡°Never knew he like them young,¡± he says. ¡°He didn¡¯t deny it either. He is a man after all.¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find~novel The words settle into my ears like a slow, irritating drip. I didn¡¯t deny it. Because I didn¡¯t want to I swirl the remaining amber liquid in my ss, watching it catch the light. My grip is tight. Tighter than it needs to be. It¡¯s not the whiskey¡¯s fault. It¡¯s her fault. Or maybe it¡¯s mine. She was supposed to fade into the background tonight. That was the deal. Keep Caesar out of sight. Keep herself out of sight. And yet¡­ She walked into the room wearing that dress like she belonged in it. Simple. Beige. Modest. It should¡¯ve been nothing. But on her, it was¡­ Something else entirely. And the second those menid their eyes on her, I wanted to break every single rule I¡¯ve made for myself. I take another sip, ignoring how my jaw tightens when I remember the way they looked at her. Like they already had a im.. Like they could have her if they asked nicely enough. I¡¯ve seen that look before. I¡¯ve worn it before. But tonight, it tasted bitter. The faint echo of her shoes against marble still lingers in the back of my mind. The way she rushed out of the room was like she was running from something. Maybe me. I don¡¯t follow her. Not right away. Because that would be crossing a line I¡¯ve spent years making sure never to cross. But I stand there, staring at the spot where she disappeared, and I wonder if I already have. The men keep talking. I keep nodding at the right moments. But I¡¯m not listening. Not really. Because all I can hear is the sound of her voice from earlier. ¡®Sir.¡¯ Quiet. Breathless. Controlled. I wonder if it¡¯s still my name in her head when she says it. Or if I¡¯ve already be something else to her. I wonder why I care. ¡°Hunter.¡± I blink, turning slightly as one of the investors-Mason, I think-steps into my line of vision. He smiles like he knows something he shouldn¡¯t. ¡°You¡¯ve been quiet,¡± he says. I shrug, taking another drink, and finishing the ss. ¡°I don¡¯t enjoy small talk.¡± He chuckles. ¡°No. You never did.¡± He nces down the hall where Celine disappeared. ¡°But it seems you¡¯re learning.¡± I don¡¯t answer. Because I don¡¯t know how. Instead, I hand my empty ss to a passing waiter and straighten my jacket. I need air. I leave the noise behind. I leave the music, the murmuring, the subtle nces that follow me wherever I go, I step out into the garden, closing the door behind me with a soft click. The night is cooler now. The air smells like rain that hasn¡¯te yet. I loosen my tie and exhale slowly. I tell myself I¡¯m not looking for her. That if I find her, it¡¯s only because she should be working, Not wandering. Not distracting me. But when I round the corner near the fountain and see her there, alone, with her arms crossed and her head bowed like she¡¯s holding herself together. something shifts inside me. She doesn¡¯t hear me approach. Or maybe she does, and she doesn¡¯t care. I stop a few feet away. Close enough to study her face. Far enough not to scare her. Not that she scares easily. I¡¯ve tested that more times than I should admit. She¡¯s whispering to herself. Counting, maybe. I don¡¯t ask what number she¡¯s on. ¡°Celine,¡± I say quietly. She jumps a little. Just enough. She turns, smoothing her hands down the sides of that damn dress like it¡¯ll protect her from me. ¡°Sir,¡± she says again. It¡¯s almost a breath. Almost a plea. I shouldn¡¯t like the way it sounds. But I do. ¡°You ran,¡± I say simply. Her throat works as she swallows. ¡°I was¡­ busy.¡± Her lie is thin. We both know it. But I don¡¯t call her out on it. Instead, I take a step closer. And she doesn¡¯t move away. ¡°You didn¡¯t correct him,¡± I murmur. Her lips part, but no wordse out. I take another step. Close enough now to see the faint flush still painting her cheeks. ¡°I was about to,¡± she whispers. ¡°But you didn¡¯t.¡± I can¡¯t tell if I¡¯m using her or myself. The silence stretches between us. Long. Heavy. Then I reach up and tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. It¡¯s damp. Not with sweat. With nerves. She leans into my hand for half a second before she stops herself. I let my hand fall, but slowly. ¡°I should get back inside,¡± she says, her voice shaky again. I nod once. ¡°You should.¡± But neither of us moves. Then she takes a step back. And another. And when she finally turns, I don¡¯t stop her. But as she disappears around the corner again, I already know one thing. I won¡¯t be able to stop myself next time. ~CELINE¡¯S POV~ I shouldn¡¯t have let him touch me. I keep telling myself that as I walk back inside the house as if the words will somehow erase the feeling his fingers left behind on my skin. But they don¡¯t. If anything, the memory burrows deeper. The garden air still clings to me. Cold. Heavy. And when I close my eyes, I swear I can still feel his hand tucked behind my ear, his hush grazing my chick like he was memorizing me. I bite my bottom lip, harder than I should. The sting reminds me that I¡¯m still here. That I¡¯m still me. Not whoever I turned into for those few made. Whoever he made me feel like. Safe. And that¡¯s what scares me most. Because Hunter isn¡¯t safe. He¡¯s the exact opposite. I¡¯m still lost in that thought when I hear someone clear their throat behind me. ¡°Celine,¡± a sharp voice snaps. ¡°Did you hear me?¡± I blink, turning toward Ana. She¡¯s holding a tray, her mouth twisted in a way that makes her look like she¡¯s constantly smelling something bad. ¡°You need to take these out,¡± she says, shoving the tray toward me without waiting for me to respond. I nce down. Four champagne flutes and a half-full bottle. I swallow. ¡°Can¡¯t someone else-¡± ¡°No,¡± Ana cuts me off, already annoyed. ¡°I asked you.¡± There¡¯s something in her tone that makes my stomach twist. I can feel the weight of the others watching. The ones who think I¡¯m the reason Bianca was fired. The ones who whisper behind my back when they think I¡¯m not listening. I don¡¯t have room to argue. And even if I did, I¡¯m too tired to use it. I nod and take the tray, adjusting my grip so the sses don¡¯t rattle against each other, But my hands are already shaking. Ana notices. Her smirk deepens. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine,¡± she says, fake-sweet. ¡°They¡¯re just men.¡± I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯s supposed tofort me. I force my feet to moye, one after the other, until I¡¯m walking toward them. Four men standing near the corner of the room, their suits too perfect, their eyes too sharp. I¡¯ve served drinks before. I know how this works. But something about this feels different. The closer I get, the quieter they get. And when I stop in front of them, the silence stretches out thin and strange. One of them is the first to speak. ¡°Well,¡± he says slowly, his gaze dragging over me like it¡¯s something he has a right to do. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a pretty little thing?¡± The words make my skin crawl, but I keep my face still. I¡¯ve had practice. I can do this. ¡°Champagne?¡± I offer, my voice steady even though my fingers tighten around the tray. Another man chuckles. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous,¡± he says, even though I haven¡¯t said anything else. ¡°We¡¯re just teasing you.¡± His words are supposed to be light, but they feel heavy. Like stones in my pockets. 11:02 Tue, 29 Jul GM I force a smile. It doesn¡¯t reach my eyes. It never does. I pour the champagne, careful to keep my hands from shaking too much. But the man closest to me leans in, close enough that I can smell his cologne. It¡¯s too sweet. It makes my stomach turn. ¡°You¡¯re doing a good job,¡± he murmurs. Inod, saying nothing. I finish pouring thest ss and straightened. But before I can step away, the first man lifts his drink, tilting it toward me. ¡°To your boyfriend,¡± he says, his tone sharp with something I can¡¯t name. ¡°Hunter seems very¡­ protective of you.¡± My heart stumbles in my chest. I keep my expression nk, but my mind is racing. ¥¹ I¡¯m not his girlfriend. I¡¯m not anything to him. But I don¡¯t correct them. Because it would make it worse. Because it already is worse. I force another tight smile. ¡°Enjoy your drinks,¡± I say quietly. I turn to leave, but one of them brushes his fingers against my wrist as I pass. It¡¯s brief. But I feel it for a long after. By the time I make it back to the kitchen, I set the tray down on the counter too hard. One of the sses tips over. It doesn¡¯t break. But I want it to. Ana nces at me but says nothing. She doesn¡¯t have to. I already know what she¡¯s thinking. I press my hands t against the counter and close my eyes. I can still feel Hunter¡¯s hand on my face. I can still feel the heat of those men¡¯s stares. And for the first time since I got here, I don¡¯t know which one feels worse. AD Send gift No Ads Legacy 28 ~HUNTER¡¯S POV- I¡¯ve always been in control. My time. My actions. My emotions. I¡¯ve spent years mastering the art of detachment, perfecting it to the point where event forgot what it was like to feel something raw. But now¡­ Now I can¡¯t stop staring at my hand. The hand that touched her. That brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, grazing the curve of her cheekbone like it belonged there. I flex my fingers as if that will erase the memory. It doesn¡¯t. I¡¯m halfway back to the house before I realize I haven¡¯t heard a word of the call I just ended. My phone is in my pocket, forgotten. It should bother me, thisck of focus. It always has before. But right now, my head is a mess and my body¡¯s worse. The gardens air felt heavy, but the moment I stepped inside, it was suffocating. There¡¯s a hum of conversation. sses clinking. The soft, controlledugh of men who think they own the world and the women who want to own them. I¡¯ve done this a thousand times. I¡¯ve hosted nights like this with ease. But tonight, it feels different. I¡¯m different. My eyes search for her without permission. And there she is. Celine. Still in her beige dress. That¡¯s a damn dress again. Her hair was still slightly damp from where she wiped cake from Caesar¡¯s face. There¡¯s a smear of something near her wrist. She looks out of ce. She looks like the only person here who doesn¡¯t belong. And yet, I can¡¯t look away. Nathaniel notices her too. He starts talking to her. Laughing at something she says-although judging by the panic on her face, it wasn¡¯t funny. I should move. Intervene. I don¡¯t. Instead, I stand there like an idiot watching them, a drink in my hand I¡¯m not drinking. Charlotte Hill approaches from the side, moving in like smoke. I don¡¯t even look at her, but I can smell her perfume before she speaks. ¡°Hiding from me?¡± she teases, her tone a mixture of flirt and usation. ¡°No,¡± I murmur. It¡¯s automatic. She slips her arm through mine anyway. ¡°You seem distracted tonight.¡± I hum. Nathaniel leans closer to Celine. She steps back, and almost trips over someone¡¯s chair, but steadies herself. My fingers tighten around the whiskey ss. Charlotte notices. ¡°You¡¯re squeezing that ss like it owes you money.¡± Sheughs at her joke. I don¡¯t. ¡°She¡¯s pretty.¡± It takes me a second to realize who Charlotte is talking about. She follows my gaze and answers it. ¡°Your maid. The one who ruined my dress.¡± Her voice has teeth, and she smiles like she wants to bite something ¡°She looks different tonight,¡± Charlotte adds, dragging out every word like she¡¯s thinking through each one too carefully. ¡°Talmost mitook her for one of the guests.¡± I don¡¯t respond. Because I know what she¡¯s saying. And because Celine, who was supposed to disappear into the background, hasn¡¯t. Charlotte continues, her voice dripping sugar but her eyes ring with something else entirely. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you changed the maid¡¯s uniform.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± I say tly. ¡°She doesn¡¯t look like one of them,¡± Charlotte says. She doesn¡¯t. And that¡¯s a problem. I finally turn toward Charlotte and give her a smile I know will distract her, even if just for a second. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re jealous of a maid, Charlotte. That¡¯s not like you.¡± She bristles, but she tries not to show it. Still, her nails dig into my arm a little. I don¡¯t care. Because Nathaniel¡¯s hand is now on Celine¡¯s elbow, and I¡¯m one second away from making a scene. Then it happens. Nathaniel takes the tray from her hands. Passes it off to another maid. And drags her onto the dance floor. She shakes her head. She says something. He doesn¡¯t listen. Of course, he doesn¡¯t. ¡°Fucking Nathan,¡± I mutter, finishing what¡¯s left of my drink and handing the empty ss to Charlotte. ¡°Where are you going?¡± I don¡¯t answer. Because I¡¯m already moving toward them, my jaw tight, my hands fists at my sides. ¡°I swear I¡¯ll drive a hole through his damn annoying face,¡± I growt under my breath. But I won¡¯t. Because Nathaniel Cross isn¡¯t just some random prick. He¡¯s a business associate. An important one. I reach them just as Nathaniel spins her into him, his hand too low on her back, his smile too wide. ¡°Careful,¡± he¡¯s saying, ¡°or I might fall for you.¡± Celine stiffens. Her hands press against his chest as if to create space where there isn¡¯t any. My chest tightens. And then her eyes lift. And they find mine. Wide, scared, and so damn pleading I almost lose the fragile grip I have left. ¡°Mind if I cut in?¡± I ask. Nathaniel¡¯s smirk doesn¡¯t fade. ¡°If you must.¡± I don¡¯t answer. I just move between them. My hand goes to her waist. I¡¯m careful not to touch more than I have to, but it¡¯s still too much. Nathanielughs under his breath. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Hunter? Can¡¯t bear to share?¡± Celine flinches as the words hit her. And maybe they did. ¡°What¡¯s it going to be, Mr. Reid?¡± Nathaniel asks, his tone too casual. ¡°I dance with the beautifuldy, and you step aside¡­¡± Find the newest release on Find1Novel His sentence trails off like he¡¯s waiting to see just how far I¡¯ll go. I clench my jaw. ¡°You¡¯ve had your turn,¡± I say evenly. Nathaniel raises his hands like he¡¯s surrendering. But hi nis sharp. ¡°Didn¡¯t know you were so possessive,¡± he says. I don¡¯t answer. Because I don¡¯t know what to say that won¡¯t ruin everything. The music shifts. Another waltz. I ce her hand on my shoulder. My fingers brush her waist, She¡¯s trembling. I hate that I can feel it. I hate that I don¡¯t know how to stop it. ¡°You¡¯re shaking,¡± I murmur, keeping my tone low. Neutral, ¡°-¡± she starts, but her voice cracks. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± I cut in, steering us away from the crowd. But not far enough to be obvious. Not far enough to matter. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to dance,¡± she whispers. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t want to be rude.¡± ¡°You¡¯re allowed to be rude.¡± Her eyes sh to mine. They¡¯re ssy. Like she¡¯s holding something back. ¡°I thought you were going to fire me,¡± she says. I almostugh. Almost. ¡°Maybe I should,¡± I say instead. Her breath catches. But I don¡¯t mean it. And we both know it. ¡°You look different,¡± I say after a moment. She blinks. ¡°This dress,¡± I rify. ¡°Oh,¡± she murmurs, ncing down like she forgot what she was wearing. ¡°It¡¯s not a uniform.¡± ¡°No,¡± she says softly. ¡°Mine was ruined after¡­ earlier.¡± Earlier. When Caesar fell. When 1-1 flex my fingers again, remembering how I touched her cheek. ¡°Hunter,¡± she says suddenly. I look at her. And I¡¯m not prepared for what¡¯s there. Not fear. Not anger. Something else. I stop moving. The dance halts. But she doesn¡¯t pull away. Neither do I. And for a second, the entire room disappears. Until Nathaniel¡¯s voice cuts back in. ¡°I have all the time,¡± he says to no one in particr. ¡°I can wait.¡± And just like that, everything crashes back down. I Ìï AD Comment Send gift No Ads Legacy 29 -CELINE¡¯S POV- I want to disappear. If the floor could crack open and swallow me whole, I wouldn¡¯t even scream. I wouldn¡¯t even care. Not when I can feel a hundred pairs of eyes crawling over me, judging me, undressing me-ming m¨¦, ming me for standing where I shouldn¡¯t. For dancing with a man I have no business touching. For breathing in a room that doesn¡¯t belong to me. I bow my head, my fingers trembling against the frayed seams of my in dress. It still smells faintly of sugar and cream, leftover from the ident earlier. Or maybe it¡¯s a shame that I¡¯m smelling. I can¡¯t tell the difference anymore. My teeth sink into my lower lip harder than they should. The sting feels necessary. Grounding. Reminding me that this is real. I shouldn¡¯t be here. I shouldn¡¯t be dancing with him. I shouldn¡¯t- My gaze lifts and collides with Charlotte¡¯s from across the room. Her stare is icy. The kind of cold that makes you feel like you¡¯ll never be warm again. I¡¯m not sure who looks away first. Maybe I do. But the cold clings to me long after her gaze is gone. And then Hunter does something that makes my heart stop altogether. He smiles. At Nathaniel. But there¡¯s no warmth in it. It¡¯s the kind of smile that makes you feel like you¡¯ve already lost something. And then he says it. ¡°I¡¯ll give her to you,¡± Hunter tells Nathan, tilting his head in that effortless way that makes him look dangerous. ¡°But not before I have the first waltz.¡± His words float through the air, slow and deliberate. I hear a few menugh under their breath. Nathaniel looks amused. And I-I¡¯m frozen. My feet don¡¯t move as Hunter tugs my hand, guiding me to the center of the floor. I should resist. I should say no. But instead, I let him. I don¡¯t even realize I¡¯m still wearing my stained apron until his hand tugs at it, yanking the knot loose. ¡°Take it off,¡± he says under his breath. I fumble with the straps until he gives up waiting and does it himself. The apron falls away, leaving me feeling exposed even though I¡¯m still fully clothed. He tosses it to one of his maids without a second nce. She catches it, her face unreadable. The head maid whispers my name from the sidelines, her voice sharp but hushed. ¡°Celine,¡± she hisses, motioning for me toe back. I want to listen to her. I do. But then his fingers tighten around my wrist. ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± he warns his voice like steel wrapped in silk. I swallow. My body listens to him even though it shouldn¡¯t. Even though everything inside me creams not to. His hand slides to my waist, and suddenly I¡¯m facing him, standing so close I can feel his breath. It¡¯s warm. It smells like expensive whiskey and something else I can¡¯t name. We start moving, and my heart pounds hard enough that I think it might shake me apart. But I follow his lead. One step. Another. Like I was made for this. Like we¡¯ve done this a thousand times before when we haven¡¯t. When we shouldn¡¯t. ¡°You act like you don¡¯t want this,¡± he murmurs, his lips brushing my ear as we move in time to the music. My breath catches. I can¡¯t look at him. I can¡¯t look anywhere.¡±But your body says otherwise,¡± he finishes, and I swear I feel the words sink into my skin. Like a secret, I didn¡¯t mean to tell. Like a confession, I¡¯m not ready to give. I gasp, my fingers trembling as I try to step back. He doesn¡¯t let me. His hand presses firmly against my back, pulling me closer until there¡¯s no space left between us. I can feel his heart beating through his suit. Steady. Controlled. While mine races like it doesn¡¯t know how to slow down. Our eyes lock, and I feel it. The crackle. The current. Like we¡¯re standing in the middle of a lightning storm, but neither of us is running for cover. I don¡¯t know who leans in first. Maybe it¡¯s him. Maybe it¡¯s me. But there¡¯s a breath between us that doesn¡¯t feel like enough space for either of us to survive. And then it happens. A voice cuts through the moment like a de. ¡°Well, well¡­ don¡¯t you two look cozy.¡± I flinch, my body jerking back, even though Hunter¡¯s hand doesn¡¯t move. Caroline. Her voice is a slow drawl, but it carries. Like honey that¡¯s turned sour. Like poison dressed in something sweet. I twist in Hunter¡¯s grip, my heart pounding in my throat. She stands there, arms crossed, wearing a dress that costs more than I¡¯ll ever see in a lifetime. Her smile is sharp. Her gaze was sharper. ¡°I didn¡¯t know we were dancing with the help now,¡± she says, tilting her head. Nathanielughs behind her, but it¡¯s different now. Meaner. Hungrier. I feel like a rabbit standing in the middle of a field full of wolves. Hunter doesn¡¯t flinch, He doesn¡¯t even blink. His hand stays on my waist like it belongs there. He looks at Caroline and says nothing. But his silence is louder than any words he could have spoken. She shifts ufortably, her confidence flickering for a second before she recovers. ¡°I suppose everyone has their¡­ tastes,¡± she says, and there¡¯s a flicker of something cold in her eyes. Anger. Protectiveness. I couldn¡¯t understand my best friend¡¯s tone. I¡¯m not sure which is w in my throat. I find my voice, even though it feels like it¡¯s been crushed ¡°I should go,¡± I whisper to Hunter, but I¡¯m not sure if he hears me. He does. His hand drops from my waist slowly, like he¡¯s making a point. ¡°Go,¡± he says, but it¡¯s not an order. It¡¯s something else. Something I don¡¯t understand. I step away from him, my knees shaky. Caroline watches me leave, her gaze hot on my back like an open me. Thear the whispers follow me as I move toward the corridor. ¡°She¡¯s different,¡± someone says. ¡°She doesn¡¯t belong here,¡± another murmurs. But it¡¯s Nathaniel¡¯s voice that haunts me the most. ¡°This keeps getting Interesting,¡± he drawis. ¡°He didn¡¯t deny it.¡± I don¡¯t realize I¡¯m holding my breath until I¡¯m out of sight. And when I finally let it out, it¡¯s shaky, Broken: I press my back against the cool wall, my palms t against the surface as if I need it to hold me up. My heart still hasn¡¯t slowed down I don¡¯t think it will. Because now there¡¯s a question in the air. One I don¡¯t know the answer to. One that no one dares ask out loud. But we all feel it We all see it. What am I to him? And why didn¡¯t he deny it? AD Comment Official source is find(?)ovel Send gift No Ads Legacy 30 CELINE¡¯S POV- I stay there longer than I should. Leaning against the cold wall like it¡¯s the only thing keeping me upright. It isn¡¯t, but it feels that way. I don¡¯t trust my legs. I don¡¯t trust myself. And I sure as hell don¡¯t trust the man I just left standing in the middle of the ballroom like he didn¡¯t just ruin everything was trying to hold together. I inhale through my nose, slow. Like if I take the breath carefully enough, it¡¯ll stretch my ribs wider. Make me feel like there¡¯s room to breathe again. But there isn¡¯t. Not here. Not with the sounds of music and voices bleeding through the doorway behind me. Not with Nathaniel¡¯s voice echoing inside my head. ¡°Interesting. He didn¡¯t deny it.¡± I close my eyes. And I hate myself. Because part of me¡­ The stupid, dangerous part of me¡­ Wishes it was true. I hear footsteps before I see him. Sharp. Measured. A beat that demands attention. Even the floor seems to straighten under his weight. I don¡¯t look. I don¡¯t have to. I know it¡¯s him. ¡°Why are you hiding?¡± His voice cuts through the stillness. Low. Controlled. Like he already knows the answer, but he¡¯s going to make me say it. I don¡¯t answer. Because if I open my mouth, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to keep it together. And falling apart in front of him-again-isn¡¯t something I¡¯m prepared for. Not after everything. Not after that dance. Follow current nov?ls on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? He steps closer. The air shifts around me. Thickens. Suddenly the cold wall behind me isn¡¯t cold enough. ¡°I asked you a question.¡± His tone sharpens. Like a warning. Like aline in the sand. I swallow, but it¡¯s pointless. My throat¡¯s dry. My lips crack when I speak. ¡°I wasn¡¯t hiding.¡± A lie. A stupid, obvious lie. But I offer it anyway. Heughs. A single, humorless exhale. It scrapes something raw inside me. ¡°Then what were you doing?¡± I turn to look at him, because not looking at him doesn¡¯t make him less dangerous. His blue eyes are darker in the dim light. His jaw clenched so tight it looks painful. I force my hands behind my back so he can¡¯t see how they shake. ¡°Trying to breathe,¡± I admit quietly. It¡¯s not the full truth, but it¡¯s the part I can give him. He watches me for a beat. Two. And then his gaze drops. To my mouth. I feel his attention there like a touch. Like pressure. My stomach twists. ¡°Did he hurt you?¡± The question is so abrupt it almost knocks me off bnce, It takes me a second to realize who he means. Nathaniel. No My voice is steady, even though my heart isn¡¯t. ¡°No, he didn¡¯t. He just¡­¡± Overstepped,¡± Hunter finishes for me, his mouth tight. It¡¯s not a question. It¡¯s a fact. One he doesn¡¯t like. I nod. Because it¡¯s easier than exining how small I felt when Nathaniel¡¯s hand wrapped around my wrist. How trapped. How exposed Hunter steps closer. Too close. I can feel his Cat. I can smell him again-whiskey, leather, something sharper beneath it. I press back into the wall without meaning to. But he¡¯s already there. A handnds beside my head, his palm t against the wall. Caging me. Not rough. But not gentle, either. ¡°You should¡¯ve told me,¡± he says, his voice low. Like a secret. Like a threat. I shake my head. ¡°I handled it.¡± Another lie. And we both know it. His eyes search mine. or what, I don¡¯t know. Permission, maybe. To be the man I¡¯m realizing he¡¯s been & not to be around me. The man who takes. The man who owns. The man who never asks. But then he surprises me. He exhales, slowly. And steps back. Not far. Just enough to give me space to breathe. Barely. ¡°I didn¡¯t deny it,¡± he says suddenly. It¡¯s not a question. It¡¯s not even an admission. It¡¯s just¡­ there. Hanging between us. My pulse stumbles. I bite the inside of ¡°You didn¡¯t have to,¡± I whisper. my cheek. He tilts his head. ¡°Do you want me to?¡± I blink. What? ¡°Deny it?¡± He nods once. As if he¡¯s patient. As if he¡¯s not a storm held together by threads. I look down. At my hands. His hand was still braced on the wall. I¡¯m not sure where this is going. But I know where it shouldn¡¯t go. And that¡¯s exactly where we¡¯re standing. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what I want,¡± I say quietly. But it does. We both know it does. His hand drops from the wall. But only so he can catch my chin between his fingers, tilting my face up. His thumb brushes my lower lip. 1stop breathing. ¡°It matters,¡± he says. And he¡¯s so close I can feel the words against my skin. ¡°More than you think.¡± I should move. I should push him away. But my feet stay where they are. And my body leans in. Just enough. Just barely. He exhales again. A sound of restraint. Of frustration. Like holding back is costing him something. ¡°Tell me no,¡± he murmurs. And he means it. I can tell. I part my lips. But nothinges out. Because I don¡¯t want to say no. And he knows it. For one long, suspended moment, we just¡­ stay. His thumb was still on my lip. His breath still mingled with mine. Then- ¡°Hunter.¡± Caroline¡¯s voice cuts through the hallway like a knife. He drops his hand, but slowly. 11:03 Tue, 29 Jul G M GM Deliberately. Like he wants me to remember exactly where it was. And exactly how it felt. I step back. Or maybe he steps forward. I can¡¯t tell anymore. I just know there¡¯s space between us again. But not enough. He nces over his shoulder toward Caroline¡¯s voice. And then back at me. ¡°Later,¡± he says. Like a promise. Like a warning. And then he¡¯s gone. Leaving me with a heartbeat I can¡¯t slow down. And a mouth that still remembers the weight of his thumb, ¦¡¡¯ Comment Send gift No Ads taper 31 Legacy 31 ~HUNTER¡¯S POV- I shouldn¡¯t have danced with her. That¡¯s what I tell myself as I watch Celine from across the room. She¡¯s gathering the abandoned sses with that same soft focus she gives to every task. Like she¡¯s anywhere but here. Like she wants to melt into the wallpaper and disappear. But she can¡¯t. Not from me. I see her. And it¡¯s starting to piss me off how much I do. How much I can¡¯t stop. I swirl the whiskey in my ss, pretending it¡¯s the reason my hands are tense. It¡¯s not. ¡°You know,¡± Caroline says from beside me, ¡°I thought you had better self-control.¡± I turn to her slowly. She¡¯s smiling, but there¡¯s too much sharpness in her expression. Caroline always knew how to dig. ¡°Excuse me?¡± I ask, lifting my ss to my lips. The alcohol burns. It doesn¡¯t help. Caroline tilts her head. Her blonde hair is pinned back in a way that makes her look less dangerous than she is. She¡¯s been my cousin since birth. My best friend is longer than that. But right now, she¡¯s thest person I want dissecting me with those clever, knowing eyes. ¡°You heard me,¡± she says. ¡°Everyone¡¯s watching you, you know. Watching her.¡± I set the ss down. Too hard. It thuds against the wood, and Caroline¡¯s eyes flick to it, amused. She¡¯s always amused when I¡¯m unraveling. I don¡¯t say anything. Because there¡¯s nothing to say. And she knows it. Instead, I watch Celine hand off the tray of sses to another maid. Her fingers shake. Barely, but I notice. ¡°You disappeared that night,¡± Caroline says after a moment. Like she¡¯s talking about the weather. Like she¡¯s not cutting me open. I nce at her, annoyed. ¡°What night?¡± Her smile twists. ¡°The ckout party. Three years ago.¡± Istiffen. Immediately. The words alone pull something tight in my chest. Something I don¡¯t understand. I remember that night. Sort of. More like pieces of it. Blurred. Dark. Heat. Skin. The softest lips I¡¯ve ever touched. Augh. Brown eyes. Vani. But none of it fits together. And it drives me insane that I can¡¯t make it make sense. ¡°You left for over an hour,¡± Caroline says, swirling the red wine in her ss. ¡°I figured you¡¯d found someone to screw, but when you came back¡­ you looked wrecked. And you never told me why.¡± She nces at me, curious. Or maybe she already knows. Caroline always knows. ¡°I don¡¯t remember,¡± I tell her, my voice tow, it¡¯s the truth. And it¡¯s a tie. Because my body remembers. My hands remember. The taste of something sweet, the weight of someone beneath me, the way my chest felt like it might cave in when they whispered something I couldn¡¯t 114 recall. Her eyes sharpen. ¡°Maybe you should try.¡± I drag a hand through my hair, frustration burning under my skin. ¡°I¡¯ve tried,¡± I snap. ¡°Every goddamn night.¡± Her smile fades then. And she studies me in silence. For a long, long time. ¡°I used to think she was lying,¡± Caroline says quietly. I freeze. ¡°Celine?¡± Her name feels different when Caroline says it. Like a question. Like an usation. Or maybe a warning. Caroline nods, then sips her wine. Her gaze flicks back to Celine. ¡°She¡¯s hiding something. But maybe it¡¯s not what you think.¡± I swallow hard, my throat tight. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She looks at me again. Her expression is impossible to read. But I know her. And there¡¯s something dangerous in her voice when she speaks again. ¡°I think,¡± she says slowly, ¡°you should start asking the right questions, cousin.¡± She walks away after that. Like she didn¡¯t just throw a grenade into my chest and leave me holding the pin. That night, I can¡¯t sleep. I don¡¯t even try. I just lie there, staring at the ceiling like it has answers. Like if I stare long enough, something will click into ce. It doesn¡¯t. The house is too quiet. The parties are over. The guests are gone. But my mind is still full of noise. I close my eyes. Try to breathe. But all I can think about is the weight of Celine in my arms on the dance floor. The way she trembled when I touched her waist. The way she didn¡¯t pull away. The way she didn¡¯t want to pull away I press the heel of my palm to my forehead. Hard. As if I can push the memories out. The fragments. The shes. Warmth. Brown eyes. Vani. Soft sounds. A gasp. Her name- ¨C ¡®No, not her name.¡¯ I didn¡¯t know it then. I groan and roll over, kicking the sheets off. They¡¯re tangled around my legs. Like they always are. I¡¯m sweating. Again. And I hate it. This is the third night in a row I¡¯ve woken up like this. Hard. Breathless. Frustrated. But tonight¡¯s different. Because now I have something I didn¡¯t before. Caroline¡¯s words. ¡®You should start asking the right questions.¡¯ I sit up. Run both hands through my hair. And then I hear it. Soft. Like a whisper in the dark. A name. 2 ¡°Celine.¡± It echoes in my head, and for a second, I swear I can feel her. Her breath was on my neck. Her fingers are in my hair. Her body is under mine. I scrub a hand down my face. Fuck. This is getting out of control. But I can¡¯t stop now. I need answers. And I know exactly where to get them. I throw the covers off, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, My fest hit the cold floor, grounding me But it doesn¡¯t help. I stand anyway. I don¡¯t bother turning on the lights. I know this house in the dark. Better than anyone. And I know where she¡¯s sleeping, 1 know Keser to get there without anyone seeing. Without anyone hearing. I shouldn¡¯t go to her room. I know that. But the thing about crossing lines is¡­ Once you start, it gets easier. And easier. Until there¡¯s no line left to cros And right now, I want the truth more than I want to be g good. ~CELINE¡¯S POV- There¡¯s a certain silence that creeps in after chaos. A stillness that doesn¡¯t feel peaceful. It feels like the space between two breaths. Too quiet. Too heavy. I tucked Caesar in for the third time that night, smoothing my palm over his dark curls, He murmured something in his sleep, his little hand clutching the edge of the nket like he always did when he was restless. My heart tugged at the sight of him. I should¡¯ve protected him better tonight. I should¡¯ve-I stopped myself. There were too many should¡¯ve and not enough ways to fix them. And then I heard it. Voices. Soft at first. Just a murmur. But unmistakably close. I froze, my hand hovering above Caesar¡¯s tiny chest. His breathing remained steady,pletely unaware of the sudden shift in mine. Chapters first released on Find¡ïNovel I moved quietly toward the door, my bare feet silent against the cold floorboards. The hallway was dimly lit, but the soft voices carried through. Ana And¡­Him. ** I slid the door open a crack, holding my breath. And there he was. Hunter Reid. Except, he wasn¡¯t the man who stood above corporate empires or controlled rooms with a single look. He wasn¡¯t the man who danced with me tonight, his hand pressed firm against my back, his breath warm at my ear. He was something else now. Something worse. His ck T-shirt stretched across his chest, his grey/sweatpants hanging low on his hips. He looked almost¡­ normal. But his eyes. Those blue eyes didn¡¯t belong to a safe man. And for one unbearable second, they found mine. Neither of us moved. Neither of us blinked. And then I did the only thing that made sense. I shut the door. Leaning back against it, Llet my breath tremble out of me like I¡¯d been holding it all night My heart mmed against my ribs so hard, I thought I¡¯d bruise from the inside out. Why was he here? Why was he always here? AD Comment Send gift No Ads Legacy 32 HUNTER¡¯S POV I should walk away, I knew I should. But I didn¡¯t. I stood there, arms folded, staring at the grain in her door as Ana whispered something about linens and tomorrow¡¯s schedule that I wasn¡¯t listening to. I nodded. Or maybe I didn¡¯t. I wasn¡¯t sure. Because all I could think about was her. Celine. I wasn¡¯t supposed to be here. I wasn¡¯t supposed to care. I wasn¡¯t supposed to remember how it felt, holding her tonight on that dance floor-how her body had trembled under my hand like she was holding back from running. Or maybe from melting. I wasn¡¯t sure which. Ana stopped talking, waiting for me to say something. But then the door cracked open. I didn¡¯t expect it. I should have. But the moment her face appeared-eyes wide, cautious, beautiful in a way that knocked something loose in my chest-t couldn¡¯t move. And then she was gone again. Just like that. The soft snick of the door closing was louder than anything Ana had said. It echoed through me, all the way to the parts I kept locked away. I stared at the door for a moment longer. Maybe I wanted her to open it again. Maybe I wanted her to beg me to leave. Or maybe I wanted her to pull me inside. I didn¡¯t know. So I stepped back. And I walked away. ~CELINE¡¯S POV~ I pressed my palm t against the door as if I could feel him still standing there. But the hallway had gone quiet. Too quiet. He was gone. I didn¡¯t know if I was relieved or disappointed. I hated that it was both. And then I heard Ana. Her voice was low, almost conspiratorial. ¡°She doesn¡¯t even know,¡± Ana whispered. Another voice-maybe the head maid-hushed her quickly. But the words were out there now. Clinging to the air. A ¡®She doesn¡¯t even know.¡¯ My fingers curled into fists against the wood. I leaned my forehead to the door, closing my eyes. Didn¡¯t know what? Didn¡¯t know who? The questions twisted in my mind as I stood there, unmoving. And when I finally crawled back into bed next to Caesar, I didn¡¯t sleep. I stared at the ceiling, my heart racing. And thought of Hunter. And the look in his eyes. -HUNTER¡¯S POV- I didn¡¯t sleep that night. Again. I stood by my window, staring out into the dark, wondering what the hell I was doing Thad crossed lines: I had blurred them. And for what? For a woman I didn¡¯t trust. A woman i couldn¡¯t stay away from. But I couldn¡¯t stop remembering her face. And I couldn¡¯t stop hearing Caroline¡¯s voice from earlier. ¡°Maybe she¡¯s not tying about whatever the hon I was going to find out the truth. Even if it destroyed both of us. I¡¯ve been told I have a control issue. I¡¯ve always thought the word issue was an understatement. But this¡­ this was something else entirel / And I didn¡¯t know if it was control I was fighting for anymore. Or something darker. Something I didn¡¯t want to name. The morning starts quietly. Too quiet. The kind of quiet that makes you hear things you shouldn¡¯t. Like herugh. Soft and easy. And not meant for me. I lean back in the garden chair, bncing my phone between my shoulder and ear, pretending I give a damn about what Vincent¡¯s saying He¡¯s rambling about something. A woman he metst night. Or maybe two. He¡¯sughing. I¡¯m ¡°She had this thing she did with her tongue-¡± Vincent starts. I cut him off. ¡°Do you want toe over tonight or not?¡± A pause. Then a bark of augh. ¡°Reid, you sound like you need it more than me. What¡¯s with you?¡± I look up from my te, my eyes drifting- No. Locking-On her. Celine. Her back to me, her hair twisted into something loose and messy, a few strands falling down the back of her neck. She¡¯s hanging linens on the line like it¡¯s the most normal thing in the world. Like I¡¯m not watching her. Like she doesn¡¯t know I can¡¯t look away! And Cole. Cole fucking Bishop. Smiling that easy, charming smile that I hired him for. Not for this. Not for her. He says something that makes herugh again, and my grip tightens around the ss in my hand. ¡°Hunter?¡± Vincent¡¯s still talking. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tonight,¡± I say, hanging up. I put my phone down slowly like it weighs a hundred pounds. And I keep watching. Lunch doesn¡¯t make it any easier. I sit at the far end of the dining room, staring at the untouched food on my te. Watching, Always watching. Celine¡¯s on a step stool, reaching for something on the top shelf of the butler¡¯s pantry. It should be routine, Boring. Forgettable. But then Cole is there again. His hand is on her back as he steadies her. The contact lingers just a second too long. And her smile is too polite. Too practiced. But it¡¯s still a smile. And it¡¯s not for me. By the time she steps down, I¡¯ve already decided I¡¯m done watching. I¡¯m done pretending, 1 find her in the hallwayter. Carrying a tray of fresh linens, her steps quiet. She doesn¡¯t see me at first. Or maybe she does, and she¡¯s pretending the doesn¡¯t. Smart girl. I don¡¯t say anything right away. I let her feel me there. I let her know I¡¯m close. Closer than I should be. And when she finally looks up, I¡¯m already watching her. I don¡¯t hide it. ¡°You seem to be enjoying yourself,¡± I say. My voice is low. Calm. Too calm. Her eyes flicker, confused. Or cautious. Maybe both. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean, sir ¡± she answers carefully, her words neutral. Like she¡¯s testing the temperature of a room she already knows is on fire. I take a step forward. And she takes a breath like she¡¯s bracing herself. Smart girl. Don¡¯t trust me. I don¡¯t. ¡°Don¡¯t y innocent,¡± I murmur. I let my gaze drop. To her mouth. Back up. To her throat. And then her eyes again. Those eyes. They make me forget every good intention I ever pretended to have. ¡°First Nathan,¡± I continue, my tone sharper, ¡°now Cole?¡± I¡¯m not asking a question. I¡¯m using. And we both know it. Her throat works around a swallow. But she stands straighter. Like she¡¯s reminding herself she¡¯s not afraid. She should be. I¡¯m not even sure which version of me I¡¯m being right now. And I¡¯m the one wearing my skin. ¡°I¡¯m just doing my job,¡± she says quietly. Her words are even. Controlled. But I hear it. That small hitch in her breath. She¡¯s lying. To herself. Not to me. I can hear the truth in the silence between her words. Get full chapters from I always can. lift my hand. Not to touch her. Not yet. But to the wall beside her head. Trapping her there. Not with force. But with something else. Expectation. Desire. I¡¯m not sure whose. ¡°Keep it that way,¡± I say. My voice is rough. Low. The way it always is when I¡¯m holding back. And my gaze holds hers. Daring her to challenge me. Daring her to walk away. Her lips parted like she was about to say something. Something that might destroy me. Or save me. But then- ¡°There you are, Celine!¡± Cole¡¯s voice cuts through the moment like a de. Easy. Unaware. Too unaware. ¡°I could use your help again.¡± Celine blinks. I see the shift in her eyes. Relief. Or maybe disappointment. I¡¯m not sure which makes me angrier. I don¡¯t move. 03 Tue 29 JU I keep her there. Caged. Not touching. But close enough, Close enough to make sure she knows I could. Anyuint¨¦ I want. ¡°You¡¯re busy right now,¡± I say, loud enough for Cole to hear. But quiet enough that it sounds like something else to her. A promise. Or a threat. I¡¯m not sure anymore. Maybe it¡¯s both. Cole doesn¡¯t respond at first. I don¡¯t look at him. I don¡¯t care what he¡¯s thinking I only care that she doesn¡¯t move. And she doesn¡¯t. Good girl. I lower my hand slowly. Give her room to breathe. But not enough to leave. And then I step back. Just enough. Because I have to. Not because I want to. ¡°Come to my office when you¡¯re done here,¡± I tell her. And then I walk away. Before I do something I can¡¯t undo. Before I take something I¡¯m not ready to give back, I hear Cole call her name again. But I don¡¯t look back. Because if I do, I won¡¯t stop. And right now, there¡¯s no one left to stop me. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Legacy 33 CELINE¡¯S POV- The air in the hallway feels thick. Suffocating. It¡¯s pressing in on me from all sides. I should leave. I should walk past Hunter, answer Cole, and pretend this moment never happened. But I don¡¯t. Because Hunter doesn¡¯t move. His eyes stay locked on mine, dark and unreadable, the way they always are when he¡¯s thinking something he won¡¯t say out loud. His body is still, but there¡¯s a suspense in his stance-like he¡¯s holding himself back. Like if I push him, even a little, he might snap. I swallow hard and shift my weight, gripping Caesar¡¯s toy tighter. ¡°I should go,¡± I say, forcing my voice to stay calm. ¡°He¡¯s waiting.¡± Hunter¡¯s jaw tightens. And then, quietly-too quietly¨Che says, ¡°He can wait.¡± 1 blink. ¡°What?¡± Hunter Breathes out sharply, but it doesn¡¯t sound like frustration. It sounds like something heavier. Something he doesn¡¯t want to admit. And then his voice drops lower, colder. Sharper. ¡°Or maybe he can figure it out himself.¡± A chill runs down my spine. Not because I¡¯m afraid. But because I don¡¯t know what this is. This thing between us. I take a breath, steadying myself. ¡°Hunter¡­sir¡­¡± I corrected. He straightens. The movement is slow, and calcted. He steps back just enough to let me breathe. But not enough to set me free. ¡°Follow me.¡± It¡¯s not a request. It¡¯s amand. I hesitate. My heart ms against my ribs, and my head turns -just slightly-toward Cole. He¡¯s still waiting, probably wondering why I haven¡¯t answered. But in the end, I don¡¯t call out to him. I follow Hunter. The door closes behind us with a soft, deliberate click. Final. I stand there, gripping Caesar¡¯s toy like it¡¯s some kind of lifeline, while Hunter moves across the room with slow, measured steps. He doesn¡¯t look at me right away. Instead, he pours himself a drink-something dark, something strong-and lifts the ss to his lips. For a moment, I think he won¡¯t speak. But then- ¡°Why do you let them get so close?¡± His voice is smooth. Controlled. Too controlled, Like he¡¯s keeping something locked behind his teeth. My eyebrows knit together. ¡°I don¡¯t-¡± ¡°You do.¡± His gaze finally meets mine, and the intensity in his eyes nearly knocks the breath from my lungs. ¡°You have control, Celine.¡± The way he says my name makes my pulse stutter. I shake my head, my fingers tightening around the plush fabric of the stuffed toy. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Hunter exhales, shaking his head once like he doesn¡¯t believe me. Then he moves. Slowly. Deliberately. Until he¡¯s standing right in front of me. His presence is overwhelming. Not because he¡¯s touching me. But because he could And I don¡¯t know if I¡¯d stop him. ¡°You let him touch you,¡± Hunter says, his voice edged with something I can¡¯t quite ce. Something possessive. Something dangerous. I suck in a breath. ¡°He was helping,¡± I say, forcing my voice to stay even. Hunter¡¯s expression flickers. Anger. Frustration. Jealousy. He clenches his jaw, breathing out sharply. For a second, I think he might do something reckless. But then-He steps back. The air between us shifts. Expands. But the tension stays. His next wordse out low and firm. ¡°Stay away from him.¡± I blink. My lips part, ready to protest, ready to demand what right he has to say that. But before I can- The door swings open. Vincent. He leans against the doorframe, one eyebrow raised, a slow smirk tugging at his lips. ¡°Am 1 interrupting something?¡± Hunter doesn¡¯t move. His expression doesn¡¯t change. But something in the air shifts again. Read full story at Find?Novel ¡°You came over fast,¡± Hunter says coolly. ¡°I¡¯m impressed.¡± Vincent just grins. Too entertained. ¡°Rx,¡± he drawls, pushing off the doorframe. He pauses, then tilts his head slightly. ¡°Oh,¡± he adds, mockingly casual. ¡°Cole¡¯s looking for a certain Celine.¡± My stomach twists. Hunter¡¯s jaw clenches. Vincent watches him, eyes flickering with interest, like he¡¯s waiting for something. And I stand there. Frozen. Between them. My heart is pounding. Not just from what was happening in the study. But from him. From the way, Hunter looked at me. From the way, his words still cling to my skin like something I can¡¯t wash off. I feel trapped between them-Hunter and Vincent. Two different storms, both dangerous in their way. Hunter, with his unreadable eyes and sharp-edged control. Vincent, with his easy smirk and the way he watches too closely. I don¡¯t belong in that room, Not between them. ¡­e study. So I do the only thing I can. I nod-polite, quick-keeping my head down as I clutch Caesar¡¯s toy tighter and slip out Neither of them stops me. But I feel their eyes on my back the entire way. I don¡¯t stop moving. I weave through the hallway, past the other maids who nce at me, their curiosity-like whispers against my skin. I ignore them. I tell myself I need air. But what I need is space-from him. By the time I step into the garden, the fresh air barely helps. My breath is still rough. My hands still shake. And then I see Cole. He¡¯s waiting, standing near the rows of hanging linens, sunlight catching in his hair. When he spots me, his mouth lifts into an easy, warm smile. But I don¡¯t smile back. I can¡¯t. I¡¯m too shaken. Too tangled in the ¡°You okay?¡± he asks, his voice gentle. I just walked away from. Cole¡¯s smile falters slightly. His brows pull together as he studies me. I open my mouth to respond. But the only thing plush fabric of Caesar¡¯s toy. is Hunter¡¯s voice. ¡°Stay away from him.¡± I swallow hard, my fingers tightening around the And I lie. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± HUNTER¡¯S POV- Vincent doesn¡¯t leave right away. He watches Celine slip through the door, his smirk slow and knowing, before turning back to me. And I already know what¡¯sing. Vincent leanszily against my desk, as if he belongs here, like he¡¯s always belonged anywhere he damn well pleases. He lets out a low whistle, tilting his ss in my direction. ¡°That maid of yours,¡± he drawls, his voice carrying that familiar edge of amusement. ¡°You act like you hate her, but I¡¯m not blind.¡± I don¡¯t respond. I don¡¯t need to. My jaw tightens, my grip on my drink flexing. Vincent sees it. Of course, he does. And heughs, pouring himself another drink without asking. ¡°Cole¡¯s making moves and you¡¯re just standing there. Interesting I shoot him a warning look. ¡°Stay out of it.¡± ¡± But Vincent? He never stays out of anything. He circles, pushing buttons just to see which ones will crack. ¡°You sure you want to let someone else take her?¡± His voice is lighter than it should be, but I know him too well. He¡¯s watching me closely. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re not the man I thought you were.¡± My fingers tighten around my ss, but my voice stays even. ¡°I don¡¯t care what she does. She¡¯s just a maid.¡± I force the words out. But they taste wrong. Bitter. Like a lie, I don¡¯t believe. Vincent shrugs, tipping his ss to his lips. ¡°If you say so.¡± He turns, heading for the door. But just as he reaches it, he pauses. nces back at me over his shoulder. And then he delivers the final blow. ¡°Cole¡¯s with her right now, you know.¡± A deliberate pause. ¡°Smiling. Touching.¡± 11.04 Tue, 29 Ju J¨²l GM His smirk deepens, a challenge in his eyes. ¡°You might want to figure out how much of Just a maid¡¯ she i e is to you. The door clicks shut behind him. And I¡¯m left drink. With the silence. With the alone. With my unbearable truth wing its way through my chest, I don¡¯t want to care. But I do. 1 AD Send gift No Ads Legacy 34 CELINE¡¯S POV I focus on the linen in my hands. One piece at a time, folding each sheet carefully, like it¡¯s the most important thing in the world. Like my hands aren¡¯t still shaking. The sun is warm, the breeze soft. It should be a peaceful moment. But my mind is somewhere else. Back in that study. Back with him. I swallow hard, pushing the thought away. Caesar giggles, dragging my attention back. He¡¯s staring at a drawing in Cole¡¯s hands, eyes wide with delight. ¡°That¡¯s you!¡± Caesar beams, pointing excitedly at the scribbled sketch. Cole grins, ruffling Caesar¡¯s hair. ¡°Not bad, huh? Think I captured your good side?¡± Caesar nods enthusiastically, clutching the paper like it¡¯s a treasure. I can¡¯t help but smile at them. And then Cole turns to me, gently nudging my arm. ¡°You¡¯ve got secrets, don¡¯t you?¡± The smile fades from my lips. My fingers tighten around the linen, but I force out augh. A quiet one. The kind that doesn¡¯t quite reach my eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t we all?¡± Cole studies me for a second too long, like he¡¯s trying to read between the lines. I nce back toward the house, my pulse picking up. The weight of something unseen presses against my chest. I can¡¯t shake the feeling of Hunter¡¯s gaze. Even when he¡¯s not there. When I turn back, Cole is still watching me. But his smile softens, and so does his voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± He leans in just slightly, just enough to feel safe. ¡°I¡¯m not the kind of guy who pushes.¡± Something in me loosens. Notpletely. But enough. HUNTER¡¯S POV~ The crackes before I even realize I¡¯m gripping the ss too hard. A sharp snap, followed by the slow,zy slide of liquid down my fingers. I nce down. Whiskey pools in my palm, a thin line of red where the ss bit into my skin. I don¡¯t feel it. Not really. Because all I can see is her. Celine. Laughing. Rxing. With him. Cole leans in, too damn close, his hand brushing her arm like it belongs there. Like he¡¯s testing the waters And she lets him. My jaw tightens. I shouldn¡¯t care. I tell myself that again and again, but the lie burns going down harder than the whiskey. Vincent¡¯s words linger in my head, mocking. ¡°You might want to figure out how much of ¡®just a maid¡¯ she is to you.¡± I already know the answer. And that pisses me off even more. I exhale slowly, setting the broken ss down with careful precision, watching as a drop of blood seeps into the expensive wood of my ches Cole says something else, and she smiles. Not the polite one she gives me. A real one. Something inside me snaps. I turn from the window, already moving. ¡°You can sit here all day and sulk like a brooding asshole, or¡±-Vincent sprawls across my desk like he owns the ce ¡°you cane out, have a drink. and remind yourself that you¡¯re Hunter Reid. Not some lovesick idiot losing his mind over a maid,¡± I don¡¯t react. Not outwardly. But the word tastes bitter. Maid. Like that¡¯s all she is. Like that¡¯s all she¡¯s ever been. I turn my gaze back to the window. Celine¡¯s still outside, kneeling in front of Caesar,ughing softly as she presses a kiss to his cheek. The kid giggles, tugging at her sleeves, eyes full of admiration. Then there¡¯s him. Cole. Standing just close enough to make my patience unravel, like he¡¯s trying to inch his way into something that doesn¡¯t belong to him. I force my grip to loosen before I break another ss. Vincent watches me carefully. Too carefully. Then he smirks like he¡¯s figured something out. ¡°Unbelievable. This is happening.¡± I drag my eyes away from the window. ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± Vincent straightens,ughing under his breath. ¡°You. Losing your mind over her.¡± He shakes his head, looking genuinely entertained. ¡°Tell me, when was thest time a woman made you this tense? Hell, when was thest time anything made you feel this out of control?¡± I exhale sharply, running a hand over my jaw. ¡°You¡¯re being dramatic.¡± ¡°No,¡± he counters smoothly, ¡°I¡¯m being right.¡± Then he grins. ¡°But lucky for you, I have the perfect solution.¡± I already hate whatever¡¯sing next. ¡°Let¡¯s go out.¡± I stare at him. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time for that.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have time not to,¡± Vincent argues, standing up. ¡°Because if you sit here any longer, you¡¯re going to overthink this into something even worse. You¡¯re going to let her get further under your skin. And for what? A woman who doesn¡¯t belong to you?¡± Something tightens in my chest, sharp and immediate. Vincent sees it. Of course, he does. He steps closer, lowering his voice like he¡¯s speaking the only truth I need to hear. ¡°You¡¯re Hunter Reid. The man who never loses control. So stop acting like you¡¯re about to lose your mind over some maid.¡± His wordsnd exactly where he wants them to. And I hate it. But not enough to ignore them. Not enough to stay here. ¡°Fine,¡± I say finally. ¡°One drink.¡± Vincent grins. ¡°Yeah, yeah. One drink, Let¡¯s see how long thatsts.¡± When Ie downstairs, dressed in dark jeans and a fitted shirt, Vincent looking far too smug beside me, I don¡¯t expect her to be the first thing i ce But of course, she is. Celine is standing in the courtyard, still kneeling in front of Caesar, whisper her touch gentle, protective. something that makes the kidugh again. Her hands cup his little face Then, in a move that makes my chest tighten, she kisses his cheek, grinning when he giggles. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? findnovel Something about the sight of it-of her-makes something shift violen She¡¯s too soft. Too warm. Too much. And I don¡¯t know what the hell to do with that. Tho ¡°The designs are done,¡± he says smoothly, slipping his hands into his p
O Cole approaches me from the side, dragging my attention away. ¡°I left the sketches on your desk.¡± I nod, barely looking at him. Vincent doesn¡¯t even bother hiding his amusement as he watches the exchange. ¡°You¡¯re all business, huh?¡± he drawls, eyeing the tension radiating off me. ¡°No ¡®thank you,¡¯ no ¡®good job¡¯-just a nod?¡± Cole shrugs, unfazed. ¡°I don¡¯t need a thank you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Vincent smirks, ¡°because you weren¡¯t gonna get one.¡± Cole chuckles under his breath but doesn¡¯t push. Smart. Then Celine finally notices me. Her body stiffens, her expression guarded as she rises to her feet, hands lightly settling Something about the movement twists inside my chest. on Caesar¡¯s shoulders-*like she¡¯s hiding him from me.* But I say nothing. I just meet her stare with the same cold, unreadable expression! I always The head maid appears beside us then, her eyes flicking to Celine with something close to noyance before turning to me. ¡°What should I prepare for your dinner tonight, sir?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother,¡± I say shortly. Before she can respond, Vincent slings an arm around my shoulder and grins. ¡°No need for dinner ns, sweetheart. I¡¯m taking Hunter out to get screwed up and fucked by some other women.¡± A loud gasp echoes through the courtyard. The head maid¡¯s hand flies to her chest, her face instantly turning red. Celine¡¯s eyes widen slightly before she recovers, quickly covering Caesar¡¯s ears with both hands, and shaking her head at Vincent. ¡°S mutters. Vincent only grins wider. ¡°What? The kid doesn¡¯t know what it means.¡± He pauses, ncing down at Caesar. ¡°Do you, buddy?¡± Celine shoots him a re. ¡°Pervert.¡± Vincent raises his hands innocently, but his smirk lingers. Cole stays quiet beside her, his gaze unreadable as he watches me. sly?¡± she I don¡¯t say anything. I I don¡¯t have
And maybe they¡¯re right. Because I know 1 what they¡¯re all thinking. That I¡¯m running. That I¡¯m trying fo drown out something I can¡¯t controle But I don¡¯t care. Because one way of another, I will i regain control. Even if Fit means losing myself for a little while. A Comment Send gift No Ads Legacy 35 HUNTER¡¯S POV- The club is loud. Too loud. The bass thrums through my chest, banging inside me like a second heartbeat. Bodies move around me, neon lights slicing through the darkness, illuminating faces I don¡¯t recognize-and don¡¯t care to. The air is thick with sweat, alcohol, and desperation. Vincent, on the other hand, is thriving. He leans against the bar like he owns the ce, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he watches me with amusement. ¡°See?¡± he shouts over the music, pping a hand on my shoulder. ¡°This is exactly what you needed.¡± I take a slow sip of my drink, feeling the burn of whiskey slide down my throat. I don¡¯t answer. I¡¯m not sure if I agree, A woman slides into the space next to me, her perfume cloying and sweet. She¡¯s gorgeous-long legs, dark eyes, a perfect, practiced smile. She leans in, pressing her fingers lightly against my arm. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen you here before,¡± she purrs. ¡°You don¡¯t look like the type.¡± I should be interested. I should let my gaze linger, let her pull me into the mindless distractions that Vincent so clearly wants for me. But when she touches me, something sharp twists inside my chest. My mind shes, unbidden, to the way Celine touched Caesar¡¯s cheek earlier, the softness in her eyes, the way herugh had spilled out, light and easy. I down the rest of my drink and signal for another. ¡°Hunter,¡± Vincent drawls, watching me like a man who knows exactly what¡¯s happening in my head. ¡°Tell me are you drinking to enjoy yourself or drinking to forget?¡± I ignore him. Instead, I turn back to the woman beside me, forcing myself to focus. ¡°You were saying?¡± I ask, voice smooth, detached. Her smile returns, pleased at my attention. ¡°Just that I don¡¯t usually see men like you in ces like this.¡± Men like me. She doesn¡¯t know what the hell she¡¯s talking about. exhale slowly, leaning in just enough to make her breath hitch. ¡°And what kind of man do you think I am?¡± The flirtation is easy-too easy. She tilts her chin up, eyes twinkling, waiting for me to make a move. But I don¡¯t. Because suddenly, I¡¯m remembering something else A different night. A different touch. Celine brushed/past me in the hallway, the warmth of her body so close, her scent lingering in the air between us. My stomach tightens. Fuck. ¡°Hunter.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice cuts through my thoughts like a de. When I look at him, he isn¡¯t smirking anymore. His gaze is sharp, unreadable. ¡°You can screw a hundred women tonight,¡± Vincent says, swirling the amber liquid in his ss. ¡°And it still won¡¯t get her out of your head My grip tightens around my ss. Vincent tilts his head slightly. Waiting. Pushing. Enjoying this. ! don¡¯t want to give him the satisfaction. I don¡¯t want to acknowledge that Celine has gotteri under my skin, that no matter how much I drink, no matter how much I try to distract myself, she¡¯s there. She¡¯s always there. The woman next to me says something, but I don¡¯t hear it. I¡¯m already standing, m I need control. pulse hammering in my skull. I need air. But then-someone shoves past me, hard, knocking against my shoulder. I barely react, , but Vincent sees it. He chuckles. ¡°Go ahead,¡± he murmurs, tipping his ss toward me. ¡°Lose control. You¡¯ll feel better.¡± My jaw clenches. And then-I do. Before I can stop myself, I turn, find the guy who shoved me, and grab him by the cor. The music swells, the crowd around us parting as I m him against the bar. The guy sputters, raising his hands. ¡°What the fuck, man?¡± But I don¡¯t care. Because for the first time all night, my mind is silent. And I¡¯m not thinking about Celine anymore. Not at all. The guy struggles in my grip, his hands shoving at my chest, but I don¡¯t let go. My fingers tighten around his cor, my pulse hammering in my skull.. The music pounds in my ears, the neon lights shing in time with my erratic heartbeat. ¡°Hey, man! Chill the fuck out!¡± His voice is panicked now, eyes wide as he nces around for help. I barely hear him. I¡¯m not here. Not really. I¡¯m somewhere else-back at the house, watching Celine tuck Caesar beb I her like she needed to shield him from me. As if I was something to be afraid of. grind my teeth, shaking the thought away, but it sticks, sinking its ws into my chest. ¡°You gonna throw a punch, or just stand there holding him like an idiot?¡± Vincent¡¯s voice slices through the moment, low and taunting. That makes me hesitate. Because he wants this. He wants me to snap, to lose control, to prove whatever point he¡¯s been circling all night. That I care too much. That I¡¯m unraveling over someone I shouldn¡¯t even think twice about. I shove the guy back roughly, releasing my grip. He stumbles, cursing, but doesn¡¯te at me again. Smart. Vincent just smirks. ¡°That was almost fun¡± I don¡¯t answer him. I grab my drink, swallowing the rest in one burning gulp before mming the ss down onto the bar. My hands are shaking. pisses me off. I need to get the hell out of here. But Vincent isn¡¯t done. As I turn to leave, he steps in front of me, blocking my path. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again,¡± he muses, tapping his fingers against his ss. ¡°You can screw a hundred women tonight, and it still won¡¯t change a damn thing.¡± I re at him. ¡°And what exactly do you think that is?¡± His smirk deepens. ¡°That you¡¯re fucked, my friend.¡± I push past him. I don¡¯t stop to see if he follows. I don¡¯t care. The club is suffocating now, the air thick with alcohol and perfume, but none of it can drown out the scent still stuck in my memory. Celine. It¡¯s always her. I storm outside, sucking in a lungful of cool air, but it doesn¡¯t help. The night is dark, the city buzzing around me, but all I can see is her. Her hands. Her eyes. The way she looked at me* before I left. Like she knew. Like she saw right through me. I drag a hand through my hair, breathing hard. This is insane. She¡¯s a damn maid. That¡¯s what I keep telling myself. But it¡¯s a lie. And we both know it. ~CELINE¡¯S POV~ I tell myself it doesn¡¯t bother me. Hunter left with Vincent, the way Vincent had smirked, the way Hunter had looked right through me before walking out the door-it shouldn¡¯t matter. But it does. And I hate that it does. I keep busy. That¡¯s what I do. I gather the linens, fold them, and smooth them out like my hands aren¡¯t shaking. I tuck Caesar into bed, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead as he sighs in his sleep: I sit with Cole in the garden for a while, listening as he talks about his design ns, trying to let the sound of his voice drown out the thoughts circling in my head. Cole watches me. He¡¯s careful about it like he doesn¡¯t want me to notice, but I do. ¡°You okay?¡± he finally asks. I force a smile. ¡°Of course.¡± He doesn¡¯t look convinced, but he doesn¡¯t push/Instead, he nudges my arm yfully. ¡°I don¡¯t think Hunter is a bad guy, althoug I stiffen butugh anyway. ¡°You think?¡± ould smile a little?¡± He smiles, but it doesn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. And when I nce toward the house, I know why. Because I¡¯m looking for someone who isn¡¯t here, Because even when Hunter isn¡¯t in the room, he is. 14 E I should sleep. I should let it go. But when the house is quiet, when everyone else has settled into the kind of peace I can¡¯t seem to find, I slip outside. The night air is crisp, wrapper around me as I walk aimlessly-except it isn¡¯t aimless at all. I tell myself I¡¯m just checking to make sure everywhere is locked. I just want to make sure he¡¯s still asleep, safe and sound. But my feet take me down the hall, past the kitchen, toward the one ce I shouldn¡¯t be drawn to. Hunter¡¯s wing. I don¡¯t even know why I stop. Why do I stay outside his door like I¡¯m waiting for something? But maybe I do know. Maybe I¡¯ve known for a while now. And Then He¡¯s There. The sound of footsteps. Slow, uneven. The scrape of shoes against the marble. I turn just as Hunter steps into the dimly lit hallway. My breath catches. He looks¡­ wrecked. His shirt is unbuttoned at the cor, his sleeves pushed up haphazardly. There¡¯s a flush to his skin, the kind that onlyes from drinking too much, from trying to forget. His hair is a mess like he¡¯s run his hands through it a hundred times. And his eyes-God, his eyes. They lock onto mine, dark and unreadable. Something inside me clenches. He exhales, slow and heavy. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± His voice is low, and rough around the edges. I could ask him the same thing. I could pretend this is nothing. But I can¡¯t lie to myself tonight. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I admit, barely above a whisper. His gaze flickers-something unreadable, something dangerous, And then, just like that, the space between us snaps wide open. The source of th?s content is find[f]ovel € Comment Send gift No Ads Legacy 36 Chapter 36 Chapter 36 CELINE¡¯S POV~ Hunter looks like a mess. Worse than a mess. His shirt is wrinkled, his cor loose, his hair disheveled like he¡¯s been running his hands through it all night. There¡¯s a dark flush to his skin, the kind that onlyes from too much whiskey, too many mistakes. His eyes are ssy but sharp, locked I onto me like I¡¯m the only thing keeping him standing. Checktest chapters at ?ovelFind And I should leave. I should turn around, whisper a quick goodnight, and forget that I ever wandered here in the first ce. But I don¡¯t. Because the moment stretches too long. Because Hunter doesn¡¯t look at me like I¡¯m just a maid. Because despite everything, a part of me wonders if he wants me here. He lets out a slow breath, then rakes a hand through his hair, as if trying to pull himself together. His lips tilt, just slightly. ¡°Are you going to stand out there all night, or do you want a drink?¡± I blink. ¡°A drink?¡± He gestures vaguely behind him, toward the dimly lit study.¡°That¡¯s what people do when they¡¯re too tired to sleep.¡± I hesitate, every warning bell in my head screaming at me. I shouldn¡¯t. I really shouldn¡¯t. But instead of walking away, I hear myself say, ¡°I don¡¯t think another drink is what you need right now.¡± It¡¯s barely above a whisper, but he hears it anyway. His smirk deepens. ¡°You might be right,¡± he murmurs. ¡°But I need something.¡± And before I can change my mind, he steps aside, holding the door open. And I walk in. Hunter¡¯s study is nothing like I expected. It¡¯s not just a room¨Cit¡¯s a sanctuary. The walls are lined with bookshelves, and dark wood stretching up to the ceiling. A fire burns low in the firece, casting long shadows across the room. The scent of whiskey lingers in the air, thick and heady. For someone as cold as Hunter, the space is¡­ warm, Almost intimate. I don¡¯t belong here. I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly too aware of how small I feel in the room. Of how present he is. Hunter doesn¡¯t say anything as he moves to the bar, pouring himself another drink. His movements are slow, methodical¨Clike he¡¯s trying to ground himself. I should say something. Make an excuse. But the words tangle in my throat. ¡°Do you always wander the house at night?¡± His voice is casual, but there¡¯s something sharper beneath it. I force myself to meet his gaze. ¡°Do you alwayse home looking like that?¡± Hunter smirks, taking a slow sip of his drink. ¡°Touch¨¦.¡± The silence stretches between us, thick and unspoken. Then, without warning, he steps closer. I take a breath, but it catches in my throat. ¡°You¡¯re hiding something,¡± he says, voice lower now. ¡°And I won¡¯t stop until I figure it out.¡± My pulse stutters. I shouldugh it off, and make some sarcastic remark, but I can¡¯t. Because the way he¡¯s looking at me¨Clike he sees straight through me¨Cmakes it impossible to hide. I feel the weight of the past pressing down on me. The exhaustion. The loneliness. The years of fighting for a future that was never mine to have. And suddenly, something inside me snaps. ¡°You want to know the truth, Sir?¡± My voice is sharper than I nned, but I don¡¯t stop. ¡°I¡¯ve spent my entire life¨Cfighting. Fighting to be seen. Fighting to survive. I worked myself into the ground for a future that never came, and then one mistake¨Cone¨Cchanged everything¡± Hunter goes still. I swallow hard, my chest rising and falling too fast. ¡°I was neen,¡± I continue, my voice barely above a whisper. ¡°One night. That¡¯s all it was. And then I had Caesar. And suddenly, my life wasn¡¯t just mine anymore. Suddenly, I was a single mother with nothing but a dream I couldn¡¯t afford.¡± . I breathed out, shaking my head. ¡°You think I¡¯m hiding something? I wish I had something to hide. But this is it. This is my life. And I have spent every second of it wing my way forward, hoping¨Cpraying¨Cthat I won¡¯t fail the one person who needs me.¡± Silence. A heavy, suffocating silence. I don¡¯t look at him. I can¡¯t. I stare at the floor, my chest rising and falling, my entire body trembling from the weight of everything I¡¯ve just said. And then- Hunter steps closer. Slow. Deliberate. When he speaks, his voice is softer than I¡¯ve ever heard it. ¡°Tell me everything, Celine.¡± And for the first time, I see something human in him. ~HUNTER¡¯S POV~ Celine is crying. And I don¡¯t know what the hell to do about it. Her words still echo in my head. The weight of them. The exhaustion in her voice, the quiet heartbreak behind every syble. 2/4 1011 She¡¯s curled in on herself on the floor, arms wrapped tightly around her knees like she¡¯s trying to make herself smaller. Like she¡¯s trying to disappear But I see her. I¡¯ve always seen her. Her hair falls in front of her face, shielding her from me, and something about that¨Cit just irritates me. I reach forward, hesitating for half a second bartons tucking a strand behind her ear. My fingers graze her skin, and she flinches¨Cjust slightly. Not because she¡¯s afraid. Because she feels it too. Her eyes flick up to mine, wide and ssy with unshed tears. Confused. Vulnerable. And fuck, she¡¯s beautiful. Even now. Especially now. My chest tightens. I hate this. I hate her for making me feel like this. I hate myself more for wanting to pull her closer instead of walking away. in from ¡°S I shift, lowering myself to my knees in Her breath hitches. of her. Neither of us speaks. The room is silent except for the crackling fire and the unsteady rhythm of her breathing. My hand moves before I can stop it, my thumb brushing the tear¨Cstained skin of her cheek. She leans into it. Just barely. Just enough. And suddenly, it feels like the mood between us isn¡¯t air at all, but something heavier. Something charged. My fingers trail down, tracing the soft line of her wrist. I feel her pulse hammering beneath my touch. I exhale slowly. ¡°Why do you make me feel like this?¡± Celine swallows hard. ¡°Like what?¡± Her voice is barely a whisper. I don¡¯t answer. Because I don¡¯t know the answer. Or maybe I do. Maybe that¡¯s the problem. I shift closer. My fingers curl around her wrist. Her lips parted, her breath warm against my skin. And fuck¨CI want to kiss her. I could. I should. It would be so easy. Just a tilt of my head, a breath of space between us¨CI¡¯m so close- And then- I curse under my breath, my whole body tensing. And I pull away. Fast. Abrupt. Like touching her was a mistake I can¡¯t afford to make again. Her expression flickers. Hurt. Confusion. Something else. I force myself to my feet, running a hand through my hair, already regretting this whole damn night. ¡°Forget this ever happened,¡± I mutter, my voice sharp. Cold. Like none of this meant anything. Like she doesn¡¯t mean anything. Then I turn and walk away. Because if I don¡¯t- I might do something I can¡¯t take back.. Legacy 37 hapter 37 Chapter 37 -CELINE¡¯S POV- I notice it immediately. The change. The space. The agonizing silence. Breakfast is usually tense, but today, it¡¯s different. Hunter doesn¡¯t throw any the table. remarks my way. Doesn¡¯t send one of his unreadable nces across He doesn¡¯t even look at me. I linger at the dining room entrance, waiting for something¨Canything¨Cbut he just keeps eating, scrolling through his phone like I don¡¯t exist. Likest night never happened. Vincent had crashed here,ing back all wasted and puking his lungs out, the head maid had almost lost her wit, trying to get him upstairs to the guest room. And, of course, picks up on it. He always does. ¡°What¡¯s with the mood, Reid?¡± Vincent smirks, stabbing into his eggs. ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep well?¡± Hunter doesn¡¯t even nce up. ¡°I slept fine.¡± My hands clench at my sides. Why does this bother me so much? I tell myself I¡¯m imagining the effect in his voice, the hesitation. Thatst night didn¡¯t mean anything¨Cnot to him, not to me. It shouldn¡¯t. So why does it feel like something between us has shifted? I keep telling myself I don¡¯t care. But I feel it. The way he moves around me like I¡¯m not even there. If I walk into a room, he leaves. If I speak, he barely responds. That afternoon, I bring him coffee¨Chis usual order. He takes it without looking up, fingers curling around the cup like it appeared there by magic. No nce. No, thank you. For the first time since I started working here, I wonder what would happen if I just¡­ took it back. If I grabbed the cup from his hands and left. Would he notice then? Would he care? But I don¡¯t do it. Instead, I let out a quiet breath, turned on my heel, and walked away. Like he did. I found him in the study that night. He¡¯s standing by the window, a drink in his hand, staring out at the city like it holds all the answers. I know he hears me enter. I know he feels me there. But he doesn¡¯t turn. Doesn¡¯t acknowledge me. Just like all day. And maybe if I were someone else, I¡¯d let it go. Maybe ifst night had meant nothing to me, I¡¯d pretend it didn¡¯t exist. But I¡¯m not someone else. So I don¡¯t. I take a step forward, crossing my arms. ¡°Are you going to ignore me forever?¡± Hunter exhales, setting his drink down. Slowly, finally, his gaze flickers to me. 10:45 Wed, 30 Jul GO For a second, I think I see something there. A hesitation, a crack in the mask he¡¯s been wearing all day. But then it¡¯s gone. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡± His tone is t. ! let out a quiet, bitterugh. ¡°You¡¯ve looked at me all day.¡± He leans back against the desk, arms s crosse studying me. The silence between us is heavier than words. Finally, he speaks, voice low. ¡°Last night was a mistake.¡± The words hit harder than I expected. I should be relieved. I should thank him for making things clear. But my chest tightens anyway. I swallow hard. ¡°A mistake?¡± His expression is unreadable, but his hands clench slightly against the desk. ¡°Yes.¡± 0 Then he moves. Steps closer. Not too close. But closer. ¡°And I don¡¯t repeat mistakes.¡± I lift my chin, forcing a smile, even as something inside me twists. ¡°Then you don¡¯t have to worry,¡± I say lightly. ¡°Because I won¡¯t make that mistake either.¡± I turn, my pulse hammering, my thoughts spinning. But before I can reach the door¨CHunter suddenly grabs my wrist. ¡°Celine-¡± His voice is softer this time. Almost¡­ regretful. I freeze. Our eyes meet. For a second¨Cjust a second¨CI think he¡¯s going to take it back. Maybe he doesn¡¯t believe his own words either. But then¨CHe lets go. Like touching me burns. Like it never happened. I walk out without another word. And as soon as the door closes behind me, I hear
  1. it.
The quick, broken exhale. Like he¡¯s barely holding himself together. ~HUNTER¡¯S POV~ Celine does exactly what I told her to do. She stays away She stops bringing me coffee. Stops sneaking nces at me when she thinks I¡¯m not looking. Stops speaking unless necessary. She treats me like t don¡¯t exist. And I should be fine with it. Hell, I should be relieved. But I¡¯m not. At first, I pretend not to notice. She¡¯s just a maid. Her silence shouldn¡¯t affect me. It doesn¡¯t matter that she doesn¡¯t look at me anymore. She barely even acknowledges my presence. I tell myself I don¡¯t care. But then I see her. Smiling more. Laughing more. At him. At Cole. 10:45 Wed, 30 Jul G I catch it in moments. Little things that I never used to pay attention to. Like the way, her eyes c s crinkle when Vincent says something ridiculous at breakfast. Or how she tilts her head back when sheughs,pletely unaware of how it shifts the entire room¡¯s energy. Like how Cole has suddenly be the funniest damn guy in the world. I watch as he leans in too close, whispering something in her ear. She swats at his arm,ughing softly. It¡¯s not forced. Not polite. It¡¯s real. And I hate it. More than I should. That evening, I stepped into the hallway just in time to see them together. Celine is handing Cole a tray of drinks for the staff, but instead of just taking it, he lets his fingers brush against hers¨Ctoo slow, too intentional. And she lets him. She smiles at him like he¡¯s charming. Like he¡¯s worth smiling at. My grip tightens at my sides. Then Cole says something that makes me see red. ¡°You work too much, Celine. Let me take you out sometime. You deserve a break.¡± Celine hesitates. Her eyes flicker to the floor. And she looks like she might consider it. Something in me snaps. Before I can stop myself, I close the distance between us, my presence swallowing the space. Cole barely has time to react before my voice cuts through the moment, sharp and cold. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have time for distractions.¡± Celine¡¯s head jerks up, startled by my sudden presence. Cole raises an eyebrow, amused. Not intimidated. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s your decision, Hunter,¡± he says smoothly. . I don¡¯t look at him. I look at her. Her lips parted slightly, eyes searching mine as if she were trying to figure out why the hell I was doing this. She sees it. The possessiveness. The frustration. The thing I won¡¯t say out loud. And then, without thinking, I do something reckless. I reach for her wrist and pull her away. ¡°Excuse us,¡± I mutter, my grip firm but careful. Celine barely has time to react before I drag her down the hall, away from Cole, away from everyone else. She yanks her arm free the second we¡¯re alone. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± she demands, eyes zing. I blew out sharply, running a hand through my hair. I don¡¯t have an answer. I just know I didn¡¯t like seeing her with someone else. I didn¡¯t like the way Cole touched her. Didn¡¯t like the way she let him. I grit my teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t go with him.¡± Celine stares at me, incredulous. ¡°Why not?¡± I clench my jaw. Because I¡¯m selfish. Because I don¡¯t want her to. Because the thought of her being with someone else makes my blood boil. But instead of saying any of that, all thates out is¡ª ?/¨¤ ¡°Because I said so.¡± Her eyes widen. And then- Sheughs. Not a happyugh. A sharp, bitter one. ¡°Right,¡± she says, shaking her head. ¡°You don¡¯t want me, but you don¡¯t want anyone else to have me either. Got it.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t get to do this sir¡± she muttered as she bit her lower lips in frustration. She turns her heel, walking away without waiting for a response. Follow current nov?ls on find{n}ovel Because there isn¡¯t one. Not one I can say. Not one she would ept. I stand there, watching her leave, my pulse hammering in my ears. And for the first time in a long time- I feelpletely, utterly speechless. Legacy 38 Chapter 38 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- Some days, I wake up knowing the world will test me. Today is one of those days. Charlotte was already pushing limits before noon, refusing to show up for a scheduled shoot, I called her orice. No answer. Twice. Straight to voicemail The third time, she finally picked up, her voice dripping with fake innocence. ¡°Migraine,¡± she sighed. ¡°I need rest, Hunter.¡± I pinched the bridge of my nose, pacing the hallway outside my office. ¡°You need a reality check.¡± Silence. Then a petnt whine. ¡°You¡¯re being dramatic.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your boyfriend, Charlotte. I don¡¯t have to put up with this.¡± My jaw tightened as I nced at my watch. I didn¡¯t have time for this. ¡°Show up tomorrow, or don¡¯t bother showing up at all.¡± I hung up before she could spin another excuse. I didn¡¯t need distractions. And yet, the moment I looked up, I found one. Cole. Standing casually in the hallway, hands in his pockets, that smug, self¨Csatisfied smirk stretching across his face. My patience was already a fragile thread. His presence? Thest straw. ¡°Follow me,¡± I said, not waiting for a response. Cole didn¡¯t hesitate, didn¡¯t even look remotely concerned. That irritated me more. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find_Novel(. My staff scrambled out of my way as I walked past. They knew better than to speak when I was like this. Cole should too. The door shut with a quiet click. Cole sat before I even offered, draping himself across the chair like he belonged there. Like he owned the ce. I leaned against my desk, arms crossed. ¡°Drink?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be long.¡± Trantion: ¡®Let¡¯s not pretend this is friendly.¡® Cole exhaled, stretching his legs out. ¡°I assume this is about the estate renovations?¡± tilted my head slightly, fingers tapping against the desk. That wasn¡¯t why we were here. ¡°I want to know when you¡¯ll be done.¡± My voice was clipped, businesslike. Cole studied me before responding. ¡°I gave you a timeline.¡± ¡°Then stick to it.¡± The tension shifted. Thickened. I could see it¨Cthe moment Cole realized this wasn¡¯t about business. And still, he yed along. ¡°You¡¯re this pissed over a few weeks¡® dy?¡± I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temple before finally snapping. ¡°Stop ying with her emotions, Cole. And stop making her false promises.¡± 10:45 Wed, 30 Jul & O That got a reaction. Cole, who had been too rxed until now, paused mid¨Cmotion. His eyes narrowed slightly before something sharp¨Csomething dangerous¨Clickered across his face. Then, slowly, he smirked. ¡°Nice words, cousin,¡± Cole murmured. ¡°But this time she isn¡¯t your property.¡± The words dug under my skin. Not because he was right. But because of the way he enjoyed saying it. My grip on the desk tightened. Cole watched, waiting for me to react. And when I didn¡¯t, he took it further. His voice dropped lower, colder. ¡°Maybe that child looks so damn annoying like you¡­¡± he murmured. ¡°But what I do with Celine? That¡¯s my business.¡± Something snapped. Cole turned toward the door¨CBut he didn¡¯t make it far. A crystal paperweight flew past his shoulder, smashing against the office door. The sound was deafening. Cole barely flinched. If anything, his smirk widened as he nced back at me over his shoulder. Amused. Unbothered. He walked out without another word. I ripped at my tie, trying to breathe. Trying to contain the feeling wing its way out of me. But I could still hear him. Looping in my head like a curse. ¡°What I do with Celine? That¡¯s my business.¡°_ My secretary peeked inside, eyes wide with horror at the shattered ss on the floor. ¡°Sir?¡± she asked hesitantly. I snapped my gaze to her. My expression is lethal. ¡°Get out.¡± She disappeared instantly. I breathed out harshly, pressing my palms against the desk. I had to get a grip. But the only thing my mind kept screaming was¨CCole was wrong. Celine wasn¡¯t mine. But she sure as hell wasn¡¯t his either. I did try. Tried to get through the day pretending I wasn¡¯t still thinking about what Cole said. That smug bastard had moved on like the conversation never happened¨Clike he hadn¡¯t dropped a grenade into my already vtile thoughts. ¡°Maybe that child looks so damn annoying like you.¡± The words had burrowed themselves deep, like a piece/l couldn¡¯t dig out. So, I did what I always do¨CI worked. I buried myself in meetings, barked orders, responded to emails I didn¡¯t care about, and me together. Almost. But the moment I stepped into the house, all that self¨Ccontrol started to crack. to hold myself The staff lined up as usual, heads bowed in respect as I entered the grand foyer. The chandelier overhead cast long golden shadows across the marble, the familiar scent ofvender and polished wood stayed in the air. I barely looked at any of them. Except for her. 10:45 Wed, 30 Jul GOE Chapter 38. Celine. She stood stiffly near the edge of the line, her head dipped, body taut like she stare. was bracing for something. Like she could already feel the weight of my She wasn¡¯t alone. Caesar was beside her, his tiny hand curled around hers like she was his anchor. His eyes sparkled when they met mine, and before I could look away He smiled. And waved. Just like that. No hesitation. No fear. Something twisted in my chest. Something strange. I didn¡¯t smile back. I didn¡¯t wave. I just¡­ stared. Because Cole¡¯s words came rushing back all over again. The eyes. The hair. The shape of his damn mouth. Too damn familiar. No. I looked away quickly, jaw locked, breath tight in my throat. I hated that the thought even crossed my mind. Hated it more than it stayed. Celine must¡¯ve sensed it¨Cfelt the shift in me¡ªbecause her head lifted ever so slightly, her eyes catching mine for the briefest second. Then panic. She immediately turned, pulling Caesar behind her, shielding him from me like I was the threat. Like she was used to having to protect him from stares just like mine. ¡°Caesar, bow,¡± she whispered urgently, bending to guide his little head down. ¡°I don¡¯t wanna,¡± he whined. ¡°It hurts, Mama.¡± The word hit me like a punch. Mama. The maids beside them chuckled softly, trying to stifle it, but it wasn¡¯t theughter that caught my a attention. It was the head maid, standing near the back, her eyes hard and disapproving as she stared daggers into Celine¡¯s back. Interesting. Still, I said nothing. Not a single word.¡± I moved past them without pause, withoutment. Without so much as a trace of expression. But Celine must¡¯ve felt it anyway. She always did. My voice echoed through the foyer as I reached the base of the staircase. ¡°Have the west wing prepped by tomorrow night.¡± The head maid gave a quick nod. ¡°Yes, sir. For whom shall we prepare-¡± ¡°She¡¯sing to pay a visit,¡± I cut her off, not turning around. ¡°Make sure everything is perfect. You know how my mother is.¡± A ripple of suspense passed through the staff. Of course, they knew how Eleanor Reid was. The kind of woman who didn¡¯t visit unless she wanted something. The kind who could break a person with a look. I didn¡¯t stop to exin. Didn¡¯t stop to acknowledge Caesar. Or Celine. Because if I did¡­ if I looked at that boy for even a second longer, I was going to lose thest grip I had on myposure. 10.46 wea, 30 Jun And I couldn¡¯t afford to do that. Not now. Not with hering. Not with Celine still looking at me like I was something she didn¡¯t understand. Like I was something she should fear So I walked. I walked like I hadn¡¯t felt anything. Like I hadn¡¯t seen anything. But every step up that staircase felt heavier than thest. Because no matter how hard I tried to shut it out- I kept seeing his eyes. And they looked like mine. Legacy 39 Chapter 39 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- Dinner was quiet, just the way I preferred it. No chatter, no distractions. The roast was cooked perfectly¨Ctender, rich, seasoned just right. I barely looked up from my te as I muttered, ¡°This is good.¡± The head maid, standing off to the side, offered a small smile. ¡°Celine prepared the meal tonight, sir.¡± My hand froze mid¨Ccut. Knife and fork clinked softly against the porcin as I set them down. My eyes shifted to my right. Celine. She was already beside me, delicate hands steadying a silver jug as she poured water into my empty ss. Her scent hit me first- subtle, sweet, and warm like honey and jasmine. Too close. I leaned back slightly, needing space, needing to breathe. Then¨Cfuck She slipped. Just a little, barely a tremor, but enough that cold water spilled onto my hand. Her gasp was soft but sharp, and she scrambled to fix it. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to¨Cshe fumbled for a napkin, panic in her voice. The head maid stepped in immediately. ¡°Celine, don¡¯t touch-¡± But it was toote. Her hand was already on mine. Small, warm, trembling as she dabbed at the water like her life depended on it. The spot was dry. Bone dry. But she kept touching, brushing her fingers over my skin, and I couldn¡¯t think. My heart thudded loudly in my chest. And my dick. Hard. Stiff beneath the table like it had a mind of its own. I watched her side profile¨Clips slightly parted, brows furrowed in worry,shes fluttering as she focused on wiping a non¨Cexistent spill. Every detail burned into me. I snapped. I yanked my hand away, more forceful than I meant to. ¡°Leave it. Go.¡± She flinched, stunned, eyes lifting to mine, lips parting like she wanted to say something ¡°Now, Celine,¡± I growled. She turned to the head maid, who nodded once. Celine bit her lip¨Ca nervous habit¨Cand whispered, ¡°Sorry, before hurrying away 1201 like a kicked puppy. The head maid apologized. ¡°She¡¯s been under pressuretely talk to her.¡± I didn¡¯t respond. My eyes were still fixed on the hand she¡¯d touched. I could still smell her. Still feel her. And I was still hard. ¡°Fuck,¡± I muttered under my breath, running a hand down my face. I needed a cold shower. Or a drink. Or both. The hallway was dim, shadows stretching across the walls as I walked toward my office. The day should¡¯ve been over by now. My mind should¡¯ve moved on. But it hadn¡¯t. Then I saw her. Celine. Carrying a stack of folded linens, head down like she didn¡¯t want to be seen. She didn¡¯t expect me to stop. She didn¡¯t expect what came out of my mouth. ¡°Good work today.¡± ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find?novel She paused. Started. And I kept walking, fast, before I could say anything else. Behind me, I could feel her eyes burning into my back¨Cconfused, searching for meaning in a moment I couldn¡¯t exin myself. -CELINE¡¯S POV- Today was tense¨Ctense enough that for a second, I truly thought I was going to get fired. The head maid had pulled me aside, her voice sharp with disappointment as she scolded me. But after the reprimand, she¡¯d softened just enough to assure me that Mr. Reid wouldn¡¯t take it any further. That was a relict Still, something felt off. He¡¯d been acting strangetely. Not just the usual cold nces and clipped responses. There was something different in the way he looked at me¡­ like he was holding back something he didn¡¯t want me to see. Or maybe I was overthinking. Again. The wind screamed like something wild, hurling sheets of rain against the windows in waves that sounded almost angry. I had tucked Caesar in earlier than usual, lighting the small candle by his bedside table, whispering a soft luby until his little fingers rxed in mine. He never liked storms. Neither did L But this house. it felt more alive when it stormed. Like the walls had secrets they only shared with the wind. I stood by the window in my room, watching the trees twist outside. The sky split open with another sh of lightning, and something in me twitched. 3 The main building I still had to check the far west window. It hadn¡¯t locked properly earlier, and I knew if I waited, water would seep through the wooden frame and stain the paneling. Sol pulled on my slippers, threw a thin shawl around my shoulders, and stepped into the night. Rain soaked me instantly. It was colder than I expected¨Csharp, biting, and relentless. My shawl clung to my skin uselessly, and by the time I pushed open the side door to the main house, my teeth were already chattering, I hurried down the corridor, barefoot and dripping. I could hear the creak of the loose window before I saw it. It banged open, wind wing through the crack like fingers desperate to get in. I reached for it. The wind pushed back. I used both hands, straining against it, but my palms slipped and the window banged shut just as I lost my grip ¡°Move,¡± a voice said behind me. Deep, Gruff. I gasped and turned. Hunter. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, rain misting his dark hair. I hadn¡¯t even heard hime in. He stepped beside me, his hand brushing mine as he reached for the window. Together, silently, we forced it shut. His palm pressed over mine for a second too long. Thetch clicked into ce. And still, neither of us moved. ¡°You shoulde inside,¡± he said, voice quieter now. Less sharp. ¡°Before you catch a cold.¡± I swallowed, backing up a step, though my heart hadn¡¯t quite caught up with me. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Another shiver betrayed me. Violent. Unavoidable. He noticed. Of course, he did. With a sigh that sounded like it came from somewhere deep, he picks up his jacket, which he had tossed earlier. Without asking, he draped it over my shoulders. Warmth. Hunter¡¯s warmth. The scent of him hit me instantly¨Cwoodsy, clean, and something else. Something expensive. I blinked up at him, stunned. The rain still thrashed the windows behind us. He looked down at me like he didn¡¯t know why he was doing it either. ¡°Why are you being nice?¡± I whispered. My voice cracked on thest word. He didn¡¯t answer. Not with words. Instead, his hand came up slowly. Hesitant. Fingers brushing against the edge of my jaw. He tilted my face toward him, my thumb resting just beneath my chin. His eyes searched mine¨Clike he was looking for something. Like he already knew he wouldn¡¯t find it. And then¨Cjust as suddenly as he touched me he stepped back. The warmth vanished. His expression shuttered. Like a door mming closed. ¡°Get some sleep,¡± he muttered, turning before I could say anything else. I stood there, his jacket heavy on my shoulders, rain still dripping from the ends of my hair, my heart pounding in a rhythm I didn¡¯t understand. Legacy 40 CELINE POV- The morning started with a quietness I couldn¡¯t exin, soft sunlight flowed in through the tall window, casting long golden streaks across the marble floor, Last night memories still yed in my mind, i had forced myself to forget about it, not to overthink it. I work quietly beside the other maid in the dining room, fading napkins and wiping down crystal ssware. It was peaceful and I wanted it to remain that way but damn it, it didn¡¯t. Not with the way Ana kept sneaking nces at me like she had something sitting wicked on the tip of her tongue. And I knew it was going to be hell the moment she opened her mouth. *That one guy who delivered winest week One of the maids, Elsie, said, breaking into a giggle. ¡°Now he can flirt¡± ¡°Too short¡± Ana Sniffed. ¡°I like tall, handsome, smart, Capable men¡± She said casting a smirking nce towards the hallway, I did not need to follow it to know exactly who she meant. ¡°You mean like Mr Reid¡± Elsie teased. Ana didn¡¯t even pretend to be subtle. ¡°He has everything a woman wants, I will do anything to have him just look at me¡­.fuck those blue eyes¡± I bit my lower lips, trying to stop myself from thinking about it, his touch, his smell. I shook my head. Ana turned towards me. ¡°What about you, Celine? What is your type?¡± I froze, my hand halfway through straightening the cutlery. I looked up and blinked. I wasn¡¯t used to like this, Especially not about men ¡°I don¡¯t have time for a rtionship¡± I muttered, keeping my eyes on the silverware. ¡°Too busy¡± ¡°Lidon¡¯th Ana let out a dramatic scoff. ¡°Did not seem too busy to get yourself knocked up, though.¡± pulled into conversation I stiffened. The napkin in my hand slipped, crumpling like paper. The other maids let out an ¡°oh¡± sound, and I felt my blood boil. ¡°What did you just say?¡± I turned to her, my voice low, sharp. Ana met my re with a grin that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Oh rx. Just saying¡­ if you had time for that, you could at least tell us what kind of guy makes you forget your schedule.¡± My heart mmed against my ribs. A hot flush of shame and fury crawled up my neck. ¡°Ana that¡¯s enough, she looks embarrassed¡± Elsie tried to chipped in. ¡°Ohe on, She keeps acting Innocent and busy but we all know her type,¡± Ana said with disgust. ¡°Have you seen the way she acts around Sir Hunter, she has been eye fucking him¡± I scoffed in disbelief, I was about to speak when a voice cut through the chaos. It was cold and biting. ¡°Interesting,ing from a maid who does not even know her ce.¡± Everyone fell silent. I raised a brow. ¡°Caroline¡± I had not even heard here in. But there she stood, in cream¨Ccolored heels and an ivory silk blouse tucked into tailored cks. Her blonde hair framed her face in soft, effortless waves, like she belonged in a fashion spread instead of this house full of shitty people and dusting polish. Ana looked like someone had pped her. Caroline didn¡¯t bother to spare her another nce as she strode over to me. ¡°You have a high dream for a maid, wanting my cousin,¡± she said without smiling. ¡°That¡¯s almost cute. If it wasn¡¯t so delusional¡± We all stood there watching and listening, I blinked at Caroline, surprised. Get full chapters from F?ndNovel ¡°I did not know you were here,¡± I said softly trying to sound normal. Caroline smiled¨Cone of those real, warm ones that made her beauty seem even more unfair. ¡°I was. Now I¡¯m here.¡± She reached out and grabbed my hand gently, tugging me toward the hallway. Behind us, I heard murmurs. Probably from Ana, licking her wounds with whispered spite. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to them,¡± Caroline said as we stepped into the hallway that led toward the main living room. The house was quieter here, all the hate and words I didn¡¯t want to hear stayed in the dining room with the other Maids thought you were angry with me,¡± I admitted. She gave me a look. ¡°Angry? Why?¡± ¡°Because of that night. When I¡­ danced with Hunter.¡± Caroline rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might fall out. ¡°Please. I wasn¡¯t angry, I was just protective. My cousin has a terrible. track record. And women like chasing power and money, he¡¯s both.¡± I opened my mouth to defend myself but stopped. What would I even say? That I wasn¡¯t like that? That I didn¡¯t care about Hunter¡¯s power? ¡°I¡¯m not interested in him,¡± I lied instead. ¡°I don¡¯t feel that way about him. Caroline didn¡¯t blink, She just stared at me for a moment too long before giving a slow, knowing smile. *If you say so.¡± She linked her arm through mine like we were Sixteen again, sneaking out of school. ¡°So? How¡¯s it going here? How¡¯s work?¡± I hesitated. For once, I didn¡¯t want to pretend. ¡°It hell¡± I whispered. ¡°My so called boss is grumpy, cold, impossible to read. He doesn¡¯t even look at me like I am human hall the time¡± Caroline threw her head back andughed like I¡¯d told the best joke in the world. ¡°That just means he kes you.¡± nu I shook my head, but the heat creeping up my neck betrayed me. Caroline smiled again. ¡°How¡¯s my godson?¡± ¡°Ceasar?¡± I look around, that¡¯s right, Ceasar, I had left him alone in the living room to y, hoping he wouldn¡¯t distract me while 1 was working ¡°He¡¯s in there. But¡­¡± Caroline and I stepped toward the second main living room and the words died in my throat. Caesar was sitting on therge velvet couch, his feet dangling His bright little eyes were fixed on the woman sitting across from him. She was older and elegant, dressed in a fitted navy dress and a string of pearls that looked older than time. Her expression was hard. Unmoving Caesar kept smiling at her like he couldn¡¯t even see the frost she radiated. But she didn¡¯t smile back. Something in my gut twisted. , shit,¡± Caroline said as if she just saw someone she should not. Before I could speak¨Cbefore I could even guess¨Canother voice It came from behind us, smooth and low andpletely devoid of warmth. ¡°Mother.¡± I flinched, spinning to find Hunter standing directly behind us. His face was unreadable. His eyes, were cold steel. I didn¡¯t even realize I was holding my breath until I heard Caroline exhale sharply beside me. And for the first time in a long time¡­ I was scared. É« Legacy 41 Chapter 41 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- There are a few things I can handle first thing in the morning ¡®An espresso shot strong enough to punch me in the throat.¡± ¡°My inbox screaming bloody murder. ¡°The sound of silence.¡± What I can¡¯t handle? My mother sitting on a goddamn couch in my living room, legs crossed, judgment uncrossed, and a boy with my eyes smiling at her like this isn¡¯t the beginning of the end. And Celine¡­ Celine looks like she just got caught stealing something sacred. And maybe she did. Maybe she was. I don¡¯t say anything at first. I just¡­ watch. Because of the silence? It¡¯s mine. It¡¯s how I control everything. My boardroom. My reputation. My entire goddamn life. But today, it turns on me. ¡°What did I say about keeping him away?¡± My voice drops, low and lethal. The kind of tone I use when I want something dead. Usually feelings. Celine flinches as I struck her. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m sorry,¡± she murmured, gently tugging Caesar by the arm. ¡°Come on, sweetie-¡°She scrambles for Caesar¡¯s hand like he¡¯s her lifeline, and maybe, just maybe, he is. Caroline¡¯s eyes cut to me like daggers dipped in disgust. I don¡¯t flinch. I¡¯m good at wearing masks. Even better at hiding the ones that slip Caesar wasn¡¯t budging. ¡°I wanna show Cole!¡± he whined, holding his drawing higher. ¡°He said he w That name made Hunter¡¯s stomach knot. Cole. Of course, he did. Then came the blow that shifted the air like a crack of thunder. ¡°Mama,¡± Caesar said, looking directly at Celine. ¡°Tell Hunter I just wanna wait for Cole.¡± That word. That one fucking word that tears my world down the center like a careless rip through silk. My mother straightens slowly, the way a predator might when it smells something worth chasing. ¡°Mama?¡± she repeats, her voice cold honey. to see it. She turns to Celine. Scans her. Inspects her. Slices her up with that aristocratic stare of hers, as if she¡¯s appraising a painting and not a person. Then she looks at me. And I can already see it. The question¡¯s she won¡¯t ask because she¡¯s too polite, and the usations she doesn¡¯t need to say out loud because they¡¯re already screaming in her eyes. Caroline steps in close. Whispering hot enough for me to feel it. ¡°You let Cole near her?¡± Her voice cracks with betrayal. ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say it.¡± My reply is a warning. A hiss behind a wall of restraint. But Caroline has never listened. She never did when we were kids. She won¡¯t start now. Hunter Reid is unraveling, and everyone in this room can feel it¨Cexcept the boy smiling like he belongs here.. I move toward them. My steps are measured, but my pulse isn¡¯t Celine is trying to pull him away. Caesar won¡¯t go. He looks up at me with those too¨Cblue eyes. Mine. They look too much like mine. And I hate it. ¡°Go with your mother, Caesar.¡± Ites out colder than I meant it to. Maybe not. Caesar¡¯s lip wobbles. My chest does something weird¨Ctightens and twists. But Celine gets the message. She scoops him up and disappears like she always does, quietly, quickly, without a single word about how much I just hurt her. Then the silence wraps itself around me again. My mother rises, ¡°You have a lot of exining to do,¡± she says, brushing past me like this is just another scandal for her to clean up. I don¡¯t turn. Just say the words. ¡°He¡¯s not mine.¡± The liees out dry. Brittle. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ but he¡¯s not.¡± She stops. Smirks. ¡°Oh, honey.¡± Sheughs, but it¡¯s sharp and joyless. ¡°You don¡¯t even believe that.¡± She circles back and gets in my space like only Eleanor Reid can. ¡°You remember how you looked when you were four?¡± she asks. ¡°Because I do. And he¡¯s you. Every damn part. The chin, the brows, the stormy scowl. I birthed that face. You think I wouldn¡¯t recognize it?¡± I look away. Because I do remember. And she¡¯s not wrong. But admitting it would be worse than hearing it. ¡°You need to ask yourself,¡± she continues, her voice turning steel, ¡°where the hell you slipped up. Because someone did. And that little boy is the consequence.¡± Consequences. She always talks like I¡¯m still a teenager ruining trust funds and reputations. She¡¯s not entirely wrong. Caroline leans in. Her voice is softer now like she knows I¡¯m at the edge of something jagged. ¡°What if she¡¯s right?¡± I don¡¯t answer. I can¡¯t. Because the part of me that used to know how to love anything¨Cor anyone¨Cwas buried a long time ago, six feet under Tl1 Th1 1 reputation and resentment. And then I hear her. From the top of the staircase. Celine She¡¯s standing there, holding Caesar¡¯s hand, both of them bathed in soft morning light that shouldn¡¯t make me feel like this. She¡¯s not saying anything, Just looking. At me. Like she sees the parts I¡¯ve never shown anyone. Caesar steps forward. He lifts the crumpled drawing. His voice is small ¡°Do you want to see it too?¡± I swallow, I don¡¯t move. Because I don¡¯t know what terrifies me more¨CWhat he drew¡­.Or that I want to say yes. Dinner with my mother always felt like walking barefoot across broken sses¡­.beautifully lit, richly ted, and casually cruel. My mother Eleanor, sat at the head of the table like a queen in exile. Caroline my cousin, sat at her left, sipping from her wine ss like she had not just flown in from Mn to remind everyone she was too good for this ce. Across from me, a hundred¨Cthousand¨Cdor centerpiece blocked half of my view, which was probably for the best. I had no desire to look at the woman pretending to be family tonight. Not when my mind was still locked on the thought of her. Celine had been gone by the time we sat down. She knew better than to hover, let alone take a seat. She belonged to the background in my mother¡¯s world¨Cmaid, outsider, receable. But that didn¡¯t stop Eleanor from dragging her into the spotlight like a magician pulling a rabbit fro ¡°Such a shame the staff these days can¡¯t keep their personal lives out of their professional spaces,¡± she said, casually slicing into her filet. ¡°There was a time when servants had the decency to be invisible.¡± Caroline raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She brings that little boy here, doesn¡¯t she?¡± Eleanor went on, eyes twinkling with fake curiosity. ¡°What¡¯s his name again? Caesar? I didn¡¯t respond. Eleanor smiled thinly, ¡°Unusual name. Sounds more like ambition than affection.¡± My jaw tightened. ¡°He¡¯s a kid. You want to gossip, pick on someone your size.¡± ¡°Oh, darling,¡± she said sweetly. ¡°I¡¯m not gossiping. I¡¯m observing. There¡¯s a difference. And forgive me, but a maid with a child¡­ working here of all ces? It begs the question.¡± ¡°What question?¡± Eleanor¡¯s eyes sparkled like frostbite. ¡°What exactly is she hoping to gain by keeping her child so visible? Money? Pity? Ast name?¡± Caroline, who¡¯d been idly twirling her wine, finally spoke. ¡°Celine is hardworking,¡± she said, trying not to sound loud. ¡°But it feels like she is struggling too, being a single mother and very young at that ¡± My mother scoffed, clearly not happy by what Caroline said, she picks her ss of wine taking a sip. ¡°She¡¯s not stupid,¡± she said, almost bored. ¡°Whatever she¡¯s doing, it¡¯s calcted.¡± That made me sit up. ¡°Exin.¡± Caroline gave a half shrug. ¡°I think what Aunty is trying to say, is No woman walks into this house with a sob story and a pretty face without knowing how far both can get her, I don¡¯t think she¡¯s malicious. Just¡­ strategic.¡± Strategic The word dug into my spine like a splinter. ¡°Stop supporting her egos and words, she is your friend remember¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­not what I meant Hunter¡­ I stood without a word and left the table, ignoring Eleanor¡¯s amused smirk and Caroline¡¯s guilt as I walked out. I found Celine in the back hallway, where the help usually disappeared to clean up the messes the rest of us made. She was wiping Caesar¡¯s hands with a cloth, humming softly under her breath¨Csomething gentle and low. The kind of sound that didn¡¯t belong in this house. I waited until she looked up. The hum died in her throat. ¡°You need something, Mr. Reid?¡± she asked, her tone clipped, professional. But her body tensed like she already knew this wasn¡¯t about work. ¡°Yeah,¡± I said. ¡°The truth.¡± Her brows drew together. ¡°About what?¡± I took a step closer. ¡°Did you n this? Getting hired here. Bringing your son, Making sure I noticed you.¡± She froze. She froze. ¡°You think I nned to be a majd in your mansion?¡± she asked, eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°I think people lie. Especially when they need something.¡± Her jaw locked. ¡°You think I dragged my son into this circus for your attention?¡± This update is avable on find?novel ¡°You¡¯re not stupid,¡± I said tly. ¡°And Caesar¡¯s a suitable essory.¡± The p of her palm against my cheek was silent¨Cbut it 12:02 THU. 11-1 echoed through me like thunder. Caesar stirred, his little head lifting slightly from her shoulder, but she gently soothed him back down without looking away from
  1. me.
¡°You think because you have money, everyone around you just wants a piece of it?¡± she asked, her voice shaking with fury. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your attention, Hunter, I didn¡¯t want it. I still don¡¯t.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± Her nostrils red. ¡°I didn¡¯t choose this job because I was chasing a fantasy. I chose it because I had no options left. You think I enjoy scrubbing your crystal stemware and dodging you and everyone¡¯s twisted opinion of me?¡± I didn¡¯t speak I couldn¡¯t. She took a breath like she was about to break¨Cbut didn¡¯t. ¡°You want to investigate me? Do it. Call in yourwyers, your private investigators, hell, hire a psychic for all I care. But don¡¯t you kid?¡± dare stand here and use me of using my I swallowed hard, heat crawling up my neck. ¡°I¡¯m not using, I¡¯m just¡­ trying to make sense of this.¡± Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Then try harder. She walked past me, Caesar still half¨Casleep in her arms, head resting on her corbone like a crown she wore with quiet defiance. I didn¡¯t follow her. But I watched her go. And all the noise in my head¨Cthe warnings, the suspicions, the hunger¨Cscreamed louder than ever. If she wasn¡¯t alter anything. Why did it feel like I was the one who¡¯d been caught? I returned to the table with the taste of her anger still burning on my skin. For the first time in year. And that terrified me more than anything else. In¡¯t trust my instincts. Legacy 42 Chapter 42 -CELINE¡¯S POV- I don¡¯t remember thest time I breathed out without it sounding like a defense mechanism. The night is too quiet¨Cthe kind of quiet that makes your thoughts louder than they should be. I¡¯m curled into one of the old chairs on the back terrace, nursing a cup of tea that¡¯s gone cold, trying not to think about the things i shouldn¡¯t be feeling Or the man I shouldn¡¯t be watching. The glow from the windows behind us flickers against the stone like a soft warning: ¡®You don¡¯t belong here! Caroline slumps next to me, barefoot, in an oversized sweater that probably costs more than my entire month¡¯s sry. She curls the stem of her winess like she¡¯s considering telling a secret, I wish she wouldn¡¯t. ¡°You don¡¯t hate him as much as you pretend,¡± she says. I blink at her, caught off guard by the sudden detour into dangerous territory. ¡°I don¡¯t pretend anything.¡± I say, quietly. Too quietly. She hums, not bothering to hide her amusement. ¡°Then why do you steal nces at him when he¡¯s not looking?¡± My stomach twists. She says it so casually, but itnds like a p. I look back out into the dark, not answering. Not denying it either. That would give it power. Caroline sips slowly. ¡°He wasn¡¯t always like this, you know. Cold. Distrusting. Detached.¡± I risk a nce at her. ¡°No?¡± She shakes her head, a little wistful. ¡°He used tough. Loud. The real kind. He used to throw himself into things. Now he just¡­ guards everything like it might break if he lets it breathe.¡± I don¡¯t mean to ask it. But it slips out anyway. ¡°What happened?¡± Caroline pauses. And for once, she doesn¡¯t smirk. She just¡­ ¡°softens¡± ¡°His father happened,¡± she says. ¡°A broken engagement. And something else.¡± I wait. She looked at me like she was wondering how much I could handle. ¡°A betrayal,¡± she finally says. The word lingers, heavy and sharp. I shit. ¡°A woman?¡± Caroline nods. ¡°A woman he trusted. Someone who made him believe in more than money. Someone who made promises and then used him.¡± 12:02 Thu, 31 Jul G G 02 T That should not affect me. It¡¯s not my story. But the ache in my chest says otherwise, I clutch my cup tighter, trying not to imagine what it must feel like to believe in someone¨Cand then watch them weaponize it ¡°I think he¡¯s afraid,¡± Caroline says, her voice like wind against a paper door. ¡°Of wanting something he can¡¯t control.¡± I let out a softugh, bitter and hollow. ¡°That sounds like his problem. Not mine.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she says. ¡°But then why do you look at him like that?¡± I don¡¯t respond. Not because I don¡¯t have an answer. But because the answer is the problem. He terrifies me. Not in the way men usually do. Not with threats or anger. But with the fact that beneath every warning in his eyes, every wall he puts up, there¡¯s something ¡°aching¡® to be known, And I don¡¯t know what scares me more¨Chim pushing me away. Or me wanting to stay. Caroline leans back, folding her arms. ¡°Be careful,¡± she says. ¡°Men like him don¡¯t love cleanly. They bleed on whoever tries to hold them She gets up and disappears inside, leaving her empty ss behind like a reminder: this world swallows people like me. I sit a while longer. Eventually, the tea is too cold to drink and the night is too heavy to carry. I start walking back through the corridors, careful not to wake Caesar in the room. That¡¯s when I saw him. Hunter. 200000 He¡¯s in his study, the door slightly ajar, a beam of warm light spilling into the hallway like a private thought left unstated. He doesn¡¯t see me at first¨Chis hands are braced on the desk, shoulders tight, head low. He looks exhausted. And not just physically. He looks like a man who hasn¡¯t forgiven himself for something. Something deep. Something bleeding. I should turn around. I should give him the space he¡¯s never asked for, the distance he always demands. But I don¡¯t. Maybe because I want to see who he is when he isn¡¯t being watched. Maybe because, at this moment, I¡¯m lonelier than l want to admit And then¡­He lifts his head. Our eyes meet. The air shifts. It¡¯s not anger in his face/Or suspicion. Or disdain. It¡¯s something else. Something raw. I don¡¯t move. Neither does he. TZUZ The silence between us isn¡¯t empty. It¡¯s full. Of every word, we haven¡¯t said. Every assumption we¡¯ve made. Every line we¡¯ve drawn in chalk, pretending we won¡¯t ever cross them. I should walk away. But I don¡¯t. Because sometimes¡­ You don¡¯t run from the fire. You walk toward it. And pray it doesn¡¯t burn you alive. The calles just after midnight. I almost don¡¯t answer. Caesar was finally asleep, his little breaths slow and even against the baby monitor¡¯s soft hum. The small apartment is dark except for the muted touch of the kitchen light I forgot to turn off. My body aches from the dayundry, dishes, polishing silver I can not afford to touch, and Hunter¡¯s mother¡¯s sharp tongue still echoing in my skull. But the screen lights up with ¡®Mom and something in me answers before I can stop myself ¡°Hello?¡± She skips hello. She always does. *Your sister needs help.¡°Just like that. No warning. No question of how I¡¯m doing. No asking if Caesar¡¯s okay. No wondering if I¡¯ve caten. Just Jesse. The golden girl. The chosen one. I press my thumb into the edge of the counter, gripping the phone tighter. har ¡°She¡¯s going through a rough time,¡± Mom adds like that makes it better. Like that changes anything. I close my eyes ¡°Let me guess,¡± I say. ¡°She spent all her money partying again?¡± There¡¯s a pause. The kind of pause that mesys I¡¯m right. ¡°Celine¡­¡± she sighs. ¡°Family helps the family.¡± A slow ache spreads across my chest. Not the sharp kind. The deep kind. The one that lives in the lungs and sits heavy in the ribs. I stare down at the floor, at the way the moonlight cuts through the ts of the blinds, painting stripes across the old wood. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be so selfish if your father were still alive.¡± That onends hard. Harder than it should be. Dad¡¯s been gone four years now. Caesar was barely one when he died. I went back for the funeral. Wore ck. Held Caesar in my arms while my mother and every aunt and second cousin whispered like I wasn¡¯t standing right there. ¡°She had a baby out of wedlock.¡± ¡°Such a shame. She used to be so bright¡± They made me sit in the back pew. Said it was better that way. Now she¡¯s using his name like a weapon. Like his ghost would shame me into handing over money I barely have. 1 ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± I whisper, throat tight. ¡°Can¡¯t or won¡¯t?¡± she snaps. ¡°We all made sacrifices for you.¡± Iugh. Not because it¡¯s funny. Because if I don¡¯t, I might scream. Might throw the phone across the room and finally let it break like everything else they tried to bury. They didn¡¯t sacrifice for me. I They erased me. They scrubbed me out of family photos. Blocked my number when I asked for help. Sold Jesse¡¯s college story like it was a family win while pretending Caesar didn¡¯t exist. I nce toward his room. His tiny arm is flung over his head. He sleeps like he trusts the world won¡¯t break him. I want to keep it that way for as long as I can. ¡°I won¡¯t take from my son to clean up her mess,¡± I say, voice steady now. Stronger than I feel. ¡°She¡¯s your sister,¡± my mom spits. ¡°You¡¯ve changed.¡± I close my eyes. And this time, I let the silence win. Because yes. I have changed. I don¡¯t beg anymore. I don¡¯t chase people who only remember me when they need something. I don¡¯t apologize for choosing Caesar Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n F?nd-Novel ¡°I have to go,¡± I say quietly. Before she can respond, I hang up. And for a second, I just stand there, phone still pressed to my ear like it can hold all the pieces together. My heart pounds. Not from fear. From release. Because for the first time in a long time¡­I chose mysel And Caesar. But I know this won¡¯t be thest call. My family doesn¡¯t let go. They circle like ghosts, always waiting to haunt me again. I slide the phone into a drawer. I let the silence settle. And I remind myself- This time, I made the right choice, I did not break. But next time¡­I might not be so lucky. Legacy 43 -CELINE¡¯S POV- The vacuum hums low in the hallway while the smell of lemon polish trails behind me. Hunter¡¯s mother was gone. Thank God. The house feels less like a battlefield this morning and more like an overdecorated museum. Except the head maid is back to barking orders like she owns the ce, and I¡¯m starting to think she believes she does. I don¡¯t even bother correcting her anymore when she mispronounces my name. It¡¯s not worth the breath. I¡¯m dusting the edge of the grand piano when Ana appears in the doorway. She¡¯s got that smirk again¨Cthe one she only pulls out when something¡¯s about to go sideways. ¡°There¡¯s someone outside asking for you,¡± she says, voices all fake¨Csweet. ¡°Pretty little thing. Looks just like you.¡± My stomach drops. No. No, no, no. I wipe my hands on the apron and follow her down the hall, my heart already pounding before leven make it to the foyer. She¡¯s there. Jesse. Leaning against the column like she belongs here, her hair curled like she spent hours on it, her smile bright enough to blind anyone who doesn¡¯t know better. But I do. I know that smile. It¡¯s the same one she used when she told me to ¡°suck it up¡± after Mom kicked me out. The same one she wore while dancing at prom, knowing I was home alone with a newborn. ¡°Celine!¡± she sings, arms outstretched like we¡¯re the best of friends. I don¡¯t hug her. But she doesn¡¯t seem to care. ¡°I was in the neighborhood and thought I¡¯d stop by,¡± she says, stepping inside without being invited. ¡°This ce is stunning. I mean..seriously, Wow. This is where you work?¡± Her eyes are already scanning the marble floors, the expensive chandeliers, the walls that hold secrets and money like they¡¯re alike. ¡°I don¡¯t have long,¡± I say, trying to keep my voice calm. ¡°What do you need?¡± Jesse¡¯s smile falters, just slightly. We find a quiet corner off the hallway. She waits until we¡¯re out of view before her voice drops. ¡°I need some money,¡± she whispers, eyes darting toward the staircase. ¡°Just a loan. A little one. 12:02. Thu, 31 Jul Iblink. ¡°You showed up to my job¡­ for money?¡± She sighs, frustrated. ¡°it¡¯s not a big deal, okay? I just¡­things got tight. You know how it is.¡± I step back. ¡°No.¡± Her face hardens the sweetness cracking. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you owe me.¡± Her hand mps around my wrist, nails pressing just enough to make a point. I remember, I remember begging her to help when I went intobor early. How she flirted with the doctor, distracted him while I begged them to let me stay even though I couldn¡¯t afford it. How she gloated for weeks like she was a hero, while I held my newborn in a cold apartment alone. ¡°That was three years ago,¡± I say, my voice shaking, ¡°You helped me once, That doesn¡¯t mean I owe you forever.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have made it without me,¡± she hisses. ¡°You think you¡¯re better now? Working in a rich guy¡¯s mansion? Don¡¯t let the paycheck fool you, Celine. You¡¯re still the girl with the bastard baby.¡± Before I can respond¡­before I can even breathe¡­Hunter¡¯s voice slices through the air. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± I whip around. He¡¯s standing just a few feet away. Shirt sleeves rolled up, expression like thunder. His eyes flick to Jesse, then to where her fingers still dig into my wrist. Jesse lets go immediately and switches to a smile that would win an Oscar. ¡°Oh! Nothing. Just catching th my dear sister, it¡¯s been so long.¡± Hunter doesn¡¯t move. Doesn¡¯t blink. His eyes stay on her. Unimpressed. Unfooled. Jesse nces between us and doubles down. ¡°I just needed a little help. You know, family stuff. It¡¯s not a big deal¡± ¡°She said no,¡± Hunter says, his voice low and razor¨Csharp. ¡°I suggest you leave.¡± The room stills Jesse¡¯s smile wavers. ¡°And who are you to to tell me what to do?¡± ¡°Someone who doesn¡¯t tolerate people who manipte others to get what they want.¡± Boom. That¡¯s the moment Jesse realizes he¡¯s not a man she can charm. She res. Her face twists into something ugly and normal The mask slips. But he doesn¡¯t flinch. And I don¡¯t either. Chapters first released on Find_Novel(. -2/5 She scoffs. ¡°You¡¯re making a mistake siding with her.¡± Then she storms out, heels clicking like gunshots on the marble. Silence follows. Heavy and stretching. I don¡¯t know how to fit. I stare at the floor, heart pounding in my throat, my breath shaky. I don¡¯t even realize I¡¯m crying until I feel the first tear slide down my check, Hunter watches me for a beat too long. Then, finally, he speaks. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t kill you to stand up for yourself, you know.¡± It¡¯s not cruel. It¡¯s not macking. It¡¯s¡­ honest. And it breaks something open inside me. Because he¡¯s right. And because no one¡¯s ever stood in front of me instead of behind me. No one¡¯s ever told me I deserve to fight back The tears fall faster now. I hate that he¡¯s seeing them. Hate how naked I feel under the weight of his eyes. But he doesn¡¯t look away. And for the first time in years¡­ neither do I. I should be foldingundry. I should be focusing on dusting the damn baseboards. I should be doing anything other than what I¡¯m doing right now. Which is¡­ watching him. Hunter stands at the far end of the room, leaning over a long mahogany table with a rolled¨Cout blueprint stretched across it. Vincent and the new guy Fabian hover nearby, pointing, adjusting, and mumbling things I don¡¯t understand. Architect things. Money things. Things that don¡¯t belong in the same world I live in. Hunter¡¯s dressed down today. No suit. Just dark jeans and a white button¨Cdown that he rolled up to the elbows like he was hallway between boss and boy¨Cnext¨Cdoor. His jaw is dusted with stubble and he keeps running his hand through his hair like it¡¯s some involuntary tic he¡¯s not aware of He looks¡­ normal. Approachable, Dangerously human. My hands are still damp from the dishwater as I grip theundry basket, pretending to fluff the already¨Cfluffed throw pillows on the couch. I don¡¯t even realize I¡¯m staring until his eyes flick up..just for a second¡­and catch mine. I look away so fast I nearly drop the basket. Vincent¡¯sughter bounces through the house like it owns the ce. I nce up just in time to see him winking at Ana, who lets out agiggle that¡¯s borderline embarrassing TU TH A couple of the newer maids are fawning over him too, pretending they have something important to clean near the parlor. He feeds off it. Vincent always does. I disappear around the corner, into the living room where the air feels less charged and Caroline is perched on the cream loveseat like she¡¯s never aged a day. Her teacup is delicately bnced between two fingers. Caesar sits at her feet, legs crossed, tongue peeking from the side of his mouth as he concentrates on drawing something in his notebook. I hover near the edge of the room, unsure if I¡¯m interrupting. ¡°He¡¯s not bothering you, is he?¡± Caroline doesn¡¯t even look up. ¡°Not at all. He¡¯s goodpany.¡± Caesar holds up his sketch. ¡°It¡¯s a dragon, but nice.¡± I smile, my heart softening ¡°He means ¡°knight, I exin, taking a step closer. Caroline chuckles. ¡°I figured. But I wouldn¡¯t mind a nice dragon, either. So long as it behaves.¡± She sips her tea. Her eyes, always quietly sharp, flick to me like she¡¯s been waiting to say something. ¡°You know,¡± she starts, casually. ¡°Hunter doesn¡¯t look at women the way he looks at you.¡± Iugh. Too loud. Too forced. ¡°He barely looks at me at all,¡± Caroline raises one perfectly shaped brow. ¡°Oh, honey. That man is burning for you, and he doesn¡¯t even know how to handle it.¡± I open my mouth, then close it. I want to argue. Say she¡¯s wrong. Say that if Hunter was burning for me, I¡¯d feel it. That I wouldn¡¯t be over here wondering if the way he spoke to Jesse, if the way he defended me, was just a moment of kindness, not something deeper. But I can¡¯t. Because deep down¡­ I did feel it. The way his voice wrapped around me like a shield. The way his eyes stayed, not like he was just looking at me, but trying to read
  1. me.
I bite the inside of my cheek and excuse myself before Caroline can say anything else that might break me open. I head back toward the hallway. The basket is still in my arms, useless. My chest feels like it¡¯s been filled with warm concrete heavy, confusing, hard to carry. And that¡¯s when I see him. Hunter. Across the hall. Leaning against the doorframe, one hand tucked into his pocket, the other holding a rolled blueprint like he forgot he was supposed to be doing something with it. He¡¯s looking right at me. Not like before. Not by ident. This time, it¡¯s intentional. His expression is unreadable. Not soft. Not cold. Just¡­ focused. Like he¡¯s trying to solve a puzzle he doesn¡¯t remember starting. Our eyes stay locked for a second too long. Then two. Then three. My fingers tighten on the basket, and turn away before I do something stupid. Like smile. Or cry. Or walk up to him and ask if he meant it when he said ¡°She said no.¡± Because I¡¯m not ready for that answer. Not yet. Back in theundry room, I set the basket down and lean against the counter, heart beating like it¡¯s racing toward something I haven¡¯t dared let myself want. And I wonder¡­ If Caroline is right¨CWhat the hell am I supposed to do with a man like Hunter Reid AD Comment Send gift Legacy 44 -HUNTER¡¯S POV She doesn¡¯t know I saw her watching me. Or maybe she does. Celine thinks she¡¯s quiet. Tucking her chin down, shifting her eyes away just in time. But I¡¯m not a stranger to hiding. I know what it looks like when someone is trying not to feel something. And right now, she¡¯s doing a shit job pretending. She¡¯s trying to clean, Wiping down the same corner of the banister for thest three minutes. I know because I¡¯ve been watching her instead of the blueprint Vincent¡¯s holding out in front of me. ¡°Earth to Hunter,¡°Vincent says, snapping his fingers in front of my face. ¡°You gonna pretend to care about this support beam, or should we all just stand around and admire the help?¡± I look at him, deadpan. ¡°You¡¯re not funny.¡± Vincent shrugs with a cocky smirk. ¡°She¡¯s hot, man. I¡¯m just saying what we¡¯re all thinking. Right, Fabian?¡± Fabian, the new guy I had Cole rece with clears his throat beside me. Doesn¡¯t answer. But I see it¨Cthe hint of his gaze toward her. Staying too long My jaw clenches. ¡°Can we focus?¡± I snap Vincent lifts his hands in mock surrender. ¡°Rx. You don¡¯t see me dragging her into a closet.¡± He nces at Celine again. ¡°Yet¡± Fabian speaks then, low and quiet. ¡°She seems¡­ strong, Like she¡¯s been through shit and didn¡¯t break.¡± That makes me freeze. Because he¡¯s right. And I don¡¯t want him to be the one to notice that. I look back at Celine. She¡¯s kneeling now, organizing something near the bookshelf. Caesar sits in the corner with Caroline, coloring with one hand and nibbling on a cracker with the other. Caroline doesn¡¯t seem to mind him, which surprises me. She hates crumbs. Hates noise. But right now, she¡¯s smiling like Caesar is made of magic and she¡¯s never seen light before. Celine nces up and meets my eyes. For a second, she doesn¡¯t look away. There it is again. That tight pull in my chest like someone¡¯s twisting something inside me just to see if it hurts Vincent bumps my shoulder. ¡°Dude. You good?¡± I force my attention back to the ns. ¡°Fine.¡± But I¡¯m not. Not even close. Because five feet away, Fan is still watching her. And I¡¯m one second away from making it crystal fucking clear that she¡¯s not a free¨Cfor¨Call Even though she¡¯s not mine. Even though I haven¡¯t earned that right. Later, when the others move toward the patio to argue over material costs and finish dates, I stay back Watching as Celine leans over Caesar, whispering something that makes him giggle. Her hand rests gently on his back. There¡¯s something about her like that¨Cunguarded, soft¨Cthat hits in a ce I¡¯ve kept locked for years. I step closer. She senses it. Straightens slowly. Doesn¡¯t face me, but I know she knows it¡¯s me. ¡°You¡¯re a distraction,¡± I murmur. She turns her head slightly. ¡°Excuse me?¡± I should walk away. I should shut the hell up. But instead, I lean in just enough to feel the heat between us spike. ¡°To the work,¡± I rity. ¡°Everyone keeps looking at you.¡± She raises an eyebrow. ¡°Including you?¡± My throat tightens. I don¡¯t answer. She smiles, but it doesn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Then maybe I should stoping in the room.¡± ¡°You do that,¡± I say quietly, ¡°and I might start going to the room you¡¯re in.¡± Her breath catches. Just barely. But I hear it. And I hate how good that makes me feel. Vincent calls my name again from outside. Celine slips away before I can say more. But as I walk toward the terrace, I nce back. She¡¯s watching me this time. And she doesn¡¯t look away. Fabian¡¯s leaning against the hood of his car, tapping something into his phone when I find him alone in the driveway. The others are still inside, debating tile samples like their lives depend on it. I should be in there. I should care about tile. About blueprints. About getting this job done. But I don¡¯t, Not right now. ¡°Fabian,¡± I say, t. He looks up, the phone still in hand. ¡°Hey, man, Everything good?¡± I nod once. Step closer. Just enough that he has to shift his weight. ¡°You like working here?¡± He blinks at me. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s a good gig. Better than most.¡± I stare at him. Long enough to make the silence feel like a third person in the conversation. ¡°Then don¡¯t fuck it up.¡± His brows pinch. ¡°What?¡± I fold my arms across my chest. ¡°You¡¯re smart. You¡¯ve got a good eye for design. You¡¯re fast with numbers. You keep things moving Apause. ¡°But you¡¯ve also been looking at the maid like she¡¯s something to unwrap¡± He stiffens. ¡°Celine?¡± 12:02 100, 31 JUN I don¡¯t answer. I don¡¯t need to. He once, dry. ¡°Wow. Okay. I didn¡¯t realize you¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t, I cut in. ¡°She works here. She¡¯s got a kid. She¡¯s been through hell, and she still shows up every damn morning like she doesn¡¯t weigh the world on her back.¡± Fabian quiets. I take a step closer. ¡°She¡¯s not some side project or a way to kill time between builds,¡± I say, voice low. ¡°So whatever you¡¯re thinking? Stop.¡± He exhales. Not defensive. Just¡­ surprised. ¡°I wasn¡¯t gonna do anything.¡± ¡°I know,¡± I say. ¡°Because I¡¯m telling you now¨Cyou¡¯re not going to.¡± There¡¯s a long beat of silence. Fabian finally nods, hands raised. ¡°Got it. Loud and clear.¡± I turn to leave, but he calls out behind me. -So what is she to you, then?¡± I pause. He doesn¡¯t ask it like an usation. It¡¯s worse he asks it like he wants to understand. But I don¡¯t have an answer for him. Because I don¡¯t even know myself. So I just keep walking, I was supposed to be working. Tax reports. Property assessments, Contractor agreements. The usual shit that keeps my empire. running Instead, I¡¯m staring at a three¨Cyear¨Cold sitting in my leather chair, his legs swinging freely as he flips through a first¨Cedition art book worth more than most people¡¯s monthly rent. How the hell did he get in here? My study was off¨Climits. Everyone knew that. A rule I¡¯d never had to enforce because no one was stupid enough to test it. Until now Caesar turns another page, his small fingers tracing over a Rembrandt like it¡¯s a children¡¯s coloring book. I should be pissed. should call for Celine toe get her kid. Instead, I find myself leaning against the doorframe, watching him. ¡°You know, that book is worth more than your toys,¡± I say, expecting him to startle, maybe even cry. Caesar looks up at me, those blue eyes¨Cmy blue eyes¨Cwide but unafraid. Then he grins. ¡°Then it must be boring¡± I blink. Once. Twice. And then something strange happens, Iugh. Not a chuckle or a smirk, but a realugh that seems toe from some forgotten part of me. Caesar¡¯s grin widens, showing off a missing tooth I hadn¡¯t noticed before. He seems utterly at ease in my space. No fear, No hesitation. Like he belongs here. 12:02 Chapter 44 ¡°Caesar, what the hell are you doing there-¡°A maid appears behind me, then freezes. Her eyes dart between me and the kid, clearly waiting for the outbreak. I wave her off. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Eve got him.¡± Her eyebrows shoot up, but she backs away withoutment. Smart girl. I turn back to Caesar. ¡°I need to work. You should go find your mom.¡± He nods solemnly, closing the book with unexpected care. He slides off the chair, his sneakers barely making a sound on the hardwood floor. I expect him to leave. To run off and find Celine or Caroline. Instead, he disappears for exactly ny seconds¨CI count them¨Cbefore returning with a stic container of building blocks. ¡°What are you doing?¡± I ask as he plops down on the rug in front of my desk. Caesar dumps the blocks out, creating a small rainbow of stic chaos on my imported Persian rug. ¡°Building¡± he says simply like that exins everything. I should tell him to leave. I should call Celine. I should do a million things that don¡¯t involve watching a toddler construct a wobbly tower on my office floor. But I don¡¯t. Instead, I observe him struggle with a particrly stubborn piece, trying to force it where it doesn¡¯t belong Without thinking, I¡¯m on the floor beside him. ¡°That doesn¡¯t go there, I muttered, adjusting the misced piece. Caesar stares up at me, those eyes¨Cmy eyes¨Cfull of curiosity. ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°Because I used to build things like this,¡± I answer, surprised by how easy the wordse. How natural it feels to be sitting here with him. Caesar beams at me. ¡°You¡¯re smart!¡± I let out a small, almost reluctant chuckle. ¡°I suppose.¡± We work in silence for a few minutes, his small hands asionally bumping against mine as we create a structure that vaguely Updates are released by find?novel resembles a castle. Or maybe a spaceship. It¡¯s hard to tell. ¡°Why don¡¯t you like Mommy?¡± Caesar suddenly asks, his voice innocent but his question is anything but. ¡°She¡¯s nice.¡± I stiffen, caught off guard. My throat tightens, ¡°It¡¯s¡­plicated,¡± I manage. ¡°Maybe you should just say sorry, Caesar suggests like it¡¯s the easiest thing in the world. Like three words could fix something I¡¯m not even sure has a name. I don¡¯t respond. Can¡¯t respond. Because how do you exin to a three¨Cyear¨Cold that sometimes saying sorry doesn¡¯t fix what¡¯s broken? Instead, I reach out and ruffle his hair. It¡¯s soft. Exactly the same shade of ck as mine. He looks up and smiles, and something i K12:02 Thu; 31 JUG my chest cracks open. Caesar tilts his head, studying me with an intensity no child his age should possess. ¡°Maybe you can be my daddy?¡± I freeze. My hand is still on his head. My lungs forget how to work. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Mommy said my real daddy isn¡¯t around.¡± He says it so matter¨Cof¨Cfactly like he¡¯s telling me the sky is blue. ¡°You¡¯re nice to me. So can you be my daddy?¡± My mouth goes dry. I study him again¨Creally study him. The way his little brows furrow just like mine do when I¡¯m thinking. The set of his jaw. The shape of his eyes. It¡¯s like looking at an old photograph of mysell. ¡°Caesar! What are you-¡°Celine¡¯s voice cuts through the moment. She stands in the doorway, cheeks flushed from searching, relief, and something else washing over her face as she takes in the scene before her. And then she hears Caesar¡¯s question. Her breath catches, and for a moment, our gazes lock. I see it there¨Cthe fear. The truth. The secret she¡¯s been keeping since the day I met her. I stand abruptly, nearly knocking over the tower we¡¯ve built. ¡°I have work to do,¡± I say, my voice harder than I intended. I brush past Celine without meeting her eyes again, I can feel her watching me as I walk away, and can almost hear the unspoken words hanging between us. But I keep walking. That night, as I lie in bed staring at the ceiling, I catch myself smiling¨Cremembering the way Caesar had so casually invaded my space. The way he¡¯d looked at me without an ounce of the fear or respect or calction I¡¯m used to seeing in people¡¯s eyes. The smile disappears as quickly as it came. I scowl in the darkness. What the hell was this kid doing to me? And worse¨Cwhat was I going to do about the fact that I was almost certain he was mine? AD Comment Send gift No Ads 12.03 Legacy 45 Chapter 45 -CELINE- I didn¡¯t mean to eavesdrop. I was justing to check on Caesar. Just doing what I always do¨Cmaking sure he wasn¡¯t in someone¡¯s way, wasn¡¯t touching something too expensive, wasn¡¯t being¡­too much. But I heard it. The tiny, innocent voice that belonged to my entire world. And the stunned silence that followed. ¡°Maybe you can be my daddy?¡± This update is avable on find?novel My breath caught so hard it hurt. I watched Hunter freeze. I watched the panic flicker across his face, the way his body tensed like he¡¯d been shot. And then- He bolted. Like he couldn¡¯t get away fast enough. I press a hand against my chest. It¡¯s stupid. I know it¡¯s stupid to feel this kind of hollow. But it still stings. More than it should. I step into the study, my movements robotic. Caesar sits there on the floor, smiling like he didn¡¯t just blow up the one ce we were safe in. ¡°Did I do something bad, Mommy?¡± he asks.. His little face tilts up at me, worried. I blink back the sting behind my eyes and force a smile. ¡°No, baby,¡± I whisper. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± I Because he didn¡¯t. Because he¡¯s just a boy who deserves,the world, and somehow I keep handing him se I kneel and gather him into my arms, pressing my face against his soft hair. Hunter¡¯s scent is still faint on him¡­something clean, something sharp¡­.and it makes my throat close. ¡°You¡¯re perfect,¡± I murmur into his hair. And it¡¯s not a lie. Not even a little bit. I pull back, ruffling his hair. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go show Miss Caroline what you built, huh?¡± He nods, excited, and scrambles up, blocks spilling from his arms as he races out of the study. Alone in Hunter¡¯s study, I allow myself to look around for the first time. Dark wood shelves lined with leather¨Cbound books. A massive desk that probably costs more than a year¡¯s sry. Everything was neat, precise, controlled¨Cjust like him. Except for the tower of blocks still sitting on his Persian rug. I sink into his chair, the leather still warm from where Caesar had been sitting, 1203 THIET The scent of Hunter¡¯s cologne clings to the air¨Csandalwood and something darker, richer. Swallowing the feeling that I should have known better. That I always should know better. Men like Hunter don¡¯t stay, Not for girls like me, Not for boys like Caesar, I wipe at my face, standing stiffly. Fine. If he¡¯s ufortable, he won¡¯t have to worry. I¡¯ll make it easy for him. I always do. The sound of footsteps in the hallway jerks me out of my thoughts, I stand quickly, not wanting to be caught in Hunter¡¯s chair. But it¡¯s not Hunter. It¡¯s Fabian, one of the contractors. ¡°Oh,¡± he says, looking surprised to find me there. ¡°Sorry, I was looking for the boss.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not here,¡± I say, stating the obvious. Fabian nods, lingering in the doorway. ¡°Are you okay? You seem¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I cut him off, perhaps too sharply. ¡°Just cleaning up.¡± He nces at the block tower, then back at me. A small smile tugs at his lips. ¡°Hunter was building blocks with your kid?¡± I don¡¯t answer. Don¡¯t need to. Fabian¡¯s smile widens. ¡°Interesting¡± ¡°it¡¯s not what you think,¡± I say quickly. ¡°I¡¯m not thinking anything,¡± he replies, but his expression says otherwise. ¡°Just surprised. Hunter doesn¡¯t usually connect¡­ with people.¡± I move past him toward the door. ¡°I should find Caesar Fabian steps aside to let me pass, but his voice follows me. ¡°Hunter gave me a warning today. About you.¡± I freeze, turning slowly. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Told me to stay away from you.¡± Fabian¡¯s eyes hold mine. ¡°Said you weren¡¯t some ¡®side project. That you¡¯d been through hell¡± My heart pounds against my ribs. ¡°He said that?¡± Fabian nods. ¡°Never seen him that protective before.¡± He pauses. ¡°Makes more sense now, seeing him with your son.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not ¡°I begin, but the words die on my lips. What¡¯s the point in denying it? The resemnce is undeniable to anyone who. looks closely enough. ¡°Your secret¡¯s safe,¡± Fabian says quietly. ¡°Not my business anyway.¡± He walks away, leaving me standing in the hallway, feeling more exposed than ever ¡°Mommy, Hunter showed me how to build a castle!¡± Caesar¡¯s voice floats down the hallway as I follow him toward the kitchen, 2/5 12:08 Thu 31 Jul My steps slow when I see Ana, the head maid, giving me that familiar look of disapproval. Her eyes dart to Caesar, then back to me ¡°Control your child,¡± she hisses as she passes. ¡°This isn¡¯t a daycare.¡± I clench my jaw but say nothing. She¡¯s been making my life hell since I started, but I can¡¯t afford to lose this job. The kitchen is warm, filled with the scent of chocte chip cookies. Caesar races ahead, already climbing onto a stool at the counter. ¡°Hey, little man!¡± Caroline¡¯s voice rings out as she sweeps into the room. ¡°Miss Caroline! I built a castle with Hunter Caesar announces, beaming Caroline¡¯s perfectly shaped eyebrow arches. ¡°With Hunter? In his study?¡± I nod slightly, not meeting her eyes. ¡°Well, that¡¯s unexpected,¡± she says, shooting me a curious look Cook slides a cookie toward Caesar, his face already smeared with chocte from previous ones. ¡°Hunter said I¡¯m smart,¡± Caesar continues proudly, swinging his legs. Caroline¡¯s expression softens as she looks at him. ¡°Of course you are. You¡¯re the smartest three¨Cyear¨Cold I know.¡± She pulls me aside while Caesar demolishes his cookie. ¡°He looks like him, you know,¡± she says quietly. The floor seems to shift beneath my feet. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Caesar,¡± she rifies, though we both know who she means. ¡°Same eyes. Same little scowl when he¡¯s concentrating.¡± I don¡¯t deny it. Can¡¯t find the words. my arm gently. ¡°Hunter¡¯s not as cold as he pretends to be. Just so you know.¡± Caroline squeezes my Before I can respond, the back door opens and Hunter himself walks in. Our eyes lock. For a moment, ther of us breathes. ¡°Hunter¡± Caesar calls out. ¡°Come see my cookie!¡± Hunter¡¯s gaze shifts to Caesar and something in his expression softens almost gradually. But then it¡¯s gone, reced by the cool mask I¡¯vee to know. ¡°Not now, kid,¡± he says, his voice deliberately neutral. He turns to Caroline. ¡°I need the Stevens file. And call Vincent¨Ctell him the meeting¡¯s moved up.¡± Caroline rolls her eyes dramatically. ¡°I¡¯m not your secretary, asshole,¡± she says, but there¡¯s no real heat in it. ¡°But I¡¯ll do it for that extra pay you offered.¡± Hunter¡¯s mouth twitches¨Calmost a smije. ¡°You¡¯re impossible.¡± ¡°It¡¯s gic,¡± she fires back, already reaching for her phone Hunter nces at me one more time before turning to leave, his eyes cold. -3/5 ¡°Hunter¡± Caesar calls after him, his voice small and disappointed. Hunter pauses his back to us, shoulders tense. For a second, I think he might turn around. Instead, he walks out without another. word. Caroline sighs, watching him go. ¡°He¡¯s¡­plicated.¡± ¡°He¡¯s an ass,¡± I mutter, too low for Caesar to hear. Carolineughs. ¡°That too.¡± She studies my face. ¡°But something is going on with you two. I¡¯ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.¡± ¡°With contempt?¡± I ask bitterly.. ¡°With fear,¡± she corrects. ¡°Like you might see right through him.¡± I shake my head. ¡°Well, he doesn¡¯t need to worry. We¡¯ll be out of his way.¡± Caroline frowns ¡°Celine-¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± I cut her off. ¡°This job was never going to be forever anyway.¡± Thelp Caesar clean his face, ignoring Caroline¡¯s concerned gaze. My phone buzzes in my pocket¨Ca¨Ctext from ke: ¡®How¡¯s the fancy house? Too good to text old friends back?! I smile despite everything. ke had been a good friend when my family threw me out. When Caesar was born. When I struggled to make ends meet at The Aurelia. Sorry, I type back, ¡®Been busy. Long story.¡± Her response is immediate: ¡®Spill it all when we see. My ce. Wine for me, ice cream for you.¡± My smile fades. What would I even say? ¡°Hey, remember that mystery guy from three years ago who got me pregnant? Turns out he¡¯s my multi¨Cmillionaire boss who just figured out Caesar is his son.¡± ¡°Miss Caroline, can we y on the piano?¡± Caesar asks, chocte finally cleaned from his face. Caroline¡¯s eyes light up. ¡°Of course, little prince. I¡¯ll show you how to y that song you liked.¡± She leads him toward the music room, ncing back at me with a look that says our conversation isn¡¯t over. I sigh, leaning against the counter. Cook gives me a sympathetic smile. ¡°That boy¡¯s bringing life into this house,¡± she says quietly. ¡°First time I¡¯ve seen Mr. Maxwell smile in years.¡± I don¡¯t know what to say to that. Don¡¯t know what to do with the hope it sparks. Because I know what¡¯sing. The questions. The usations. The truth I¡¯ve been running from since the moment I saw those blue eyes staring back at me from a positive pregnancy test. The question isn¡¯t if Hunter will confront me. It¡¯s when And what happens to Caesar and me when he does? Legacy 46 Chapter 46 -HUNTER- I shuffle through the stack of papers on my desk, frustration building with each document that isn¡¯t what I need. The Stevens contract should be here somewhere. ¡°Damn it,¡± I mutter, running a hand through my hair. Caroline would know where everything is. My cousin might be a pain in my ass, but she has an uncanny ability to organize my chaos. I check my watch¨Cpast six. The meeting with the investors is tomorrow morning, and I need those documents tonight. Grabbing my phone, 1 dial Caroline¡¯s number. Straight to voicemail. Perfect. I stride from my office, making my way toward the kitchen where I¡¯dst seen her with Caesar. The thought of the boy sends an ufortable jolt through my chest. Those blue eyes. His question. ¡°Maybe you can be my daddy?¡± I shake the thought away. Not now. I can¡¯t deal with that right now. The kitchen is quiet when I enter, only Sally, the head maid, wiping down the counters. She straightens immediately when she sees
  1. me.
¡°Mr. Reid,¡± she says, her voice stiff with formality. ¡°Can I help you with something?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Caroline?¡± I ask, scanning the room as if my cousin might be hiding somewhere. *Miss Crawford left about twenty minutes ago, sir,¡± Sally replies. ¡°She mentioned something about dinner ns.¡± ¡°Fuck,¡± I curse under my breath. Sally¡¯s eyes widen slightly, clearly shocked by mynguage. I rarely lose myposure in front of the staff ¡°I apologize,¡± I say, pinching the bridge of my nose. ¡°I needed help with some documents.¡± Sally¡¯s nods, her posture rxing slightly. ¡°I can send one of the maids to assist you, I¡¯m about to refuse when my gaze falls on the te of cookies on the counter¨Cchocte chip, the same ones Caesar had been eating earlier. My stomach growls, reminding me I¡¯d skipped lunch. ¡°Those cookies,¡± I say, nodding toward them. ¡°Are there more?¡± ¡°Yes, sir. Cook made plenty. Would you like some?¡± ¡°Please. And a drink. Bourbon, neat.¡± I pause, then add, ¡°Actually, make it a scotch.¡± Sally nods again. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone bring them to your study right away And I¡¯ll send Maria to help with your documents.¡± I¡¯m almost at the staircase when I stop, turning back to face her. ¡°Sally?¡± ¡°Yes, sir?¡± 1203 THE III G ¡°Is Celine still here?¡± The questiones out before I can stop it. Sally¡¯s expression shifts subtly. ¡°I believe she¡¯s finished her duties for the day, sir. She should be in the staff quarters with her son Thesitate, knowing I should let it go. Let her go. But the thought of Caesar¡¯s smile, the way he¡¯d so easily made himself at home in my space¡­. ¡°Send Celine instead,¡± I say, the words hanging between us. Sally¡¯s brows furrow slightly. ¡°Celine, sir? Not Maria?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I said.¡± My ¡°That¡¯s what I said.¡± My tone hardens, daring her to question me further. Sally nods quickly. ¡°Of course, sir. I¡¯ll send her right away.¡± Itum and continue up the stairs, ignoring the twist of something like anticipation in my gut. Back in my study, I try to focus on the files again, but my mind keeps wandering. To Caesar¡¯s blue eyes. To Celine¡¯s scent when. she¡¯d appeared in the doorway. To the possibility I¡¯ve been avoiding since I first saw the boy. A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. Cook enters with a tray of cookies and a ss of scotch. ¡°Thank you,¡± I say, taking the drink and immediately swallowing a mouthful. The burn is wee, and grounding ¡°Will there be anything else, Mr. Maxwell?¡± she asks. ¡°No. Actually, yes.¡± I nce at the cookies. ¡°Bring another ss of juice. The kind Caesar drinks.¡± Cook¡¯s eyebrows rise slightly, but she nods. ¡°Right away, sir.¡± She leaves, and I¡¯m alone again with my thoughts and the smell of chocte chip cookies. I take one, surprised by how good it tastes. Simple. Sweet, Nothing like the borate desserts served at business dinners. Time passes. One cookie bes three. The scotch ss empties. Cook returns with the juice, sets itne edge of my desk, and leaves without a word. One hour. Then nearly two. No Celine. Irritation rises, sharp and hot. Did Sally forget to tell her? Did Celine refuse? The thought of her defying my direct request fuels my anger. I¡¯ve given her a job, a ce to live, despite ourplicated situation. The least she could do is show some basic respect. Before I can talk myself out of it, I¡¯m on my feet, striding toward the staff quarters. The halls are quiet, most of the day staff gone home, the night staff busy elsewhere. 12:03 Thu, 31 Jul Ga 1 barely knock before pushing open the door to the small apartment allocated to Celine and her son. She¡¯s at the sink, her back to me, hands submerged in soapy water. Her hair is down, cascading past her shoulders in soft waves I¡¯ve never seen before. She turns, startled by my entrance. Water drips from her hands onto the floor. ¡°You werete,¡± I say, my voice hard. Confusion shes across her face, then understanding, followed by something like defiance, ¡°I was putting my son to bed,¡± she says, grabbing a towel to dry her hands. I step closer, the small space of her quarters making my presence feel overwhelming even to me. ¡°This job isn¡¯t some favor Im doing for you. You have responsibilities.¡± Something res in her eyes¨Canger, frustration, something I¡¯ve never seen from her before. ¡°And I fulfill them,¡± she snaps. ¡°But I¡¯m also a mother. And I don¡¯t get to turn that off.¡± Topen my mouth to respond, but she surprises me by stepping right into my space, ring up at me despite the difference in our heights. ¡°You think I¡¯mzy?¡± she demands, her voice low but intense. ¡°Do you know what it¡¯s like to work three jobs just to afford diapers? Have you ever gone to bed hungry just so someone else could eat?¡± I¡¯m stunned, in the weeks she¡¯s worked for me, I¡¯ve never seen her like this¨Cfire in her eyes, chin high, her small frame practically trembling with frustration. For a second, my gaze flickers¨Cto her parted lips, to the delicate curve of her throat as she breathes hard. And then something happens. The tension shifts. My anger ebbs into something else, something far too dangerous. Her eyes widen slightly as if she feels it too. This pull. This heat. The air between us is thick. I notice her pulse fluttering at the base of her throat. My gaze drops¨Cjust for a second¨Cto her mouth. But then I step back, my jaw tight, forcing distance between us. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± I finally turn away, unable to look at her any longer. ¡°Be on time tomorrow,¡± I mutter, but my tone is different¨Cless harsh, more¡­uncertain. I leave without waiting for her response, striding back to my study with my heart hammering in my chest. This content belongs to F?ndNovel The cookies sit untouched on my desk. The juice I¡¯d requested for her remains undrunk. I sink into my chair, running a hand over my face. What is happening to me? Why can¡¯t I stop thinking about her? About the boy? ¡°Maybe you can be my daddy?¡± The question echoes in my mind, refusing to be silenced. And for the first time, I let myself consider the possibility that, somehow, against all medical odds¡­. Caesar might be mine. Legacy 47 Chapter 47 -CELINE- Heat climbs up my neck as I close the door behind Hunter My words hang in the air like a confession I never meant to make ¡®Have you ever gone to bed hungry just so someone else could eat? I press my palms against my burning cheeks and sink onto the small sofa, mortified. Once again, I¡¯d shown Hunter Reid my most vulnerable side, the struggling single mother, the charity case, the pitiful girl who couldn¡¯t catch a break. ¡°Mommy?¡± Caesar¡¯s sleepy voice calls from the bedroom. I take a deep breath, forcing the shame down. ¡°Yes, baby. I¡¯m here.¡± Pushing myself up, I walk to the bedroom doorway. Caesar sits up in bed, rubbing his eyes, his dark curls tousled from sleep. The sight of him, so innocent, so perfect, steadies my racing heart. ¡°Theard voices,¡± he mumbles. ¡°It was n nothing, sweetheart.¡± I cross the room and sit on the edge of his bed. ¡°Just grown¨Cup stuff. Go back to sleep.¡± He looks at me with those piercing blue eyes ¡®Hunter¡¯s eyes for a moment, I see something too knowing, too perceptive for a three- year¨Cold. But then he yawns, and he¡¯s just my little boy again, ¡°Will you sing to me?¡± he asks, snuggling back under his covers. I smooth his hair away from his forehead. ¡°Of course.¡± I sing softly, an old luby my grandmother used to sing, one of the few good memories from my childhood. Caesar¡¯s eyes grow heavy, and soon his breathing evens out. I stay there for a few minutes, watching him sleep, wondering for the thousandth time if I¡¯m doing the right thing. Working for Hunter, living in his home, keeping Caesar¡¯s paternity secret¨Cit¡¯s a web ofplications I never wanted. But what choice did I have? After losing my job at The Aurelia, bills piled up faster than I could manage that her cousin needed household staff, it seemed like fate. Caroline mentioned I couldn¡¯t have known it was Hunter¨Cthe same man who¡¯d fired me, the same man who¡¯d unknowingly fathered my child during that hazy, forgotten night three years ago. My phone buzzes with a text from Sally: ¡°Mr. Reid asked for you in his study. He seemed upset you didn¡¯t show up earlier. I frown. No one had told me Hunter wanted to see me. I type back quickly. Just got this message. Caesar was having trouble sleeping, I¡¯ll check if he still needs me I nce at the clock¨C10:22 PM. Late, but not toote. If Hunter¡¯s still working, I should at least exin myself With a sigh, I change from my pajamas into jeans and a simple blouse. I run a brush through my hair, wishing I had time for a proper shower. The day¡¯s work.. dusting, vacuuming, helping Cook with dinner prep¡­clings to my skin. Icheck on Caesar once more before quietly slipping out. The main house is eerily quiet at night. My footsteps echo against marble floors as I make my way to Hunter¡¯s study, The grandeur of the mansion never fails to intimidate me¨Ccrystal chandeliers, priceless artwork, and furniture worth more than T earn in a letime. Outside Hunter¡¯s study, I hesitate, suddenly aware of how wrong this is. A maid visiting her employer¡¯s private study at night, alone. I should turn back, and wait until morning. But before I can decide, the door swings open. Hunter stands there, jacket discarded, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, button undone. He looks exhausted, the sharp lines of his face softened by fatigue. ¡°You¡¯rete,¡± he says, but without the bite from earlier. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I say. ¡°I just saw Sally¡¯s message. No one told me you needed help.¡± He studies me for a long moment, his gaze intense. Then he steps back, wordlessly inviting me in. The study is a mess of papers, and files scattered across his desk, hisptop open to a spreadsheet. Two empty scotch sses sit beside a te of cookies. ¡°You wanted my help with documents?¡± I ask, keeping my voice professional. Hunter runs a hand through his hair, messing it further. ¡°The Stevens contract. I need it for tomorrow¡¯s meeting, but I can¡¯t find it.¡± ¡°Did you check your email? Maybe it¡¯s there.¡± ¡°Of course, I checked my email,¡± he snaps, then sighs. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯ve been looking for hours.¡± The apology surprises me. I¡¯ve never heard Hunter Reid apologize to anyone, let alone to me. ¡°Let me help,¡± I offer, moving toward his desk. He watches me, his face unreadable as I start organizing the chaos, creating neat piles by date and sul following my movements. ¡°How do you do that?¡± he asks after a few minutes. ¡°Do what?¡± ¡°Stay so calm. So¡­posed.¡± I almostugh. ¡°I¡¯m notposed. I¡¯m just used to solving problems.¡± ¡°Because of your son?¡± he asks, and my hands freeze mid¨Cmotion. I nce up at him, ¡°Because of life.¡± Something hints in his eyes, curiosity, perhaps. Or recognition. can feel his eyes ¨C 1209 Thu 31 Jung We work in silence for a while, the only sound of the shuffling of papers and the asional sigh from Hunter. I find the Stevens contract tucked inside a folderbeled ¡°Pending Acquisitions.¡± Relief washes over Hunter¡¯s face when I hand it to him *Thank you,¡± he says, his voice softer than I¡¯ve ever heard it. I nod, ready to leave, but he stops me with a question, ¡°Was it hard?¡± he asks. ¡°Raising him alone?¡± Then question catches me off guard. Hunter has never shown interest in my personal life before, let alone in Caesar. ¡°Yes,¡± I answer honestly. ¡°It still is.¡± Hunter looks down at the contract in his hands. ¡°He¡¯s a good kid.¡± ¡°The best,¡± I agree, warmth blooming in my chest at the thought of my son. ¡°He looks like someone I know,¡± Hunter says, and my heart stops. Here it is. The moment I¡¯ve been dreading. Has he figured it out? Does he know? But Hunter just shakes his head, as if dismissing the thought. ¡°He seems happy, though. You must be doing something right.¡± Thepliment, however small, feels hugeing from him. I¡¯ve spent weeks being criticized, examined, and made to feel bad at every turn. ¡°Itry,¡± I say simply. Our eyes meet, and for a second, there¡¯s something there¨Ca connection, an understanding that outshines our roles as employer and employee. As a man and woman. As strangers who once shared something neither of us remembers. But then Hunter looks away, clearing his throat. ¡°It¡¯ste! You should get back to your son.¡± Inod, eager to escape the strange tension building between us. ¡°Goodnight, Mr. Reid.¡± ¡°Hunter,¡± he says, surprising me. ¡°When we¡¯re alone¡­ you can call me Hunter.¡± The intimacy of the request sends a shiver down my spine. ¡°Goodnight, Hunter,¡± I whisper. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find¡¤novel He doesn¡¯t respond, already turning back to his work. But as I reach the door, his voice stops me again. ¡°Celine?¡± Itumn back. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°The cookies,¡± he says. ¡°They were good.¡± It¡¯s such a small thing, yet I feel a smile tugging at my lips. ¡°I¡¯ll tell Cook you enjoyed them.¡± ¡°You made them,¡± he states, not a question. 3/4 I blink, surprised he knew. ¡°Yes. Caesar loves chocte chip.¡± Hunter nods as if filing away this piece of information. ¡°I can see why¡± The air between us grows thick again with something unknown. I need to leave before I do something foolish, like mistake his momentary kindness for something more. ¡°Goodnight,¡± I say again, more firmly this time. Back in the staff quarters, I check on Caesar, still sound asleep, blissfully unaware of the difficulties stirring around him. I change back into my pajamas and crawl into bed beside him, my mind spinning. Hunter Reid is a storm¨Cunpredictable, powerful, and destructive. I¡¯ve spent years building a life for Caesar and me, a small but stable existence. Thest thing we need is a hurricane tearing through our carefully constructed world. But as I drift off to sleep, I can¡¯t help wondering what it would be like to stand in the eye of that storm, where they say it¡¯s perfectly calm, clear. And for a moment, just before sleep ims me, I allow myself to imagine what it would be like if Hunter knew the truth¨Cif he looked at Caesar and saw himself. If he looked at me and saw more than just a maid, more than just a charity case. If he looked at us and saw a family. A dangerous thought, I know. But in the quiet darkness of night, I let myself dream it anyway. €1 Legacy 48 Chapter 48 -CELINE- The next morning, I step out of the staff quarter making my way to the main house. The early sun casts long shadows across the immactewns, dew still clinging to the grass. I¡¯d woken earlier than usual, Caesar¡¯s restless night meant little sleep for either of us. Still, there was work to be done. Inside, the mansion feels unusually quiet. Only two maids are around, dusting in the main foyer. When I ask about the others, they exin that Sally, Ana, and the rest have gone grocery shopping to pick up other supplies the mansion needed. ¡°They left early,¡± one of them says, not quite meeting my eyes. ¡°Sally said they¡¯d be back by noon.¡± Inod, understanding what isn¡¯t being said. I¡¯m being excluded again. The other staff have formed their cliques, their alliances. And I¨Cthe single mother, the newest hire, the one who seems to catch Mr. Reid¡¯s attention too often, being on the outside. ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± I say, forcing a smile. ¡°I needed the rest anyway¡± After checking my duties for the day, I decided to start with the library. It¡¯s peaceful there, and Caesar loves the children¡¯s books I sometimes borrow for him. I¡¯m halfway across the foyer when I hear one of the maids greeting someone, her voice suddenly formal and respectful. Hunter¡¯s cold, yet rough voice fills the quiet air. ¡°Where is everyone today?¡± I freeze, then instinctively turn to leave. Our meetingst night felt too fresh, too intimate. But before I can escape, his eyes catch mine. He doesn¡¯t call my name. Instead, he lifts his hand, a slight gesture with two fingers¨Cthe way someone might summon a dog. I frown but make my way toward him, my steps measured. Professional. Distant. ¡°Mr. Reid, greet him, my voice neutral. ¡°Where are all the staff?¡± he asks, his gaze intense. ¡°The house is too quiet.¡±¡± I exin about Sally and the athers going shopping, my eyes drifting to the gleaming marble tile beneath our feet rather than meeting his prating stare. ¡°Why are you looking at the floor instead of at me when I¡¯m speaking to you?¡± he asks sharply. My head snaps up. ¡°Huh?¡± -HUNTER- The soft sound of confusion that escapes her lips catches me off guard. I stare at her face¡­ look at it¨Cfor the first time since our tense meeting in ber quartersst night. There are shadows under her eyes, but they don¡¯t reduce the clear, innocent beauty of her features. No makeup, no artifice. Just 1/6 Celine. Something tightens in my chest. ¡°Damn it,¡± I mutter under my breath, looking away before she can read whatever emotion might be betraying me. ¡°is my breakfast ready?¡± I ask, needing to return to safer territory. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if Cook prepared anything yet,¡± she says, her voice solt. ¡°I can call her to get something ready for you.¡± She turns to leave, but I catch myself reaching out, my hand closing around her wrist. Her skin is warm beneath my fingers, and feel her pulse jump. ¡°You prepare it,¡± I say, the wordsing out more like amand than a request. Her eyes widen in confusion. ¡°Me?¡±¡± ¡°Yes, you.¡± She stands there looking restless and uncertain. ¡°I don¡¯t think¡­ ¡°You cook good food,¡± I exin, remembering the cookies from the night before, their simple, perfect sweetness. Ablush spreads across her cheeks, warming her pale skin with color. I feel the corner of my mouth¨Clifts in response, a smile I quickly try to suppress. ¡°I¡¯m busy with my son, she protests weakly. ¡°I pay you to attend to my needs, Celine, not focus on your kid,¡± I say, the words harsh even to my ears. ¡°Caesar is not a kid that needs supervising every hour!¡± I see her mouth form a pout as if she wants to argue, but then her shoulders slump slightly in resignation. ¡°Fine,¡± she agrees. -CELINE- I should refuse. Tell him that cooking isn¡¯t in my job description. That Caesar is waiting for me. Afterst night¡¯s conversation, I need space to breathe, and to think.. But something in the way he looks at me¡­.something almost helpless beneath the coldmand¡­makes me nod instead. I lead the way to the kitchen, hyperaware of Hunter following behind me. The vast, industrial kitchen always makes me feel small, but with Hunter¡¯s presence filling the space, it seems to shrink even further. ¡°What would you like?¡± I ask, opening the refrigerator to survey the options. ¡°Surprise me,¡± he says, settling at the counter that faces the kitchen. I risk a nce his way as I gather ingredients. He¡¯s pretending to be interested in his phone, but I feel his gaze on me when I tum Away Deciding on a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast, and fresh fruit, I begin to work. The kitchen is silent except for the sounds of cooking¨Cthe crack of eggs, the sizzle of butter in the pan, the rhythmic thud of my 1245 knife against the cutting board as I chop strawberries. The onions for the eggs make my eyes sting, and I blink rapidly, trying to clear them. When one particrly sharp sting makes me flinch, I hear a soft chuckle from the counter. I look up to catch Hunter watching me, an amused expression softening his usually stern features. He immediately shifts his gaze back to his phone, but not before I notice the way joy transforms his face, making him look younger and less burdened. As I reach for a pan on the top shell, I stretch upward, fingertips just brushing the handle but unable to grasp it. I¡¯m considering getting a step stool when I sense movement behind me. Hunter¡¯s presence loomsrge as he steps into my space, his chest nearly touching my back as he reaches up for the pan. Our hands graze each other, his fingers brushing against mine as we both touch the metal handle. It¡¯s the barest contact¡­a whisper of skin against skin¡­.but electricity shoots through me. He doesn¡¯t move away immediately. Instead, his hand stays near mine for a heartbeat too long. I flinch, backing away until I feel the counter edge pressing into my spine. Hunter turns, and suddenly he¡¯s before me, his arms on either side of me, palms t against the counter. I¡¯m caged between the solid granite behind me and the solid wall of his chest before me. His eyes drop to my lips, and an unintentional reaction makes me bite my lower lip nervously. I shut my eyes, crushed by his closeness, by the heat spreading out from his body, by the slight scent of his cologne mingling with the smell of breakfast cooking. ¡°Mommy?¡± Caesar¡¯s small voice cuts through the suspense like a knife. My eyes fly open to see my son standing at the far end of the dining table, his stuffed dinosaur wrapped tightly in his arms. His blue eyes¡­.so like Hunter¡¯s¡­wide with curiosity. -HUNTER- The boy¡¯s voice jolts me back to reality. I step away from Celine immediately, putting distance between us. Caesar stands watching us, head tilted in that curious way children have when they sense something they won¡¯t quite understand. ¡°Hey, buddy,¡± I say, my voico rougher than I intended. ¡°You¡¯re up early.¡± Caesar approaches cautiously, his dinosaur.. Mr. Bones, I remember him calling it¡­clutched to his chest like a shield. ¡°I¡¯m hungry,¡± he says, his gaze moving between Celine and me, assessing in a way that seems far too sharp for a three¨Cyear¨Cold. ¡°I¡¯m making breakfast,¡± Celine says, her yoice slightly breathless. She moves away from me, toward her son, smoothing down his tousled curls. ¡°Would you like some eggs and toast too?¡± Caesar nods, then looks up at me. ¡°Are you eating with us, Mr. Hunter?¡± The question catches me off guard. I nce at Celine, whose expression is carefully neutral now, all traces of our moment erased ¡°I should eat in my office,¡± I begin, but Caesar¡¯s face falls slightly. ¡°Oh,¡± he says, disappointment evident in that single syble. ¡°I wanted to show you my drawing,¡± Something twists in my chest¨Can unfamiliar feeling that I can¡¯t quite name. ¡°You made a drawing?¡± He nods eagerly. ¡°Of dinosaurs. Like Mr. Bones.¡± Before I can respond, Caesar walks to the table and climbs onto a chair, cing his stuffed dinosaur beside him. He looks back at me expectantly, as if it¡¯s the most natural thing in the world for me to join him. I hesitate, then take a seat across from him. ¡°Let me see this drawing, then.¡± Caesar beams, then looks to Celine. ¡°Mommy, can you get my drawing? It¡¯s on the bed.¡± Celine seems frozen for a moment, caught between finishing breakfast and her son¡¯s request. The eggs sizzle in the pan. demanding attention. ¡°I¡¯ll get it,¡± thear myself say, rising from the chair. Both Celine and Caesar stare at me with matching expressions of surprise. ¡°You don¡¯t have to-¡± Celine begins. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± I cut her off. ¡°Watch the eggs. They¡¯re burning.¡± In She turns back to the stove with a gasp, and I make my way to the staff quarters, wondering what the hell I¡¯m doing. The staff apartment is small but surprisingly neat. Toys are organized in colorful bins, and books are stacked on a small shell On the bed lies a sheet of paper covered in colorful scribbles that vaguely resemble dinosaurs¨Cor maybe horses, it¡¯s hard to tell As I pick it up, my gaze catches on a framed photograph on the nightstand. Celine, much younger, perhaps eighteen or neen, her face glowing as she holds a newborn Caesar, The hospital bracelet is still visible on her wrist. She looks exhausted but radiantly happy, staring down at her son with such pure love that it makes my chest ache. I quickly turn away, drawing in hand, and return to the kitchen. Caesar¡¯s face lights up when he sees me with his artwork. ¡°Do you like it?¡± he asks eagerly. I study the chaotic lines and sshes of colos ¡°It¡¯s very¡­ creative,¡± I say, earning a giggle from the boy. *This one is T¨CRex,¡± he exins, pointing to a red scribble. ¡°And this is you.¡± My brow furrows as I lean closer. ¡°Me?¡± Caesar nods solemnly. ¡°The big one protecting the little ones.¡± I nce up to find Celine watching us, a te of perfectly scrambled eggs in her hands, her expression unreadable. ¡°Breakfast is ready,¡± she says solily As she sets three tes on the table¡­one for Caesar, one for herself, and one for me¡­I realize I¡¯ve somehow been drawn into this domestic scene against my will, Or perhaps not entirely against my will, which is even more concerning Caesar chatters happily about dinosaurs as we eat, seemingly ignorant of the tension between Celine and me. Whenever our eyes meet over his head, something electric passes between us¨Csomething that makes me look away first. The eggs are perfect¨CRuffy, and seasoned just right. The toast was golden, the fruit fresh and sweet. It¡¯s a simple meal, nothing like the borate breakfasts prepared by professionals at the finest hotels and restaurants where I usually dine. Yet somehow, it tastes better than anything I can remember. Get full chapters from FindN0vel ¡°More juice please, Mr. Hunter,¡± Caesar says, holding out his empty cup. I reach for the pitcher, but Celine is faster. ¡°I¡¯ve got it,¡± she says, her fingers brushing mine as she takes the pitcher. Another touch. Another jolt of awareness. Caesar watches us with those piercing blue eyes¡­.eyes so like my own¡­and for a moment, a wild thought crosses my mind. A possibility I¡¯ve been trying to deny since I first saw the boy, But that¡¯s impossible. Isn¡¯t it? ¡°Mr. Hunter,¡± Caesar says, pulling me from my thoughts. ¡°Do you like dinosaurs too?¡± I set down my fork, giving the question more consideration than it probably deserves. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about them,¡± I admit ¡°Maybe you could teach me sometime.¡± The smile that spreads across his small face is like sunshine breaking through clouds. ¡°Really? I know lots about dinosaurs!¡± ¡°Caesar,¡± Celine interjects, her tone gentle but firm. ¡°Mr. Reid is very busy. He has important work to do.¡± But as I look at the boy¡¯s eager face, at his blue eyes so full of hope, I find myself saying, ¡°I¡¯m not that busy.¡± And the startled look Celine gives me suggests this might be the first time she¡¯s ever heard those words from my lips It might be the first time I¡¯ve ever meant them. Legacy 49 -HUNTER- The office smells like fear. Good. It should. ¡°Mr. Reid, please reconsider¡­¡± I cut him off with a cold stare. ¡°You had six months to meet targets. You failed.¡± The man¡­Johnson? Jackson?¡­visibly trembles. Pathetic. His tie is crooked, and sweat darkens the underarms of his shirt. I hate weakness. ¡°Clear your desk by five,¡± I say, already looking at my phone, dismissing him. ¡°HR has your severance paperwork.¡± He leaves without another word. Smart move. Begging would have gotten him nothing but my contempt. Vincent drops into the chair across from my desk the moment the door closes. ¡°That¡¯s the third executive this month, Hunt. The board¡¯s starting to talk.¡± Iugh, short and humorless. ¡°Let them talk. The expansion ns for The Aurelia are finalized. Three new locations in the next eighteen months. When they see the projections, they¡¯ll shut up fast.¡± Vincent studies me, eyes narrowed. ¡°You look like shit. When was thest time you slept?¡± ¡°Sleep is overrated.¡± Ishuffle the papers on my desk, avoiding his concern. Vincent has been my friend since college, the only person who calls me on my bullshit. It¡¯s annoying. ¡°It¡¯s that maid, isn¡¯t it?¡± he asks, leaning forward. ¡°The one with the kid.¡± My pen freezes mid¨Csignature. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Vincent raises his hands in surrender, but his smirk says everything. ¡°Just saying, you¡¯ve been different since she started working for you.¡± ¡°Drop it,¡± I warnice in my voice. He shrugs, changing the subject to the Tokyo deal, but his knowing look lingers Hourster, I walk into the mansion, loosening my tie. The house is quiet. It¡¯s past eight¨Cmost of the staff are gone for the day. Good. I need the silence. In my room, I drop my briefcase, kick off my shoes, and strip naked. My muscles ache from tension. The bathroom mirror reflects a man I barely recognize sometimes¨Chard eyes, harder mouth, not a hint of softness anywhere. The shower hisses to life. I step under the spray, letting scalding water pound my shoulders. Steam fills the ss 1/4 Celine. With those wide, innocent eyes that somehow see too much. The gentle curve of her lips when she smiles at her son. The way she moves¨Cefficient, graceful, always slightly guarded around me. ¡°Fuck,¡± I mutter, pressing my forehead against the cool tile. My cock hardens painfully, betraying me. I¡¯ve wanted women before¨Ctaken them, enjoyed them, forgotten them. But this¡­ this constant, nagging hunger for a goddamn maid is driving me insane. I wrap my hand around myself, gritting my teeth. It¡¯s just the release I need. Nothing more.. I stroke once, twice, imagining her pressed against this wall. Would she be shy? Or would passion burn away that careful restraint she always shows? Would she moan my name or bite her lip to stay quiet? My pace quickens. In my mind, she¡¯s under me, her hair spread across my pillows, her eyes darkened with desire as I push into her. She¡¯d be tight¨CI know it. Perfect. Her hands would clutch my shoulders, leaving marks. Her legs would wrap around my waist, drawing me deeper. ¡°Christ,¡± I growl as release hits me hard and fast. For a few seconds, my mind goes blissfully nk. Then reality crashes back, cold and unwee. I¡¯m alone in my shower, fantasizing about an employee¨Ca single mother who needs her job. A woman who probably hates me for how I¡¯ve treated her. A woman whose son has blue eyes just like mine. Im my fist against the tile. ¡°Get it together, Reid.¡± Tomorrow¡¯s my appointment with Dr. Maxwell. Another pointless check up to confirm what I already know¨Cthat the Reid bloodline likely ends with me. My father¡¯s disappointment. My mother¡¯s barely hidden pity. The whispers among business associates wondering who will inherit the Reid fortune. Dr. Maxwell keeps pushing experimental treatments, and new specialists. I keep going to shut him up, but the diagnosis hasn¡¯t changed in three years. Low sperm count. Almost non¨Cexistent motility. The irony that I, who excel at everything, should fail at the most basic biological function isn¡¯t lost on me. I shut off the water with more force than necessary and stepped out, not bothering with a towel Water dri the marble floor as I stare at my reflection again. Hard. Cold. Alone. Exactly how I want it. How I need it I push open the bathroom door, steam billowing around me as I step into my bedroom, And freeze. om my body onto Celine stands by my bed, a basket ofundry in her arms. Her eyes widen in shock, fixed on myce for a split second before traveling downward. To my still semi¨Chard cock. Her mouth forms a perfect ¡°0¡± of surprise. A blush mes across her cheeks, spreading down her neck to disappear beneath her uniform. Theundry basket trembles in her hands. ¡°Fuck,¡± I say, turning away sharply, but not before noticing how her gaze lingered. Not before seeing something sh in her dyn that wasn¡¯t just embarrassment. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m sorry,¡± she stammers. ¡°I thought you were still at work. Sally asked me to collect yourundry and-¡± ¡°Get out,¡± I bark, the words harsher than intended. I hear the basket hit the floor, clothes spilling. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Reid, I didn¡¯t-¡± ¡°NOW!¡± I roar, not daring to look at her. Her footsteps are quick, panicked. The door opens and ms shut. Alone again, I grab a towel and wrap it around my waist, cursing under my breath. My heart hammers against my ribs¨Cfrom anger, from embarrassment, from something else I refuse to name. I kick the scattered clothes aside and drop onto the edge of my bed, rubbing my face with both hands. This is getting out of control. I need to get her out of my house. Out of my head. But then I remember Caesar¡¯s drawing. The ¡°big one protecting the little ones.¡± The boys smiled when I sat with them at breakfast. The way Celine looked at me when I offered to spend time with her son¨Csurprise mixed with something softer, something that made my chest tight. A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. ¡°What?¡± I snap ¡°Sir,¡± Sally¡¯s voice, muffled through the wood. ¡°Is everything alright? Celine seemed upset when she came downstairs.¡± Iclench my jaw. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. Tell Celine-¡°I stop, unsure what to say. Fire her? Apologize? Pretend nothing happened? ¡°Sir?¡± ¡°Tell her to finish her duties,¡± I finally say. ¡°And in the future, make sure she knocks, ¡°Yes, sir.¡± I hear Sally¡¯s footsteps fade away. I stand and walk to the window, looking out at the darkening grounds. this. Set clear boundaries. Remind me and her of our positions. arrow, I¡¯ll deal with But as I turn away, my gaze catches on theundry scattered across the floor. Among the dress shirts and ties lies a small t¨Cshirt- Caesar¡¯s It must have been mixed in with my things. I pick it up, frowning at the cartoon dingsaur on the front. So small in my hands. Before I realize what I¡¯m doing, I fold it carefully and set it on my dresser. My phone buzzes with a text from Dr. Maxwell¡¯s office, reminding me of tomorrow¡¯s appointment. I ignore it, walking to my closet instead. As I dress in sweatpants and a t¨Cshirt, my mind keeps reying the moment Celine sees me naked. Not just her embarrassment¨Cthat would be easy to dismiss. No, it was the flicker of heat in her eyes before shame took over The way her breath caught. The slight parting of her lips. She wanted me. For a heartbeat, maybe less. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? findnovel And God help me, I want her too, I grab myptop, determined to lose myself in work until exhaustion ims me. But instead of quarterly reports, I find myself typing a name into the search bar ¡°Caesar Brown¡± I stare at the cursor, finger hovering over the enter key. If I press it, I¡¯m acknowledging the question that¡¯s been haunting me since 1 first saw those blue eyes¨Cso like my own. But that¡¯s impossible. The doctors were clear. Weren¡¯t they? My finger presses down. The search begins. Legacy 50 Chapter 50 Chapter 50 -CELINE- My hands won¡¯t stop shaking. I stumble down the hallway, nearly crashing into one of the side tables. The sound of Hunter¡¯s door mming behind me echoes in ???? ????s? ???????s ?? FindN0vel my ears. Oh my God. I just saw my boss naked. Completely, utterly naked. And not just naked¨Cfreshly showered, water droplets sliding down his muscr chest, over his perfect abs, lower to his¡­ I press my palm against my hot cheek. What¡¯s wrong with me? I should be mortified, not¡­ whatever this feeling is that¡¯s making my heart race and my skin flush. ¡°Celine? Are you alright?¡± I look up to find Sally, the head housekeeper, watching me with concern. Imust look like a mess¨Cface ming red, eyes wide, breathing too fast. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m fine,¡± I lie. ¡°Just¡­ Mr. Reid was in his room when I went to collect theundry. I didn¡¯t know he was home.¡± Understanding flickers across Sally¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ll go check if he needs anything¡± She heads toward Hunter¡¯s room, and I flee downstairs, desperate for fresh air. I slip out the back door into the garden, gulping in cool evening air, The memory of Hunter standing there, steam swirling around him, water running down his powerful body, won¡¯t leave my mind. I¡¯ve never seen a man sa¡­ perfect. So intimidating. Even naked, he looked like he owned the world. And the way he looked at me¨Canger mixed with something else that made my stomach flip. I sink onto a stone bench, dropping my face into my hands. I need this job. I can¡¯t afford to lose it, not when Caesar¡¯s preschool tuition is notplete. Not when I¡¯m finally saving a little money for art sses. ¡°Pull yourself together,¡± I whisper to myself. A text from Caroline lights up my phone: ¡®Drinks tomorrow night? My treat!¡® I smile despite mysell Caroline has been my lifeline these past few weeks. Hunter¡¯s cousin is nothing like him¨Cwarm, friendly, maybe a bit too wild for her own good. She insists on being my friend despite our different backgrounds back in high school. ¡°Can¡¯t. No sitter for Caesar, I text back. Her reply is instant: ¡°Bring him! We¡¯ll go somewhere kid friendly. I miss my little buddy.¡± Before I can respond, the garden lightse on suddenly, flooding the space with soft golden light. I look up to see Hunter standing at the back door, watching me, My heart jumps to my throat. He¡¯s dressed now, in gray sweatpants and a ck t¨Cshirt that hugs his broad shoulders. His dark hair is still damp from the shower. For a moment, neither of us moves. Then he walks toward me, his expression unreadable. I stand quickly, smoothing my uniforms. ¡°Mr. Reid, I¡¯m so sorry about earlier. I should have knocked-¡± He raises a hand, cutting me ofl. ¡°It was a misunderstanding?¡± His voice is controlled, calm. Nothing like the roar that chased me from his room. He stops a few feet away, hands in his pockets Up close, I notice the shadows under his eyes, the tension in his jaw. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have yelled,¡± he says, surprising me. ¡°You were just doing your job.¡± I stare at him, unsure how to respond to this rare moment of¡­ is it an apology? From Hunter Reid? ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± I manage. ¡°I should be more careful.¡± His blue eyes¨Cso much like Caesar¡¯s¨Cstudy me intently. ¡°How is your son?¡± The abrupt subject change throws me off. ¡°He¡¯s good. He enjoyed the dinosaur books you gave him.¡± Something softens in Hunter¡¯s face. ¡°He¡¯s a bright kid.¡± es,¡± I say cautiously. ¡°He is,¡± Silence stretches between us, filled with unspoken questions. Why is he suddenly interested in my son? Why does he look at Caesar with such intensity? ¡°Mr. Reid-¡± ¡°Hunter,¡± he interrupts. ¡°When we¡¯re alone, call me Hunter.¡± My eyebrows rise in surprise. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s appropriate.¡± A hint of his usual arrogance returns in his slight smile. ¡°I¡¯m your boss. I decide what¡¯s appropriate.¡± I want to argue but bite my tongue. Instead, I nod stiffly. ¡°If you insist¡­ Hunter.¡± His name feels strange on my lips. Intimate somehow. He takes a step closer, and I catch his scent¨Cexpensive soap and something uniquely him. My traitorou quickening ¡°Have dinner with me tomorrow,¡± he says. It¡¯s not quite a question. I blink in confusion. ¡°Dinner?¡± ¡°Yes, dinner. The meal people typically eat in the evening There¡¯s the sarcasm I¡¯m used to, but there¡¯s no real bite to it. His eyes remain fixed on my face, waiting. ¡°Why?¡± I ask before can stop myself responds, heart His mouth quirks. ¡°Because I want to talk to you.¡± ¡°About?¡± ¡°Your son.¡± Ice floods my veins. Caesar. This is about Caesar. Has he noticed the resemnce? The identical blue eyes, the same stubborn chin? Is that why he¡¯s been watching my son, giving him gifts, asking questions? ¡°What about him?¡± I ask, trying to keep my voice steady. Hunter¡¯s word gives nothing away. ¡°I¡¯d rather discuss it over dinner. Tomorrow. Seven o¡¯clock.¡± It¡¯s not a request. It¡¯s barely even an invitation. It¡¯s Hunter Reid expecting to be obeyed. ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± I say, finding my courage. ¡°I promised Caroline I¡¯d meet her tomorrow night.¡± Something shes in his eyes¨Cannoyance? Jealousy? ¡°Caroline can wait. This is important. Icross my arms. ¡°So is keeping promises to friends.¡± We stare at each other, neither willing to back down. Finally, Hunter sighs, running a hand through his damp hair. ¡°Fine. Saturday. No excuses.¡± Before I can respond, he turns and walks back to the house, leaving me staring after him. What just happened? I drop back onto the bench, mind racing. Hunter Reid wants to have dinner with me to discuss my son. The son who looks exactly like him. The son who was conceived after a night I barely remember. Oh God. My phone buzzes with another text from Caroline: ¡®Helloooo? You there? Kid¨Cfriendly drinks tomorrow?¡± I stare at my phone, thinking about the strange tension between Hunter and me. About the way he looks at Caesar. About the dangerous path I might be heading down. ¡°Yes, I text back. ¡°We¡¯ll be there.¡± I need to talk to Caroline. Maybe she can help me understand her cousin¡¯s sudden interest in my life. Maybe she can tell me why every time Hunter looks at me with those blue eyes¨CCaesar¡¯s eyes¨CI feel like I¡¯m falling into dangerous waters. thead back inside, pausing at the door to nce up at Hunter¡¯s window. The light is on, silhouetting his tall figure as he paces back and forth. Whatever game he¡¯s ying, I need to be careful. Caesar is my whole world, and I¡¯ll do anything to protect him¨Ceven from his billionaire father who doesn¡¯t know he exists But as I walk through the quiet house toward the staff quarters where my son sleeps peacefully, another thought troubles mas the memory of Hunter¡¯s naked body, powerful and perfect, and the unwee heat that flooded me at the sight. I can¡¯t be attracted to him. I can¡¯t want the man who could take everything from me if he discovered the truth. Yet as I check on Caesar, brushing a dark curl from his forehead¨Ca curl so simr to Hunter¡¯s¨CI know I¡¯m in trouble. Deep trouble. Because despite his coldness, despite his arrogance, despite the threat he poses to my carefully built life, I can¡¯t stop thinking about Hunter Reid. And that terrifies me more than anything. Legacy 51 Chapter 51 -HUNTER- The numbers on myptop screen blur together. I rub my eyes, trying to focus on the Hong Kong deal, but my mind keeps drifting tost night. To Celine¡¯s wide eyes when she saw me. To the pink flush creeping up her neck. To the way she bit her lip before fleeing my room. A sharp knock breaks my concentration, followed immediately by my office door swinging open. Only one person enters my office without waiting for permission. ¡°Cousin dearest!¡± Caroline sings out, striding in as if she owns the ce. ¡°Still brooding, I see.¡± I don¡¯t look up. ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re always busy,¡± she says, dropping gracefully into the chair across from my desk. ¡°It¡¯s your default state of being.¡± Vincent chuckles from the doorway. I hadn¡¯t noticed him following Caroline in. Great. A tag team. ¡°What part of ¡®busy¡® don¡¯t you understand?¡± I ask, typing furiously although the words make no sense. Caroline props her designer boots on the edge of my desk. I re at her until she removes them, grinning unapologetically. ¡°When was thest time you gotid, Hunter?¡± she asks bluntly. Vincent bursts outughing. ¡°I was wondering the same thing.¡± I close myptop with a snap. ¡°Is there a point to this visit, or are you just here to irritate me?¡± ¡°Both,¡± Caroline says cheerfully. ¡°It¡¯s a two¨Cfor¨Cone special.¡± Vincent drops into the chair beside her, still smirking. ¡°She has a favor to ask.¡± ¡°Snitch,¡± Caroline mutters, elbowing him. I check my watch pointedly. ¡°I have a meeting in twenty minutes.¡± ¡°Fine, fine.¡± Caroline leans forward, all business suddenly. ¡°I need to borrow your cabin this weekend.¡± Hoak up, surprised. The cabin at Lake George is my private ¡°Why?¡± treat a ce few people know about and even fewer have visited. She shrugs, examining her manicured nails. Just need a getaway.¡± ¡°Since when do you ¡®get away¡® anywhere without an entourage and five¨Cstar amodations?¡± ¡°People change.¡± ¡°Not you,¡± I say tly. Vincent snorts. Caroline shoots him a warning look. A suspicion forms. ¡°Aren¡¯t you hanging out with Celine anymore?¡± Caroline and Vincent exchange a nce that confirms my guess. Caroline¡¯s eyebrows rise slightly. ¡°How did you know about that?¡± ¡°She told me,¡± I say, returning to myptop. It¡¯s not exactly a lie. Celine did mention Caroline¡¯s invitationst night in the garden. ¡°Hmm.¡± Caroline sounds unconvinced. ¡°Well, yes, Celine¡¯s involved. It¡¯s her birthday tomorrow, and I want to surprise her.. My fingers freeze on the keyboard. Celine¡¯s birthday. Tomorrow. ¡°The poor girl works herself to the bone,¡± Caroline continues, ¡°dealing with your coldness day in and day out. She deserves something special.¡± I meet her gaze coolly, but my mind is already racing. Celine¡¯s birthday. No wonder she¡¯d made ns with Caroline. I¡¯d had no idea. ¡°She has a child,¡± I say, trying to sound disinterested. ¡°Doesn¡¯t she need something more¡­ appropriate than your usual idea of a celebration?¡± Caroline rolls her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not nning to take her clubbing, Hunter. Give me some credit.¡± ¡°Actually,¡± Vincent chimes in, ¡°clubbing sounds perfect. When was thest time that girl had fun?¡± ¡°No!¡± Caroline and I shout simultaneously. We stare at each other. Caroline¡¯s eyes narrow suspiciously. ¡°Caesar ising along,¡± she says slowly, watching my reaction. ¡°And Celine¡¯s bringing a friend too.¡± A friend? Something cold and unpleasant twists in my stomach. ¡°Male or female?¡± The question escapes before I can stop it. Caroline¡¯s lips curve into a knowing smile. ¡°Why do you care?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± I say quickly. ¡°Just wondering if you needed me to arrange childcare.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Her tone makes it clear she doesn¡¯t believe me, ¡°It¡¯s her friend, ke, she once worked here at the ¡®Aurelia¡® And Female too in case you still want to know.¡± The tension in my shoulders eases slightly. Not that I care. Celine can have friends of any gender. It¡¯s none of my business. Except that, it feels like my business. ¡°So, the cabin?¡± Caroline prompts. ¡°What exactly are you nning?¡± I ask, trying to sound casual. Vincent leans forward, amused. ¡°Yeah, Caroline. What exactly are you nning?¡± She sighs dramatically. ¡°Just a small gathering. Cake, presents, maybe a nice dinner. Nothing wild, I promise.¡± I consider her request. The cabin would be perfect for a birthday celebration¨Cprivate, and beautiful, with that deck overlooking theke. I can picture Celine there, her face lit by sunset, smiling as Caesar ys nearby¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll have to check my schedule,¡± I say, making her wait. Caroline sees through me. ¡°You were never nning to use it this weekend.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know that.¡± ¡°Your assistant does.¡± She smirks. ¡°I already asked her.¡± I make a mental note to fire Jessica. Or at least remind her who pays her sry. ¡°Fine,¡± I concede. ¡°You can use it.¡± Caroline ps her hands together. ¡°Perfect! Thank you, darling cousin.¡± ¡°But,¡± I added firmly, ¡°no parties. No strangers. Just Celine, her son, and her friend.¡± ¡°And me,¡± Caroline reminds me. ¡°Unfortunately, yes.¡± She stands, smoothing her designer dress. ¡°I should get nning. Not much time to pull this together.¡± An idea forms in my mind¨Csudden, impulsive, probably ill¨Cadvised. ¡°Wait,¡± I say before she reaches the door. ¡°What if I help?¡± Caroline turns slowly, eyebrows raised. Vincent sits up straighter, suddenly interested. ¡°You want to help n Celine¡¯s birthday?¡± Caroline asks carefully as if making sure she heard correctly. I shrug, aiming for nonchnce. ¡°The cabin¡¯s mine. I know it better than you do.¡± ¡°Hunter,¡± Caroline says, crossing her arms, ¡°in all the years I¡¯ve known you, you¡¯ve never once offered to help n anything that wasn¡¯t a business function.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just being practical,¡± I insist. ¡°You said yourself there¡¯s not much time.¡± Caroline and Vincent exchange another look¨Clonger this time. ¡°What?¡± I demand. ¡°Nothing,¡± Vincent says, unconvincingly. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ interesting.¡± ¡°Very interesting,¡± Caroline agrees, studying me. ¡°You know, if I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d think you cared about my little friend.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡± I scoff. ¡°I¡¯m her employer. I¡¯m simply ensuring she has a proper birthday.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Caroline says, voice dripping with sarcasm ¡°How professional of you.¡± I stand,ing around my desk. ¡°Do you want my help or not?¡± ¡°Oh, I want it,¡± Caroline says, grinning. ¡°This is going to be fascinating.¡± Vincent rises too, pping me on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m staying this show.¡± I re at him, but he justughs. ¡°Here¡¯s what I¡¯m thinking,¡± I say, ignoring them both. ¡°We¡¯ll need a cake. Something with chocte I¡¯ve noticed she always take the chocte desserts from the kitchen.¡± Caroline¡¯s eyebrows climb higher. ¡°You¡¯ve noticed her dessert preferences?¡± ¡°I notice everything in my house,¡± I say dismissively. ¡°And we should have dinner catered. Something simple but elegant. ¡°And gifts?¡± Caroline prompts. I hesitate. What would Celine want? What would make those warm brown eyes light up with pleasure? ¡°I have some ideas,¡± I say cautiously. Vincent chuckles. ¡°I bet you do.¡± I shoot him a warning look. ¡°This stays between us. As far as Celine knows, this was all Caroline¡¯s idea.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Caroline asks, genuinely curious. ¡°Why not let her know you helped?¡± Because she¡¯d be suspicious. Because she¡¯d wonder why I cared. Because afterst night, things between us are alreadyplicated enough. ¡°It¡¯s more professional this way,¡± I say instead. ¡°Professional,¡± Vincent repeats doubtfully. ¡°Yes,¡± I insist. ¡°Now, are we doing this or not?¡± Caroline studies me for a long moment, then nods slowly. ¡°We¡¯re doing this. But Hunter?¡± ¡°What?¡± Her expression turns serious. ¡°Be careful with her. Celine isn¡¯t like the women you real responsibilities.¡± ¡°I know that,¡± I say stiffly. usually¡­ interact with. She has a child. She has ¡°And she works for you,¡± Vincent adds quietly. ¡°That¡¯s a power dynamic you can¡¯t ignore.¡± I clench my jaw. ¡°This is just a birthday celebration. Nothing more.¡± Neither of them looks convinced, but Caroline nods. ¡°Alright then. Let¡¯s n a surprise.¡± Latest content published on Find1Novel As they leave my office, already discussing details, I sit back down and open myptop. But instead of returning to the Hong Kong deal, I find myself typing in a search: *Best gift for aspiring artists* Celine¡¯s dream of art school. The sketches she doesn¡¯t think anyone notices her working during her breaks. The way her eyes linger on the paintings in the hallway. This is just me being thorough, I tell myself. Just me ensuring a sessful event. Nothing personal. But the flutter in my chest when I imagine her smile says otherwise. Legacy 52 Chapter 52 -CELINE- This update is avable on find~novel ¡°Miss Crawford is here to see you,¡± Sally announces, poking her head into the kitchen where I¡¯m washing the breakfast dishes. I dry my hands quickly on my apron. Caroline visiting the mansion is unusual the normally just texts me to meet somewhere. Behind me, I hear Ana scoff. ¡°Of course she is,¡± Ana mutters. ¡°The maid with special privileges ignore herment, but my cheeks bum. Since I started working here, Ana has made it clear the resents me. it got worse after Hunter started showing interest in Caesar. ¡°Thank you, Sally,¡± I say, following her to the main entrance. Caroline stands in the foyer, dressed in designer jeans and a flowing silk blouse that probably costs more than my monthly rent. When she spots me, she waves enthusiastically. ¡°Celine! There you are! We¡¯re going shopping!¡± Before I can respond, I hear the patter of small feet on the marble floor. ¡°Caroline!¡± Caesar shouts, running toward her with arms outstretched. Caroline scoops him up, spinning him around. ¡°There¡¯s my favorite little man!¡± Caesar giggles, and my heart warms watching them. Caroline has been so good with him, never treating him differently because he¡¯s the son of a maid. ¡°Shopping?¡± I ask uncertainly. ¡°But I¡¯m working¡± ¡°Already taken care of,¡± Caroline says, setting Caesar down. ¡°Right, Sally?¡± Sally nods. ¡°Mr. Reid has approved your day off.¡± My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. Did Hunter give me the day off? Without telling me? ¡°See?¡± Caroline grins. ¡°All arranged!¡± From the corner of my eye, I notice Ana hovering nearby, pretending to dust a vase while listening to our conversation ¡°Must be nice,¡± she says under her breath. ¡°Some of us have to work our full shifts.¡± Caroline¡¯s smile turns sharp as she looks over at Ana. ¡°Did you have something to say?¡± Ana freezes, clearly not expecting to be called out. ¡°No, Miss Crawford.¡± ¡°Are you sure? You seemed quite¡­ vocal just now.¡± Ana¡¯s face flushes. ¡°I was justmenting that some staff get special treatment.¡± ¡°Is that right?¡± Caroline steps closer to her. ¡°And you think that¡¯s unfair?¡± Chapter 52 The tension in the foyer thickens. I step forward quickly. ¡°Caroline, it¡¯s fine,¡± I say quietly. ¡°Let¡¯s just go.¡± Ana smirks, taking my intervention as a weakness. Caroline ignores me. ¡°No, I want to hear what Ana thinks is unfair. Please, enlighten us.¡± Ana shifts ufortably under Caroline¡¯s gaze. ¡°I just think we should all follow the same rules.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± Caroline says coolly. ¡°And I think people should mind their own business, especially when they don¡¯t have all the facts. But that¡¯s just me.¡± Ana¡¯s lips press into a thin line, but she says nothing more. ¡°Sally,¡± I say, desperate to change the subject, ¡°are you sure it¡¯s okay for me to go?¡± Sally gives me a kind smile. ¡°Absolutely. Enjoy your day off, Celine. You¡¯ve earned it.¡± My phone buzzes in my pocket. It¡¯s a text from ke: ¡°Where should we met? I¡¯m free all day!¡± ¡°Caroline, would it be okay if my friend ke joined us?¡± I ask. ¡°ke? The coffee shop girl?¡± Caroline ps her hands. ¡°Yes! The more the merrier. Tell her to meet us at the Gallena in an hour¡± Caesar jumps up and down, though I¡¯m sure he has no idea what¡¯s going on. ¡°We go shopping?¡± I kneel to his level. ¡°Yes, baby. We¡¯re going shopping with Caroline. Isn¡¯t that exciting?¡± He nods vigorously, his blue eyes¨CHunter¡¯s eyes¨Cshining with excitement. ¡°Let¡¯s get you both ready,¡± Caroline says, already heading toward the staff quarters. ¡°We have a full day ahead!¡± myb I follow her, trying to ignore Ana¡¯s re boring into my back. Two hourster, I stand in a dressing room of a store I would normally walk past without even daring to lock in the windows. The price tags make me dizzy. ¡°Caroline,¡± I call through the door, ¡°I can¡¯t ept these clothes. They¡¯re too expensive.¡± ¡°Nonsense,¡± she replies. ¡°Consider it an early birthday present. Nowe out and let me see that ck dress.¡±¡± I stare at my reflection. The ck dress hugs my curves in a way my usual clothes never do. It¡¯s elegant yet sexy, with a modest neckline but a daring slit up one leg. I¡¯ve never owned anything like it. Reluctantly, I step out of the dressing room. ke, who¡¯s been trying on clothes too,/whistles. ¡°Damn, girl! You¡¯re hiding all that under those maid uniforms?¡± Caroline circles me, nodding approvingly. ¡°Perfect. We¡¯re getting this one.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t, I protest. ¡°Where would I even wear it?¡± apter 52 ¡°Tonight,¡± Caroline says simply. ¡°We¡¯re going somewhere special.¡± I look over to where Caesar sits on a cushioned bench, happily ying with a toy car Caroline bought him earlier. ¡°I don¡¯t think a fancy dress is appropriate for drinks with a three¨Cyear¨Cold in tow.¡± Caroline just winks, ¡°Trust me.¡± ke holds up a silky blue top against herself. ¡°So, Celine, you said Caroline is rted to your boss?¡± She checks the price tag and gasps, pulling me aside to show me. ¡°Holy cow, this costs more than my rent!¡± Iugh nervously. ¡°She¡¯s his cousin.¡± ke raises her eyebrows. ¡°The Reid family must be blessed then¡­? ¡°I guess,¡± I say quietly. ke¡¯s eyes widen. ¡°Reid? Owner of Aruelia Hotels? The billionaire family?¡± Inod, watching as Caroline kneels beside Caesar, cing a tiny pair of designer sunsses on his nose. They bothugh at his new look. ¡°Girl,¡± ke whispers, ¡°I am jealous, and you get to see Hunter¨Cfreaking¨CReid¡¯s face every day, He¡¯s in the magazines all the time!¡± I shrug ufortably. ¡°I never thought of it that way?¡± ke shakes her head in disbelief. ¡°No wonder his cousin shops like money doesn¡¯t exist.¡± I turn back to the ck dress in the mirror. It is beautiful. For a moment, I imagine wearing it for Hunter, wondering what he¡¯d think if he saw me in something other than my uniform¡­. I quickly push the thought away and change back into my clothes.. After shopping, Caroline takes us to an upscale salon. I sit nervously as a stylist works on my hair while another woman does my nails. Caesar is happily ying in the children¡¯s area with other kids, supervised by salon staff. ¡°So,¡± Caroline says from the chair next to me, ¡°let¡¯s talk men.¡± keughs from her seat. ¡°My favorite subject!¡± ¡°Thest guy I was with,¡± Caroline shares, lowering her voice dramatically, ¡°was packing serious heat, if you know what I mean.¡± ke snorts withughter. ¡°Size isn¡¯t everything. My ex was huge but had no idea what to do with it.¡± Theyunch into a detailed discussion about their past lovers,paring sizes and techniques. The stylist working on my hair smirks, clearly enjoying the conversation. I sit silently, my face burning. I¡¯ve only been with one man¨Cthe nameless stranger from that night at the club. The night that gave me Caesar. The night I can barely remember. My mind drifts to Hunter again. To his powerful body. To those intense blue eyes that seem to see right through me. What would it be like to be with someone like him? Someone who knows exactly what he wants and how to get it? ¡°Earth to Celine,¡± Caroline waves her hand in front of my face. ¡°You¡¯re a million miles away Care to share what or who you¡¯re thinking about?¡± I blush deeper. ¡°Nothing, Just wondering if Caesar is okay.¡± Caroline¡¯s knowing smile says she doesn¡¯t believe me for a second. After the salon, we have lunch at a restaurant so fancy the menu doesn¡¯t even list prices. Caroline orders champagne for the table. ¡°Should we be drinking? We still have Caesar with us,¡± I remind her, ¡°Just one ss,¡± Caroline insists. ¡°To celebrate.¡± ¡°Celebrate what?¡± I ask suspiciously. She grins. ¡°Life! Friendship! The fact that we all look fabulous after our makeovers!¡± ke raises her ss. ¡°I¡¯ll drink to that!¡± I take a small sip, the bubbles tickling my nose. Caesar sits beside me, coloring on the children¡¯s menu the waiter brought him. After lunch, Caroline announces, ¡°Now for the final surprise. Tonight, we¡¯re not going to some noisy bar. We¡¯re going to a private cabin by theke.¡± ¡°A cabin?¡± I repeat. ke looks intrigued. ¡°Fancy! Whose cabin?¡± ¡°Just a ce I have ess to,¡± Caroline says vaguely, ¡°it¡¯s beautiful, right on the water. Trust me, it¡¯s the perfect spot.¡± Something about her tone makes me suspicious, but I can¡¯t put my finger on what. She¡¯s been unusually secretive about our evening ns. ¡°We should head back to get ready,¡± Caroline continues. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you both up at seven.¡± As we walk back to Caroline¡¯s car, Caesar skipping ahead with ke, I catch Caroline checking her phone, smiling at whatever message she¡¯s received. ¡°Everything okay?¡± I ask She quickly puts her phone away, ¡°Perfect. Tonight is going to be amazing, Celine. I promise.¡± Inod, trying to ignore the flutter of nerves in my stomach. Something tells me this isn¡¯t just a casual night out with friends. And E Legacy 53 Chapter 53 -HUNTER- ¡°A little to the left.¡± I direct, watching Vincent struggle with the string of lights. ¡°No¨Cmy left, not yours.¡± Vincent grunts, stretching to hang the lights along the cabin¡¯s wooden beams. ¡°Since when did you be such a perfectionist about decorations?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always been a perfectionist,¡± I reply, adjusting a vase of wildflowers on the dining table. The cabin smells of pine and thesagna baking in the oven. Outside, theke sparkles in thete afternoon sun, visible through the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows. Everything looks perfect¨Cwhich is exactly what I wanted. Vincent steps down from thedder, wiping his hands on his jeans. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe Hunter Reid is decorating a cabin for his maid¡¯s birthday.¡± I shoot him a re. ¡°She¡¯s not just a maid.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Vincent raises his eyebrows. ¡°What is she, then?¡± I turn away, busying myself with straightening the already¨Cstraight ce settings. ¡°She¡¯s an employee who deserves recognition.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice drips with sarcasm. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯ve spent thest three hours obsessing over every detail of this surprise party. That¡¯s why you personally selected her gift. That¡¯s why you keep checking your watch every five minutes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not ¡°I nce at my wrist automatically, then curse under my breath when I realize I¡¯ve proven his point. Vincentughs, dropping onto the couch and stretching out his legs. ¡°Man, you need to getid. Badly.¡± ¡°Thanks for the professional assessment,¡± I mutter, moving to check the cake in the refrigerator for the third time. ¡°When was thest time?¡± Vincent presses, enjoying my difort. ¡°Six months? A year?¡± Im the refrigerator door. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°That long, huh?¡± Vincent whistles. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re wound so tight.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been busy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re always busy.¡± Vincent grabs a beer from the cooler we brought. ¡°You know, your manhood might actually stop working if you don¡¯t use it asionally.¡± I roll my eyes. ¡°I assure you, everything is in perfect working order.¡± ¡°If you say so.¡± Vincent takes a long swig of beer. ¡°Though I bet it would spring right to attention for a certain hot maid.¡± The image of Celine shes through my mind¨Cher soft curves beneath that uniform, her full lips, those wide brown eyes looking up at me. Heat rushes through my body, and I turn away before Vincent notices my reaction. ¡°This is a professional gesture,¡± I insist, adjusting a pillow on the window seat. ¡°Nothing more.¡± 14:57 Fr, 11 Aug Vincent snorts. ¡°Keep telling yourself that.¡± I step back, surveying the cabin. The lighting is perfect¨Cwarm and intimate without being too obvious. The table is set with fron china and crystal sses I had delivered this morning. Small wrapped packages wait on the coffee table. This is stupid, I should be at the office, finalizing the Hong Kong deal. I should be doing anything but standing in myke cabin, fussing over birthday decorations like a lovesick teenager ¡°You know,¡± Vincent says, his voice suddenly serious, ¡°It¡¯s okay to admit she gets to you.¡± I say nothing, moving to stand by the window. Outside, the trees sway gently in the breeze, their reflections dancing on the calm water. ¡°She scares me,¡± I admit quietly, my back to Vincent.. I hear him sit up. ¡°The maid scares you? Hunter Reid, terrified of a five¨Cfoot¨Cnothing single mom?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I turn to face him. ¡°Because I find myself¡­ pushing boundaries when I¡¯m around her. Wanting things I shouldn¡¯t want Vincent nods slowly, no longer teasing. ¡°And the kid?¡± My chest tightens. ¡°He scares me even more.¡± Vincent studies me for a long moment. ¡°He looks so fucking much like you, Hunter. It¡¯s uncanny.¡± I say nothing, unable to deny what we both see. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you done a DNA test?¡± Vincent asks the question I¡¯ve been avoiding since Celine walked into my house with that child. With those familiar blue eyes. I run a hand through my hair, turning back to the window. ¡°Because I already know the answer, dude,¡± I say finally. ¡°I know, and yet I don¡¯t know what to do with them both. I might hurt them. And they might end up hating me.¡± The silence stretches between us, broken only by the ticking of the clock on the wall ¡°Do you think she doesn¡¯t hate you now?¡± Vincent asks gently. I shrug, trying to appear more casual than I feel. ¡°It¡¯s better that way.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Before I can answer, my phone chimes with a text. I pull it from my pocket. Caroline: ¡®On our way. Be there by 7. She has no idea. You owe me BIG TIME for this. I check my watch again. Just over an hour before they arrive ¡°Caroline¡¯s bringing them at seven,¡± I tell Vincent, suddenly feeling nervous. ¡°Plenty of time for you to chicken out,¡± he teases, but his eyes are kind, I shake my head. ¡°I¡¯m not backing out.¡± ¡°Good¡± Vincent stands, pping me on the shoulder, ¡°Because I think you both deserve answers ¡°I don¡¯t even know if she remembers that night,¡± I admit. ¡°She was pretty drunk,¡± Vincent raises his eyebrows. ¡°And you weren¡¯t?¡± I grimace, remembering the pounding headache, the fragmented memories. ¡°I was drunk enough to forget protection. Not drunk enough to forget her.¡± ¡°The m mysterious one¨Cnight stand that¡¯s haunted you for years,¡± Vincent muses. ¡°And now she works in your house. With your son¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know for sure he¡¯s-¡± ¡°Cut the crap, Hunter,¡± Vincent interrupts. ¡°That boy is a Reid through and through. He has your eyes, your chin, even that scowl you do when you¡¯re concentrating.¡± I can¡¯t argue with that. I¡¯ve seen it myself Caesar¡¯s thoughtful frown when he¡¯s building with blocks, the determined set of his jaw when he¡¯s trying something new. My traits in miniature. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Vincent asks. Irun my hand over the smooth wood of the dining table. ¡°I don¡¯t know yet.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ve got about an hour to figure it out,¡± Vincent says, ncing at his watch. ¡°Want me to make myself scarce when they arrive?¡± I nod gratefully. ¡°Caroline will stay for cake, then take Celine¡¯s friend and Caesar back to the city. I told her I needed to discuss something work¨Crted with Celine.¡± Vincent smirks. ¡°Smooth. And when it¡¯s just the two of you alone in this romantic cabin?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not romantic,¡± I protest, even as I adjust the dimmer switch to lower the lights slightly. ¡°Right.¡± Vincent heads for the door. ¡°I¡¯ll pick up some more ice and take the long way back. Give you time to prepare whatever speech you¡¯re nning,¡± After he leaves, I stand alone in the quiet cabin. Thesagna smells ready, I check it, then set it on the counter to cool. Perfect timing. I move through the space, touching each item we¡¯ve prepared. The birthday cake with its chocte frosting. The champagne chilled in the ice bucket. The small stack of presents¨Cart supplies I researched obsessively, each item the highest quality avable. And the envelope. The one I still haven¡¯t decided whether to give her. Inside, the results of the DNA test I had done weeks ago. Not with Caesar¡¯s DNA¨CI couldn¡¯t bring myself to take something from him without permission, But with mine. Proof of my bloodline, my gic markers. Everything ab would need topare with Caesar¡¯s DNA if Celine agreed to the test. If she wanted to know the truth as badly as I did. Chapter 53 Checktest chapters at Find1Novel I tuck the envelope into my jacket pocket, still undecided, My phone buzzes again. Caroline: ¡¯30 minutes out. She¡¯s wearing the ck dress I told you about. Try not to drool I take a deep breath, straightening my shirt. Thirty minutes until I see Celine. Until I face the questions I¡¯ve been avoiding for years Until I finally meet the woman who¡¯s be so much more than just my maid. Legacy 54 Chapter 54 -CELINE- ¡°How much longer?¡± Caesar bounces in his car seat, craning his neck to see but the window. I smile at my son¡¯s excitement. ¡°I don¡¯t know, baby, Caroline hasn¡¯t told us where we¡¯re going.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a surprise,¡± Caroline says from the driver¡¯s seat, eyes fixed on the winding road ahead. ¡°But I promise it¡¯s worth the wait.¡± ke, sitting beside me in the back, squeezes my hand. ¡°Whatever it is, I¡¯m just happy to be included. It¡¯s been ages since I¡¯ve done anything fun.¡± The sleek ck SUV hugs the curves of the road as we climb higher into the mountains. Trees frame both sides, asionally breaking to reveal stunning views of the valley below. I¡¯m still confused about why Caroline insisted I wear the ck dress she picked out at the mall. It feels too formal for a casual evening with friends. ¡°You look amazing, by the way,¡± Caroline says, catching my eye in the rearview mirror. ¡°That dress was made for you.¡± I blush, smoothing the silky fabric over my thighs, ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, but I feel overdressed for drinks.¡± ¡°Trust me,¡± Caroline winks, ¡°it¡¯s perfect for where we¡¯re going.¡± ke nudges me yfully. ¡°You¡¯re going to leave men breathless in that outfit.¡± ¡°Mummy is pretty,¡± Caesar deres, his small hand reaching out to touch the fabric of my dress. Everyoneughs, and I kiss the top of his head. ¡°Thank you, my love.¡± As we drive deeper into the woods, I try once more to get information from Caroline. ¡°Seriously, where are we going? We¡¯ve been driving for almost an hour.¡± ¡°Patience,¡± Caroline sings, turning onto a narrow gravel road. ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± A few minutester, the trees part to reveal a stunning log cabin perched on the edge of ake. The setting sun casts golden light across the water, making it shimmer like liquid fire. The cabin itself isrger than I expected¨Cmore luxury retreat than rustic shelter, ¡°Here we are!¡± Caroline announces, pulling up to the front, I step out of the car, momentarily forgetting my confusion as I take in the breathtaking view. The cabin sits on a small hill overlooking theke, with a wooden deck extending out toward the water. In the distance, mountains rise against the darkening sky. ¡°This is¡­¡± I struggle to find words. ¡°Awesome!¡± Caesar shouts, jumping out of the car after ke helps him with his seat belt. Caroline grins, grabbing a small cooler from the trunk. ¡°Follow me.¡± We walk up the stone path toward the cabin. As we get closer, I notice the garden is lit with fairy lights strung bewer shellove creating a magical atmosphere. My confusion deepens¨Cthis seems like a lot for a casual get¨Ctogether. Caroline pushes open the cabin door, and we step inside. Fresh chapters posted on F?nd-Novel I gasp. The interior is even more beautiful than the outside, but that¡¯s not what makes my breath catch. Therge open space is decorated with balloons and streamers. A chocte cake sits on the dining table, surrounded by wrapped presents. A banner hangs from the ceiling: ¡°Happy Birthday, Celine!¡± Caroline grins, dragging me forward. ¡°Happy birthday! Did you think we forgot?¡± I¡¯m stunned¨CI haven¡¯t properly celebrated my birthday in years. Between raising Caesar and working, special asions always seemed like luxuries I couldn¡¯t afford. ¡°¡­¡± My voice catches. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± Caesar rushes to the table, pointing excitedly at the cake. ¡°Mummy! Cake!¡± keughs, putting her arm around my shoulders. ¡°Happy birthday, girl. You deserve this.¡± Caesar runs back to me, thrusting a folded paper into my hands. ¡°For you, Mummy.¡± I open it to find a handmade card, decorated with colorful scribbles and a wobbly drawing of what I assume is me holding his hand. Inside, in Caroline¡¯s neat handwriting but clearly dictated by Caesar: ¡°Happy Birthday to the best Mummy in the world. Love, Caesar.¡± Tears spring to my eyes. ¡°Thank you, baby. It¡¯s beautiful.¡± The sound of a door opening pulls my attention away from the card. From one of the side rooms, Hunter steps out My heart skips a beat. What is he doing here? His tall frame fills the doorway, dressed in dark jeans and a blue button¨Cdown shirt that makes his eyes look even more intense. Those eyes immediately lock onto mine, then travel down, taking in the ck dress that suddenly feels too tight, too revealing. ¡°Mr. Reid,¡± I stammer, confused by his presence. ¡°L.. I didn¡¯t know you would be here.¡± Caroline jumps in quickly. ¡°Hunter owns the cabin. He was kind enough to let us use it for your birthday.¡± I blush, embarrassed that my boss is seeing me dressed like this. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I¡¯m crossing any boundaries. Caroline never told me where she was taking us.¡± Hunter¡¯s expression remains unreadable, ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he says, his voice cool and detached. ¡°The cabin is avable for family and staff use. Before turning away, he pauses. ¡°Happy birthday, Celine With that, he disappears back into the room, leaving me staring after him, my heart racing for reasons I don¡¯t want to examine too closely. Caroline ps her hands. ¡°Okay! Let¡¯s get this party started. We have dinner warming in the oven, sweet wine chilling, and games nned.¡± The next few hours pass in a blur ofughter and food. Caroline has arranged everything perfectly¨Cthesagna is delicious, the wine sweet and light, and the games get all of usughing, even Caesar who doesn¡¯t understand the rules but enjoys the attention.. Throughout the evening, Hunter emerges asionally, pretending to get water or grabbing something from the kitchen. Each time, his eyes find mine across the room, lingering for a moment before he looks away. I try not to stare, but I can¡¯t help noticing how different he seems here, away from the mansion¨Cslightly more rxed, his shoulders less rigid. He lurks in the background, pretending disinterest. But I catch him watching Caesar with an odd expression¨Csomething between longing and fear. When Caesar runs over to show him a drawing, Hunter freezes momentarily before awkwardlyplimenting the colorful scribbles. Caroline shoots Hunter knowing nces every time he appears, as if they¡¯re sharing some private joke. ¡°Time for cake!¡± Caroline announces after dinner. The chocte cake is perfect¨Crich and moist with dark chocte frosting. Caesar helps me blow out the candles, his little face glowing with excitement. ¡°Make a wish, Mummy!¡± he insists. I close my eyes, but instead of wishing, I find myself thinking of Hunter¨Cwondering why he¡¯s here, why he keeps watching me, why my skin feels warm every time our eyes meet. After cake, ke checks her watch. ¡°I should get going, I have an early shift tomorrow.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll drive you back,¡± Caroline offers. ¡°Hunter, you don¡¯t mind if Celine and Caesar stay a bit longer, do you? I¡¯lle back for them.¡± Hunter nods stiffly. ¡°Of course not.¡± Before leaving, I pull Caroline aside. ¡°Thank you for this. It¡¯s been amazing.¡± She smiles, her eyes twinkling. ¡°You should be thanking someone else.¡± I frown, confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She just winks and heads for the door, ke following after giving me a tight hug By the time they leave, Caesar has crashed on the couch, his small body curled around his favorite toy car, exhausted excitement. I tuck a nket around him, kissing his forehead. from the Left alone with Hunter and my sleeping son, I feel suddenly awkward. I begin clearing the dishes, needing something to do with my hands. 4:58 Fri, Aug ¡°You don¡¯t have to clean up,¡± Hunter says, appearing beside me
  1. me. ¡°Caroline arranged for someone
neone toe tomorrow¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind,¡± I reply, gathering paper tes and cups ¡°It¡¯s the least can do after all this¡± We work in silence for a few minutes, the only sound the soft clink of dishes. I¡¯m hyper¨Caware of his presence the subtle scent of his cologne, the warmth radiating from his body when he passes close to me. When the kitchen is reasonably tidy, I step outside onto the deck for some fresh air. The night is clear, stars reflected in the st surface of theke. I lean against the wooden railing, breathing deeply. Through the open window, Thear voices. Hunter and Caroline¨Cshe must have returned. They¡¯re standing around theer of the deck, just out of sight. ¡°Did she like the cake?¡± Hunter asks, his voice softer than I¡¯ve ever heard it. ¡°She loved it,¡± Caroline replies. ¡°Just like you said she would. Chocte was the perfect choice My eyes widen in realization. It wasn¡¯t Caroline who arranged all this¨Cit was Hunter. The cake, the decorations, maybe even the presents. But why? And why hide behind Caroline? I step back quietly, my mind racing with questions. Why would my cold, distant boss go to such lengths for my birthday? And why not take credit for it? The stars shimmer above, offering no answers. But as I look back at the cabin where my son sleeps peacefully, one thing bes clear: Hunter Reid is not who I thought he was. And I¡¯m not sure what to do with that knowledge. ? Legacy 55 Chapter 55 -CELINE- I step back from the railing, my mind racing Hunter nned my birthday celebration? The cold, distant man who barely acknowledges me at the mansion went to all this trouble? I need to think. I slip back inside the cabin quietly, careful not to wake Caesar who¡¯s still sound asleep on the couch. The soft glow from the firece casts dancing shadows across his peaceful face. Moving to the kitchen, I busy myself cleaning up the remaining cake tes, trying to process what I just heard. Why would Hunter do this? And why hide behind Caroline? The cabin door opens, and Caroline breezes in. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to the city now. You two okay here until Ie back tomorrowe morning?¡± ¡°Tomorrow morning?¡± I nearly drop the te I¡¯m holding. ¡°I thought you were taking us back tonight. Caroline waves her hand dismissively. ¡°Toote now. Caesar¡¯s already asleep, and it¡¯s a long drive. Besides, she lowers her voice, ¡°the guest room is all made up for you two. Hunter will stay in the master bedroom at the other end of the cabin.¡± ¡°But-¡°I start to protest. ¡°No buts,¡± Caroline cuts me off. ¡°Just enjoy your birthday gift. A peaceful night by theke.¡± She kisses my cheek quickly. ¡°See you tomorrow!¡± Before I can argue further, she¡¯s gone, leaving me alone with my sleeping son and the man who¡¯s suddenly be a mystery to
  1. me.
Hunter steps inside a momentter, closing the door against the cool night air. Our eyes meet, and the tension in the room thickens. Does he know I overheard him? ¡°Caroline left?¡± he asks, though he must have seen her go I nod. ¡°She said she¡¯sing back tomorrow morning.¡± Hunter runs a hand through his hair, a gesture I¡¯ve rarely seen him make. It makes him look younger, lessposed. ¡°That¡¯s fine. The guest room is ready for you and Caesar.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± I say, gathering my courage. ¡°For everything¡± His expression doesn¡¯t change, but something flickers in his eyes. ¡°Caroline did most of it.¡± ¡°Did she?¡± I challenge gently. ¡°Because I just heard you asking if I liked the cake.¡± Hunter freezes, caught. The mask of indifference slips, and for a moment, he looks almost vulnerable. ¡°You nned this, didn¡¯t you?¡± I press. ¡°Not Caroline.¡± He says nothing for a long moment, then sighs, ¡°Does it matter who nned it?¡± ¡°It does to me.¡± I step closer to him, surprising myself with my boldness. ¡°Why hide behind Caroline? Why not just tell me you wanted to do something nice for my birthday?¡± His jaw tightens ¡°It seemed¡­ Inappropriate. I¡¯m your employer.¡± ¡°So you went through all this trouble, then pretended it was Caroline¡¯s idea?¡± I shake my head, confused. ¡°I don¡¯t understand you Mr. Reid.¡± ¡°Hunter,¡± he corrects quietly. ¡°We¡¯re not at the mansion now.¡± The use of his first name feels intimate, a small boundary crossed. ¡°Hunter,¡± I repeat, the name unfamiliar on my tongue, We stand in silence, the ticking of the clock on the wall suddenly loud, Caesar stirs on the couch, mumbling something in his sleep before settling again. Hunter¡¯s gaze moves to my son, his expression softening in a way I¡¯ve never seen before. ¡°He looks peaceful.¡± ¡°He is,¡± I say, watching Hunter watch Caesar. ¡°He had a wonderful time tonight.¡± Hunter nods, then gestures to the coffee table. ¡°There¡¯s still one gift you haven¡¯t opened.¡± I follow his gaze to a small package wrapped in elegant silver paper. ¡°I thought I opersed everything.¡± ¡°Not this one.¡± He picks it up, holding it out to me. ¡°It¡¯s from me.¡± My heart speeds up as I take the package, our fingers brushing briefly. The touch sends a small shock through me that I try to ignore. Carefully, I unwrap the paper to reveal a t ck case. Opening it, I gasp. Inside lies a set of professional artist¡¯s pencils and charcoals, arranged in perfect gradients of color and shade. They¡¯re clearly expensive¨Cthe kind I¡¯ve only ever dreamed of owning ¡°How did you know?¡± I whisper, running my fingers over the silky wood surfaces. Hunter watches me, his expression guarded but intent. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you sketching during your breaks. You¡¯re talented.¡± I look up, surprised. ¡°You¡¯ve seen my drawings?¡± ¡°The one of the garden was particrly good,¡± he says, a hint of a smile touching his lips. ¡°And the portrait of Caesar capturing the way his eyes crinkle when heughs.¡± Heat rises to my cheeks. I had no idea he paid such close attention. ¡°Thank you. These are¡­ they¡¯re perfect.¡± ¡°There¡¯s more.¡± He reaches into his pocket, pulling out an envelope. ¡°This is the main part.¡± With trembling fingers, I open the envelope. Inside is a certificate of enrollment for part¨Ctime evening sses at the local art school -the same one I mentioned dreaming about that night in the garden. ¡°I can¡¯t ept this,¡± I say, though everything in me wants to. ¡°It¡¯s too much.¡± ¡°Consider it an investment,¡± Hunter says, his voice oddly gentle. ¡°You have real talent, Celine. It shouldn¡¯t go to waste because of he hesitates, ¡°circumstances. My eyes fill with tears I try to blink back. No one has believed in my art like this before. No one has ever given me the chance to pursue it. ¡°Why?¡± I ask, my voice barely audible. ¡°Why would you do this for me?¡± Hunter takes a step closer, close enough that I can smell his cologne. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m not the cold bastard everyone thinks tam I ¡°I never thought you were cold,¡± Ladmit. ¡°Just¡­ unreachable¡± Something changes in his eyes a warmth I¡¯ve never seen before. ¡°And now?¡± My heart hammers against my ribs. ¡°Now I don¡¯t know what to think,¡± He reaches out slowly, as if giving me time to step away. When I don¡¯t move, his hand gently brushes a strand of hair from my face. The touch is feather¨Clight but sends electricity racing across my skin. ¡°Thank you,¡± I whisper again, unable to find other words. Hunter nods, then steps back, breaking the moment. ¡°You should get some rest. The guest room is down the hall, first door on the left. There are extra nkets in the closet if you need them.¡± I want to say more, to ask all the questions swirling in my mind, but the sudden distance he¡¯s put between us makes it clear the moment has passed. ¡°Goodnight, Hunter,¡± I say, testing his name again. ¡°Goodnight, Celine.¡± He turns toward the master bedroom, then pauses. ¡°Happy birthday.¡± After he¡¯s gone, I gather Caesar in my arms, careful not to wake him, and carry him to the guest room. It¡¯s beautifully appointed, with arge bed and a smaller one that¡¯s clearly been brought in just for Caesar. Someone has even ced his favorite stuffed animal on the pillow¨Canother detail Hunter must have noticed. I tuck Caesar in, changed into the pajamas that have somehow been packed for both of us, then sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the art supplies and the certificate. I Something doesn¡¯t add up. The Hunter Reid I know is aloof, businesslike, asionally kind to Caesar but always maintaining a professional distance with me. This man¨Cthe one who notices which stuffed animal my son prefers, who sees my sketches and believes in my talent, who goes to borate lengths to celebrate my birthday¨Cfeels like a stranger. A stranger with eyes that burn when they look at me. A stranger whose touch lingers on my skin. As I slip under the covers, my mind reys every interaction we¡¯ve had since I started working at the mansion. The moments i caught him watching me. The way his expression softens when he sees Caesar. The night in the garden when he seemed almost on the verge of saying something important before we were interrupted. Sleep eludes me as one question circles in my mind: Who is the real Hunter Reid? The cold businessman or the man who gave me the most meaningful birthday I¡¯ve had in years? And why does the answer suddenly matter so much to me? Chapters first released on findnovel Legacy 56 Chapter 56 -HUNTER- Laughter pulls me from sleep, a sound so foreign in my life that it jerks me awake instantly. My eyes stap to the bedside clocks 7:30 AM. I never sleep thiste. I throw the covers off and make my way to the living room, still groggy. It¡¯s empty, but the front door stands slightly ajar. Theughter continues from outside¡­a woman¡¯s melodic tones mixed with a child¡¯s excited squeals. Following the sound, I step onto the porch. The sight before me stops me in my tracks, Celine and Caesar are in theke, sshing in the shallow water near the shore.. The morning sun catches in her wet hair, creating a halo effect as she tosses Caesar gently into the air. Herugh is touchy¨Cfeely and carefree, nothing like the reserved smiles she gives at the mansion. I find myself drawn forward, walking along the wooden bridge that extends into the water, Caesar spots me first, his little face lighting up. ¡°Hunter!¡± he calls out, waving enthusiastically. ¡°Water!¡± Celine¡¯s head whips around, her smile faltering slightly when she sees me. She submerges deeper into the water, suddenly conscious of her thin t¨Cshirt clinging to her body. ¡°Mr. Reid¡­.I mean, Hunter,¡± she stammers. ¡°We just thought we¡¯d take a quick dip before breakfast. Caesar woke up early and saw theke from the window. I hope that¡¯s okay, we didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it too cold for swimming?¡± I cut her off, focusing on Caesar rather than the way water droplets slide down Celine¡¯s neck. ¡°You could get sick.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that bad once you¡¯re in,¡± she replies, regaining someposure. ¡°And I¡­ I wanted to swim here. I might never get another chance.¡± Her words make me frown. Why would she think that? Did she believe this kindness was a one¨Ctime urrence? Before I can think better of it, I¡¯m pulling my t¨Cshirt over my head. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Celine¡¯s eyes widen. ¡°Swimming.¡± I answer simply, not missing how her gaze lingers on my chest before she quickly looks away. I dive into the water, the cold shocking my system awake. When I surface, Caesar is paddling toward me, arms outstretched andughing. I lift him onto my shoulders, steadying his small body as he giggles and ps at the water. ¡°Higher!¡± he demands, and I oblige, bouncing him gently. Celine watches us from a few feet away, creating distance whenever I swim closer. She¡¯s avoiding me, and I don¡¯t like it. ¡°Come on, Caesar,¡± I say. ¡°Let¡¯s get your mom.¡± Caesar squeals in delight as we advance on Celine. I reach out, grabbing her waist and pulling her closer. She gasps, her hands instinctivelynding on my shoulders to steady herself. I can feel her warmth even through the cold water. 1/3 ¡°Attack!¡± I toll Caesar, and we bolli ssh water at her. Her surprise transforms intoughter, rich and genuine. She retaliates, sending a wave of water into myce, sputter dram making Caesar howl withughter. I can¡¯t remember thest time Iughed like this. Actuallyughed, not the polite chuckle I use at bosiness functions The realization is jarring. In this moment, water dripping from her eyshes, cheeks flushed with joy, guardpletely down, Celine is breathtaking ind myself moving closer, drawn by something I can¡¯t resist. Water trickles down her face. Without thinking, I brush my thumb across her lower lip, wiping away a droplet. Her breath catches eyes widening. I¡¯m so close I can see the tiny flecks of gold in her brown irises. ¡°Hunter?¡± she whispers, the question hanging between us. ¡°Mommy! Hunter! Look at me!¡± Caesar¡¯s voice breaks the spell as he sshes between us. I step back, the moment shattered. Celine turns away quickly. ¡°¡­ I should get breakfast started,¡± she says, not meeting my eyes. ¡°And get ready for when Caroline She wades to shore, wrapping a towell around herself. I watch her retreating figure, noticing how her footsteps quicken as she approaches the cabin, as if she can¡¯t get away from me fast enough. I stand there in the water, staring at the empty space where she stood. ¡°Mommy gone?¡± Caesar asks, his small face suddenly sad, ¡°Yeah, she is,¡± I reply, feeling an echo of his disappointment. I lift him higher on my shoulders, trying to refocus on the child, but my eyes keep drifting to the cabin where Celine has disappeared. What am I doing? She works for me. She¡¯s a single mother struggling to provide for her son. I shouldn¡¯t be ying family with them at myke house, blurring lines that need to stay clear, Yet something about them, about her¡­keeps pulling at me, cracking the walls I¡¯ve carefully built around myself. Original content can be found at find?novel was as thest time I felt this¡­ alive? This present in a moment? Caesar tugs at my hair. ¡°Hunter sad?¡± I look up at him, struck by how perceptive children can be. ¡°No, buddy. I¡¯m not sad.¡± But I am. Sad that in a few hours, we¡¯ll go back to the real world. Back to being employer and employee. Back to the cold, empty mansion where I¡¯ll have no excuse to see herugh like that again. ¡°Let¡¯s go see what your mom¡¯s making fopbreakfast,¡± I suggest, wading toward shore. Caesar nods enthusiastically. ¡°Pancakes Mommy makes the best pancakes.¡± I swing him off my shoulders and set Him on the sand, watching as he runs ahead, leaving wet footprints behind him. Something about those small impressions in the sand affects me deeply. 14:58 : Fri, 1 Aug G v v Temporary marks that will be washed away with the next tide, just like this brief interlude of normalcy in my otherwise sterile life. I grab my discarded t¨Cshirt, not bothering to put it on as I follow Caesar¡¯s path to the cabin. Inside, I can hear Celine moving around the kitchen, the tter of pans and the smell of coffee filling the air. For just a moment, Llet myself imagine what it would be like if this were real. If I woke up every morning toughter and pancakes and a woman whose smile makes me forget who I¡¯m supposed to be. It¡¯s a dangerous thought. One I need to bury before it takes root. I am Hunter Reid. I don¡¯t do family. I don¡¯t do vulnerability. I don¡¯t let my guard down. Except I just did, in thatke. And it felt more right than anything has in a very long time. I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders before I enter the kitchen. Time to put the mask back on. Time to remember who I am and why walls are necessary. But as I step inside and see Celine¡¯s quick, nervous nce in my direction, I wonder if those walls are keeping others out¨Cor keeping me trapped inside. ? Legacy 57 Chapter 57 -HUNTER- I walk back into the cabin, still drippingke water. My breath catches when I see Celine. She¡¯s changed back into the ck dress fromst night¨Cthe one that follows every curve of her body like a whisper. Her hair is still damp, falling in loose waves around her shoulders. She looks like something from a dream I never knew I had. Caesar rushes past me, calling out to his mother. She turns, her eyes moving from her son to me, lingering briefly on my bare chest before darting away. ¡°He said you make the best pancakes,¡± I find myself saying, tossing my wet shirt onto the couch. Caesar doesn¡¯t wait for us, scrambling toward the living room where his stuffed dinosaur fromst night sits waiting I move toward the kitchen where Celine is already working, the smell of coffee and pancake batter filling the air. ¡°You could have worn one of my shirts instead of that dress,¡± I tell her, noticing how she hugs the wall when I reach for a mug from the cab. ¡°I¡¯mfortable in this,¡± she replies, not meeting my eyes. It¡¯s an obvious lie, no woman would choose to put on a cocktail dress at SAM, but I don¡¯t press the issue. She sidesteps when I reach for the coffee pot, maintaining a careful distance between us. Every time I move closer, she finds a reason to move away. The dance would be amusing if it weren¡¯t so frustrating. Breakfast is mercifully noisy thanks to Caesar, who chatters continuously about superheroes, and animals, and his excitement about starting preschool soon. I catch myself smiling at his animated expressions, and at the way he punctuates his stories with dramatic hand gestures. Celine gently wipes syrup from his chin with a napkin, her motherly instinct so natural it makes my chest ache. I notice her eyes constantly drifting to the clock on the wall. Waiting for Caroline, no doubt. Waiting for the moment she can escape. I should talk to her about Caesar, About the resemnce that¡¯s too strong to be coincidental About that night four years ago¨Cstill foggy in my memory but with shes of her face that keep surfacing. About the impossible. idea that¡¯s growing more possible by the minute: Caesar could be mine. But I can¡¯t bring myself to break this fragile peace. Not yet. After finishing his third pancake, Caesar thanks his mother politely, she¡¯s raised him well and slides off his chair. He pads to the living room where I¡¯d turned on cartoons for him earlier. ¡°I can handle the dishes, Celine says quickly when I start gathering tes. ¡°I¡¯ll help,¡± I counter, leaving no room for argument.. We work in silence for a few moments, the only sounds are the clinking of tes and running water. The domesticity of it all feels strange yet oddly right. ¡°Why are you avoiding me?¡± I finally ask, handing her a wet te. She takes it without looking at me. ¡°I¡¯m not avoiding you.¡± ¡°Then look me in the eyes and say that.¡± She freezes, her hands gripping the dish towel so tightly her knuckles turn white. Slowly, reluctantly, she turns to face me. I step closer, closing the space between us until her back meets the counter. She has nowhere to go now. ¡°I hate when you avoid me,¡± I tell her, my voice low. She swallows hard, her pulse visible in the delicate hollow of her throat. ¡°This isn¡¯t appropriate.¡± ¡°Tell me what happened in theke wasn¡¯t real,¡± I challenge. ¡°Tell me you didn¡¯t feel it too.¡± Her eyes search mine, looking for something¨Cpermission, maybe, or reassurance. I reach up, my fingers grazing her jawline. Her skin is impossibly soft. ¡°Tell me to stop,¡± I whisper, giving her an out She doesn¡¯t take it. Instead, she parts her lips slightly, an unconscious invitation that breaks myst thread of restraint. I kiss her. Softly at first, testing her reaction. When she doesn¡¯t pull away, I deepen the kiss, one hand sliding to the small of her back to draw her closer. She tastes like maple syrup and possibilities. Something ignites between us, a hunger that¡¯s been building since the first moment I saw her. My hand tangles in her damp hair as she clutches at my shoulders, nails digging lightly into my skin. I¡¯ve kissed plenty of women, but none like this. None that made the world fall away until there was nothing but the feel of her pressed against me. A deliberate cough shatters the moment. I break the kiss, turning toward the interruption with undisguised annoyance. Vincent stands in the kitchen doorway, arms crossed and eyebrows raised in amusement. ¡°Sorry to break up the cooking lesson,¡± he says with a smirk, ¡°but Caroline sent me to check if you were all ready to go. waiting outside.¡± She¡¯s Celine steps away from me immediately, her face flushed with embarrassment. ¡°I should get Caesar ready,¡± she mumbles, slipping past Vincent without meeting his eyes. Once she¡¯s gone, Vincent¡¯s smirk widens into a full grin. ¡°Well, well, well. When Caroline told me you were ying house at theke with your maid and her kid, I thought she was exaggerating.¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± I growl, turning back to the sink to finish the dishes. Vincent casually leans against the counter, ¡°Hey, no judgment here. She¡¯s gorgeous. But I thought the mighty Hunter Reid didn¡¯t mix business with pleasure.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± I snap, more harshly than intended. ¡°That kiss looked pretty mixed to me,¡± he counters. ¡°And hot. Seriously, if the ss windows had fogged up anymore¡­¡± ¡°It was a mistake,¡± I cut him off, even as my body argues otherwise. ¡°A momentarypse of judgment Vincent studies me for a long moment, his usual joking manner fading. ¡°Is it, though? Because I haven¡¯t seen you look at anvend the way you were just looking at her. Not since¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± I warn him, knowing he¡¯s about to mention Sophia. He holds up his hands in surrender. ¡°Fine. I¡¯m just saying, there are worse things than letting yourself feel something, Hunt.¡± ¡°I pay her sry,¡± I remind him, as much for my benefit as his. ¡°She lives under my roof with her son.¡± ¡°Her very familiar¨Clooking son,¡± Vincent remarks casually. My head snaps up. So he sees it too. ¡°You are very detailed today,¡± I say quietly. Vincent nods. ¡°Hard not to. He¡¯s practically a mini¨Cyou, minus the scowl. Have you asked her about it?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± I dry my hands on a towel. ¡°It¡¯s¡­plicated. ¡°Life usually is,¡± he replies with a shrug. ¡°But maybe uplicated is overrated.¡± The sound of small feet pattering down the hallway signals Caesar¡¯s approach. He bursts into the kitchen, freshly changed and clutching his dinosaur. ¡°Hunter! Look! I packed Rexy!¡± he announces proudly, holding up the stuffed toy. I kneel to his level, instinctively straightening the cor of his little shirt. ¡°Good job, buddy. You ready to go home?¡± His face falls slightly. ¡°Can wee back? I like it here.¡± The simple question hits me with unexpected force. ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± is all I can manage. Celine appears in the doorway, a small overnight bag in hand. She¡¯s crackles with unspoken words. ¡°About what happened¡­¡± she begins. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find~Novel ¡°We should talk,¡± I say simultaneously. A ghost of a smile touches her lips. ¡°Later?¡± I nodded, resisting the urge to touch her again. ¡°Later.¡± But as we walk to the car, I can¡¯t shake the feeling that ter¡± might nevere. Once we¡¯re back at the mansion, reality will reassert itself. The walls will go back up. The distance will return. And I¡¯m not sure I can bear it. Legacy 58 Chapter 58 -HUNTER- The mansion feels different when we return. Colder, More formal. As if theke house existed in another dimension¨Cone where could be someone else for a brief moment. Caroline chatters the entire drive back, but I barely hear her, My thoughts are consumed by the woman sitting silently in the back seat with her son, the taste of her still staying on my lips. By the time we arrive, I¡¯ve made my decision. Whatever happened at theke needs to end there. For both our sakes. ¡°I have calls to make,¡± Iannounce as soon as we enter the foyer. ¡°Vincent, my office. Ten minutes.¡± I don¡¯t look at Celine as I walk away. I can¡¯t The next morning, I¡¯m back in control. Back to being Hunter Reid, CEO and heir to the Reid empire. Back to keeping my distance. From my office window, I watch Celine in the garden with Caesar. He¡¯s chasing butterflies while she tends to the roses Mrs. Patterson usually handles. Even from here, I can see the grace in her movements and the gentle way she touches each bloom. 1 force myself to turn away. A soft knock on the door breaks my concentration hourster. I know who it is before she enters¨CI¡¯ve be attuned to the sound of her footsteps, the particr way she knocks. ¡°Come in,¡± I call out, straightening papers on my desk to look busy. Celine steps inside, closing the door behind her. She¡¯s back in her work uniform¨Cthe simple ck dress and white apron that somehow can¡¯t reduce her beauty. ¡°Mr. Reid,¡± she begins, and the formality stings more than it should. ¡°About yesterday¡­¡± ¡°It was a mistake,¡± I cut her off, keeping my voice cold and professional ¡°It won¡¯t happen again.¡± Her expression falters for just a moment before she turns it into careful neutrality. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I wasn¡¯t expecting anything from you.¡± ¦§ The quiet dignity in her voice makes me want to reach across the desk and pull her to me. To exin that it¡¯s not about her¨Cit¡¯s about me. About the fact that I can¡¯t offer what she deserves. That she and Caesar need stability, not whatever broken thing I could give them. Instead, I nad curtly. ¡°Good. That¡¯s settled, then.¡± She hesitates as if waiting for something m?re. When I remain silent, she turns to leave. ¡°Celine,¡± I call out when her hand touches the doorknob. She pauses, not turning around. ¡°The art sses start next week. The enrollment is still yours if you want it.¡± Her shoulders tense. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Reid.¡± Then she¡¯s gone, leaving behind only a faint trace of her scent¨Csomething floral and clean that makes my chest ache. Chapter 58 Discover more novels at find?novel Hourster, when the mansion has gone quiet, I stand by my bedroom window, nursing a ss of whiskey, Below, the garden moonlit shadows, peaceful and still. I take a long swallow, weing the burn. It doesn¡¯t help. Nothing does. I can still feel her¡ªthe softness of her lips, the way her body fit against mine, the small gasp she made when i deepened the kit. can still see the trust in her eyes before I crushed it with my coldness today. The ss creaks in my grip. ¡°Then why the hell do I want to do it again?¡± Imutter into the empty room. The whiskey doesn¡¯t answer. -CELINE- The day after our return from theke house dawns bright and clear¨Ca mockery of the storm inside me. I barely slept, reying that kiss over and over in my mind. The gentleness of his touch. The hunger that followed. The way Hunter Reid¡­cold, distant Hunter Reid¨Clooked at me like I was something precious. But morning came, and with it, reality. He avoided me at breakfast, speaking only to Caesar before disappearing into his office. The message was clear: whatever happened at theke was over. I try to focus on my duties, grateful that Caesar is too young to notice the tension. Mrs. Patterson is under the weather, so I tend the garden in her ce, findingfort in the simple task of pruning roses and pulling weeds while Caesar chases butterflies nearby. ¡°Mommy, look!¡± he calls, cupping adybug gently in his small hands. 1 smile, pushing down the ache in my chest. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, sweetheart. Remember to be gentle.¡± ¡°Like you are with flowers,¡± he says, carefully releasing the insect onto a leaf. My son. My sweet, perceptive boy. Everything I do is for him¨Cevery sacrifice, every hard decision. Including walking away from whatever this thing with Hunter might have been. By afternoon, I can¡¯t bear the uncertainty anymore. I need closure, even if it hurts. I knock on Hunter¡¯s office door, heart hammering against my ribs. His dismissal is swift and brutal. ¡°It was a mistake. It won¡¯t happen again.¡± I swallow hard, pride forcing me to match his coldness. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I wasn¡¯t expecting anything from you.¡± The lie tastes bitter on my tongue. Because I did expect something¨Cnot a rtionship or promises, but acknowledgment. Recognition that what happened between us was real, not just some momentarypse in judgment I leave his office with my head high, refusing to let him see how deeply his words cut. 2/3 14:59 Fri, 1 Aug G ? ? The next morning, I found a file on the dining table while cleaning. It¡¯s marked ¡°Confidential,¡± probably left behind identally. I should return it right away. As I approach Hunter¡¯s office, I hear voices from within¨CHunter and Vincent. I¡¯m about to knock when Vincent¡¯s words freeze mem ce. ¡°You¡¯re getting soft¨Ckeeping her around like some pet project.¡± There¡¯s a pause before Hunter responds, his voice cold and detached. ¡°She¡¯s a charity case. Nothing more.¡± The file slips from my fingers,nding with a soft thud on the carpet. I can¡¯t wait to hear more. I can¡¯t. I stumble away, vision blurred with tears I refuse to shed. A charity case. That¡¯s all 1 am to him. All Caesar and I have ever been. Somehow, I make it back to my room in the staff quarters. Only then do I allow the tears to fall, hot and bitter against my cheeks? I should have known better. Men like Hunter Reid don¡¯t see women like me as equals. We¡¯re projects. Distractions. Temporary amusements The worst part is that I believed, just for a moment at theke, that he saw me¨Csaw me. Not the struggling single mother. Not the maid. Me. A knock on my door goes unanswered. I can¡¯t face anyone right now, least of all him, if that¡¯s who it is. Eventually, I have to emerge. Caesar needs dinner, and I have evening duties toplete. I ssh cold water on my face, fix my appearance as best I can, and return to work with mechanical efficiency. I I send Caesar to y in the living room while I finish foldingundry. My eyes still burn, but I¡¯ve cried all the tears I¡¯m willing to give Hunter Reid. Later, gathering a basket of clean linens, I hear Hunter¡¯s voice from the living room. ¡°Where¡¯s your mom?¡± he asks Caesar, My son¡¯s innocent reply carries clearly. ¡°She is crying in her room. Mommy is sad.¡± My heart sinks. I never wanted Caesar to see my pain. I step into the hallway just as Hunter turns toward the staff quarters. Our eyes meet across the distance¨Chis widening slightly at my appearance, mine deliberately cold. With theundry basket clutched against my chest like a shield, Ice the man who called me a charity case. The man who kissed me like I mattered, then dismissed me like I didn¡¯t. The and ch *ng. AD Comment Legacy 59 Chapter 59 -HUNTER- ¡°I need you to handle something.¡± The wordse out sharper than nned as I watch Celine across the hallway. Her eyes, those warm brown eyes that usually¡± sparkle with life..look dull, the skin around them slightly puffy. Has she been crying? Because of what I said? A sh of guilt twists in my chest before I stamp it down. This is better for both of us. ¡°Couldn¡¯t one of the other maids handle it?¡± she asks, her voice t. ¡°I want you to do it.¡± My eyes never leave her face as I study those puffy eyes. Something in me wants to reach out, to brush my thumb across her cheek and ask what¡¯s wrong, even though I suspect I already know the answer. ¡°Anything else, sir?¡± The politeness in her tone is a wall between us¡­one I helped build. ¡°The Italian investors will be here tomorrow. I need the east wing guest rooms prepared to my exact specifications.¡± I hand her a folder with detailed instructions. ¡°And I want you to personally escort Signor Romano during his stay.¡± Her eyes widen slightly. ¡°Escort? I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Show him around, make sure he has everything he needs. He¡¯s an important client.¡± I clear my throat. ¡°That¡¯s all.¡± She nods curtly, taking the folder without letting our fingers touch it. I watch her walk away, her spine straight, her steps counted. The distance between us feels both necessary and unbearable. The mansion is buzzing with activity the next day. The Italian delegation arrived promptly at ten, and negotiations have been proceeding smoothly in the living room. I should be pleased. Instead, I find myself on the balcony overlooking the garden, watching as Celine guides Signor Romana through the property¡¯s grounds. Romano is exactly as I remember him¡­tall, distinguished, with salt¨Cand¨Cpepper hair and the easy charm thates with old money and older connections. He¡¯s saying something to Celine now, gesturing broadly at the rose garden, and she¡¯s¨CShe¡¯sughing. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find{n}ovel I can¡¯t hear it from here, but I can see the way her head tilts back slightly, the way her shoulders shake. It¡¯s a genuineugh, not the polite one she uses with most guests. Something in my chest tightened. Romano takes a step closer to her, pointing at something in the distance. His handes to rest on her lower back¨Cbriefly, 1/6 casually, the touch of a man familiar with having his advances welthmed, My grip on the railing tightens until my knuckles turn white. ¡°The board agrees with your proposal,¡± Vincent says, appearing beside me. ¡°We can move forward with¡­ He stops, following my gaze. ¡°Ah. I see you¡¯ve noticed Romano¡¯s¡­ appreciation for the staff.¡± ¡°He¡¯s here to sign contracts, not flirt with the help,¡± I snap. Vincent raises an eyebrow. ¡°Since when do you care who flirts with the help?¡± I don¡¯t answer. I can¡¯t because I don¡¯t have an exnation that makes sense¨Cnot even to myself. Instead, I turn and walk back inside. ¡°Tell Romano I want to see him. Now Hourster, after the contracts are signed and the Italians have departed for their hotel, I find myself prowling the halls like a caged animal. The memory of Romano¡¯s hand on Celine¡¯s back ys on repeat in my mind. I round a corner and there she is, carrying fresh linens toward the east wing. She stops when she sees me, her face carefully neutral. ¡°Mr. Reid.¡± ¡°Miss Brown.¡± I take a step closer. ¡°I saw you with Romano today.¡± She blinks. ¡°Yes, I was showing him the grounds. As instructed.¡± ¡°He was flirting with you.¡± Something shes in her eyes¡­defiance, perhaps. ¡°So? Why do you care?¡± The question hangs between us, demanding an answer I¡¯m not prepared to give. The hallway suddenly feels too small, the air too thick. ¡°You have no idea how dangerous that man is,¡± I say instead, my voice low. ¡°And you think you¡¯re safe?¡± she shoots back, her grip tightening on the linens. The words hit their mark with unerring precision. No, I¡¯m not safe..not for her. Not for anyone. That¡¯s the whole point. I take another step toward her, close enough now to catch the faint scent of her perfume¨Csomething light and floral that makes my head spin. ¡°I know exactly what I am,¡± I say, the words barely above a whisper, ¡°Do you?¡± The air between us crackles with tension. I can see the quick rise and fall of her chest, the slight parting of her lips. For a wild moment, I consider closing the distance between us, pressing her against the wall, feeling the heat of her body against mine. Instead, I catch her hand¨Ca gesture that surprises us both. Her skin is soft and warm. I hold it a split second too long, my thumb brushing across her knuckles in a touch that¡¯s almost a caress. Then I let go and walked away, my pulse thundering in my ears. I don¡¯t look back, though I can feel her eyes on melk for corner. Even hourster, as I sit alone in my study with a ss of whiskey, I can still feel the heat of her touch hanging back on my sim Sha see the challenge in her eyes when she asks why I care. A question I¡¯m no closer to answering. Or perhaps the truth is that I know the answer all too well, and that¡¯s what terrifies me most. CELINE- My phone buzzes just as I finish tucking Caesar into bed. An unknown number. I almost ignore it, but something makes me answer. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Finally decided to pick up, did you?¡± The voice is familiar¨CAunt Mnie, my mother¡¯s sister. We haven¡¯t spoken in over a year. ¡°Aunt Mel?¡± I lower my voice, moving away from the staff bedroom. ¡°How did you get this number?¡± ¡°Your mother gave it to me.¡± There¡¯s an edge to her voice. ¡°We need to talk, Celine. It¡¯s important.¡± I close my eyes, leaning against the wall ¡°About what?¡± ¡°Not over the phone. Meet me tomorrow. The old apartment.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just¡­¡± ¡°Make time.¡± She cuts me off. ¡°Unless you want your fancy boss to learn all about your family history.¡± The line goes dead before I can respond. A chill runs through me. It¡¯s not a coincidence that she¡¯s reaching out now, just when my life has started to stabilize. Just when Hunter and L. No. There is no ¡°Hunter and I.¡± Not after he called me a charity case. Not after I saw the true Hunter Reid behind the momentary kindness. Still, the threat in Aunt Mel¡¯s voice is unmistakable. Whatever she wants, it can¡¯t be good. The next afternoon, I requested a few hours off. Head maid Sally gives me a curious look but doesn¡¯t question it when I mention at family emergency. The neighborhood where I grew up hasn¡® flickering neon sign. changed¨Cstill the same cracked sidewalks, the same bodega on the corner with its The apartment building seems smaller than I remember, its brick facade more weathered. I climb the familiar stairs, my heart pounding. The door to apartment 38 is slightly ajar. ¡°Hello?¡± I call out, pushing it open. The living room is dimly lit, cigarette smoke hanging in the air. My sister Jesse sits on the worn couch, looking both the same andpletely different. Her dark hair is expensively highlighted now, and her nails are professionally done, but the sharp calction in her ey is unchanged ¡°Well, well. Look who finally decided to grace us with her presence.¡± Jesse¡¯s smile doesn¡¯t reach her eye Aunt Mel emerges from the kitchen, thinner than I remember, her face lined with new wrinkles. ¡°About time¡± ¡°You said it was important.¡± I remain standing, my purse clutched against my side. ¡°I have to get back soon.¡± ¡°To your billionaire?¡± Jesse arches an eyebrow. ¡°To my son, I correct her. ¡°And my job.¡± A door opens, and a man I don¡¯t recognize steps out of what used to be my bedroom. He¡¯s tall, with slicked back hair and an expensive watch that looks out of ce in this apartment.. ¡°This is her?¡± he asks, looking me up and down as if appraising merchandise. ¡°That¡¯s her, Jesse confirms. ¡°Told you she wasn¡¯t much to look at,¡± I turn to Aunt Mel. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Who is he?¡± ¡°Marcus is a business associate,¡± Jesse answers before Aunt Mel can speak. ¡°And we¡¯re discussing a business opportunity that involves you.¡± ¡°Me?¡± I shake my head. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Jesse leans forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°She¡¯s practically sleeping in the billionaire¡¯s mansion,¡± she tells Marcus. ¡°She owes us.¡± The realization hits me like a physical blow. ¡°This is about Hunter Reid?¡± ¡°Hunter, is it?¡± Jesse smirks. ¡°Already on a first¨Cname basis? That must make your job¡® so much easier.¡± Anger shes through me. ¡°I¡¯m his employee. That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Sure, honey.¡± Aunt Mel lights a cigarette. ¡°Look, it¡¯s simple. That Reid fortune is massive, and you¡¯re in a unique position to help. your family.¡± ¡°Help how, exactly?¡± Marcus steps forward. ¡°Information, ess Little things that could be valuable to the right people.¡± ¡°You want me to spy on him?¡± I stare at them in disbelief. ¡°To steal?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so dramatic.¡± Jesse rolls her eyes. ¡°Just tell us about his routines, his security systems. Maybe borrow his phone for a few minutes¡± ¡°Or,¡± Marcus adds, his voice silky, ¡°you could introduce Jesse as your sister. I¡¯m sure a man like Reid would appreciate meeting someone more¡­ suitable for his social circl flook between them, these strangers wearing my family¡¯s faces. ¡°Vu¡¯re out of your minds.¡± ¡°We¡¯re family,¡± Aunt Mel insists. ¡°And family helps each other. ¡°Family?¡±ugh, the sound is brittle and harsh. ¡°Where was ¡°family when I was pregnant and alone? Where was family when Caesar needed diapers and I couldn¡¯t afford rent?¡± Jesse stands, her eyes shing. ¡°Don¡¯t act so high and mighty. You always thought you were better than us with your art dreams and your morals¡± ¡°I never thought I was better than anyone,¡± I say quietly. ¡°I just wanted different things¡± ¡°Yeah, like Reid¡¯s money.¡± Jesse snorts. ¡°Face it, Celine. You¡¯re no different from us¨Cjust luckier that your kid looks like him The implication sends ice through my veins. ¡°What did you say?¡± Marcus looks between us, suddenly interested. ¡°The kid looks like Reid? You never mentioned that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± I snap. ¡°Caesar doesn¡¯t look like him.¡± But I can see the wheels turning in Marcus¡¯s mind, the calction. I¡¯ve said too much, and revealed too much in my defense. ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± l announce, turning toward the door. ¡°And if any of youe near me or my son again, I¡¯ll call the polica.¡± Jesse grabs my arm, her nails digging into my skin. ¡°You could¡¯ve saved all of us, Celine. But you chose him¨Ca man who doesn¡¯t even respect you.¡± I pull away from her grasp. ¡°I chose my son. And myself. That¡¯s all.¡± I The apartment door ms behind me as I hurry down the stairs, tears blurring my vision. Outside, the early evening air feels cool against my flushed face. I¡¯m halfway down the block when the sh of a camera catches my eye. Across the street, someone lowers a professional¨Clooking camera with a long lens. My stomach drops. Before I can react, they slip into a waiting car that speeds away The next morning, I¡¯m preparing Caesar¡¯s breakfast when Hunter strides into the kitchen, his face like thunder. Without a word, he throws a tabloid across the table. ww heart nearly stops as I see the cover. It slides to a stop in fro n front of me. My ¡°MAID TO MISTRESS? BILLIONAIRE¡¯S HELP LINKED TO SHADY FAMILY Below the headline is a photo of me leaving my family¡¯s apartment, looking distressed, with an inset picture of Hunter entering his office building. The article teases sordid details about my ¡°criminal family connections¡± and hints at an ¡°intimate rtionship¡± with my employer. I look up to find Hunter¡¯s eyes boring into mine, cold and hard as steel. ¡°What else are you hiding, Celine?¡± he asks, his voice dangerously quiet. Caesar chatters happily in his high chair, oblivious to the tension crackling between us.¡± I ce a protective hand on my son¡¯s shoulder, meeting Hunter¡¯s gaze steadily despite the fear coursing through me. ¡°Nothing that concerns you,¡± I say, my voice steadier than I feel. But we both know it¡¯s a lie. And now, so does the rest of New York. E Legacy 60 Chapter 60 -HUNTER- ¡°Get me everything on this, I bark into my phone, pacing my office like a caged animal ¡°I want to know who took the photo, who published it, and who paid for it. Today I hang up without waiting for a response. The tabloid lies open on my desk, Celine¡¯s startled face staring up at me, I¡¯ve seen that expression before when I confronted her in the hallway when t dismissed her after theke house. But this time, there¡¯s something else in her eyes. Fear. I press my palms against my desk, leaning forward until my shoulders strain. This isn¡¯t just about me anymore. Whatever game someone is ying they¡¯ve dragged her into it, And Caesar. My study door or opens without a knock. Vincent strides in, tablet in hand, expression grim. ¡°It¡¯s already trending,¡± he says without warm¨Cup. -up. ¡°Social media, news sites, business blogs. The stock dropped three points in the first hour of trading¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about the stock.¡± Vincent¡¯s eyebrows rise slightly. ¡°Since whon?¡± Before I can answer, Caroline bursts into the room, her normally perfect hair slightly disheveled, eyes wide with concern. ¡°What the hell is going on, Hunter?¡± She waves her phone at me. Tve got reporters calling me forments. Comments about your maid?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not¡­¡± I stop myself, ¡°I called y you here to help, not to add to the noise.¡± Caroline studies my y face. ¡°You have no idea what¡¯s happening, do you?¡± ¡°Someone¡¯s trying to create a scandal,¡± I say tly. ¡°It¡¯s not the first time.¡± ¡°No.¡± Caroline agrees, perching on the edge of my desk. ¡°But it¡¯s the first time they¡¯ve used someone like Celine. Someone she hesitates. ¡°Someone who matters. Lignore the implication. ¡°I need to control the narrative. We issue a statement-¡± My phone rings, interrupting me. Mother¡¯s name shes on the screen, along with her imperious profile photo. I silence it without a second thought. ¡°Hunter,¡± Caroline says softly. ¡°You need to talk to her eventually.¡± ¡°Not now.¡± I toss the phone aside. ¡°She¡¯ll just say what she¡¯s been saying all along¨Cthat having Celine work here with her child was a bad idea. That Celine is out to ruin me, using that child to confuse me.¡± My phone lights up again. Mother called Caroline this time. Caroline holds up her screen, showing me the iing call I run a hand through my hair. ¡°Don¡¯t- But Caroline is already answering. ¡°Aunt Eleanor, yes. Good morning to you too.¡± She wances, holding the phone slightly away from her ear. ¡°Yes. To wi him right now¡­. No, he¡¯s not ignoring you, he¡¯s in a meeting¡­ I know it¡¯s serious. Get full chapters from Find~Novel She mouths ¡°sorry¡± at me, her eyes pleading for help. Iscan the room, suddenly realizing something, ¡°Where¡¯s Colina?¡± Vincent nces up from his tablet. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen her since I got here.¡± Tcatch sight of Ana passing by iny study door, ¡°Ana,¡± I call out, She freezes, eyes wide. Yes, Mr. Reid?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Ms. Brown?¡± Ana hesitates, ncing nervously at the open door. ¡°I saw her heading to the staff quarters with her son about twenty minutes ago, sir.¡± A feeling of unease creeps up my spine. Without another word, I stride past Ana and down the hallway, ignoring Caroline¡¯s mulled exnation to my mother about where I¡¯m going The whispers follow me through the mansion¨Cstaff members falling silent as I pass, their eyes tracking my movement. I¡¯m used to this reaction, but today it feels different. Today, the assumption isn¡¯t just about me The door to Celine¡¯s quarters is slightly ajar, I pause outside, hearing movement within. When I push the door open, the scene before me makes my chest tighten, Celine is packing, moving frantically around the small room, her belongings half¨Cstuffed into a worn duffel bag. Tears stream down her face as the mutters to herself, too lost in her panic to notice me. Caesar stands in the center of the room, clutching his dinosaur toy, his small face a mask of confusion as he watches his mother¡¯s distress. ng up with recognition. ¡°Hunter¡± he says brightly, seemingly relieved to see a familiar face in the chaos. The boy spots me first, his face lighting u I manage a smile for him, but my eyes are fixed on Celine. She still hasn¡¯t noticed me, her hands trembling as she folds a small t¨Cshirt. Caroline appears behind me, calling Celine¡¯s name softly. She notices me and hesitates in the doorway. ¡°Celine,¡± I say, my voice surprisingly gentle. She jumps, finally seeing us. Her eyes are red rimmed, her face blotchy from crying. Something in my chest twists painfully at the sight. ¡°I¡¯ll be gone in an hour,¡± she says, her voice hoarse. ¡°I just need to pack Caesar¡¯s things.¡± Caroline steps forward, her expression softening ¡°Celine, you don¡¯t have to ¡°Caroline,¡± interrupt ¡°Take Caesar out, please. Tell Vincent Till meet him in my study¡± Caroline looks between us, clearly worried about leaving Celine alone with me in this state. ¡°Hunter¡± ¡°Please,¡± I say, my eyes not leaving Celine¡¯s face. With a hesitant nod, Caroline stretches her hand to Caesar. ¡°Hey buddy, want to help me find some cookies in the kitchen?¡± The boy looks shaky, ncing at his mother. ¡°It¡¯s okay, sweetheart,¡± Celine manages, wiping quickly at her cheeks. ¡°Go with Caroline¡± Caesar takes Caroline¡¯s hand, but not before giving me a sober look. I nod at him, hoping it¡¯s reassuring. Caroline shoots me a warning nce that clearly says ¡°Be nice¡± before leading the child away Troll my eyes and turn back to Celine, who has already resumed her desperate packing. She¡¯s not even folding anymore, just shoving things into the bag? 14:59 Aug € ¡°Enough,¡± I say, grabbing her wrist and pulling her to face ine. She resists for a moment before going still, her eyes downcast. ¡°Stop acting crazy and pr your act together. You¡¯ve done nothing wrong. She shakes her head, ¡°You don¡¯t understand. This is just the beginning. They¡¯ll dig deeper, find more¡­¡± ¡°Having a scandal is a normal thing for me, interrupt. ¡°Ites with the territory,¡± ¡°I should have never epted a job here,¡± she whispers, her voice breaking. Tagree with you,¡± I say, and her head snaps up, eyes widening with hurt. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have given you the job. You¡¯re a puzzle I can¡¯t figure out, Celine.¡± The words hang between us, not what either of us expected me to say, Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks as her calm crumbledpletely. She tries to turn away, but I pull her against me instead, wrapping my arms around her trembling form ¡°Shh,¡± I murmur into her hair, r, one hand moving up to stroke the soft waves. ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay.¡± She cries harder, her body shaking against mine. I hold her tighter, surprised by how right it feels to have her in my arms, how natural it is tofort her After several minutes, her sobs subside. She lifts her head to look up at me, eyes swollen but clearer. ¡°What are you going to do now?¡± I wipe away a tear from her cheek with my thumb, my touch lingering. ¡°I handle it,¡± I tell her. ¡°Like I handle every other problem.¡± Something glimmers in her eyes. ¡°Is that what we are to you? Me and Caesar? A problem? A charity case?¡± The question catches me off guard. Her words from beforee back to me¨Cthe day she overheard me talking to Vincent. I stare down at her tear stained face, feeling something shift inside me. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± admit, the honesty surprising us both. She holds my gaze for a long moment before resting her head against my chest again. I feel her sigh, the tension gradually leaving her body. My hand moves to her back, tracing slow circles through the thin fabric of her uniform. We stay like that, neither of us speaking, my chin resting on top of her head. Outside this room, a storm is brewing¨Creporters, assumption, my mother¡¯s Jury, Vincent¡¯s damage control strategies. But for now, at this moment, there¡¯s only the quiet sound of her breathing and the strange sense of peace thates from holding her A peace I haven¡¯t folt in years. A peace I¡¯m not sure I deserve. Legacy 61 Chapter 61 -CELINE- 1 pulled away from Hunter, embarrassed by my breakdown. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered, wiping my face with the back of my hand. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to meet his eyes. What was thinking, falling apart like that in front of him? Hunter stood there, looking just as confused as I felt. He ran his hand through his hair, an action I¡¯de to recognize when he was hesitant. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to pack your bags,¡± he said firmly. I bit my lower lip nervously, ncing at my half packed duffel. ¡°it¡¯s my fault¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he cut me off, his voice turning cold. ¡°Don¡¯t say that¡± I turned to continue packing, determined to leave before I caused more trouble, but Hunter grabbed my wrist. The sudden contact made me pause. I looked down at his hand wrapped around my wrist, then back up at him. He took a step closer, and I flinched instinctively but didn¡¯t pull away. Something in his eyes had changed. He brushed my hair behind my ear with his free hand, then caressed my cheek. His gaze dropped to my lips, staying there. My heart hammered against my ribcage. What was happening? ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find(?)ovel ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t cry anymore,¡± he said softly. I was lost for words. Tonly ever cried when he hurt me. ¡°I won¡¯t if you don¡¯t hurt me anymore,¡± I finally managed to say. Something flickered across his face¨Cpain, maybe regret. ¡°I can¡¯t promise you that,¡± he admitted. ¡°I¡¯m messed up, Celine. Hurting people is what I¡¯m good at¡± I said nothing, just studied his face. The hardness that usually defined his features had softened. Without thinking, I raised my hand and cupped his cheek, Hunter flinched at my touch, surprised, before leaning into it ¡°What am I going to do with you?¡± he asked, his voice barely audible, ¡°You¡¯re so wrong for me, and yet you feel so right¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you trust me?¡± I whispered. ¡°Why can¡¯t you just let go?? Hunter¡¯s brows furrowed. He caressed my cheek again, leaning so close I could feel his breath against my lips. For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me, but then he pulled away. He sighed heavily and turned to leave. I stood there, confused and oddly disappointed, watching him walk away. When he reached the doorway, he paused. ¡°Fuck,¡± he muttered, turning back toward me His steps quickened as he made his way back to where I stood. He grabbed my wrist again, but this time his other hand pulled my waist against his body Before I could process what was happening, his lips seized mine in a passionate kiss. it was nothing like the gentle kiss we had shared before. This was hungry, desperate. His tongue slipped past my lips, exploring my mouth with an urgency that made my knees weak¡­ My back hit the wall as he pressed against me, his hand sliding underneath my maid uniform to grab my thigh. I wrapped my arms around his neck, responding with a passion I didn¡¯t know I possessed. Hunter pulled my waist closer, and i could feel his hardness pressing against me. His lips moved to my neck, cing hot kisses along my skin before Chapter 61 finding my mouth again, We were so lost in each other that we didn¡¯t hear Caroline until she was already speaking on her phone. We pulled apart, both breathing heavy I knew my face must be flushed, my lips swollen from his kisses. Caroline stepped into the room, her eyes widening as she looked between us. ¡°Did Linterrupt something?¡± she asked, a knowing smile ying on her lips. ¡°No,¡± Hunter answered immediately, refusing to meet my eyes as he strode out of the room, leaving me more confused than ever Caroline walked over to me, concern etched on her face. ¡°Are you okay? You look so red.¡± Then her expression changed to one of realization. ¡°Oh¡­¡± she said, drawing out the word. I blushed, looking away. ¡°I came at the wrong time, didn¡¯t I?¡± Caroline asked, her tone teasing but gentle. ¡°It¡¯s not¡­we weren¡¯t¡­¡± I stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence What had just happened? One minute Hunter wasforting me, the next he was kissing me like his life depended on it, and then he was gone, avoiding my eyes as if ashamed. Caroline sat on the edge of my bed, patting the space beside her. ¡°Come sit. And stop packing¨Cyou¡¯re not going anywhere.¡± I hesitated before joining her. ¡°You saw the news, Caroline. The tabloids, the pictures¡­ This will only get worse.¡± ¡°Let Hunter handle it,¡± she said firmly, ¡°Trust me, this isn¡¯t his first rodeo with the press.¡± ¡°But Caesar¡­ ¡°Will be fine,¡± she assured me. ¡°Hunter won¡¯t let anything happen to him. Or to you¡± I looked at her doubtfully. ¡°How can you be so sure? He can barely stand to be in the same room with me most of the time.¡± Caroline gave me a knowing look. ¡°What I just walked in on didn¡¯t look like someone who can¡¯t stand to be around you.¡± My cheeks burned even hotter. ¡°That was. I don¡¯t know what that was! ¡°I do,¡± Caroline said, her smile widening. ¡°That was Hunter Reid losing control. And trust me, my cousin never loses control.¡± I shook my head, refusing to believe her implication. ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean anything. He¡¯s made it clear what he thinks of me¡­a charity case, remember?¡± Caroline¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Celine, I¡¯ve known Hunter my entire life. I¡¯ve seen him with business partners, rivals, even past girlfriends. But I¡¯ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.¡± ¡°With hate?¡± I suggested bitterly, ¡°With confusion,¡± she corrected. ¡°Like you¡¯re a puzzle he can¡¯t solve. And Hunter hates puzzles he can¡¯t solve.¡± I stood up, needing to move, to do something with the nervous energy coursing through me. ¡°He¡¯ll figure it out eventually,¡± I said, straightening my uniform, ¡°¡±And then he realize I¡¯m not worth his time.¡± ¡°Or,¡± Caroline countered, ¡°he¡¯ll realize you¡¯re exactly what he needs.¡± I turned to face her, suddenly frustrated. ¡°What do you want from me, Caroline? What am I supposed to do? Just wait around for him to decide if I¡¯m worth caring about!¡± D Caroline stood up, cing her hands on my shoulders. ¡°I want you to be honest with yourself. Do you have feelings for my cousin!¡± The question caught me off guard. Did I have feelings for Hunter? The man who¡¯d fired me, hired me back as a maid, treated me with disgust, and new kissed me like I was the air he needed to breathe? ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I admitted. ¡°Sometimes I think thate him. And then other times¡­ ¡°Other times?¡± Caroline prompted when I trailed off. I sighed, the light leaving me. ¡°Other times I see glimpses of someone else. Someone who¡¯s kind to Caesar, who looks at me like¡­ like I¡¯m special¡± Caroline smiled, satisfied with my answer. ¡°Then that¡¯s your answer, Give him time, Celine. He¡¯s not good at this feeling things, letting people in. But think you might be worth the risk for him.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure i believed her, but before I could respond, my phone buzzed with a text. I pulled it out, expecting another message from ke asking if I was okay after seeing the news. Instead, it was from a number I didn¡¯t recognize. ¡®Celine Brown, I have information about your son¡¯s father. Meet me at Central Park tomorrow at noon if you want to know the truth.¡± My blood ran cold, I stared at the message, trying to make sense of it. Who would know about Caesar¡¯s father? I¡¯d never told anyone the full truth¨Cnot even Caroline. ¡°Celine?¡± Caroline¡¯s voice seemed far away. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I looked up at her, panic rising in my chest. ¡°Nothing.¡± I lied, quickly putting my phone away. ¡°Just ke checking in.¡± Caroline didn¡¯t look convinced, but she didn¡¯t press. ¡°Alright. Well, I should go see if Hunter needs help with damage control. You stay here and rest. And no more packing, promise?¡± I nodded absently, my mind still on the mysterious text. ¡°Promise.¡± After Caroline left, I sank onto the bed, the weight of everything crashing down on me. The tabloids. Hunter¡¯s kiss. And now this text, threatening to expose a secret I¡¯d kept buried for three years Whatever peace I¡¯d found in Hunter¡¯s arms had vanished, reced by a fresh wave of fear. Because if someone knew the truth about Caesar¡¯s father, then everything I had built¡­my life, my son¡¯s safety, this fragile connection with Hunter, could alle crashing down. strong enough to survive it this time. And I wasn¡¯t sure I was strong E Legacy 62 Chapter 62 -CELINE- Sleep didn¡¯te easy that night. I tossed and turned, the mysterious text message haunting me every time closed my eyes. By morning, I had read it at least fity times, trying to crack who could have sent iL ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re making funny faces,¡± Caesar said, giggling as he watched me from across the breakfast table. I forced a smile, ¡°Am I was just thinking about something, sweetheart.¡± ¡°About Mr. Hunter?¡± he asked innocently, mouth full of cereal. My cheeks warmed. ¡°No, not about Mr. Hunter. And don¡¯t talk with your mouth full.¡± Caesar swallowed his food. ¡°I like Mr. Hunter. He¡¯s nice to me.¡± I sighed, running a hand through my ubed hair. Hunter had been nothing but kind to Caesar, which only confused me more. The man who could be so cold to me showed such gentleness with my son. My phone buzzed again, making me jump. Another message from the same unknown number: Don¡¯t forget. Noon today. Come alone or everyone will know your secret.¡± My hands trembled as I put the phone away. I needed to go, but I could not take Caesar with me. And I didn¡¯t trust the staff with him, not with all the media attention. ¡°Caesar, how would you like to spend the day with Caroline?¡± I asked, trying to sound casual His face lit up. ¡°Yes! Can we go to the zoo again?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. But I bet she has something fun nned.¡± An hourter, after speaking with Caroline, who thankfully agreed without asking too many questions, I was helping Caesar put on his shoes when a knock sounded at the door, I expected to see Caroline, but instead, Hunter stood there, his expression unreadable. ¡°Hunter,¡± said, his nameing out breathier than I intended. ¡°Celine,¡± he replied formally, his eyes not quite meeting mine. ¡°I need to speak with you about the press situation.¡± Caesar ran over, ver, hugging Hunter¡¯s legs. ¡°Mr. Hunter! I¡¯m going with Caroline today!¡± her, okay?¡± Hunter¡¯s face softened as he looked down at my son. He ruffled Caesar¡¯s hair. ¡°Is that so? Well, you be good for h ¡°I will!¡± Caesar promised. Hunter¡¯s gaze finally met mine. ¡°My office, ten minutes.¡± Without waiting for my response, he turned and walked away, leaving me staring after him. Ten minutes That would give me just enough time to hand Caesar over to Caroline and make it to Hunter¡¯s office. But it would also mean I had less than an hour before I needed to leave for Central Park. When I arrived at Hunter¡¯s office, he was standing by the window, phone pressed t sed to his ear. He motioned for me to sit as he finished his call. ¡°Find out who¡¯s behind it,¡± he said briefly before hanging up. He turned to face me, his expression guarded. ¡°We need to discuss what happened yesterday¡± My heart skipped a beat. ¡°The tabloids?¡± ¡°That,¡± he said,ing around to lean against his desk in front of me, ¡°and the other thing I swallowed hard. ¡°The other thing? ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? FindN()vel ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb, Celine. It doesn¡¯t suit you.¡± His voice was cold, but his eyes held something else¡­something that made my skin tingle. ¡°You kissed me,¡± I said, deciding to confront it head¨Con. ¡°And then your ran away His jaw tightened. ¡°I didn¡¯t run away. I had business to attend to ¡°Right,¡± I said, unable to keep the hurt from my voice. ¡°The important business of avoiding me.¡± Hunter¡¯s expression softened almost imperceptibly, ¡°I¡¯m not good at this, Celine. Whatever this is¡± ¡°And what is this, Hunter?¡± I asked, suddenly tired of the games. ¡°One minute you¡¯re cold and distant, the next you¡¯re kissing me like¡­ like ¡°Like what?¡± he prompted when I trailed off. ¡°Like you can¡¯t help yourself,¡± I finished my y voice barely above a whisper. He pushed away from the desk, moving to stand directly in front of me. ¡°Maybe I can¡¯t¡± My breath caught in my throat as he leaned down, his face inches from mine. For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me again. But instead, he straightened up, resuming his professional stance. ¡°We need to be careful,¡± he said. ¡°The press is looking for any hint of scandal. If they were to find out about what happened yesterday¡­¡± ¡°Nothing happened,¡± I cut in, suddenly angry. ¡°You made sure of that.¡± Hunter¡¯s eyes darkened, ¡°Nothing? Is that what you call it?¡± ¡°What would you call it?¡± I challenged. He opened his mouth to respond, then closed it, seeming to think better of whatever he was about to say. ¡°It was a mistake¡± he finally said, the words falling between us like stones. ¡°One, I would make sure not to repeat¡± I nodded, ignoring the ache in my chest. ¡°We are going with that again, a mistake again¡­I sighed. ¡°Is that all, Mr. Reid?¡± His face hardened at my formal tone. ¡°For now, I¡¯ve arranged for extra security around the house. Don¡¯t leave the grounds without informing Baron or me. The press is persistent¡± I nced at my watch. 11:15. I needed to leave soon if I was going to make it to Central Park by noon. ¡°Actually,¡± I said, standing up, ¡°I need to run some errands in town today.¡± Hunter¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Errands?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I said, standing my ground. ¡°Personal errands.¡± ¡°Send someone else, he replied dismissively, ¡°It¡¯s not safe for you out there right now ¡°I can handle myself,¡± Linsisted. ¡°And these errands can¡¯t wa He studied me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. ¡°What are you not telling me, Celine?¡± Chapter 62 I kept my expression neutral, though my heart was racing. ¡°Nothing, just need some things from the drugstore.¡± Hunter didn¡¯t look convinced. ¡°Take Baron with you.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather go alone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a request,¡± he said firmly. ¡°Either Baron goes with you, or you don¡¯t go at all¡± I bit back a retort, realizing I had no choice. ¡°Tine. But I need to leave now Hunter nodded, seemingly satisfied. ¡®T¡¯ll let him know.¡± I turned to leave, but Hunter called my name, stopping me at the door. ¡°Celine?¡± I looked back at him, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach when our eyes met. ¡°Be careful,¡± he said, his voice softer than before. I nodded and hurried out, my mind racing. How was I going to meet this mysterious person with Baron tagging along? The text had been cleare alone or my secret would be exposed As I walked down the hallway, I pulled out my phone to send a message to the unknown number, exining that I couldn¡¯te alone. But before could type anything, another text came through: ¡®Change of ns. Bethesda Fountain. 12:30. Shake your bodyguard. My blood ran cold. Whoever this was, they were watching me. They knew about Baron I found him waiting by the front door, car keys in hand. ¡°Ready to go, Miss Brown?¡± I forced a smile. ¡°Ready,¡± E Legacy 63 Chapter 63 -CELINE- As we drove into the city, I tried to think of a way to lose Baron without raising suspicion. It wasn¡¯t just about protecting my secret about this whole situation felt dangerous But I had to know what this person knew about Caesar¡¯s father, I had to protect my son. vmone, something. ¡°Erhm¡­Baron,¡± I said as we approached the city, ¡°could we stop at that cal first?¡± I pointed to a busy coffee shop on the corner. ¡°I¡¯m feeling a bit lightheaded. Ishould probably eat something before running my errands Baron nodded, pulling up to the curb. ¡°Of course. Would you like me toe in with you?¡± ¡°No need,¡± said quickly. ¡± just be a minute. Could you¡­ could you wait in the car? I don¡¯t want to cause a scene if someone recognizes me from the tabloids.¡± He looked hesitant but agreed. ¡°Tl be right here if you need me. I entered the caf¨¦, ordered a coffee to keep up appearances, and then slipped out the back exit into an alley. Checking my watch.. 12:10 hailed a cab and directed it to Central Park. My heart pounded as I approached Bethesda Fountain. The area was crowded with tourists, families, and locals enjoying the pleasant day. I scanned the faces, searching for anyone who might be waiting for me. ¡°Miss Brown I spun around to find a middle¨Caged man in a suit standing behind me. There was nothing remarkable about himaverage height, thinning hair forgettable features. But his eyes were sharp, calcting. ¡°Who are you?¡± I asked, taking a step back. ¡°How do you know about my son¡¯s father?¡± The man smiled, though it didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I work for someone with a vested interest in your situation.¡± ¡°What situation?¡± I demanded. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not what I want,¡± he replied calmly. ¡°It¡¯s what Mrs. Reid wants My blood turned to ice. ¡°Mrs. Reid! Hunter¡¯s mother?¡± He nodded. ¡°She believes there¡¯s more to your story than you you¡¯ve shared. And she¡¯s willing to pay handsomely for the truth.¡± I felt sick. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about ¡± ou?¡± He pulled out an envelope and handed it to me. ¡°Open it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you?¡± With trembling fingers, I did as he asked. Inside were photos¨Cold ones, from three years ago, me entering a hotel. Me leaving the next morning, looking disheveled. And worst of all, a blurry but recognizable photo of the man I¡¯d spent the night with Hunter. ¡°No,¡± I whispered, the pieces falling into ce¡°This is impossible.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± The man¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Mrs. Reid had her suspicions when: saw your son. The resemnce is¡­ striking¡± I shook my head, trying to clear it. ¡°Hunter doesn¡¯t remember me. He wouldn¡¯t have forgotten if w¡­ ¡°Alcohol can do strange things to the memory,¡± the man said with a shrug. ¡°As can certain substances that might ve been added to bis drink? My mind raced back to that night. The club. The drinks that tasted slightly off. Waking up alone, with only fragments of memory remaining ¡°What does Mrs. Reid want?¡± I asked, my voice barely audible. ¡°She wants you gone,¡± he replied bluntly. ¡°Away from her son, away from the Reid family. Take your child and disappear. She¡¯s prepared to offer you two million dors to ensure you never contact Hunter again.¡± I stared at him in disbelief. ¡°And if I refuse?¡± ¡°Then these photos, along with a paternity test she¡¯s already arranged, will find their way to Hunter, And the press. He leaned closer, his voice lowering ¡°Think about it, Ms. Brown, Do you really want your son growing up in the spotlight? Labeled as the illegitimate heir to the Reid fort Fought over like a piece of property?¡± Tears stung my eyes. ¡°Hunter would never¡­ ¡°Hunter Reid is a businessman first and foremost,¡± the man cut in. ¡°Once he knows the truth, he¡¯ll fight for custody And with his resources well, let¡¯s just say your chances aren¡¯t good.¡± I clutched the envelope, my mind spinning. ¡°I need time to think ¡°You have twenty¨Cfour hours,¡± he said, handing me a business card. ¡°Call this number with your decision. Two million dors for your silence and disappearance. Or a public scandal that will change your son¡¯s life forever.¡± He turned to leave, then paused. ¡°Oh, and Miss Brown? Mrs. Reid is watching. If you try to tell Hunter about our conversation, the deal is off. And the photos go public immediately.¡± With that, he walked away, leaving me standing alone by the fountain, the envelope clutched in my trembling hands. I looked down at the photos again, studying the blurry image of Hunter from three years ago. Could it be true? Could Hunter be Caesar¡¯s father? I thought I was imagining things, The timing matched. And the resemnce everyone had was Caesar¡¯s father, why didn¡¯t he remember me? And why would Mrs. Reid want to keep us apart if Caesar was her grandson? Unless¡­ unless she thought I would trap Hunter deliberately. That was using Caesar to get to the Reid fortune. I sank onto a nearby bench, overwhelmed. This update is avable on FindN0vel What was I going to do? If took the money and disappeared, I would be protecting Caesar from a media frenzy and a potential custody battle. But I¡¯d also be denying him the chance to know his father. And I¡¯d be leaving behind whatever was developing between Hunter and me. If I refused and stayed, Mrs. Reid would expose everything. Hunter would know the truth about Caesar About me, Would he believe was not sure about him being the father? That I wasn¡¯t trying to use his son to get to his money? My phone buzzed with a text from Baron: ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ve been looking everywhere!¡± And then another, from Hunter: ¡°Baron says you disappeared. Call me NOW.¡± I wiped away my tears and stood up, slipping the envelope into my purse. I needed to get back, to figure out what to do. But one thing was certain¨CI couldn¡¯t tell Hunter the truth. Not yet. Not until understood exactly what was dealing with As I walked toward the park exit to hail a cab, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that I was being watched. 15:00 FN, 1 Aog Go Mrs. Reid¡¯s warning echoed in my mind. She was watching And she held my future¡­and Caesar¡¯s. In her perfectly manicured Legacy 64 Chapter 64 -HUNTER- My heart stopped when Baron called. Celine was gone, Disappeared, I called Caroline right away, my hands shaking as I pressed her number. ¡°Hunter? What¡¯s up?¡± Caroline answered, sounding cheerful, ¡°Is Celine with you?¡± I asked, not bothering with hello.. ¡°No, she dropped Caesar off earlier. Why? What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± I lied, ending the call before she could ask more questions. I ran my fingers through my hair, pacing my office. I was already dealing g with the press, the hotel issues, and now this. Celine vanishing. She came into my life and burned everything upside down. Now the thought of her gone¡­gone¡­made me shake. I couldn¡¯t lose her. That was all I knew. The idea of her leaving, being away from my sight¡­ I wasn¡¯t sure I could bear it. Grabbing my keys, I headed outside to wait. I stood in the driveway of my mansion, watching for any sign of Baron¡¯s car if they didn¡¯te back soon, would go look for her myself. The memory of our kiss shed through my mind. The hurt in her eyes when I told her it was a mistake. Again. So much for not wanting to hurt her when all I seemed to do was push her away. My phone rang It was my private investigator calling about the tabloid story. ¡°Mr. Reid, we found the source. It was a reporter from The Daily Eye. Paid off by someone to run the story.¡± ¡°Who?¡± I demanded. ¡°Working on that. Should have a name by tomorrow.¡± ¡°Good. When you do, make sure they y understand the consequences of trying to ruin my ruin my name. Especially when they drag someone innocent into it.¡± I hung up just as my phone buzzed with a text from Baron: ¡°Found her. Heading back now Relief washed over me, followed by anger. Why did she run off? What was she hiding? I tried to act cool, telling headmaid Sally to inform Celine to meet me in my room when she got back Sally looked at me with surprise, but lignored her and went upstairs to my room. I needed to calm down. A shower would help clear my head. The cold water did nothing to cool the worry¨Cor the anger¨Cburning inside me. Thirty minutester, a knock sounded at my door. I had just gotten out of the shower and was about to work on myptop. I had on sweatpants but no shirt, my hair still damp, falling into my face. I unlocked the door. Celine¡¯s eyes widened as she stared at me, but she quicklyposed herself ¡°Where the hell did you run off to?¡± I demanded. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let Baron go with you? What if a reporter had gotten hold of you and things went sideways?¡± Celine lowered her head, muttering, ¡°Sorry. I just needed to get something.¡± She bit her lower lip, a habit I noticed she had when nervous. I said nothing, just watched her. There was an urge building inside me to grab her and pull her into my arms, into my room, never letting her go while! explored every part of her body¡­. Celine lifted her head. ¡°Did you not remember meeting me three years ago?¡± she suddenly asked, catching me off guard. ¡°What?¡± Lasked, curious about why she was bringing up that night. A night that was still blurry to me, if had to admit it. I was about to speak when Celine held up her hand. ¡°Forget Lasked. I haveundry to do before Caesar gots back home.¡± She turned to leave, but caught her hand. ¡°Hunter,¡± she said softly, ¡°if you¡¯re going to say what we might share right now would end up being a mistake again, it would be better if you ever yourself the stress and just let me go.¡± Her words shocked me. I stared at her tired, sad eyes before slowly releasing her hand, I watched her disappear out of sight before going back into my room and shutting the door behind me, Does she remember what happened that night? Why couldn¡¯t I remember? And what is she so desperately trying to fucking hide from me? -CELINE- I couldn¡¯t rx. Mrs. Reid¡¯s threat ran through my thoughts i ver and over. Two million dors to disappear. Or risk losing Caesar in a custody battle with Hunter. I didn¡¯t hear Caesar or Caroline walk into my bedroom at the staff quarters until Caesar called, ¡°Mommy!¡± I looked up with a smile as Caesar ran into my arms. Caroline smiled, making a joke about how energetic Caesar was and how he¡¯d eaten half the cookies they bought. ¡°Thank you for taking him off my hands today.¡± I said to Caroline. ¡°Anything for my godson,¡± she replied with a wink ¡°Were you able to do what you wanted with Caesar being with me?¡± I nodded, not telling her the truth. It was best no one knew but me. After Caroline left, I focused on Caesar, trying to push away thoughts of Mrs. Reid and her ultimatum. We had dinner, and I bathed him. He seemed quicter than usual, ¡°Are you you feeling okay, kay, sweetheart? Lasked, touching his forehead. He felt warm. ¡°I¡¯m tired, Mommy,¡± he said, his usually bright eyes looking dull. I tucked him into bed early, checking his temperature. It was slightly high, but nothing too concerning I gave him some children¡¯s Tylenol and kissed his forehead. ¡°Get some sleep, baby You¡¯ll feel better in the morning.¡± I tried to work on some sketches, but my mind kept going back to those photos. Hunter and me, three years ago. Caesar, the spitting image of his father. A father who didn¡¯t even remember me. Around midnight, I heard Caesar whimpering. I rushed to the bed and gasped. He was burning up, his little body radiating heat. ¡°Caesar? Baby, wake up,¡± said, panic rising in my throat. His eyes fluttered open, zed with fever. ¡°Hurts, Mommy,¡± he whispered. Without thinking, I scooped him up and ran to Hunter¡¯s room, pounding on the door. Hunter opened it immediately as if he hadn¡¯t been sleeping. His eyes widened when he saw Caesar in my army ¡°He¡¯s burning up,¡± I said, my voice shaking, don¡¯t know what to do.¡± Hunter didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Get his nket I¡¯ll call my doctor.¡± Within minutes, Hunter had arranged for us to go straight to the pediatric emergency room. He insisted on driving us himself. ¡°My doctor will meet us there,¡± he said, carrying Caesar to the car while followed with a bag of his things The hospital admitted Caesar right way. His temperature was dangerously high¨C104.2. They started him on IV fuids and medication white ranting tests. ¡°Probably a viral infection,¡± the doctor said. ¡°But we¡¯ll run some blood work to be sure.¡± They moved Caesar to a private room. Hunter must have pulled some strings. I sat beside Caesar¡¯s bed, holding his small hand, watching his chest rise and fall. Hunter paced the room, making calls, and ensuring Caesar had the best care possible. When he finally sat down across from me, he looked exhausted ¡°You should go home,¡± I said softly. ¡°Get some sleep. I stay with him.¡± Hunter shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± We sat in silence for a while, both watching over Caesar. Hunter reached out, gently brushing Caesar¡¯s hair back from his forehead ¡°He¡¯s so small,¡± he murmured. ¡°Too small to carry so much¡± Something in his tone made my eyes! fill with tears. ¡°You don¡¯t have to act like you care ? ¡°But I do,¡± he said, his voice raw with emotion. ¡°I do care, Celine. More than I should¡± In that silent, sterile room, with the steady beep of machines monitoring my son, I felt something shift between us. Walls beginning to crumble. ¡°Why?¡± I whispered. Hunter¡¯s eyes met mine across Caesar¡¯s bed. ¡°I wish I knew. All I know is that when I look at him, at you. I feel like I¡¯m where I¡¯m supposed to be.¡± A tear slid down my cheek. How could I tell him the truth now? How could I risk destroying whatever this was between us? wore on, exhaustion finally caught up with me. I drifted off my head against the back of the chair, still holding Caesar¡¯s hand. As the night wore I didn¡¯t see Hunter watching me sleep. Didn¡¯t hear his phone vibrate with a call in the early hours of the morning. -HUNTER- Th?s chapter is updated by Find~Novel I watched Celine sleep, her face peaceful despite the worry lines that had formed during the night. Caesar¡¯s lever had finally broken, his small body restingfortably under the hospital nkets. My phone vibrated in my pocket. I stepped outside the room to answer. ¡°Mr. Reid?¡± The voice of my private investigator came through the line. ¡°The patemity results you requested are ready My heart stopped. After our conversation earlier, after seeing Celine¡¯s reaction to my mentioning that night three years ago, I had made a desperate I had my investigator obtain samples¡­Caesar¡¯s cub from the kitchen, my DNA from a hairbrush, and rush the testing ¡°And?¡± Lasked, my voice barely above a whisper ¡°Sir, the results show a 99.9% probability that you are the father of the child¡± The world seemed to tilt beneath my feet looked through the window of the hospital room at Caesar¡¯s sleeping form. At Celine, curled protectively beside his bed. 15:00 FM, 1 Aug Goo Caesar was my son. My son. The question now was: did Celine know? Had she always known? And if so, why had she kept it from me? I ended the call and stood there, trying to process this life¨Cchanging information, Could I face this truth? Could I face Celine with what I now And more importantly¡­what was I going to do about it? G Legacy 65 Chapter 65 CELINE- The doctor finally released Caesar the next morning. His fever had broken, and the tests showed it was just a viral infection that would pass on its own Relief flooded through me as I gathered our things, ready to take my my baby home. ¡°Ready to go, little man?¡± I asked, helping Caesar put on his shoes. He nodded, still sleepy from the medication but looking much better than he hadst night. ¡°Is Mr. Huntering with us?¡± Caesar asked, looking around the room, My heart squeezed. Hunter had disappeared early this morning, saying he needed to take care of something. He¡¯d been so attentive throughout the night, barely leaving Caesar¡¯s side. I didn¡¯t know what to make of L ¡°No, sweetheart. Mr. Hunter had some work to do. But he made sure we have a car waiting for us¡± We walked down the hospital corridor hand in hand. As we approached the exit, I noticed a small crowd gathered outside. My stomach dropped when realized they were reporters. ¡°Miss Brown is it true you¡¯re living with Hunter Reid?¡± ¡°How long have you known Mr. Reid?¡± Is your s rson the reason Hunter Reid hasn¡¯t settled down?¡± The questions came at me like bullets. I pulled Caesar close, shielding him with my body as camera shes went off in our faces. ¡°Please, I¡¯m just trying to leave with my son,¡± I said, my voice shaking, Caesar buried his face against my leg, frightened by the noise and fuss. Just when I thought we had to retreat inside, a ck SUV screeched to a halt at the curb. Hunter stepped out, his face a mask of cold fury. ¡°Move. Now¡± His voice cut through the noise like steel. The reporters parted slightly, but cameras continued shing as Hunter strode toward us. Without a word, he lifted Caesar into his arms and wrapped his other arm around my waist, pulling me tight against him. ¡°Get in the car. Now,¡± hemanded, his breath warm against my ear. I didn¡¯t argue, Hunter helped Caesar into the backseat, then practically pushed me in after him before climbing in himself. The driver pulled away immediately, leaving the shouting reporters behind. ¡°Are you both alright?¡± Hunter asked, his eyes scanning Caesar first, then staying on my face. I nodded, still trembling slightly, ¡°How did they know we were there?¡± Hunter¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Someone at the hospital must have tipped them off. I¡¯ll deal with it.¡± The rest of the ride passed in silence. Caesar fell asleep against my shoulder, exhausted from his ordeal, I caught Hunter watching us in the reflection of the window, his face unreadable. Back at the mansion, Hunter carried Caesar inside while I followed with our bag. He took us directly to my quarters in the stall wing gentlyying on the bed. ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered, not wanting to wake my son, Hunter nodded curtly. ¡°Best Both of you. I have food sent overter¡± Before I could say anything elsh, he was gone, striding down the hall hallway with purpose in every step spent the afternoon tending to Caesar, who mostly slept, his little body fighting off thest of the infection. Around dinnertime, Sally brought us soup and sandwiches, along with a small ice cream cup for Caesar that made him smile for the first time that day. ¡°Mr. Reid thought the little one might like a treat,¡± Sally said with a knowing smile After getting Caesar settled for the night, I decided to find Hunter and thank him properly for all he had done. I made my way to his study, where Sally said he¡¯d been holed up all afternoon. As I approached, I could hear Hunter¡¯s raised voice through the door. ¡°I don¡¯t care what it costs! This should never have happened. They were at is hospital, for God¡¯s sake!¡±. I paused, my hand lifted to knock ¡°Double the security detail. Triple it if necessary,¡± Hunter continued. ¡°And I want whoever leaked their location found and dealt with. This ends now¡± Thad never heard him sound so angry. His voice was cold, and controlled, but vibrating with fury. Not for himself, realized, but for us¨Cfor Caesar and Ime. After a moment of silence, he spoke again, his voice quieter but still intense. ¡°I want full protection in ce¨Cfor both of them. Whatever it takes¡± My breath caught in my throat. Why did he care so much? Why was he going to such lengths to protect us? I knocked softly, not wanting to eavesdrop any longer. ¡°Enter,¡± Hunter called. I pushed the door open to find him standing behind his desk, phone in hand, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked exhausted, shadows under his eyes, his hair mussed as if he had been running his hands through it repeatedly. ¡°Celine,¡± he said, his voice instantly softer. ¡°Is Caesar alright?¡± ¡°He¡¯s sleeping.¡± I said. ¡°I wanted to thank you. For everything you did at the hospital, and for helping us with those reporters.¡± Hunter set his phone down. ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me. It was my security team¡¯s failure that let those vultures get so close to you.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t their fault,¡± I said. ¡°I wanted to take Caesar out for ice cream or something he¡¯d like after being in the hospital. I just didn¡¯t think¡­.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the problem, isn¡¯t it?¡± Hunter cut in, his tone hardening. ¡°You don¡¯t think. You make decisions without considering the consequences¡± My gratitude evaporated, reced by indignation. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Running off yesterday, shaking Bacon. And today, nning to just walk out of the hospital with no protection, with reporters circling. Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?¡± ¡°I was trying to take care of my son,¡± I shot back, hy voice rising to match his. ¡°Not everything is about your precious image, Hunter!¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t about my image!¡± he thundered,ing around the desk. ¡°This is about your safety! Your recklessness puts you both at risk!¡± ¡°Stop trying to control my life!¡± I shouted, ¡°you have no right! We¡¯re not your responsibility. We¡¯re nothing to you¨Cjust the charity case living in your house, a mistake, remember r Hunter mmed his hand against the desk, making me jump. ¡°Because I can¡¯t stop thinking about you!¡± 15:01 Fri, 1 Aug Go The words hung in the air between us. I stared at him, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.. ¡°Every time I try to push you away,¡± he continued, his voice dropping to a rough whisper, ¡°t just¡­ I can¡¯t The anger drained from me, reced by something more dangerous¨Chope. Hope that maybe, just maybe, he felt this pull between us too. ¡°Hunter,¡± I said softly, taking a step toward him. He closed the distance between us in two long strides, standing so g so close I could feel the heat radiating from his body. His eyes searched mine, dark with something I couldn¡¯t name. Desire? Fear? Both? ¡°I can¡¯t sleep,¡± he admitted, his voice low and strained. ¡°I can¡¯t focus. All I see is you. When you ran off yesterday when I saw you with Caesar at the hospital¡­ I¡¯ve never been so scared in my life.¡± My breath hitched. I¡¯d never seen him like this¡­raw, vulnerable, the carefully constructed walls crumbling around him. ¡°Why?¡± I whispered, ¡°Why do you care so much?¡± Hunter lifted his hand, his fingers hovering just above my cheek like he was afraid to touch me ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said honestly. ¡°But I do. God help me, I do.¡± The air between us thickened, charged with electricity. He was so close now, inches away. I could smell his cologne, and see the flecks of of gold in his dark eyes. He leaned forward slightly, and for a moment, I thought he might kiss me. Instead, he closed his eyes, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. ¡°Get out,¡± he said, so quietly I almost didn¡¯t hear him. ¡°What?¡± His eyes opened, tortured and dark. ¡°Get out, Celine. Before I make another mistake.¡± This content belongs to fin?novel The words hit me like a physical blow. Another mistake. That¡¯s all I was to him¡­a mistake he kept making, I stepped back, dignity the only thing keeping me from falling apart right there. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± I said, my voice surprisingly steady despite the crack forming in my heart. ¡°I won¡¯t let you make that mistake again.¡± I turned and walked out, closing the door softly behind me. Only when I was back in my room, with Caesar sleeping peacefully beside me, did allow the tears to fall. I didn¡¯t know how much longer I could stay here, caught in this push and pull with Hunter Reid. Something had to give¨Cand I was terrified it would be me. Legacy 66 CELINC I spent the entire next day avoiding Hunter, After our quarrel in his study, I couldn¡¯t bear to see the regret in his eyes again. Another mistake, he¡¯d called it. The words still burned. I kept busy with Caesar, who was recovering nicely from his virus. We colored together, watched cartoons, and I even convinced Sally to let us baka cookies in the kitchen. Anything to keep my mind off Hunter Held and the way my heart raced whenever I thought of him standing so close to me, pushing me away. Byte afternoon, dark clouds had gathered outside. almost kissing me before The weather report warned of a severe thunderstorm heading our way. I tucked Caesar into bed for an early nap, then went looking for candles in case we lost power ¡°Try the wine cer,¡± Sally suppos y items. Sally suggested when asked. ¡°There¡¯s a supply cab down there with emergency i Memory flush back as I remember thest time i was here, the choos. It was located beneath the west wing of the mansion, essible through a heavy wooden door off the kitchen. As I made my way down the stone steps, the temperature dropped noticeably The cer was still impressive¨Crows upon rows of wine bottles stretching into the shadows, theirbels facing outward like tiny works of art I found the supply cab at the far end, next to a cozy sitting area with a small leather couch and low table. Just as I opened the cab, looking for candles, I heard footsteps on the stairs. ¡°Sally mentioned you were down here,¡± Hunter¡¯s deep voice echoed in the space, I froze, not turning g around. ¡°I¡¯m just getting some candles for the storm.¡± ¡°Smart.¡± He moved further into the cer. ¡°The power bands to go out during bad storms up here.¡± I nodded, still not looking at him as I gathered a handful of candles and matches. ¡°Caesar¡¯s napping. I should get back.¡± ¡°Celine,¡± he said softly. ¡°We need to talk aboutst night.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about,¡± I replied, finally turning to face him. He looked tired, like he hadn¡¯t slept much. His usual perfect appearance was slightly rumpled¡­shirt untucked at one corner, hair not perfectly styled. It made him seem more human, more approachable. More dangerous to my will. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have spoken to you that way,¡± he said. ¡°was worried, and I took it out on you.¡± I clutched the candles tighter, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m used to being your mistake He winced. ¡°That¡¯s not ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± I challenged, finding courage in my hurt. ¡°You¡¯ve made it very clear where I stand. The help you can¡¯t stop thinking about but won¡¯t allow yourself to want.¡± Hunter took a step toward me. ¡°That¡¯s not A deafening crack of thunder interrupted him, followed instantly by darkness as the lights went out exped, shortly bloded by ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Huntermanded. ¡°There¡¯s a shlight in the cab ¡± I heard him fumbling in the darkness, then the beam of a shlight brightened the space between us. He ced it on the table, light pointing upward to create a makeshiftmp. ¡°Let me light some of those candles,¡± he said, taking them gently from my hands. As he worked, I heard a distant rumbling that grew louder until it became a mechanical groan, followed by a loud click Hunter sighed. ¡°That would be the emergencycks engaging¡± ¡°Emergency locks?¡± Follow current nov?ls on ?ovelFind ¡°Security feature, When the p e power goes out, certain areas of the house automatically lock down to prevent intrusion during vulnerable moments.¡± He looked at me apologetically. ¡°Including the wine cer.¡± So we¡¯re¡­ trapped here? Until when?¡± ¡°Until the poweres back on, or until Baron realizes we¡¯re down here and overrides the system with the manual key.¡± Isank onto the leather couch, putting as much distance between us as the small area would allow ¡°Great. Just perfect.¡± Hunter lit thest candle, cing it on a nearby shelf. The warm glow cast dancing shadows across his face, highlighting the strong line of his jaw, the intensity in his eyes. ¡°It could be worse,¡± he said, sitting on the opposite end of the couch, ¡°At least we have wine.¡± Despite myself, Iughed. ¡°Thousands of bottles, and not a corkscrew in sight.¡± He reached into his pocket with a small smile. ¡°Actually¡­¡± He produced a small folding corkscrew. ¡°Never go anywhere without one in this house.¡± I rolled my eyes but couldn¡¯t help smiling back. ¡°Of course you don¡¯t.¡± He stood and selected a bottle from a nearby rack. ¡°Chilteau Manaux, 2005. A good year for being trapped in a cer.¡± I watched as he skillfully opened the wine, movements detailed and confident. He poured two sses from a small set kept on a side table and handed one to me. To unexpected situations,¡± he said, raising his ss slightly. I took a sip, the wine rich andplex on my tongue. ¡°It¡¯s good.¡± ¡°It should be, for what it costs,¡± he replied, settling back on the couch. We sat in silence for a while, sipping wine by candlight as thunder rumbled overhead. The tension between us was almost a physical presence, thick and heavy in the sit ¡°I don¡¯t regret what happened in my study,¡± Hunter Finally said, his voice low. ¡°I regret how I handled It I stared into my wine ss. ¡°You told me to get out before you made another mistake.¡± ¡°A poor choice of words.¡± He sighed deeply. ¡°I¡¯m not good at this, Celine. At feeling things I can¡¯t control,¡± ¡°You think I wanted this?¡± I asked, finally meeting his gaze. ¡°I came here looking for a job, wanting a life without chaos. A stable emirbrimi I shook my head. ¡°I never asked to feel anything for my difficult, frustrating boss.¡± His eyebrow raised slightly. ¡°Difficult and frustrating?¡± ¡°Incredibly.¡± I took another sip of wine for courage. ¡°And confusing. One minute you¡¯re cold, the next you¡¯re caring. You push me away, then pull me back. I never know which Hunter I¡¯m going to get.¡± He set his ss down, turning to face me fully. ¡°Then why do you look at me like you do?¡± His voice dropped lower, more intimate. ¡°Like I¡¯m the storm and you crave the lightning.¡± My breath caught in my throat. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°You do,¡± he insisted, moving closer on the couch. ¡°The same way I look at you The candlelight flickered across his features, casting shadows that brought out the warmth in his eyes. My heart hammered against my ribs. ¡°Hunter,¡± I whispered, not sure if I was warning him away or pleading for him toe closer. I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, he closed the distance between us, his lips pressing firmly against mine. The kiss was desperate and hungry, months of restraint snapping like a thread. E Legacy 67 -CELINE POV- I clung to him, my hands tangling in his hair, as if afraid he¡¯d disappear flet go. He pulled back slightly, his breathing in ragged gasps.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve wanted this since the moment I saw you,¡± he whispered, his lips brushing against mine. ¡°But I didn¡¯t want to push. I didn¡¯t want to scare you away¡°. ¡°You didn¡¯t¡± i murmured, my fingers tracing the line of his jaw. ¡°But I was scared of myself. Of what I felt He smiled, a sad, tender expression that made my heart ache. ¡°We¡¯re both scared,¡± he admitted. ¡°But maybe¡­maybe it¡¯s worth it.¡± His words were like a spark, igniting a fire that had been smoking for far too long. I pressed myself against him, my body molding to his as if seeking to prase the distance between us. He groaned, his hands siding down my back, pulling me closer still ¡°Celine,¡± he breathed, his voice thick with desire. ¡°I need you. Now.¡± I nodded, unable to speak, my body already responding to his touch. He led me to the plush couch, the candles casting a warm, intimate glow around us. As we sat, he gently pushed me back, his lips trailing down my neck, sending shivers down my spine. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful,¡± he murmured, his breath hot against my skin. ¡°So fucking beautiful His hands moved to the hem of my dress, slowly pulling it up and revealing my bare legs. I shivered, both from the cool air and the expectation of what was toe. Hel a kissed his way down, his lips staying on my thighs, his fingers teasing the edge of myce panties. ¡°You¡¯re so wet,¡± he whispered, his fingers slipping inside, his touch sending a jolt of pleasure through me. ¡°So ready for me.¡± I moaned, arching my back as he began to move his fingers in slow, deliberate circles, his touch both gentle and firm. ¡°Hunter,¡± I gasped, my voice hoarse with need. ¡°Please.¡± He smiled against my skin, his lips brushing my ear as he leaned in. ¡°Anything for you,¡± he promised, his fingers quickening their pace, driving me closer to the edge. I was lost in a fog of sensation, my body trembling on the brink of release. ¡°Don¡¯t stop,¡± I pleaded, my hands gripping the cushions beneath me. ¡°Don¡¯t stop, please.¡± He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that vibrated through me. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dream of it,¡± he assured me, his fingers pressing deeper, his thumb finding my clit, rubbing it in fem, circr motions The orgasm hit me a wave, crashing over me with a force that left me breathless. I cried out, my body convulsing as pleasure washed through me, my name a hoarse whisper on his lips.. As the tremors lessened, he gently pulled away, his eyes dark with desire. ¡°Your turn,¡± I managed, my voice still shaky. He hesitated, a hint of dy crossing his features. Are you sure?¡± I nodded, reaching out to pull him closer. ¡°I¡¯ve never been more sure of anything in my life.¡± He kissed me then, a deep, passionate kiss that left me breathless. As our lips parted, he slowly began to undress, his movements deliberate, his ayes never leaving mine. I watched, mesmerized, as he revealed his muscr frame, his skin glistening in the candlelight. ¡°You¡¯re breathtaking¡± I whispered, my fingers tracing the contours of his chest. He smiled, a soft, tender expression that made my heart flutter, ¡°You¡¯re not so bad yourself,¡± he teased, his hands moving to the buttonrel my dress slowly undoing them, revealing myre¨Ccovered breasts. He leaned in, his lips brushing the swell of my breast, his tongue teasing through thece, I moaned, arching into his touch, my hands tangling in his hu as he sucked gently, his teeth grazing my sensitive skin. ¡°Hunter¡± I gasped, my body aching for more. ¡°Please take me, Now¡± He looked up, his eyes burning with desire. ¡°I will do anything for you,¡± he repeated, his voice a low growl, He moved between my legs, his hands guiding me back onto the couch. Helt his dick pressing against me, and I reached down, my fingers wrapping around his length, guiding him to my entrance. ¡°Slow¡± I whispered, my eyes locked on his. ¡°Take me slowly.¡± He nodded, his breathing in short gasps as he entered me, inch by inch, his eyes never leaving mine. The feeling was overwhelming, his thickness filling me, stretching me most deliciously. ¡°You feel so good.¡± he groaned, his forehead resting against mine. ¡°So fucking good.¡± I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer and urging him to move. He began to thrust, slow and deliberate, his hips rocking against mine, his hands gripping my hips to steady himself. ¡°Harder,¡± I demanded, my voice a husky whisper. ¡°Faster.¡± He obeyed, his movements bing more urgent, his breathing in short, sharp bursts. For more chapters visit F¦ÉndNovel The sound of our bodies meeting, the scent of sweat and desire, the flickering candlelight¨Cit allbined to create an atmosphere that was both raw and intimate. ¡°Celine,¡± he groaned, his voice thick with need. ¡°I¡¯m close.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± I gasped, my nails digging into his back as I felt the familiar coil of pleasure building within me. ¡°Don¡¯t stop. Don¡¯t stop, Huntar.¡± He thrust harder, faster, his body moving in a rhythm that was both rough and tender. I mat his movements, my body rising to meet his, our breaths mingling as we climbed higher and higher And then, with a cry that was equal parts pleasure and release, we both fall over the edge, our bodies convulsing in unison as the orgasm ripped through US His name was a husky whisper on my lips as I clung to him, my body trembling, my heart pounding in my chest Wey there afterward, bodies entangled, breathing slowly returning to normal. I rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his touch gentle, almost reverent. ¡°This changes everything.¡± he whispered into the darkness. My heart fluttered with hope, with possibility¨Cuntil he added, ¡°And that¡¯s the problem.¡± froze, afraid to move, afraid to breathe. ¡°What do you meant Before he could answer, a mechanical hum filled the air, and the lights flickered back on. The spell was broken. Reality came rushing back. Hunter sat up slowly, already creating distance between us, ¡°The power¡¯s back, he said unnecessarily, reaching for his clothes I pulled my dress back into ce, suddenly feeling exposed in ways that had nothing to do with my state of undress. ¡°Hunter, what did you mean by that?¡± He finished buttoning his shirt, not meeting my eyes. ¡°We should get back upstairs. Cansar will be waking up inan.? ¡°Don¡¯t do that,¡± I said, grabbing his arm. ¡°Don¡¯t shut me out. Not after what just happened¡± Finally, he looked at me, histe worried. ¡°I don¡¯t regret it, Celine. But I¡¯m not¡­ I can¡¯t offer you what you deserve.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be the end to decide what I deserve?¡± I challenged. He cupped my face with one hand, his thumb tracing my cheekbone. ¡°I¡¯m trying to protect you ¡°From what?¡± I whispered. ¡°From yourself?¡± ¡°From all of it,¡± he replied cryptically. ¡°My life, my past¡­it¡¯splicated. And now with the press watching our every move¡­ I pulled away from his touch. ¡°So that¡¯s it? One moment of passion and then back to business as usual?¡± Hunter ran a hand through his hair, looking more conflicted than I¡¯d ever seen him. ¡°I need time to think. To figure out what this means. What I can offer you without destroying everything.¡± ¡°And what about what I want?¡± I asked, my voice small. His eyes softened. ¡°What do you want, Celine?¡± The question hung between us, heavier than it should have been. What did I want? Hunter? A future with him? Or was I just caught up in the moment, in the fantasy of what could never be? Before I could answer, the cer door opened, and Baron appeared at the top of the stairs. ¡°Sir? Miss Brown? Are you down here? The systems showed the door was locked during the power outage.¡± Hunter stepped away from me, his professional mask sliding back into ce. ¡°We¡¯re fine, Baron, Just got caught when the locks engaged.¡± I smoothed my hair, hoping I didn¡¯t look as thoroughly kissed as I felt. As we climbed the stairs, Hunter¡¯s hand briefly touched the small off my back¨Ca gesture so slight I might have imagined it. ¡°We¡¯ll talkter,¡± he murmured, just for me to hear. tast headed back to check on Caesar, I wondered if we would really talk, or if Hunter would find yet another way to put walls between us. One step forward, two steps back¨Cthe dance we¡¯d been doing since the day we met. But a And I wasn¡¯t sure how much longer my heart could take it. E Legacy 68 Chapter 68 -HUNTER- I was already on my third cup of coffee when the sun rose, Sleep had been impossible aber leaving Cole in the hallwayst night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her¡­.flushed skin in candlelight, soll gasps against my ear, the way she¡¯d whispered my name like a pri The memory of her body against mine, under mine, was bored into my skin. What the hell had done? amy! My office felt like a sanctuary as dawn broke. I¡¯d . Spreadsheets didn¡¯t ask for things I couldn¡¯t give. Contracts didn¡¯t make me feel things I didn¡¯t want to feel Baron had delivered a stack of reports at six, his expression neutral as always, though I caught the slight raise of his eyebrow at finding me already working. ¡°The staff are aware the power outage trapped you and Ms. Brown in the cerst night,¡± he said, his tone even. ¡°Should I address any rumors that might arise?¡± Hooked up sharply. ¡°What rumors?¡± ¡°Nona yet, sir. Just being proactive.¡± I nodded, dismissing him with a wave. Baron knew me too well¨Cknew when to speak and when to stay silent. Right now, his knowing game was thest thing I needed. I buried myself in work for the next two hours, forcing thoughts of soft skin and whispered confessions from my mind. The Reid Hotel Group wouldn¡¯t rum itself. A crisis with a supplier in Singapore needed my attention. The board expected quarterly projections by end of week. Yet all I could think about was the taste of wine on Coline¡¯s lips. A soft knock on my door made my heart race. I knew that knock, had memorized its rhythm without meaning to ¡°Come in,¡± I called, steeling myself Celine stepped into my office, closing the door quietly behind her. She wore a simple navy dress, her hair pulled back in a loose bun. Beautiful without trying The sight of her hit me like a physical blow. ¡°Good morning¡± she said, her voice tentative. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak just yet. Instead, I shuffled papers on my desk, creating distance through meaningless activity. ¡°I thought we should talk,¡± she continued when I remained silent. ¡°Aboutst night.¡± I forced myself to meet her eyes, immediately regretting it. The hope I saw there made my chest tighten painfully. Hope I couldn¡¯t full ¡°Last night was she began ¡°A mistake,¡± I cut in, the words tasting bitter. ¡°One that won¡¯t happen again.¡± Her face fell, the light in her eyes dimming. It was like watching the sun disappear behind us. I hated myself for ¡°I see,¡± she said quietly. ¡°So we¡¯re back to this again¡± I stood, needing to move, to put the desk between us as a barter. ¡°Tm your employer, Celine We need to maintain professional boundaries ¡°Professional boundades, she repeated, a hollowugh escaping her. ¡°Is that what you were thinking about in boundaries?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking at all,¡± I snapped, frustration making my voice harder than intended. ¡°That¡¯s the problem She flinched slightly, and immediately regretted my tone. This wasn¡¯t her fault. one of this was her fault. She¡¯d walked into my tie and turned everything upside downs simply by existing. ¡°So that¡¯s it?¡± she asked, voice steady despite the hurt evident in her eyes. ¡°Back to boss and maid?¡± ¡°It¡¯s for the best,¡± said, not meeting her gare. For both of us.¡± My phone rang, the screen lighting up with my CFO¡¯s name. Perfect timing. An escape ¡°I need to take this¡± I said, gesturing to the phone. Celine nodded, turning toward the door. ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t let me keep you from what¡¯s important.¡± The barb found its mark. I deserved it. ¡°Celine,¡± I called as she reached for the door handle. Find the newest release on find[f]ovel She paused but didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°Yes, Mr. Roid?¡± The formality stung¨Canother wall between us i¡¯d put there myself. ¡°Caesar,¡± I said, grasping for something, anything to say that wasn¡¯t about us. ¡°How is he feeling?¡± ¡°Much better,¡± she said, her voice softening slightly at the mention of her son. ¡°No fever since yesterday. Thank you for asking I nodded, though she couldn¡¯t see me with her back still turned. ¡°Good. That¡¯s good.¡± The phone continued ringing. The moment stretched between us, heavy with all the things I couldn¡¯t say ¡°Goodbye, Hunter,¡± she finally said, so quietly I almost missed it. Then she was gone, the door clicking shut behind her. I stared at the closed door for a long moment before answering the phone. ¡°Reid speaking.¡± Asid I discussed profit margins and expansion ns, my mind kept dritting to the hurt in Celine¡¯s eyes. I told myself it was necessary¨Cthis distance, this coldness I had responsibilities, expectations. A family name to uphold. I couldn¡¯t afford distractions. And Celine Brown was the most dangerous distraction I¡¯d ever met The call ended, and i sank back into my chair, rubbing my temples where a headache was forming. The truth was,st night hadn¡¯t been a mistake at all. It had been inevitable¡­.from the moment I¡¯d first seen her, we¡¯d been moving toward that moment in the wine cer. Like gravity, like fate. That was what terrdied me. I didn¡¯t do rtionships. Didn¡¯t do feelings. My parents¡® marriage had taught me everything I needed to know about love¡­it was a business arrangement at best, a prison at worst, My father had built an empire while my mother maintained the perfect appearance of a devoted wife, both of them living separate lives under the s rool I¡¯d sworn I¡¯d never trap myself in that kind of emptiness, Yet with Celine¡­ it was different. Dangerous. Peal I pulled out my phone, scrolling to a name I rarely contacted ¡°Dr. Mercer¡¯s office,¡± a professional voice answered. This is Hunter Reid. I need to speak with Dr. Mercer as soon as possible. ¡°Mr. Held, Dr. Mercer is fully booked this week. Would next Monday work?¡± ¡°Make time today,¡± I said, my tone leaving no room for negotiation, ¡°Tell him it¡¯s urgent ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do, sir I hung up, staring out the window at the perfectly manicured grounds of my estate. Everything in its ce, controlled, managed. Except for the chaos Celine had introduced into my carefully ordered life. My therapist had warned me about this¨Cmy need for control, the walls I¡¯d built, the fear of vulnerability that defined me. Years of therapy had helped me understand my issues, but understanding and changing were different beasts entirely. A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. Head maid sally entered, her expression serious ¡°Sir, your mother called. She¡¯s arriving this afternoon. Says it¡¯s an urgent family business.¡± Perfect. Just what I needed today. My mother¡¯s visits always came with expectations and judgments thinly veiled as concem. ¡°Thank you, Sally. Have her usual room prepared.¡± As She left, I nced at my watch. Only 9:30a.m., and already the day was spiraling beyond my control. I needed to focus, to regain my peace before facing my mother. bejanodin I pulled up the security feeds on my tablet¨Ca habit i¡¯d developed since Celine and Caesar moved in. I told myself it was for their protection, but the truth was simpler I couldn¡¯t stay away from them. The kitchen camera showed Celine making breakfast for Caesar, her smile bright as she helped him pour juice. No sign of the hurt i¡¯d caused just minutes ago. She was strong that way¨Cputting on a brave face for her son. Caesar said something that made herugh, and the sound carried through the feed. My chest tightened again. He looked so much like photos of me at that age¨Cthe same serious expressions broken by sudden, brilliant smiles. The same cowlick at the crown of his head. I¡¯d never wanted children. Never thought I had it in me to be a father. I¡¯d seen what kind of father Reid men made¡­distant, demanding, cold Yet watching Caesar, I felt something shift insideme. A possibility I¡¯d never considered before My phone buzzed with a text from Dr. Mercer/3pm today. Don¡¯t bete.¡± I closed the security feed, unable to watch Celine¡¯s forced happiness any longer I had six hours to pull myself together before meeting with my therapist, and another challenge after that when my mother arrived. 3/4 15.01 Fr, 1 Aug But first, I needed to do something about the ache in my chest¨Cthe one that had appeared the moment Celine walked out my door, taking i vital with her. I was Hunter Reid, I controlled everything in my world with precision and purpose. Except, it seemed, my own heart. Legacy 69 Chapter 69 -CELINE- A warm breeze rustled through the garden as I watched Caesar chase butterflies through Eleanor Reid¡¯s prized rose bushes, It had been a week since that night in the wine cer¨Ca week of stolen nces, careful avoidance, and the heaviest silence¡¯d ever experienced ¡°You¡¯re doing it again,¡± Caroline said, swirling her wine ssrily as she lounged in the wrought iron chair ir beside me. I pulled my gare away from Caesar. ¡°Doing what?¡± ¡°That thousand yard stare.¡± She took a sip of her rose. ¡°The one where you¡¯re physically here but mentally she waved her hand dramatically, ¡°Somewhere in the stratosphere.¡± Iforced a smile. ¡°Just tired, Your cousin keeps me busy¡± Caroline snorted. ¡°Speaking of the big bad wolf, how is doar Hunter doing these days? And more importantly, how are you coping?¡± My heart skipped at the mention of his name, a reaction I hated myself for. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ Hunter. Busy. Demanding Thept my eyes on Caesar, who had abandoned the butterflies to examine a small garden statue, ¡°And I¡¯m line.¡± E ¡°Hmmm.¡± Caroline¡¯s skeptical hum spoke volumes. ¡°You¡¯ve been avoiding the topic of Hunter for days. Just like you¡¯ve been avoiding Hunter himself ¡°Thaven¡¯t been¡­ ¡°Please,¡± she cut me of ¡°I¡¯m not blind, Celine. The two of you practically invented a new Olympic sport with how skillfully you dodge each other.¡± I sighed, picking at a loose thread on my dress. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about¡± ¡°Something happened,¡± Caroline pressed, leaning forward ¡°That night of the power outage, when you two were trapped in the wine cer.¡± My cheeks burned. ¡°Nothing happened.¡± ¡°That blush says otherwise.¡± Caroline¡¯s voice softened. ¡°You can talk to me, you know. I may be his cousin, but I¡¯m your friend test¡± I looked at Caesar, so innocent and unaware of the adultplications swirling around him. I¡¯d promised myself I wouldn¡¯t get involved with anyone after him¡­especially n y not someone who could hurt us both. ¡°It was a mistake, I finally admitted, the words burning my throat. ¡°We got caught up in the moment, and¡­ it shouldn¡¯t have happened.¡± Caroline¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Oh my god, you slept with him.¡± ¡°Keep your voice down!¡± I hissed, ncing at Caesar, who thankfully remained absorbed in his exploration. ¡°Sorry,¡± she whispered, looking anything but sorry. ¡°But¡­ wow. I thought maybe you¡¯d kissed or something, but you¡­ ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± interrupted. ¡°Hunter made it very clear the next morning that it was a mistake. And he¡¯s right.¡± Caroline frowned. ¡°What exactly did he say?¡± The memory stung fresh. ¡°That it was a ¡®mistake that won¡¯t happen again. That we need to maintain professional boundaries.¡± I couldn¡¯t keep the bitterness from my voice. ¡°And he¡¯s right, I work for him. I take care of his house. That¡¯s all this is.¡± ¡°That¡¯s such bull¡­.Caroline caught herself, ncing at Caesar. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. Hunter doesn¡¯t look at you like you¡¯re just staff.¡± I shook my head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how he looks at me. Actions speak louder than words, and his actions were pretty clear¡± 1/5 ¡°Hunter¡¯s an idiot,¡± Caroline dered, refilling her ss. ¡°An emotionally constipated idiot who wouldn¡¯t recognize his fees they pped him i face.¡± Despite everything, Haughed. ¡°is that the Reid family trail? Emotional constipation¡± ¡°Oh. We¡¯re taught to repress from birth¡± She grinned, but her expression quickly sobered, ¡°But seriously, Celine. I¡¯ve never seen Hunteract around anyone the way he acts around you. And Caesar,¡± At the mention of my son, my chest tightened. ¡°That¡¯s part of the problem. Cars is getting attached. Every day it¡¯s ¡®Mr. Hunter this¡® and ¡°Mr. Hunter that What happens when we have to leave? Because we will have to leave Caroline studied me. ¡°You¡¯re scared.¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m scared, Ladmitted quietly. ¡°I¡¯ve been on my own since I was eighteen. Every person I¡¯ve ever depended on has let me down. My parents chose my sister over me. Caesar¡¯s father swallowed hard, the irony ofining about Hunter to his cousin not lost on me. ¡°I¡¯ve learned that depending on people is a luxury I can¡¯t afford.¡± ¡°Not everyone leaves, Celine.¡± ¡°In my experience, they do.¡± I watched as Caesar crouched down to examine adybug his little face serious with concentration. ¡°And now I have him to think about. I can¡¯t risk gotting hurt¨Cgetting both of us hurt¨Cbecause I was foolish enough to believe in something that was never going tost.¡± Caroline was quiet for a moment. ¡°So you¡¯re pushing Hunter away before he can push you away¡± Her words hit too close to home. ¡°I¡¯m being realistic.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being scared,¡± she countered gently. ¡°And I get it. But Celine, those walls you¡¯re building¨Cthey don¡¯t just keep people out. They keep you locked. in.¡± Before I could respond, Caesar came running over, his cheeks flushed with excitement ¡°Mommy Mommy! I found adybug! Mr. Hunter says whispered ¡°That¡¯s what terrifies me.¡°¡± We sat in silence for a moment, watching Caesar explore. Finally, I stood up, i should get back to work Mrs. Reid is arriving today, and I need to make sure everything¡¯s ready.¡± Caroline groaned. ¡°Aunt Eleanor ising? Why didn¡¯t anyone tell me? I would ¡°Your aunt hates me,¡± I said, smoothing down my dress. I have scheduled an emergency elsewhere.¡± Caroline giggled. ¡°Aunt Eleanor doesn¡¯t hate you. She¡¯s just¡­¡± she paused, searching for the right word, ¡°scared.¡± ¡°Scared? Of me?¡± I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°What could Eleanor Reid possibly be afraid of from someone like me?¡± ¡°The way you¡¯re changing her son,¡± Caroline said seriously. ¡°Hunter¡¯s different around you, Softer. More human. And that terrified her because it mus he might choose his happiness over the Reid legacy¡± i shook my head, unwilling to believe her words. ¡°I¡¯m going to pretend you didn¡¯t just say something that ridiculous. Hunter Reid is not changing for me or anyone else¡± As I called for Caesar toe inside, Caroline caught my arm. ¡°Just think about what I said, okay? Some walls profectus, yes. But others just keep us from living.¡± I pulled away gently. ¡°Some of us can¡¯t afford to live without walls, Caroline.¡± Later that afternoon, I was arranging fresh flowers at the grand entrance when I heard the front door open, I turned, expecting to see Mrs. Reid, but instead found Hunter standing there, his tie loosened, looking tired. ¡°Oh,¡± I said, taking an instinctive step back. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be at the office until this evening Hunter¡¯s eyes met mine briefly before sliding away. ¡°Change of ns, is my mother here yet?¡± ¡°No, sir. We¡¯re expecting her in about an hour.¡± He nodded, the formality between us as painful as it was necessary. ¡°Good. I need to speak with you before she arrives.¡± My heart rate quickened. ¡°About¡± Hunter nced around the foyer. ¡°Not here. In my study, please.¡± I followed him reluctantly, maintaining a careful distance as we walked down the hallway. Once inside his study, he closed the door and turned to face
  1. me.
¡°How¡¯s Caesar?¡± he asked, his voice softer than I expected ¡°He¡¯s fine. ying in the garden earlier.¡± Hunter nodded, a small smile touching his lips. ¡°I saw him from my window. He was chasing butterflies.¡± The idea of Hunter watching us from afar made something twist in my chest. ¡°Was there something specific you wanted to discuss, Mr. Reid?¡± His jaw lightened at the formal address, ¡°Hunter,¡± he corrected quietly. ¡°When we¡¯re alone, at least¡­ I¡¯d prefer if you called me Hunter.¡± I crossed my arms. ¡°Is that appropriate, given our¡­ professional boundaries?¡± He winced slightly. ¡°I deserved that.¡± ¡°Did you need something?¡± I pressed, unwilling to engage in whatever this was. Hunter ran a hand through his hair, a rare gesture of uncertainty from a man usually soposed. ¡°My mother she can be difficult. I wanted to warn you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve met difficult people before. I¡¯ll manage.¡± ¡°Celine,¡± he said, my name a solt plea on his lips. ¡°Can we talk? Really talk? About what happened.¡± I felt the walls around my heart strengthen ¡°There¡¯s nothing to say that won¡¯t make this more difficult¡± ¡°I think there¡¯s plenty to say.¡± He took a step toward me. ¡°What happened between us ¡°Was a mistake,¡± I finished for him, ¡°Your words, not mine! ¡°I was wrong,¡± he said quietly. Three simple words threatened to demolish every defense I¡¯d built. I shook my head. ¡°No, you were right. You¡¯re my employer. I¡¯m your mald. Ca I live here because you¡¯re giving us a ce to stay. Complicating that was, unwise ¡°Is that all this is to you? A job? A ce to stay?¡± His eyes searched mine. I steeled myself against the hurt in his gaze, ¡°What else could it be, Hunter? Wee from different worlds. You¡¯re you. And I¡¯m a single mother with no college degree and a mountain of debt. This isn¡¯t alry tale¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be a fairy tale to be real.¡± Iughed bitterly. ¡°Real? What¡¯s real is that I¡¯ve been left before, I survived. I can do it again. But Caesar. My voice caught. ¡°He¡¯s getting attached to you. And when this ends¡ªwhen whatever this is inevitably ends¨Che¡¯ll be heartbroken.¡± ¡°Who says it has to end?¡± Hunter asked softly. ¡°Experience,¡± I replied. ¡°Life. Reality.¡± He took another step toward me, close enough now that I could smell his cologne. ¡°Celine, I¡­.¡± The study door burst open, and Caesar ran in, his face bright with excitement, ¡°Mr. Hunter! You¡¯re home!¡± Heunched himself at Hunter, who caught him reflexively, thing him. ¡°Hey, buddy,¡± Hunter said, his entire demeanor softening as he held my son. ¡°Thear you were catching butterflies today.¡± Caesar nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Anddybugs! I found three! Mommy says your mommy ising. Is she nice? Does sheke cookies? I helped Mommy make cookies¡± Hunter¡¯s eyes met mine over Caesar¡¯s head, a silent apology for the interruption. ¡°She loves cookies,¡± he told Caesar. ¡°Especially chocte chip.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what we made!¡± Caesar eximed proudly My heartached watching them together¨Cthe easy way Hunter held him, the adoration in Caesar¡¯s eyes. This was exactly what I feared most the perfect picture of what we could never really have. ¡°Caesar, honey, Mr. Hunter is busy,¡± I said, stepping forward. ¡°We should let him work.¡± ¡°Actually,¡± Hunter said, setting Caesar down gently, ¡°I was about to take a break. Would you like to see the model trains in my collection, Caesar?¡± Caesar¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You have trains?¡± Hunter nodded. ¡°A whole set. They were mine when i wys your age.¡± ¡°Cani, Mommy? Please?¡± Caesar turned to me, bouncing with excitement. 1 hesitated, caught between my determination to maintain distance and the pure joy on my son¡¯s face. ¡°Please?¡± Hunter added quietly, his eyes holding mine At that moment, with both of them looking at me with identical blue eyes, I felt my resolve weaken. ¡°For a little while, I conceded. ¡°But then wo need to finish preparing for Mrs. Reid¡¯s arrival¡± As Caesar cheered and Hunter led him toward the shelves where the model trains were disyed, I stepped back, watching the two of than together H15:02: Fri, 1 Aug V ¡°Some walls exist for a reason, Caroline. They protect us,¡± I had told her palier. Looking at Hunter and Caesar now, heads bent together over tiny lotives, I wondered if the walls I¡¯d built were protecting me or just keeping from the very thing I most wanted. But wanting and having were different things. And I¡¯d learned long ago that for people like me, wanting too much only led to heartache. So I stood alone, watching them from behind my carefully constructed walls, telling myself it was safer this way¨Ceven as a part of melonged to tea those walls down. This text is hosted at find?novel Legacy 70 Chapter 70 -HUNTER- The Roid family estate overlooked ahead as my car rolled up the long, tree¨Clined driveway. Gray clouds gathered above the mansion where I¡¯d grown up. matching my mood perfectly. I hadn¡¯t nned oning here today, but my mother¡¯s urgent call about feeling unwell had left me little choice Baron had raised an eyebrow when I had announced my sudden departure. ¡°Should I inform Mrs Sally you¡¯ll be gone for dinner, sir?¡± he¡¯d asked, his expression carefully neutral. I¡¯d hesitated. ¡°Yes. Tell her not to wait up. Now, as the car came to a stop in front of the imposing stone steps, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling I was walking into something I wouldn¡¯t like. Mother¡¯s ¡°illnesses¡± had a convenient way of appearing whenever she wanted something. Chambers, the family butler who¡¯d been with us since before) was bom, opened the heavy oak door before I could knock ¡°Mr. Reid,¡± he greeted me with a small bow. ¡°Your mother is in the east sitting room.¡± ¡°How sick is she, Chambers?¡± asked bluntly. The slightest hesitation. ¡°Madam, requested tea and her favorite biscuits an hour ago, sir.¡± So, not sick at all. Typical I found my mother seated by the window in the east sitting room, looking perfectly healthy in a tailored navy dress, her silver hair immacta as always. The room hadn¡¯t changed since my childhood, still filled with Reid family portraits and antiques that reminded visitors of our long history and wealth. ¡°Hunter,¡± she said, not bothering to stand. ¡°Thank you foring so quickly ¡°You¡¯re looking well for someone who called iming to be ill,¡± I replied, remaining by the door. She waved dismissively. ¡°A mother¡¯s priority. You never visit unless summoned.¡± ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find[F]ovel ¡°I¡¯m busy. Running thepany you and Father wanted me to take over, remember?¡± ¡°Sit down, Hunter.¡± Her tone left no room for argument¨Cthe samemanding voice she¡¯d used throughout my childhood. Itook the chair across from her, noting the man envelope on the coffee table between us. Something about it made my stomach tighten. ¡°What¡¯s this about, Mother? I have meetings back in the city.¡± She studied me for a long moment, her eyes.. the same blue as mine¡­calcting as always. ¡°How is your¡­ household staff performing?¡± she asked casually. The question caught me off guard. ¡°Fine. Why?¡± ¡°And the boy? Caesar, isn¡¯t it? He¡¯s settled in well?¡± My jaw tightened. ¡°What is this about?¡± Mother picked up the envelope, tapping it against her palm. ¡°I¡¯ve been concerned, Hunter. About your¡­ interest in this woman and hit child¡± ¡°Coline is an employee. My interest in professional.¡± ¡°Please.¡± She scoffed. I raised you. 1 kw when you¡¯re lying.¡± Thunder rumbled outside, echoing the growing tension in the n ¡°You had her investigated, didn¡¯t you?¡± The realization hit me suddenly. ¡°That¡¯s why you asked for her full name when you visited¡± Mother didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°I protect this family. It¡¯s what I¡¯ve always done¡± ¡°Celine is not a threat.¡± ¡°No?¡± She slid the envelope across the table toward me. ¡°Open it.¡± I stared at the envelope, dread pooling in my stomach. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°The truth,¡± she said simply. ¡°About your maid¡¯s son. My hands felt strangely heavy as picked up the envelope. Part of me already knew what I would find inside. I had suspected since I met them, ever since Thad noticed Caesar¡¯s eyes¡­my eyes¡­staring back at me from his small face. Inside was a clinical¨Clooking document¡­.a DNA test result. ¡°How did you get this?¡± | Tasked, my voice dangerously quiet. ¡°Does it matter? What matters is what it says.¡± She leaned forward. ¡°The boy is yours, Hunter¡± I stared at the paper, the scientific proof of what I already knew for weeks, 999998 probability of paternity¡± ¡°You had him tested without my knowledge,¡± I said slowly, anger building. ¡°Without his mother¡¯s consent.¡± was necessary. A strand of hair is all it takes these days.¡± She spoke as if discussing the weather, not a vition of a child¡¯s privacy. ¡°I did what was ne that are you going to do about it!¡± ¡°The question is, what are I stood abruptly, pacing to the window. The rain had started to fall, streaking down the ss like tears. ¡°How long have you known?¡± I asked. ¡°Suspected since I first saw him. Those are Reid¡¯s eyes, H Hunter. The gic test merely confirmed it.¡± I turned to face her. ¡°And what exactly do you expect me to do?¡± Mother sighed, looking suddenly tired. ¡°Handle it, of course. Before this bes a scandal¡± ¡°Handle it,¡± I repeated tly. ¡°That woman has been living in your house, caring for your child¡­. ¡°His name is Caesar,¡± I cut in sharply. ¡°She¡¯s been hiding your son from you for years, Mother continued as if I hadn¡¯t spoken. ¡°It seems your charity case brought more than her cleaning supplies into our home.¡± I felt something snap inside me. ¡°Don¡¯t call her that.¡± Mother raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re defending her? Aher she lied to you?¡± ¡°Has it urred to you that she might not know?¡± The moment I said it, I knew it wasn¡¯t true. Celine had to know. The resemnce was too strong, the timing too perfect. ¡°Don¡¯t be naive.¡± Mother stood, smoothing her dress. ¡°That woman has been nning this from the beginning¡± ¡°nning what, exactly?¡± ¡°To trap you, of course. She targeted you for your money?¡± Iughed bitterly. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. Celine¡¯s not like that.¡± ¡°All women are like that when ites to securing their future,¡± she replied coldly. ¡°I should know.¡± The implication that she had married my father for money wasn¡¯t lost on me. Their loveless marriage had been my model for avoiding rtionships my entire adult life. ¡°Caesar is my son,¡± I said, testing the words. They felt weird and yet strangely right on my tongue. ¡°Yes, and as such, he¡¯s a Reid. Your father would expect you to do right by the family name.¡± I moved to the firece, staring up at the portrait of my father that hung above it. His harsh face looked down at me, judging as always. ¡°What does that mean, Mother? What exactly would Father expect? ¡°Financial support, of course. A trust fund for the boy¡¯s education. A suitable settlement for the mother in exchange for her discretion.¡± ¡°Her discretion,¡± I repeated. ¡°You want to buy her silence!¡± ¡°It¡¯s how these things are handled.¡± She said it as if exining something obvious to a child. ¡°And what if I want more than that?¡± The question surprised even me Mother frowned, ¡°More?¡± ther to my son? What if I want Celine in my life?¡± ¡°What if I want to be a father to my Sheughed, the sound sharp and dismissive. ¡°Don¡¯t be absurd. She¡¯s a maid, Hunter. From nothing.¡± ¡°She¡¯s Caesar¡¯s mother. ¡°A convenient biological fact, nothing more.¡± Mother moved closer, cing a hand on my arm. ¡°Think of your position. Thepany. The Reid name. Your father worked his entire life to build what we have.¡± I shook her hand off. ¡°My father is dead.¡± ¡°And you are his legacy,¡± she insisted. ¡°You have responsibilities.¡± I looked down at the DNA results still clutched in my hand. Caesar, my son. The boy whoughed at butterflies and built block towers and looked at me with trust I hadn¡¯teamed¨Che was mine. And I had been p pushing away his mother, the woman who had somehow gotten under my skin, into my thoughts, despite all my efforts to keep her out. ¡°I need to think,¡± I said finally. Mother nodded, satisfied she¡¯d made her point ¡°Take the test results. Consider your options carefully. I¡¯ve had ourwyers draw up some preliminary paperwork for various¡­ arrangements.¡± Of course, she had. Mother always nned ten steps ahead. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this my way,¡± ¡°I told her firmly. ¡°Just don¡¯t let your emotions cloud your judgment,¡± she warned. ¡°That woman may I tucked the envelope into my jacket pocket. ¡°I should go.¡± ¡°Will you stay for dinner? Chambers has prepared your favorite.¡± ay seem innocent, but she¡¯s had years to n this moment The request was so normal, so disconnected from the bombshell she¡¯d just dropped, that I almostughed, ¡°No. I need to get back.¡± Back to the house where my son was probably getting ready for bed. Back to Celine, who had been keeping this secret from me. As I drove through the storm toward home, one question kept circling in my mind: Had Celine known all along? Had she taken the job in my hotel, in my as part of some n? The rational part of me dismissed the idea immediately. I¡¯d seen her surprise when we first met at the hotel I¡¯d witnessed her desperation when asking for the maid position But another part of me, the part shaped by years of my mother¡¯s warnings about people wanting the Roid fortune, couldn¡¯t help wondering. Caesar is my son. The thought kept repeating as I gripped the steering wheel tighter, What would I do now? What kind of father could I possibly be? I had no model to follow¨Cmy own father had been distant at best, cold and demanding at Worst And what about Celine? The night in the wine cer took on new meaning now. I needed answers. And there was only one person who could give them to me. I pressed harder on the elerator, racing back toward home¡­toward Celine¡­.with the weight of the truth heavy in my pocket. Legacy 71 Chapter 71 -HUNTER- The drive home from my mother¡¯s house had been a blur. I¡¯d stopped at a bar on the way, needing something to dull the edge of the revtion burning a hole in my pocket. Two sses of whiskeyter, I wasn¡¯t drunk¡­.just loose enough to feel dangerous. The mansion was quiet when I arrived, most of the staff had retired for the night. I headed straight to my study, intending to pour another drink and think through my nev caught my attention. when light spilling from the kitchen I paused in the doorway, watching her. Celine stood with her back to me, reaching for something in the top cupboard. She wasn¡¯t in her usual maid¡¯s uniform but a simple blue dress that hugged her curves in a way that made my mouth go dry. Her hair was down, falling in soft waves past her shoulders. As she stretched higher, the hem of her dress rode up, revealing the curve of her thighs. The DNA test results felt heavy in my pocket, but at that moment, all I could think about was how much I wanted her. I moved before I could think better of it, crossing the kitchen in silent strides. She didn¡¯t hear meing, still focused on whatever she was trying to reach. I slid my hands around her waist, feeling her body stiffen in surprise. ¡°Hunter!¡± she gasped, turning in my arms. I kept her pinned against the counter, not ready to let her go. Her brown eyes widened, a mix of surprise and something else¨Cdesire, maybe, or fear that someone might walk in on us. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she whispered, cing her hands on my chest to create distance. ¡°You¡¯ve been drinking.¡± ¡°Not enough to forget what I want,¡± I replied, my voice low. I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, studying the delicate lines of her face. In the soft kitchen light, she looked almost ethereal. ¡°You¡¯re drunk,¡± she used, but her voicecked conviction. Iughed softly, burying my face in the curve of her neck, breathing in the scent of her¨Cvani and something uniquely Celine. ¡°Not drunk. Just¡­ done pretending.¡± dy responded to her closeness instantly, a fact she couldn¡¯t help but notice given how close we stood. Eshould have been gher about Caesar, demanding the truth about our son, but at that moment, all reasonable thought had abandoned me ¡°Hunter,¡± she whispered, her voice catching as I pressed my lips to her neck. ¡°We can¡¯t¡­ the staff Everyone¡¯s asleep, I murmured against her skin. ¡°It¡¯s just us.¡± 16:45 Sat, 2 Aug I captured her lips with mine, unable to hold back any longer. The kiss was hungry, desperate¡­¡­all the pent¨Cup desire I¡¯d been fighting for weeks poured into this one moment. My hands found her hips, then slid lower to the thighs I¡¯d been admiring moments before. She resisted at first, her hands pushing weakly against my chest, but then something shifted. With a soft sigh, she melted into me. her arms sliding up around my neck as she kissed me back with equal fervor. ¡°This isn¡¯t a mistake,¡± I whispered against her lips, needing her to understand. ¡°Not likest time. I want you, Celine. I¡¯ve wanted you from the moment I saw you.¡± Her eyes searched mine, looking for the truth. ¡°Why now?¡± It was a fair question¡­one I wasn¡¯t ready to answer honestly. Not yet. Not until I unders rything myself. ¡°Because I¡¯m tired of fighting it,¡± I said instead, which was true enough. ¡°Tired of pretending I don¡¯t feel this¡­ pull whenever you¡¯re near.¡± She trembled in my arms, her resolve visibly weakening. ¡°Hunter, we should talk¡­¡± ¡°Later,¡± I promised, kissing her again. ¡°We¡¯ll talkter.¡± The rational part of my brain, the part not clouded by whiskey and desire¡­knew this was backward. We should be talking first. About Caesar. About the secrets between us. But the feel of her in my arms, soft and yielding, drove all reason from my mind. Hifted her onto the counter, stepping between her legs as she gasped in surprise. Her dress rode up further, and I ran my hands along the smooth skin of her thighs, marveling at how perfectly she fit against me. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful,¡± I told her, meaning it more than any words I¡¯d ever spoken. ¡°So damn beautiful it hurts to look at your sometimes.¡± A flush spread across her cheeks. ¡°Hunter¡­¡± ¡°Tell me to stop,¡± I challenged her softly. ¡°Tell me you don¡¯t want this as much as I do.¡± Her answer was quick. She rushed forward, her fingers weaving through my hair as she kissed me with a passion that matched my own. It was raw, hungry, and desperate like we¡¯d both been holding our breath for too long. Her lips were soft yet demanding, her tongue tangling with mine in a rhythm that felt both familiar and entirely new. Whatever walls we¡¯d built between us came crashing down in that moment, leaving only the heat and the need. I pressed her back against the cool granite countertop, my hands roaming over her body like I was mapping every curve, every dip, every inch of skin I¡¯d spent weeks dreaming up about. Her dress crowded around her waist, and I felt the heat of her through the thin fabric of her underwear My fingers traced the edge of it, teasing, testing, until she moaned into my mouth, her nails digging into my shoulders Hunter, she whispered again, her voice thick with desire. ¡°Please, I didn¡¯t need to be told twice. I broke the kiss, trailing kisses down her neck, and her corbone, my hands working to free her from the confines of her dress. She lifted her hips to help me, the fabric sliding down her legs and pooling at her feet. She was wearing nothing underneath, and the sight of her bare, trembling body sent a jolt of desire straight to my core. I stepped between her legs, my hands gripping her thighs as I pressed her back against the counter. She gasped as I positioned myself against her, the hardness of my jeans a stark contrast to the softness of her skin. ¡°You¡¯re so fucking perfect,¡± I groaned, my breath hot against her ear. ¡°You¡¯re not so bad yourself,¡± she teased, her hands sliding down my chest to the bu¡° but her touch was sure, and I hissed as she freed me from the confines of my pants I didn¡¯t waste any time. my jeans. Her fingers were trembling, I turned her around, pressing her chest against the cool granite, her hair cascading over her shoulders. She braced herself on her elbows, her ass tilted up invitingly, and I groaned at the sight. ¡°You¡¯re going to feel every inch of me,¡± I warned, my voice rough with need. She shivered, her breathing in short gasps. ¡°I want you,¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of our ragged breathing. ¡°Now, Hunter. Please.¡± I didn¡¯t make her wait. I gripped her hips, pulling her back against me as I thrust into her in one smooth motion. She cried out, her head falling back as she took me in, her walls tight and hot around me. I groaned, my hands tightening on her hips as I began to move, slow at first, then faster, harder, each thrust driving us both closer to the edge. ¡°Say my name,¡± I demanded, my voice hoarse as I pounded into her from behind. ¡°Tell me how good it feels.¡± ¡°Hunter,¡± she whispered, her voice breaking. ¡°It feels so good. Don¡¯t stop. Please, don¡¯t stop.¡± I had no intention of stopping. I angled my thrusts, hitting her deeper, harder, the sound of our bodies meeting filling the kitchen. Her moans grew louder, more desperate, and I could feel her trembling, her muscles clenching around me as she wavered on the edge. ¡°Cum for me,¡± I growled, my hands sliding down to grip her thighs, pulling her legs wider as I drove into her relentlessly. ¡°Let go, baby. I¡¯ve got you.¡± Her cries shattered the air as she came, her body shaking around me, her walls milking me in a rhythm that had me following her over the edge. I thrust into her onest time, my release crashing over me like a wave, my name on her lips as she trembled in my arms. For a moment, we just stood there, breathless, our hearts pounding in unison. I pulled out slowly, careful not to break the spell, and turned her to face me, She leaned against me, her legs still shaky, her lips curved in a satisfied smile. 3/4 16:45 Sat, 2 Aug ¡°That,¡± she said, her voice soft and breathless, ¡°was worth every second of waiting.¡± 65% I kissed her forehead, my arms tightening around her. ¡°We¡¯re not waiting anymore,¡± I promised, my voice low and sure. ¡°Not for anything.¡± ¡°What happens now?¡± she asked quietly, voicing the question hanging between us. I stroked her hair, thinking of the DNA test in my jacket pocket, of all the questions I needed to ask. But not yet. Not when she felt so right in my arms. ¡°Now I take you to bed,¡± I said, lifting her easily. ¡°My bed. Where you should have been all along.¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°Hunter, I can¡¯t¡­ Caesar¡­.¡± ¡°Is asleep,¡± I finished for her. ¡°And Sally won¡¯t wake him if he calls out. One night, Celine. G between us.¡± She hesitated, then nodded slowly. ¡°One night.¡± e one night without boundaries I carried her through the silent house, and up the stairs to my suite. Tomorrow would bringplications, questions, and possibly pain. But tonight¨Ctonight was ours. This text is hosted at Find[F]ovel As Iid her on my bed, I knew with unmistakable certainty that everything had changed. She wasn¡¯t just my maid. She was the mother of my child. And somehow, without my permission, she had be important to me. ¡°Hunter,¡± she whispered as I joined her, her hand cupping my face with a tenderness that made my chest ache. ¡°What changed? Why tonight?¡± I could have told her then. About my mother. About the test. About knowing Caesar was mine. But selfishly, I wanted this one night of simple desire before everything becameplicated. ¡°Nothing changed,¡± I lied, kissing her gently. ¡°I just stopped fighting what I¡¯ve felt all along.¡± As she melted into me once more, I pushed away the guilt of my omission. Tomorrow woulde soon enough, with its truths and consequences. Tonight was about us¨Cjust Hunter and Celine, without the weight of our pasts or the wavering of our future. And as I lost myself in her again, I realized with startling clearness that I was falling in love with her. That perhaps I had been from the beginning. It was a terrifying thought. But not nearly as terrifying as the possibility of losing her once she knew what I knew. AD Comment Send gift No Ads 16:45 Sat, 2 Aug Legacy 72 Chapter 72 -CELINE- The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the strange softness beneath me. This wasn¡¯t my small, lumpy mattress in the staff quarters. This was something else entirely¡­.silk sheets that felt like water against my skin, a bed sorge I could stretch my arms wide and still not reach the edges. The second thing I noticed was that I waspletely naked. My eyes flew open, and the events ofst night came rushing back like a tidal wave. The kitchen. Hunter¡¯s hands on my body. The way he¡¯d looked at me like I was something precious. The way he¡¯d made me feel thing ver felt before. 201 Oh God. What had I done? I pulled the sheet up to my chin, my cheeks burning with embarrassment and something else¨Ca giddy happiness I couldn¡¯t quite contain. Despite everything, despite knowing this was mixed up and probably a mistake, I felt like a lovesick teenager who¡¯d just had her first kiss. I couldn¡¯t help the giggle that escaped me as I buried my face in the sheet, breathing in Hunter¡¯s scent. It was everywhere¡­on the pillows, on my skin, in my hair. A mixture of expensive cologne and something uniquely him that made my stomach flutter. This was Hunter¡¯s bed. Hunter¡¯s room. And I was here, naked, having spent the night in his arms. I turned my head slowly, afraid to look but unable to stop myself. There he was, lying on his side facing me, his dark hair messy from sleep, his face rxed in a way I had never seen before. Without the harsh lines of stress and anger, he looked younger, almost vulnerable. My heart did a little skip as I studied him. The strong line of his jaw, the way hisshes cast shadows on his cheeks, the slight part of his lips. He was beautiful in a way that made my chest ache. I reached out carefully, wanting to trace the perfect line of his face with my fingertip when his eyes suddenly opened. I gasped, jerking my hand back like I¡¯d been burned. ¡°Good morning to you too,¡± he said, his voice rough with sleep, and I realized he¡¯d been awake the whole time, watching me watch him. I felt my face me red as I tried to scramble away from him. ¡°I¡­I should go¡­¡± his arm shot out, wrapping around my waist and pulling me back against him before I could escape. The sheet weaved around us, and I found myself pressed against his warm, solid chest. 1/4 1040 ??? ?????? 1 Chapter 72 ¡°Good morning.¡± I whispered, suddenly shy. The morning light streaming through the windows made everything feel different, more real. In the darkness ofst night, I could pretend this was just a dream. But now, looking into his blue eyes, I couldn¡¯t hide from what had happened between us. ¡°You¡¯re awfully happy this morning,¡± he observed, his lips curving into a smile that made my heart race. ¡°Any particr reason?¡± I ducked my head, unable to meet his gaze. How could I exin that I felt like I was floating? That despite all the reasons this was wrong, I couldn¡¯t regret a single moment ofst night? ¡°I should go,¡± I said instead, trying to sit up. ¡°The others will be waking up soon. Sally starts her rounds early, and if she finds my room empty¡­¡± ¡°Five minutes,¡± Hunter murmured, his hand sliding up to cup the back of my neck. ¡°Give > more minutes.¡± Before I could protest, his lips found the sensitive spot just below my ear, pressing soft kisses along the column of my neck. I couldn¡¯t stop the small moan that escaped me, my body responding instantly to his touch. ¡°You taste so good,¡± he whispered against my skin, his breath warm and sending shivers down my spine. ¡°You smell like vani and sunshine. I could do this all day¡­.make love to you until neither of us can think straight.¡± The words sent heat pooling low in my belly, but they also reminded me of reality. ¡°No,¡± I said quickly, pushing against his chest and rolling away from him. I stood up before I could lose my nerve, only to freeze when I heard Hunter¡¯s low chuckle behind me. ¡°Well, that¡¯s quite a view to wake up to,¡± he said, his voice filled with male appreciation. It was only then that I realized I was standingpletely naked in front of him, the morning light leaving nothing to his imagination. I felt his eyes on me like a physical touch, taking in every curve, every inch of skin. My face burned as I spun around to face him, which only made things worse because now he was looking at me from the front, his gaze traveling slowly from my face down to my toes and back up again. ¡°You¡¯re staring,¡± I used, my voiceing out higher than normal. He was lying sprawled across the bed like some kind of Greek god, the sheet barely covering his hips, his hair tousled and his eyes, dark with desire, The sight of him like that made my stomach clench with want, even as embarrassment made me want to hide. ¡°Can you me me?¡± he asked, not even trying to look away. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful, Celine. Every inch of you.¡± I scrambled for my dress fromst night, which was still lying crumpled on the floor where he¡¯d dropped it. y y hands shook as I picked it up, trying to ignore the way he was watching my every movement. ¡°I need to go,¡± I said, stepping into the dress and pulling it up over my hips. ¡°Caesar might be awake, and he¡¯ll be looking for me if 16:45 Sat, 2 Aug ? \ he can¡¯t find me¡­¡± (+10) ¡°He¡¯ll be fine,¡± Hunter said, but his voice had changed slightly at the mention of my son. There was something there, something! couldn¡¯t quite identify. ¡°Sally¡¯s with him.¡± I nodded, not trusting myself to speak as I struggled with the zipper. My hands were still trembling, and I couldn¡¯t quite reach it. ¡°Here,¡± Hunter said, suddenly behind me. I hadn¡¯t even heard him get up. His fingers brushed mine as he took hold of the zipper, pulling it up slowly. The touch was innocent enough, but it sent sparks racing across my skin. When he was done, his hands lingered on my shoulders. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find?Novel ¡°Celine,¡± he said softly. I turned to face him, biting my lower lip nervously. He was so close I could see the flecks of darker blue in his eyes, and could smell his scent wrapping around me like a warm nket. ¡°Last night¡­¡± he started to say. ¡°Was wonderful,¡± I interrupted, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. ¡°But it can¡¯t happen again. Not like this. Not when everything is soplicated.¡± Something glinted across his face¡­disappointment, maybe, or frustration. But he nodded slowly. ¡°We should talk,¡± he said. ¡°Really talk. About everything.¡± My heart skipped at the serious tone in his voice. ¡°Later,¡± I agreed, taking a step back toward the door. ¡°After work. When Caesar¡¯s asleep.¡± I couldn¡¯t stay here any longer. If I did, I¡¯d end up back in his arms, back in his bed, and I couldn¡¯t afford to lose my headpletely. I had responsibilities. I had a son to think about. ¡°I¡¯ll see youter,¡± I said, my hand on the door handle. ¡°Celine,¡± he called after me as I opened the door. I paused, looking back at him over my shoulder. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said simply. ¡°Forst night. For¡­ everything.¡± The sincerity in his voice made my chest tight with emotion. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, and slipped out of the room. As I hurried down the hallway toward the staff quarters, my heart was racing for entirely different reasons than it had been minutes before. mething had changed between usst night. Something big and scary and wonderful. ut as I thought about the way his voice had changed when I mentioned Caesar, about the secrets I knew he was keeping couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this was just the calm before the storm. 10.43 Sat, 2 Aug Still, I couldn¡¯t regret it. Whatever happened next, I would always havest night¨Cthe memory of being cherished, of feeling desired, of being held like I was something precious. For now, that would have to be enough. Ìï Legacy 73 Chapter 73 -CELINE- Getting Caesar ready that morning felt like a small slice of normalcy after the chaos in my head. Today was my day off, and I had nned everything perfectly, ice cream at the little parlor downtown, a movie at the cheap theater, and maybe some thrift shopping to find Caesar a few new clothes. He was growing so fast that I could barely keep up. ¡°Mama, can we get chocte ice cream?¡± Caesar asked as Ibed his curly hair, his big blue eyes bright with excitement. ¡°Of course, baby,¡± I said, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. ¡°Whatever vor you want He giggled and hugged my legs tight. 2 65% These moments with him were what kept me going, what made all the struggle worth it. But even as I smiled down at my son, I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Hunter. Aboutst night. About the way he¡¯d looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered in the world. Before we could leave, I had to finish my morning duties in the kitchen, Head Maid Sally had left me a list of tasks that needed to bepleted before I was officially off duty. I thought it would be quick and easy. I was wrong. The moment I stepped into the dining room to clear the breakfast dishes, I felt his eyes on me. Hunter sat at the head of the long mahogany table, a cup of coffee in one hand and his phone in the other, but I could tell he wasn¡¯t focused on either. He was watching me. Every time I moved, his gaze followed. When I reached across the table to collect tes, when I wiped down the surface, when I refilled the water pitcher¡­he tracked every movement like a predator watching prey. My cheeks burned under his attention. I felt exposed like he could see right through my uniform to the woman underneath. The woman who had been in his arms just hours ago. ¡°Mama, look!¡± Caesar called from where he sat at the table, swinging his little legs. Hunter had insisted he join him for breakfast, which was unusual but not unheard of. ¡°Mr. Hunter gave me extra pancakes!¡± Inced over to see Caesar¡¯s te piled high with fluffy pancakes, syrup dripping down the sides. Hunter was cutting them into mall pieces for him, hisrge hands surprisingly gentle. hat¡¯s very kind of Mr. Hunter,¡± I managed, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡°You know,¡± Chef Martinez said from behind me, making me jump. I hadn¡¯t heard him approach. ¡°Those two look like they could be 1/4 10.43 Sat, 2 Auy 65% father and son. Same eyes, and the same hair color. They¡¯re perfect together.¡± My breath caught in my throat. The water jug in my hands suddenly felt impossibly heavy. Chef Martinez had no idea how right he was¡­.if only he knew that they were father and son, ¡°I¡­ I should refill Mr. Hunter¡¯s ss,¡± I stammered, needing to get away from the chef¡¯s knowing smile. I walked toward Hunter on unsteady legs, the water jug trembling slightly in my grip. He looked up as I approached, that dangerous smirk ying at the corners of his mouth. ¡°Would you like me to refill your ss, Mr. Hunter?¡± I asked, trying to sound professional and distant. Like we were just bosses and employees. Like I hadn¡¯t been naked in his bed this morning. His smirk widened. ¡°Don¡¯t let me stop you from doing your job,¡± he said, his voice low and rough in a way that made my stomach flutter. I leaned over to pour the water, focusing on keeping my hands steady. That was my mistake. The moment I was close enough, I felt his hand slide under the table, his fingers finding my thigh through my uniform. My eyes went wide with shock. The touch was light, almost innocent, but it sent electricity shooting through my entire body. His thumb traced small circles on my skin, and I couldn¡¯t breathe, couldn¡¯t think¡­. Water sshed everywhere as my hand jerked, the jug slipping in my grip. ¡°Oh! I¡¯m so sorry!¡± I gasped, jumping back and staring at the puddle of water spreading across the polished table. ¡°What happened here?¡± Head Maid Sally¡¯s sharp voice cut through the air as she hurried over, her keen eyes taking in the mess. Hunter smoothly withdrew his hand, leaving my thigh tingling where he¡¯d touched me. ¡°Just an ident,¡± he said calmly, reaching for his napkin. ¡°No harm done.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sally,¡± I said quickly, grabbing a cloth to clean up the spill. ¡°My hand slipped.¡± Sally¡¯s gaze moved between Hunter and me, then settled on Caesar, who was still happily eating his pancakes,pletely oblivious to what had just happened. ¡°Mr. Hunter,¡± Sally said carefully, ¡°perhaps Caesar should eat in the kitchen with the staff. It¡¯s not really appropriate for him to¡­. ¡°Hays,¡± Hunter interrupted, his voice leaving no room for argument. He turned to look at Caesar, and his expression softened. by hispany. Don¡¯t I, buddy?¡°, Caesar nodded enthusiastically, syrup on his chin. ¡°Mr. Hunter tells the best stories!¡± 16:45 Sat, 2 Aug Chapter 73 º¬65%º¬ +201 Sally¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°Perhaps Ana could finish serving you, Mr. Hunter? I¡¯m sure Celine has other duties to attend to.¡± ¡°Celine will finish,¡± Hunter said firmly. ¡°I prefer her service.¡± The rightful source is FindN0vel The way he said it made my cheeks burn again. There was definitely a double meaning there, and from the way Sally¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly, she caught it too. ¡°Is there something else you¡¯d like to say, Sally?¡± Hunter asked, his tone polite but with an edge of steel underneath. ¡°No, sir,¡± Sally replied, but I could see the questions in her eyes. She gave me onest suspicious look before walking away. ¡°You can¡¯t do that again,¡± I whispered to Hunter as soon as Sally was out of earshot. His smirk returned full force. ¡°Do what?¡± he asked innocently, but his eyes were dancing w ¡°You know what,¡± I hissed, ncing around to make sure no one was listening. schief. He leaned closer, close enough that I could smell his cologne, close enough that his breath tickled my ear when he spoke. ¡°I want to make you scream my name,¡± he whispered, his voice so low only I could hear. ¡°Over and over and over again.¡± My knees nearly buckled. Heat flooded through me, pooling low in my belly, and I had to grip the edge of the table to keep from swaying. ¡°Hunter,¡± I breathed, his name escaping before I could stop it. ¡°Just like that,¡± he murmured, satisfaction clear in his voice. ¡°But louder next time.¡± ¡°Mama!¡± Caesar¡¯s voice cut through the haze of desire clouding my brain. ¡°Are we still going for ice cream?¡± I straightened quickly, putting distance between Hunter and myself. ¡°Yes, baby. Just let me finish cleaning up here.¡± Caesar pped his hands excitedly, and Hunter chuckled at his enthusiasm. ¡°Have fun today,¡± Hunter said, his voice back to normal but his eyes still holding promises of what was toe. ¡°Both of you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hunter,¡± I managed, my voice only slightly shaky. As I finished clearing the table, I could feel Hunter watching me again, but I didn¡¯t dare look at him. Ift did, I might do something stupid like kiss him right there in front of everyone. Finally, mercifully, I was done. I took Caesar¡¯s hand and headed for the door, desperate to get some fresh air and clear my head. ¡°Celine,¡± Hunter called just as we reached the doorway. I turned back reluctantly. Enjoy your day off,¡± he said, but his eyes were saying something entirely different. Something that made my pulse race and my ¡®ms sweat. ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered, then hurried out of the room before I could do something we¡¯d both regret. 16:45 Sat, 2 Aug Chapter 73 As Caesar and I walked toward the front door, I tried to calm my racing heart. One day off. I just needed to get through one day off, and then maybe I could figure out what was happening between Hunter and me. But deep down, I knew that no amount of time was going to make this easier. Hunter Reid had gotten under my skin, and I was terrified there was no going back. AD Legacy 74 Chapter 74 -HUNTER- Å£Èâ65%º¬ 20 The gleaming facade of The Aurelia came into view as my driver pulled up to the main entrance. I straightened my tie and checked my watch¡­another routine inspection, but necessary to maintain the standards that had made this hotel one of the most prestigious in the city. Find the newest release on Find~Novel ¡°I¡¯m telling you, man, she was incredible,¡± Vincent¡¯s voice drifted from beside me as he continued his story aboutst night¡¯s conquest. ¡°Blonde, legs for days, and the way she moved on that dance floor¡­¡± ¡°Spare me the details,¡± I interrupted, though I couldn¡¯t help the small smirk that tugged at my Vincent¡¯s weekend escapades were legendary and usually entertaining, but my mind was elsewhere this morning. All I could think about was the way Celine had looked at breakfast. The flush in her cheeks when I touched her thigh, the way her breath had caught when I whispered in her ear. The memory of her naked in my bed just hours earlier was enough to make my body respond even now. ¡°You¡¯re not even listening,¡± Vincent used as we stepped out of the car. ¡°I heard every word,¡± I lied smoothly. ¡°Blonde, legs, dancing. Very original.¡± The staff at The Aurelia immediately snapped to attention as I walked through the lobby. Bellhops straightened their uniforms, the concierge team lined up like soldiers, and I could see managers hurrying from various corners of the hotel to greet me. ¡°Mr. Reid!¡± Gerald, the general manager, appeared at my side within seconds. ¡°Wee. Everything is running smoothly this morning. upancy is at ny¨Cthree percent, and guest satisfaction scores fromst week¡¯s surveys are excellent.¡± I nodded, my eyes scanning the lobby as we walked. The marble floors gleamed, fresh flowers adorned every surface, and the staff moved with the quiet efficiency I demanded. Everything looked perfect, but I knew better than to trust surface appearances. ¡°Guest reviews?¡± I asked, pausing near the reception desk. ¡°Outstanding, sir. We¡¯ve had several five¨Cstar ratings on the travel sites, and the restaurant received a glowing mention in the Times food section.¡± As moved through the hotel, I was aware of the guests watching me. > followed in my wake¡­ments about my appearance, spection about my personal life, and the usual mixture of ation and gossip that seemed to follow me everywhere. ¡°Is that Hunter Reid?¡± I heard a woman whisper to herpanion near the elevator bank. 1/4 16:45 Sat, 2 Aug ¡°He¡¯s even more handsome in person,¡± came the breathless reply. I ignored them, as I always did, but Vincent chuckled beside me. ¡°Your fan club is out in force today.¡± 65% ¡°Mr. Reid!¡± A familiar voice called out, and I turned to see James Morrison, an old Harvard ssmate, approaching with his wife. ¡°Good to see you. How¡¯s the family business treating you?¡± ¡°Can¡¯tin,¡± I replied, shaking his hand. We made small talk for a few minutes about mutual acquaintances and business ventures before I excused myself to continue the inspection. +20 More guests recognized me as we toured the restaurant and bar areas. Some were genuine connections¡­.family friends, business associates, people I¡¯d known for years. Others were simply drawn to wealth and power like moths to a me. ¡°Hunter!¡± Another voice, this one distinctly feminine and slightly panicked. O I turned to see Charlotte Hills, hurrying toward us in designer heels that clicked frantically against the marble floor. Her usually perfect blonde hair was slightly disheveled, and there was a wild look in her green eyes. ¡°Thank God you¡¯re here,¡± she said breathlessly. ¡°I need your help. It¡¯s David¡­he¡¯s being absolutely impossible.¡± ¡°David?¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°The guy fromst night,¡± Vincent supplied helpfully, clearly enjoying the drama. ¡°Let me guess¡­he¡¯s not as charming in the daylight?¡± Charlotte shot him a withering look before turning back to me. ¡°He brought another woman to breakfast. Here. In the hotel restaurant. And when I confronted him, he had the nerve to tell me I was being dramatic.¡± I could see a small crowd gathering near the restaurant entrance, phones discretely pointed in our direction, Thest thing I needed was a social media scandal involving my hotel¡¯s spokesperson. ¡°Where is he now?¡± I asked, already moving toward themotion. ¡°Still in the restaurant, probably,¡± Charlotte said, struggling to keep up with my longer strides. ¡°He called me crazy and said I was making a scene.¡± ¡°Well, you are making a scene,¡± Vincent pointed out with characteristic bluntness, which earned him another re. We found David Wellington¡­a hedge fund manager I vaguely recognized from various social events¡­.seated at a prime table with a brte who definitely wasn¡¯t Charlotte. He looked up as we approached, his expression shifting from annoyed to slightly nervous when he saw me. ¡°Hunter,¡± he said, standing and extending his hand as if we were old friends. ¡°Good to see you. Just having a pleasant breakfast.¡± lington,¡± I replied coolly, ignoring his outstretched hand. ¡°I understand there¡¯s been some sort of¡­ misunderstanding.¡± ing that concerns you or your hotel,¡± he said dismissively. ¡°Just a personal matter between Charlotte and myself.¡± 10.45 Sat, 2 Aug 2 65% The arrogance in his tone grated against my nerves. I¡¯d dealt with men like David my entire life¡­.entitled, careless with other people¡¯s feelings, convinced their money made them untouchable. ¡°When it happens in my hotel, it concerns me,¡± I said, my voice dropping to the tone that usually made grown men reconsider their life choices. ¡°I¡¯d suggest you settle your personal matters elsewhere.¡± David¡¯s face reddened. ¡°You can¡¯t tell me where I can and can¡¯t eat, Reid. This is a public establishment.¡± ¡°Actually, I can,¡± I replied smoothly. ¡°This is a private hotel, and I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who disrupts the atmosphere my guests expect.¡± ¡°You¡¯re seriously going to ban me over some drama with a model?¡± His voice was getting lower, drawing more attention from nearby diners. ¡°I¡¯m going to ask you to leave before security escorts you out,¡± I said calmly. ¡°The choice is yours.¡± For a moment, I thought he might actually challenge me. His hands clenched into fists, and I could see Vincent tense beside me, ready for whatever might happen. But David wasn¡¯tpletely stupid. He knew who I was, knew what kind of power I wielded in this city. ¡°This isn¡¯t over,¡± he muttered, throwing his napkin down on the table and storming out, his breakfastpanion hurrying after him. ¡°That was hot,¡± Charlotte breathed, but I was already walking away. ¡°Probably not your smartest move,¡± Vincent said quietly as we headed toward the elevator. ¡°David Wellington¡¯s got connections. He could make things difficult.¡± ¡°Let him try,¡± I replied, but Vincent was right. I¡¯d let my irritation get the better of me, something that rarely happened. Usually, I was more calcted and more strategic. My phone buzzed with a text from my assistant about the next appointment¨Ca meeting with a potential investor at an off¨Csite location across town. As we drove through the city, my mind wandered back to the morning, to the way Celine had trembled when I touched her, to the promise I¡¯d whispered in her ear. The restaurant where I was meeting the investor was in a quieter part of the city, away from the bustling hotel district. As we pulled up, I was already mentally preparing for the presentation when something caught my eye through the window. Across the street, walking hand in hand were two familiar figures. and Caesar. My breath caught as I watched them. Celine had changed out of her uniform into a simple sundress that made her look younger and more carefree. 16:46 Sat, 2 Aug Her hair was down, catching the afternoon sunlight as sheughed at something Caesar was saying. The little boy was practically bouncing with excitement, a shopping bag swinging from his free hand. They looked happy. Genuinely,pletely happy in a way that made something twist in my chest. ¡°Hunter?¡± Vincent¡¯s voice seemed toe from far away. ¡°Youing, or are we going to sit here all day?¡± I couldn¡¯t look away from them. KS65%¹« Caesar was pointing at something in a shop window, his face lit up with pure joy, and Celine was smiling down at him with such love it made my throat tight. This was what I¡¯d been missing my entire life. This simple, uplicated happiness. This loved each other unconditionally. ¡°Hunter,¡± Vincent said again, and I realized he¡¯d been talking to me. ¡°What?¡± I turned to him, probably looking as distracted as I felt. ¡°I asked if you¡¯re ready for this meeting. You seem a million miles away.¡± on between two people who I nced back across the street, but Celine and Caesar had disappeared into the crowd. The moment was gone, leaving me with an inexplicable sense of loss. ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, straightening my jacket and forcing my attention back to business. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± But as I walked into the restaurant, I couldn¡¯t shake the image of Celine¡¯s smile or the way Caesar had looked so perfectly content just being with his mother. For the first time in my life, I understood what I¡¯d been searching for without even knowing it. Family. Real family. Not the cold, calcted rtionships I¡¯d grown up with, but something warm and genuine and worth fighting for. And I was determined to have it, no matter what it took. AD Legacy 75 Chapter 75 ~CELINE~ 65% The ice cream parlor was exactly what Caesar needed¨Cbright colors, cheerful music, and about twenty different vors to choose from. I watched him press his nose against the ss case, his eyes wide with wonder as he tried to decide between chocte chip cookie dough and strawberry swirl. ¡°Can I have both, Mama?¡± he asked, looking up at me with those big blue eyes that reminded me so much of Hunter it made my chest ache. ¡°Just one scoop, baby,¡± I said gently. ¡°We don¡¯t want you getting a tummy ache before the m He nodded seriously and pointed to the chocte chip cookie dough. ¡°That one, please!¡± As the teenage girl behind the counter scooped his ice cream, I tried to push thoughts of Hunter out of my mind. This was supposed to be my day with Caesar, our special time together. I wouldn¡¯t let Hunter¡¯s touch, his whispered promises, ruin this moment. But even as I paid for the ice cream and found us a small table by the window, I could still feel the ghost of his fingers on my thigh. Could still hear his voice in my ear, low and rough with want. ¡°Mama, you¡¯re not eating yours,¡± Caesar pointed out, chocte already smeared around his mouth. I looked down at my vani cone, untouched and starting to drip. ¡°Sorry, sweetheart. Just thinking.¡± ¡°About work?¡± he asked, swinging his legs under the chair. ¡°Something like that.¡± I took a bite of ice cream, trying to focus on its cold sweetness instead of the heat that still burned in my belly whenever I thought about this morning. Caesar chattered happily about everything he could see through the window¨Cdogs walking by, cars in funny colors, people carrying shopping bags. His joy was infectious, and slowly I felt myself rxing, remembering why these moments with him were so precious. We were almost finished when Caesar suddenly perked up, looking past me toward the street. ¡°Mama, look! Isn¡¯t that Mr. Hunter¡¯s car?¡± My blood turned to ice. I turned in my seat, following his gaze, and sure enough, there was a familiar ck sedan parked across the street. Through the tinted windows, I could just make out the shape of someone sitting in the back seat. Wawatching us? Had he followed y¡¯s here? we go say hi?¡± Caesar asked excitedly, already sliding off his chair. ¡°No!¡± I said quickly, grabbing his arm. ¡°I mean, no, baby: Mr. Hunter is probably busy with work stuff. We shouldn¡¯t bother him** 16:46 Sat, 2 Aug Caesar¡¯s face fell. ¡°But he likes me. He said I could have pancakes whenever I want.¡± My heart squeezed at the hope in his voice. He had no idea that Hunter was his father, but somehow he¡¯d already formed an attachment to him. It was what I¡¯d been afraid of from the beginning. 65% 201 ¡°I know he likes you,¡± I said softly. ¡°But grown¨Cups sometimes have meetings and things they have to do. Maybe we¡¯ll see himter, okay?¡± Caesar nodded, but I could see the disappointment in his eyes. I felt terrible for crushing his excitement, but what choice did I have? I couldn¡¯t let him run over there, couldn¡¯t face Hunter in public where anyone might see us together and start asking questions. We finished our ice cream quickly after that, Caesar¡¯s mood dampened despite my attempts to m up. As we walked to the movie theater, I kept ncing over my shoulder, but the ck car was gone. Had it really been Hunter? Or was I so worked up about this morning that Twas seeing things that weren¡¯t there? The movie was one of those animated films about talking animals going on adventures. Caesar perked up during the funny parts, his giggles echoing in the small theater, but I couldn¡¯t concentrate. My mind kept wandering back to Hunter¡¯s hands on me, to the way he¡¯d looked at Caesar at breakfast like he was seeing him for the first time. What was I doing? This whole situation was spiraling out of control. Hunter was my boss, Caesar¡¯s father who didn¡¯t know the truth, and a man who could destroy our lives with a single phone call if things went wrong. But when he touched me this morning, when he whispered those words in my ear, I felt more alive than I had in years. For just a moment, I¡¯d forgotten about all the reasons this was impossible and let myself imagine what it might be like to be wanted by someone like Hunter Reid. ¡°Mama, are you crying?¡± Caesar¡¯s small voice cut through my thoughts. I reached up and realized there were tears on my cheeks. ¡°No, baby. Just something in my eye.¡± He studied my face with the serious expression he got sometimes, looking far too old for his four years. ¡°You look sad.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sad when I¡¯m with you,¡± I said, and that much was true. Caesar was my light, my reason for everything. ¡°Want some popcorn?¡± His face lit up, and I bought us a small bag to share. For the rest of the movie, I forced myself to focus on him, on hisughter and excitement, on the way he grabbed my hand during the soy parts even though the movie wasn¡¯t really scary at all. Content originallyes from f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? AP movie, we walked to the thrift store a few blocks away. Caesar loved looking through the toys while I searched for clothes that might fit him. 10.40 Sat, 2 Aug He was growing so fast I could barely keep up, and my maid¡¯s sry didn¡¯t leave much room for new clothes. ¡°Mama, look!¡± Caesar held up a small stuffed elephant, gray and worn but still cuddly. ¡°Can I have him?¡± The price tag said three dors. I calcted quickly in my head¨Cwe still had enough for the bus ride home and maybe a small snack if Caesar got hungry. ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± I asked, taking the elephant from Caesar¡¯s hands. ¡°Peanut,¡± Caesar said immediately, hugging the toy tight. ¡°He looks like a Peanut.¡± I smiled despite everything. ¡°Then Peanutes home with us.¡± We found Caesar a few shirts and a pair of jeans that looked like they¡¯d fit, all for under twen As we walked to the bus stop, Caesar chattering to his new stuffed elephant, I tried to convince myself that everything would be okay. But deep down, I knew nothing would ever be the same. Hunter had crossed a line this morning, and so had I. There was no going back to the way things were before when I could pretend he was just my boss and nothing more. The bus ride home was quiet, Caesar dozing against my shoulder with Peanut clutched in his arms. I stared out the window at the city passing by, at all the people living their normal lives without theplicated mess I¡¯d created for myself. 65% What was I going to do tomorrow? How was I supposed to face Hunter, to work in his house, knowing what his hands felt like on my skin? How was I supposed to keep protecting Caesar from the truth when every day it became harder to hide? As the bus pulled up to our stop, I gently shook Caesar awake. ¡°Come on, baby. Time to go home.¡± He mumbled sleepily as I gathered our shopping bags and helped him down from the bus. The walk back to the servants¡® quarters felt longer than usual, my feet aching in my shoes and my heart heavy with worry. Tomorrow I¡¯d have to put on my uniform, tie my hair back, and pretend to be nothing more than the help. I¡¯d have to serve Hunter his breakfast and act like his touch hadn¡¯t set me on fire. But tonight, I had Caesar. Tonight, I could hold my son close and remember why I had to be strong, why I had to keep fighting for the life we¡¯d built together. Even if it meant breaking my own heart in the process. 16:46 Sat, 2 Aug Legacy 76 -HUNTER- The house was quiet when I returned home that evening, most of the staff having finished their duties for the day. I¡¯d spent the afternoon in meetings, trying to focus on business deals and investor presentations, but my mind kept drifting back to that glimpse of Celine and Caesar on their day out. The way she¡¯d looked so carefree, so beautiful in that simple sundress. The pure joy on Caesar¡¯s face as he walked beside her. It had stirred something deep in my chest that I couldn¡¯t quite name. I loosened my tie as I climbed the stairs to my study, intending to review some contracts before dinner. But as I passed the servants¡® quarters wing, I heard something that made me stop. Soft singing, barely audible through the walls. Without thinking, I found myself walking toward the sound, my footsteps silent on the carpeted The voice was Celine¡¯s, gentle and melodic as she sang what sounded like a luby. I shouldn¡¯t be here. I knew that. But I couldn¡¯t make myself walk away. The singing stopped, and I heard Caesar¡¯s sleepy voice asking for water. Light footsteps moved toward the door, and I quickly stepped back into the shadows of an alcove, my heart pounding like a teenager sneaking around. The door opened quietly, and Celine slipped out, closing it carefully behind her. She was wearing a simple nightgown, her hair loose around her shoulders, and she moved with quiet grace toward the small kitchen at the end of the hall. I should have left then. Should have gone back to my study and pretended I¡¯d never been there. Instead, I followed her. She was at the sink, filling a small cup with water, when she sensed my presence. Her body went rigid, and she turned slowly, her eyes wide in the dim light. ¡°Hunter,¡± she breathed, the cup trembling in her hands. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I heard singing,¡± I said quietly, stepping closer. ¡°You have a beautiful voice.¡± Her cheeks flushed pink. ¡°I was just putting Caesar to bed. He had a good day today.¡± ¡°I know,¡± I said, and her eyes widened further. ¡°I saw you. Downtown, near the restaurant where I had a meeting.¡± ¡°You were watching us?¡± Her voice was barely a whisper. ¡°I couldn¡¯t look away,¡± I admitted, moving closer still. We were in a narrow hallway, and there wasn¡¯t much space between us. ¡°You looked happy. Both of you.¡± She swallowed hard, her grip tightening on the cup. ¡°We were. It was a good day.¡± 16:46 Sat, 2 Aug 0 ¡°Until you saw my car,¡± I said, and she flinched slightly. ¡°Caesar wanted toe say hello, didn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°How did you¡­¡± She shook her head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I need to get this water to him.¡± 63% 201 She tried to move past me, but I stepped into her path. Not blocking her exactly, but close enough that she¡¯d have to brush against me to get by. ¡°Celine,¡± I said softly, and she looked up at me, her dark eyes reflecting the dim hallway light. ¡°We need to talk about this morning.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about,¡± she said, but her voicecked conviction. ¡°It was a mistake. We both know that.¡± ¡°Was it?¡± I reached out slowly, giving her time to pull away, and touched her cheek. Her skin was soft and warm, and she leaned into my touch despite herself. Readplete version only at fin?novel ¡°Because I¡¯ve been thinking about it all day. About you.¡± Her breath caught. ¡°Hunter, we can¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Can¡¯t what?¡± I stepped closer, and now there were only inches between us. ¡°Can¡¯t want each other? Because I think it¡¯s toote for that.¡± The cup slipped from her fingers, hitting the floor with a soft clink, water sshing across the tiles. But neither of us moved to clean it up. ¡°Tell me you haven¡¯t been thinking about this morning,¡± I said, my voice low and rough. ¡°Tell me you haven¡¯t been thinking about my hands on you, and I¡¯ll walk away right now.¡± She stared up at me, her chest rising and falling rapidly. I could see the war ying out in her eyes¡­duty against desire, fear against need. ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± she whispered finally. ¡°I can¡¯t stop thinking about it.¡± That was all the permission I needed. I cupped her face in both hands and kissed her, soft and slow at first, then deeper when she melted against me. She tasted like vani ice cream and something uniquely her, and I couldn¡¯t get enough. Her hands came up to grip my shirt, pulling me closer, and a soft moan escaped her lips. The sound sent fire racing through my veins. ¡°Not here,¡± she gasped against my mouth, ncing toward Caesar¡¯s door. ¡°He might wake up.¡± I didn¡¯t hesitate. I swept her up in my arms, and she wrapped her legs around my waist, her nightgown riding up her thighs. I carried her down the hall to a small unused storage room, kicking the door shut behind us. It was dark inside, cramped and filled with linens and cleaning supplies, but I didn¡¯t care. All that mattered was having her in my arms again. I pressed her back against the door, my body caging her in, and kissed her neck. She arched against me, her head falling back, and could feel her pulse racing under my lips. 16:46 Sat, 2 Aug ¡°Hunter,¡± she whispered, her fingers tangling in my hair. ¡°This is crazy.¡± ¡°I know,¡± I murmured against her throat, my hands sliding up her thighs. ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± She should have protested more. Should have pushed me away and reminded me of all the reasons this was wrong. Instead, she pulled my face back to hers and kissed me with a desperation that matched my own. We were ying with fire, both of us knew it. But in that moment, with her body pressed against mine and her soft sounds of pleasure filling the dark space around us, nothing else mattered. 63% Nothing except the way she said my name like a prayer, and the way her touch made me feel more alive than I¡¯d ever been before. Legacy 77 Chapter 77 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- Her hands fumbled with the buttons of my shirt, her fingers shaking with need. I helped her, desperate to feel her skin against mine. When the fabric fell away, she pressed her palms t against my chest, her touch burning like fire. ¡°You¡¯re trembling,¡± I whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. ¡°I¡¯m scared,¡± she admitted, her eyes searching mine in the dim light filtering under the door. ¡°Not of you. Of this. Of how much I want you.¡± I kissed her forehead tenderly, then her cheeks, tasting the salt of unshed tears. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯ve got you.¡± Her nightgown was thin cotton, and I could feel every curve of her body pressed against mine. 420 My hands roamed her back, and her waist, relearning the soft contours I¡¯d memorized that morning but had been ach uch again. ¡°Hunter,¡± she breathed, her voice breaking on my name. ¡°I¡¯ve never felt like this before. Like I might die if you stop touching me.¡± The raw honesty in her voice nearly undid me. I captured her lips again, pouring all my hunger and desperation into the kiss.. She responded with equal fervor, her tongue dancing with mine, her soft moans vibrating against my mouth. Time seemed suspended as we lost ourselves in each other. Her hands explored the nes of my chest, her touch tentative at first, then bolder as she felt my sharp intake of breath. When her fingers found the sensitive spot just below my corbone, I groaned low in my throat. ¡°You like that,¡± she said with wonder, as if she couldn¡¯t believe she had this effect on me. ¡°I like everything you do to me,¡± I confessed, my voice rough with desire. ¡°Every touch, every sound you make. You¡¯re driving me insane.¡± 1 I lifted her higher against the door, and she gasped, her legs tightening around my waist. The movement brought us closer together, and we both shuddered at the contact. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t,¡± she whispered, even as her body moved against mine in a rhythm as old as time. ¡°I know,¡± I said, pressing my forehead against hers. ¡°But I can¡¯t stop. I¡¯ve tried all day to forget this morning, to forget how perfect you felt in my arms.¡± ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel Her eyes fluttered closed, her breathing in short pants. ¡°I tried too. But every time I closed my eyes, I could feel your hands on me. Could taste you on my lips.¡± The confession sent heat spiraling through me. I kissed her neck, finding the spot that made her arch against me, her fingers digging into my shoulders. ¡°Tell me what you want,¡± I murmured against her skin. ¡°Tell me how to make you feel good.¡± ¡°I want¡­¡± she started, then stopped, her cheeks flushing darker. ¡°Tell me,¡± I encouraged, nipping gently at her earlobe. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy with me.¡± ¡°I want to feet alive, she whispered. ¡°For just a little while, I want to forget about everything else and just feel.¡± I pulled h ¡°Then sk at her, seeing the vulnerability in her eyes, and the trust she was cing in me. It humbled me in a way I¡¯d never experienced before care of you,¡± I said softly. ¡°Let me make you forget everything but this moment.¡± 10.40 Sat, 2 Aug Chapter 77 She nodded, her eyes bright with unshed tears and desire. ¡°Yes,¡± she breathed. ¡°Please.¡± I kissed her again, slower this time, savoring the sweetness of her lips, the way she melted against me. My hands roamed over her body, mapping every curve and dip. Her dress crowded at her waist, and I slid my hands beneath it, my fingers tracing thece of her underwear before slipping beneath the stic to find her wet and active. She moaned into my mouth, her hips pressing against my hand as I began to move my fingers in slow, purposeful strokes. ¡°You¡¯re so wet,¡± I murmured against her lips, my voice thick with desire. ¡°So ready for me.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she breathed, her head falling back as I kissed her neck, her corbone, the swell of her breasts. ¡°Please¡­ I need you.¡± I did not wait for her to say more. With a quick move, I unbuckled my belt, my pants falling to the floor as I pro She wrapped her legs tighter around my waist, her heels digging into my ass as I positioned myself at her oper ¡°I am so hard?¡± I asked, my voice hoarse with need. ¡°Are you sure love? We can stop if you want.¡± back against the door. She shook her head, her eyes locked on mine. ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± she whispered, her hands tangling in my hair. ¡°I¡¯ve never been more sure of anything in my life.¡± With that, I thrust into her, slow and steady, savoring the way she tightened around me, the way her body seemed to wee mine as if we were made to fit together. She cried out, her head falling back against the door as I began to move, my hips snapping forward in a rhythm that had us both gasping for breath. The room was filled with the sounds of our lovemaking¨Cthe creak of the door, the p of skin against skin, the ragged breaths we both struggled to catch. I kissed her neck, her shoulders, her breasts, my mouth leaving a trail of wet heat across her skin as I fucked her with desperation. ¡°Harder,¡± she demanded, her voice sharp with need. ¡°Please, harder.¡± I didn¡¯t need to be told twice. I gripped her hips tighter, my thrusts bing more urgent, more demanding. The door clinked against the frame, the other staff surely able to hear the sounds of our lovemaking, but I didn¡¯t care. All I could think about was her, the way she felt around me, the way she clung to me as if I were the only thing keeping her grounded. ¡°You feel so good,¡± I groaned, my voice rough with need. ¡°So fucking good.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t stop,¡± she pleaded, her nails digging into my back. ¡°Please, don¡¯t stop.¡± I wouldn¡¯t have stopped if my life depended on it. Every thrust brought us closer to the edge, the tension building until it was almost unbearable. Her walls clenched around me, her body shaking as she cried out, her orgasm ripping through her with a ferocity that left her breathless. I followed soon after, my release crashing over me like a wave, my body shaking as I spilled into her, my name on her lips like a blessing. ament, we stayed like that, pressed against the door, our hearts pounding in unison, our breaths slowly returning to normal, 213 16:46 Sat, 2 Aug Trested my forehead against hers, my hands still gripping her hips as if afraid she might disappear if I let go. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have done that,¡± she whispered, her voiceced with a mixture of regret and satisfaction. I smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. ¡°Maybe not,¡± I admitted. ¡°But I¡¯m d we did.¡± She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. ¡°Me too,¡± she murmured, her eyes shining with a warmth that made my chest ache. AD Legacy 78 CELINE- The morning air was cool against my skin as I knelt among the rose bushes, the dew still sticking to the petals like tiny diamonds. It was barely past sunrise, and the garden was peaceful in a way that made my heart feel lighter. This was my favorite time of day¡­when the world was quiet and I could pretend, just for a moment, that everything was simple. I had been awake since four, unable to sleep after what happened in the storage room three nights ago. Every time I closed my eyes, I could feel Hunter¡¯s hands on me and could hear his voice whispering my name in the darkness. The memory sent heat rushing through me even now, making my cheeks burn as I focused on pruning the climbing roses. The white roses were my favorites. They reminded me of the wedding dress I had dreamed of wearing someday, back when I still believed in fairy tales and happy endings. Now, at twenty¨Ctwo with a three¨Cyear¨Cold son and a heart full of impossible love, those dreams felt like they belonged to ne else. I was so lost in thought that I didn¡¯t hear the footsteps on the gravel path behind me. Didn¡¯t sense his presence until I felt warm breath against my neck and familiar hands settling on my waist. ¡°Good morning, beautiful,¡± Hunter¡¯s voice was rough with sleep and something deeper that made my pulse race. I gasped, nearly dropping my pruning shears. ¡°Hunter! You scared me.¡± But I didn¡¯t pull away. I should have. Any sensible person would have stepped out of his embrace and reminded him that we were in in sight of the house where anyone could see us. Instead, I leaned back against his chest, letting his warmth surround me like a safety nket I¡¯d been craving all my life. ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep,¡± he murmured against my ear, his arms tightening around me. ¡°I kept thinking about you out here, alone in the garden while the rest of the world was still dreaming.¡± He was still wearing his suit from yesterday, though his tie hung loose around his neck and his shirt was wrinkled. Had he been awake all night too? The thought that I wasn¡¯t the only one losing sleep over this thing between us made my heart flutter dangerously. ¡°You look tired,¡± I said softly, turning in his arms to face him. There were shadows under his blue eyes, and stubble darkened his jaw. He looked vulnerable in a way I¡¯d never seen before, and it made me want to take care of him. ¡°Worth it,¡± he said, cupping my face in his hands. ¡°If it means I get to see you like this, with your hair down and roses in your cheeks, it¡¯s worth every sleepless night.¡± I should have protested. Should have reminded him that anyone could walk out of the house and find us like this. But when he looked at me like I was something precious, something worth losing sleep over, all mymon sense seemed to disappear. ¡°Come with me,¡± he said, taking my hand and leading me deeper into the garden. I followed without question, my heart pounding as he guided me to a private corner where the climbing roses formed a natural canopy overhead. It was like into a secret world, hidden from the rest of the estate by walls of green leaves and white blooms. 1/3 10.40 Sat, 2 Aug 63% ¡°How did you know about this ce?¡± I whispered, looking around in wonder, I¡¯d worked in this garden for over a year, but I¡¯d never noticed this hidden alcove. ¡°I used toe here as a boy,¡± he said, his voice soft with memory. ¡°When my father would bring business associates to the house and I needed somewhere to hide. The roses have grown taller since then, but it¡¯s still the same peaceful ce I remembered.¡± The image of a young Hunter seeking refuge in this garden made my chest ache. I could picture him as a little boy, probably not much older than Caesar, trying to escape the weight of expectations that seemed to follow him everywhere. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± I said, reaching up to touch a white rose that hung low enough for me to reach. ¡°Not as beautiful as you,¡± he said, and I felt my cheeks burn at the sincerity in his voice. ¡°Hunter, we can¡¯t keep doing this,¡± I said, even as he stepped closer, backing me against the garden wall. ¡°Someone will see us. Someone will figure it out.¡± ¡°Let them,¡± he said, his hands finding my waist, his thumbs tracing small circles through the thin fabric of my work dress. ¡°I¡¯m tired of pretending I don¡¯t want you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± I said desperately, my handsing up to rest on his chest. ¡°I can¡¯t lose this job. Caesar and I ha. owhere else to go.¡± His expression softened, and he pressed his forehead against mine. ¡°You think I would let anything happen to you? To either of you?¡± The way he said it, like Caesar mattered to him too, made my throat tight with emotion. If only he knew the truth. If only I could tell him that Caesar was his son, that the little boy he¡¯d been so gentle with at breakfast was a part of him. ¡°I haven¡¯t smiled like this in years,¡± he whispered, his lips brushing against my temple. ¡°Don¡¯t take it from me. Please.¡± My will crumbled at the raw honesty in his voice. This powerful man whomanded respect from everyone around him was asking me, a maid with nothing to offer, not to take away his happiness. How could I deny him that? ¡°If this is wrong,¡± I whispered back, my hands sliding up to tangle in his hair, ¡°then let me have this one piece of wrong in a life full of responsibilities.¡± He smiled then, the first genuine smile I¡¯d ever seen from him, and it transformed his entire face. Gone was the cold businessman, the distant employer. In his ce was a man who looked at me like I held all the answers to questions he¡¯d been afraid to ask. ¡°One piece of wrong,¡± he agreed, lowering his head to kiss me. This kiss was different from the desperate passion in the storage room. This was tender, slow, and full of promise and possibility. His lips moved against. mine like he had all the time in the world like nothing existed beyond this moment in our hidden garden sanctuary. When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, he rested his hands on either side of my head against the wall, caging me in but making me feel safe. rather than trapped. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n F¦ÉndNovel ¡°I want to take you away from here,¡± he said suddenly, the words tumbling out like he hadn¡¯t meant to say them. ¡°Somewhere we don¡¯t have to hide. Somewhere you can just be Celine and I can just be Hunter.¡± My heart nearly stopped. ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying ¡®m falling for you,¡± he said, his voice rough with emotion. ¡°I¡¯m saying that every rule I¡¯ve ever lived by doesn¡¯t matter when you look at me like that.¡± 213 10.40 Sat, 2 Aug Tears pricked at my eyes. ¡°Hunter¡­¡± 63% ¡°I know it¡¯splicated,¡± he said quickly. ¡°I know there are a hundred reasons why this is impossible. But I also know that I¡¯ve never felt like this before. Never wanted someone the way I want you.¡± A bird sang somewhere above us in the roses, and I could hear the distant sound of the houseing to life¨Cstaff preparing for another day, Caesar probably waking up and looking for me. Reality pressed in around our perfect moment, reminding me of all the reasons this could never work. But when Hunter looked at me like I was his whole world, when he held me like I was something precious, I could almost believe in fairy tales again. ¡°We should go back,¡± I said reluctantly, even as my body begged to stay in his arms forever. ¡°Not yet,¡± he murmured, pressing soft kisses along my jaw. ¡°Give me five more minutes in paradise.¡± I closed my eyes and let myself have those five minutes. Let myself pretend that love was enough, that the truth wouldn¡¯t destroy us both when it finally came to light. In our secret garden, under a canopy of white roses that smelled like hope and new beginnings, I fell a little deeper in know he was already a father. a man who didn¡¯t even AD Comment Legacy 79 Chapter 79 HUNTER- The mahogany boardroom table stretched before me like an endless expanse of polished wood, reflecting the faces of twelve board members who hung on every word Vincent spoke. Quarterly reports, profit margins, expansion strategies¡­it should have been engaging. Hell, six months ago it would have been the most important thing in my world. Now I couldn¡¯t focus on anything but the memory of this morning when Celine had slipped a small wrapped package into my briefcase just as I was heading out the door. I drummed my fingers against the leather portfolio in front of me, trying to look engaged as Vincent clicked through another PowerPoint slide. The numbers blurred together on the screen. All I could think about was the way she¡¯d looked this morning in her simple uniform, her hair pulled back as she worked. me when our eyes met across the foyer. shy smile she¡¯d given ¡°The hotel upancy rates have increased by fifteen percent,¡± Vincent was saying, his voice carrying the confidence that made him such an effective business partner. ¡°Hunter¡¯s new marketing strategy has proven particrly effective in the luxury segment.¡± A few board members nodded approvingly in my direction. I managed what I hoped was a professional smile, but my mind was still back at the mansion, still remembering the careful way she¡¯d tucked that package into my bag when she thought I wasn¡¯t looking. During the break, I¡¯d finally unwrapped it¡­a perfectly golden lemon tart with a small note tucked underneath: ¡®For staying awake during long meetings. -C¡® She¡¯d noticed thete nights I¡¯d been pulling, the exhaustion I thought I¡¯d hidden so well. Had taken the time to bake something just for me, to show she cared in her quiet, thoughtful way. ¡°Hunter?¡± Vincent¡¯s voice cut through my thoughts. ¡°Did you want to add anything about the marketing initiatives?¡± I looked up to find twelve pairs of eyes staring at me expectantly, Heat crept up my neck as I realized I¡¯d been caughtpletely off guard. ¡°The, uh, the response has been better than projected,¡± I said, hoping I sounded moreposed than I felt. ¡°Customer satisfaction scores are at an all- time high.¡± Vincent¡¯s eyebrow arched slightly, and I caught the knowing look he shot me. Damn. He¡¯d always been too observant for his good. The meeting dragged on for another forty minutes. Revenue projections, staffing reports, budget allocations¡­.all the details that used to consume my thoughts now felt like background noise. Every few minutes, I found myself thinking about returning home, about seeing her again. Finally, mercifully, Vincent called the meeting to a close. ¡°Excellent work, everyone,¡± he announced as board members began filing out of the room. ¡°Same time next month.¡± I was gathering my papers when Vincent approached, that knowing smirk already ying on his lips. ¡°Going soni in a hurry?¡± he asked, watching me stuff documents into my briefcase with less care than usual. 1/3 10.40 Sat, 2 Aug Read full story at find?novel ¡°Just eager to get home,¡± I replied, not bothering to hide my impatience. ¡°Find what you were looking for during the break?¡± he asked innocently, and I realized he¡¯d noticed me unwrapping Celine¡¯s gift. ¡°Something like that,¡± I said, unable to suppress my smile. Vincent chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°Whatever¡¯s got you this distracted, Hunter, it¡¯s a good look on you. Haven¡¯t seen you this¡­ human in years.¡± The drive home felt endless. By the time I pulled through the mansion¡¯s gates, anticipation was thrumming through my veins like electricity. I found Sally, the headmaid, arranging flowers in the main hall. ¡°Is Celine still here?¡± I asked, trying to sound casual. ¡°In the library, sir,¡± she replied with a knowing smile that made me wonder just how obvious I was being. ¡°Dusting the shelves.¡± I found her exactly where Sally had said, standing on a small stedder reaching for the higher shelves. She looked up in surprise when I entered, nearly losing her bnce. ¡°Hunter! You¡¯re home early. How was your meeting?¡± ¡°Fine,¡± I said, closing the distance between us. ¡°Though I was distracted.¡± She stepped down from thedder, cloth still in her hand. ¡°Distracted by what?¡± Instead of answering, I pulled the small empty container from my briefcase¡­all that remained of her lemon tart. ¡°This was perfect. Thank you.¡± Her cheeks flushed pink. ¡°I noticed you looked tired this morning. Thought you might need something sweet to get through the day.¡± ¡°No one¡¯s ever¡­¡± I started, then stopped, not sure how to exin that no one had ever paid such careful attention to my needs before. ¡°Ever what?¡± she asked gently, setting down her cleaning supplies. ¡°Ever noticed when I was tired,¡± I finished quietly. ¡°Ever cared enough to do something about it.¡± Something soft and sad flickered in her eyes. ¡°Everyone deserves to be taken care of, Hunter. Even you.¡± The simple words hit me harder than they should have. Before I could think better of it, I stepped closer, backing her gently against the bookshelf. ¡°You¡¯re dangerous, you know that?¡± I murmured, my hands finding her waist. ¡°Dangerous how?¡± she whispered, her handsing up to rest against my chest. ¡°To my self¨Ccontrol,¡± I said, leaning down until my forehead touched hers. ¡°To every wall I¡¯ve ever built.¡± For a moment we just stood there, breathing the same air, the tension crackling between us like a live wire. Then she rose on her toes, and our lips met in a kiss that was soft and desperate and everything I¡¯d been craving all day. She tasted like sweetness and possibility, like everything I¡¯d been missing without knowing it. When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathing hard. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be doing this,¡± she whispered, though her hands were still fisted in my shirt. ¡°Probably agreed, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. ¡°ButTcan¡¯t seem to stop myself around you.¡± A sour hallway made us spring apart¡­Sally¡¯s voice calls out to another staff member. The reminder of where we were, of the risks we were 16:46 Sat, 2 Aug taking, sent reality crashing back in. ¡°I should get back to work,¡± Celine said, her cheeks flushed and her breathing still uneven. ¡°Tonight?¡± I asked the question hanging between us like a promise. She nodded, her eyes soft with something that looked like affection. ¡°Tonight.¡± As I watched her return to her dusting, I realized Vincent had been right. Something had shaken up my perfectly ordered world. And for the first time in my adult life, I was grateful for the chaos. AD Comment Send gift No Ads 05% 16:47 Sat, 2 Aug Legacy 80 -HUNTER 270320 Sleep had abandoned me hours ago. I had tried everything¡­counting sheep, reviewing quarterly reports in my head, even attempting that meditation technique Vincent swore by. Nothing worked. My mind kept circling back to the library, to soft lips and whispered promises, to the way Celine had looked at me like I was worth something more than my bank ount. At 11:42 PM, I gave up and slipped out of my suite, bare feet silent on the marble floors. The mansion felt different at night¨Cless charging, more like a home than a tombstone to Reid¡¯s family legacy. I headed toward the kitchen, thinking a ss of whiskey might finally quiet my restless thoughts. I knew Celine and Caesar lived in the staff quarters on the east wing, but they sometimes used the main kitchen whe I had noticed the pattern over the past few weekste¨Cnight trips for warm milk when the boy had nightmares. That¡¯s when I heard it. Soft giggles echoed from the kitchen, followed by Celine¡¯s voice, warm and yful in a way that made my chest tighten. ¡°And then the blueberry muffin said, ¡®But I don¡¯t want to be eaten! I want to be a pirate and sail the seven seas!¡°¡± More giggles, higher¨Cpitched and delighted. I stopped in the doorway, my breath catching at the scene before me. n¡¯t around. Celine sat perched on a stool beside the marble ind, her hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders. She wore a pale blue robe that looked soft as silk, paired with ridiculous fuzzy slippers shaped like little bears. In her hands was a warm bottle of milk, steam still rising from its surface. But it was Caesar who made my heart skip. The three¨Cyear¨Cold sat cross¨Clegged on the counter itself, something that would have given Sally a heart attack. His dark curls were mussed from sleep, and he wore dinosaur pajamas that made him look impossibly small. A milk mustache decorated his upper lip as he giggled at his mother¡¯s story, tiny fingers ying with the ends of her hair. ¡°What happened next, Mama?¡± he asked, voice heavy with sleep but bright with curiosity. ¡°Well,¡± Celine said, lifting the bottle to his lips again, ¡°the muffin found a tiny boat made of banana peels and¡­¡± I took a step inside, and the floorboard creaked. Both heads turned toward me instantly. Caesar¡¯s eyes went wide with surprise, while Celine looked startled, almost guilty. ¡°Did we wake you?¡± she asked quietly, her cheeks flushing pink in the kitchen¡¯s warm light. I shook my head, my voiceing out softer than I¡¯d intended. ¡°No¡­ I couldn¡¯t steep. What¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°Midnight snack,¡± Caesar announced solemnly, holding up his bottle like it was a trophy. Then he yawned so dramatically that I had to bite back a smile, ¡°Mama say chase bad dreams away.¡± 16:47 Sat, 2 Aug 463%0 The word ¡®mama¡® hit me like a physical blow. Not because it hurt, but because of how right it sounded, how natural. This child¡­ my child, though she didn¡¯t know I knew¡­had only ever known Celine as his mother. The DNA test results hidden in my safe confirmed what my heart had suspected the moment I saw those blue eyes that mirrored my own. But I couldn¡¯t tell her. Not yet. Not when I was still terrified she¡¯d take him and disappear the moment she learned the truth. ¡°He¡¯s been having nightmares again,¡± Celine exined, reaching for a napkin to wipe Caesar¡¯s milk mustache. ¡°Just needed a littlefort.¡± I watched her gentle movements, the way she handled him with such practiced ease. Three years of midnight feedings, nightmare chasing, and storytelling. Three years of being everything to him while I¡¯d been an ocean away, building an empire I had thought mattered. ¡°Bad dreams about what?¡± I asked, moving closer despite myself. Caesar considered this seriously, his little face scrunched in concentration. ¡°Monsters,¡± he said finally. ¡°Big scary ones that want to take Mama away.¡± My chest tightened. ¡°That sounds terrible.¡± ¡°But Mama¡¯s magic milk makes them go away,¡± he added, taking another sip. ¡°And her stories about brave muffins Without thinking, I reached out and brushed his curls away from his eyes. They were so soft, so much like my hair had been at that age. The same stubborn cowlick, the same way they caught the light. Caesar didn¡¯t flinch or pull away¡­instead, he leaned into the touch, his eyes fluttering closed for a moment. My son. The words echoed in my mind, a secret I carried like a weight in my chest. He trusted me so easily, this little boy who shared my DNA but had never known me as anything more than his mother¡¯s employer. ¡°You like warm milk?¡± I asked, my voice rougher than intended. Caesar nodded solemnly. ¡°But only when Mama makes it. She puts honey in it and tells it stories while it warms up.¡± I nced at Celine, who was studying her hands with intense concentration. ¡°You tell stories to milk?¡± ¡°It makes it taste better,¡± she said defensively, though I caught the hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t judge my methods.¡± ¡°Then I guess it must be special,¡± I said to Caesar, who beamed at me like I¡¯d just discovered the secret to world peace. For a moment, silence settled over the kitchen. Not ufortable, exactly, but fragile¡­.like something precious that might shatter if we breathed too hard. The three of us existed in a bubble of warm light and the lingering scent of honey, and for the first time in longer than I could remember, I felt¡­ peaceful. ¡°Mind if I sit?¡± I asked, gesturing to the empty stool beside Celine. She hesitated for just a second before nodding, scooting over slightly to make room. I settled beside her, close enough to catch the faint scent of her shampoo¡­something floral and clean that made my pulse quicken despite the domestic tranquility of the moment. ¡°So,¡± I said to Caesar, who was watching me with curious eyes, ¡°what other adventures have this muffin had?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Caesar perked up immediately. ¡°One time he met a cookie who was sad because nobody wanted to eat him!¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t anyone want to eat the cookie?¡± Lasked, genuinely curious now. ¡°Beca shaped funny,¡± Caesar exined with the gravity of someone sharing state secrets. ¡°Like a squiggly line instead of a circle.¡± 10.47 Sat, 2 Aug Chapter 80 Checktest chapters at Find_Novel(. ¡°That¡¯s terrible,¡± I said seriously. ¡°What did the muffin do?¡± ¡°He told the cookie that being different made him special! And then they became best friends and had adventures together!¡± I felt Celine¡¯s eyes on me, warm and assessing. 63% When I nced at her, she was smiling¡­.not the careful, professional smile she wore during the day, but something real and unguarded that made my heart skip. ¡°That¡¯s a good story,¡± I said to Caesar. ¡°Your mama¡¯s very smart.¡± ¡°The smartest,¡± Caesar agreed, snuggling closer to Celine¡¯s side. ¡°She knows everything about everything.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about that,¡± Celine murmured, but she was still smiling. ¡°You do too!¡± Caesar protested. ¡°You know how to make pancakes shaped like animals, and you know all the words to the sleepy songs, and you know exactly how much honey makes milk taste like magic!¡± Each item on his list felt like a small revtion. All the ways she¡¯d mothered him, cared for him, been everything h The weight of missed time pressed against my chest, but for once it didn¡¯t feel entirely like loss. There was someth that he had her. ¡°Those are pretty important things to know,¡± I admitted. Caesar nodded sagely, then yawned again. This time it was smaller, more tired than theatrical. ¡°Getting sleepy?¡± Celine asked gently. ¡°Maybe a little,¡± he admitted, though his eyes were already drooping. i while I¡¯d been absent. there too¡­.gratitude, maybe, I watched as she helped him down from the counter, steadying him when his feet hit the floor. He swayed slightly, the warm milk andte hour finally catching up with him. ¡°Come on, little pirate,¡± she said, scooping him up. ¡°Let¡¯s get you back to bed.¡± Caesar wrapped his arms around her neck, but his eyes found mine over her shoulder. ¡°Will you tell me a story tomorrow?¡± he asked drowsily. The question caught me off guard. ¡°You¡­ want me to tell you a story?¡± ¡°Uh¨Chuh. About brave princes who fight dragons.¡± I looked at Celine, who was watching our exchange with something soft and hopeful in her eyes. ¡°If it¡¯s okay with your mama,¡± I said carefully. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she said quietly. ¡°He¡¯d like that.¡± As they headed toward the door, Caesar lifted his head one more time. ¡°Mr. Hunter?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Thank you for keeping us safe from the monsters And just like that, something cracked open in my chest. Something I had kept locked away for so long I¡¯d forgotten it existed. ¡°Anytime, buddy,¡± I managed. ¡°Anytime.¡± I watched them disappear into the hallway, Celine¡¯s soft voice already beginning a luby. For a long moment, I sat alone in the kitchen, surrounded by the lingerin warmth of something I had never dared to want. A family. For the first time in my adult life, I wasn¡¯t alone in the dark. And I realized I never wanted to be again. Legacy 81 303% 201 The china clinked softly as Farranged the delicate teacups on the silver tray, my hands steadier than my nerves. Through the drawing room¡¯s open doors, I could hear the graceful chatter of Mrs. Eleanor Reid¡¯s afternoon gathering¡­a monthly torture session she insisted on hosting here rather than at her estate. ¡°It¡¯s tradition, darling,¡± she had told Hunter when he had protested yesterday. ¡°The Reid mansion has always been the center of proper society.¡± What she meant was that she wanted to remind everyone¡­.especially me¡­.exactly where I stood in the ranking of this world. I smoothed my uniform one final time and lifted the tray. The weight of it was nothingpared to the weight of walking into that room, serving women who looked through me like I was invisible, all while pretending I didn¡¯t notice the calcting gleam in Mrs. Reid¡¯s eyes. The drawing room was flush in the afternoon sunlight, casting everything in golden hues that should have been bea omehow felt cold. Mrs. Reid sat in her usual position of power¡­the high¨Cbacked chair near the firece, her silver hair perfectly styled, he pearl ne catching the light like armor. Around her sat four other women, all cut from the same cloth of old money and older prejudices. But it was the young woman beside Mrs. Reid who drew my attention. She was stunning in that effortless way that came with good breeding and better gics¡­honey¨Cblonde hair, porcin skin, and a smile that seemed permanently fixed in ce. ¡°Mia was just telling us about her recent trip to Paris,¡± Mrs. Reid was saying as I entered. ¡°Such culture, such refinement. Don¡¯t you think so, Hunter?¡± Hunter sat in the corner chair, looking like he would rather be anywhere else in the world. His jaw was tight, his fingers drumming against the armrest in a way that meant he was barely containing his irritation. When he saw me enter with the tea service, something shifted in his expression¡­.a quiet softening that made my pulse quicken. ¡°I¡¯m sure it was lovely,¡± he replied without looking away from me./ Caroline, seated near the window, caught the exchange. Her eyebrows rose slightly, and I saw her gaze ping¨Cpong between Hunter and me with growing curiosity. ¡°Tea,dies?¡± I asked politely, moving to Mrs. Reid first. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said coolly, not bothering to look at me. ¡°Though I do hope the staff quarters aren¡¯t affecting the quality of your service. I¡¯ve heard children can be quite¡­ disruptive.¡± The barb hit its mark, but I kept my expression neutral. ¡°Not at all, ma¡¯am.¡± I moved around the room, serving each woman with practiced efficiency. The blonde¡­Mia¡­smiled at me with the kind of pity that was somehow worse than outright rudeness. ¡°You¡¯re so brave,¡± she said sweetly. ¡°Working so hard to provide for your little one. Single motherhood must be difficult.¡± ¡°I manage just fine, thank you,¡± I replied, though my cheeks burned. ¡°Of course you do,¡± Mrs. Reid added smoothly. ¡°Though one does wonder about the¡­ affairs that led to such a situation. Young women today can be so careless w reputations.¡± 16:47 Sat, 2 Aug Hunter¡¯s teacup clinked sharply against its saucer. ¡°Mother.¡± The warning in his voice was unmistakable, but Mrs. Reid simply smiled. ¡°I am merely observing, darling. Society has standards for a reason.¡± I reached Hunter¡¯s chairst, my hands trembling slightly as I lifted the delicate china. Our eyes met as I leaned forward to ce his cup on the side table, and for a moment, the room around us seemed to fade. His fingers brushed mine as he reached for the cup¡­.a touch so quick it might have been idental, but the electricity that shot through me said ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? ?ovelFind otherwise. His thumb grazed across my knuckles, and I nearly dropped the entire tea service. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said quietly, his voice rougher than it should have been for such a simple exchange. I nodded, not trusting my voice, and straightened. But I couldn¡¯t look away from his eyes¡­.those piercing blue depths that seemed to see straight through me, that held promises and secrets I was afraid to name. The moment stretched between us, charged and dangerous until Mrs. Reid¡¯s sharp voice cut through it like a c ¡°Celine, dear, I think that will be all.¡± I blinked, the spell broken, and realized the entire room was watching us. Caroline¡¯s face had shifted from curious to concerned, while Mia looked between Hunter and me with growing confusion. ¡°Of course,¡± I managed, grabbing the empty tray. ¡°If you need anything else¡­.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t,¡± Mrs. Reid said firmly. ¡°I¡¯m sure you have other duties to attend to.¡± The dismissal was clear. I nodded once and hurried from the room, my heart pounding so hard I was sure everyone could hear it. But as I reached the doorway, I couldn¡¯t resist onest nce back. Hunter was still watching me, his face unreadable but intense, and when our eyes met again, he smiled¡­.just the smallest curve of his lips, but it was meant for me alone. I fled before anyone else could notice. ~CAROLINE~ The moment Celine disappeared from the drawing room, I knew I had to get Hunter alone. Something was happening between them¡­something he was trying very hard to hide¡­and I would be damned if I was going to let him mess up the best thing that had ever walked into his life. The gathering dragged on for another excruciating hour. Aunt Eleanor continued her not¨Cso¨Csubtle movement to push that vapid Mia girl on Hunter, while he sat there looking like a caged animal. When the women finally began to leave, I made my move. ¡°Hunter,¡± I called as he tried to escape toward his study. ¡°A word?¡± He paused in the hallway, turning back with observable reluctance. ¡°What is it, Caroline?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t what is it¡® me,¡± I said, crossing my arms. ¡°We need to talk. Now.¡± He g the empty corridor, then gave a sign toward the small sitting room adjacent to the main hall, ¡°Fine. But make it quick.¡± 16:47 Sat, 2 Aug I followed him inside and closed the door firmly behind us. Hunter moved to the window, his hands shoved deep in his pockets, his shoulders tense. ¡°So,¡± I began, settling onto the velvet settee. ¡°Want to tell me what that was about?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡± ¡°The hell you don¡¯t.¡± I studied his profile, noting the way his jaw worked, and the careful nkness of his expression. ¡°I¡¯ve known you my entire life, Hunter Reid. I¡¯ve seen you charm socialites and scare business rivals. I¡¯ve watched you navigate boardrooms and ballrooms with equal ease. But I have never seen you look at a woman the way you just looked at Celine.¡± His shoulders stiffened, but he didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°You¡¯re imagining things.¡± 24 ¡°Am I?¡± I stood up, moving closer. ¡°Because from where I was sitting, it looked like you were about two seconds away from forgetting we had an audience and doing something very un¨Cboss¨Clike.¡± Finally, he turned to face me, and I was startled by the vulnerability I saw in his eyes. This wasn¡¯t the controlled, calcting man I was used to seeing. This was someone who was struggling, someone who was deeper than he wanted to admit. ¡°Caroline¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re acting like a man with a secret,¡± I said softly. ¡°And not just any secret. The kind that could change everything.¡± For a long moment, he just stared at me. Then, to my surprise, a small smile yed at the corners of his mouth. ¡°Maybe I am,¡± he said quietly. My heart leaped. ¡°Hunter, if you have feelings for her¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯splicated.¡± He ran a hand through his hair, messing up the perfect style. ¡°Moreplicated than you could imagine.¡± ¡°Then uplicate it,¡± I urged. ¡°Celine is wonderful. She¡¯s kind and strong and everything you need. And clearly, she affects you in ways no other woman ever has.¡± ¡°You think I don¡¯t know that?¡± The words came out sharper than intended, filled with frustration and something that sounded suspiciously like pain. ¡°You think I don¡¯t see how incredible she is? How did she light up a room just by walking into it?¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s the problem?¡± He was quiet for so long that I thought he wouldn¡¯t answer. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. ¡°The problem is that I¡¯m terrified of losing her.¡± The raw honesty in those words made my chest tight. ¡°Hunter¡­¡± ¡°You saw how my mother was in there,¡± he continued/moving back to the window. ¡°How they all were. The way they looked at her, talked about her. This world¡­our world¡­it destroys people like Celine. And I won¡¯t be the one to let that happen.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re not them,¡± I protested. ¡°You could protect her.¡± ¡°Could I?¡± Heughed, but there was no humor in it. ¡°Look at what just happened. One afternoon tea and I nearly gave everything away. How long do you think it would take before Mother figured out exactly how I feel? Before she decided to make Celine¡¯s life a living hell?¡± I wanted argue, to tell him he was wrong, but I couldn¡¯t. Eleanor Reid was indeed capable of destroying anyone she saw as a threat to her carefully constructed world. And suspected that Hunter was falling for the staff¡­ 16:47 Sat, 2 Aug ¡°So what are you going to do?¡± I asked quietly. He was quiet for a long moment, his gaze fixed on something beyond the window. When he finally answered, his voice was steady but sad. ¡°I¡¯m going to try to stay away from her. For both our sakes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the stupidest thing I¡¯ve ever heard,¡± I said tly. He turned back to me, eyebrows raised. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°You heard me. You¡¯re being an idiot.¡± I stood up, hands on my hips. ¡°You¡¯re looking at her like she¡¯s the only thing that matters in this entire world. You never used to look at anyone like that, Hunter. No one. And you¡¯re just going to throw it away because you¡¯re scared?¡± ¡°I¡¯m being realistic¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re being a coward.¡± The words hung in the air between us, sharp and unforgiving. ¡°And that¡¯s not the man I know you to be.¡± For a moment, I thought he might argue. Instead, he just smiled again¡­that same small, secret smile that told me ever eded to know. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right,¡± he said quietly. ¡°But some risks are worth being a coward about.¡± As I watched him leave the room, I made a decision. If my stubborn cousin was too afraid to fight for his happiness, then maybe it was time someone else stepped in to help. After all, what were cousins for? AD Legacy 82 Chapter 82 CELINE I was elbow deep in Hunter¡¯sundry when I found it. A tiny sock. Blue with little dinosaurs on it. My heart stopped. It was wedged between two of Hunter¡¯s dress shirts, so small I almost missed it. But there it was¡­Ceasar¡¯s sock, the one I had been searching for all week. How on earth had it gotten mixed in with Hunter¡¯s clothes? I held the little sock up to the light streaming through theundry room window, my mind racing. The only way this made sense was if¡­. ¡°Oh no,¡± I whispered to myself. ¡°Please tell me he didn¡¯t.¡± But even as I said it, I knew exactly what had happened. Last week, when Ceasar had that huge tantrum about wanting to see ¡°Mr. Hunter¡¯s big room,¡± I had been so frazzles have gotten distracted duringundry sorting. Which meant I had been washing Hunter¡¯s underwear with my three¨Cyear¨Cold¡¯s socks for a week. I buried my face in my hands. Could this job get any more mortifying? ¡°Mommy?¡± I spun around to find Ceasar standing in the doorway, his dark curls a mess and his blue eyes¡­bright with curiosity. ¡°Yes, sweetheart?¡± ¡°Why are you hiding in the washing ce?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hiding,¡± I said, quickly shoving the sock into my pocket. ¡°I¡¯m working.¡± calm him down that I must ¡°Can I help?¡± He bounced on his toes, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile/Ceasar had been asking to ¡°help¡± with everythingtely, which usually meant making twice as much work for me. ¡°Actually,¡± I said, ncing at the basket of Hunter¡¯s perfectly pressed shirts, ¡°maybe you should go y with your trucks instead.¡± ¡°But I want to help!¡± His bottom lip jutted out in that way which meant a meltdown wasing. ¡°Please, Mommy?¡± Before I could respond, footsteps echoed in the hallway outside. Heavy, measured footsteps that made my pulse quicken. Hunter. ¡°Ceasar,¡± I hissed, e here. Now.¡± But my son had other ideas. The moment Hunter appeared in the doorway, Ceasarunched himself forward like a tiny missile. ¡°Mr. Hunter! Mr. Hunter! Look what I found!¡± Hunter caught him easily, hisrge hands gentle as he steadied the excited toddler. ¡°What did you find, buddy?¡± My heart did that stupid fluttering thing it always did when I saw them together. Hunter looked so natural with Ceasar in his arms, so right, that it physically hur ¡°I found Mommy hiding with your clothes!¡± Ceasar announced proudly Hunter¡¯s eyes met mine over Ceasar¡¯s head, and I felt my cheeks me. ¡°I wasn¡¯t hiding I was tolding! ¡°In the corner behind the machine?¡± Hunter asked, his mouth twitching like he was trying not to sm ¡°I dropped something, I mumbled. ¡°What did you drop?¡± Ceasar wanted to know, twisting in Hunter¡¯s arms to look at me. The sock felt like it was burning a hole in my pocket. ¡°Nothing important.¡± Hunter set Ceasar down gently, but his eyes never left my face. ¡°Are you alright? You look¡­¡± ¡°Mortified?¡± I suggested. ¡°I was going to say pink, but mortified works too.¡± Ceasar, unaware of the anxiety crackling between us, had discovered the basket of cleanundry and was now Y onto the floor. iping¡± by pulling everything cos ¡°Ceasar, no!¡± I lunged forward, but it was toote. Hunter¡¯s expensive shirts are scattered across theundry room like fatten leaves ¡°I¡¯m helping!¡± Ceasar dered, grabbing a shirt and attempting to fold it. The result looked like a fabric disaster. Hunter watched this unfold with the expression of a man witnessing a small, adorable hurricane. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ energetic.¡± ¡°He¡¯s three,¡± I said apologetically, kneeling to gather the scattered clothes. ¡°Ceasar, sweetheart, these need to stay folded.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m making them pretty!¡± He held up another shirt, now thoroughly wrinkled from his ¡°folding¡± attempts. Hunter surprised me by kneeling beside us. ¡°Here, let me show you something¡± I watched in amazement as he took the shirt from Ceasar¡¯s hands and began demonstrating how to fold it properly, his movements slow and exaggerated so the little boy could follow along. ¡°See? Bottom to middle, then sides in, then top to bottom,¡± Hunter exined with the same patience he probably used in board meetings. Ceasar watched with wide eyes,pletely fascinated. ¡°You¡¯re good at this!¡± ¡°I had to learn when I was about your age,¡± Hunter said. ¡°My father thought it was important to know how to take care of my things.¡± For original chapters go to Find_Novel(. ¡°Can I try?¡± Ceasar asked eagerly. Hunter handed him another shirt. ¡°Go ahead.¡± What followed was the most adorable disaster I had ever witnessed. Ceasar¡¯s attempts at folding resulted in something that looked more like modern art than clothing, but Hunter praised every crumpled effort like it was perfect. ¡°Excellent work,¡± he said seriously, examining Ceasar¡¯stest creation. ¡°Though I think this one might be inside¨Cout.¡± ¡°Inside¨Cout is good!¡± Ceasar dered. ¡°Look, the buttons are hiding!¡± I couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°Ceasar, that¡¯s not how clothes work.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s more ton this way!¡± He held up the shirt proudly. ¡°Right, Mr. Hunter2 Hunter e mangled garment with mock thinking. ¡°You know what? You might be onto something. Maybe inside out is the new fashion trend 215 < 6398 ¡°Really?¡± Ceasar¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Really,¡± Hunter confirmed withplete sincerity. Watching them together made my chest tight with an emotion I didn¡¯t want to name Hunter was so good with Ceasar, so natural. And the way my son looked at him, with such open adoration¡­ The sock in my pocket felt heavier with each passing moment. ¡°Mr. Hunter,¡± Ceasar said suddenly, ¡°do you have little boy clothes too?¡± Hunter blinked. ¡°Little boy clothes?¡± ¡°Yeah! Like mine!¡± Ceasar gestured to his tiny t¨Cshirt and shorts. ¡°No, buddy,¡± Hunter said gently. ¡°I¡¯m too big for little boy clothes now.¡± ¡°But you were little once, right?¡± ¡°A long time ago, yes.¡± Ceasar studied him thoughtfully. ¡°Do you remember being little?¡± ¡°Some things,¡± Hunter said. ¡°I remember learning to tie my shoes. And riding my first bike.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tie my shoes yet,¡± Ceasar confessed. ¡°But Mommy says I will soon.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you will. You¡¯re a smart kid.¡± The praise made Ceasar beam. He grabbed another shirt from the basket and attacked it with restored folding readiness. I used the distraction to steal a moment to look at Hunter. He was sitting cross¨Clegged on theundry room floor, his expensive shirt probably getting wrinkled, teaching my son to fold clothes with the patience of a saint. This was not the cold, ruthless businessman I had first met. This was someone else entirely. Someone warm and gentle and impossibly attractive. ¡°Mommy, look!¡± Ceasar held up histest folding attempt. ¡°I made it t!¡± ¡°Very good, sweetheart,¡± I managed, though my voice sounded strange to my ears. Hunter nced at me, and something in his expression shifted. The yful lightness dimmed, reced by something more intense. ¡°Celine,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Is everything alright? You seem¡­¡± ¡°Overwhelmed,¡± I finished honestly. ¡°By theundry?¡± ¡°By everything.¡± The words slipped out before I could stop them. We stared at each other in silence while Ceasar continued his clothing massacre, humming tunelessly to himself, ¡°I should let get back to work,¡± Hunter said finally, starting to stand. ¡°Wait. 1 inosaur sock from my pocket, holding it up like evidence of a crime. ¡°This is yours.¡± 16:47 Sat, 2 Aug Hunter stared at the tiny sock, confusion clear on his face. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s not my size.¡± ¡°It got mixed in with yourundry.¡± I exined, my cheeks burning again. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I don¡¯t know how it happened, but five been idental washing Ceasar¡¯s things with yours all week.¡± For a moment, Hunter just looked at the sock. Then, slowly, that dangerous smile spread across his face. ¡°So that¡¯s why my underwear has been smelling like baby shampoo.¡± I wanted to die. Right there, on theundry room floor. Just cease to exist ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± I repeated. ¡°I¡¯ll be more careful about sorting¡­¡± ¡°Celine,¡± Hunter interrupted, his voice warm with suppressedughter. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not fine! It¡¯s unprofessional and embarrassing and¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s sweet,¡± he said quietly. I blinked. ¡°Sweet?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He took the sock from my hands, his fingers brushing mine in the process. ¡°Sweet.¡± The touch sent electricity shooting up my arm, and I had to resist the urge to snatch my hand back. ¡°Look, Mommy!¡± Ceasar appeared at my elbow, holding up what might have once been a dress shirt. ¡°I folded it good!¡± Hunter and I both looked at the destroyed garment. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± I began. ¡°Perfect,¡± Hunter finished firmly. ¡°Absolutely perfect.¡± Ceasar giggled with delight and threw his arms around Hunter¡¯s neck in a spontaneous hug. ¡°You¡¯re the best folder teacher ever!¡± Hunter¡¯s arms came up automatically to hug him back, and the expression on his face made my throat tight. ¡°Thanks, buddy,¡± he said softly. ¡°You¡¯re a pretty good student.¡± When Ceasar pulled back, he was grinning so wide I thought his face might split. ¡°Can we fold more tomorrow?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Hunter said, ncing at me. ¡°If your mom doesn¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Please, Mommy? Please?¡± I looked between my son¡¯s eager face and Hunter¡¯s carefully neutral expression, and I knew I was in trouble. Deep, deep trouble. ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± I echoed weakly. Ceasar cheered as I¡¯d just promised him Christmas morning. As Hunter stond to leave, he paused in the doorway, the dinosaur sock still in his hand. ¡°Celine?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± 4/ ¡°For what it¡¯s worth,¡± he said with that devastating smile, ¡°I think I prefer the baby shampoo.¡± And then he was gone, leaving me alone with my giggling son and theplete wreckage of what had once been perfectly foldedundry. I sank onto the floor, my heart racing and my mind spinning. I was in so much trouble. AD Comment Legacy 83 Chapter 83 -HUNTER- Thadn¡¯t meant to follow her. 63% After dinner, I had nned to lock myself in my study and review the quarterly reports that had been sitting on my desk for three days. But then I had seen her slip quietly down the hallway toward the library, and my feet had betrayed my better judgment. The library was my sanctuary. Floor¨Cto¨Cceiling mahogany shelves, leather¨Cbound first editions, and windows that overlooked the gardens. It was where I came to think, to escape, to remember who I was beneath the expectations and responsibilities. But now, watching Celine reach for the top shelf while bnced precariously on the old woodendder, I realized it had be something else entirely. She was humming softly to herself¡­some tune I didn¡¯t recognize¡­as she worked her feather duster along the spines of books touched in decades. Thete evening light filtered through the tall windows, turning her chestnut hair to gold where it escaped from her messy bu She was wearing that simple ck dress again, the one that somehow managed to be both modest and devastating. probably hadn¡¯t been It hugged her curves in ways that made my mouth dry, especially from this angle, looking up at her as she stretched to reach the highest shelves. I should leave. Walk away. Pretend I had never seen her here, never noticed how her ankles looked so delicate above those sensible ts, never watched the way she bit her lower lip in concentration. Instead, I moved closer. Thedder creaked under her weight as she leaned further to the right, and my heart nearly stopped as it wobbled. ¡°Careful,¡± I said quietly, reaching out to steady the base. She gasped and nearly dropped her duster, spinning to look down at me with wide brown eyes. ¡°Hunter! I didn¡¯t hear youe in.¡± ¡°Sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to startle you.¡± My hands gripped thedder¡¯s sides, and I was acutely aware of how close I was to her legs. ¡°This thing is older than both of usbined. I should have reced it years ago.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she said breathlessly. ¡°I¡¯m almost done up here.¡± But she didn¡¯t move toe down. We stayed frozen like that¨Cher perched above me, me looking up at her like she was some goddess who had descended from the literary heavens. ¡°What are you reading these days?¡± she asked, her voice softer than usual in the hushed atmosphere of the library. I nced at the shelf she¡¯d been dusting. ¡°Mostly financial reports and legal documents. Nothing as interesting as¡­¡± I tilted my head to read the spine of the book nearest to her. ¡°The Complete Works of Lord Byron.¡± ¡°Byron was a scandal in his time,¡± she said with a small smile. ¡°All that passionate poetry and romantic drama.¡± ¡°Sounds exhausting.¡± Sheughed, and the sound made something warm unfurl in my chest. ¡°You would say that. You probably prefer your emotions filed alphabetically and color¨Ccoded 16:47 Sat, 2 Aug. ¡°Hey,¡± I protested, though I was fighting a smile. ¡°I have emotions. They¡¯re just very well organized.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± She pretended to consider this seriously. ¡°And where exactly do you file ¡®attraction to the help¡®?¡± The question caught me off guard. She was looking down at me with mischief dancing in her eyes, and I realized she was flirting with me. Actually flirting. ¡°Under ¡®Complications,¡± I said honestly. ¡°Cross¨Creferenced with ¡®Things That Could Ruin Everything.¡±¡± Her smile faltered slightly. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Buttely,¡± I continued, my voice dropping lower, ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about starting a new filing system.¡± ¡°What kind of system?¡± ¡°One where I stop caring about proper protocol and start caring about what I actually want.¡± The air between us shifted and became charged with something electric and dangerous. Celine¡¯s grip tightened on thec fluttering at the base of her throat. ¡°And what do you want?¡± she whispered. The honest answer would have terrified us both. So instead, I said, ¡°Come down from there before you fall.¡± could see her pulse She hesitated for a moment, then began her descent. As she reached the third rung from the bottom, she missed her footing slightly, and instinctively, my hands moved to her waist to steady her. The moment my palms made contact with the soft curve of her hips, we both froze. She was still a step above me, which put us nearly at eye level. This close, I could see the flecks of gold in her brown eyes and could smell that slight vani scent she always carried. Her lips were slightly parted, and I found myself cataloging every detail of her face like I was trying to memorize it. ¡°Hunter,¡± she breathed. ¡°I know,¡± I said quietly. ¡°I know this is a bad idea.¡± ¡°Terrible idea,¡± she agreed, but she didn¡¯t pull away. ¡°The worst.¡± Her hands had somehow found their way to my shoulders, and I could feel the warmth of her palms through my shirt. ¡°We should stop.¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± But even as I said it, my thumbs traced small circles against her sides, and I felt her shiver in response. ¡°Someone could walk in,¡± she whispered. ¡°Caroline¡¯s at her book club. Mother¡¯s at her bridge game. The staff doesn¡¯te in here after dinner.¡± The words came out rough like I was convincing myself as much as her. ¡°So we¡¯re alone.¡± ¡°Completely alone.¡± For a heartbeat neither of us moved. Thery Celine¡¯s fingers curled into my shirt, and whatever restraint I¡¯d been clinging to snapped. I lifted her d edder and backed her against the bookshelf in one smooth motion, my body caging her between the mahogany and my chest. 2/5 10.47. Dal, 2 Aug Her eyes widened, but she didn¡¯t protest. If anything, her grip on my shirt tightened. ¡°Tell me to stop,¡± I said roughly, my forehead resting against hers. ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± she whispered. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting this week.¡± The confession undid mepletely. I kissed her. 62% Not the gentle, testing kiss I had nned, but something desperate and hungry that spoke of weeks of suppressed longing. Her lips were soft and warm, and when she kissed me back with equal fervor, I felt something fundamental shift inside my chest. My hands tangled in her hair, destroying what was left of her careful bun, and she made a small sound of pleasure that nearly brought me to my knees. Her fingers worked at the buttons of my shirt with an urgency that matched my own, and when her palms finally made contact with my chest, I groaned against her mouth. ¡°God, Celine,¡± I murmured, trailing kisses along her jaw, down the column of her throat. She tasted like honey and promises ted to devour her. Her head fell back against the books, exposing the graceful line of her neck, and I took shameless advantage, pressing open¨Cmouthed kisses to her pulse point until she was trembling in my arms. ¡°Hunter, please,¡± she gasped, and I wasn¡¯t sure if she was asking me to stop or continue, but the sound of my name on her lips in that breathy tone made desire pool hot and heavy in my stomach. My hands mapped the curves of her body through the thin fabric of her dress¡­.the dip of her waist, the re of her hips, the soft swell of her breasts. When my thumb brushed across her nipple through the cotton, she arched into me with a soft cry that I swallowed with another kiss. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful,¡± I whispered against her lips. ¡°So perfect. Do you have any idea what you do to me?¡± She answered by pulling my head down for another kiss, this one deeper, more demanding. Her tongue danced with mine, and I pressed closer, letting her feel exactly what she was doing to me. The books behind her back shifted slightly under ourbined weight, and somewhere in the logical part of my brain, I registered that we needed to slow down before we brought the entire shelf crashing down around us. But then Celine¡¯s leg wrapped around my hip, pulling me impossibly closer, and rational thought became impossible. My hand slid down to grip her thigh, holding her against me as I rocked forward slightly. The sh drew matching groans from both of us, and her fingers dug into my shoulders hard enough to leave marks. ¡°We should¡­¡± I started, but the words died when she nipped at my lower lip with her teeth. ¡°Should what?¡± she challenged breathlessly. ¡°Move somewhere morefortable,¡± I managed. ¡°My room. Your room. . Anywhere with an actual bed.¡± For a moment, I thought she would agree. Her eyes were dark with desire, her chest rising and falling rapidly, and I could feel the rapid beat of her heart against mine. Then reality seemed to crash back over her like cold water. ¡°Oh god,¡± she whispered, her hands suddenly pushing against my chest. ¡°What are we doing?¡± I stepped back immediately, giving her space, though every instinct I had screamed in protest. ¡°Celine¡­¡± 16:47 Sat, 2 Aug 0 ¡°This is crazy,¡± she said, running shaky hands through her mussed hair. ¡°I work for you. Your mother would have a heart attack. Caroline would¡­¡± ¡°Caroline would throw a party,¡± I said quietly. ¡°She¡¯s been telling me for weeks that I should¡­¡± ¡°Should what?¡± I looked at her¡­ really looked at her. Her lips were swollen from my kisses, her hair wild, and her dress wrinkled. She looked thoroughly lustful and gorgeous, and I wanted nothing more than to pull her back into my arms and finish what we¡¯d started. But I could see the panic building in her eyes, the way she was already pulling back into herself. ¡°Should be honest about how I feel,¡± I said simply. She stared at me for a long moment. ¡°And how do you feel?¡± 62% The question hung between us, loaded with possibility and danger. I could lie, deflect, and make some jokes to ease the tension. It would be the safe choice, the smart choice. Instead, I chose honesty. ¡°Like you make me want to read poetry I don¡¯t understand,¡± I said softly. ¡°Just to hear youugh when I butcher the verses.¡± Content originallyes from fin?novel Her expression softened, and for a moment, I thought I¡¯d said the right thing. Then footsteps echoed in the hallway outside, and we both froze. ¡°Mr. Hunter?¡± called Sally¡¯s voice from somewhere near the front entrance. ¡°There¡¯s a phone call for you. Says it¡¯s urgent.¡± Reality crashed back with all the subtlety of a freight train. Celine quickly began smoothing her hair and dress, while I hastily rebuttoned my shirt and tried to look like I hadn¡¯t just been thoroughly wrecked by the woman I employed. ¡°Coming,¡± I called back, my voice only slightly strained. When I looked at Celine again, she was back to being theposed, professional woman who¡¯d walked into my library an hour ago. Only the remaining flush on her cheeks and the slightly swollen st¨¢te of her lips gave away what had just happened between us. ¡°This doesn¡¯t change anything,¡± she said quietly, but her voicecked conviction. I stepped closer, close enough to touch but careful not to. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it?¡± She looked up at me with those expressive brown eyes, and I could see the war raging behind them¡­desire to fight with practicality, want to battle with fear. ¡°Hunter¡­¡± ¡°Think about it,¡± I said softly. ¡°Think about us.¡± Then I forced myself to walk away, leaving her alone among the books and the ghosts of what we¡¯d almost done. But as I headed toward the phone call that would probably require me to fly to London or Tokyo or somewhere equally far from her, I knew one thing for certain: Everything had changed. And ther ack. 16:47 Sat, 2 Aug ? ¨‹ D Chapter 84 CELINE- Legacy 84 Chapter 84 CELINE- 20 I woke up to silence. Not the peaceful kind of silence that came with a sleeping house, but the wrong kind. The kind that made my mother¡¯s instincts scream in rm. Ceasar¡¯s bed was empty. I bolted upright, my heart hammering against my ribs as I stumbled toward his small bedroom in our staff quarters. The dinosaur sheets were cold, undisturbed. His favorite stuffed elephant sat abandoned on the pillow. ¡°Ceasar?¡± I called out, my voice cracking. ¡°Baby, where are you?¡± Nothing. I threw on my robe and raced through our tiny living space, checking every corner, every hiding spot where a three¨Cyear¨Cold mis bathroom. The kitchen. Behind the couch. Empty. All empty.
  1. The
My hands shook as I grabbed my phone, ready to call the police, when I saw the note propped against the coffee pot, Elegant handwriting on expensive cream stationery. ¡®Miss Brown,¡® ¡®Ceasar is with me for the day. Do not concern yourself with his whereabouts. He is perfectly safe.¡¯ ¡®Mrs. Eleanor Reid¡® The paper fluttered to the floor as my knees gave out. She knew. Somehow, some way, Mrs. Reid knew about Ceasar. About Hunter. About everything. And she had taken my sori. I don¡¯t remember getting dressed or running through the mansion¡¯s corridors. I only remember bursting into the main kitchen where Sally, the head maid, was directing the morning preparations. ¡°Sally!¡± I gasped, still clutching my phone. ¡°Mrs. Reid¡­she took Ceasar¡­I need to know where¡­¡± Sally¡¯s stern face hardened into disapproval. ¡°Lower your voice, girl. This is a respectable household.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± I said desperately. ¡°My son is gone, Mrs. Reid left a note, but I don¡¯t know where she took him or why¡­¡± ¡°Mrs. Reid doesn¡¯t owe you exnations,¡± Sally snapped, her gray hair pulled back so tightly it seemed to stretch her features. ¡°If she wanted the boy¡¯s to handle children. The other staff members had stopped their work to stare. Ana, a sharp¨Cfaced maid who had never liked me, smirked from her position by the pantry. Elise, usually kind ufortable but said nothing. 16:47 Sat, 2 Aug ¡°Get back to work,¡± Sallymanded. ¡°All of you. And Miss Brown, you have the third floor windows to clean. I suggest you focus on your duties instead of imagining problems where none exist.¡± I wanted to scream. It shook her until she understood that this wasn¡¯t normal, that wealthy women didn¡¯t just take their employees¡® children for mysterious day trips. But I was just the maid. And they were right¨CI had no power here. I stumbled through my morning tasks in a haze of panic. The windows went uncleaned as I stared out at the empty driveway, willing Mrs. Reid¡¯s ck Mercedes to appear. I knocked over a vase of flowers while dusting and spent twenty minutes on my hands and knees cleaning up water and broken porcin. When Sally found me scrubbing the same bathroom mirror for the third time, she exploded. ¡°What is wrong with you today?¡± she demanded. ¡°You¡¯re making more work than you¡¯repleting! First the vase, then you used furniture polish on the leather sofa¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about¡­¡± ¡°About nothing!¡± Sally¡¯s voice echoed off the marble walls. ¡°Mrs. Reid is a pir of society. If she wanted to spend time with y grateful, not paranoid.¡± , you should be Ana appeared in the doorway, clearly enjoying the spectacle. ¡°Maybe she¡¯s just not used to people wanting to be around her kid,¡± she said with false sweetness. ¡°Must be a shock.¡± I turned to stare at her, something cold settling in my stomach. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Ana said, but her smile was sharp. ¡°Just that some of us have noticed things. The way you¡¯ve been actingtely. Like you think you¡¯re special.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think¡­.¡± N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on FindN0vel ¡°The way you look at Mr. Hunter,¡± she continued, her voice dropping to a poisonous whisper. ¡°Like you have any right to him.¡± Sally¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What are you talking about, Ana?¡± ¡°Oh,e on,¡± Anaughed. ¡°We¡¯ve all seen it. The morning. The blushing whenever he¡¯s around. Poor girl thinks she can bewitch a man like that with her innocent act.¡± Heat flooded my cheeks, but before I could respond, my phone rang. Caroline. I answered on the first ring, barely managing a hello before the words tumbled out. ¡°Caroline, thank God. Your aunt took Ceasar and I don¡¯t know where or why and no one will tell me anything¡­.¡± ¡°Whoa, slow down,¡± Caroline¡¯s voice was warm but concerned. ¡°Aunt Eleanor took Ceasar? When?¡± ¡°This morning. I woke up and he was gone and there was just this note¡­.¡± ¡°Celine, breathe. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s fine. Aunt Eleanor can be¡­ difficult, but she wouldn¡¯t hurt a child. Maybe she just found him charming, Kids have a way of melting even the coldest hearts.¡± ¡°But why wouldn¡¯t she ask me first? Why tak¨¦ him without permission?¡± There was a pause. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But listen, I¡¯ll call Hunter and¡­¡± 16:48 Sat, 2 Aug ¡°No!¡± The word came out sharper than I intended. ¡°Don¡¯t involve Hunter. Please. He¡¯s in London on business and this will just¡­.¡± ¡°Celine.¡± Caroline¡¯s voice was gentle but firm. ¡°If my aunt took your son without permission, Hunter needs to know. Especially if¡­¡± She trailed off, but I could hear the unspoken words. Especially if she suspected something about Ceasar¡¯s parentage. ¡°Please,¡± I whispered, aware that Sally and Ana were listening to every word. ¡°Just¡­ give me a little more time. Maybe she¡¯ll bring him back soon.¡± 62% ¡°I¡¯ll give you until six,¡± Caroline said. ¡°If he¡¯s not back by then, I¡¯m calling Hunter. I¡¯ll also call Aunt Eleanor and casually ask what she¡¯s up to today. Maybe I can get some information.¡± After I hung up, the kitchen fell silent except for the tick of the grandfather clock in the hallway. ¡°Well,¡± Ana said finally, ¡°that was illuminating.¡± ¡°Get back to work,¡± Sally snapped, but her gaze lingered on me with new suspicion. The rest of the day crawled by with agonizing slowness. Every car that passed on the road outside made my heart skip. Ever toward the sound. But none brought news of Ceasar. ring sent me racing By five o¡¯clock, I was jumping at shadows. By six, I was pacing the kitchen like a caged animal, ignoring Sally¡¯s increasingly i At seven¨Cfifteen, just as I was about to call the police myself, I heard the purr of an expensive engine in the driveway. Iran. Ledmands. I didn¡¯t care that Sally shouted after me, didn¡¯t care that Ana and the others followed to watch the show. I burst through the front doors and down the marble steps just as Baron, Mrs. Reid¡¯s driver, was opening the rear door of the ck Mercedes. Mrs. Reid emerged first, every silver hair in ce despite the long day. She looked cool and collected in her tailored Chanel dress, her emerald ne catching the evening light. And there, sleeping peacefully in her arms, was my son. Relief crashed over me so violently that I nearly copsed. Ceasar looked fine¡­more than fine. He was wearing new clothes, expensive ones, and his face was clean and peaceful in sleep. ¡°Ceasar,¡± I breathed, stepping forward. ¡°Miss Brown.¡± Mrs. Reid¡¯s voice could have frozen fire. ¡°How dramatic of you to meet us outside.¡± Baron was unloading shopping bags from the trunk¡­dozens of them from high¨Cend children¡¯s stores. Toys, clothes, books, things that probably cost more than I made in six months. ¡°Is he¡­is he alright?¡± I asked, my voice smaller than I wanted it to be. ¡°Of course he¡¯s alright.¡± Mrs. Reid¡¯s tone suggested I was an idiot for asking. ¡°He¡¯s been perfectly well¨Cbehaved all day. Such a charming child.¡± The way she said it¡­.charming¡­.sent a chill down my spine. There was something proprietary in her voice, something that made every maternal instinct I had bristle. ¡°I had a lovely day with my¡­¡± she paused meaningfully, ¡°¡­grandson.¡± The word hit me like a physical blow. Behind me, I heard Ana¡¯s sharp intake of breath, and Sally¡¯s muttered oath. She knew. She definitely knew. ¡°I understa Hunter in London,¡± Mrs. Reid continued, her smile sharp as broken ss. 162 Muy ¡°How unnecessarily dramatic. Though I suppose I shouldn¡¯t be surprised¡­.dramatics do seem to run in certain¡­ bloodlines.¡± ¡°I was worried,¡± I managed. ¡°You didn¡¯t ask p permission¡­.¡± 26 ¡°Permission?¡± Mrs. Reid¡¯sugh was like ice cracking. ¡°To spend time with my own blood? How quaint,¡± She stepped closer, still holding my sleeping son, and her voice dropped to a whisper that somehow carried more threat than any shout. ¡°Let me be very clear, Miss Brown. That boy is a Reid. He carries Reid¡¯s blood, Reid¡¯s intelligence, and Reid¡¯s potential. And you¡­¡± Her gaze raked over me dismissively. ¡°You are nothing but an unfortunate obstacle.¡± THE Before I could respond, before I could process the full meaning of her words, her free hand cracked across my cheek with enough force to snap my head to the side. Gasps echoed from the assembled staff behind me. My face burned, but not as much as the humiliation that flooded through me. ¡°That,¡± Mrs. Reid said calmly, ¡°is for involving my son in your hysterics. For calling him away from important business because emotions.¡± Tears st¨´ng my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not in front of her. Not in front of the staff who were watching this like dinner theater. control your ¡°I was right,¡± Mrs. Reid continued, and I could hear the smugness in the other maid¡¯s voice behind me. ¡°You have been trying to bewitch my son. Using your feminine wiles and your child to trap a man far above your station.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t¡­.¡± I started. ¡°Silence.¡± Themand was sharp enough to cut ss. ¡°You will not speak unless I give you permission.¡± Baron approached carefully, his kind eyes apologetic as he gently took Ceasar from Mrs. Reid¡¯s arms and handed him to me. My son stirred slightly but didn¡¯t wake, his small body warm and solid against my chest. ¡°The boy will continue to spend time with me,¡± Mrs. Reid announced to the assembled audience. ¡°Regr visits. I have much to teach him about his heritage, his proper ce in this world.¡± ¡°He¡¯s my son,¡± I whispered, the words barely audible. ¡°He¡¯s a Reid,¡± she corrected coldly. ¡°And it¡¯s time he learned what that means.¡± With that, she swept past me into the mansion, leaving me standing in the driveway with my sleeping child and the burning mark of her hand on my cheek. Ana pushed past the other staff members, her face alight with malicious glee, ¡°Well, well,¡± she said loud enough for everyone to hear, ¡°Looks like our little Cindere isn¡¯t so innocent after all. Bewitching the master and birthing his bastard. How¡­ predictable.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Sally said sharply, but even she looked at me with new eyes. Calcting eyes. I clutched Ceasar tighter and walked toward our quarters, my head held high despite the whispers that followed in my wake. But as I closed our door behind us and finally let the tears fall, I knew something fundamental had shifted. Mrs. Reid had dered war. And I had no idea how fight back. 4/5 16:48 Sat, 2 Aug But as I looked down at my sleeping son¡­.my beautiful, innocent boy who deserved so much better than this¨CI knew I had to try. For him, I would find a way to fight. Even if it destroyed me in the process. AD Legacy 85 Chapter 85 -HUNTER- 62% ¡°You¡¯re brooding again.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice cut through my attention as I stared at the London skyline through the rain¨Cstreaked windows. The merger documentsy forgotten on my desk, numbers blurring together as my mind wandered to a pair of warm brown eyes and a three¨Cyear¨Cold with my stubborn chin. ¡°I don¡¯t brood,¡± I muttered, loosening my tie. ¡°I strategize.¡± ¡°Right. And I¡¯m secretly Batman.¡± Vincent sprawled across my leather couch like he owned the ce, tossing peanuts from my expensive crystal bowl into his mouth. ¡°You¡¯ve been ¡®strategizing¡® for three days straight. Pretty sure that¡¯s just fancy rich boy speak for brooding.¡± I turned to re at him. ¡°Don¡¯t you have your own hotel room to terrorize?¡± ¡°Nah, yours has better snacks.¡± He caught another peanut with amazing uracy. ¡°Plus, someone needs to keep you from turning into aplete hermit. When¡¯s thest time you called home?¡± The question hit too close to home. I had been avoiding calls to the estate, knowing that hearing Celine¡¯s voice would make me want to catch the next flight back. And I couldn¡¯t. Not yet. Not until I figured out how to handle the bomb my mother had dropped in myp. My phone buzzed. Caroline¡¯s name shed on the screen. ¡°Your cousin¡¯s persistent,¡± Vincent observed as I declined the call for the fourth time today. ¡°What¡¯s she done now? Bought another endangered animal? Set your kitchen on fire trying to cook?¡± Before I could answer, the phone rang again. This time I picked up, if only to stop Vincent¡¯smentary. ¡°Caroline, I¡¯m in the middle of¡­.¡± Get full chapters from find?novel ¡°Hunter, thank God!¡± Her voice was breathless, panicked. ¡°You need toe home. Now.¡± Ice formed in my veins. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Aunt Eleanor. She¡­ Hunter, she took Caesar.¡± The world tilted sideways. ¡°What do you mean she took him?¡± Vincent shot upright, peanuts scattering across the floor. ¡°This morning. Celine woke up and he was gone. Just gone, Hunter. There was only a note saying he was with Aunt Eleanor for the day, but you know how she gets about family bloodlines and¡­¡± ¡°Caroline.¡± My voice was deadly calm. ¡°Where is Celine now?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a mess. Completely falling apart. She called me crying, asking if I knew where they went, and Hunter, I think she suspects that Aunt Eleanor knows about¡­.¡± ¡°About Caesar being mine. The words tasted like ash. ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Silence stretched a ine. Then: ¡°You know? How long have you known?¡± 16:48 Sat, 2 Aug ¡°Does it matter?¡± I was already moving, grabbing my jacket from the chair. ¡°Where did my mother take him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know! She¡¯s not answering her phone, and Baron¡¯s not talking, Hunter, what if she¡¯s nning something? What if she tries to¡­¡± ¡°She won¡¯t hurt him.¡± But event as I said it, my chest tightened with a fear I had never experienced. Not fear for Caesar¡¯s physical safety¡­.Mother might be calcting, but she wasn¡¯t cruel to children. No, this was something worse. ¡°She¡¯s making a point.¡± ¡°What kind of point?¡± The kind that could destroy everything I had started to hope for. The kind that could take Caesar away from Celine permanently. ¡°I¡¯ming home,¡± I said. ¡°Don¡¯t let Celine do anything rash.¡± ¡°Hunter, wait¡­.¡± I hung up and turned to find Vincent watching me with knowing eyes. ¡°So,¡± he said casually, ¡°your secret love child has been kidnapped by your scary mother. Just another Tuesday in the Reid old.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t funny, Vincent.¡± ¡°Oh, I know.¡± He stood, suddenly serious. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re leaving. Now. Because that look on your face? That¡¯s not the look of a man worried about some random employee¡¯s kid. That¡¯s the look of a father who¡¯s about to lose his son.¡± My hands shook as I shoved papers into my briefcase. ¡°She can¡¯t take him from her.¡± ¡°Your mother?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The word came out sharper than intended. ¡°Celine doesn¡¯t even know that I know he¡¯s mine. If Mother reveals that, if she uses it as leverage¡­¡± ¡°Hunter.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was gentle. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to tell her eventually.¡± ¡°Tell her what? That I¡¯ve known for weeks that Caesar is my son but said nothing? That I¡¯ve been watching her struggle and worry about keeping us safe when I could have protected them both?¡± I mmed the briefcase shut. ¡°She¡¯ll think I was ying games with her.¡± ¡°Were you?¡± The question stopped me cold. ¡°No. God, no. I was trying to protect them.¡± ¡°From what?¡± ¡°From this!¡± I gestured wildly at the phone. ¡°From Mother¡¯s schemes and family politics and all the toxic shit thates with being a Reid!¡± Vincent was quiet for a long moment. Then: ¡°You know what I think?¡± ¡°Do I have a choice?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re scared.¡± He held up a hand when I opened my mouth to protest. ¡°Not of your mother. Not of the family drama. You¡¯re scared that if you tell Celine the truth, she¡¯ll realize she doesn¡¯t need you anymore.¡± The words hit like a physical blow. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± ¡°Is it? Think about it, Hunter. Right now, she depends on you for a job, for housing, for security. But if she knows Caesar is your heir, if she knows he¡¯s entitled to everything the Reid name can provide¡­ what does she need you for?¡± 2/3 16:48 Sat, 2 Aug ¡°She doesn¡¯t¡­.¡± I stopped, the protest dying in my throat. Because he was right. 62% And the thought of Celine looking at me with analysis instead of warmth, of her seeing me as just a means to secure Caesar¡¯s future instead of.. whatever this thing between us was bing¡­ it terrified me more than any business deal gone wrong. ¡°She would never do that,¡± I said quietly. ¡°know she wouldn¡¯t.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was kind. ¡°The question is: do you?¡± My phone buzzed with a text from Caroline: ¡®Celine¡¯s inconsble. Please hurry.¡± ¡°We need to go,¡± I said, heading for the door. ¡°Hunter.¡± Vincent caught my arm. ¡°When you see her, when you see how scared she is¡­ remember that she¡¯s not the enemy here. Your mother is the one ying games. Celine¡¯s just trying to protect her son.¡± ¡°Our son,¡± I corrected without thinking. Vincent smiled. ¡°Yeah. Your son. Who probably inherited your stubborn streak and your mother¡¯s tactical mind. God help us Despite everything, I almost smiled back. Almost. But then I thought of Caesar¡¯s trusting blue eyes and Celine¡¯s fierce protectiveness, and the fear came rushing back. Mother had made her move. Now I had to figure out how to counter it without losing everything that mattered. The flight home couldn¡¯te fast enough. Legacy 86 Chapter 86 HUNTER The private jet¡¯s engines hummed beneath me, but the sound did nothing to calm the storm raging in my chest. Vincent had mercifully fallen asleep in the seat across from me, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the phone I had been staring at for the past hour. I couldn¡¯t put it off any longer. Mother answered on the second ring, her voice crisp andposed as always. ¡°Hunter. I was wondering when you¡¯d call.¡± ¡°Where is he?¡± I didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries. ¡°Caesar is perfectly safe. We¡¯ve had a lovely day together¡­shopping, lunch at the country club, a visit to the children¡¯s museum. He¡¯s quite bright for his age.¡± The casual way she said his name, like she had any right to it, made my jaw clench. ¡°That¡¯s not what I asked.¡± ¡°No, I suppose it wasn¡¯t.¡± I could hear the smile in her voice, cold and calcting. ¡°We¡¯re having tea at the Ritz. He¡¯s napping in the car with Baron while I finish my meeting with Margaret Ashworth. You remember Margaret her grandson is about Caesar¡¯s age. Such a well¨Cbred child.¡± The meaning was clear. She was already positioning Caesar in her social circle,ying groundwork for something I couldn¡¯t yet see but instinctively feared. ¡°Take him home, Mother.¡± ¡°Home?¡± Herugh was like crystal breaking. ¡°How interesting that you call it that. Last I checked, the boy and his mother lived in the servants¡® quarters. Hardly what one would call a proper home for a Reid heir.¡± The words hit like a punch to the gut. ¡°He¡¯s not¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Her voice turned sharp as a de. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare lie to me, Hunter. We both know exactly who that child is. Those eyes don¡¯t lie, and neither does his resemnce to you at that age.¡± My throat tightened. Of course she knew. She¡¯d probably known the moment she saw him, showing me the Dna result, waiting for the perfect/moment to start acting out. ¡°The real question,¡± she continued, ¡°is why you¡¯ve been hiding it. Why you¡¯ve allowed that girl to live in uncertainty when you could have imed your son weeks ago.¡± ¡°Maybe because I knew you¡¯d do exactly this,¡± I said through gritted teeth. ¡°Use an innocent child as a pawn Chapter 86- in whatever game you¡¯re ying.¡± ¡°Game?¡± Her voice rose slightly, the first crack in herposed facade. ¡°This is not a game, Hunter. This is about family. About legacy. About ensuring that boy receives the education and opportunities he deserves instead of being raised in poverty by a girl who serves tea for a living.¡± ¡°Celine is a good mother.¡± ¡°Celine is a temporary caretaker,¡± The words were delivered with surgical precision. ¡°She¡¯s done her job¡­ carried our bloodline, kept the child healthy and safe. But her usefulness has an expiration date.¡± White¨Chot rage zed through me. ¡°She¡¯s his mother.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a vessel who served her purpose.¡± Mother¡¯s voice was ice¨Ccold now, all pretense of warmth gone. ¡°Really, Hunter, you¡¯re being unnecessarily sentimental. The girl will bepensated generously for her¡­ contribution to the family line. She can start fresh somewhere else, pursue those artistic dreams of hers. Everyone wins.¡± ¡°Everyone except Caesar, who gets ripped away from the only parent he¡¯s ever known.¡± ¡°The only parent he¡¯s known so far.¡± Her tone suggested this was a minor inconvenience. ¡°Children adapt quickly. Caesar will have the finest nannies, the best schools, every advantage money can provide. He¡¯ll thank us when he¡¯s older.¡± I closed my eyes, seeing Caesar¡¯s face when he looked at Celine¡­.pure, uplicated love. The way he reached for her when he was scared, how he saved his brightest smiles for her, the way he had curl up in herp during thunderstorms. ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± I said quietly. ¡°He loves her.¡± ¡°Love?¡± Mother¡¯sugh was bitter. ¡°Hunter, you¡¯re twenty¨Csix years old. Surely you¡¯ve learned by now that love is a luxury the wealthy can¡¯t afford. Your father loved me once, or thought he did. Look how well that served our marriage.¡± The casual cruelty in her voice, the way she dismissed something so real, so pure, made my stomach turn. ¡°This isn¡¯t about you and Father.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Her voice sharpened. ¡°You think I don¡¯t see what¡¯s happening? The way you look at that girl, the way you¡¯ve been avoiding London responsibilities to y house with the help? You¡¯re making the same mistakes¡­.confusing desire with love, thinking you can bridge the gap between your world and theirs.¡± ¡°Maybe some gaps are worth bridging.¡± The silence that followed was deafening. When Mother spoke again, her voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried more venom than any shout. Charter 26 ¡°Your father thought the same thing once. His weakness for pretty faces and sob stories nearly destroyed everything we built. Do you know how many times I¡¯ve had to clean up messes caused by emotional decisions? How many scandals I¡¯ve buried to protect this family¡¯s reputation?¡± The revtion hit me like a physical blow, but I pushed through it. ¡°Caesar isn¡¯t a scandal. He¡¯s my son.¡± ¡°No.¡± Mother agreed. ¡°He¡¯s an opportunity. A chance to secure the Reid bloodline properly. But only if we handle it right. Only if we remove theplicating factors.¡± ¡°Celine isn¡¯t aplicating factor. She¡¯s his mother.¡± ¡°She¡¯s an obstacle.¡± Mother¡¯s voice turned businesslike again. ¡°One that can be removed with the right incentives. A generous settlement, perhaps a schrship to that art school she¡¯s always dreamed of, relocation assistance to Paris or Rome¡­somewhere far enough away that the boy won¡¯t be confused by divided loyalties.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking about buying her off.¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about giving everyone what they want. The girl gets her freedom and her dreams. Caesar gets the life he deserves. And you get your heir without the messyplications of an inappropriate attachment.¡± ¡°And what if I don¡¯t want that?¡± The words came out before I could stop them. Another silence. Then: ¡°Then you¡¯re more naive than I gave you credit for.¡± The disappointment in her voice cut deeper than any anger could have. This was the voice that had praised my achievements, celebrated my sesses, made me believe I could be worthy of the Reid name. ¡°Take him home, Mother,¡± I said again, but my voice sounded hollow even to my own ears. ¡°I will. Tomorrow. After you¡¯ve had time to think about what I¡¯ve said. About what¡¯s best for everyone involved.¡± ¡°Today. Now. Celine is breaking apart.¡± ¡°Celine will survive. Women like her always do¡­.they¡¯re remarkably resilient when properly motivated.¡± Mother¡¯s voice softened slightly, taking on an almost gentle tone. ¡°Hunter, I know this is difficult. But/sometimes love means making hard choices. Sometimes it means protecting the people we care about from ourselves.¡± The line went dead. Checktest chapters at Find?Novel I stared at the phone in my hands, my mother¡¯s ultimatums swirling in my head like poison. Across from me, Vincent stirred in his sleep, mumbling something about coffee and croissants. 342% 14:57 Sun, 3 Aug My hands shook as I set the phone aside. Mother was wrong. She had to be wrong. But the seed of doubt she had nted was already taking root, whispering questions I didn¡¯t want to answer: What if loving Celine and Caesar meant destroying them both? What if the best thing I could do was to step away before I caused more damage? The jet engines hummed on, carrying me home to a choice I wasn¡¯t sure I was strong enough to make. Legacy 87 Chapter 87 -CELINE- The phone rang at seven in the morning. I had barely slept, checking on Caesar every hour to make sure he was still there, still safe. The relief of having him back hadn¡¯t faded the fear that lived in my chest now. ¡°Miss Brown?¡± Mrs. Reid¡¯s voice was crisp through the phone. ¡°I would like Caesar to join me for breakfast this morning.¡± My stomach dropped. ¡°Mrs. Reid, I¡­¡± ¡°Eight o¡¯clock. In the main dining room. You¡¯ll serve us, of course.¡± The line went dead. I stared at the phone, my hands shaking. She wanted me to serve them. To wait on her while she had breakfast with my son like I was nothing more than hired help. Which, I supposed, was exactly what I was to her. Caesar was still asleep when I woke him, his dark hair messy against the pillow. He smiled when he saw me, that bright, innocent smile that made my heart ache. ¡°Morning, Mama,¡± he mumbled, reaching up for a hug. ¡°Morning, baby.¡± I held him tight, breathing in his scent. ¡°Remember the nicedy from yesterday? She wants to have breakfast with you.¡± His face lit up. ¡°Thedy with the pretty ne? She gave me toys!¡± ¡°Yes, thatdy.¡± I dressed him in his best clothes¡­the ones that were still shabbypared to what Mrs. Reid had bought him yesterday. Then I put on my uniform and tried to pretend my hands weren¡¯t shaking. The main dining room felt huge and cold. Mrs. Reid sat at the head of the long table, looking perfect in a cream blouse and pearls. Caesar ran to her like they were old friends. ¡°Good morning, dear boy,¡± she said, her voice warm in a way I¡¯d never heard before. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± ¡°Yes! Mama makes good pancakes. Do you have pancakes?¡± 14:57 Sun, 3 Aug ¡°We have whatever you¡¯d like.¡± She looked at me with those cold eyes. ¡°Miss Brown, please bring Caesar some pancakes. And orange juice. Fresh squeezed.¡± I nodded and hurried to the kitchen. Sally was there, watching me with an expression I couldn¡¯t read. Something softer than usual. Almost¡­ concerned? ¡°Everything alright, dear?¡± she asked quietly. I blinked at her in surprise. Sally had never called me dear before. ¡°Fine,¡± I lied, focusing on the pancakes. When I returned to the dining room with the food, Caesar was chattering away about his stuffed elephant. Mrs. Reid listened like every word was fascinating. ¡°Mama likes pancakes too,¡± Caesar said as I set his te down. ¡°But she doesn¡¯t like strawberries. They make her face funny.¡± Mrs. Reid¡¯s eyes flicked to me. ¡°How interesting. And where is your mama¡¯s breakfast?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± I said quickly. ¡°Nonsense Caesar, wouldn¡¯t you like your mama to eat with us?¡± Caesar nodded eagerly. ¡°Mama, sit! You like pancakes!¡± But Mrs. Reid gestured to the corner. ¡°Miss Brown will stand there. She¡¯s working.¡± The words hit like a p. Caesar looked confused, his small face scrunching up. ¡°Why can¡¯t Mama sit?¡± ¡°Because that¡¯s her job, dear. To take care of us.¡± I stood in the corner like a piece of furniture, watching my son eat breakfast with a woman who was slowly, deliberately cutting me out of the picture. Every time Caesar looked my way, Mrs. Reid redirected his attention. ¡°Tell me about your favorite games, Caesar.¡± ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find?novel ¡°Do you like books? We should read togetherter.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a smart boy. Just like your¡­.¡± She caught herself. ¡°Just like I thought you¡¯d be.¡± Tears started burning my eyes. I turned away quickly, pretending to arrange flowers that didn¡¯t need arranging. ¡°Mama?¡± Caesar¡¯s voice was small. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating? You always eat with me.¡± ?????? ??????? 1 turned back, forcing a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine, baby. You eat your pancakes.¡± But the tears wereing anyway. I pressed my lips together, trying to stop them, but one rolled down my cheek. Mrs. Reid noticed everything. Her smile was sharp. By the time breakfast ended, word had spread through the house like wildfire. I could feel the stares, and hear the whispers that stopped when I walked by. ¡°Hunter¡¯s secret son¡­¡± ¡°Been right under our noses¡­¡± ¡°Wonder if he even knows¡­¡± ¡°Bet she nned this whole thing¡­¡± ¡°Smart girl, getting a job here with his baby¡­¡± The usations hurt worse than the stares. Only Marcus, the head chef, still smiled at me when I passed through the kitchen. Sally tried to be kind in her awkward way, but even she looked at me differently now. It was Ana who said what everyone was thinking. ¡°Must be nice,¡± she said loud enough for half the staff to hear. ¡°Having a backup n. Get a job as a maid, then surprise! Here¡¯s your son¡¯s baby. Instant money.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± I whispered. ¡°Sure it¡¯s not.¡± Ana¡¯s smile was poison. ¡°Pure coincidence, right?¡± I wanted to scream that I had taken this job. Because I was desperate. I needed work because I never expected to see Hunter again. But who would believe me now? At ten o¡¯clock, Mrs. Reid¡¯s voice echoed through the mansion. ¡°All staff to the main parlor. Immediately.¡± We gathered in the fancy room with its silk wallpaper and crystal chandelier. Mrs. Reid stood at the front like a queen addressing her subjects. Caesar sat on the floor next to her, ying with one of his new toys¡­.. an expensive¨Clooking wooden train. I stayed at the back, watching my son instead of listening to whatever speech she was about to give. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve all heard rumors by now,¡± Mrs. Reid began. ¡°Gossip has a way of spreading in households like this.¡± Murmurs rippled through the group. I saw heads turn toward me, then quickly look away. ¡°I want to make something very clear,¡± she continued, her voice cutting through the whispers. ¡°Any discussion of Caesar¡¯s parentage stops now. Completely. I will not tolerate gossip about this child or his mother.¡± The room went dead silent. Even Caesar looked up from his train. ¡°But Mrs. Reid,¡± Ana started, ¡°we were just¡­¡± ¡°You were just spreading rumors that could damage this family¡¯s reputation.¡± Mrs. Reid¡¯s voice could have frozen fire. ¡°That stops now. Anyone caught discussing this matter will be terminated immediately. Without reference.¡± My heart pounded. I looked around the room, seeing the same confusion on everyone¡¯s faces that I felt. Why would she want to keep it quiet? If she knew Caesar was Hunter¡¯s son, why silence the staff instead of¡­ I don¡¯t know, announcing it? Using it somehow? Unless she didn¡¯t want Hunter to find out. The thought hit me like lightning. What if she nned to handle this herself? What if she wanted to control the situation, control Caesar, without Hunter knowing the truth? ¡°Do I make myself clear?¡± Mrs. Reid asked. A chorus of ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am¡± filled the room. ¡°Good. Anyone who vites this order will answer to me personally.¡± One by one, the staff filed out. I started to follow, but Mrs. Reid¡¯s voice stopped me. ¡°Not you, Miss Brown.¡± I froze as the room emptied, leaving just me, Mrs. Reid, and Caesar with his train. ¡°You look confused, dear,¡± Mrs. Reid said, her voice sickeningly sweet. ¡°Wondering why I would want to keep such interesting news quiet?¡± I nodded, not trusting my voice. ¡°Because, my dear girl, some stories are best told at the right time. By the right people.¡± Her smile was all teeth. ¡°And you are not the right people.¡± Caesar looked up from his train. ¡°Mama, are you okay? You look sad.¡± Mrs. Reid knelt beside him. ¡°Your mama is fine, darling. She¡¯s just thinking about grown¨Cup things. Why 14:57 Sun, 3 Aug don¡¯t you show me how your trains works?¡± As Caesar chattered about his toy, Mrs. Reid looked at me over his head. Her message was clear: she was in control now. Of the narrative. Of my son. Of everything. And there was nothing I could do to stop her. Legacy 88 Chapter 88 -HUNTER- The mansion felt different when I walked through the front doors. Colder somehow, despite the warm afternoon sun streaming through the windows. The staff moved around me like ghosts, their eyes sliding away whenever I tried to make contact. Something was wrong. ¡°Wee home, Mr. Hunter,¡± Sally said, but her usual stern confidence was reced by something that looked almost like guilt. ¡°Thank you.¡± I set down my briefcase, studying her face. ¡°Where¡¯s Celine?¡± Sally¡¯s hands twisted in her apron. ¡°Theundry room, sir. She¡¯s been¡­ keeping busy.¡± The way she said it made my chest tighten. I headed toward the back of the house, passing staff members who suddenly found urgent tasks that required their immediate attention elsewhere. Theundry room was filled with the sound of running water and the mechanical hum of washing machines. 721 Celine stood with her back to me, folding sheets with sharp, angry movements. Her shoulders were stiff, her chestnut hair escaping from its usual neat bun. She knew I was there. I could tell by the way her movements became even more precise and more controlled. ¡°Celine.¡± She didn¡¯t turn around. Just kept folding the same sheet over and over, her knuckles white where she gripped the fabric. The source of th?s content is Find?Novel ¡°How was your trip?¡± Her voice was t, empty of the warmth I had grown used to. ¡°Fine.¡± I stepped closer, close enough to smell her soap and something else¡­.the salt of dried tears. ¡°Where¡¯s Caesar?¡± ¡°Your mother took him for a drive.¡± She finally turned, and the sight of her hit me like a physical blow. Her eyes were swollen and red¨Crimmed, her face pale except for the dark circles under her eyes. ¡°ording to her, anyway.¡± The bitterness in her voice made my stomach clench. Mother had done more than just take Caesar for a day. She had done something to break the spirit I had fallen in love with. ¡°She likes children,¡± 1 said, hating how weak the excuse sounded even to my ears. Celine¡¯sugh was sharp and bitter. ¡°Does she?¡± The question hung between us, loaded with everything we weren¡¯t saying I wanted to tell her the truth¡­.that I knew Caesar was mine, that Mother knew too, that I had spent the entire flight home trying to figure out how to protect them both. But the words stuck in my throat. Because telling her the truth meant admitting I had known and done nothing. It meant facing the usation I saw lurking in her eyes. ¡°Celine¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± She turned back to theundry, her voice breaking. ¡°Just don¡¯t.¡± But I could see her shoulders shaking, could hear the quiet sobs she was trying to hide. Before I could think, before I could stop myself, I crossed the space between us and pulled her into my arms. She fought me immediately, her small fists pounding against my chest. ¡°Let me go! You don¡¯t get to¡­not after¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not letting go,¡± I said against her hair, holding her tighter as she struggled. ¡°I am never letting go.¡± ¡°You already did!¡± The words tore out of her like they had been ripped from somewhere deep inside. ¡°You left me here alone with her, and she¡­¡± Her voice brokepletely. ¡°What did she do?¡± The question came out harsh, and violent. ¡°Tell me what she did.¡± But instead of answering, she looked up at me with those devastated eyes, and something snapped inside me. All the restraint I had been holding onto for weeks, all the careful distance I had tried to maintain¡­.it crumbled. I kissed her. She made a sound of protest against my mouth, her hands pushing at my shoulders even as her lips parted under mine. I could taste salt¡­.her tears, mine, I didn¡¯t know¡­but I couldn¡¯t stop. Wouldn¡¯t stop.- ¡°No,¡± she whispered against my lips, but her arms were winding around my neck, pulling me closer. ¡°We can¡¯t¡­I can¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think,¡± I breathed, backing her against the wall. ¡°Don¡¯t think about anything but this.¡± Her response was desperate, hungry, like she had been starving and I was her first meal in days. She kissed me like she was drowning and I was air, like she was falling and I was the only thing that could catch her. 14:58 Sun, 8 Aug * 42% I pressed her harder against the wall, my hands tangling in her hair, finally letting it fall free around her shoulders. She was so small against me, so fragile, but the way she kissed me back was fierce¡­all teeth and tongue and barely contained need. ¡°I missed you,¡± she gasped against my mouth, the words torn from her like a confession. ¡°God help me, I missed you so much.¡± ¡°I know,¡± I whispered, trailing kisses down her throat, tasting the salt of her tears on her skin. ¡°I know, baby. I¡¯m here now.¡± Her hands fisted in my shirt, pulling me closer, and I could feel her heartbeat hammering against my chest. She tilted her head back, giving me better ess to the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder, and the soft sound she made when I kissed her there nearly brought me to my knees. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t,¡± she whispered, but her body was saying somethingpletely different, arching into me like she couldn¡¯t get close enough. ¡°Tell me to stop.¡± I caught her bottom lip between my teeth, gentle but insistent. ¡°Tell me to walk away and I will.¡± She stared at me for a long moment, her chest rising and falling rapidly, her lips swollen from my kisses. Then she pulled my head down to hers and kissed me with a desperation that matched my own. This time when I kissed her back, it was with everything I had¡­all the longing I had been hiding, all the love I had been too afraid to name, all the promises I couldn¡¯t make but wanted to. I kissed her like I could keep her safe through sheer force of will like I could build a wall around us that nothing could prate. She responded with equal intensity, her small hands clutching at me like I might disappear if she let go. When we finally broke apart, both of us breathing hard, she pressed her forehead against mine. ¡°She¡¯s different with him,¡± she whispered against my chest. ¡°Your mother. She looks at Caesar like¡­ like she¡¯s nning something.¡± I stiffened but kept my voice carefully neutral. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. But the way she watches him, the things she says¡­¡± Her voice trailed off, and I could feel her pulling back, remembering where we were, what we were doing. ¡°Celine¡­¡± ¡°This can¡¯t happen again.¡± She pushed against my chest, but gently this time, like she didn¡¯t really want me 14:59 Sun, 9 Aug V Chapter SS to let go. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ I have to protect Caesar. He¡¯s all I have.¡± 442%Á¿ The pain in her voice nearly broke me. She thought she was alone in this, though she had to face my mother¡¯s maniptions by herself. ¡°You¡¯re not alone,¡± I said quietly. She looked up at me with those wounded eyes, and I could see she wanted to believe me. But trust was a luxury she couldn¡¯t afford anymore. ¡°I have to get back to work,¡± she whispered. ¡°Your mother will be back with Caesar soon, and if she finds us like this¡­¡± She didn¡¯t finish the sentence, but we both knew what she meant. Mother would use it as another weapon, another way to prove Celine was unfit. I stepped back reluctantly, watching as she smoothed her hair and tried topose herself. But her hands were still shaking, and there were tears she couldn¡¯t quite hide. ¡°This isn¡¯t over,¡± I said. She met my eyes for just a moment, and I saw everything she couldn¡¯t say, the love, the fear, the desperate hope she was trying to kill before it killed her. ¡°It has to be,¡± she whispered. ¡°For Caesar¡¯s sake, it has to be.¡± Legacy 89 Chapter 89 -HUNTER- The sound of my mother¡¯sughter drifted through the mansion like music I had never heard before. I followed it to the main parlor, stopping in the doorway when I saw something that made my chest tighten. Mother was on the floor. On the actual floor, her expensive dress spread around her like flower petals, ying with wooden blocks with Caesar. She was smiling¡­really smiling¡­in a way I hadn¡¯t seen since I was very small. ¡°And this one goes here,¡± she was saying, helping Caesar stack another block. ¡°Very good, darling. You¡¯re so clever.¡± Caesar beamed up at her. ¡°Granny Eleanor, can we build a castle?¡± Granny Eleanor. The name hit me like a punch to the gut. She had never let me call her anything but Mother. Even as a child, even when I had begged for something warmer, more affectionate. ¡°Reid men don¡¯t use pet names,¡± she¡¯d always said. ¡°It shows weakness.¡± But here she was, letting Caesar¡­.encouraging Caesar¡­to call her the very thing she had forbidden me. ¡°Of course, we can build a castle,¡± she said, her voice soft and warm. ¡°Castles are where princes live, after all.¡± I must have made some sound because she looked up, her expression shifting the moment she saw me. The warmth didn¡¯t disappearpletely, but it cooled and became more controlled. ¡°Hunter. You¡¯re back.¡± ¡°So I see.¡± I stepped into the room, my eyes moving between her and Caesar. ¡°Having fun?¡± ¡°Mr. Hunter!¡± Caesar scrambled to his feet and ran toward me. The word ¡®Mr¡® felt like another blow, but I knelt to catch him anyway. ¡°Hey, buddy. What are you building?¡± ¡°A castle for Granny Eleanor. She said princes live in castles.¡± His blue eyes¡­so much like mine¡­sparkled with excitement. ¡°Do you live in a castle too?¡± Before I could answer, I caught sight of movement in the doorway. Celine stood there, partially hidden behind the frame, watching us with an expression that made my stomach clench. Worry. Sun, 3 Aug Aug Fear. And something else¡­longing, maybe, as she watched Caesar chatter happily about his day. Mother followed my gaze, and I saw her mouth tighten slightly when she spotted Celine. ¡°I think it¡¯s time for Caesar to go back to his mother now,¡± I said, standing up. Mother¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°So soon? We were having such a lovely time.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t just take members of the household staff without warning,¡± I said, keeping my voice level. ¡°It worries people unnecessarily.¡± 42% The look she gave me could have frozen fire. ¡°I hardly think spending time with family counts as ¡®taking¡® anyone.¡± The word ¡®family¡® hung in the air like a challenge. Caesar looked between us, sensing tension he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°I should go back to Mama,¡± he said quietly. Mother¡¯s expression softened immediately. ¡°Of course, darling. We¡¯ll y again tomorrow.¡± Caesar hugged her briefly, then ran to me. ¡°Bye, Mr. Hunter. Are youing to see me and Mamater?¡± The innocent question made my throat tight. ¡°Maybe, buddy.¡± He grinned and ran toward the doorway where Celine waited. I watched her kneel to catch him, her face transforming the moment he was in her arms. All the worry and fear melted away, reced by pure, uplicated love. She hugged him tight, pressing kisses to the top of his head, her hands running over his arms and back like she was checking for injuries. ¡°Did you have a good time, baby?¡± she asked softly. ¡°The best time! Granny Eleanor showed me how to build castles and we had cookies and¡­¡± ¡°Granny Eleanor?¡± Celine¡¯s voice was carefully neutral, but I caught the flicker of something in her eyes. Mother, who had been watching this reunion with calcting eyes, spoke up. ¡°Is there a problem with that, Miss Brown?¡± Celine straightened slowly, Caesar still in her arms. ¡°No, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Good. Because I do hope we¡¯ll be seeing much more of each other. Caesar is such a¡­ special child.¡± The way she said ¡®special¡® made my jaw clench. There was too much meaning packed into that single word, 1200 sump & Aug ÊØ:42%Ãæ ¡°Do you think I would hurt him?¡± Mother continued, her voice deceptively sweet. ¡°The way you were examining him just now, one might think you suspected abuse.¡± Celine said nothing, but her arms tightened around Caesar. ¡°I see.¡± Mother¡¯s voice turned sharp. ¡°How interesting that you would think so poorly of me. Tell me, Miss Brown, what exactly do you think I¡¯m capable of?¡± ¡°Mother¡­¡± I started. ¡°No, Hunter. I¡¯m curious. This girl seems to have some very strong opinions about my character.¡± Her smile was razor¨Csharp. ¡°Please, Miss Brown. Share with us what terrible things you imagine I might do to a child.¡± Celine¡¯s face had gone pale, but she still said nothing. ¡°Cat got your tongue?¡± Mother¡¯sugh was cruel. ¡°How disappointing. And here I thought you had such strong maternal instincts. Surely a good mother would speak.up if she truly believed her child was in danger?¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± My voice came out harder than I intended, echoing off the high ceilings. Mother turned to me with raised eyebrows. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°I said that¡¯s enough.¡± I kept my voice level, but the warning was clear. ¡°Celine, take Caesar back to your quarters.¡± Celine hesitated, her eyes darting between Mother and me. I could see the conflict in her face¡­.she wanted to leave, but she was afraid of what might happen if she did. ¡°Go,¡± I said more gently. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± She nodded and started to turn away, but Caesar twisted in her arms to look back at us. ¡°Are you and Granny Eleanor fighting?¡± he asked, his small voice worried. ¡°No, sweetheart,¡± Celine said quickly. ¡°We¡¯re not fighting. Mr. Hunter and¡­ and Granny Eleanor just need to talk about grown¨Cup things.¡± Caesar seemed to ept this, but I caught the way Celine stumbled over the word ¡®Granny.¡¯ Like it tasted bitter in her mouth. ~CELINE¡¯S POV~ I carried Caesar back to our quarters as quickly as I could without running. My heart was still pounding from Mrs. Reid¡¯s words, from the way she had looked at me like I was something distasteful she had found on her shoe. 220 ¡°Mama?¡± Caesar¡¯s voice was small as I set him down on our couch. ¡°Are you mad at me?¡± The question broke my heart. ¡°No, baby. Never. Why would you think that?¡± ¡°You look sad. And you were quiet when Granny Eleanor was talking to you.¡± Granny Eleanor. The name made my stomach clench. When had she asked him to call her that? And why? ¡°I¡¯m not mad at you,¡± I said, kneeling to his level. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Did you have fun today?¡± His face lit up. ¡°Yes! Granny Eleanor taught me about castles and knights and princes. She said princes are very important people who take care of everybody.¡± ¡°Did she?¡± I tried to keep my voice neutral. ¡°Uh¨Chuh. And she said maybe someday I could be important too. Like Mr. Hunter.¡± My blood turned to ice. ¡°What else did she say?¡°. Caesar scrunched up his face, thinking. ¡°She asked me lots of questions. About you and me and where we lived before. She was really nice, Mama. Not scary like Sally.¡± ¡°Sally¡¯s not scary, honey. She¡¯s just¡­ serious about her work.¡± ¡°She¡¯s always angry though. Like this¡­¡± Caesar puffed out his cheeks and made a bloated frown that was so much like Sally¡¯s stern expression that I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Caesar!¡± I tried to sound stern, but I was still giggling. ¡°That¡¯s not nice.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s true! She looks like an angry bird! Tweet tweet Grump grump!¡± He pped his arms like wings while making grumpy faces, and Iughed so hard I nearly fell over. It felt good tough, to forget for just a moment about Mrs. Reid¡¯s calcting eyes and cruel words. ¡°You¡¯re terrible,¡± I said, pulling him into a hug. ¡°But you¡¯re right. She does look like an angry bird sometimes.¡± Updates are released by Find1Novel Caesar giggled against my shoulder. ¡°Mama, when Granny Eleanor takes me out again, can youe too?¡± The question made my smile fade. ¡°I don¡¯t think so, baby. I have work to do. Sally would be upset if I left.¡± ¡°But I want you toe! We could all build castles together!¡± ¡°I know, sweetheart. But grown¨Cups have different rules sometimes.¡± Caesar was quiet for a moment, then looked up at me with those serious dark eyes that sometimes seemed too old for his face. ¡°Mama, why does Granny Eleanor want me to call her that? I called her Mrs. Reid before.¡± My heart stopped. ¡°She¡­ she asked you to call her Granny Eleanor?¡± ¡°Yesterday. She said it would make her happy. And that we¡¯re¡­¡± He paused, thinking. ¡°What¡¯s the word? Fam¨Csomething?¡± ¡°Family?¡± ¡°Yeah! Family. She said we¡¯re family now and family calls each other special names.¡± The room seemed to spin around me. Mrs. Reid was already working on him, already nting ideas in his three¨Cyear¨Cold head. Making him think they were family while positioning me as just the hired help who couldn¡¯t even join their outings. ¡°Mama? You look funny again.¡± I forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine, baby. Just thinking about dinner. Are you hungry?¡± Caesar nodded eagerly, and I was grateful for the distraction. But as I moved around our tiny kitchen, preparing his simple meal, Mrs. Reid¡¯s words echoed in my head. ¡°Such a special child.¡± ¡°We¡¯re family now.¡± She was iming him. Piece by piece, visit by visit, she was making Caesar hers. And I had no idea how to stop her. Legacy 90 Chapter 90 -HUNTER- The next morning, I walked into the breakfast room to find Mother already seated at the head of the table, her smile too bright, too pleased with herself. Caesar sat in the chair beside her, swinging his legs and chattering about something that made herugh. My chest tightened. This was bing too familiar, too easy for her. ¡°Hunter, darling! Perfect timing.¡± Mother¡¯s voice was honey¨Csweet. ¡°I¡¯ve asked Caesar to join us for breakfast. And Celine will be serving us today.¡± My jaw clenched. Of course, she would. Another power y, another way to put Celine in her ce while she yed grandmother to my son. Celine entered carrying a silver tray, her face carefully nk. She wore her usual ck uniform, and her hair pulled back severely, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. When our eyes met briefly, hers held a warning¡­.don¡¯t make this worse. I sat down heavily, my appetite already gone. ¡°Mr. Hunter!¡± Caesar beamed at me. ¡°Granny Eleanor says we¡¯re having pancakes! With berries!¡± ¡°How wonderful,¡± I said tly, watching as Celine set tes in front of us with steady hands. Her sleeve brushed my shoulder as she leaned over me, and I caught a hint of her soap¡­.clean and simple, nothing like the expensive perfume Mother wore. Mother began cutting Caesar¡¯s pancakes into small pieces, her movements gentle and practiced. ¡°So, Hunter, tell me about the fundraiser next week. The one for Senator Williams¡¯s campaign.¡± I stabbed my pancakes with unnecessary force. ¡°What about it?¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ll be attending, of course. I¡¯ve already told Mia you¡¯ll escort her.¡± Mother¡¯s smile was triumphant. ¡°She¡¯s such a lovely girl. So aplished. Her father thinks very highly of you.¡± Celine froze near the sideboard, her back to us, but I saw her shoulders go rigid. ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± The words came out harder than I intended. Mother¡¯s fork paused halfway to her mouth. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m not going. Vincent can attend in my ce. Or Caroline if you prefer family representation.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡± Mother¡¯s voice sharpened. ¡°This is important for business. For our reputation. Mia is expecting¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what Mia is expecting.¡± I took another angry bite, chewing like I was trying to destroy the food. ¡°Send my regrets.¡± Mother¡¯s face went cold. I could see the calction in her eyes, the way she nced between me and Celine¡¯s tense figure. ¡°Actually,¡± she said slowly, ¡°Mia will being by this afternoon. Just a short visit. I thought you two could spend some time together, and get reacquainted.¡± My fork ttered against my te. ¡°Mother¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s such a sweet girl,¡± Mother continued, her voice deceptively light. ¡°So well¨Cbred. The kind of woman who would make an excellent wife and mother.¡± Celine¡¯s hands trembled as she refilled the orange juice pitcher. I wanted to tell Mother to shut up, to stop her games, but Caesar was sitting right there, watching everything with curious eyes. ¡°Can I have more berries, Granny Eleanor?¡± Caesar asked, oblivious to the tension crackling around the table. ¡°Of course, darling.¡± Mother¡¯s voice immediately warmed as she turned to him. ¡°Celine, more berries for Caesar.¡± Celine moved forward, her face carefully controlled, but I caught the sh of pain in her eyes when Mother deliberately used her name like she was just another servant. ¡°Such a good boy,¡± Mother cooed, ruffling Caesar¡¯s hair. ¡°Always so polite. His mother has raised him well.¡± The words sounded like praise, but there was something sharp underneath. ¡°Though of course, proper guidance from the right people never hurts.¡± I saw Celine¡¯s jaw tighten, but she said nothing. Just served the berries and stepped back to her position by the wall. ¡°Speaking of guidance,¡± Mother continued, still focused on Caesar, ¡°we should discuss his education soon. A boy his age needs structure, proper schooling¡­.¡± ¡°He¡¯s three,¡± I interrupted. ¡°Almost four,¡± Mother corrected. ¡°And it¡¯s never too early to start thinking about his future. The right schools, the right connections.¡± Her eyes flicked to Celine meaningfully. ¡°Children need stability and security. They need to know where they belong.¡± The threat was clear. I felt my hands clench into fists under the table. ¡°I need water,¡± I said abruptly, my voice rough Discover more novels at F¦Énd£Îovel Celine moved immediately, lifting the crystal pitcher. As she leaned over to fill my ss, I let my fingers brush against her thigh, hidden by the tablecloth. Her breath caught, and I felt the tremor that ran through her. Mother was distracted, wiping syrup from Caesar¡¯s face with a napkin, making gentle shushing sounds. when he squirmed. I pressed my palm against Celine¡¯s leg, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her uniform. She was so close I could feel her breathing quicken, could see the flush creeping up her neck. My body responded immediately, heat pooling low in my belly. Everything about her drove me crazy¡­her strength, her vulnerability, the way she tried so hard to protect her son while my mother circled like a predator. She pulled away quickly, but not before I saw her pupils dte, and saw the way her lips parted slightly. She knew exactly what she did to me. When Mother looked up from Caesar, her sharp eyes moved from Celine¡¯s flushed face to my intense stare, then back again. I saw the moment she put the pieces together, saw the cold satisfaction that crossed her features. ¡°Hunter,¡± she said softly, dangerously. ¡°About Mia¡¯s visit¡­¡± ¡°Fine.¡± The word tore out of me. ¡°I¡¯ll see her.¡± Mother¡¯s smile was pure victory. ¡°Wonderful. She¡¯ll be so pleased.¡± I kept my eyes on Celine, watching the defeat settle over her features like a shroud. She thought I was choosing Mia, choosing the easy path Mother hadid out for me. She was wrong. -CELINE¡¯S POV I stood by the wall watching Mrs. Reid cut Caesar¡¯s pancakes, her movements so gentle and loving it made my chest ache. This was what Caesar deserved¡­.a grandmother who doted on him, and who wanted to give him everything. But I knew better now. I had learned to read the calction behind her kindness. ¡°Mr. Hunter looks grumpy,¡± Caesar whispered to Mrs. Reid, loud enough for the whole room to hear. ¡°Sometimes grown¨Cups have things on their minds, darling,¡± she replied, shooting Hunter a meaningful look. ¡°Important decisions to make.¡± Hunter¡¯s knuckles were white and he gripped his fork. I wanted to touch his shoulder, to somehow ease the tension radiating from him, but I couldn¡¯t. Not here. Not ever. When Mrs. Reid started talking about schools and futures and stability, my stomach dropped. She was already nning Caesar¡¯s life, already seeing how to remove me from it piece by piece. ¡°I need water,¡± Hunter said suddenly, his voice strained. I moved forward with the pitcher, trying to keep my hands steady. As I leaned over him, his fingers found my thigh through my skirt. The touch was brief, hidden, but it sent electricity through my entire body. I couldn¡¯t breathe properly. His hand was warm and strong, and even that small contact made my skin burn. When I nced down at him, his eyes were dark with want, with the same desperate need I felt wing at my insides. Heat flooded my cheeks. I stepped back quickly, but not before Mrs. Reid¡¯s eagle eyes took in everything¡­ my flushed face, Hunter¡¯s hungry stare, the tension vibrating between us. Her smile was sharp as a de. ¡°About Mia¡¯s visit,¡± she said, and I felt the trap closing around us. ¡°Fine,¡± Hunter said roughly. ¡°I¡¯ll see her.¡± The words hit me like a physical blow. Of course, he would. He was Hunter Reid, heir to a fortune, destined for someone like Mia¡­polished, appropriate, everything I could never be. Mrs. Reid¡¯s satisfaction was real. ¡°Wonderful. She¡¯ll be so pleased.¡± I focused on Caesar, on his sticky fingers and syrup¨Ccovered smile, on anything but the way my heart was breaking all over again. This was why I couldn¡¯t let Hunter¡¯s touches mean anything. This was why I had to keep my distance. Because in the end, he would always choose the path his motherid out for him. And I would always be just the help. Legacy 91` Chapter 91 ~HUNTER~ Mia ckwood arrived at exactly three o¡¯clock, stepping out of her silver Mercedes like she owned the world. She For more chapters visit FindN()vel Looked perfect, as always¡­blonde hair in a wless chignon, a designer dress that probably cost more than most people made in a month, and a smile bright enough to blind. Everything about her screamed ¡°suitable wife for Hunter Reid.¡± I hated every second of it. ¡°Hunter!¡± She glided toward me, arms outstretched for an embrace that felt like hugging a mannequin. ¡°You look wonderful. Sess suits you.¡± ¡°Mia.¡± I kept the hug brief, and professional. ¡°How was the drive?¡± 67% 070) ¡°Perfect. Your mother gave excellent directions.¡± Herugh was musical, practiced. ¡°She¡¯s such a treasure. I can see where you get your charm.¡± Mother appeared as if summoned, beaming as Mia had just dered her the most wonderful woman alive. ¡°Mia, darling! You look absolutely radiant. Come, let¡¯s have tea in the sunroom.¡± As we walked through the mansion, I caught glimpses of staff members going about their duties. My eyes searched for Celine, but she was nowhere to be seen. Probably hiding in the kitchens, trying to avoid this circus. The sunroom was set up like a magazine spread¡­fine china, delicate sandwiches, flowers arranged just so. Mother had spent hours orchestrating this. ¡°Your home is breathtaking,¡± Mia gushed, settling gracefully into her chair. ¡°The gardens alone must require an army of staff.¡± ¡°We¡¯re fortunate to have excellent help,¡± Mother replied smoothly. ¡°Speaking of which¡­.¡± She rang a small silver bell. ¡°I thought you might like to meet someone special, Mia.¡± My stomach dropped. No. She wouldn¡¯t. But she would. She absolutely would. Celine appeared in the doorway, holding Caesar¡¯s hand. My son looked freshly scrubbed, his dark hair clothes I¡¯d never seen before¡­expensive ones. ¡°This is Caesar,¡± Mother announced proudly. ¡°He lives here with us. And this is his mother, Celine. She works 1/5 13:14 Mon, 4 Aug A in housekeeping.¡± 67% The casual cruelty of it stole my breath. The way she introduced Caesar first, then dismissed Celine as just another employee. The way she¡¯d dressed him up like a doll for disy. Mia¡¯s smile faltered for just a moment¡­so brief I almost missed it¡­before snapping back into ce. ¡°Oh. How¡­ nice.¡± Caesar stared at Mia with wide eyes, taking in her perfect appearance. ¡°Are you a princess?¡± Miaughed, the sound genuinely delighted for the first time since she¡¯d arrived. ¡°What > -harming child! No, sweetheart, I¡¯m not a princess.¡± ¡°She looks like one though, doesn¡¯t she?¡± Mother said, her voice honey¨Csweet. ¡°Some people are just born to royalty.¡± I saw Celine flinch, saw the way her hand tightened protectively on Caesar¡¯s shoulder. She looked beautiful despite her in uniform, despite Mother¡¯s attempts to diminish her. But next to Mia¡¯s polished perfection, the contrast was stark and intentional. ¡°Caesar, why don¡¯t you show Miss Mia your toy cars?¡± Mother suggested. ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯d love to see them.¡± ¡°Can I, Mama?¡± Caesar looked up at Celine hopefully. ¡°Of course, baby,¡± Celine said softly, but I could hear the strain in her voice. Mother waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Celine, you may go. We¡¯ll call if we need anything.¡± It was a clear dismissal, designed to separate Caesar from his mother while forcing Celine to leave him with strangers. I started to protest, but Celine spoke first. ¡°I¡¯ll just be in the kitchen if you need me, Caesar.¡± She knelt to his level, smoothing his hair. ¡°Be good, okay?¡± Caesar nodded solemnly and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. The simple gesture of love made my chest tight. After Celine left, Caesar climbed onto the chair beside me, chattering about his cars while Mia listened with polite interest. She was good with him, I had to admit. Patient, kind. Under other circumstances, I might have been impressed. But all I could think about was Celine alone in the kitchen, dismissed like she didn¡¯t matter. 2/5 13:14 Mon, 4 Aug ¡°He¡¯s adorable,¡± Mia said to Mother while Caesar arranged his cars on the coffee table. ¡°Such unusual coloring though. Those eyes¡­¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Mother agreed. ¡°Quite striking. Children can be so¡­ interesting in their heritage.¡± Thement hung in the air like poison. Both women knew exactly what they were implying, and they knew I knew too. 67% Caesar looked up suddenly, his dark eyes¡­my eyes¡­fixed on Mia. ¡°Are you going to marry Mr. Hunter?¡± The question dropped like a bomb into the polite conversation. Mia¡¯s cheeks turned pink, Mother looked pleased, and I wanted to disappear. ¡°Caesar¡­¡± I started. ¡°Granny Eleanor says Uncle Hunter needs a wife,¡± Caesar continued innocently. ¡°And your Prettier than¡­.¡± pretty. ¡°Caesar.¡± My voice came out sharper than I intended, cutting him off before he could finish that sentence. Before he could say ¡°prettier than Mama.¡± Caesar¡¯s face crumpled at my tone, and I immediately felt like the worst person alive. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said quickly, softening my voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to sound angry. You didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± But the damage was done. Caesar¡¯s lower lip trembled, and I could see tears gathering in his eyes. ¡°I want Mama,¡± he whispered. ¡°She¡¯s just in the kitchen, darling,¡± Mother said dismissively. ¡°You¡¯re fine here with us.¡± ¡°No!¡± Caesar¡¯s voice rose, panic creeping in. ¡°I want Mama! I want Mama now!¡± He scrambled off his chair and ran toward the door, but Mother caught his arm gently but firmly. ¡°Caesar, stop this nonsense. You¡¯re being rude to our guest.¡± That¡¯s when he started crying in earnest¡­great, heaving sobs that made my heart break. I moved toward him, but he shrank away from me, still upset about my sharp tone. ¡°Let me go!¡± he wailed. ¡°I want my mama!¡± Within seconds, Celine burst through the doorway like an avenging angel, her face white with terror. She took in the scene¡­Caesar crying, Mother holding his arm, me standing there helplessly, Mia looking ufortable. ¡°Get away from my son!¡± The words exploded out of her as she rushed toward Caesar, her protective 13:14 Mon, 4 Aug A instincts overriding everything else. ¡°Don¡¯t touch him!¡± ¡°Celine, wait¡­.¡± I started, but she wasn¡¯t listening. 6/% ¡°What did you do to him?¡± She scooped Caesar into her arms, and he clung to her like a lifeline, his sobs muffled against her shoulder. ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°Nothing happened,¡± I said, trying to keep my voice calm. ¡°He just got upset and asked for you.¡± But she wasn¡¯t hearing me. Her eyes were wild, desperate, scanning Caesar¡¯s face for signs of harm. ¡°Baby, what¡¯s wrong? Did someone hurt you? Tell Mama what happened.¡± ¡°Uncle Hunter was mad at me,¡± Caesar hupped. ¡°And Granny Eleanor wouldn¡¯t let me you.¡± Celine¡¯s gaze snapped to mine, and the usation there cut deeper than a knife. She thought I had hurt him. After everything, she still thought I was capable of hurting a child. ¡°I would never¡­.¡± I began. ¡°Stay away from us,¡± she said fiercely, backing toward the door with Caesar still in her arms. ¡°Just stay away.¡± By now, themotion had drawn other staff members. Sally appeared in the doorway, followed by two housemaids. They all stood there staring as Celine clutched Caesar protectively, tears streaming down both their faces. ¡°This is highly inappropriate,¡± Mother said coldly. ¡°Celine, you¡¯re making a scene.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Celine shot back, her voice breaking. ¡°I don¡¯t care about any of you. Just leave us alone.¡± She turned and fled, carrying Caesar with her, leaving behind a room full of shocked silence. Mia was the first to speak, her voice carefully controlled. ¡°Well. That was¡­ dramatic.¡± Mother¡¯s smile was sharp as broken ss. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry you had to witness that, dear. Some people simply don¡¯t know their ce.¡± I stared at the empty doorway where Celine had disappeared, my heart pounding. The look in her eyes¡­the fear, the desperation, thepleteck of trust in me¡­. reyed in my mind like a nightmare. ¡°Hunter?¡± Mia¡¯s voice seemed toe from very far away. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Was I all right? My son had been crying for his mother, and when she hade running to protect him, I had stood there like a useless fool while she looked at me like I was the enemy. 13:14 Mon, 4 Aug A No. I was definitely not all right. ¡°I think,¡± I said slowly, ¡°this visit is over.¡± Legacy 92 Chapter 92 ~CELINE~ I carried Caesar to our quarters, my hands shaking so badly I could barely turn the door handle. Once inside, I set him down and immediately turned the lock, then dragged a chair against the door for good measure. Caesar stood in the middle of our small living room, tears still wet on his cheeks, watching me with confused eyes. ¡°Mama? Why are you moving the chair?¡± ¡°Just¡­ just making sure we have privacy, baby.¡± I tried to keep my voice steady, but it can thin. it cracked and I couldn¡¯t stop seeing it¡­the way Mrs. Reid had held Caesar¡¯s arm when he wanted toe to me. The way Hunter had snapped at him, made my sweet boy¡¯s face crumple. The way that perfect blonde woman had looked at us like we were some kind of entertainment. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst. ¡°Mama, you¡¯re scaring me.¡± Caesar¡¯s voice was small, uncertain. I dropped to my knees in front of him, pulling him into my arms. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetheart. Mama¡¯s just¡­ upset. But not at you. Never at you.¡± ¡°Why was Mr. Hunter mad at me?¡± The question broke something inside me. ¡°He wasn¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t think he meant to be mad. Sometimes grown¨Cups say things wrong when they¡¯re stressed.¡± But even as I said it, I remembered the sharp edge in Hunter¡¯s voice, the way Caesar had immediately recoiled. How could Hunter speak to him like that? How could he let his mother treat us like we were nothing? ¡°Was I bad for asking about the prettydy?¡± Oh God. My baby thought he¡¯d done something wrong. ¡°No, Caesar. You weren¡¯t bad. You did nothing wrong.¡± I smoothed his hair, pressing kisses to the top of his head. ¡°Sometimes adults haveplicated feelings about things, but that¡¯s not your fault.¡± 1/1 13.14 Mon, 4 Aug 67% 20 He seemed to ept this, the way children do, findingfort in my touch even if he didn¡¯t understand the exnation. ¡°Can we y with my cars?¡± he asked hopefully. ¡°Of course, baby. Get them out.¡± While Caesar busied himself with his toys, I moved around our tiny space like a caged animal. My mind was racing, reying every moment of the past few weeks. Mrs, Reid¡¯s calcted kindness toward Caesar during her month¨Clong stay, iming she was lonely at the Reid family estate. Her cruel dismissals of me. The way she had orchestrated today¡¯s humiliation. She¡¯d brought that woman here to show me my ce. To remind me that I was nothing women like Mia ckwood were suitable for men like Hunter. ed help while And Hunter¡­ God, Hunter. The way he¡¯d looked at me when I¡¯d demanded he stay away from Caesar. Like I had pped him. But what did he expect? He had raised his voice at a three¨Cyear¨Cold, then stood there while his mother held Caesar against his will. I thought about this morning¡¯s breakfast, the way his fingers had touched my thigh, the heat in his eyes. Discover more novels at find?novel Had that all been some kind of game to him? A way to pass the time while his mother arranged his real future with someone appropriate? A knock at the door made me jump. ¡°Celine?¡± It was Sally¡¯s voice, uncharacteristically gentle. ¡°Are you all right, dear?¡± I didn¡¯t answer. Couldn¡¯t trust my voice not to breakpletely. ¡°Celine, I know you¡¯re upset. We all heard what happened. Mrs. Reid was¡­ she was out of line.¡± Is Sally defending me against Mrs. Reid? That was new. ¡°I have some tea,¡± Sally continued. ¡°And some of those cookies Caesar likes. Why don¡¯t you let me in?¡± ¡°We¡¯re fine,¡± I managed to say. ¡°No, you¡¯re not. And that¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t have to be fine right now.¡± The kindness in her voice nearly undid me. Sally, who had been nothing but stern and disapproving since had arrived, was offeringfort. But I couldn¡¯t open that door. Because if I did, I might fall apartpletely, and Caesar needed me to stay 2/1 13.14 Mon, 4 Aug A 67% 207 strong. ¡°Please, Sally. We just need some time.¡± A long pause. ¡°All right. But Celine? Don¡¯t do anything rash. Sometimes things look worse than they are.¡± Her footsteps faded down the hallway. ¡°Who was that, Mama?¡± Caesar asked, looking up from his car. ¡°Just Sally, checking on us.¡± ¡°She sounded nice. She doesn¡¯t usually sound nice.¡± Out of the mouths of babes. I sat down beside Caesar on the floor, watching him drive his cars around an imaginary track. His earlier tears were forgotten, reced by the simple joy of y. How I envied him that ability to bounce back, to live in the moment. ¡°Mama, can we have sandwiches for dinner? I¡¯m hungry.¡± I looked at our tiny kitchte, and at the scarce supplies we had. We could make sandwiches, maybe heat some soup. But what about tomorrow? What about next week? The reality of our situation hit me like a physical blow. Yes, Hunter paid me well¨Cbetter than I had ever earned before, and he had even given me bonuses when I had worked extra hours or handled special tasks. But most of that money went straight to paying off the debts I¡¯d umted beforeing here. The medical bills from Caesar¡¯s birth, the credit cards I had maxed out just trying to survive, the loans I had taken when work was scarce. Even with Hunter¡¯s generous pay, I was barely keeping my head above water. I had managed to save a small emergency fund, but it wouldn¡¯tst long if we had to leave. Finding another job that paid as well would be nearly impossible, especially with my limited work history and a child to care for. Mrs. Reid knew this. She might only be staying here temporarily, iming loneliness at the family estate, but she was using her time to study our vulnerabilities. She understood exactly how precarious our situation was, how dependent I had be on this job¨Cnot because Hunter underpaid me, but because I had started from such a deep hole. 311 13:14 Mon, 4 Aug A And now she was using that dependence to slowly take Caesar away from me. Another knock interrupted my spiraling thoughts. ¡°Celine.¡± Hunter¡¯s voice was rough and strained. ¡°Please. Let me exin.¡± I froze a piece of bread halfway to the te in my hands. ¡°I know how it looked, but it wasn¡¯t¡­ I would never hurt Caesar. You have to know that.¡± Caesar looked up from his car. ¡°Is that Mr. Hunter?¡± I didn¡¯t answer, couldn¡¯t move. ¡°Celine, please. Just let me exin what happened.¡± ¡°Go away,¡± I finally whispered. ¡°I can¡¯t. Not like this. Not with you thinking I would hurt him.¡± 67%0 ¡°You did hurt him!¡± The words exploded out of me. ¡°You made him cry! You let your mother hold him when he wanted toe to me!¡± Silence. Then: ¡°You¡¯re right. I did. And I hate myself for it.¡± His voice was so broken, so full of pain, that for a moment I almost believed him. Almost. ¡°Mama?¡± Caesar had abandoned his car and was standing beside me, tugging on my shirt. ¡°Uncle Hunter sounds sad.¡± He did sound sad. He sounded devastated. But I couldn¡¯t afford to care about Hunter¡¯s feelings. Not when Caesar¡¯s safety was at stake. ¡°Please go away, Hunter. Please.¡± A long pause. Then: ¡°Caesar? Can Mr. Hunter talk to you for just a minute?¡± Caesar looked at me questioningly. I wanted to say no, to keep him away from all of this adult mess. But he was already walking toward the door ¡°Mr. Hunter? Are you still mad at me?¡± ¡°No, buddy. I¡¯m not mad at you. I was never really mad at you. I was mad at the situation, and I spoke too harshly. That was wrong of me, and I¡¯m very sorry.¡± Caesar pressed his hand against the door. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Uncle Hunter. Sometimes I get mad at situations too.¡± 20 I heard Hunter¡¯s breath catch. ¡°You¡¯re a very understanding little boy. Your mama raised you right.¡± ¡°Mama¡¯s the best mama in the whole world.¡± ¡°Yes, she is. And she loves you very much. That¡¯s why she got scared today. She thought someone might hurt you, and that made her protective. Like a mama bear.¡± Caesar giggled. ¡°Mama¡¯s not a bear!¡± ¡°No, but she¡¯s just as fierce when ites to protecting you.¡± +20 I sank at our small table, tears streaming down my face. Hunter was talking to my son with such gentleness, such care. This was the man who¡¯d held me in theundry room, who had kissed me like I was pre to him. The man who had made sure I was wellpensated for my work, who had noticed when i was struggling, and quietly helped without making me feel like charity. But it was also the man who was going to marry someone else. Someone appropriate. ¡°Uncle Hunter?¡± Caesar¡¯s voice was thoughtful. ¡°Are you going to marry the prettydy?¡± My heart stopped. ¡°No, Caesar. I¡¯m not going to marry her.¡± ¡°Good. I don¡¯t think Mama liked her very much.¡± Another pause. ¡°Your mama is very smart. She has good instincts about people.¡± ¡°What¡¯s instincts?¡± ¡°It¡¯s when you know something without anyone telling you. Like how you know when someone is nice or when someone might not be safe.¡± ¡°Oh. Mama has lots of instincts then. She always knows when I¡¯m getting sick before I even feel bad.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because she pays attention to you. She watches out for you because you¡¯re the most important thing in the world to her.¡± I pressed my hand to my mouth to muffle a sob. He understood. Somehow, Hunter understood exactly what Caesar meant to me. ¡°Uncle Hunter? Will you still y with me sometimes?¡± The question hung in the air like a prayer. 67% ¡°I would like that very much, buddy. But that¡¯s up to your mama. She gets to decide what¡¯s best for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask her. Maybe when she¡¯s not sad anymore.¡± ¡°That sounds like a good n.¡± I heard Hunter¡¯s footsteps moving away from the door, then stopping. ¡°Celine? I meant what I said. About never hurting him. Whatever you think of me, whatever I¡¯ve done wrong, please believe that.¡± I wanted to answer, wanted to tell him I did believe him. But the words wouldn¡¯te. After his footsteps fadedpletely, Caesar came back to where I sat. ¡°Mama, why are you crying?¡± I wiped my eyes quickly. ¡°Just thinking about things, baby.¡± ¡°Sad things?¡± ¡°Complicated things.¡± He climbed onto myp, wrapping his small arms around my neck. ¡°I love you, Mama.¡± ¡°I love you too, sweetheart. More than anything.¡± As we sat there holding each other, I tried to figure out what to do next. We couldn¡¯t stay here¡­that much was clear. Mrs. Reid would only be here for another few weeks, but the damage was already done. She would never stop her campaign to im Caesar, and I couldn¡¯t trust myself around Hunter. The way he¡¯d spoken to Caesar just now, the gentleness in his voice¡­ I was falling for him. Had already fallen. And that made me weak, made me vulnerable in ways I couldn¡¯t afford. We had to leave. Somehow, I had to use my small savings to get us away from here before it was toote. The debts would have to wait. Caesar¡¯s safety mattered more than my credit score. But as I looked around our small quarters, at the expensive clothes in Caesar¡¯s closet, at the security andfort this ce provided, I felt the weight of starting over settling on my shoulders. How do you rebuild when you¡¯re still paying for the life you left behind? 611 Legacy 93 ~HUNTER- I stood outside Celine¡¯s door for what felt like hours after she had stopped responding to me. The silence on the other side was deafening, broken only by the sound of Caesar¡¯s quiet chatter as he yed with his toys. My chest felt tight like I couldn¡¯t get enough air. The look on Caesar¡¯s face when I had snapped at him kept reying in my mind¡­.the way his little shoulders had slumped, how quickly the light had gone out of his eyes. I would never forgive myself for that. But I couldn¡¯t stay here torturing myself. Not when Mother was probably downstairs gloating over the disaster she had orchestrated. I found her in the drawing room with Mia, both of them sipping tea like they hadn¡¯t just destroyed my world thirty minutes ago. ¡°Hunter, dear,¡± Mother said without looking up. ¡°I was just telling Mia about the lovely gardens. Perhaps you could show her around before dinner?¡± Mia smiled at me, all perfectly white teeth and calcted charm. ¡°I would love that. Though I have to say, the¡­ atmosphere here is quite interesting. Such passionate staff you have.¡± Her tone was light, but I caught the underlying judgment. The way she said ¡®staff¡® like it left a bad taste in her mouth. ¡°Inappropriate is what it is,¡± Mother added, finally setting down her teacup. ¡°That woman has no sense of boundaries. Getting upset over a simple conversation with her child, making a scene in front of guests¡­¡± ¡°She wasn¡¯t making a scene,¡± I said, my voiceing out sharper than intended. ¡°She was protecting her son.¡± Mother¡¯s eyebrow arched delicately. ¡°From what, exactly? A civil conversation? Hunter, surely you can see how this looks. The boy needs proper guidance, not this¡­ emotional outburst at every turn.¡± ¡°What he needs is his mother. And what I need is for you to leave them alone.¡± The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. Mia nced between us, clearly sensing the tension. ¡°Perhaps I should¡­.¡± she started, but Mother cut her off. 1/6 13:14 Mon, 4 Aug €67% $20 ¡°Nonsense, dear. Stay. Hunter and I are simply having a discussion about household management.¡± She turned those cold blue eyes on me. ¡°This is exactly why Caesar needs stability. Structure. Not whatever chaos that woman considers child- rearing.¡± Something inside me snapped. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± The word came out low and dangerous. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare criticize her parenting? She¡¯s raised an incredible little boy, no thanks to any help from his father or his father¡¯s family.¡± Mother¡¯s face went pale, then flushed red. ¡°How dare you speak to me that way. I am trying to help you, Hunter. That child¡­¡± his world. A ¡°That child has a name. Caesar. And he has a mother who loves him more than anyth mother you just humiliated in front of a stranger for no reason other than your twistede of superiority.¡± I was standing now, though I didn¡¯t remember getting up. My hands were clenched into fists at my sides. ¡°And another thing¡­.why haven¡¯t you told her?¡± Mother¡¯s voice was sharp, cutting. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you told Celine that you know Caesar is your son? What are you waiting for, Hunter?¡± The question hit me like a punch to the gut. ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern.¡± ¡°Like hell, it isn¡¯t. I¡¯m watching my son dance around the truth like a coward while that woman¡­.¡± ¡°While that woman what?¡± I stepped closer, my voice deadly quiet. ¡°While she works her ass off to provide for our son? While she protects him from people who want to use him? While she loves him unconditionally, which is more than I can say for some grandmothers?¡± Mother¡¯s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Behind her, Mia looked like she wanted to disappear into the furniture. ¡°You know what?¡± I continued the words pouring out of me like poison. ¡°You¡¯re right about one thing. Caesar does need stability. He needs protection from people who would manipte him, who would use him as a pawn in their games. People like you.¡± ¡°Hunter Reid, you will not¡­¡± ¡°I will. And here¡¯s something else I will do. You¡¯re going to start preparing to leave. You¡¯ve overstayed your wee, Mother. Way overstayed.¡± The silence that followed was deafening. Mother¡¯s face cycled through several shades of red before settling on an icy white. ¡°Fine,¡± she said finally, her voice sharp as ss. ¡°But mark my words, Hunter. This isn¡¯t over. That boy deserves better than whatever game you¡¯re ying, and if you won¡¯t step up and be his father properly, I¡¯lIL 2/6 13:14 Mon, 4 Aug find other ways to ensure his welfare.¡± The threat was clear. Social services. Lawyers. Whatever weapons she thought she had in her arsenal. ¡°Try it,¡± I said simply. ¡°Just try it, Mother. And see what happens.¡± 67% Mia cleared her throat delicately. ¡°Perhaps I should head back to the city. This seems like a family matter that needs privacy.¡± Thank God for small mercies. ¡°Vincent will drive you to the station,¡± I said without taking my eyes off Mother. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone collect your things.¡± After Mia left with muttered pleasantries and barely hidden relief, Mother and I stood two soldiers on a battlefield. ¡°You¡¯re making a mistake,¡± she said finally. ¡°The only mistake I made was letting you stay here this long.¡± She left without another word, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. each other like I slumped into the nearest chair, suddenly exhausted. My phone buzzed¡­..a text from Vincent. ¡®Delivered the ice queen to the station. She didn¡¯t say much but she looked shaken. Whatever you said to your mother must have been good. Drinks tonight? You look like you need them.¡® I stared at the message for a long moment, then typed back: ¡®Yes. Desperately.¡¯ 20 The bar Vincent chose was one of our old haunts from college¡­.dark, loud enough that we couldn¡¯t be overheard, and with bartenders who knew how to pour a proper drink. ¡°So,¡± Vincent said after we had both knocked back our first round, ¡°want to tell me what the hell happened today? You look like someone ran over your dog.¡± Checktest chapters at Find[F]ovel I signaled for another drink. ¡°Mother happened. And Mia ckwood. And I fucked up with Caesar.¡± ¡°The kid? What did you do?¡± The whiskey burned going down, but it was nothingpared to the burning in my chest when I thought about Caesar¡¯s face. ¡°I snapped at him. He was just being curious, asking innocent questions, and I took my frustration out on a three¨Cyear¨Cold.¡± 13.14 I, 4 Aug 20% 201 Vincent winced. ¡°Ouch. That¡¯s not like you.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Iughed, but there was no humor in it. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s exactly like me. Maybe Mother¡¯s right¡­maybe I¡¯m not cut out for this.¡± ¡°Bullshit.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°You¡® scared, not unfit. There¡¯s a difference.¡± ¡°Is there? Because I hurt him today, Vince. I made my son cry, and then I stood there while my mother held him against his will when all he wanted was to go to his mama.¡± Vincent was quiet for a moment, swirling his drink. ¡°You said ¡®my son.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You called him your son. Not ¡®the kid¡® or ¡®Caesar.¡® Your son.¡± I hadn¡¯t even realized I had said it. But now that he had pointed it out, I could hear how right it sounded. How natural. ¡°Yeah,¡± I said quietly. ¡°He is my son.¡± ¡°And Celine? How do you feel about her?¡± The question I had been avoiding, even in my own head. But sitting here in the dim light of the bar, with liquid courage flowing through my veins, the truth came easier than expected. ¡°I love her, Vince. More than I¡¯ve ever loved anyone.¡± ¡°More than Sophia?¡± The name of my ex¨Cfianc¨¦e didn¡¯t even sting anymore. ¡°More than I ever loved Sophia. More than I thought I was capable of loving anyone.¡± e Vincent grinned, the first real smile I¡¯d seen from him all evening. ¡°Well, it¡¯s about damn time you admitted it.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Dude, you¡¯ve been walking around like a lovesick teenager for weeks. It¡¯s been painful to watch. Every time Ie over, you light up when she¡¯s in the room, then spend the rest of the time brooding when she¡¯s not.¡± Had I been that obvious? ¡°And her?¡± Vincent continued. ¡°Man, she¡¯s got it bad for you too. I¡¯ve seen the way she looks at you when she thinks no one¡¯s watching. She¡¯s hooked, probably worse than you are.¡± Hope fluttered in my chest like a caged bird. ¡°You think so?¡± 4/6 13:14 Mon, 4 Aug n, 4 Aug \ ¡°I know so. The question is, what are you going to do about it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± I dragged my hands through my hair. ¡°She won¡¯t even talk to me right now. She thinks I¡¯m some kind of monster who would hurt Caesar.¡± ¡°Then prove her wrong.¡± ¡°How?¡± Vincent leaned forward, his expression serious for once. ¡°You love her?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You love that kid?¡± ¡°With everything I have.¡± ¡°Then go get your woman, you idiot. Stop overthinking every damn thing and just¡­ be honest. Tell her how you feel. Tell her you know Caesar is your son. Tell her you want to be a family.¡± It sounded so simple when he put it like that. But the fear was still there, cold and persistent. ¡°What if she doesn¡¯t want that? What if she thinks I¡¯m just trying to take Caesar away from her?¡± ¡°What if she does want it? What if she¡¯s sitting in that room right now, crying because she thinks you¡¯re going to marry some socialite and forget about her and Caesar?¡± The image hit me like a physical blow. Celine, alone and scared, thinking I would abandon them. Thinking I didn¡¯t care. ¡°Shit,¡± I breathed. ¡°Yeah, shit. Look, Hunter, I¡¯ve watched you with both of them. You¡¯re different around them¡­.softer, happier. More like the guy I used to know before your dad turned you into this workaholic robot. Don¡¯t let fear fuck this up for you.¡± I finished my drink and stood up, a decision crystallizing in my mind. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Vincent asked. ¡°Home. To fix this.¡± ¡°Now? It¡¯s almost midnight.¡± ¡°Now. Before I lose my nerve. Before Mother does something else to mess this up. Before Celine convinces herself that leaving is the only option.¡± Vincent grinned and raised his ss. ¡°That¡¯s my boy. Just¡­ don¡¯t be a shit and hurt her, okay? She¡¯s been 14 IVIOIT, 4 Aug through enough.¡± ¡°I know. I won¡¯t. I can¡¯t.¡± As I walked out of the bar, Vincent¡¯s words echoed in my head. ¡®Go get your woman¡® It was time to stop being a coward. Time to fight for what I wanted¡­.for what we all deserved. Celine, Caesar, and me. A family. The drive home felt endless, but with each mile, my resolve grew stronger. Tomorrow, I will tell Celine everything. About knowing Caesar was my son. 1 201 About how I felt about her. About the future I wanted us to build together. Tonight, I wou figure out how to convince her to give us a chance. Because losing them wasn¡¯t an option. Not anymore. Ìï Legacy 94 Chapter 94 -HUNTER~ ÁÖ¹Ú67%ÈÕ The house was dark when I pulled into the driveway, my headlights cutting through the midnight air like usations. Vincent¡¯s words echoed in my head: ¡®Go get your woman.¡® But as I sat there, engine ticking as it cooled, doubt crept back in like a fog. What if she wouldn¡¯t listen? What if I had already destroyed whatever trust we had built? I made my way through the back entrance, nning to head straight to the servants¡® quarters. I had to try¡­.had to at least apologize for today, even if she mmed the door in my face. But as I passed the kitchen, I stopped dead. Celine stood at the ind, her back to me, reaching up into the cab for something. She wore a short nightshirt that barely grazed her thighs, and her dark hair hung damp against her shoulders, clearly fresh from a shower. The soft kitchen light caught the droplets still clinging to her neck. My mouth went dry. She must have heard my footsteps because she turned, her eyes widening when she saw me. For a moment, neither of us moved. ¡°Hunter.¡± My name on her lips was barely a whisper. ¡°I thought you had gone out.¡± ¡°I did. I came back.¡± I stepped closer, noting the way her fingers tightened around the ss in her hand. ¡°Couldn¡¯t sleep?¡± She shook her head, not meeting my eyes. ¡°Caesar had a nightmare. I was getting him some water.¡± ¡°Is he alright?¡± ¡°He¡¯s fine now. Went right back to sleep.¡± She finally looked at me, and I saw the exhaustion in her face, the lingering hurt from this afternoon. ¡°Hunter, about today¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± The words tumbled out before she could finish. ¡°God, Celine, I¡¯m so sorry. The way I spoke to Caesar, the way I let Mother¡­ I hate myself for it.¡± Her expression softened slightly. ¡°You were overwhelmed. I understand that, but¡­¡± 13:14 Mon, 4 Aug 65% ¡°No.¡± I moved closer, close enough to smell her shampoo, something clean and sweet that made my chest. tight. ¡°There¡¯s no excuse for raising my voice at him. He¡¯s just a baby, and he was curious about something perfectly innocent. I took my frustration out on him, and that¡¯s unforgivable.¡± She was quiet for a long moment, studying my face. ¡°He asked about you tonight. Wanted to know if you were still his friend.¡± The words hit me like a physical blow. ¡°What did you tell him?¡± 20 ¡°That sometimes grown¨Cups make mistakes but that doesn¡¯t mean they don¡¯t care.¡± She set the ss down on the counter. ¡°Hunter, I need to know something.¡± ¡°Anything.¡± ¡°Are you going to marry her? That woman¡­Mia?¡± The question caught me off guard. ¡°What? No. God, no. Where would you get that idea?¡± ¡°Your mother brought her here to meet you. They were talking about¡­¡± ¡°My mother brought her here to manipte me. To show you that there are women she considers more ¡®suitable¡® for someone like me.¡± I couldn¡¯t keep the bitterness out of my voice. ¡°But I told her to leave. Both of them.¡± Celine¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Both of them?¡± ¡°Mother¡¯s is at our family estate as we speak. She¡¯s overstayed her wee by about three weeks.¡± Something shifted in her expression¡­surprise, relief, maybe hope. ¡°You kicked your mother out?¡± ¡°I told her the truth. That Caesar has a mother who loves him, and that¡¯s worth more than all the ¡®stability¡® and ¡®structure¡® she thinks she can provide.¡± The distance between us felt like an ocean, but also like nothing at all. I could see the pulse at her throat, the slight part of her lips as she processed my words. a ¡°Hunter¡­¡± she started, but I couldn¡¯t let her finish. Couldn¡¯t let her find reasons why this was still impossible. I reached for her, my hands finding her face, thumbs brushing over her cheekbones. ¡°I meant what I said this afternoon. About never hurting Caesar. But more than that¡­,I would never hurt you. Either of you.¡± Her breath hitched. ¡°I know. I think I¡¯ve always known, but today scared me so much..¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯m scared too.¡± The admission slipped out before I could stop it. ¡°Terrified, actually.¡± 13:14 Mon, 4 Aug A ¡°Of what?¡± ¡®Of losing you. Of not being good enough. Of the truth, I¡¯m still hiding.¡® ¡°Of this,¡± I said instead, my voice rough. ¡°Of how much I need you.¡± Her hands came up to cover mine, her touch warm against my skin. ¡°Hunter¡­¡± 65% ¡°Tell me to leave,¡± I whispered, moving closer until I could feel the heat radiating from her body. ¡°Tell me this is wrong, that I¡¯m your employer and we can¡¯t do this. Give me one good reason to walk away.¡± 20 She was quiet for so long that I thought she might actually do it. Then she rose on her toes, her lips brushing against mine like a question. ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± she breathed against my mouth. ¡°I can¡¯t think of a single reason.¡± That was all the permission I needed. I kissed her like I was drowning and she was air, deep and desperate and full of everything I couldn¡¯t say. She melted against me, her arms winding around my neck, and I lifted her onto the counter without breaking the kiss. ¡°Hunter, Again¡­we can¡¯t¡­,¡± she gasped as I trailed my mouth down her throat, finding that spot that made her shiver. ¡°What if someone sees¡­¡± ¡°Everyone¡¯s asleep. It¡¯s just us.¡± I pulled back to look at her, taking in her flushed cheeks, and her kiss- swollen lips. ¡°Just us, Celine.¡± Her legs wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer, and I groaned at the contact. The nightshirt had ridden up, and my hands found the smooth skin of her thighs, thumbs tracing small circles that made her breath catch. ¡°Your room,¡± she whispered against my ear, her voice sending fire straight through me. I didn¡¯t need to be asked twice. I scooped her up, her legs still wrapped around me, and carried her through the dark hallways to my bedroom. The moon spilled silver light across the floor, turning everything ethereal. I set her down beside the bed, my hands tangling in her damp hair as I kissed her again. She tasted like toothpaste and possibility, like everything I had been denying myself. Her fingers worked at the buttons of my shirt, fumbling slightly in her eagerness. I helped her, shrugging it off and tossing it aside before reaching for the hem of her nightshirt. ¡°Are you sure?¡± I asked, even though stopping now might actually kill me. ALY 13.14 Mon, 4 Aug 11, 4 AL 65% (+20) In answer, she lifted her arms, letting me pull the fabric over her head. She stood before me in nothing but a pair of simple cotton panties, and I had never seen anything more beautiful in my life. ¡°Jesus, Celine.¡± My voice was hoarse with want. She blushed, starting to cover herself, but I caught her hands. ¡°Don¡¯t. You¡¯re perfect.¡± I kissed her again, slower this time, mapping every inch of her mouth while my hands explored the curves I¡¯d been imagining for weeks. She arched against me when I found her breast, her nipple hard against my palm. ¡°Hunter, please,¡± she gasped, and the sound of my name on her lips nearly undid me. We fell back onto the bed together, all hands and mouths and desperate sounds. I kissed body, taking my time despite the urgency coursing through my veins. When I reached the edge of her panties, I looked up at her. ¡°Tell me what you want,¡± I murmured against her hip bone. ¡°You,¡± she breathed. ¡°All of you.¡± way down her The rightful source is F¦ÉndNovel I hooked my fingers in the stic and slowly pulled them down her legs, pressing kisses to every inch of skin I revealed. When I settled between her thighs, her hands fisted in the sheets. ¡°Oh God,¡± she moaned as I tasted her, her back arching off the bed. I took my time, learning what made her gasp, what made her tremble. When she finally came apart beneath my mouth, crying out my name, I felt like I could conquer the world. She pulled me up to her, her hands shaking as she worked at my belt. I helped her, kicking off my pants and boxers before settling over her again. ¡°I need to get¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on birth control,¡± she whispered, her face flushing. ¡°And I¡¯m clean. I haven¡¯t been with anyone since¡­¡± ¡®Since Ceasar¡¯s father and you.¡® The thought should have bothered me, but all I felt was gratitude that she was here, that she was mine. ¡°Me too,¡± I assured her, positioning myself at her entrance. ¡°Are you ready?¡± She nodded, pulling me down for another kiss as I slowly pushed inside her. We both gasped at the sensation, the perfect fit of our bodies together. 13:14 Mon, 4 Aug A ¡°Fuck,¡± I breathed against her mouth. ¡°Celine¡­¡± * 65% She felt like heaven, warm and tight around me. I stayed still for a moment, letting her adjust, pressing soft kisses to her face until she shifted beneath me. ¡°Move,¡± she whispered. ¡°Please.¡± I started slow, building a rhythm that had us both breathing hard. Her nails raked down my back, spurring me on, and I lost myself in the feeling of her, in the soft sounds she made, in the way she said my name like a prayer. ¡°Harder,¡± she gasped, and I was helpless to deny her anything. The bed creaked beneath us as I picked up the pace, driving deeper, chasing the building pressure in my spine. She wrapped her legs around my waist again, changing the angle, and we both cr ¡°I¡¯m close,¡± she panted, her head thrown back.
  1. t.
¡°Look at me,¡± Imanded, and when her eyes found mine, dark and zed with pleasure, I knew I was lost. ¡°Come for me, Celine.¡± She shattered around me, her body clenching tight, and I followed her over the edge with a groan that seemed toe from my soul. We copsed together, breathing hard, sweat cooling on our skin. I pulled her against me, tucking her head under my chin, and for a moment, everything was perfect. {3:17 AM} Now she sleeps beside me, one arm draped over my chest, her fingers syed over my heart. The moonlight paints everything silver¡­her bare shoulder, the curve of her spine, the tangle of dark hair across my pillow. But I can¡¯t sleep. The DNA test burns in my memory like a brand. ¡®Caesar is mine.¡® The words echo in the darkness, demanding to be spoken. I should feel triumphant. Powerful. In control. Instead, I feel terrified. ¡®What if she hates me for not telling her sooner? What if she leaves? What if I lose this¨Cthe quiet, the warmth, the family I never thought I wanted?¡® I turn slightly, watching her face, so peaceful in sleep. There¡¯s no trace of the heartbreak I know wille when the truth finally spills out. 13:15 Mon, 4 Aug A 65% I want to tell her. Right now. Wake her up, cradle her face in my hands, and confess everything. But I don¡¯t. Because the moment I tell her, everything changes. No more stolen kisses. No more quiet moments with Caesar. No more pretending we¡¯re something fragile and secret. 201 The illusion will shatter. Instead, I whisper what I should have said hours ago: ¡°I love you.¡± It slips out unguarded, raw, and soft. A confession she doesn¡¯t hear. But it¡¯s true. God help me, I love her. I close my eyes and wrap my arms tighter around her as if by holding her close, I can keep t1 just a little longer. uth at bay But it¡¯sing. I can feel it in the silence, in the way my heart stutters beneath her hand, in the knowledge that this peace won¡¯tst forever. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll tell her everything. Tonight, I¡¯ll hold her and pretend we have all the time in the world. Legacy 95 Chapter 95 -HUNTER- Three days had passed since that night in my bedroom, and I was losing my mind. Every stolen nce, every idental brush of fingers when she served breakfast, every soft smile she gave me when Caesar wasn¡¯t looking¡­.it was all driving me to distraction. We hadn¡¯t been alone together since then and hadn¡¯t had a moment to talk about what had happened between us. Mother left the next morning quietly, just like she always did. This made things moreplicated for me. With no reason to skip my usual routines, I threw myself back into work. I spent long hours in my study, trying to ignore how much I missed Celine¡¯s touch. It was Friday afternoon when the opportunity finally presented itself. I was reviewing contracts at my desk when I heard the soft knock I had been unconsciously waiting for. ¡°Come in,¡± + called, not looking up from the papers spread before me. ¡°Excuse me, Mr. Reid.¡± Her voice was carefully formal, and professional. ¡°I¡¯m here to clean the study.¡± I nced up to find Celine standing in the doorway with her cleaning supplies, looking every inch the dutiful employee. But her cheeks were flushed, and she couldn¡¯t quite meet my eyes. ¡°Of course.¡± I gestured to the room. ¡°Don¡¯t mind me. I¡¯ll just be working.¡± She nodded and moved into the room, setting her supplies on the side table. I tried to focus on the contract in front of me, but my attention kept drifting to the way she moved around the space¡­.dusting the bookshelf, and wiping down surfaces with efficient, graceful movements. She was wearing her usual uniform: a simple ck dress that hugged her curves in all the right ces, her hair pulled back in a neat bun. Professional. Proper. Absolutely maddening. ¡°How¡¯s Caesar today?¡± I asked, needing to break the tension that was building with each passing minute. ¡°Good. He¡¯s napping.¡± She paused in her dusting. ¡°He asked about you again this morning. Wanted to know if you would teach him to y chess like you promised.¡± The mention of my son¡­. ¡®our son¡®¡­.sent the familiar pang through my chest. ¡°I would love to. Maybe this weekend?¡± 13:15 Mon, 4 Aug A ¡°He would like that.¡± She moved closer to dust themp beside my desk, and I caught her scent¡­that clean, sweet smell that had been haunting my dreams. ¡°Celine.¡± Her name came out rougher than I intended. 65% She looked down at me, and the careful mask she had been wearing slipped just slightly. I saw the want there, the same desperate need that had been eating at me for days. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t,¡± she whispered, ncing toward the open door. I stood slowly, moving around the desk until I was close enough to touch her. ¡°Close the door.¡± +20 She hesitated for only a moment before setting down her dust cloth and walking to the door. The soft click of the lock engaging seemed to echo through the room. When she turned back to me, her professional calm waspletely gone. ¡°Hunter,¡± she breathed, and then we were moving toward each other like mas. I caught her face in my hands, kissing her with all the desperation I had been holding back for three days. She melted against me, her arms winding around my neck, and I backed her toward the desk. ¡°I¡¯ve been going crazy,¡± I murmured against her mouth. ¡°Three days of watching you, wanting you, not being able to touch you.¡± ¡°I know,¡± she gasped as I trailed kisses down her throat. ¡°I¡¯ve barely been able to concentrate on anything.¡± My hands found the hem of her dress, pushing it up her thighs as I lifted her onto the edge of the desk. Papers scattered to the floor, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to care. ¡°What if someone hears?¡± she asked, even as her legs wrapped around my waist. ¡°The door¡¯s locked: Everyone¡¯s busy.¡± I pushed her hair loose from its bun, watching it tumble over her shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s just us.¡± She pulled me down for another kiss, deeper this time, full of hunger and promise. My hands roamed over her body, reacquainting themselves with every curve, every sensitive spot that made her gasp. ¡°I can¡¯t stop thinking about the other night,¡± I confessed against her ear, my voice low and rough. ¡°About how you felt, how you tasted.¡± She shivered, her nails digging into my shoulders. ¡°Hunter, please.¡± I pushed her dress higher, revealing the simple white panties underneath. ¡°Tell me you want this, Celine.¡± ¡°I want¡­.,¡± she breathed. ¡°I want you.¡± 13:15 Mon, 4 Aug 1,4 Aug No4 A 65% My control snapped. I hooked my fingers in the stic of her panties and pulled them down her legs, tucking them into my pocket. Her eyes widened at the possessive gesture. ¡°Mine,¡± I growled, and she nodded, her breathing in short pants. I knelt between her legs, pushing her thighs wider, and she had to bite her lip to keep from crying out when I put my mouth on her. She was already wet, ready for me, and I took my time exploring her with my tongue. ¡°Oh God,¡± she whispered, one hand fisting in my hair. ¡°Don¡¯t stop.¡± I had no intention of stopping. I worked her higher and higher, feeling her thighs tremble around my head until she was gasping my name and falling apart against my mouth. Before she could fully recover, I stood and freed myself from my pants, positioning myself at her entrance. ¡°Look at me,¡± Imanded, and when her zed eyes found mine, I pushed inside her in thrust. ooth We both groaned at the sensation, the perfect fit of our bodies together. She was still sensitive from her climax, tight and warm around me, and I had to fight not to lose control immediately. ¡°Move,¡± she pleaded, her legs tightening around my waist. I started slow, building a rhythm that had the desk creaking beneath us. But Celine didn¡¯t have patience today. She pulled me down to her, kissing me fiercely as she moved against me, urging me faster. The proper, professional woman was gone, reced by someone wild and wanting. She bit my lip, scraped her nails down my back, and whispered filthy things in my ear that nearly undid me. ¡°Harder,¡± she demanded, and I gave her what she wanted, driving into her with enough force that we had to brace ourselves against the desk. ¡°You¡¯re going to be the death of me,¡± I groaned, feeling the familiar tightness building in my spine. ¡°Good,¡± she gasped back. ¡°I want to destroy you the way you¡¯re destroying me.¡± The honesty in her words, the raw need, pushed me over the edge. I captured her mouth in another bruising kiss as I felt her tighten around me, her second climax triggering my own. We stayed locked together for long moments afterward, breathing hard, foreheads pressed together. ¡°We can¡¯t keep doing this,¡± she said finally, though she made no move to separate from me. ¡°Why not?¡± I asked, genuinely curious about her reasoning. ¡°Because it¡¯s dangerous. Because someone will find out. Because¡­.¡± She stopped, shaking her head. 13:15 Mon, 4 Aug A ¡°Because what?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m falling in love with you,¡± she whispered, the words so quiet I almost missed them. My heart stopped. Then started again, beating so hard I was sure she could hear it. ¡°Celine¡­¡± A sharp knock at the door made us both freeze. ¡°Mr. Reid?¡± Sally¡¯s voice called through the door. ¡°There¡¯s a call for you on line one.¡± ¡°Just a moment,¡± I called back, my voice remarkably steady considering the circumstances. D We moved apart quickly, straightening our clothes. I tucked myself back into my pants while Celine smoothed down her dress, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. ¡°Your hair,¡± I murmured, helping her pin it back up. ¡°My¡­.¡± She looked around frantically. ¡°Where are my¡­.¡± I patted my pocket, grinning. ¡°I¡¯m keeping these.¡± Her eyes widened in scandalized delight. ¡°Hunter Reid, you cannot¡­¡± ¡°Line two is also ringing, sir,¡± Sally called again, sounding impatient. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there,¡± I replied, then turned back to Celine. ¡°We¡¯re not done talking about this.¡± She nodded, gathering her cleaning supplies with trembling hands. ¡°I should go.¡± I caught her arm gently as she passed. ¡°What you said¡­.about falling in love¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± she whispered. ¡°Please don¡¯t say anything right now. I can¡¯t handle it.¡± 65% I wanted to tell her that I loved her too, that I¡¯d been in love with her for weeks. But Sally was still waiting outside, and Celine looked like she might bolt if I pushed too hard. Readplete version only at find[f]ovel ¡°Tonight,¡± I said instead. ¡°Come to my room tonight. We need to talk.¡± She nodded again and slipped out of the study, leaving me alone with scattered papers and the lingering scent of her perfume. I straightened my tie, ran a hand through my hair, and went to answer Sally¡¯s calls. But my mind was already on tonight, on the conversation that would change everything. It was time to tell her the truth about Caesar. +201 13:15 Mon, 4 Aug A All of it. Legacy 96 -CELINE~ ¡®Because I¡¯m falling in love with you.¡® The words echoed in my head like a death sentence as I paced the small living room of our quarters. What had I been thinking? Why had I said that? I pressed my palms against my eyes, trying to block out the memory of Hunter¡¯s face when the words slipped out. The shock, the something that might have been hope, the way his mouth had opened like he wanted to say something back before Sally¡¯s knock interrupted us. God, what was wrong with me? I nced toward Caesar¡¯s bedroom, where he was sleeping peacefully,pletely unaware at his mother was having aplete breakdown. He¡¯d been so happy at dinner, chattering about wanting to learn chess from ¡°Uncle Hunter,¡± and I¡¯d smiled and nodded while my heart was breaking. This had to stop. Whatever was happening between Hunter and me, had to end before it destroyed us both. I pulled our suitcases from the closet, my hands shaking as I opened them on the bed. We¡¯d done this before¡­..packed everything we owned in the middle of the night and disappeared. I could do it again. I had to do it again. Caesar¡¯s clothes first. His little shirts and pants, the expensive outfits Hunter¡¯s mother had bought him that he loved so much. Then his toys¡­.the cars, the stuffed animals, the books Hunter read to him before bedtime. My chest tightened with each item I folded. How could I exin to a three¨Cyear¨Cold that we were leaving the only peace he had ever known? How could I tell him he would never see Uncle Hunter again? ¡°Because you¡¯re being stupid,¡± I whispered to myself, shoving my clothes into the second suitcase. ¡°Because you let yourself believe in fairy tales.¡± Rich men didn¡¯t fall in love with their housekeepers. They didn¡¯t build families with women like me. They had their fun, scratched their itch, then married women like Mia ckwood while the help found new jobs and pretended it never happened. I had learned that lesson from my own family, hadn¡¯t I? My parents had taught me exactly what happened 13:15 Mon, 4 Aug .A 300% 201 when women like me forgot their ce¡­.when we dared to dream beyond our circumstances. But even as I packed, I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the way Hunter had looked at me in his study. The desperation in his touch, the tenderness afterward. The way he¡¯d said my name like it was something precious. ¡®Stop it,¡® Imanded myself. ¡®Stop reading into things that aren¡¯t there? I was almost finished when I heard the soft knock at the door. My heart stuttered. I knew that knock. ¡°Celine?¡± Hunter¡¯s voice was muffled through the wood. ¡°Can we talk?¡± I froze, a pair of Caesar¡¯s pajamas clutched in my hands. Maybe if I stayed quiet, he¡¯d thi as asleep. ¡°I know you¡¯re awake,¡± he said gently. ¡°I can see the light under the door.¡± Damn it. I shoved the pajamas into the suitcase and zipped it closed, then moved the cases to the floor beside the bed where they wouldn¡¯t be immediately visible. ¡°Just a minute,¡± I called, trying to make my voice sound normal. I checked myself in the small mirror beside the door¡­hair was slightly mussed, cheeks still flushed from packing and panic, but otherwise presentable. Taking a deep breath, I unlocked the door and opened it just wide enough to see his face. He was still wearing the same shirt from this afternoon, though it was wrinkled now. His hair looked like he had been running his hands through it, and there were shadows under his eyes. ¡°Hi,¡± he said softly. ¡°Hi.¡± We stood there for a moment, neither of us sure how to begin. ¡°Can Ie in?¡± he asked finally. Every instinct I had screamed at me to say no, to keep the door between us, to protect what little was left of my heart. But I stepped aside anyway because I was weak and stupid and still half in love with a man who could never be mine. ???? IVION Any 65% He stepped into the room, and I immediately regretted letting him in. The space felt impossibly small with him in it, his presence filling every corner until I could barely breathe. ¡°How¡¯s Caesar?¡± he asked, ncing toward the bedroom. ¡°Asleep. He had a good day.¡± ¡°Good. That¡¯s¡­¡± He trailed off, his eyes scanning the room. I followed his gaze and realized with horror that he could see the corner of my suitcase sticking out from behind the bed. His face went very still. ¡°Going somewhere?¡± His voice was carefully neutral, but I heard the edge underneath. I lifted my chin, forcing myself to meet his eyes. ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°Maybe?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± He was quiet for a long moment, and I could practically see him thinking, calcting, trying to figure out how to handle this. ¡°Because of what happened this afternoon?¡± he asked finally. ¡°Because of everything.¡± I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly cold. ¡°This whole situation is getting out of hand, Hunter. We both know it.¡± ¡°Do we?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The word came out sharper than I intended. ¡°You¡¯re my employer. I¡¯m your employee. What we¡¯re doing¡­.it¡¯s inappropriate. It¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s what?¡± He stepped closer, and I had to fight the urge to back away. ¡°Wrong? Inappropriate? Or are you just scared?¡± The usation hit too close to home. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t what? Tell the truth? Point out that you¡¯re running away instead of dealing with what¡¯s happening between us?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing happening between us!¡± The lie tasted bitter on my tongue. ¡°We had sex, Hunter. Twice. That doesn¡¯t mean anything.¡± His eyes shed. ¡°That¡¯s bullshit, and you know it.¡± 13:15 Mon, 4 Aug 4 ¨‹¡ø ¡°Is it? Because from where I¡¯m standing, it looks like you got what you wanted, and now you¡¯re trying to turn it into something it¡¯s not to make yourself feel better about screwing the help.¡± 65% +20) The words were designed to hurt, to push him away, to make him angry enough to let me go. But instead of retreating, he moved closer. ¡°The help?¡± His voice was dangerously quiet. ¡°Is that really what you think this is about?¡± ¡°What else could it be about?¡± ¡°Maybe the fact that I¡¯m in love with you?¡± The rightful source is Find[F]ovel The words hit me like a physical blow. I actually stumbled backward, my hand flying to my chest. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± I whispered. ¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡± ¡°Why not? It¡¯s true.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not. You don¡¯t know me, Hunter. You don¡¯t know anything about me.¡± ¡°I know you take your coffee with too much sugar and not enough cream. I know you hum when you cook, and you always check on Caesar three times before you go to bed. I know you haven¡¯t bought yourself anything new since you got here because every penny goes to paying off debts you shouldn¡¯t have had to take on alone.¡± Each word was like a knife, cutting through the walls I¡¯d built around my heart. ¡°I know you¡¯re terrified of letting anyone get close because someone hurt you badly once. And I know you love Caesar more than your own life, which is exactly what a mother should do.¡± ¡°Stop.¡± Tears were burning behind my eyes. ¡°Just stop.¡± ¡°I know you, Celine. Better than you think. And I love every damn thing about you.¡± ¡°You love the idea of me,¡± I shot back, desperation making me cruel. ¡°The fantasy. The broken single mother you think you can save. But that¡¯s not love, Hunter. That¡¯s a pity.¡± His face went white. ¡°That¡¯s not¡­.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it? Isn¡¯t that what this is really about? You feel sorry for me and Caesar, so you thought you would y house for a while, make yourself feel good about helping the poor unfortunates.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡± ¡°Then why?¡± The question exploded out of me, with years of hurt fear, and anger behind it. ¡°Why us, Hunter? Why Caesar? You barely knew us when you hired me, but you brought us into your home, 13.15 Mon, 4 Aug 465%·Û into your life. You allow your mother to buy him clothes and toys and read him stories like you¡¯re his¡­¡± I stopped, the words dying in my throat as something shifted in Hunter¡¯s expression. Something that looked like guilt fear and desperate resolve all rolled into one. ¡°Like I¡¯m his what, Celine?¡± The room went dead silent except for the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. ¡°Nothing,¡± I whispered. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything.¡± ¡°Yes, you did.¡± He was looking at me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. ¡°Say it.¡± ¡°Hunter, please¡­.¡± ¡°Say it, Celine. Like I¡¯m his what?¡± ¡°His father,¡± I breathed, the words barely audible. AD Comment Send gift No Ads ???? Legacy 97 Chapter 97 -CELINE¡¯S POV- The silence was overwhelming. Hunter showed many different emotions on his face before finally looking resigned but relieved. ¡°Yes,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Like I¡¯m his father.¡± My heart stopped. He knew. Somehow, he¡¯d figured it out. ¡°You remember,¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible. ¡°Not everything. Not at first.¡± His voice was steady but tinged with regret.¡± I had some scattered memories from that night. I drank too much and then cked out. But when I was around Caesar and saw his face and movements, pieces of the night started toe back.¡± I sank onto the edge of the bed, my legs suddenly unable to support me. ¡°When?¡± ¡°I suspected from the beginning. The timing, his age, those blue eyes that match mine exactly. But I wasn¡¯tpletely sure until recenuy. The memories finally became clear enough.¡± ¡°Four years ago,¡± I said, my voice barely a whisper. ¡°Caroline¡¯s friend club. The night the lights went out.¡± Hunter nodded slowly, his jaw tightening. ¡°You were sitting at the bar, looking so out of ce. You kept fidgeting with your drink, watching everyone else like you were studying them.¡± ¡°I was terrified,¡± I admitted. ¡°Caroline had dragged me there, and I¡¯d never been to a ce like that before. All those people, the music, the atmosphere¡­ it wasn¡¯t me.¡± ¡°We kept looking at each other across the room,¡± he continued, his voice soft with memory. ¡°Like mas, you saidter. Even before we talked, there was this¡­ pull.¡± ¡°And then the ckout happened.¡± My throat felt tight. ¡°Everything went dark, and somehow we ended up sitting next to each other in that corner.¡± ¡°You smelled like vani and something sweet. Even in the dark, I knew you were there.¡± Hunter¡¯s eyes were distant, lost in the memory. ¡°We talked for hours once the lights came back on. About everything and nothing.¡± ¡°You told me I was hot,¡± I said with a bitterugh. ¡°So smooth.¡± ¡°And you told me I was hotter. God, we were drunk.¡± He shook his head. ¡°But underneath all that alcohol, there was something real. You told me about feeling invisible, about your dreams of art school that seemed impossible.¡± ¡°And you told me about drowning under expectations, about feeling like you weren¡¯t living your own life.¡± ¡°When I woke up the next morning¡­¡± Hunter/s jaw tightened. ¡°You were still asleep. You looked so peaceful, so beautiful. I wanted to stay, but I had an early flight. I thought I would find youter, get your number properly.¡± ¡°But you left,¡± I whispered, remembering the empty hotel room, the crushing disappointment. 1/3 13:15 Mon, 4 Aug ¡°I left you a note,¡± he said quietly. ¡°With my nuraber. I told you to call me, that I wanted to see you again.¡± My heart stopped. ¡°What note?¡± ¡°I put it on the nightstand, right next to your phone. I made sure you¡¯d see it when you woke up.¡± ¡°There was no note, Hunter. When I woke up, you were gone. No note, no number, no way to find you¡± We looked at each other in shock, the weight of what was happening between us was clear. ¡°The housekeeping staff,¡± Hunter said slowly. ¡°They must have cleaned the room early, thrown it away before you woke up.¡± ¡°So you thought I ignored you. And I thought you¡¯d abandoned me.¡± ¡°For months I waited for you to call. I kept checking my phone, hoping¡­ When you never reached out, I figured you regretted it. That it meant nothing to you.¡± ¡°And I found out I was pregnant three weekster with no way to find you,¡± I said, my voice breaking. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know yourst name.¡± ¡°Our son?¡± Iughed bitterly. ¡°Is that what you think this is? You think you can just im him because you share DNA?¡± ¡°I think I can try to be the father Caesar deserves. The father I should have been from the beginning if I had known.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t need a father. He has me.¡± ¡°He needs both of us, Celine. And whether you want to admit it or not, you need help. You¡¯ve been struggling alone for three years.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been managing just fine.¡± ¡°Have you? Working multiple jobs, barely making ends meet, living in that tiny apartment with no heat half the time?¡± ¡°How do you¡­¡± I stopped, fury building in my chest. ¡°You¡¯ve been checking up on me.¡± ¡°I wanted to understand who you were, what Caesar¡¯s life was like before you came here.¡± ¡°You had no right.¡± ¡°I had every right. He¡¯s my son too.¡± ¡°No.¡± I stood up, my hands shaking with anger. ¡°No, he¡¯s not. You don¡¯t get to waltz back into our lives and im him just because it¡¯s convenient now. You weren¡¯t there when I was scared and alone and pregnant. You weren¡¯t there for his first steps, his first words, his nightmares, his sick days. You don¡¯t get to be his father just because you finally remembered sleeping with me.¡± ¡°Celine, please¡­.¡± ¡°Please what? Please let you take him away from me. Please let you turn him into another Reid heir, another pawn in your family¡¯s games?¡± ¡°I would never¡­.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you? Your mother certainly tried. And now I know why. She knew, didn¡¯t she? She knew Caesar was your son, and she wanted to take him away from me.¡± Hunter¡¯s silence was answer enough. 2/3 13:15 Mon, 4 Aug A ¡°Get out,¡± I said, my voice deadly calm. ¡°Get out of my room. Get out of our lives. Just¡­ go.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving.¡± ¡°Yes, you are. Because if you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll take Caesar and disappear, and you¡¯ll never see him again.¡± The threat hit its mark. Hunter flinched as I pped him. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Try me.¡± We stared at each other across the small room, two people who¡¯d created a child together but couldn¡¯t find a way to share him. That¡¯s when we heard it¡­.the soft sound of bare feet on hardwood. ¡°Mama?¡± Caesar¡¯s sleepy voice came from the doorway. ¡°Why are you yelling?¡± .65%# I spun around to find my son standing there in his dinosaur pajamas, his dark hair sticking up, his blue eyes wide with confusion and fear. Eyes that were identical to the man standing behind me. ¡°Nothing, baby,¡± I said quickly, moving toward him. ¡°Mama was just talking to Mr. Hunter. Go back to bed.¡± But Caesar¡¯s gaze had shifted to Hunter, and something in his face changed. Not fear, exactly, but a kind of recognition that made my blood run cold. Checktest chapters at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? The same look he¡¯d had that first day when Hunter had knelt to help him with his spilled crayons. ¡°Mr. Hunter,¡± he said, his voice very small and uncertain. ¡°Are you my daddy?¡± The question hung in the air like a bomb waiting to explode. I felt the ground shift beneath my feet as my worst fear emerged in the form of my three¨Cyear¨Cold son¡¯s innocent question. Hunter¡¯s sharp intake of breath was loud behind me. I could feel his presence, could almost hear his heart racing as loudly as mine. Caesar looked between us, his young mind trying to piece together the tension in the room, the way we had both gonepletely silent, the way I had frozen in ce. ¡°Mama?¡± he said again, taking a step toward me. ¡°Why won¡¯t anyone answer me?¡± Legacy 98 Chapter 98 -CELINE¡¯S POV- The silence felt very long between us. Caesar¡¯s simple question hung in the air, making me feel like my world was falling apart. ¡°Go back to bed, baby,¡± I said, my voice barely steady. ¡°Mama needs to talk to Mr. Hunter.¡± ¡°But Mama¡­¡± 65% ¡°Now, Caesar. Please.¡± Something in my tone must have scared him because he nodded quickly and padded back to his room, I waited until I heard his door close before I moved. ¡°Celine¡­¡± Hunter started. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± I held up a hand, already moving toward the dresser. ¡°Just don¡¯t.¡± I yanked open the top drawer and grabbed our clothes, throwing them haphazardly into the small duffel bag I had brought came here. My hands were shaking, but I couldn¡¯t stop. I had to get us out of here. Now. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Hunter¡¯s voice was sharp with rm. ¡°What does it look like I¡¯m doing?¡± I snapped, grabbing Caesar¡¯s favorite stuffed dinosaur from the bed. ¡°We¡¯re leaving. Tonight.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t just¡­.¡± the drill ¡°Can¡¯t what? Can¡¯t leave? Can¡¯t protect my son from this mess?¡± I spun around to face him, clutching the dinosaur to my chest. ¡°Watch me.¡± Hunter took a step closer, his jaw set in that stubborn line I¡¯de to recognize. ¡°You¡¯re not taking him anywhere.¡± ¡°He¡¯s my son.¡± ¡°He¡¯s our son.¡± The words came out like a growl. ¡°And I won¡¯t let you disappear with him again.¡± first Iughed, but there was no humor in it. ¡°Let me? You don¡¯t get to ¡®let¡® me do anything, Hunter. I¡¯m his mother. I¡¯ve been his mother for three years without you.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m his father.¡± ¡°Being a father is more than sharing DNA.¡± I turned back to the bag, stuffing in Caesar¡¯s art supplies, and his favorite books. ¡°It¡¯s being there when he has nightmares. It¡¯s working three jobs to keep food on the table. It¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°I know what being a father means.¡± Hunter¡¯s voice was quiet, dangerous. ¡°And I¡¯m not going to miss any more of his life.¡± I could hear Caesar¡¯s door creak open again. He was listening, probably confused and scared by the tension in our voices. I lowered my voice, but my anger didn¡¯t diminish. ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice in this. We¡¯re leaving, and you can¡¯t stop us.¡± 13.15 Mon, 4 Aug 037% ¡°Actually, I can.¡± Something in his tone made me freeze. I turned around slowly, and the look on his face made my blood run cold. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°I said I can stop you. As his father, I have rights too.¡± ¡°Rights?¡± The word tasted bitter in my mouth. ¡°You want to talk about rights? Where were your rights when I was sixteen hours inbor with no one to hold my hand? Where were your rights when he had pneumonia at six months old and I spent three days in the hospital praying he¡¯d be okay?¡± ¡°Celine¡­¡± ¡°No!¡± My voice cracked. ¡°You don¡¯t get to walk into our lives and start making demands just because you finally remembered you slept with me.¡± Hunter ran his hands through his hair, and for a moment, he looked almost vulnerable. Almost like the man I had met that night at the club. But then his expression hardened again. ¡°If you¡¯re serious about leaving,¡± he said, his voice cold and businesslike, ¡°then we¡¯ll settle this properly. Legally.¡± The bag slipped from my hands. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Mywyers will be here in the morning. We can discuss custody arrangements and visitation rights¡­.¡± ¡°Custody?¡± The word came out strangled. I stared at him like he had just ripped my heart out of my chest. ¡°You¡¯re threatening to take my son away from me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to find a solution that works for everyone.¡± ¡°A solution?¡± I stepped toward him, fury radiating from every pore. ¡°The solution is that you leave us alone. Caesar doesn¡¯t need the Reid family drama. He doesn¡¯t need your mother trying to buy me off or yourwyers trying to take him away from me.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a Reid, Celine. He belongs here, with his family.¡± ¡°I¡¯m his family!¡± ¡°And so am I!¡± We were both breathing hard, staring at each other across the small room like two wild animals backed into corners. I could see Caesar peeking around the doorframe, his blue eyes wide with fear and confusion. The sight of him broke something inside me. ¡°You want to know what you are?¡± I said, my voice deadly quiet. ¡°You¡¯re exactly like your mother. Cold, calcting, and willing to destroy anyone who gets in your way.¡± Hunter flinched as I pped him. ¡°That¡¯s not¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it? You¡¯re standing here threatening me withwyers because you can¡¯t handle the fact that I might choose what¡¯s best for my son over what¡¯s convenient for you.¡± ¡°Our son,¡± he corrected automatically. ¡°My son,¡± I shot back. ¡°Mine. I¡¯m the one who¡¯s loved him every single day of his life. I¡¯m the one who¡¯s sacrificed everything for him. You¡¯re 13.13 4 Aug 14 65% 20 just¡­ you¡¯re just the stranger who got me pregnant.¡± The words hit their mark. Hunter wentpletely still, his face pale. ¡°Is that really what you think of me?¡± I wanted to say yes. I wanted to hurt him the way he was hurting me. But looking at him now, seeing the genuine pain in his eyes, I couldn¡¯t do it. Because the truth was so much moreplicated than that. The truth was that I¡¯d thought about him every day for three years. The truth was that seeing him with Caesar, watching him be gentle and patient and kind, had awakened feelings I¡¯d buried so deep I¡¯d forgotten they existed. The truth was that I was falling for him all over again, and it terrified me. ¡°I think,¡± I said carefully, ¡°that you¡¯re a man who¡¯s used to getting what he wants when he wants it. And right now, you want to y house with a ready¨Cmade family because it¡¯s easier than dealing with whatever issues made you run away in the first ce.¡± Get full chapters from f?ndnovel ¡°I didn¡¯t run away¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you? You left me in that hotel room, Hunter. You went back to your life, your responsibilities, your perfect little world. And now you want to waltz back in and im everything you left behind.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not fair.¡± ¡°Fair?¡± Iughed bitterly. ¡°You want to talk about fair? It¡¯s not fair that Caesar has to grow up thinking his father didn¡¯t want him. It¡¯s not fair that I¡¯ve had to work myself to the bone just to survive. And it¡¯s definitely not fair that you get to threaten me withwyers just because ! won¡¯t fall in line with your ns.¡± Hunter was quiet for a long moment, his hands clenched at his sides: When he spoke again, his voice was softer, almost pleading. ¡°I don¡¯t want to fight you, Celine. I want us to work together. For Caesar¡¯s sake.¡± ¡°Then why are you threatening me?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m scared,¡± he admitted, the words seeming to surprise him as much as they surprised me. ¡°I¡¯m scared that if I let you walk out that door, I¡¯ll lose both of you forever. And I¡­ I can¡¯t handle that.¡± The honesty in his voice made my chest tighten. For just a moment, the walls between us seemed to thin, and I could see the man underneath all the arrogance and control. The man I had connected with that night. The man who had told me about feeling trapped by expectations, about drowning in responsibility. But then I remembered his mother¡¯s cruel words, the check she¡¯d tried to force on me, the way Hunter had looked at me like I was nothing when I first started working here. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you,¡± I said quietly. ¡°Celine¡­.¡± ¡°No. You don¡¯t get to do this. You don¡¯t get to be cruel and cold and threatening one minute, then vulnerable and scared the next. I won¡¯t be manipted anymore.¡± I bent down and picked up the bag, slinging it over my shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re leaving in the morning. You can call yourwyers if you want, but I won¡¯t make it easy for you.¡± Mon, 4 Aug ¡°Mama?¡± Caesar¡¯s small voice made us both turn. He was standing in the doorway now, no longer hiding. Tears were streaming down his face. ¡°Are we leaving? Are we not going to see Mr. Hunter anymore?¡± A My heart shattered. I dropped the bag and knelt, opening my arms. Caesar ran to me, burying his face against my shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s okay, baby,¡± I whispered, even though nothing was okay. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave,¡± he said, his voice muffled. ¡°I like it here. I like Mr. Hunter.¡± Over Caesar¡¯s head, I met Hunter¡¯s eyes. The pain there was so raw, so genuine, that it took my breath away. ¡°I like him too, sweetheart,¡± I admitted, the words slipping out before I could stop them. ¡°But sometimes grown¨Cups make things ¡°Can¡¯t you just not beplicated?¡± Caesar pulled back to look at me, his face serious. ¡°Can¡¯t you just be friends like me and Tommy?¡± If only it were that simple. ¡°It¡¯s not that easy, baby.¡± 420 ¡°But I want Mr. Hunter to be my daddy,¡± Caesar said, his voice small and hopeful. ¡°He teaches me chess and he makes funny voices when he reads stories and he doesn¡¯t get mad when I spill things.¡± I closed my eyes, feeling thest of my will crumble. Because looking at my son¡¯s face, seeing how much he¡¯d already grown to love the man standing across the room, I realized I was fighting a losing battle. Caesar had already chosen his father. The question was: could I find a way to choose him too? Legacy 99 Chapter 99 HUNTER¡¯S POV- The door to my study mmed shut behind me with more force than I intended. My hands were shaking¡­ actually shaking¡­as I reached for the crystal decanter on my desk. The amber liquid sloshed against the ss as I poured myself ¡°You¡¯re exactly like your mother.¡± ree fingers of whiskey. Celine¡¯s words echoed in my head like a death sentence. I knocked back the drink in one burning gulp, but it did nothing to wash away the taste of her usation. Cold. Calcting. Willing to destroy anyone who gets in my way. Was that really who I¡¯d be? I sank into my leather chair and buried my face in my hands. The image of Caesar¡¯s tear¨Cstreaked face wouldn¡¯t leave me al The way he¡¯d looked between Celine and me, confused and scared by the tension crackling in that small room. ¡°I want Mr. Hunter to be my daddy.¡± My chest tightened painfully at the memory of his innocent words. He wanted me to be his father. Not just any father¡­. ¡®his¡® father. The man who taught him chess and made funny voices during story time. But what had I done the moment Celine threatened to leave? I¡¯d turned into exactly the kind of man I¡¯d always hated. The kind who used power and money to get what he wanted, consequences be damned, Just like my mother. I reached for my phone with trembling fingers and scrolled to Vincent¡¯s number. It was past midnight, but I didn¡¯t care. I needed someone to talk sense into me before I destroyed the best thing that had ever happened to me. Discover more novels at Find~Novel ¡°Hunter?¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was thick with sleep. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? It¡¯s the middle of the night.¡± ¡°I screwed up, Vince. I screwed up bad.¡± The words tumbled out of me in a rush. ¡°She was going to leave¡­Celine was packing to take Caesar and disappear¡­.and I panicked. I threatened her withwyers.¡± There was a long pause on the other end of the line. When Vincent spoke again, he sounded wide awake. ¡°You did what?¡± ¡°I know, I know it was stupid. But she was taking my son away from me, and I¡­.¡± ¡°Your son?¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was sharp. ¡°Hunter, you¡¯ve known about Caesar for what, a few weeks? Celine¡¯s been his mother for three years. Three years of raising him alone, working herself to the bone to provide for him.¡± ¡°I know that¡­.¡± ¡°Do you? Because threatening her with custody battles sure doesn¡¯t sound like you know that.¡± Vincent¡¯s disappointment cut deeper than any lecture from my father ever had, 1/4 13:16 Mon, 4 Aug ¨‹¡ø ¡°What were you thinking?¡± I stood up and began pacing behind my desk, the phone pressed tight against my ear. ¡°I was thinking that I can¡¯t lose them. Not now. Not when I finally understand what I¡¯ve been missing my whole life.¡± ¡°And you thought the best way to keep them was to terrify a woman who¡¯s already been hurt by your family?¡± The truth of his words hit me like a physical blow. I stopped pacing and stared out the window at the dark grounds of the estate. Somewhere out there, in the servant quarters I had relegated them to like they were less than human, Celine was probablyforting our son. Telling him everything would be okay even though I¡¯d just threatened to tear their world apart. ¡°She said I was just like my mother,¡± I whispered. ¡°Were you?¡± I wanted to deny it, to rage against theparison. But the whiskey and exhaustion had stripped away all my defenses honesty. only brutal ¡°Yes,¡± I admitted. ¡°God help me, I was exactly like her. The moment Celine didn¡¯t do what I wanted, I tried to buy herpliance with threats and legal action.¡± ¡°At least you can see it,¡± Vincent said, his voice gentler now. ¡°The question is, what are you going to do about it?¡± I sank back into my chair, suddenly feeling every one of my twenty¨Csix years. ¡°I don¡¯t know. She doesn¡¯t trust me, and after tonight, I can¡¯t me her. Caesar wants me to be his father, but maybe Celine¡¯s right. Maybe he¡¯s better off without the Reid family drama.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the biggest load of crap I¡¯ve ever heard you say,¡± Vincent said tly. ¡°I¡¯ve watched you with that boy, Hunter. You light up around him in a way I¡¯ve never seen before. And he adores you¡­anyone with eyes can see that.¡± ¡°But Celine¡­.¡± ¡°Celine is protecting her child the way any good mother would. You can¡¯t fault her for that.¡± Vincent paused, and I could practically hear him thinking. ¡°You want to know what I think the real problem is?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯re treating this like a business merger instead of a family. You¡¯re negotiating and strategizing and trying to find leverage when what you should be doing is showing them that you care.¡± I frowned. ¡°I do care. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t let them leave.¡± ¡°No, Hunter. Caring would be respecting Celine¡¯s right to make decisions for her son. Caring would be earning their trust instead of demanding theirpliance. Caring would be putting their needs above your own fears.¡± His words settled over me like a heavy nket, suffocating in their uracy. I¡¯d spent so long viewing every rtionship as a transaction that I¡¯d forgotten how to simply love without conditions. 2/4 13:16 Mon, 4 Aug A ¡°How do I fix this?¡± I asked, hating how lost I sounded. ¡°First, you call off anywyers you might have contacted- ¡°I didn¡¯t call them,¡± I interrupted. ¡°It was just a threat.¡± ¡°Good. Second, you need to apologize. Not just for tonight, but for everything. The way you treated her when she first started working here, the way you¡¯ve kept them in the servant quarters like they¡¯re beneath you, all of it.¡± 1 winced. When heid it out like that, it was even worse than I¡¯d thought. ¡°And third,¡± Vincent continued, ¡°you need to prove that you¡¯ve changed. Not with grand gestures or expensive gifts, but with consistent, everyday actions that show you respect them both.¡± ¡°What if she won¡¯t give me the chance? What if she leaves before I can show her I¡¯m different?¡± ¡°Then you let her go.¡± ¡°Vince¡­¡± ¡°No, listen to me. If you love them¡­both of them¡­then you want what¡¯s best for them, even if that means living withou someone to love you, Hunt. And you sure as hell can¡¯t threaten them into staying.¡± 20) ou can¡¯t force I closed my eyes, feeling the truth of his words settle into my bones. For so long, I¡¯d been focused on what I wanted, what I needed, what I deserved. I¡¯d never stopped to consider what Celine and Caesar needed from me. Trust. Respect. Security. None of which I¡¯d offered them. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I said quietly. ¡°I¡¯ve been selfish. I¡¯ve been treating them like possessions instead of people.¡± ¡°The fact that you can admit that means there¡¯s hope for you yet,¡± Vincent said with a slight chuckle. ¡°Now, what are you going to do about it?¡± I straightened in my chair, feeling something shift inside me. A resolve that had nothing to do with business tactics or family expectations and everything to do with being the man Caesar thought I could be. ¡°I¡¯m going to show them that I can be better,¡± I said. ¡°Nowyers, no threats, no maniption. Just¡­ me. The real me.¡± ¡°And if that¡¯s not enough?¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°Then I¡¯ll love them enough to let them go.¡± ¡°Good man,¡± Vincent said, approval clear in his voice. ¡°Now get some sleep. You¡¯ve got a lot of work to do tomorrow.¡± After he hung up, I remained in my chair, staring at the family portrait on my desk. Three generations of Reid men, all wearing the same cold, calcting expression. All sessful in business, all failures in the things that actually mattered. I didn¡¯t want to be like them anymore. I wanted to be the kind of father who deserved a son like Caesar. The kind of man who could earn a woman like Celine¡¯s trust and love. 10 11, 4 Aug 200% Tomorrow, I would start over. No more Hunter Reid, the ruthless businessman. Just Hunter, the man who wanted nothing more than to be worthy of his family. I just prayed it wasn¡¯t toote. AIA B Legacy 100 Chapter 100 -CELINE¡¯S POV- 65% +201 I couldn¡¯t sleep. Caesar¡¯s small body was curled up next to me in his tiny bed, but even in sleep, he wasn¡¯t at peace. He kept tossing and turning, mumbling words that made my heart ache. ¡°Daddy Hunter¡­ don¡¯t go¡­ y chess¡­¡± Each whispered word was like a knife twisting in my chest. I smoothed his dark curls away from his forehead, the same way I had done every night for three years. But tonight felt different. Tonight, I wasn¡¯t justforting him from a bad dream¡­I was watching him grieve for something he might lose. ¡°Shh, baby,¡± I whispered, even though he couldn¡¯t hear me. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± But it wasn¡¯t okay. Nothing about this situation was okay. I shifted carefully, trying not to wake him, and pulled my phone from the nightstand. The screen¡¯s blue light hurt my tired the browser and typed in ¡°bus schedules New York City.¡± Three buses leave tomorrow morning. asi opened The earliest one was at 6:47 AM. If we left quietly, we could be gone before Hunter even woke up. Before he could call hiswyers or make good on his threats. My finger hovered over the ¡°purchase tickets¡± button. One click, and we would be free. One click, and Caesar would never have to know what it felt like to be torn between two parents who couldn¡¯t get along. One click, and I could protect him from the Reid family¡¯s cold, calcted world. But I couldn¡¯t do it. I set the phone down and looked at my son¡¯s peaceful face. Even in sleep, there was a slight smile on his lips, probably dreaming about something Hunter had taught him or some game they¡¯d yed together. When had Caesar ever smiled like that before Hunter came into his life? The truth was hard to swallow, but I couldn¡¯t ignore it anymore. My son was happier now than I had ever seen him. For three years, it had been just the two of us against the world, and I had thought that was enough. I had convinced myself that Caesar didn¡¯t need a father, that I could be everything to him. But watching them together these past few weeks has shown me how wrong I was. Hunter didn¡¯t just tolerate Caesar¡¯s endless questions¡­he encouraged them. 13:16 Mon, 4 Aug A +20 When Caesar asked why the sky was blue or how airnes stayed up, Hunter would sit with him for hours, drawing pictures and exining things in ways a three¨Cyear¨Cold could understand. When Caesar spilled juice on Hunter¡¯s expensive suitst week, I had braced myself for anger. Instead, Hunter hadughed and said, ¡°Good thing I have more suits than I know what to do with.¡± Then he had helped Caesar clean up the mess without making him feel bad about it. And just a day before yesterday, when Caesar had a nightmare about monsters, Hunter had sat on the floor of his room and told him stories about brave knights until Caesar fell back asleep. These weren¡¯t the actions of a man who saw my son as a duty or a way to secure his family¡¯s legacy. These were the actions of a father who genuinely loved his child. ¡°I¡¯m scared that if I let you walk out that door, I¡¯ll lose both of you forever.¡± Hunter¡¯s words from earlier reyed in my mind. For just a moment, when he had admitted his fear, all his walls hade down. I had seen the real man underneath all that arrogance and control¨Cthe same man I had met in that club three years ago The man who had told me about feeling trapped by everyone¡¯s expectations. The man who had listened to my dreams whether they mattered. The man who had made me feel beautiful and wanted for one perfect night. I had spent so long focusing on how he had hurt me that I had almost forgotten why I had been drawn to him in the first ce. rt school Caesar shifted in his sleep, reaching out as if searching for something. Without thinking, I took his small hand in mine, and he settled immediately. ¡°Mama,¡± he mumbled, not quite awake. ¡°Is Daddy Hunter still here?¡± My throat tightened. ¡°Yes, baby. He¡¯s still here.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Caesar sighed, snuggling closer to me. ¡°I love you both.¡± The simple innocence of his words broke something inside me. Here was my three¨Cyear¨Cold son, who had somehow figured out what I was too scared to admit¡­.that we were better together than apart. I picked up my phone again, but this time I didn¡¯t look at bus schedules. Instead, I scrolled through the photos I had taken over the past few weeks without really thinking about it. Hunter teaching Caesar how to build boards, both of them frowning in concentration. Hunter was reading to Caesar, doing silly voices for all the characters when he thought I wasn¡¯t watching. Hunter and Caesar are in the garden, both covered in dirt from nting flowers. In every single photo, they looked like what they were¡­.father and son. There was no denying the resemnce, not just in their matching blue eyes, but in the way they moved, the way they tilted their heads when they were thinking, the way they both got that same stubborn look when they didn¡¯t want to do something. But it was more than gics. There was genuine affection between them, a bond that had formed naturally despite all theplications. How could I take that away from either of them? 13.10 Mon, 4 Aug 00% +207 I thought about what ke or Caroline would say if they were here. They would probably tell me to stop being so stubborn and give Hunter a real chance. ke had pointed out that Caesar deserved to have both his parents, and that maybe¡­just maybe¡­.Hunter was capable of change. But ke hadn¡¯t been the one humiliated by Hunter¡¯s cruel words when I first started working here. She hadn¡¯t been the one treated like a servant, looked down on, or made to feel small and worthless. She also hadn¡¯t seen Hunter¡¯s face when he realized Caesar was his son. The wonder and terror and overwhelming love that had shed across his features before he could hide it. ¡°Being a father is more than sharing DNA,¡± I had told him earlier. But wasn¡¯t I being hypocritical? I had been angry that he hadn¡¯t been there for Caesar¡¯s birth, his first steps, his first words. How could I be mad about that and then deny him the chance to be there for everything that came next? Caesar stirred again, and this time his eyes fluttered open. ¡°Mama?¡± His voice was small and confused. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± I hadn¡¯t realized I was. I quickly wiped my cheeks and forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m okay, sweetheart. Just thinking.¡± ¡°About Daddy Hunter?¡± The casual way he said it¡­.like Hunter had always been his daddy, like it was the most natural thing in the world¡­.made my chest tight. ¡°Yeah, baby. About Daddy Hunter.¡± Caesar sat up, suddenly more awake. ¡°Are we still leaving? I heard you packing.¡± I looked into my son¡¯s eyes¡­Hunter¡¯s eyes¡­.and saw a maturity there that shouldn¡¯t exist in someone so young. He had already experienced too much dy in his short life. Moving from apartment to apartment when we couldn¡¯t make rent, me working multiple jobs just to keep food on the table, never knowing if we had to leave again. For the first time in his life, Caesar had stability. A home where he didn¡¯t have to worry about anything except being a kid. A father who wanted to be part of his life. And I was going to take that away because I was scared of getting hurt? ¡°I don¡¯t know, baby,¡± I said honestly. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Caesar was quiet for a moment, his little face serious. ¡°I want to stay with Daddy Hunter. But I want you to be happy too.¡± He reached touched my cheek. up and ¡°Can¡¯t we all just be happy together?¡± Out of the mouths of babes. ¡°It¡¯splicated, Caesar¡­.¡± ¡°But why does it have to be?¡± His question was so innocent, so logical, ¡°Tommy¡¯s parents fight sometimes, but they still love each other. Can¡¯t you and Daddy Hunter love each other too?¡± I didn¡¯t know how to exin to a three¨Cyear¨Cold that love wasn¡¯t always enough. That sometimes people hurt each other, even when they 13:16 Mon, 4 Aug A didn¡¯t mean to. That trust, once broken, was incredibly hard to rebuild. But looking at Caesar¡¯s hopeful face, I realized maybe I was making it moreplicated than it needed to be. Maybe the question wasn¡¯t whether Hunter and I could work out our issues. Maybe the question was whether we were both willing to try¡­.for Caesar¡¯s sake, if nothing else. For more chapters visit Find?Novel Would you like that?¡± I asked. ¡°If Daddy Hunter and I figured out how to get along?¡± Caesar nodded eagerly. ¡°Yes! Then we could be a real family.¡± A real family. It was everything I had dreamed of giving him and everything I had convinced myself we didn¡¯t need. I kissed the top of his head and tucked him back under the covers. ¡°Get some sleep, baby. We¡¯ll figure it out in the morning.¡± ¡°Promise?¡± ¡°I promise we¡¯ll try.¡± As Caesar drifted back to sleep, I sat in the darkness and thought about promises. About the one I had made when he was born¡­.to always put his needs first, no matter what. Maybe it was time to stop running and start fighting¡­.not against Hunter, but for our son¡¯s future. Maybe it was time to see if Hunter Reid was capable of being the man Caesar already believed him to be. Legacy 101 Chapter 101 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- The first gray light of dawn crept through my bedroom windows, finding me exactly where I had been for the past four hours¡­.sitting on the edge of my bed, staring at the floor. I hadn¡¯t even attempted sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Caesar¡¯s tears and heard Celine¡¯s voice calling me cold and calcting. Every time I tried to find afortable position, my mind reyed the moment she hadpared me to my mother. The worst part? She was right. I stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the servant quarters where my son was sleeping. The irony wasn¡¯t lost on me¡­.I had been so worried about Caesar carrying on the Reid name that I had forgotten what that name actually meant to people like Celine. Power is used to intimidate. Wealth used to control. Privilege was used to crush anyone who dared to stand in our way. Was that the legacy I wanted to pass down to my son? I thought about all the times my father had usedwyers to solve his problems. Business rivals, employees whoined, even family members who stepped out of line. The Reid family attorney was practically on speed dial, ready to crush anyone who threatened our interests. Last night, I became him. I had reached for the same weapon without even thinking about it. But Caesar wasn¡¯t a business deal. Celine wasn¡¯t a problem to be solved. They were people¡­.the most important people in my world¡­.and I had treated them like obstacles. I rubbed my face and headed for the kitchen. If I were going to fix this mess, I needed to start somewhere, and Vincent¡¯s advice echoed in my head: ¡®Show them you care through actions, not words.¡® The kitchen staff wouldn¡¯t arrive for another two hours, which was perfect. I needed to do this myself. thad never made breakfast before¡­.not a real breakfast. Head maid Sally had been handling my meal schedule since I was old enough to sit at a table. But how hard could scrambled eggs be? Twenty minutester, I had my answer: harder than running a globalpany, apparently. The first batch burned while I was trying to make toast. The second batch came out runny and yucky. By the third attempt, I had finally managed something that looked edible, though I doubted it would win a any awards. The toast was slightly burned around the edges, and the orange juice was store¨Cbought instead of freshly squeezed, but it was honest food. 1/4 13:16 ¨C Mon, 4 Aug Made by my own hands for my family. ¡®My family..¡® The words felt strange but right. I loaded everything onto a tray, then hesitated. What was I supposed to say? How did I apologize for threatening to tear apart the life of the woman I¡­ I stopped that thought before it could fully form. Whatever I felt for Celine wasplicated and probably one¨Csided. Right now, Caesar was what mattered. I grabbed a piece of paper and sat down at the kitchen ind, staring at the nk page. What did you write to someone you¡¯d hurt so badly? ¡®Dear Celine,¡¯ No, too formal. ¡®Celine,¡® Better. ¡®I know you have every reason not to trust me afterst night. My threat aboutwyers was wrong, and I¡¯m sorry. I was scared of losing you both, but fear doesn¡¯t excuse my behavior. I¡¯ve been thinking about what Caesar needs, and it¡¯s not a father who fights for custody or a man who uses his power to get his way. He needs stability, love, and parents who can work together. I want to be that kind of father. I want to be the kind of man who deserves your trust and your love. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find?novel Would you give me one chance to show you I can be better? Not Hunter Reid the businessman, just Hunter the man who wants nothing more than to be worthy of his family. I made breakfast. It¡¯s probably terrible, but I made it myself. For both of you. If you decide to leave after this, I¡¯ll understand. Nowyers, no threats, no maniption. Just my promise that I¡¯ll love Caesar from a distance if that¡¯s what¡¯s best for him. Please don¡¯t decide until we talk. Hunter.¡¯ I folded the note and slipped it under their door, then returned to the kitchen to wait. The coffee was strong and bitter, matching my mood. Every minute that passed felt like an hour. What if she had already left? What if they had snuck out while I was burning eggs and writing apologies? What if¡­¡­ Stop. I couldn¡¯t think like that. I had to believe that the woman who had defended Caesar so fiercelyst night wouldn¡¯t disappear without giving him a chance to say goodbye. At seven thirty, I heard movement from the servant quarters. My heart hammered against my ribs as I picked up the breakfast tray and walked across the estate grounds. 2/4 64% This was it. This was my chance to prove I could be different. I just hoped it wasn¡¯t toote. ~CELINE¡¯S POV- I woke up to Caesar shaking my shoulder gently. ¡°Mama, there¡¯s a paper under the door.¡± My eyes felt heavy fromck of sleep, but Caesar¡¯s voice was alert and curious. I sat up ¡°What does it say?¡± he asked, climbing back onto the bed. nd saw him holding a folded piece of paper. I unfolded Hunter¡¯s note and read it twice, my heart doing somethingplicated in my chest. This wasn¡¯t the arrogant, demanding tone! had expected. This was¡­ vulnerable. Human. ¡°I want to be worthy of his family.¡± Family. He¡¯d called us family. ¡°What does it say, Mama?¡± Caesar asked again, trying to peek at the paper. ¡°It¡¯s from Mr. Hunter,¡± I said carefully. ¡°He wants to talk to us.¡± Caesar¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Is he still here? He didn¡¯t leave?¡± The hope in his voice made my throat tight. ¡°No, baby. He¡¯s still here.¡± ¡°Are we still leaving?¡± Before I could answer, there was a soft knock on the door. Not the sharp, impatient knock I had grown used to from the Reid family, but something gentle. Almost hesitant. Caesar scrambled off the bed and ran to the door. ¡°Daddy Hunter?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me,¡± came Hunter¡¯s voice through the wood. ¡°I brought breakfast.¡± Twrapped my robe around myself and joined Caesar at the door. When I opened it, Hunter stood there holding a tray that looked like it had been prepared by someone who had never set foot in a kitchen before. The eggs looked slightly overcooked, the toast was unevenly browned, and there was a small puddle of spilled orange juice on the tray. But he had made it himself. I could tell by the flour dusting his usually perfect shirt and the uncertain expression on his face. ¡°I thought maybe we could eat together,¡± he said quietly, his eyes meeting mine, ¡°All three of us. And then¡­ if you still want to leave, I won¡¯t stop you. Nowyers. No threats. Just¡­ please give me a chance to show you that I can be better than the man I wasst night.¡± 13:16 Mon, 4 Aug 4 Caesar was practically bouncing on his toes. ¡°You made breakfast? Can we eat together like a real family?¡± Hunter¡¯s face softened as he looked down at Caesar. ¡°If your mama says it¡¯s okay.¡± ÃÀʳ 64%·Û +20 They both turned to look at me, and I felt the weight of the decision settling on my shoulders. I could still say no. I could still pack our bags and walk away from all of this. But looking at Hunter¡¯s doubtful expression and Caesar¡¯s hopeful face, I realized I didn¡¯t want to run anymore. ¡°Okay,¡± I said. ¡°We can eat together.¡± Caesar cheered and grabbed Hunter¡¯s free hand, pulling him toward our small kitchen table. ¡°Did you make eggs? I love eggs! And toast too?¡± ¡°I tried,¡± Hunter said, setting the tray down carefully. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how good they are.¡± ¡°They look perfect,¡± Caesar dered, climbing into his chair.. I caught Hunter¡¯s eye as he helped Caesar with his napkin. For just a moment, we shared a look of parental amusement enthusiasm. Maybe this could work. Maybe we could find a way to be what Caesar needed us to be. Maybe it was time to stop running and start building something real. Caesar¡¯s AD Legacy 102 Chapter 102 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- £¤º¬64% The eggs were definitely overcooked, and the toast crumbled when Caesar tried to spread jam on it. But watching my son¡¯s face light up with each bite, you would think I had prepared a five¨Cstar meal. Chapters first released on F?ndNovel ¡°Daddy Hunter, these are the best eggs ever!¡± Caesar announced, his cheeks bulging with food. ¡°Don¡¯t talk with your mouth full, baby,¡± Celine said softly, but there was warmth in her voice that hadn¡¯t been therest night. I sat across from them at the small table, feeling strangely out of ce in my own estate. This tiny dining area in the servant quarters was nothing like the grand dining room where I usually took my meals alone. But somehow, crammed around this little table with mismatched chairs, I felt more at home than I had in years. ¡°Can you teach me how to make eggs?¡± Caesar asked, swinging his legs under the table. ¡°I want to make breakfast for Mama sometimes.¡± The casual way he included me in his ns made my chest tight. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll start with scrambled eggs. They¡¯r these are supposed to be.¡± Celine¡¯s lips twitched, almost forming a smile. ¡°These are perfectly fine, Hunter. It¡¯s the thought that counts.¡± hen¡­ whatever ¡°Is it really?¡± I asked, meeting her eyes. ¡°Because I¡¯ve been thinking about a lot of thingstely, and I want to make sure my thoughts trante into actions that actually matter.¡± She studied my face, probably looking for signs of maniption or hidden agendas. I couldn¡¯t me her for that caution. ¡°Daddy Hunter, will you teach me chess today?¡± Caesar asked, ignorant of the tension between his parents. ¡°If your mama says it¡¯s okay,¡± I replied, ncing at Celine. ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± she said carefully. ¡°We still have a lot to figure out.¡± Caesar¡¯s face fell slightly. ¡°Are we still leaving?¡± The question hung in the air like a weight. I had promised not to usewyers or threats, but that didn¡¯t stop the panic from wing at my throat. Losing them felt like losing the most important parts of myself. ¡°That¡¯s up to your mama,¡± I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. Celine set down her fork and looked at me seriously. ¡°Hunter, I need you to understand something. The reason I wanted to leavest night wasn¡¯t just because of thewyer¡¯s threat. It was because I felt like you see Caesar as a possession, not a person.¡± Her words hit me harder than any business rival¡¯s attack ever had. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve spent so long thinking about carrying on the Reid name that I forgot what actually matters. Caesar isn¡¯t a heir or a legacy¡­.he¡¯s a little boy who deserves parents who put his happiness first.¡± ¡°Daddy Hunter,¡± Caesar interrupted, ¡°what¡¯s a legacy?¡± I looked at my son¡¯s curious face and realized I had never had to exinplex ideas to a child before. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ what you leave behind when you¡¯re gone. What people remember about you.¡± 13:16 Mon, 4 Aug A ¡°Like how Mama remembers her daddy because he taught her to draw?¡± The innocent question made me pause. I had never asked Celine about her father. ¡°Yes, exactly like that.¡± ¡°I want to remember you teaching me chess,¡± Caesar said seriously. ¡°And making breakfast, even if it¡¯s a little burned.¡± .64%0 Something cracked open in my chest. This was what I had been missing¡­.not the grand gestures or power ys, but these simple moments. The kind of memories that actually mattered. ¡°I want that too,¡± I said quietly. Celine had been watching our exchange with an unreadable expression. ¡°Hunter, if we¡¯re going to make this work, things have to change. Not just your behavior, but the whole dynamic between us.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean I¡¯m tired of feeling like I¡¯m walking on eggshells around you. Tired of wondering when you¡¯re going to remind me that you¡¯re the boss and I¡¯m just the help. If we¡¯re going to co¨Cparent Caesar, we need to be equals.¡± I nodded slowly. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right. I¡¯ve been so focused on control that I forgot partnership is what makes thin ¡°Can we have pancakes tomorrow?¡± Caesar asked, apparently bored with the serious conversation. ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Celine and I said at the same time, then looked at each other in surprise. For the first time since this drama, Celine smiled¨Ca real smile that reached her eyes. ¡°I guess we¡¯re already starting to think like parents.¡± ¡°Does this mean you¡¯ll stay?¡± I asked, not caring if I sounded desperate. Celine was quiet for a long moment. ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet. But I¡¯m willing to try, if you are. Really try, not just go through the actions.¡± ¡°What would that look like?¡± ¡°First, no more threats. No more using your wealth or power to scare me. If we disagree about something regarding Caesar, we talk it out like adults.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± ¡°Second, I want Caesar to have both his parents, but I won¡¯t let him be caught in the middle of our drama. If we can¡¯t get along, we keep it away from him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± ¡°And third,¡± she took a deep breath, ¡°no more mixed signals. If we¡¯re going to be co¨Cparents, that¡¯s what we are. I can¡¯t handle any more emotional whish.¡± Thest condition hurt, but I understood why she needed it. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯ve been unfair to you in that regard.¡± Caesar had finished his eggs and was now building a tower with his toast pieces. ¡°Mama, can live in the big house with Daddy Hunter?¡± Celine looked ufortable. ¡°Baby, we¡¯ve talked about this¡­.¡± ¡°Actually,¡± I interrupted, ¡°I think Caesar has a point. Not because I¡¯m trying to pressure you,¡± I added quickly, seeing her face. ¡°But because the servant quarters aren¡¯t appropriate for my son. They¡¯re not appropriate for you either.¡± 13:16 Mon, 4 Aug ¡°Hunter¡­¡± AJ 300470 20 ¡°Let me finish. I¡¯m not saying we have to y house or pretend we¡¯re something we¡¯re not. I¡¯m saying Caesar deserves better than being treated like staff. And so do you.¡± She considered this, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. ¡°What exactly are you suggesting?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a guest wing on the east side of the house. It has its own entrance, a small kitchen, living area, and two bedrooms. You and Caesar *could have your own space, but he would still be close enough for me to be part of his daily routine.¡± ¡°And what about your mother?¡± The question made me grimace. ¡°My mother will learn to ept this, or she¡¯ll find herself with very limited ess to her grandson. I¡¯m done letting her run my life.¡± Caesar pped his hands together. ¡°Can I have the room with the big window? The one that looks at the garden?¡± ¡°How do you know about that room?¡± Celine asked. ¡°I explored while you were working,¡± Caesar said innocently. ¡°Sally said it was okay.¡± I made a mental note to thank Head Maid Sallyter. ¡°The room is yours if your mama agrees to the arrangement.¡± Celine looked between Caesar¡¯s hopeful face and my carefully unenthusiastic face. ¡°What about boundaries? Rules? I need to know this isn¡¯t just another way for you to control the situation.¡± ¡°What kind of rules do you want?¡± ¡°Scheduled time with Caesar, not just whenever you feel like it. Respect for my decisions as his mother. And if this arrangement doesn¡¯t work out, we revisit it without any legal battles.¡± ¡°Done.¡± I paused, then added, ¡°I¡¯d like to suggest something else, too.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I want to have papers drawn up that establish your rights as Caesar¡¯s mother. Not to threaten you, but to protect you. If something happens to me, I want to make sure you have legal custody and financial security.¡± Celine¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You would do that?¡± ¡°I should have done it already. Caesar is lucky to have you as his mother, and I want to make sure that¡¯s recognized legally.¡± ¡°Daddy Hunter, does this mean you and Mama are friends now?¡± Caesar asked, I looked at Celine, who was watching me with something that might have been hope in her eyes. ¡°I think,¡± I said carefully, ¡°it means we¡¯re going to try to be the best parents we can be for you.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Caesar said, reaching for both our hands across the table. ¡°I like it when you¡¯re both happy.¡± As his small fingers wrapped around mine and Celine¡¯s, I realized that this moment¡­,sitting in a cramped servant quarters eating burned eggs¡­.was worth more than every business deal I had ever made. Maybe I was finally learning what really mattered. Legacy 103 Chapter 103 -CELINE¡¯S POV- Caesar¡¯s hand was warm in mine, and when I looked across the table at Hunter, I saw something different in his face. The cold examination was gone, reced by something softer. More human. ¡°Are you both happy?¡± Caesar asked, his blue eyes moving between us. I squeezed his hand gently. ¡°I¡¯m getting there, baby.¡± Hunter¡¯s fingers tightened around Caesar¡¯s other hand. ¡°Me too, buddy.¡± It was a small moment, but it felt meaningful. Like maybe we were finally moving in the right direction. ¡°Can I go y now?¡± Caesar asked, already starting to wiggle in his chair. ¡°For a little while,¡± I said. ¡°But stay where I can see you from the window.¡± ¡°Okay, Mama!¡± He jumped up and ran toward the door, then stopped and turned back. ¡°Daddy Hunter, will you help me build a fortter?¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Hunter said, and the smile on his face was genuine. After Caesar ran outside, the kitchen fell quiet except for the distant sound of hisughter. Hunter and I sat across from each other, the importance of our conversation settling between us. ¡°This is strange,¡± I said finally. ¡°What is?¡± ¡°Having a polite conversation with you. I was starting to think it was impossible.¡± Hunter¡¯s mouth curved in a rueful smile. ¡°I haven¡¯t exactly made it easy, have I?¡± ¡°No, you haven¡¯t.¡± I picked up my coffee cup, using it as something to focus on besides his face. ¡°But I want to believe people can change.¡± ¡°Even me?¡± I met his eyes then. ¡°Especially you. Because if you can¡¯t, then Caesar loses his father, and I won¡¯t be responsible for that.¡± ¡°Celine,¡± Hunter said quietly, ¡°I know I have no right to ask this, but can you tell me what happened that night? Three years ago?¡± My stomach tightened. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I need to understand. I need to know how we got here so I can make sure I don¡¯t mess this up again.¡± I set down my cup and studied his face. There was no demand in his face, no expectation. Just a quiet request. ¡°I was neen,¡± I said slowly. ¡°Working three jobs, trying to scrape together money for art school. My family kept saying I was wasting my time, that I should forget about art and focus on finding a good husband.¡± Hunter¡¯s jaw tightened, but he didn¡¯t interrupt. 1/4 4 Aug +64 ¡°That night, I had just gotten the rejection letter. Art school said no¡­.not because my work wasn¡¯t good enough, but because I couldn¡¯t pay. I felt like such an idiot for even trying.¡± ¡°So you went to a club?¡°. ¡°Caroline dragged me out. Some grand opening for her friend¡¯s smiled at the memory. Said I needed to stop moping around and actually live a little.¡± I ¡°She was pushy about it, but she was right. I needed to forget everything for one ¡°And you met me.¡± night.¡± ¡°I met someone who seemed just as lost as I was. You told me about feeling trapped by everyone¡¯s expectations, about never being good enough no matter what you aplished. You made me feel like I wasn¡¯t alone.¡± Hunter was quiet for a long moment. ¡°I remember that conversation. You were the first person who didn¡¯t see me as Hunter Reid, heir to a fortune. You just saw me as¡­ Hunter.¡± ¡°Then why did you act like I was dirt when I started working here?¡± ¡°Because I was terrified,¡± he admitted. ¡°Scared that if I admitted what happened between us mattered, I would have to d feeling something. And I had spent years convincing myself that caring about people was dangerous.¡± h actually ¡°And now?¡± ¡°Now I realize that caring about people¡­about you and Caesar¡­. is what makes me feel alive instead of just going through the motions.¡± I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to believe him so badly it hurt. ¡°Hunter, listen to me. I¡¯m not that lost neen¨Cyear¨Cold anymore. I¡¯m a mother now. Every choice I make has to be about keeping Caesar safe and happy.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Which means if you hurt him¡­if you make promises and then decide fatherhood is too hard¡­.I¡¯ll pack up and disappear. And this time, you won¡¯t find us.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Do you? Because this isn¡¯t just about you anymore. Caesar is already attached to you. He talks about you constantly, dreams about you, and asks me every day if you still want to be his daddy. If you break his heart, I¡¯ll never forgive you.¡± Hunter leaned forward, his voice fierce. ¡°Celine, I¡¯d rather lose everything I own than hurt that kid. He¡¯s¡­¡± He paused, struggling with the words. ¡°He¡¯s shown me what I¡¯ve been missing my whole life.¡± ¡°What about your mother? What about all that pressure to marry the right kind of woman?¡± ¡°My mother can either ept this or find herself seeing a lot less of her grandson. And marriage¡­¡± He paused. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not asking you to marry me or pretend we¡¯re some happy family. I just want us to figure out how to be good parents. Together. It wasn¡¯t a love confession, but it was real, And right now, real was exactly what I needed to hear. ¡°Alright,¡± I said quietly. ¡°Alright?¡± 2/4 13:16 Mon, 4 Aug ¡°We can try this. But there are rules.¡± ¡°Shoot.¡± Follow current nov?ls on Find~Novel ¡°First, no more games. If something I do pisses you off, say it. Don¡¯t make me y guessing games or walk around on eggshells.¡± ¡°Deal¡± ¡°Second, Caesar¡¯s needse before everything else. If we disagree about something that affects him, we hash it out like adults. No steamrolling ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Third, I want to talk to yourwyer about those papers. I need to understand what you¡¯re really offering here.¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± ¡°Andst,¡± I took a breath, ¡°we go slow. Caesar can move to that guest wing, but everything else happens step by step. No nishing, no assumptions.¡± Hunter nodded. ¡°Step by step sounds good to me.¡± Through the window, I watched Caesar arranging sticks and leaves into some detailed creation. He was talking to himself,pletely absorbed in his little project. When had Ist seen him this carefree? ¡°He¡¯s been different since he found out about you,¡± I said. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Happier. More sure of himself. Like he was waiting for something and finally got it.¡± ¡°That makes two of us,¡± Hunter said quietly. I looked at him, and for a moment, I saw past the expensive clothes and the carefully controlled expression. 4+201 I saw the man who had turned my world upside down, this beautiful, sinful man, whom I kept crossing the line for. Still remember the way he kissed me, touched me, and made love to me. ¡°Maybe we can make this work,¡± I said. ¡°Thope so, For Caesar¡¯s sake.¡± ¡°And for ours?¡± Hunter¡¯s eyes met mine. ¡°Yeah. For ours too.¡± Caesar¡¯sughter drifted through the window, and I found myself smiling. Maybe we were broken people trying to piece ourselves back together, but we were doing it for the right reasons. We were doing it for love. Legacy 104 Chapter 104 64% +20) -CELINE¡¯S POV- The guest wing felt strange butfortable. Caesar had spent the morning exploring every corner of his new room, announcing it ¡°the best room ever¡± before running outside to y. Now I stood in the main kitchen, mixing cookie dough and watching through the window as Hunter crouched beside my son in the garden. ¡°Caesar, if you put that stick there, the whole fort will fall,¡± Hun saying, his voice carrying through the open window. ¡°But Daddy Hunter, it looks cooler this way!¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s try it your way. But when it falls, we¡¯ll build it stronger together.¡± I smiled despite myself. Three days ago, I never would have imagined Hunter Reid patiently exining architecture to a three¨Cyear¨Cold. ¡°Is that really Mr. Reid out there?¡± Elisa whispered to Ana as they passed by the window. Ana paused in her cleaning, her eyes narrowing as she watched Hunterugh at something Caesar said. ¡°I suppose. Though ive never seen him smile like that.¡± ¡°He looks different when he¡¯s happy,¡± Elisa observed innocently. ¡°Different indeed,¡± Ana muttered, then looked directly at me. ¡°Some people get lucky, don¡¯t they?¡± I kept mixing my dough, refusing to take the bait. Ana had made her feelings about me clear months ago, and nothing I said would change her mind. The kitchen door burst open, and Caroline swept in like a whirlwind, her designer heels clicking on the marble floor. ¡°Celine!¡± she called out, then stopped dead when she saw Hunter and Caesar through the window. ¡°Oh my God.¡± ¡°What?¡± I asked, though I could guess what had caught her attention. ¡°That¡¯s my cousin. My serious, workaholic, never¨Csmiles cousin. And he¡¯s¡­¡± She gestured at the window. ¡°He¡¯s ying patty¨Ccake with a toddler.¡± ¡°They¡¯re building a fort,¡± I corrected. ¡°Even better.¡± Caroline watched for another moment, then turned to me with bright eyes. ¡°How long has this been going on?¡± ¡°This is day three of the new arrangement.¡± ¡°And he¡¯s actually being a father? Not just going through the actions?¡± I nced outside again. Hunter was now lying on his stomach in the dirt, his expensive shirt probably ruined, helping Caesar line up stones. ¡°He¡¯s trying.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be damned.¡± Caroline reached for one of my cooling cookies. ¡°Maybe there¡¯s hope for him after all.¡± ¡°Those are still hot,¡± I warned. ¡°Worth it,¡± she said, taking a bite. Then she noticed Ana still hovering nearby. ¡°Don¡¯t you have somewhere else to be?¡± Ana¡¯s cheeks flushed. ¡°I was just finishing¡­.¡± ¡°The gossip? Yes, I heard you.¡± Caroline¡¯s voice was pleasant but firm. ¡°Maybe focus on your actual job instead ofmenting on other people¡¯s lives.¡± ¡°Caroline,¡± I said quietly. ¡°Please don¡¯t.¡± ¡°What? I¡¯m just suggesting she might be happier if she worried less about your business and more about her own.¡± Ana shot me a cold look before walking away, and I sighed. Thest thing I needed was more drama with the staff. ¡°You¡¯re too nice,¡± Caroline said, settling onto a stool. ¡°That woman has been spreading rumors about you for weeks.¡± ¡°I know. But fighting with her won¡¯t help anything.¡± ¡°Maybe not, but it might make you feel better.¡± Caroline studied my face. ¡°How are you really doing? With all this?¡± I nced outside again. Caesar was now sitting on Hunter¡¯s shoulders, directing their fort¨Cbuilding like a tiny general. ¡°It¡¯splicated.¡± ¡°Because you still have feelings for him?¡± My hands stilled on the mixing bowl. ¡°I didn¡¯t say that.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have to. It¡¯s written all over your face when you look at him.¡± I felt my cheeks warm. ¡°Caroline, we just agreed to co¨Cparent. That¡¯s all this is.¡± 64% 20 ¡°Uh¨Chuh.¡± Caroline¡¯s grin was knowing. ¡°And I suppose you¡¯vepletely forgotten about whatever happened between you two while I was gone?¡± ¡°Nothing happened,¡± I said quickly. ¡°Celine.¡± ¡°Nothing that matters,¡± I amended. Carolineughed. ¡°Oh, honey. You are a terrible liar.¡± Before could respond, the kitchen door opened and Hunter walked in, Caesar still perched on his shoulders. ¡°Caroline, you¡¯re back,¡± Hunter said, his voice warm with genuine affection. ¡°How was Chicago?¡± ¡°Profitable,¡± Caroline replied. ¡°Though not as interesting as what¡¯s been happening here, apparently.¡± Hunter¡¯s eyes found mine briefly before he lifted Caesar down. ¡°Caesar, why don¡¯t you go wash your hands? You¡¯re covered in dirt.¡± ¡°Okay, Daddy Hunter!¡± Caesar ran toward the small bathroom off the kitchen. ¡°I should go say hello to my godson properly,¡± Caroline said, sliding off her stool. ¡°And then I really do have to run.¡± ¡°You just got here,¡± I protested. ¡°I have a dinner meeting. But don¡¯t worry¡­.you two will be fine without me.¡± She winked and followed Caesar toward the bathroom. Suddenly, it was just Hunter and me in therge kitchen. The silence felt heavy, charged with everything we weren¡¯t saying. ¡°The cookies smell good,¡± Hunter said finally. 13:17 Mon, 4 Aug A ¡°Vani coconut.¡± I focused on transferring the cooled ones to a container. ¡°Caesar¡¯s favorite.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to remember that.¡± 64% Hunter moved to the refrigerator and pulled out a water bottle: Instead of leaving, he leaned against the counter nearby, close enough that I could smell his cologne¡­.something clean and masculine that made my pulse quicken. ¡°How¡¯s the new room working out?¡± he asked. ¡°Caesar loves it. The window faces the garden, so he can watch the birds in the morning.¡± ¡°And you?¡± I nced up at him. ¡°It¡¯s nice. Thank you.¡± ¡°Celine.¡± His voice was softer now. ¡°About what happened the other night¡­¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need to talk about it,¡± I said quickly. ¡°Don¡¯t we?¡± I could feel him watching me, and despite my best efforts, I found myself looking at him. His blue eyes were intense, searching my face like he was trying to read my thoughts. ¡°We agreed to take things slow,¡± I reminded him. ¡°We did.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what we should do.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± But he didn¡¯t move away. If anything, he seemed to step closer. ¡°It¡¯s just difficult when you¡¯re right there, and I keep thinking about¡­..¡± ¡°Mama!¡± Caesar¡¯s voice rang out from the bathroom. ¡°I can¡¯t reach the soap!¡± The spell broke instantly. I stepped back, my cheeks burning. I should help him.¡± ¡°Celine, wait.¡± Hunter¡¯s voice stopped me at the doorway. I turned back, and the look on his face made my heart race. ¡°This isn¡¯t over,¡± he said quietly. Before I could respond, Caroline appeared with Caesar, his hands now clean but his shirt still streaked with garden dirt. ¡°Alright, munchkin,¡± Caroline said, ruffling Caesar¡¯s hair. ¡°I have to go, but I¡¯ll see you soon, okay?¡± ¡°Bye, Aunt Caroline!¡± Caesar hugged her legs tightly. ¡°Walk me out?¡± Caroline asked Hunter. He nodded, but his eyes stayed on me for another moment before he followed his cousin from the kitchen. I stood there in the sudden quiet, my heart still racing from our interrupted conversation. Through the window, I could see their fort in the garden¡­.a lopsided but charming structure that spoke ofpromise and patience. Maybe Hunter was changing. Maybe we really could make this work. 210 13:17 Mon, 4 Aug But as I packaged up the cookies, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that taking things slow was going to be a lot harder than either of us had nned. Especially when every look, every idental touch, reminded me of how good we had been together in those stolen moments. And how much I wanted more of them, despite every rational reason to be careful. ¡°Mama,¡± Caesar said, tugging on my apron. ¡°Can we take cookies to Daddy Hunter?¡± 1 looked down at my son¡¯s hopeful face and realized that slow or not, we were already in deeper than I¡¯d nned. ¡°Of course, baby,¡± I said. ¡°Let¡¯s go find him.¡± Because whatever this was between Hunter and me, Caesar¡¯s happiness came first. And if that meant spending more time in Hunter¡¯s dangerous, tempting presence, then I¡¯d just have to be strong enough to handle it. Even if I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted to be. AD This content belongs to f?ndnovel Legacy 105 Chapter 105 -CELINE¡¯S POV- ¡°Mama! Mama, look!¡± I stopped mid¨Cstep on the mansion¡¯s front drive, grocery bags weighing down my a as a sleek ck car pulled up directly in front of me. The tinted window rolled down, and Caesar¡¯s curly head popped out jack¨Cin¨Cthe¨Cbox. ¡°Caesar?¡± I blinked in surprise, then noticed Hunter behind the wheel, dressed in dark jeans and a simple gray t¨Cshirt that somehow made him look more devastating than any expensive suit. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Where are youing from?¡± Hunter¡¯s blue eyes swept over my maid uniform, thennded on the grocery bags cutting into my arms. I shifted the weight awkwardly. ¡°Head Maid Sally needed some thin from the market. I was just¡­¡± ¡°Why are you running errands?¡± There was a slight frown creasing his forehead that made my stomach flutter nervously ¡°It¡¯s part of my job,¡± I said carefully. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where are you two heading?¡± ¡°Daddy Hunter is taking me on an adventure!¡± Caesar bounced in his car seat, his excitement infectious. ¡°We¡¯re going to have the best day ever!¡± ¡°That sounds wonderful, baby.¡± I smiled at my son, then looked back at Hunter. ¡°I should let you two get going then.¡± ¡°Mama,e with us!¡± Caesar¡¯s eyes went wide with hope. ¡°Please? It¡¯ll be more fun with you there!¡± My heart squeezed at his pleading expression, but I shook my head. ¡°Oh, sweetie, I can¡¯t. I¡¯m busy today, and I¡¯m not dressed properly for an outing. You and Daddy Hunter should have fun without me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Hunter said, his voice casual but his eyes intense as they studied my face. ¡°I¡¯ll get you new clothes on the way.¡± ¡°No, really, I couldn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not asking, Celine.¡± His voice dropped to that cold,manding tone that never failed to make my spine straighten. ¡°Get in.¡± +froze, my stomach churning at the sudden shift in his behavior. The grocery bags suddenly felt impossibly heavy in my trembling hands. ¡°Mama, hurry!¡± Caesar called out,pletely ignorant of the tension crackling between his parents. ¡°Daddy Hunter says we¡¯re going somewhere amazing!¡± I blinked, pulled from my daze by my son¡¯s excitement. ¡°I¡­ could you open the trunk? For the groceries?¡± Hunter nodded, pressing a button that made the trunk pop open with a soft click. Two hourster, I stood in the dressing room of an upscale boutique, staring at myself in the mirror. The softvender sundress Hunter had picked out hugged my curves in all the right ces, the flowing skirt hitting just above my knees. It was beautiful, feminine, and probably cost more than I made in a month. ¡°Mama, are you ready yet?¡± Caesar¡¯s voice carried through the door. I smoothed down the dress one final time and stepped out. Hunter¡¯s eyes immediately locked onto me, his gaze traveling slowly from my face down to my new white sandals and back up again. The intensity in his blue eyes made heat pool low in my belly. ¡°You look beautiful,¡± he said quietly, his voice rough around the edges. ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered, my cheeks burning under his scrutiny. ¡°Come on!¡± Caesar grabbed both our hands, tugging us toward the boutique exit. ¡°Let¡¯s go have fun!¡± The amusement park was exactly what Caesar had dreamed of- bright lights, cheerful music, and the sweet smell of through the air. But I found myself more focused on Hunter than the attractions around us. candy floating He had insisted on buying Caesar every snack he pointed at, his face soft with indulgence whenever our sonughed. When Caesar begged to ride the Dragon¡¯s Fury roller coaster, I expected Hunter to suggest something tamer. Instead, he looked at me with a challenge in his eyes. ¡°Scared?¡± ¡°Of a roller coaster? Hardly.¡± I lifted my chin, ignoring the way my heart hammered against my ribs. That¡¯s how I found myself sandwiched between Hunter and Caesar in the front car of the most terrifying ride in the park, my knuckles white as I gripped the safety bar. ¡°This is AWESOME!¡± Caesar shrieked with delight as we plummeted down a ny¨Cfoot drop. I screamed, my stomach somewhere near my throat, while Hunter¡¯s deepughter rumbled beside me. When the ride finally screeched to a halt, I stumbled off on shaky legs. ¡°That was incredible!¡± Caesar bounced on his toes. ¡°Can we go again?¡± ¡°How about we try something a little less¡­¡± I searched for a diplomatic word. ¡°Terrifying?¡± Hunter supplied with an amused smirk. ¡°I was going to say intense.¡± His eyes darkened as they met mine. ¡°I don¡¯t mind intense.¡± The way he said it, low and heated, made my breath catch. Caesar, unaware of the charged moment between us, had already spotted his next target. ¡°Ooh, look! You can win prizes!¡± He pointed at a row of carnival games. At the shooting gallery, Caesar¡¯s eyes immediately locked onto a massive teddy bear hanging from the top prize row. It was nearly as big as he was, with soft brown fur and a red bow tie. ¡°I want that one, Daddy Hunter! Can you win it for me?¡± Hunter studied the game setup, then nced at the price. ¡°Caesar, those games are designed to be nearly impossible. How about we pick out something else?¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t,¡± I said quickly, touching his arm. ¡°You¡¯ll just waste your money. Those shooting games are rigged.¡± Hunter looked down at my hand on his arm, then back at my face. Something shifted in his expression, apetitive gleam entering his blue eyes. ¡°Is that a challenge, Celine?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s reasonable advice,¡± I said firmly. ¡°Trust me, I¡¯ve worked enough carnivals to know.¡± But he was already pulling out his wallet, handing bills to the game operator with a cocky smile that made my stomach flutter traitorously. Thirty minutes and way too much moneyter, Hunter stood holding a small teddy bear that would fit in Caesar¡¯s palm. His hair was slightly messed up, his jaw was tight with frustration, and I was trying very hard not tough. ¡°It¡¯s perfect, Daddy Hunter!¡± Caesar hugged the tiny bear to his chest like it was made of gold. ¡°I love him!¡± Hunter¡¯s face softened immediately at Caesar¡¯s joy, and my heart squeezed painfully in my chest. When he looked at our son like that, with such genuine tenderness, it was impossible to remember why I was supposed to be keeping my distance. ¡°Ice cream?¡± Hunter suggested, running a hand through his disheveled hair. ¡°Yes!¡± Caesar cheered. As we walked toward the ice cream stand, Hunter fell into step beside me, close enough that our arms brushed with each step. ¡°You were right about the game,¡± he admitted quietly. ¡°I usually am,¡± I said, then immediately felt my cheeks heat. ¡°I mean¡­¡± ¡°I like that about you.¡± His voice was low, intimate despite the chaos of the amusement park around us. ¡°You¡¯re not afraid to tell me when I¡¯m being an idiot.¡± I nced up at him, surprised by the admission. ¡°Is that what I do?¡± ¡°Among other things.¡± His eyes met mine, and suddenly the space between us felt charged with electricity. ¡°Mama, what vor do you want?¡± Caesar called out, already at the ice cream cart. ¡°Vani,¡± I called back, grateful for the interruption, ¡°Boring,¡± Hunter murmured close to my ear, making me shiver. ¡°ssic,¡± I corrected. ¡°I¡¯ll remember that.¡± The way he said it, like he was filing away every detail about me, made my pulse r¨¢ce. By the time the sun began setting, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold, Caesar was dragging his feet between us, his energy finally depleted. A ug V.A The tiny teddy bear was clutched in one hand, a half¨Ceaten stick of cotton candy in the other. ¡°I think someone¡¯s ready to head home,¡± I said softly, watching my son¡¯s eyelids droop. ¡°Best day ever,¡± Caesar mumbled, then immediately perked up when he spotted one more ride. ¡°Daddy Hunter, can we¡­¡± ¡°Caesar,¡± Hunter said gently, crouching down to our son¡¯s level. ¡°What do you say we save some fun for next time?¡± ¡°Next time?¡± Caesar¡¯s eyes went wide with hope. Hunter nced up at me, something unreadable in his expression. ¡°If your mama says it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Can we, Mama? Please?¡± Looking down at my son¡¯s hopeful face, then at Hunter¡¯s careful expression, I felt something shift in my chest. Despite everything between us, despite all my reasons for caution, today had been¡­ perfect. ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± I said softly. Caesar seemed satisfied with that answer, allowing Hunter to scoop him up in his arms. Within minutes, our little boy w Hunter¡¯s shoulder, his breathing in soft, even puffs. ¡°I can take him,¡± I offered as we approached the car. ¡°I¡¯ve got him.¡± Hunter¡¯s voice was gentle, protective. ¡°He¡¯s fine.¡± I watched as he carefully maneuvered Caesar into the backseat, buckling him in with skillful ease that made my heart clench. When did Hunter be so natural at this father thing? op against I slid into the passenger seat, reaching for my seatbelt as Hunter settled behind the wheel. But the belt wouldn¡¯t budge, the mechanism seeming to stick no matter how hard I tugged. ¡°It¡¯s jammed,¡± I muttered, pulling harder. ¡°Let me help.¡± Before I could protest, Hunter was out of his seat and around to my side of the car. He leaned across me, his chest brushing against my shoulder as he worked the seatbelt mechanism. His cologne filled my senses ¨C that clean, masculine scent that was uniquely his. ¡°There,¡± he said softly, but he didn¡¯t pull away. Instead, he stayed leaning over me, his face inches from mine. I could feel the warmth of his breath on my cheek, could see the way his blue eyes had darkened as they dropped to my lips. My breathing became shallow, uneven. Without thinking, I bit my lower lip, a nervous habit that made Hunter¡¯s eyes re with something hot and dangerous. My hands twisted together in myp, my heart hammering so loudly I was sure he could hear it. The space between us seemed to shrink, charged with three years of unresolved tension and want. Hunter¡¯s hand came up, his thumb hovering just below my bottom lip. ¡°Celine,¡± he whispered, and my name sounded like a prayer on his lips. nuffling sound from the backseat broke the spell. We both turned to see Caesar shifting in his sleep, his tiny teddy bear sliding from Original content can be found at f?ndnovel his grasp. Hunter and I looked at each other and burst into quietughter, the tension breaking like a soap bubble. ¡°He has perfect timing,¡± Hunter said ruefully, settling back into his seat. ¡°Always has,¡± I agreed, my heart still racing as I finally managed to buckle my seatbelt. As Hunter started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, I found myself stealing nces at him in the dim light from the dashboard. His profile was strong, masculine, but there was something softer there now than there had been weeks ago. ¡°Today was¡­¡± I started, then trailed off, not sure how to finish. ¡°Perfect,¡± Hunter said quietly, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. ¡°It was perfect.¡± As we drove through the quiet streets toward home, Caesar sleeping peacefully in the backseat and the memory of Hunte burning between us, I couldn¡¯t help but think that maybe, just maybe, we were finally bing the family Caesar had alv t¨Ckiss med of. 20 But as Hunter¡¯s phone buzzed on the dashboard, disying his mother¡¯s name on the screen, reality came crashing back. Nothing about this situation was simple, and I was fooling myself if I thought one perfect day could erase all the obstacles standing between
  1. us.
Hunter declined the call without even looking at it, his jaw tightening slightly. ¡°Everything okay?¡± I asked softly. ¡°Everything¡¯s perfect,¡± he repeated, but something in his voice had changed. ¡°As long as we¡¯re together.¡± The promise in his words sent a thrill through me, even as a small voice in the back of my mind whispered that perfect moments like this neversted long in my world. But as Caesar¡¯s soft breathing filled the car and Hunter¡¯s hand brushed mine on the center console, I decided that for now, perfect was enough. Legacy 106 Chapter 106 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- ¡°Mr. Reid, we¡¯ll take care of the groceries right away.¡± Head Maid Sally¡¯s voice cut through the evening air as I pulled into the mansion¡¯s circr drive. She and Ana stood waiting by the front steps, their expressions carefully neutral as I cut the engine. I had called ahead, knowing Celine would need help with the bags. What I hadn¡¯t expected was the way both women¡¯s eyes would widen when Celine stepped out of my car, transformed from the maid in uniform who had left this afternoon into the stunning woman in thevender dress I had bought her. Celine¡¯s face burned crimson under their scrutiny, her hands smoothing nervously over the soft fabric. I could practically hear the wheels turning in their heads, the assumptions being made, the gossip that would spread through the staff quarters by morning. ¡°Celine,¡± I called as she moved toward the backseat, clearly intending to get Caesar herself. But I was already there, carefully lifting my sleeping son into my arms. His small body was warm and heavy with exhaustion, the tiny teddy bear still clutched in his fist. ¡°Hunter, I can take him,¡± Celine called behind me as I headed toward the east wing. I ignored her, my steps steady as I carried Caesar away from the servant quarters, away from the prying eyes and whispered judgments. This was where he belonged now. Where they both belonged. At the door to their suite, I waited while Celine fumbled with her keys, her hands trembling slightly. When she finally got it open, I stepped inside and made my way directly to Caesar¡¯s room. The space still smelled faintly of fresh paint, but it was warm and weing now. Iid him gently on the small bed, working carefully to remove his shoes without waking him. His darkshes fluttered against his cheeks as I pulled the covers up to his chin. ¡°He looks exhausted,¡± I murmured, stepping back from the bed. Celine watched from the doorway, her expression soft. ¡°It was a big day for him.¡± ¡°For all of us,¡± I said quietly, meeting her eyes. We stood in the living room afterward, the silence stretching between us like a taut wire. The easyfort we had found at the amusement park seemed to have faded the moment we returned to reality. ¡°Thank you,¡± Celine said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°For today. For everything.¡± I shrugged, ufortable with her gratitude. ¡°It was nothing.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t nothing to Caesar.¡± Her brown eyes were earnest, grateful. ¡°He¡¯s never had anything like this before.¡± ¡°He should have,¡± I said roughly. ¡°He should have had everything.¡± Before she could respond to that loaded statement, I cleared my throat. ¡°You must be tired. You should get some rest.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± she asked. ¡°Did you¡­ did you have fun today?¡± The question caught me off guard. Fun. When was thest time someone had asked me if I¡¯d had fun? ¡°Yes,¡± I said honestly. ¡°I did.¡± Her smile was radiant, transforming her entire face. ¡°Good. I¡¯m d.¡± Before I could process what was happening, she rose up on her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek. ¡®Her lips were warm, gentle, and the sweet scent of her perfume filled my senses. My pulse stuttered as she pulled away, her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment. ¡°Goodnight, Hunter,¡± she whispered. I nodded stiffly, not trusting my voice, and turned toward the door. She closed it softly behind me, and I made it exactly ten steps down the hallway before I had to stop. ¡°Fuck,¡± I groaned, running both hands through my hair. A chokedugh escaped me as I looked down at myself. My jeans were ufortably tight, my body responding to that innocent kiss like I was a teenager again. Heat burned through my veins, and every rational thought in my head was being drowned out by the memory of her lips on my skin. I leaned against the wall, my head falling back as I fought for control. It would be so easy to go back. To knock on that door and take what I wanted. To carry her to my bed and spend the night showing her exactly how much she affected me. But I had promised her we would take things slow. I had given her my word. Even if it killed me. Twenty minutester, I was in my study with a ss of whiskey in my hand and my phone pressed to my ear. ¡°Vincent.¡± ¡°Hunter!¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was barely audible over the pounding music in the background. ¡°What¡¯s up, man? You sound like hell.¡± ¡°I need advice,¡± I said bluntly, taking arge swallow of whiskey. Vincent¡¯sughter boomed through the phone. ¡°Holy shit. The great Hunter Reid needs advice? This is the,best news I¡¯ve heard all week.¡± ¡°Your sense of humor hasn¡¯t improved,¡± I muttered. ¡°What about your maid? You know, the mother of your son?¡± My grip tightened on the ss. ¡°Celine is the problem.¡± ¡°Then solve it,¡± Vincent said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°March your ass over there and¡­.¡± ¡°We have boundaries,¡± I cut him off, ¡°She wants to take things slow.¡± 13:03 Tue, 5 Aug ue, 5 A There was a pause. ¡°Wait. You¡¯re actually respecting boundaries? Who are you and what did you do with my best friend?¡± ¡°Vincent.¡± ¡°Okay, okay. You want to blow off some steam? I¡¯m at this new club downtown¡­..¡± ¡°No.¡± The word came out sharper than I¡¯d intended. ¡°No?¡± I closed my eyes, admitting the truth I¡¯d been avoiding. ¡°I only want her.¡± The silence stretched between us. ¡°Christ, Hunter,¡± Vincent said finally, his voice suddenly serious. ¡°You¡¯re in deep.¡± Latest content published on FindN()vel I ended the call without responding, but his words echoed in my head as I sat in the dark study, nursing my whiskey. In deep. Was that what this was? This constant need to be near her, to protect her, to make her smile? Setting down my empty ss, I stood and reached for my car keys, intending to go for a drive to clear my head. But my pocket was empty. My keys. Where had I left them? The memory hit me. Caesar¡¯s room. I had set them on his nightstand when I¡¯d taken off his shoes. I checked my watch. Past ten o¡¯clock now. I could wait until tomorrow. But the thought of seeing Celine again, even briefly, was too tempting to resist. I made my way back to the east wing, my footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway. At their door, I knocked softly. No answer. I knocked again, a little louder this time. Still nothing. I was about to turn and leave when my hand found the doorknob. I turned it experimentally, surprised when it gave way. Unlocked. ¡°Celine?¡± I called out as I stepped inside, my voice echoing in the empty living room. No response. The space was dimly lit by a singlemp, and as my eyes adjusted, I noticed something that made my breath catch. Thevender dress I had bought her was draped over the back of the couch. Her shoes were kicked off beside it. The sound of running water drifted from the bathroom, apanied by something that made my chest tighten. Celine was humming. Her voice was soft, melodic,pletely unguarded. She had no idea I was here, no idea that I was standing in her living room, fighting the most intense internal battle of my life. I should leave. I should grab my keys from Caesar¡¯s room and get the hellout of here before I did something we¡¯d both regret. But my feet wouldn¡¯t move. The sound of her voice, so peaceful and content, held me frozen in ce. I forced myself to turn toward Caesar¡¯s room, retrieving my keys from the nightstand with hands that weren¡¯t quite steady. The boy was still * 58% sleeping soundly, his teddy bear now tucked under his arm.. When I returned to the living room, the humming had stopped. The water was still running, but the silence felt different somehow. More charged. I stood there for a moment longer than necessary, keys in my hand, knowing I should leave but unable to make myself move toward the door. The bathroom door was just down the hall. Twenty steps, maybe less. My hand tightened around my keys as I fought with myself. This wasn¡¯t who I was supposed to be. I was controlled, disciplined. I didn¡¯t chase after women or break promises. But Celine wasn¡¯t just any woman. The water shut off, and I heard the soft sound of movement behind the bathroom door. I had maybe thirty seconds before she emerged. I could stay. I could wait here and see what happened when she found me in her living room, still dressed for the day we¡¯d shared, still carrying the scent of her perfume on my skin. Or I could leave, honoring the boundary she¡¯d set, the promise I¡¯d made. The bathroom door handle turned. I made my choice. Legacy 107 Chapter 107 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- The bathroom door opened with a soft click, and I turned from where I stood in the middle of her living room, my keys forgotten in my palm. Celine emerged wrapped in a pale pink robe, her damp hair falling in waves around her shoulders. When she saw me, she froze, her hand still on the doorknob. ¡°Hunter.¡± Her voice was carefully neutral. ¡°Did you forget something?¡± I held up my keys. ¡°Caesar¡¯s room.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She pulled the robe tighter around herself, creating another barrier between us. ¡°Well, you have them now.¡± The dismissal in her tone was crystal clear. Polite, grateful, but final. Like I was a stranger who had done her a favor and now it was time for me to leave. ¡°Celine.¡± ¡°Thank you for today,¡± she said quickly, not meeting my eyes. ¡°Caesar had the most wonderful time. It was¡­ it was really nice of you to include me.¡± Nice. The word hit me like a p. ¡°Nice?¡± I repeated, my voice dangerously quiet. She nodded, still looking anywhere but at me. ¡°I should let you get going. It¡¯ste, and I¡¯m sure you have important things to do tomorrow.¡± Important things. Like she wasn¡¯t the most important thing in my life right now. I watched her move toward the door, clearly expecting me to follow. Instead, I stayed exactly where I was. ¡°We¡¯re not doing this dance again, Celine.¡± She stopped, her hand on the door handle. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡± ¡°Yes, you do.¡± I took a step closer, and she immediately stiffened. ¡°You¡¯re building walls again. After the day we just had, after everything we¡¯ve shared, you¡¯re trying to push me away.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not pushing you away. I¡¯m being realistic.¡± She finally looked at me, and I saw the fear she was trying so hard to hide. ¡°Today was lovely, but it doesn¡¯t change anything.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t change what?¡± ¡°This.¡± She gestured between us, her voice rising slightly. ¡°Us. Whatever this is. It can¡¯t¡­ it can¡¯t continue.¡± The panic in her voice made something fierce and protective rise in my chest. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Because!¡± The word burst out of her, raw and desperate. ¡°Because men like you don¡¯t end up with women like me, Hunter. Not really. Not forever.¡± There it was. The truth she¡¯d been trying to hide behind politeness and gratitude. ¡°Men like me,¡± I repeated slowly. UM 58%Á¿ ¡°Rich. Powerful. Important.¡± She wrapped her arms around herself like she was trying to hold herself together. ¡°You have your whole life nned out. Your mother, your business, your future wife who¡¯ll look perfect on your arm at charity gs¡­¡± ¡°My future wife?¡± I couldn¡¯t keep the incredulity out of my voice. ¡°Someone from your world. Someone who fits.¡± Her voice cracked on thest word. ¡°Someone who isn¡¯t a maid with a three¨Cyear¨Cold son and a high school diploma.¡± I stared at her, seeing clearly for the first time what was really happening here. This wasn¡¯t about me. This wasn¡¯t about us. This was about every person who had ever made her feel like she wasn¡¯t enough. ¡°Celine,¡± I said quietly, ¡°look at me.¡± She shook her head, tears threatening to spill over. ¡°Look at me.¡± Reluctantly, she raised her eyes to mine. ¡°Do you remember what you said to me at the shooting gallery today?¡± She frowned, confused by the change of topic. ¡°You told me I was being an idiot. You were right about the games being rigged, and you told me exactly what you thought about my stubborn refusal to listen.¡± ¡°I¡­ yes.¡± ¡°And when Caesar wanted that teddy bear, what did you do?¡± ¡°I tried to talk you out of it.¡± ¡°You stood your ground. You didn¡¯t care that I was your boss or that I had money. You cared about what was right.¡± I took another step closer. ¡°And when we were on that roller coaster, screaming our heads off, were you thinking about charity gs?¡± A tiny smile tugged at the corner of her mouth despite herself/¡°No.¡± ¡°What were you thinking about?¡± ¡°How terrifying it was. How Caesar wasughing. How you¡­¡± She stopped. ¡°How I what?¡± ¡°How you looked so happy,¡± she whispered. ¡°Happier than I¡¯d ever seen you.¡± ¡°Because I was with you,¡± I said simply. ¡°Because for the first time in years, I wasn¡¯t Hunter Reid, CEO. I was just¡­ me. The man who spent thirty dors trying to win a teddy bear because it would make his son smile.¡± Her breath caught. ¡°His son?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I moved closer, close enough to see the gold flecks in her brown eyes. ¡°Caesar is mine, Celine. In every way that matters. And so are you.¡± ¡°Hunter¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want a wife who looks perfect on my arm. I want the woman who argues with me about rigged carnival games. I want the woman who hums in the shower and kisses my cheek like it¡¯s the most natural thing in the world. I want the woman who makes meugh until my stomach hurts and who isn¡¯t afraid to tell me when I¡¯m being an ass.¡± Tears were streaming down her face now, but she didn¡¯t look away. ¡°I want you, Celine. Not some fantasy version of you that fits into my world. You. Exactly as you are. With your son, your dreams, your stubbornness, and your incredibly bad habit of assuming the worst about my intentions.¡± ¡°But your mother¡­.¡± ¡°Will learn to ept it or she won¡¯t. But that¡¯s my problem to handle, not yours.¡± ¡°The staff, the gossip¡­..¡± ¡°Let them talk. I don¡¯t give a damn what they think.¡± ¡°But I do!¡± The words exploded out of her. ¡°I have to live here, Hunter. I have to face them every day. I have to protect Caesar from hearing whispers about his mother being the boss¡¯s whore.¡± The word hit me like a physical blow. ¡°Is that what you think you are to me?¡± Checktest chapters at Find~Novel She looked away, her silence answer enough. ¡°Jesus, Celine.¡± I ran my hands through my hair, anger and frustration warring in my chest. ¡°How can you think that after today? After everything?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s what everyone else will think,¡± she said quietly. ¡°And eventually, you¡¯ll start to see it too. The novelty will wear off, and you¡¯ll realize what everyone else knows ¨C that I don¡¯t belong in your world.¡± ¡°My world is cold and empty and full of people who smile in my face and count my money behind my back,¡± I said harshly. ¡°My world is board meetings and charity functions and conversations about stock prices over dinner. My world is lonely, Celine. It¡¯s been lonely for years.¡± I moved closer, until there was barely a breath of space between us. ¡°But today, for the first time since I can remember, I wasn¡¯t lonely. Today I had a family. Today I had you.¡± She was crying openly now, her shoulders shaking with the force of her sobs. ¡°I¡¯m scared,¡± she whispered. ¡°I know.¡± I reached up and cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs wiping away her tears. ¡°I¡¯m scared too.¡± ¡°You are?¡± ¡°Terrified,¡± I admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve never felt like this about anyone before. I¡¯ve never wanted to protect someone the way I want to protect you and Caesar. I¡¯ve never been willing to fight my entire family for someone.¡± ¡°You¡¯d do that?¡± ¡°I¡¯d do anything for you,¡± I said simply. ¡°Anything at all. But I need you to stop running from me. I need you to stop assuming the worst. I need you to trust me.¡± She searched my face, looking for lies, for cracks, for any sign that this was temporary. Whatever she saw there must have convinced her, because she nodded slowly. 13:04 Tue, 5 Aug ¡°Okay,¡± she whispered. ¡°Okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try. To trust you. To stop running.¡± She took a shaky breath. ¡°But Hunter, if you hurt me, if you decide I¡¯m not worth the fight¡­¡± ¡°Iwon¡¯t.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know that.¡± ¡°Yes, I do.¡± I leaned my forehead against hers, breathing in the sweet scent of her shampoo. ¡°Because I¡¯m in love with you, Celine. Completely, hopelessly, terrifyingly in love with you.¡± Her eyes went wide with shock. JOW ¡°And I¡¯m in love with our son, who has my eyes and your stubborn chin and who makes me want to be a better man than I¡¯ve ever been.¡± ¡°Hunter¡­¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s too soon. I know this is crazy. I know I¡¯m asking you to trust me with your heart when I¡¯ve given you every reason not to. But I¡¯m asking anyway.¡± I pulled back to look at her. ¡°Because what we have is real, Celine. What we have is worth fighting for.¡± For a long moment, she just stared at me, tears still tracking down her cheeks. Then, so quietly I almost missed it, she whispered: ¡°I love you too.¡± The words hit me like lightning, electrifying every nerve in my body. Before I could respond, she was rising on her toes, her lips finding mine in a kiss that tasted like tears and hope and forever. When we finally broke apart, both of us breathing hard, I rested my forehead against hers again. ¡°So what now?¡± she asked. ¡°Now we figure it out together,¡± I said. ¡°All of it. My mother, the staff, and the gossip. We face it together.¡± ¡°Together,¡± she repeated, like she was testing the word. ¡°Together.¡± A soft sound from Caesar¡¯s room made us both turn. He was talking in his sleep, probably dreaming about roller coasters and cotton candy and the best day of his young life. ¡°He¡¯s going to be so happy,¡± Celine said softly. ¡°That we¡¯re together?¡± ¡°That he gets to keep his daddy.¡± The simple trust in her words nearly undid me. I pulled her close, holding her tight against my chest, feeling her heart beat against mine. ¡°He¡¯s not the only one who gets to keep me,¡± I murmured into her hair. She pulled back to look at me, her eyes bright with unshed tears. ¡°Promise me something?¡± ¡°Anything.¡± ¡°When your mother finds out about us, about Caesar¡­ promise me you won¡¯t let her make you choose,¡± 1 frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t sacrifice your family for us. If ites down to it, if she makes you choose between your inheritance and us¡­ Promise me you¡¯ll choose what¡¯s best for your future.¡± ¡°Celine¡­¡± ¡°Promise me.¡± I cupped her face in my hands, looking directly into her eyes. ¡°I promise you that when the timees, I¡¯ll choose what¡¯s best for our future. All of us. Caesar, you, and me.¡± She nodded, satisfied with that answer, and let me pull her close again. We stood there in the quiet of her living room, holding each other, listening to our son¡¯s peaceful breathing from the next room. For the first time in my life, I understood what home felt like. Whatever storms wereing ¨C and I knew they wereing ¨C we¡¯d weather them together. But first, I was going to savor this moment. This perfect, peaceful moment when everything felt possible. AD Legacy 108 Chapter 108 4358% -HUNTER¡¯S POV The familiar scent of polished marble and expensive cologne filled my nostrils as I walked through The Aurelia¡¯s main lobby. My hotel. My empire. The ce where I¡¯d built my reputation as a ruthless businessman who demanded perfection from everyone around me. But today felt different. Today, I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about cotton candy and roller coasters and the way Celine had looked at me when I told her I loved her. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Reid,¡± the front desk manager called out as I passed, her voice crisp and professional. I nodded in response, my attention already moving to the reports in my hand. upancy rates, customer satisfaction scores, and staff performance reviews. The numbers that usually consumed my thoughts felt strangely unimportant this morning. Behind me, I could hear the soft murmur of my management team discussing quarterly projections and renovation schedules. Normally, I¡¯d be leading that conversation. Today, I was distracted by thoughts of how to make Celine smile again. I made my way down the east corridor, mentally noting the fresh flowers in the hallway and the pristine condition of the carpets. Everything was exactly as it should be. Perfect. Controlled. A soft thud came from one of the storage closets ahead, followed by what sounded like muffledughter. I paused, frowning. Storage closets weren¡¯t meant for socializing. The door opened with a quiet click, and Vincent emerged, running his hands through his disheveled hair and straightening his tie. His usually perfect appearance was rumpled, his shirt slightly untucked, and there was a satisfied smirk on his face that I recognized all too well. I stopped walking, crossing my arms and watching in silent amusement as my best friend tried to make himself presentable. The management team behind me had noticed too, their conversations dying as they followed my gaze. Vincent still hadn¡¯t seen me. He was too busy smoothing down his hair and checking his reflection in his phone screen. A momentter, a young woman slipped out of the same closet, her cleaning uniform wrinkled and her face flushed bright red. She kept her head down, clearly hoping to escape unnoticed. My amusement died instantly when I recognized her. ke Turner. Celine¡¯s friend. The auburn¨Chaired cleaner who had been working here for the past six months and who, ording to Celine, was one of the few people who had ever shown her genuine kindness. I cleared my throat loudly. Vincent¡¯s head snapped up, his eyes meeting mine across the hallway. Instead of looking embarrassed, the bastard had the audacity to grin at me like he¡¯d just won the lottery. 58% ke, on the other hand, looked like she wanted the marble floor to open up and swallow her whole. Her hazel eyes went wide with panic when she realized who was standing there watching her. ¡°Gentlemen,¡± I said to my management team without turning around, ¡°I¡¯ll meet you in Conference Room A in ten minutes. We¡¯ll continue this discussion there.¡± The sound of expensive shoes on marble echoed down the hallway as they quickly made their retreat, no doubt eager to spread gossip about what they¡¯d just witnessed. Vincent sauntered toward me, his confidence unshaken. ¡°Hunter! What brings you to this wing of the hotel?¡± ¡°Apparently, I¡¯m here to catch my best friend using my storage closets as his personal yground.¡± I looked him up and down with obvious distaste. ¡°Really, Vincent? During work hours?¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t me me.¡± Vincent threw his arm around my shoulders with the easy familiarity of twenty years of friendship. ¡°ke here was giving me a very thorough education on proper cleaning techniques. Weren¡¯t you, sweetheart?¡± ke¡¯s face somehow managed to turn an even deeper shade of red. She looked like she was seriously considering making a run for it. ¡°If you¡¯re done with the clubs and call girls, I see you¡¯ve moved on to harassing my staff,¡± I said dryly, shrugging off Vincent¡¯s arm. ¡°Harassing? That¡¯s a strong word. I prefer ¡®mentoring.¡°¡± Vincent¡¯s grin was absolutely shameless. ¡°ke needed some guidance on¡­ efficiency.¡± I could practically feel ke¡¯s mortification radiating across the space between us. The poor woman looked like she was about to cry from embarrassment. Vincent must have sensed her difort because he stepped closer to me, clearly trying to steer me away from the situation. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go grab some coffee and discuss those new marketing campaigns. ke has work to get back to, don¡¯t you, ke?¡± But I wasn¡¯t finished yet. Not by a long shot. ¡°Actually, I need to speak with ke,¡± I said, my voice carrying the authority that made grown men in boardrooms nervous. Both Vincent and ke froze, staring at me with identical expressions of shock. ¡°You do?¡± ke¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper. Vincent frowned, his protective instincts clearly kicking in. ¡°Hunter, maybe we should¡­.¡± ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find~Novel ¡°Give us a moment, Vincent.¡± My tone brooked no argument. Vincent hesitated for a second, his eyes flicking between ke and me, then nodded reluctantly. ¡°I¡¯ll be right around the corner if you need me,¡± he said to ke, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze before walking away. ke and I were alone in the hallway now, the silence stretching between us like a taut wire. She kept her eyes fixed on the floor, her hands sped tightly in front of her. ¡°Am I getting fired?¡± she asked quietly. I studied her for a moment, taking in her defensive posture and the way she was trying to make herself as small as possible. 2 4.52 58% 201 It reminded me painfully of how Celine had lookedst night when she¡¯d tried to convince me that she wasn¡¯t good enough for my world. ¡°You were found engaging in inappropriate behavior with another employee during work hours,¡± I said slowly, letting the weight of my words settle. ¡°I could have you terminated immediately. I could also make sure you never work in hospitality again.¡± Her shoulders sagged, and I saw her hands tremble slightly. ¡°But,¡± I continued, ¡°I¡¯m willing to overlook this incident.¡± Her head snapped up, hope and confusion warring in her expression. ¡°You are?¡± ¡°You¡¯re close with Celine,¡± I said simply. ¡°That earns you a certain amount of¡­ consideration.¡± Understanding dawned in her eyes, followed quickly by wariness. ke might be young, but she wasn¡¯t stupid. She knew there had to be more to this conversation. ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked, her voice stronger now. I almost smiled at her directness. No wonder she and Celine were friends. ¡°I want to take Celine on a proper date,¡± I said. ¡°Since you¡¯re her friend, I thought you might have some insight into what she would enjoy.¡± ke blinked at me like I¡¯d just announced I was nning to run away and join the circus. ¡°You want dating advice? From me?¡± ¡°Is that so hard to believe?¡± ¡°Honestly? Yes.¡± She crossed her arms, some of her natural confidence returning. ¡°You¡¯re Hunter Reid. You probably have a personal assistant whose job it is to n perfect dates.¡± ¡°Perfect dates for the wrong woman,¡± I said quietly. ¡°I want to n the perfect date for Celine.¡± Something in my tone must have convinced her because her defensive posture softened slightly. ¡°You really care about her,¡± she said, and it wasn¡¯t quite a question. ¡°I love her.¡± The simple admission seemed to surprise us both. ke¡¯s eyes widened, and I realized it was the first time I¡¯d said those words to anyone other than Celine herself. ¡°She loves you too, you know,¡± ke said softly. ¡°She¡¯s been different since she started working for you. Happier. More¡­ hopeful.¡± ¡°Even when I was being an ass to her?¡± ke¡¯sugh was sharp. ¡°Especially then. Celine has a weakness for broken things. She thinks she can fix everyone.¡± ¡°And what do you think?¡± ¡°I think maybe you¡¯re not as broken as you want everyone to believe.¡± She tilted her head, studying me with new interest. ¡°So, what did you want to know?¡± Relief flooded through me. ¡°Everything. What does she like to do? What makes her happy? What are her dreams beyond taking care of Caesar?¡± ke¡¯s expression softened, and for the first time since I¡¯d caught her with Vincent, she lookedpletely rxed. ¡°Celine loves movies,¡± she said. ¡°Old ones, new ones, doesn¡¯t matter. She says she likes getting lost in other people¡¯s stories. She¡¯s always wanted to go to one of those fancy theaters where they serve dinner during the show.¡± I made a mental note. That sounded easy enough to arrange. ¡°She¡¯s obsessed with art,¡± ke continued. ¡°Always has been. She used to drag me to the free museums on weekends, back when we both had time off together. There¡¯s this little painting studio downtown that offers couples sses. She mentioned it once, said it looked romantic.¡± ¡°Art museums and painting sses,¡± I repeated. ¡°What else?¡± ¡°Food.¡± ke grinned. ¡°The woman has a serious love affair with pasta. Specifically spaghetti. She says it reminds her of childhood, before things gotplicated with her family.¡± I thought about the borate French restaurants I usually frequented for business dinners. Somehow, I doubted Celine would be impressed by molecr gastronomy and seven¨Ccourse tasting menus. ¡°But honestly,¡± ke continued, her voice growing softer, ¡°Celine finds joy in the smallest things. A perfect sunset, Caesar¡¯sugh, finding a twenty¨Cdor bill in an old jacket pocket. She doesn¡¯t need grand gestures or expensive gifts. She just needs to feel¡­ seen. Valued.¡± ¡°Seen,¡± I repeated, the word hitting me with unexpected force. ¡°Most people look at Celine and see what shecks,¡± ke said quietly. ¡°Poor family, single mother, no college degree. They see someone to pity or dismiss. But if you actually see her ¨C really see her ¨C you¡¯ll realize she¡¯s the strongest, mostpassionate person you¡¯ll ever meet.¡± I thought about the way Celine had stood up to me about the carnival games, how she¡¯d protected Caesar from my initial hostility, how she¡¯d kissed my cheek so naturallyst night like it was the most normal thing in the world. ¡°I do see her,¡± I said quietly. ke studied my face for a long moment, then nodded. ¡°Yeah, I think you do. That¡¯s why she¡¯s falling for you, despite her better judgment.¡± ¡°Her better judgment?¡± ¡°Come on, Mr. Reid. You know as well as I do that this rtionship is going to cause problems. Your mother, the staff, the social differences between you two.¡± ke¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°Celine¡¯s been hurt before. If you¡¯re not absolutely certain about this, if there¡¯s any chance you¡¯ll change your mind when things get difficult, you should end it now.¡± The protective edge in her voice reminded me why Celine valued her friendship so much. ke might work as a cleaner, but she had the fierce loyalty of a true friend. ¡°I¡¯m not changing my mind,¡± I said firmly. ¡°Whatever problemse, we¡¯ll face them together.¡± ke searched my face, looking for any sign of doubt or deception. Whatever she saw there must have satisfied her because she nodded slowly. ¡°Good,¡± she said. ¡°Because if you hurt her, Vincent won¡¯t be the only one you have to worry about. Celine has more people who care about her than she realizes.¡± 13:04 Tue, 5 Aug ¡°Is that a threat?¡± ke¡¯s grin was sharp and entirely unapologetic. ¡°That¡¯s a promise.¡± I found mysell almost smiling. Celine definitely knew how to pick her friends. ¡°So,¡± ke said, her tone returning to business, ¡°when are you nning this perfect date?¡± ¡°Soon,¡± I said. ¡°This weekend, maybe.¡± ¡°Make it Saturday,¡± ke said decisively. ¡°I can watch Caesar for a few hours. Give you two some real alone time.¡± The offer surprised me. ¡°You¡¯d do that?¡± ¡°For Celine¡¯s happiness? Absolutely.¡± ke paused, then added with a mischievous glint in her eyes, ¡°Besides, Vincent owes me dinner after today¡¯s¡­ incident. Might as well kill two birds with one stone.¡± I shook my head, wondering how my organized, controlled life had suddenly be soplicated. But looking at ke¡¯s genuine smile, thinking about Celine¡¯sughter from yesterday, I realized I didn¡¯t mind theplications at all. ¡°Saturday it is,¡± I said. ke nodded, then hesitated. ¡°Mr. Reid? Thank you. For not firing me, I mean.¡± ¡°Just¡­ try to keep your educational sessions with Vincent to non¨Cwork hours in the future.¡± Herugh was bright and infectious. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best, but you know how persuasive your best friend can be.¡± Unfortunately, I did know. Which reminded me that I had a certain marketing director to have a very serious conversation with about appropriate workce behavior. But first, I had a date to n. A perfect date for the woman who was quickly bing the center of my universe. As ke hurried back to her cleaning duties and I made my way toward the conference room, I found myself smiling for the second time in two days. Celine Brown was about to discover just how much she meant to me. AD Comment Legacy 109 Chapter 109 201 -CELINE¡¯S POV- The sound of familiarughter drifting through the mansion¡¯s halls made me pause in the middle of folding Caesar¡¯sundry. That voice¡­ it couldn¡¯t be. I set down the tiny dinosaur t¨Cshirt I¡¯d been smoothing and hurried toward the main foyer, my bare feet silent on the marble floors. The closer Agot, the more certain I became. ke. Sure enough, there she was, standing in the middle of Hunter¡¯s pristine entryway like she owned the ce. Her auburn hair caught the morning sunlight streaming through the massive windows, and she was turning in a slow circle, taking in every detail of the opulent space. ¡°Well, well, well,¡± ke said, her voice carrying that mischievous tone I knew so well. ¡°So this is how the other half lives. I have to say, it¡¯s even more ridiculously fancy than I imagined.¡± My heart nearly stopped when I saw Ana and Elise standing nearby, their faces twisted with obvious disgust and anger. Those two especially Ana had never been particrly warm to me, but the way they were looking at ke made my stomach clench with anxiety. ¡°Excuse me,¡± Ana said, her voice dripping with disdain, ¡°but staff members aren¡¯t allowed to wander around the main house unescorted. Especially not the cleaning staff.¡± ke¡¯s eyebrows shot up, and I could practically see the fire igniting in her hazel eyes. ¡°Oh, is that so? And you are?¡± ¡°Ana Martinez, senior housekeeping staff,¡± Ana replied primly, crossing her arms. ¡°I¡¯ve been working for the Reid family for five years. I know the rules.¡± ¡°How lovely for you,¡± ke said with a sharine smile. ¡°Five whole years of folding rich people¡¯s underwear. Your mother must be so proud.¡± Elise gasped audibly, and Ana¡¯s face flushed red. ¡°How dare you¡­¡± ¡°ke!¡± I called out, hurrying toward them before this situation could get any worse. My hands were trembling as I approached the group, terror shooting through me at the thought of Hunter witnessing this quarrel. We¡¯d just started taking things slowly between us, just begun to trust each other. Thest thing I needed was for him to think I was causing drama by bringing my outspoken friend into his clean world. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s my girl!¡± ke beamed at me,pletely unbothered by the hostile atmosphere. ¡°This ce is absolutely incredible, Celine. Though I have to say, some of the staff could use lessons in basic hospitality.¡± Ana¡¯s nostrils red. ¡°At least we know our ce, unlike some people who think they can just waltz into a mansion and act like they belong.¡± ¡°Our ce?¡± ke¡¯s voice went dangerously quiet. ¡°And what exactly is our ce, Ana? In your professional opinion?¡± ¡°ke, please,¡± I whispered, moving closer to her. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°No, I want to hear this,¡± ke continued, her gaze never leaving Ana¡¯s face. ¡°Please, enlighten me about where exactly people like us belong.¡± ¡°People like you belong in the servants¡® quarters, following orders and keeping your mouths shut,¡± Elise chimed in, clearly emboldened by Ana¡¯s boldness. ¡°Not making scenes in the main house.¡± The words hit me like a physical p, even though they weren¡¯t directed at me. Is that how they saw me? Is that how all the staff saw me? As someone who needed to know her ce and keep her mouth shut? ke¡¯sugh was sharp and utterly without humor. ¡°You know what? You¡¯re absolutely right. People like me ¨C people who work for a living, who don¡¯t kiss ass for scraps of attention from their employers ¨C we definitely don¡¯t belong in ces like this.¡± ¡°ke, please stop,¡± I begged, my voice barely above a whisper. Thest thing I wanted was for Hunter to walk in on this argument and decide that I was more trouble than I was worth. ¡°But here¡¯s the thing,¡± ke continued, stepping closer to Ana, ¡°I wasn¡¯t invited here by the cleaning service or the housekeeping department. I was invited by the owner of this mansion. So maybe you should worry less about my ce and more about your own.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± The deep, familiar voice from behind me made every muscle in my body freeze. I turned slowly to see Huntering down the main staircase, dressed in ck sweatpants and a simple white shirt that somehow made him look even more devastating than his usual tailored suits. All eyes turned to him, and the tension in the room shifted from hostile to electric. Ana and Elise immediately straightened, their faces going pale as they realized their boss had heard at least part of their conversation. Hunter¡¯s blue eyes swept over the group, taking in ke¡¯s defiant stance, the maids¡® guilty expressions, and my obvious distress. When his gazended on me, I saw something soft and reassuring flicker in his expression. ¡°I invited her,¡± Hunter said simply, his voice carrying that quiet authority that made people listen. ¡°ke is here at my request.¡± The silence that followed was deafening. Ana¡¯s mouth actually fell open, and Elise looked like she might faint. ¡°You¡­ invited her?¡± I asked, confusion clear in my voice. My heart was pounding, but not from fear anymore. Why would Hunter invite ke to the mansion? Had something happened? Was there some kind of emergency? Hunter¡¯s expression remained carefully neutral as he looked at Ana and Elise. ¡°Don¡¯t you have jobs to do? Or should I be concerned that Head Maid Sally isn¡¯t properly training the household staff on appropriate behavior?¡± The threat in his voice was quiet but unmistakable. Both women immediately began stammering apologies, their faces red with embarrassment and fear. ¡°Mr. Reid, we¡¯re so sorry,¡± Ana rushed to say. ¡°We didn¡¯t realize¡­¡± 158%1 ¡°We were just trying to maintain order,¡± Elise added quickly. ¡°We thought¡­.¡± ¡°You thought wrong,¡± Hunter cut them off coldly. ¡°I suggest you return to your duties before I decide that this household needs some staffing changes.¡± Those two practically ran from the room, their footsteps echoing on the marble floors as they escaped Hunter¡¯s disapproving gaze. I started to follow them, needing to escape the awkwardness of the situation, but Hunter¡¯s warm hand wrapped around my wrist, stopping me in my tracks. ¡°Where are you going?¡± he asked softly. ¡°I should¡­ I need to¡­¡± I stammered, not really sure what I needed to do, just knowing that I felt overwhelmed and confused. ¡°Well, this is cozy,¡± ke said with a grin, apparently delighted by the entire situation. ¡°Nothing like a little drama to start the morning off right.¡± Hunter¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at her, and I could see him trying to figure out exactly what kind of person my friend was. ¡°ke, please don¡¯t say anything that might¡­..¡± I started to warn her, terrified that she might push Hunter too far. But before I could finish my sentence, the sound of running feet echoed through the foyer, followed by Caesar¡¯s excited voice. ¡°ke! ke, you came!¡± My three¨Cyear¨Cold son came barreling around the corner, his favorite dinosaur stuffed animal clutched in his arms and his face lit up with pure joy. Heunched himself at ke, who caught him easily and spun him around. ¡°There¡¯s my little monster!¡± ke said in the silly voice she always used with Caesar, making him giggle uncontrobly. ¡°Did you miss me, buddy?¡± ¡°So much!¡± Caesar said, throwing his tiny arms around her neck. ¡°Look, ke, I got a new dinosaur! His name is Rex, and he¡¯s really, really big!¡± ¡°He¡¯s awesome,¡± ke said seriously, examining the stuffed toy with the gravity of a paleontologist. ¡°Does he roar?¡± Caesar immediately demonstrated, letting out the loudest roar his little lungs could manage. ke pretended to be scared, which only made him roar louder. I couldn¡¯t help but smile as I watched them together. ke had been one of the few constants in Caesar¡¯s life, always making time for him even when her own life was chaotic. She was like the fun aunt he had never had, and seeing them together always warmed my heart. Hunter was watching too, and when I nced at him, I was surprised to see something soft and almost fond in his expression as he observed ke and Caesar¡¯s interaction. ¡°Why is ke here?¡± I whispered to him, still trying to piece together what was happening. ¡°She¡¯s here to watch Caesar,¡± Hunter said quietly, his fingers still wrapped around my wrist in a gentle but firm grip. ¡°Watch Caesar?¡± I repeated, confused. ¡°But I¡¯m here. Why would he need?¡­¡± ¡°Because,¡± Hunter said, turning to look at me directly, ¡°I¡¯m taking you on a date.¡± The words hit me like a lightning bolt. I stared at him, my mouth falling open in shock, as he slowly intertwined our fingers. The action was intimate and possessive, and I was suddenly very aware of how public we were being. My eyes darted around the hallway, noting the way the remaining staff members were trying to pretend they weren¡¯t watching us while obviously hanging on every word. Heat flooded my cheeks as I tried to pull my hand away, but Hunter¡¯s grip was firm and unyielding. ¡°Hunter,¡± I whispered urgently, ¡°people are staring.¡± ¡°Let them stare,¡± he said simply, making no move to release my hand. ¡°A date?¡± I managed to say, my voiceing out much higher than normal. ¡°You want to take me on a date?¡± The smile that spread across Hunter¡¯s face was warm and genuine, transforming his entire expression. ¡°Yes, Celine. A real date. Just the two of us.¡± I felt like the floor had shifted beneath my feet. A date. A real date, like we were a normal couple. Like I was someone worth taking out and showing off, not just someone he was attracted to in private. ¡°I told you he was different now,¡± ke called out, clearly having overheard our conversation despite being upied with Caesar. Official source is f?ndnovel ¡°The man ispletely gone for you.¡± I shot her a warning look, but she just grinned back at me,pletely unrepentant. ¡°ke¡¯s going to stay with Caesar while we¡¯re out,¡± Hunter exined, his thumb tracing gentle circles on the back of my hand. ¡°That is, if you want to go.¡± Did I want to go? The question was almostughable. Of course I wanted to go. I wanted it so much it scared me. ¡°I¡­¡± I started, then stopped, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions flooding through me. ¡°Say yes, Mommy!¡± Caesar called out from ke¡¯s arms. ¡°ke promised to make her famous chocte chip cookies!¡± ¡°Famous is a strong word,¡± ke said with augh. ¡°But they are pretty amazing.¡± I looked at Hunter, searching his face for any sign that this was some kind of joke or test. But all I saw was genuine affection and a hint of nervousness that made my heart skip. ¡°Okay,¡± I whispered. ¡°Yes, I¡¯d love to go on a date with you.¡± The smile that lit up Hunter¡¯s face was worth every moment of anxiety I¡¯d felt. Legacy 110 58% An hourter, ke and I were in my quarters in the east wing, and she was making herself thoroughly at home, examining every detail of the spacious rooms Hunter had given Caesar and me. ¡°Okay, I have to admit,¡± ke said, running her hand along the back of the plush sofa, ¡°this is pretty incredible. Look at this ce, Celine! It¡¯s like a luxury apartment, but better because you don¡¯t have to pay rent.¡± ¡°It¡¯s temporary,¡± I said automatically, the wordsing out before I could stop them. ke gave me a look. ¡°Is it, though?¡± I busied myself organizing Caesar¡¯s toys, not wanting to meet her knowing gaze. ¡°Of course it is. This is Hunter¡¯s world, not mine.¡± ¡°Uh¨Chuh.¡± ke flopped down on the sofa, making herselffortable. ¡°And that¡¯s why he¡¯s taking you on dates and holding your hand in front of his entire staff?¡± My cheeks heated up at the memory. ¡°That was¡­ that was just¡­¡°. ¡°That was a man staking his im,¡± ke said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°Trust me, I know the signs. The sexual tension in that foyer was so thick I could practically taste it.¡± ¡°ke!¡± ¡°What? I¡¯m just saying.¡± She grinned at me. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s about time. The way you two have been dancing around each other was getting painful to watch.¡± I sank onto the sofa beside her, suddenly feeling exhausted. ¡°I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing, ke. This whole thing with Hunter¡­ it¡¯s so ¡°Love usually is.¡± ¡°I never said anything about love,¡± I protested weakly. ke¡¯sugh was rich and knowing. ¡°Honey, you didn¡¯t have to. I could smell it the moment I walked into this mansion. Hell, I¡¯m pretty sure the rest of the staff could smell it too, which is why those two bitches were so hostile earlier.¡± ¡°They were hostile because¡­.¡± ¡°Because they¡¯re jealous,¡± ke interrupted. ¡°Because you went from being the girl they could look down on to being the woman their boss is crazy about. That¡¯s got to sting.¡± I pulled my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them. ¡°What if this doesn¡¯t work out? What if he gets tired of me? What if his mother decides I¡¯m not good enough?¡± ¡°What if the sky falls?¡± ke countered. ¡°What if aliens invade? What if Caesar decides he wants to be a professional dinosaur when he grows up?¡± ¡°ke, I¡¯m being serious.¡± ¡°So am I.¡± She turned to face me fully, her expression bing more earnest. ¡°Celine, you can¡¯t live your life based on what¨Cifs. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith.¡± Aug ¡°Easy for you to say. You¡¯re not the one with a three¨Cyear¨Cold depending on you.¡± 687 ¡°No, but I am the one who¡¯s watched you put everyone else¡¯s needs before your own for the past four years. ke reached over and took my hand. ¡°When was thest time you did something just for you? When was thest time you let yourself be happy?¡± I thought about it, really thought about it, and came up empty. ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°Exactly. So stop overthinking this and let yourself enjoy it. Let Hunter spoil you a little. Let yourself fall.¡± ¡°What if I already have?¡± The words slipped out before I could stop them. ke¡¯s face lit up with triumph. ¡°I knew it! You fell first, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± I said, but even I could hear how unconvincing I sounded. ¡°Oh, you absolutely fell first. I could tell from the beginning.¡± ke was practically bouncing with excitement. ¡°Even when he was being aplete ass to you, you had this look in your eyes whenever you talked about him. Like he was a puzzle you were trying to solve.¡± ¡°He was awful to me,¡± I protested. ¡°He made me feel small and insignificant. He¡­.¡± ¡°He was fighting his attraction to you,¡± ke said simply. ¡°And you were falling for him despite yourself.¡± I closed my eyes, letting myself think back to those early days. When had it started? When had I begun to see past Hunter¡¯s cold exterior to the man underneath? Maybe it was the night he¡¯d helped Caesar when he was sick. Or maybe it was all those moments when I¡¯d caught him watching me with an expression I couldn¡¯t quite decipher. Maybe ke was right. Maybe I had been falling for him all along, even when it seemed impossible. ¡°You know what they say,¡± ke continued with a grin. ¡°She falls first, he falls harder. And honey, the way that man looks at you? Like he wants to devour you whole? He has definitely fallen harder.¡± ¡°ke,¡± I groaned, burying my face in my hands. ¡°What? It¡¯s true! The man can barely keep his hands off you, and you¡¯re worried about whether this is real?¡± Sheughed. ¡°Celine, the man is gone. Completely, utterly, hopelessly gone for you.¡± Despite my embarrassment, I felt a flutter of hope in my chest. ¡°You really think so?¡± ¡°I know so. Nowe on, we need to get you ready for this date. When was thest time you went on a proper date anyway?¡± The question made my stomach drop. ¡°I¡­ I haven¡¯t. Not since before Caesar.¡± ke¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Oh, honey.¡± ¡°I mean, there have been a few guys who asked, but between work and Caesar and everything else¡­¡± I shrugged, trying to act like it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°There just wasn¡¯t time.¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s time now,¡± ke said firmly. ¡°And we¡¯re going to make sure you look absolutely stunning. Not that you need much help ¨C 13:04 Tue, 5 Aug you¡¯re naturally gorgeous ¨C but we want Hunter to lose his mind when he sees you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to look like I¡¯m trying too hard,¡± I said nervously. ¡°Trust me,¡± ke said, pulling me to my feet. ¡°By the time I¡¯m done with you, you¡¯ll look like yourself, just¡­ upgraded. Now, show me your closet. We have work to do.¡± The next hour was a blur of ke pulling dresses from my modest wardrobe, rejecting most of them, and finally settling on a simple sundress in soft blue that I¡¯d bought on sale months ago but never worn. ¡°This is perfect,¡± she dered, holding it up against me. ¡°It¡¯s pretty without being too formal, and the color makes your eyes look amazing.¡± She helped me with my hair, pulling it back into a soft, romantic style with a few tendrils framing my face. The makeup she applied was subtle but effective, enhancing my natural features without making me look like someone else entirely. When she was finished, I hardly recognized myself in the mirror. I looked¡­ pretty. Not morous or sophisticated, but genuinely pretty in a way that felt authentic. ¡°ke, I¡­.¡± A knock at the door interrupted me. My heart immediately started racing as I realized who it must be. ¡°That¡¯s your prince charming,¡± ke said with a grin. ¡°Go answer it.¡± My hands were shaking as I walked to the door and slowly turned the handle. Hunter stood on the other side, dressed casually in dark jeans and a button¨Cdown shirt that made his eyes look impossibly blue. In his hand was a single white rose, simple and perfect. When he saw me, his eyes went wide, traveling slowly from my face down to my feet and back up again. The intensity of his gaze made my skin tingle with awareness. ¡°Fuck,¡± he breathed, and then seemed to catch himself. ¡°You look beautiful, Celine. Absolutely beautiful.¡± The wonder in his voice, the way he was looking at me like I was something precious and rare, made my knees go weak. ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered, epting the rose he offered. ¡°It¡¯s lovely.¡± ¡°Not nearly as lovely as you,¡± he said simply, and the sincerity in his voice made my heart skip. Behind me, I could hear ke making exaggerated gagging sounds, but I ignored her, too caught up in the way Hunter was looking at me to care about anything else. Get full chapters from f¦É¦Ídn¦Ïvel This was really happening. I wa Legacy 111 Chapter 111 -HUNTER¡¯S POV Walking behind Celine as we came down the marble staircase felt like the most natural thing in the world, even though everything about this moment waspletely foreign to me. I had never taken a woman on a proper date before¨Cnot like this, not with genuine intention behind it. The women I had been with in the past had been transactions, arrangements, brief meetings that served a purpose and nothing more. But watching Celine¡¯s nervous nces back at me, the way her fingers fidgeted with the fabric of that blue dress that made her look like she had stepped out of a dream, I realized I wanted this to be perfect for her. She deserved perfection. Her beauty wasn¡¯t the polished, manufactured kind I was used to seeing at charity gs and business functions. It was something softer, more authentic. The way the afternoon light caught in her chestnut hair, the natural flush in her cheeks that had nothing to do with makeup, the unconscious grace in her movements¨Cit was all so genuinely Celine that it made my chest tight with an emotion I wasn¡¯t ready to name. I could have walked beside her, should have offered my arm like a proper gentleman, but selfishly, I wanted to watch her. I wanted to memorize the way she moved, the soft line of her shoulders, the way she kept tucking a strand of hair behind her ear when she was nervous. When we reached the car, I moved quickly to open her door, enjoying the surprise that shed across her features. She wasn¡¯t used to being treated like this, and that realization both angered and saddened me. How many men had failed to see what I saw when I looked at her? ¡°Thank you,¡± she murmured as I helped her into the passenger seat, her voice barely above a whisper. I shed her what I hoped was a reassuring smile before walking around to the driver¡¯s side. My hands were actually trembling slightly as I started the engine ¡­ When was thest time I had been nervous about anything? But something about Celine¡¯s presence, the effect of this moment, had me feeling like a teenager on his first date. We had barely pulled out of the mansion¡¯s circr driveway when my phone rang. Caroline¡¯s name shed on the dashboard disy, and I groaned internally. My cousin had impable timing, always managing to call at the most unsuitable moments. ¡°Hunter Reid,¡± I answered, putting the call on speaker since I was driving. ¡°Finally! I¡¯ve been calling you for the past hour/What¡¯s with you not answering your phone? And don¡¯t give me some bullshit excuse about being busy¡­..¡± ¡°Caroline,¡± I interrupted, ncing at Celine, who was clearly trying not tough at my cousin¡¯s characteristically blunt opening. ¡°Now isn¡¯t really a good time.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so? And why exactly isn¡¯t it a good time? Are you finally doing something other than brooding in that ridiculous mansion of yours?¡± 13:04 Tue, 5 Alig I could practically hear the smirk in her voice. 457% Caroline had been on my case for months about my antisocial behavior, constantly lecturing me about how I needed to ¡°get out there¡± and ¡°live a little.¡± The irony wasn¡¯t lost on me. ¡°Actually,¡± I said, deciding to just rip off the bandage, ¡°I¡¯m taking Celine on a date. So if you¡¯re nning toe by the mansionter, we won¡¯t be there.¡± The silence that followed was soplete I thought the call had dropped. Then Caroline¡¯s voice came through the speaker, pitched about three octaves higher than normal. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, WHAT? Did you just say you¡¯re taking Celine on a date?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I said.¡± ¡°Holy shit, Hunter! I¡¯m so proud of you right now I could cry! It¡¯s about damn time you stopped being aplete emotionally constipated asshole and¡­.¡± ¡°Caroline,¡± I warned, acutely aware of Celine listening to every word. I could see her cheeks turning pink in my peripheral vision. ¡°No, let me finish! Do you have any idea how long I¡¯ve been waiting for this moment? I was starting to think you were going to die alone in that mansion, surrounded by nothing but your precious business contracts and¡­¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare! Hunter Reid, you listen to me. You better treat that girl like the absolute queen she is. This is her first real date in years, and if you mess this up, I will personallye over there and castrate you with a rusty spoon.¡± Celine made a small choking sound, and I couldn¡¯t tell if she was horrified or trying not tough. ¡°Noted,¡± I said dryly. ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Yes! Take her somewhere nice. Somewhere that shows you actually put thought into this. And for the love of God, be yourself. The real you, not the ice king persona you¡¯ve been hiding behind.¡± ¡°Goodbye, Caroline.¡± ¡°I love you too, cousin! Don¡¯t fuck this up!¡± I ended the call and nced at Celine, who was now openly smiling despite her obvious embarrassment. ¡°Your friends are highly protective of you,¡± I observed, reaching over to squeeze her hand gently. ¡°I think I¡¯ve gotten more threats from them than I have from business rivals.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± she said quickly. ¡°Caroline doesn¡¯t have a filter when she gets excited, and ke is just¡­..¡± ¡°Hey.¡± I squeezed her hand again, not wanting her to apologize for having people who cared about her. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s actually¡­ It¡¯s good to know you have people in your corner. People who love you enough to threaten bodily harm to anyone who might hurt you.¡± She looked at me with those warm brown eyes, and I saw something shift in her face. Something softer, more trusting. ¡°So,¡± I said, bringing her hand to my lips to press a gentle kiss to her knuckles, enjoying the way her breath hitched at the contact. ¡°What would you like to do first?¡± 13:05 Tue, 5 Aug 10 4957% The Metropolitan Museum of Art wasn¡¯t somewhere I would ever have thought to take a woman on a date. ?????? ???? find?novel In my little experience, dates were about expensive restaurants, exclusive clubs, maybe the opera if I was feeling particrly traditional. But something about Celine made me want to share different experiences with her, to see the world through her eyes. I was right to trust my instincts. Watching Celine walk through those galleries was like watching someonee alive. The shy, nervous woman from the car disappeared, reced by someone animated and passionate, her eyes bright with genuine wonder as she moved from painting to painting. I found myself trailing behind her, not really looking at the art but studying her instead. The way she tilted her head when something caught her attention, the unconscious way she bit her lower lip when she was concentrating, the soft gasps of appreciation when she encountered something particrly beautiful¡­..it was all infinitely more captivating than any masterpiece on the walls. ¡°Hunter, look at this one,¡± she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward andscape painting. The contact sent electricity shooting up my arm, and I had to resist the urge to pull her closer. ¡°The way the light hits the water¡­.it¡¯s like you can feel the warmth of the sun.¡± She was right. But I was more interested in the warmth radiating from her, the way her enthusiasm was infectious, making me see beauty in things I had never paid attention to before. When we reached a particrly stunning impressionist piece¡­.something with swirling colors and ethereal light¡­she stoppedpletely, just staring at it with such intensity that I found myself leaning closer, close enough that I could smell her shampoo, something light and floral that made me want to bury my face in her hair. ¡°Do you like it?¡± I murmured near her ear, my voiceing out rougher than I had intended. ¡°I could buy it for you.¡± She flinched slightly at my closeness but didn¡¯t pull away, which I took as a good sign. ¡°No,¡± she said softly, still staring at the painting. ¡°I don¡¯t need to own it. It¡¯s just¡­ It¡¯s beautiful enough that I want to remember it exactly like this.¡± Her response shouldn¡¯t have surprised me, but it did. Most women in my experience would have jumped at the offer, would have seen dor signs and opportunity. But Celine just wanted to appreciate the beauty for what it was, nothing more. I was falling harder by the minute. Our second stop was a couple¡¯s painting ss I had found online, something I would never in a million years have considered doing before. But the thought of watching Celine create something, of sharing that part of herself with me, had made the decision easy. I should have known i would be terrible at it. While Celine¡¯s canvas blossomed with delicate flowers and soft brushstrokes that somehow captured light and shadow with effortless grace, 201 my attempt looked like something Caesar might have created during one of his more destructive art sessions. ¡°It¡¯s abstract,¡± I said defensively when Celine nced over at my disaster of a painting. She bit her lip, clearly trying not tough. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ very expressive.¡± ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it.¡± But then the guy sitting next to Celine¡­.some pretentious artist type with paint¨Cstained fingers and an unnecessarily intense stare¡­.leaned over to examine her work. ¡°This is incredible,¡± he said, his voice filled with the kind of appreciation that made my jaw clench. ¡°You have real talent. Have you ever considered showing your work? I know a gallery downtown that would be interested in someone with your skill level.¡± Celine blushed prettily, ducking her head in that modest way that made me want to grab her chin and force her to ept thepliment. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not¡­ I mean, it¡¯s just a hobby.¡± ¡°A hobby?¡± The guy looked genuinely shocked. ¡°This is professional¨Clevel work. Here, let me give you my card¡­.¡± ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± I said, my voiceing out sharper than I had intended. Both Celine and the guy looked at me in surprise, and I realized I was gripping my paintbrush so tightly it was in danger of snapping. Jealousy. That¡¯s what this was¡­.raw, possessive jealousy that I had never experienced before and didn¡¯t know how to handle. The thought of this stranger trying to insert himself into Celine¡¯s world, trying to offer her things I should be offering her, made me want to do something caveman¨Clike andpletely inappropriate. The guy held up his hands in surrender, clearly recognizing the threat in my posture. ¡°Sorry, man. Didn¡¯t realize she was taken.¡± Taken. The word shouldn¡¯t have sent such a thrill through me/but it did. Celine was taken. She was mine, even if we hadn¡¯t put abel on whatever this was between us. ¡°Hunter,¡± Celine said softly, her hand touching my arm. ¡°It¡¯s okay. He was just being nice.¡°, But I could see the awareness in her eyes, the recognition of what my reaction meant. She wasn¡¯t upset by my possessiveness¡­.if anything, there was something almost pleased in her face, like she enjoyed seeing this side of
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We finished the ss in rtive quiet, but I could feel the tension building between us, something electric,and charged that made every idental touch feel marked. This was dangerous territory. I was falling for Celine Brown, and there was no safety to catch me when I inevitably hit the ground. Legacy 112 -CELINE¡¯S POV- 57% I couldn¡¯t believe Hunter had actually taken me to an art museum and a couple¡¯s painting ss. These weren¡¯t the kind of dates I had imagined a billionaire would choose¡­.expensive restaurants, maybe the theater, something designed to impress rather than connect. But Hunter had somehow known exactly what would make me happiest, had seen past my modest exterior to the dreams I had buried beneath years of survival. The art museum had felt like stepping into another world, one where beauty existed simply to be appreciated. And watching Hunter watch me as I moved through the galleries had sent butterflies dancing through my stomach. He had looked at me like I was more fascinating than any masterpiece on the walls. But now, as we walked toward his car after the painting ss, I could feel the tension spreading out from him like heat from asphalt. His jaw was clenched, his shoulders rigid, and he kept shooting dark looks back toward the building we had just left. ¡°You know,¡± I said, swinging our joined hands gently, ¡°being all grumpy like this makes you look like a big bad wolf.¡± Hunter stopped walking abruptly, turning to face me with an expression I couldn¡¯t quite read. Then his lips curved into that devastating smirk that never failed to make my knees weak. ¡°A big bad wolf?¡± he repeated, his voice dropping to that low rumble that did things to my insides I wasn¡¯t ready to explore. Before I could respond, he was moving, backing me against his car with fluid grace. His hands found my waist, pulling me closer until there was barely an inch of space between us. My heart started hammering against my ribs as he towered over me, his blue eyes dark with something that made my mouth go dry. ¡°Maybe I should show you just how dangerous this wolf can be,¡± he murmured, his thumb tracing along my jawline. I had bought us ice cream cones from a vendor near the parking lot, hoping the sweet treat might lighten his mood. Latest content published on F?nd-Novel But now, with Hunter staring down at me like he wanted to devour me whole, I could barely remember how to breathe, let alone eat ice cream. His eyes dropped to my lips, and I unconsciously licked them, tasting the vani sweetness that lingered there. The simple action made Hunter¡¯s pupils dte, and then his hand cupped my chin, tilting my face up. ¡°You missed a spot,¡± he said softly, and then his tongue was at the corner of my mouth, licking away a drop of ice cream with deliberate slowness. The contact was brief, barely a second, but it sent electricity shooting through my entire body. My free hand clutched at his shirt, needing something to anchor me as heat pooled low in my belly. I could feel my cheeks burning, could feel my body responding in ways that made me want to hide behind my hands. Instead, I found myself looking around frantically, hoping no one had witnessed Hunter¡¯s boldly intimate gesture. We were in a public parking lot, for heaven¡¯s sake. 357% 470 People could see us. ¡°Hunter,¡± I whispered, my voiceing out breathier than I had intended. ¡°What?¡± His thumb was still stroking my chin, his eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made me feel like I was melting from the inside out. ¡°People are¡­ they might be watching.¡± His smirk widened. ¡°I don¡¯t care, let them watch.¡± The possessiveness in his voice, the way he said it like he didn¡¯t care who saw us together, made something flutter wildly in my chest. No one had ever imed me so openly before, had ever looked at me like I was worth showing off. The restaurant Hunter chose for dinner was the kind of ce I had only ever seen in movies¨Call soft lighting, pristine white tablecloths, and waiters who glided between tables like they were performing ballet. The menu was written in what looked like several differentnguages, and the prices weren¡¯t even listed, which meant they were definitely more than I could afford. ¡°Hunter, this ce is too fancy,¡± I whispered as the hostess led us to a corner table that probably cost more to reserve than I made in a week. ¡°It¡¯s perfect,¡± he said simply, his hand finding the small of my back as he guided me forward. Instead of sitting across from me like I had expected, Hunter slid into the booth beside me, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from his body. His thigh pressed against mine, and he draped his arm along the back of the seat, not quite touching my shoulders but close enough that I was hyperaware of his presence. When the waiter appeared¡­a distinguished older man with a kind smile¡­.I could feel Hunter¡¯s fingers brush against my shoulder de, a barely¨Cthere touch that made me shiver. ¡°Good evening,¡± the waiter said. ¡°Can I start you with something to drink?¡± I opened my mouth to order water, but Hunter spoke first. ¡°We¡¯ll have a bottle of the Chianti ssico, and thedy will need a few minutes to look over the menu.¡± The casual way he took charge, the way he called me ¡°thedy¡± like I was someone worthy of reverence, made my heart skip. I wasn¡¯t used to being taken care of like this, wasn¡¯t used to having someone anticipate my needs. When the waiter left, I picked up the menu and tried to make sense of the borate Italian descriptions. Everything sounded wonderful, but I couldn¡¯t pronounce half the names. ¡°See anything that catches your eye?¡± Hunter asked, his breath warm against my ear as he leaned closer to look at my menu. I pointed to one of the pasta dishes, struggling with the pronunciation. ¡°The¡­ gnhi a¡­ sorrentina?¡± ¡°Gnhi a sorrentina,¡± Hunter corrected gently, his ent making the words sound musical. ¡°Good choice. It¡¯s potato gnhi with tomato sauce and fresh mozzare.¡± When the waiter returned with our wine, I managed to stumble through my order while Hunter smoothly requested something called osso 13:00 buco. Aug The waiter smiled warmly at both of us before disappearing again. 1629 ¡°You know,¡± Hunter said, turning slightly in his seat so he was facing me more directly, ¡°your artwork today was incredible. That guy wasn¡¯t wrong¡­.you have real talent.¡± I felt heat creep up my neck at thepliment. ¡°It¡¯s nothing special. I just¡­ I¡¯ve always liked to draw and paint.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not nothing,¡± Hunter said firmly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go to art school? You clearly have the skill for it.¡± The question I¡¯d been dreading finally came, and I found myself staring down at my hands, fidgeting with my napkin. ¡°I was nning to. I had been saving money for years, working multiple jobs to afford the application fees and portfolio development. I even got epted to a program in the city.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I found out I was pregnant with Caesar,¡± I said quietly. ¡°And when I told my parents, they¡­ they threw me out. Said I was a disgrace to the family, that I¡¯d ruined my life and theirs along with it.¡± The silence that followed felt heavy, loaded with unspoken words. I could feel Hunter¡¯s gaze on me, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to look at him. This was the part where people usually offered empty chestnuts or changed the subject ufortably. But Hunter surprised me by taking my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine on the table. ¡°Hunter,¡± I said quickly, needing him to understand something crucial, ¡°if you¡¯re thinking that you ruined my life by¡­ by what happened between us that night, you didn¡¯t. I need you to know that.¡± His eyebrows rose slightly, and I rushed to continue before I lost my nerve. ¡°I love Caesar more than anything in this world. He¡¯s the best thing that ever happened to me. And if I had to make the same choice again¡­if I could go back to that night and somehow know what would happen¡­.I¡¯d make the exact same decision. I would choose to fall in love with you again. I would choose to meet you again.¡± The words were out before I could stop them, hanging in the air between us like a confession I hadn¡¯t meant to make. My cheeks burned as I realized what I¡¯d just admitted¡­.that I¡¯d fallen in love with him that night, that despite everything, I didn¡¯t regret it. Hunter¡¯s eyes widened, and then a slow smile spread across his face, transforming his entire expression into something warm and wondering.¡± ¡°Celine,¡± he said softly, his thumb stroking across my knuckles. Before he could say anything else, a familiar voice cut through the intimate moment. ¡°Hunter Reid? Well, I¡¯ll be damned.¡± We both turned to see a tall, dark¨Chaired man approaching our table with a confident smile. He was handsome in a polished way, wearing an expensive suit that screamed wealth and status. But there was something about his smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes, something that made me instinctively press closer to Hunter. ¡°Patrick,¡± Hunter said, his voice carefully neutral as he straightened in his seat. His hand tightened around mine, and I could feel the tension returning to his body. ¡°What a surprise.¡± Legacy 113 Chapter 113 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- 1 The sound of my name being called made every muscle in my body tense. I knew that voice ¨C Patrick Henderson, my former business partner and the closest thing I had ever had to a brother before everything went to hell three years ago. I turned slowly, my hand still gripping Celine¡¯s on the table, and there he was. Patrick stood near the restaurant¡¯s entrance, his familiar crooked smile in ce, but his eyes held a sharpness that hadn¡¯t been there before. He looked good ¨C expensive suit, confident posture, sess written all over him. The kind of sess that should have been ours together. ¡°Hunter fucking Reid,¡± Patrick said, approaching our table with that easy swagger I remembered so well. ¡°I heard you were back in town, but I had to see it for myself.¡± I felt Celine¡¯s hand shift under mine, her fingers tightening slightly. She could sense the tension spreading out from me, even if she didn¡¯t understand its source. ¡°Patrick.¡± I kept my voice neutral, professional. Thest thing I wanted was to cause a scene in front of Celine, especially not on our first real date. ¡°And who¡¯s this lovelydy?¡± Patrick¡¯s attention shifted to Celine, and I didn¡¯t miss the way his eyes lingered on her face, traveling down to where our hands were joined on the table. That predatory look he used to get around attractive women ¨C it made my jaw clench. ¡°Celine Brown,¡± she said softly, offering a polite smile. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± ¡°The pleasure is all mine,¡± Patrick replied, taking her free hand and bringing it to his lips in an overly dramatic gesture that made my blood boil. ¡°Any friend of Hunter¡¯s is a friend of mine. Though I have to say, Hunter, your taste has certainly¡­ evolved.¡± The quiet insult wasn¡¯t lost on me. Patrick had always been good at delivering cutting remarks wrapped inpliments, and the bastard hadn¡¯t lost his touch. ¡°What do you want, Patrick?¡± I asked, my patience already wearing thin. ¡°Can¡¯t an old friend stop by to say hello?¡± He gestured to the empty chair at our table. ¡°Mind if I join you? I was just having dinner alone ¨C tragic, really- when I spotted you two lovebirds.¡± Before either of us could respond, he was already pulling out the chair and settling in, Who got thrown under the bus the moment things gotplicated?¡± Celine was looking paler by the second, her free hand pressed to her stomach like she might be sick. This was exactly what I had been trying to avoid ¨C dragging her into the toxic mess of my past. ¡°Celine,¡± I said softly, turning to face her. ¡°We should go.¡± But Patrick wasn¡¯t finished. ¡°You know what the real tragedy is, sweetheart?¡± he said, addressing Celine directly. ¡°Hunter here has a pattern. He gets close to people, makes them care about him, and then when pushes to shove, he chooses himself every single time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± I was on my feet now, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. Other diners were starting to stare, but I was beyond caring. ¡°Is it? Because I think your lovelypanion deserves to know what kind of man she¡¯s gotten involved with. The kind who would destroy his best friend¡¯s life to protect his own reputation.¡± ~CELINE¡¯S POV~ The restaurant felt like it was spinning around me. Hunter¡¯s face had gonepletely white, his jaw clenched so tight I was afraid he might shatter his teeth. The man across from us ¨C Patrick ¨C was watching both of us with obvious satisfaction, like he was enjoying our difort. ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible over the ambient noise of the restaurant. ¡°Of course you don¡¯t,¡± Patrick said with false sympathy. ¡°Hunter¡¯s very good at keeping his secrets. Aren¡¯t you, old friend?¡± ¡°We¡¯re leaving.¡± Hunter threw several bills on the table, far more than necessary to cover our meal. ¡°Now.¡± He helped me to my feet, his hand gentle on my elbow despite the tension radiating from every line of his body. But before we could take more than a step, Patrick¡¯s voice stopped us. ¡°Ask him about Sophia, Celine. Ask him what happened to the woman who trusted him before you did.¡± The name hit Hunter like a physical blow. I felt him stumble slightly, his grip on my arm tightening almost painfully. ¡°Who¡¯s Sophia?¡± I asked, even though part of me didn¡¯t want to know the answer. Hunter¡¯s eyes closed briefly, and when he opened them, I saw something that looked like defeat. ¡°She was¡­¡± He started, then stopped, running his free hand through his hair. ¡°She was someone I cared about. A long time ago.¡± ¡°Someone you cared about?¡± Patrick¡¯sugh was cruel. ¡°Is that what we¡¯re calling it now? Because I remember it differently. I remember a woman who loved youpletely, who would have done anything for you, right up until the moment you decided she was a liability.¡± The pieces were starting toe together in my mind, forming a picture1 didn¡¯t want to see. Hunter¡¯s reluctance to get involved with me, his mother¡¯s obvious disapproval, and the way he sometimes looked at me like he was afraid I might disappear. Tue, Aug ¡°What did you do to her?¡± I asked quietly. Hunter¡¯s face crumpled slightly. ¡°Celine, please. Not here. Not like this,¡± ¡°Tell her,¡± Patrick demanded. ¡°Tell her how you chose your precious family reputation over the woman who loved you. Tell her how you let your mother destroy Sophia¡¯s life to protect your own.¡± ¡°Stop.¡± The word came out as barely more than a whisper, but the pain in Hunter¡¯s voice was unmistakable. But Patrick was relentless. ¡°Tell her how Sophia ended up broken and alone while you ran off to Europe to expand Daddy¡¯s empire. Tell her how she¡­.¡± ¡°She killed herself.¡± 70 The words hung in the air like a death sentence. Hunter¡¯s voice was hollow, empty, and I felt my heart shatter for him even as my mind reeled with the intention. ¡°There,¡± Patrick said with satisfaction. ¡°Was that so hard?¡± I stared at Hunter, seeing him clearly for perhaps the first time. The guilt that ate at him, the way he held himself apart from everyone, the fear in his eyes whenever we got too close ¨C it all made terrible sense now. ¡°Hunter,¡± I breathed, reaching for him instinctively. Original content can be found at Find~Novel But he stepped back, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Celine. I¡¯m so fucking sorry. You deserve better than this. Better than me.¡± And before I could say another word, he was walking away, leaving me alone with Patrick and the devastating wreckage of our perfect first date. Legacy 114 Chapter 114 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- The question in Celine¡¯s eyes when she asked if I was sure still echoes in my mind as I unlock the car. Her kiss was all the answer I needed, but now, standing here beside my vehicle under the soft glow of the streetlights, the effect of what¡¯s Newest update provided by fin?novel about to happen settles over me like electricity in the air. I can¡¯t take my eyes off Celine as I help her into the passenger seat. The theater feels like a distant memory now, charged with an unspoken tension that¡¯s been building between us since this morning. Her hand finds mine again, her fingers intertwining with mine as if they belong there. I can feel her heartbeat through her palm, rapid and eager, matching the rhythm of my own. The air is thick with anticipation, and I know tonight is the night. I don¡¯t care about the movie anymore. I only care about her. ¡°Hunter, I¡¯ve never¡­ I mean, I¡¯ve never done this in a car before,¡± she says softly, her cheeks flushing as I settle into the driver¡¯s seat. Her eyes, deep pools of brown, search mine with a mix of curiosity and nervousness. I don¡¯t respond with words. Instead, I reach for her, my grip firm but gentle. The cool night air has left her slightly shivering, and I can see her nipples hardening beneath her blue sundress. My pulse quickens at the sight, my mind already painting shy pictures of what¡¯s toe. My car sits under the faint glow of a streemp, its sleek ck exterior gleaming. The interior fills with her scent¡­.a mix of vani and something uniquely her. My heart pounds in my chest as I turn to her, my gaze intense. ¡°Celine,¡± I say, my voice low and rough, ¡°I¡¯ve wanted this since the moment I saw you this morning.¡± She bites her lip, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. ¡°Wanted this, really?¡± she whispers, though we both know the answer. I don¡¯t bother with words this time either. I lean in, closing the distance between us, and press my lips to hers. The kiss is hungry, desperate, as if we¡¯ve both been starving for this moment. Her lips are soft and obedient, parting easily under mine. I taste her¡­.sweet and intoxicating¡­.and I know there¡¯s no going back. My hands move to her waist, pulling her closer, until she¡¯s practically sitting on myp. Her breasts press against my chest, and I groan into her mouth, my desire spiraling out of control. I break the kiss briefly, trailing kisses along her jawline, her neck, savoring the way she tilts her head back, exposing more of her delicate skin to me. ¡°Hunter,¡± she murmurs, her voice breathless, what are we doing?¡± ¡°We¡¯re doing what we should¡¯ve done the moment we left the house, eating every piece of you¡± I reply, my lips brushing against her ear. I nip at her lobe, and she shakes, her hands gripping my shoulders. I feel her pulse racing beneath my fingertips, and I know she wants this as much as I do. My hands slide up her sides, cupping her breasts through her dress. She gasps, her head falling back as I massage her, my thumbs brushing 57% over her hardening nipples. ¡°Hunter,¡± she moans, her voice thick with need. I smile against her skin, my lips moving down to her corbone, then lower, to the edge of her dress. I tug it open slowly, revealing thecy ck bra beneath. Her breasts are perfect¡­.full and perky, the nipples straining against the fabric. I take a moment to admire them, my gaze lingering, before leaning down to take one into my mouth. She arches into me, her hands tangling in my hair as I suckle her, my tongue swirling around her nipple. ¡°Fuck, Hunter,¡± she groans, her hips shifting restlessly against me. I can feel her heat through our clothes, and it¡¯s driving me wild. I switch to her other breast,vishing it with the same attention, my hands roaming over her body, mapping every curve, every soft inch of her. Her breathes in short, sharp gasps, and I know she¡¯s close to the edge. But I¡¯m not done yet. I want to savor every moment, every sound, every reaction. I pull back slightly, my lips brushing against hers as I whisper, ¡°Tell me what you want, Celine.¡± Her eyes meet mine, dark with desire. ¡°I want you,¡± she says, her voice steady despite the tremor in her body. ¡°I want you to fuck me, Hunter. Right here. Right now.¡± Her words send a jolt of electricity through me, and I don¡¯t need to be told twice. I shift her off myp, pushing her back against the car door, her legs spreading to amodate me between them. Treach for the button of her dress, popping it open with a flick of my fingers. The sliding it down slowly, and I hook my fingers into waist, pulling them down just enough to reveal thece of her panties. She lifts her hips, helping me slide her dress down her legs, her eyes never leaving mine. I toss them aside, then hook my fingers into the waistband of her panties, pulling them down as well. She¡¯s bare beneath them, her pussy glistening in the dim light of the car. My mouth goes dry at the sight, and I groan, my hands moving to her thighs, spreading them wider. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful,¡± I murmur, my gaze drinking her in. She blushes, her cheeks a deep crimson, but she doesn¡¯t look away. I lean in, pressing a kiss to her inner thigh, then trailing my lips closer to her core. She shivers, her hands gripping the edges of the seat, and I smile against her skin, knowing I¡¯m driving her wild. My lips brush against her clit, and she gasps, her hips bucking slightly. I nip at it gently, then flick my tongue over it, savoring the way she squirms beneath me. Her hands tangle in my hair, holding me close as I delve deeper, my tongue dipping into her wetness, tasting her, devouring her. She¡¯s sweet and musky, and I can¡¯t get enough. ¡°Hunter,¡± she moans, her voice pleading. ¡°Please. I need you inside me.¡°^ Her words are like a spark, igniting a fire in my veins. I pull back, my lips swollen from kissing her, my breathing in short gasps. I reach for my belt, unbuckling it quickly, then unzipping my jeans. My cock springs free, thick and hard, and I groan at the sight of it, knowing 13:06 Tue, 5 Aug it¡¯s exactly what she needs. I position myself at her entrance, teasing her with the tip, watching her eyes flutter closed as she rocks her hips, trying to prate herself on
  1. me.
¡°Not yet,¡± I whisper, my voice hoarse with desire. I want to draw this out, to make itst, to make it unforgettable. 1 I slide a finger into her, then two, watching her face as I stretch her, as I prepare her for what¡¯s toe. She¡¯s tight and wet, her walls clenching around my fingers, and I know she¡¯s close. ! curl my fingers, seeking her sweet spot, and she cries out, her body arching off the seat. ¡°Hunter, please,¡± she begs, her voice desperate. 1 smirk, my fingers stilling. ¡°Say it again,¡± I demand, my voice rough. She opens her eyes, meeting my gaze, her expression raw with need. ¡°Fuck me, Hunter,¡± she says, her voice steady despite the tremor in her body. ¡°Fuck me hard.¡± Her words are my undoing. I withdraw my fingers, then grasp my cock, guiding it to her entrance. I thrust into her in one smooth motion, burying myself to the hilt. She gasps, her nails digging into my shoulders, her body tightening around me like a vice. ¡°Fuck,¡± I groan, my head falling back as I savor the sensation of being inside her. She¡¯s hot and tight, her walls gripping me like a glove, and I know I won¡¯tst long. But I want to make it good for her, to give her everything she¡¯s been craving. I pull out slowly, then thrust back in, setting a steady rhythm. The car rocks with each movement, the windows fogging up with ourbined heat. Her breasts bounce with each thrust, and I reach down, cupping one in my hand, squeezing it gently as I fuck her. ¡°Hunter,¡± she moans, her voice a mix of pleasure and desperation. ¡°Harder. Please.¡± I don¡¯t need to be told twice. I grip her hips, pulling her closer, and m into her with force, the sound of flesh meeting flesh filling the car. She cries out, her head falling back, her body meeting my every thrust with equal fervor. The car creaks and groans under the strain, but I don¡¯t care. All I care about is the way she feels around me, the way she looks when she¡¯s lost in pleasure, the way she says my name like it¡¯s a prayer. I¡¯m close, so fucking close, but I want her toe first. I reach down, finding her clit with my thumb, rubbing it in quick, firm circles as l continue to pound into her. Her breathes in short, sharp gasps, her body tensing, and I know she¡¯s on the edge. ¡°Come for me, Celine,¡± I growl, my voice thick with desire. ¡°Let me feel you fall apart around my cock.¡± Her eyes meet mine, and I see the moment she surrenders, her body shattering around me. She cries out, her walls clenching, milking me, and I can¡¯t hold back anymore. I thrust into her onest time, my cock pulsing as I fill her with my cum, my name on her lips as she rides out her orgasm. 13:06 Tue, 5 Aug We copse against each other, our breathsing in ragged gasps, our hearts pounding in unison. I pull out slowly, then tuck myself back into my jeans, my hands moving to her, helping her get dressed. She leans her head on my shoulder, her eyes closed, a soft smile ying on her lips. ¡°That was¡­¡± she starts, her voice trailing off. ¡°Unforgettable,¡± I finish for her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She nods, snuggling closer, and I wrap my arms around her, holding her tight. The car is quiet now, the only sound our breathing, our hearts slowly returning to normal. I know this is just the beginning, that there¡¯s so much more to explore, so much more to feel. But for now, in this moment with Celine in my arms, I am exactly where I want to be. Legacy 115 Chapter 115 -CELINE¡¯S POV- I couldn¡¯t bring myself to look at Hunter as we drove through the quiet streets back to the mansion. My cheeks burned with the memory of what had just happened in his car, and every time I caught a glimpse of his profile in my peripheral vision, my heart would skip a beat all over again. The silence between us wasn¡¯t ufortable, exactly, but it was charged with something new¨Csomething that made the air feel thick and electric. I kept my hands folded in myp, trying to ignore the way my body still buzzed from his touch. My phone buzzed, breaking through my thoughts. ke¡¯s name lit up the screen. ¡®Caesar¡¯s fast asleep. Hope you¡¯re having the most amazing night! Don¡¯t rush back ¨C I¡¯ve got everything covered.¡® I couldn¡¯t help but smile as I typed back a quick response, letting her know we were heading home. ¡°Everything alright?¡± Hunter¡¯s voice was softer than usual, and when I nced over, his eyes held a tenderness I had never seen before. ¡°Just ke. She put Caesar to bed and wanted to make sure I was okay.¡± ¡°Are you?¡± He reached over and took my hand, intertwining our fingers with a gentleness that made my chest tight. ¡°Okay, I mean. Did you¡­ Did you have a good day?¡± The defenselessness in his question caught me off guard. This was so different from the cold,manding man I hade to know. This Hunter seemed almost nervous, as if my answer truly mattered to him. ¡°I had the best day,¡± I whispered, and watched as relief flooded his features. His smile was like sunrise ¨C slow, warm, and absolutely breathtaking. He lifted our joined hands to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles that sent shivers racing up my arm. The mansion loomed ahead of us, its windows dark except for a few scattered lights. Most of the staff would be asleep by now, and I knew ke had probably decided to spend the night in one of the guest rooms rather than go home thiste. Hunter helped me out of the car, his hand warm and steady on my back as we walked toward the entrance. The night air was cool against my heated skin, but I barely noticed. All I could focus on was the man beside me and the way everything between us had shifted in the span of a few hours. We stepped inside, and the house wrapped around us infortable silence. Hunter¡¯s presence beside me felt different now¡­.less intimidating, more¡­ protective. Like he belonged there, walking me home, making sure I was safe. I started toward the west wing, where my quarters waited, but I could feel Hunter following behind me. When I reached the hallway that led to my room, I turned around, suddenly shy. 20 ¡°Are you¡­ Are you going to keep following me?¡± I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Instead of answering with words, Hunter stepped closer, his hands finding my waist and pulling me against him. My breath caught as he lowered his head, his lips finding the sensitive spot just below my ear. ¡°Stay with me tonight,¡± he murmured against my skin, his voice rough with something that sounded like need. ¡°In my room. I want to spend more time with you¡­ I want to fall asleep with you in my arms.¡± I stared up at him, stunned. This tender, vulnerable man was so different from the Hunter I had known for months. The cold mask he usually wore hadpletely fallen away, leaving someone who looked at me like I was precious, like I mattered. ¡°Celine?¡± His thumb traced along my cheek, and I realized I¡¯d been quiet for too long. ¡°You don¡¯t have to if you don¡¯t want to. I just thought¡­..¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I interrupted, my heart hammering against my ribs. ¡°Yes, I would like that.¡± The smile that spread across his face was so genuine, so full of relief and joy, that it took my breath away. He took my hand again, leading me through the mansion¡¯s corridors toward the east wing where his master suite was located. I had been in his room before to clean, but walking into it now feltpletely different. Everything looked the same ¨C the massive bed with its dark grayforter, the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows overlooking the gardens, the sitting area with its leather chairs ¨C but the atmosphere had changed entirely. We stood there for a moment, both of us seeming hesitant about what came next. The boldness that had overtaken us in the car had given way to something sweeter, more tentative. ¡°I should probably shower,¡± I said finally, smoothing down my dress self¨Cconsciously. ¡°If that¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Hunter moved to his dresser, pulling out a soft cotton t¨Cshirt. ¡°Here, you can wear this.¡± He handed me the shirt along with a fluffy towel, his fingers brushing mine in the exchange. I clutched the items to my chest, breathing in the scent that clung to the fabric ¨C clean and masculine and purely Hunter. ¡°Thank you.¡± The bathroom was as luxurious as the rest of his suite, all marble and twinkling fixtures. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it for a moment, trying to process everything that had happened. When I lifted his shirt to my nose and inhaled deeply, memories of our time in the car came flooding back, and I felt heat bloom across my cheeks and down my neck. The way he¡¯d looked at me, touched me, whispered my name like it was something sacred¡­ I slipped out of my dress and turned on the shower, adjusting the temperature until steam began to fill the room. As the warm water cascaded over me, I reached for Hunter¡¯s shampoo, wanting to carry his scent with me. ¡°Is the water to your liking?¡± His voice came from just outside the bathroom door, and I could picture him standing there, probably running his hands through his hair the way he did when he was nervous. ¡°It¡¯s perfect,¡± I called back, smiling at his thoughtfulness. I stood under the spray for a few more minutes, letting the warmth rx my muscles and clear my head. Aug When I finally worked up the courage, I called out softly, ¡°Hunter?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± My heart was pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it through the door. ¡°Would you¡­ Would you like to join me?¡± There was a moment of silence, and then I heard the door handle turn. The bathroom door creaks open, and there he is, standing in the doorway, his gaze intense, his chest bare, his jeans hanging low on his hips. He doesn¡¯t say a word, just steps inside, closing the door behind him. The room is small, the steam thickening as he moves closer, his presence taking over the space. I feel my heart race, my breath quicken. This is bold, even for me, but there¡¯s no turning back now. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± he asks, his voice low, almost a growl. I nod, stepping closer, my hands reaching for the button of his jeans. ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± He doesn¡¯t hesitate, his hands gripping my hips as I tug his jeans down, his boxers following. His erection springs free, thick and hard, and i bite my lip, my fingers wrapping around him, teasing, stroking. He lets out a sharp breath, his head tilting back as I take control, my touch deliberate, slow. ¡°Enough,¡± he murmurs, his voice rough. ¡°I need you.¡± He presses me against the cool tiles, his lips crashing down on mine, hungry, demanding. His hands roam, gripping my thighs, lifting me, I wrap my legs around him, my core aching, desperate for him. The water beats down on us, mixing with our moans, the sound of our bodies colliding, skin on skin. ¡°Here?¡± I whisper, my voice breathless. ¡°Anywhere,¡± he replies, his lips brushing my ear, his teeth grazing my lobe. ¡°You¡¯re mine, Celine. All of you.¡± and His words send a jolt through me, and I tighten my legs around him, my nails digging into his shoulders. He positions himself at my entrance, teasing, torturing me, before thrusting deep, filling mepletely. I gasp, my head falling back, the sensation overwhelming, the heat of the shower, the hardness of his body, the tightness of my grip. ¡°Move with me,¡± hemands, his voice firm. I do, rocking my hips in rhythm with his, the water pounding down on us, the steam clouding the air. It¡¯s rough, primal, every thrust pushing me closer to the edge. He kisses my neck, my shoulders, his lips trailing down to my breasts, sucking, biting, his hands gripping my ass, holding me tight against him. ¡°Harder,¡± I plead, my voice desperate. He obliges, his movements bing more urgent, more relentless. The tiles dig into my back, but I don¡¯t care, the pleasure consuming me, drowning out everything else. I can feel it building, the tension coiling tighter, tighter, until I¡¯m screaming his name, my body shaking, my release crashing over me like a wave. Tue, 0 muy He follows, his groan deep and raw, his body stiffening as he empties himself inside me. For a moment, we¡¯re still, our breaths ragged, our hearts pounding. The water continues to fall, washing away the evidence of our passion, but the memory of it remains, etched into my skin. ¡°Bed,¡± he murmurs, his voice hoarse. ¡°Now.¡± Readplete version only at F¦ÉndNovel He carries me, his arms strong, his lips brushing my forehead. The bedroom is coolpared to the heat of the shower, the sheets soft against my skin as heys me down. He hovers over me, his eyes dark, his desire still burning. ¡°Again,¡± he says, his voice a promise. I smile, reaching for him, pulling him down. ¡°Again.¡± This time, it¡¯s slower, more deliberate. He kisses every inch of me, his tongue tracing patterns on my skin, his hands exploring, iming. I return the favor, my lips trailing down his chest, my tongue teasing his nipples, my hands gripping his thighs. He groans, his body tensing, but he doesn¡¯t rush me, letting me take my time, savoring every moment. When he enters me again, it¡¯s with a purpose, his movements steady, controlled. He positions me on my hands and knees, his hands gripping my hips, guiding me, his thrusts deep and slow. The angle is perfect, hitting a spot that makes me cry out, my body arching, my nails digging into the sheets. ¡°Like that?¡± he asks, his voice a whisper. ¡°Yes,¡± I breathe, my voice trembling. ¡°Don¡¯t stop.¡± He doesn¡¯t, his pace quickening, his grip tightening. I can feel him swelling inside me, the pressure building, and I meet his thrusts, my body moving in sync with his. The room is filled with the sound of our moans, the p of skin, and the creak of the bed. ¡°Together,¡± hemands, his voice urgent. I nod, my body tightening around him, my release crashing over me, waves of pleasure washing through me. He follows, his groan deep, his body shuddering as he spills himself inside me once more. For a long moment, we stay like that, our bodies tangled, our breaths ragged. He pulls me back, cradling me against his chest, his lips pressing to my hair. I tracedzy patterns on his chest with my fingertip. His heartbeat was steady beneath my palm, and his breathing had finally returned to normal. ¡°You¡¯re incredible,¡± he murmured, his lips pressed against my hair. I tilted my head up to look at him, still amazed by the tenderness in his expression. ¡°I never thought¡­ I mean, I never imagined you could be like this.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°Gentle. Vulnerable.¡± I paused, searching for the right words. ¡°Real.¡± ¨C Something shed across his face pain, maybe, or regret. ¡°I haven¡¯t been real in a long time, Celine. But with you¡­ With you, I can¡¯t seem to 13:06 Tue, 5 Aug be anything else.¡± The honesty in his voice made my chest ache. I reached up to cup his cheek, feeling the slight roughness of stubble beneath my palm. ¡°I like this version of you.¡± ¡°Even though I¡¯ve been horrible to you? Even though I¡¯ve said things, done things¡­¡± I silenced him with a soft kiss. ¡°That¡¯s not who you are. Not really. I¡¯ve seen glimpses of the real Hunter, and he¡¯s¡­ he¡¯s wonderful.¡± He closed his eyes, leaning into my touch. ¡°I don¡¯t deserve you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not your decision to make,¡± I whispered. ¡°It¡¯s mine. And I choose you, Hunter. The real you.¡± When he opened his eyes, they were bright with unshed tears. ¡°Celine¡­¡± ¡°What happens now?¡± I asked, suddenly needing to know where this left us. He was quiet for a long moment, his fingersbing through my damp hair. ¡°Now we figure it out together. No more walls, no more pretending. Just¡­ us.¡± 67% The simplicity of it was beautiful and terrifying all at once. Just us. After months of confusion and hurt feelings, after tonight¡¯s revtions and passion, maybe that was exactly what we needed. ¡°I would like that,¡± I said, settling back against his chest. His arms tightened around me, and I felt safe in a way I hadn¡¯t in years. Whatever challengesy ahead ¨C and I knew there would be many ¨C we would face them together. As I drifted off to sleep in Hunter¡¯s embrace, I couldn¡¯t help but think that maybe, just maybe, fairy tales dide true. Even for girls like me. Legacy 116 Chapter 116 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- 120 The harsh clearing of a throat pierced through the peaceful morning silence, pulling me from the depths of sleep. My eyes flew open to find my mother standing at the foot of my bed, her posture strict with disapproval, her lips pressed into a thin line of barely contained fury. Eleanor Reid had never learned the concept of knocking. Heat flooded my face as memories ofst night crashed over me¨CCeline¡¯s soft moans, the way she¡¯d whispered my name, the feeling of her body pressed against mine. The scent of her vani perfume still stayed on my sheets, and I could feel the warmth of her body next to me. A soft groan escaped from beside me, and I watched in horror as Celine stirred, her dark hair spilling across my pillow like silk. She turned toward me with a sleepy smile that could have stopped my heart. ¡°Good morning,¡± she whispered, her voice husky with sleep,pletely ignorant of the storm brewing in my bedroom. ¡°This is inappropriate, Mother.¡± My voice came out colder than I nned, but the vition of privacy made my blood boil. Celine¡¯s eyes snapped open fully, following my gaze to where Eleanor stood like a marble statue of judgment. The color drained from her face as she realized she was naked in my bed, with my mother as an unwee witness. ¡°Oh my God,¡± she breathed, scrambling to pull the sheets higher. Eleanor¡¯s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as she took in the scene¡­.the rumpled sheets, Celine¡¯s bare shoulders, the obvious intimacy of our position. When she spoke, her voice could have cut ss. ¡°I should have known you would sink this low, Hunter. Sleeping with the help? Really? And this¡­ this gold¨Cdigging little tramp thinks she can¡­..¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± My voice thundered through the room, cutting her off mid¨Csentence. I sat up straighter, not caring that my state of undress was obvious. ¡°You will not speak to the mother of my son like that. You will not speak to any woman in my house like that.¡± The silence that followed was deafening. Eleanor¡¯s mouth fell open, her carefully organized mask slipping for the first time in years. Celine stared at me with wide, shocked eyes, as if she couldn¡¯t believe I had just defended her so fiercely. ¡°The mother of your son?¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper, but I could hear the tremor in it. ¡°Hunter, can you hear yourself?¡± But I wasn¡¯t ready for that conversation. Not like this. Not with Celine caught between us like a bullet in a war she never asked to fight. Celine moved with desperate efficiency, gathering the sheet around her body like armor. ¡°I need to¡­ I should go,¡± she stammered, avoiding my eyes as she bent to collect her scattered dress from the floor. 13:07 Tue, 5 Aug ¡°Celine, wait¡­..¡± But she was already rushing toward the door, the sheet trailing behind her like a wedding train in reverse. She didn¡¯t look back, didn¡¯t meet my eyes, just fled as if the room were on fire. The door clicked shut behind her, leaving me alone with my mother and the weight of what she had just witnessed. The rest of the morning passed in a blur of pressure thick enough to choke on. Mother had apparently decided to extend her uninvited visit, and her presence filled every corner of the mansion like smoke from a house fire. The staff moved with the careful efficiency of people trying to avoid being caught in crossfire: ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F¦ÉndNovel I found Caesar in the breakfast room,pletely ignorant of the drama stirring around him. He was ying some game on his tablet, his little legs swinging from the chair that was still too big for him. ¡°Grandma Eleanor!¡± he squealed when he saw her,unching himself into her arms with the pure joy only children possess. Despite everything, Eleanor¡¯s face softened as she hugged him. ¡°Hello, my darling boy. My goodness, you¡¯ve gotten so thin. Are they not feeding you properly here?¡± The barb was directed at me, obviously, but Caesar just giggled and snuggled closer to her. ¡°Mama makes the best pancakes! And daddy Hunter taught me how to make scrambled eggs yesterday.¡± ¡°Did he?¡± Eleanor¡¯s eyebrow arched dangerously. I took my seat at the head of the table, trying to project calm I didn¡¯t feel. ¡°Where is your mother this morning, buddy?¡± ¡°She¡¯s in her room with ke. They¡¯re talking in whispers.¡± Caesar looked up from his game with curious eyes. ¡°Is Mama sad? She looked like she wanted to cry.¡± My chest tightened. Of course, she was hiding. After the humiliation of this morning, I wouldn¡¯t me her if she never wanted to see me again. ¡°Hunter,¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice was sharp with disapproval, ¡°I cannot believe you¡¯re asking about the whereabouts of a maid. A maid you¡¯ve been¡­ entertaining.¡± Several staff members froze in their tasks, their eyes darting between us. This was exactly the kind of scene that would have the entire household gossiping within the hour. I met Eleanor¡¯s gaze steadily. ¡°Ana, please go ask Celine and ke to join us for breakfast.¡± Ana hesitated, her eyes flicking nervously between my mother and me. The poor girl looked like she would rather dive into shark¨Cinfested waters. ¡°Ana,¡± I said, my voice dropping to that tone that made board members squirm. ¡°Now.¡± She scurried away toward the west wing like her life depended on it. ¡°What exactly do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Eleanor demanded, her carefully modted voice finally cracking. I ignored her, instead focusing on Caesar, who was watching our exchange with the sharp intelligence he had inherited from both his parents. When Ana returned with Celine and ke, the atmosphere in the room became frozen. Celine¡¯s head was down, her shoulders hunched as if she were trying to make herself invisible. ke stood protectively beside her friend, shooting daggers at Eleanor with her eyes. Caesar waved enthusiastically. ¡°Mamal Aunt ke! Come sit with us!¡± Celine managed a strained smile for her son, but I could see the way her hands trembled slightly as she approached the table. ¡°Celine,¡± I said quietly, ¡°please, sit.¡± She took the chair next to Caesar, still refusing to meet my eyes. ke sat beside her, creating a united front that made my chest ache with something I couldn¡¯t name. Eleanor¡¯s voice cut through the air like a de. ¡°I hardly think it¡¯s appropriate for the household staff to dine with the family.¡± ke¡¯s eyes shed. ¡°Now listen here¡­.¡± ¡°ke,¡± Celine¡¯s voice was barely audible, but firm. ¡°Please don¡¯t.¡± The pain in her tone made me want to put my fist through the wall. Instead, I looked directly at Eleanor, my voice deadly calm. ¡°Mother, you have two choices. You can join us for a civilized breakfast with my son and the people I care about, or you can leave my house. But I will not tolerate any more disrespect toward Celine or anyone else under my roof.¡± The silence stretched like a rubber band about to snap. Eleanor¡¯s face cycled through shock, anger, and something that might have been hurt before settling into cold calction. ¡°People you care about?¡± she repeated, her voice dangerously quiet. Caesar looked up from his pancakes, syrup on his chin, Chapter 117 -CELINE¡¯S POV- (A Few Hours Earlier) My cheeks burned with humiliation as I stumbled through the west wing corridors, Hunter¡¯s Egyptian cotton sheet wrapped around me like a makeshift toga. The soft fabric that had felt so luxurious against my skin just moments ago now felt like a scarlet letter, announcing my shame to anyone who might see me. The door to our small quarters couldn¡¯te fast enough. I burst through it like I was being chased by demons, my heart hammering against my ribs. ke was already up, moving around our cozy little kitchen with the easy grace of someone who had imed this space as home. She had a steaming mug of coffee in her hands and was humming softly to herself when I crashed through the door like a tornado. ¡°Well, well, well,¡± she drawled, her eyebrows shooting up as she took in my appearance. ¡°Someone¡¯s doing the walk of shame this morning. Though technically, it¡¯s more of a run of shame, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°ke, please,¡± I whispered, my voice hoarse with embarrassment. Her teasing expression immediately shifted to concern. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong? Why are you running around half¨Cnaked at seven in the morning?¡± Copsed onto our small sofa, burying my face in my hands. The events of the morning crashed over me in waves ¨C Hunter¡¯s mother¡¯s cold, judgmental stare, the way she¡¯d looked at me like I was something she¡¯d scraped off her designer shoe, the humiliation of being caught in such an intimate moment. ¡°His mother,¡± I managed to choke out. ¡°She walked in on us. Just¡­. stood there, staring, while I was naked in his bed.¡± ke¡¯s coffee mug hit the counter with a sharp clink. ¡°So the wicked witch of the east wing has returned,¡± she said grimly. ¡°And let me guess ¨C she hates your guts on sight.¡± I nodded miserably, my face still buried in my hands. ¡°The look she gave me, ke. Like I was dirt. Like I was nothing but a cheap whore trying to seduce her precious son.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Caesar?¡± I asked suddenly, panic fluttering in my chest as I looked around our small apartment. As if summoned by my worry, Caesar came bounding out of his room, his tablet clutched in his small hands and his dark hair sticking up at odd angles. His blue eyes ¨C so startlingly simr to Hunter¡¯s ¨C were bright with excitement. ¡°Mama! Can I go downstairs and see Daddy? want to show him the new level I unlocked!¡± The word ¡®Daddy¡® hit me like a physical blow. When did Caesar start calling Hunter that? And why did it make my heart doplicated things in my chest? I managed a smile for my son, reaching out to smooth down his unruly hair. ¡°Of course, sweetheart. Go find him.¡± 457% Caesar beamed and practically skipped toward the door, pausing only to wave goodbye to both ke and me before disappearing into the hallway. The moment he was gone, ke rounded on me with a predatory grin. ¡°Okay, now spill, How was it?¡± ¡°ke!¡± I gasped, heat flooding my cheeks all over again. Fresh chapters posted on findnovel ¡°Come on, don¡¯t leave me hanging here. You finally slept with the brooding billionaire, Was it everything you dreamed it would be? Did he live up to the hype?¡± I covered my face with my hands again, but I couldn¡¯t stop the smile that tugged at my lips. ¡°It was¡­¡± I peeked at her through my fingers. ¡°Really, really good.¡± ke squealed like a teenager, pping her hands together. ¡°I knew it! I could see the sexual tension between you two from space. The man has been undressing you with his eyes for months.¡± We both broke up into giggles, the sound echoing through our small kitchen and momentarily washing away my embarrassment. For a few precious minutes, it felt like we were just two friends gossiping about boys, not like I was a maid who had crossed an unforgivable line with her employer. I had just finished getting dressed in my crisp maid¡¯s uniform ¨C the starched fabric feeling like armor against whatever the day might bring ¨C when a sharp knock interrupted our moment of levity. ke and I exchanged nces. It was barely eight in the morning, far too early for most of the household to be moving around. When I opened the door, Ana stood there like an avenging angel, her arms crossed over her chest and her expression colder than a winter morning. Her dark eyes swept over ke and me with undisguised disdain. ¡°Well, well,¡± ke muttered under her breath. ¡°Another member of the wicked witch fan club.¡± Ana¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously. ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± ¡°You heard me,¡± ke replied sweetly, rising from her chair with the fluid grace of a cat preparing to pounce. Ana turned her attention back to me, her gaze traveling up and down my uniform with obyious disgust. ¡°I suppose you think you¡¯re something special now, don¡¯t you? Warming the master¡¯s bed like somemon¡­¡­¡± ¡°What do you want, Ana?¡± I cut her off, my voice sharper than I intended. The morning had already been humiliating enough without adding Ana¡¯s jealousy to the mix. She smirked, clearly enjoying herself. ¡°You think this means something? You think because Hunter Reid spent one night slumming it with the help, he actually cares about you?¡± My chest tightened, but I kept my expression neutral. ¡°Let me educate you about how this works,¡± Ana continued, her voice dripping with false sweetness. ¡°Men like Hunter don¡¯t marry girls like you. They use you for a bit of fun, and then they toss you aside when they¡¯re done ying. His mother will never allow her son to marry some low¨Clife slut of a maid.¡± ke shot to her feet so fast her chair nearly toppled over. ¡°That¡¯s it. I¡¯m going to smack some sense into this bitter old cow.¡± 13:07 Tue, 5 Aug ¡°ke, don¡¯t.¡± I said firmly, cing a restraining hand on her arm. 201 I turned back to Ana, meeting her hostile gaze directly. ¡°Your words mean nothing to me. Now either state your business or get away from my door.¡± Ana¡¯s mouth fell open slightly, clearly not expecting me to stand up to her. She recovered quickly, her smirk returning full force. ¡°Mr. Reid has requested your presence downstairs,¡± she said with exaggerated formality. ¡°Both of you. Though I can¡¯t imagine why he would want that loud¨Cmouthed friend of yours there too.¡± ¡°Why?¡± I asked, though my heart was already starting to race. Ana shrugged with calcted indifference. ¡°I¡¯m not his messenger service. If you want answers, go downstairs and get them yourself.¡± She turned on her heel and stalked away, leaving ke and me staring after her. ¡°The audacity of that woman,¡± ke muttered. ¡°I should have pped her anyway.¡± But I was barely listening. Hunter wanted me downstairs. With his mother there. After what had happened this morning, after the way she¡¯d looked at me, thest thing I wanted was to face Eleanor Reid across a breakfast table. But he had asked for me. Despite everything, despite his mother¡¯s obvious disapproval, he had asked for me. Maybe it meant something after all. If I had thought facing Eleanor Reid in Hunter¡¯s bedroom was humiliating, it was nothingpared to sitting across from her at the formal dining table. Every piece of silver seemed to gleam with judgment, every crystal ss reflected her disapproving stare. Hunter had positioned himself at the head of the table like a king holding court, but I could see the tension in his shoulders, the careful way he held himself. Caesar sat beside me, happily munching on pancakes andpletely oblivious to the undercurrents swirling around him. Eleanor¡¯s attention had initially focused on ke, her questions sharp as surgical instruments. ¡°And what exactly do you do, Miss?¡± Eleanor asked, her tone suggesting she already knew she wouldn¡¯t approve of the answer. ¡°I work at The Aurelia,¡± ke replied smoothly, though I could see her knuckles were white where she gripped her coffee cup. ¡°How¡­ convenient. And how did you meet Celine? Through work, I assume?¡± The meaning was clear ¨C Eleanor was fishing for something sordid, some proof that ke and I were cut from the same supposedly inferior cloth. ¡°We worked together at Sir Reid hotel,¡± I said quietly, not wanting ke to have to guide Eleanor¡¯s verbalndmines alone. ¡°Ah.¡± Eleanor¡¯s smile was razor¨Cthin. ¡°So you¡¯re both in the¡­ service industry. How fitting that you encourage each other in your various pursuits. Tell me, Miss ke, do you also make a habit of encouraging your friends to sleep with their employers?¡± 96% The question hit the table like a bomb. Several staff members who¡¯d been moving quietly around the room froze in ce. Hunter¡¯s jaw clenched so tightly I was afraid he might crack a tooth. ¡°Mother.. ¡°he began, but Eleanor wasn¡¯t finished. ¡°It¡¯s a simple question. Surely there¡¯s nothing wrong with honest work between consenting adults? Unless, of course, someone is using their position to take advantage of¡­¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± ke interjected, her voice deadly calm. Eleanor¡¯s eyes glittered with malicious satisfaction. ¡°Don¡¯t I? It¡¯s quite obvious what sort of woman would¡­¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s a slut?¡± Caesar¡¯s innocent voice cut through the tension like a knife through silk. Every person in the room froze, all eyes turning to my three¨Cyear¨Cold son, who was looking up from his pancakes with genuine curiosity. My blood turned to ice. Eleanor¡¯s face had gone pale, Hunter looked like he was about tomit murder, and I could feel every staff member¡¯s eyes boring into me, waiting to see how I would handle this moment. ¡°A slut,¡± I said carefully, my voice steady despite the way my hands were shaking, ¡°is a mean word that some people use when they¡¯re angry. It¡¯s not a nice word, and you shouldn¡¯t say it, okay?¡± Caesar nodded solemnly. ¡°Like when Tommy at the park called me a bad name?¡± ¡°Exactly like that,¡± I managed, my heart breaking for my innocent boy who was trying so hard to understand the adult world¡¯s cruelties. The silence that followed was deafening. I could feel pity radiating from some of the staff, but Ana¡¯s face held nothing but cold satisfaction, and Eleanor looked like she was savoring every moment of my humiliation. That¡¯s when Hunter exploded. ¡°Get out.¡± His voice was so low and dangerous that it seemed to vibrate through the floorboards. Eleanor blinked. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°You heard me.¡± Hunter stood slowly, his movements controlled but radiating barely contained fury. ¡°Get out of my house. Now.¡± ¡°Hunter, I am your mother¡­..¡± ¡°You are nothing to me,¡± he said, each word falling like a hammer blow. ¡°Celine has been more of a mother to Caesar in three months than you ever were to me in twenty¨Csix years.¡± The silence that followed was absolute. Even Caesar had stopped eating, his wide blue eyes darting between the adults as he sensed the shift in the room¡¯s atmosphere. I wanted to disappear. This was all my fault. Hunter was destroying his rtionship with his mother because of me, and I couldn¡¯t bear it. ¡°Hunter,¡± I whispered, but he held up a hand. ¡°Breakfast is over,¡± he announced, his voice carrying the authority of a man ustomed to being obeyed, ¡°Celine, please take Caesar upstairs.¡± Thesitated, torn between wanting to escape and not wanting to leave Hunter to face his mother¡¯s wrath alone. ¡°Celine,¡± his voice brooked no argument, though when his eyes met mine, they softened slightly. ¡°Please.¡± ke touched my arm gently. ¡°Come on,¡± she murmured. ¡°Let them work this out.¡± As I gathered Caesar and his tablet, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that I¡¯d just witnessed something irreversible. Hunter had chosen me over his mother, and I wasn¡¯t sure either of us was prepared for the consequences of that choice. Legacy 118 Chapter 118 -CELINE¡¯S POV- 20 The knock on my door came at precisely three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, when the mansion was at its quietest. Hunter had left for an emergency board meeting an hour ago, Caesar was napping, and most of the staff were upied with their afternoon duties. I wasn¡¯t expecting anyone. When I opened the door, Eleanor Reid stood there like a perfectlyposed predator, her silver hair gleaming under the hallway lights, her navy Chanel suit impable despite thete hour. She looked every inch the billionaire matriarch ¨C polished, powerful, and absolutely terrifying. ¡°Mrs. Reid,¡± I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Is everything alright? Is Hunter¡­.¡± ¡°Hunter is fine,¡± she cut me off smoothly, her cold blue eyes ¨C so simr to her son¡¯s, yetcking any of his recent warmth ¨C scanning my modest quarters behind me. ¡°May Ie in? We need to talk.¡± Every instinct screamed at me to refuse, to m the door in her face and pretend this moment wasn¡¯t happening. But Eleanor Reid wasn¡¯t the kind of woman you said no to. Her very presencemanded submission. I ¡°Of course,¡± I stepped aside, my hands trembling slightly as I gestured her into our small living space. She entered like she owned the ce ¨C which, technically, she did ¨C her designer heels clicking against our simple hardwood floors. Her gaze swept over our modest furniture, Caesar¡¯s toys scattered in the corner, and ke¡¯s coffee mug still sitting on the kitchen counter from this morning. ¡°Charming,¡± she said, and somehow managed to make the word sound like an insult. I closed the door behind her, my heart hammering against my ribs. ¡°Would you like some tea? Coffee?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a social call, Miss Brown.¡± Eleanor settled herself on our small sofa with the grace of a queen taking her throne. ¡°Please, sit. What I have to say won¡¯t take long.¡± I perched on the edge of the chair across from her, my back straight, hands folded in myp like a schoolgirl called to the principal¡¯s office. The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. Eleanor opened her designer purse¡­.a Hermes bag that probably cost more than I¡¯d make in five years¡­.. and withdrew a leather portfolio. She ced it on the coffee table between us with the deliberate precision of someone ying chess. ¡°You¡¯re a smart girl, Celine,¡± she began, her voice cultured and calm. ¡°Smart enough to know that this little fantasy won¡¯tst.¡± My chest tightened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± 13:08 Tue, 5 Aug 20 ¡°Oh, don¡¯t y coy with me. It¡¯s beneath you.¡± Eleanor¡¯s smile was sharp as a de. ¡°You and my son. This¡­ arrangement you have going on. It¡¯s temporary at best, and we both know it.¡± Heat flooded my cheeks. ¡°Mrs. Reid, I think you might have the wrong impression¡­¡± ¡°Do I?¡± She leaned forward slightly, her eyes boring into mine. ¡°You¡¯re sleeping with my son. Don¡¯t insult my intelligence by denying it. The entire household knows. The question is, what do you n to do about it?¡± I opened my mouth to respond, but she held up a perfectly manicured hand. ¡°Before you answer, let me paint you a picture of reality,¡± Eleanor continued, her voice taking on the tone of a professor delivering a lecture. ¡°My son won¡¯t marry you, Celine. Trust me on this. It¡¯s all fun for him now because he thinks he loves you, but he doesn¡¯t. Men like Hunter don¡¯t choose women like you for keeps.¡± Each word hit me like a physical blow. ¡°You don¡¯t know your son as well as you think you do.¡± Eleanor¡¯sugh was like ice cracking. ¡°Oh, my dear child. I know Hunter better than anyone. I¡¯ve watched him cycle through women his entire adult life. Beautiful women, aplished women, women from good families with impressive pedigrees. And do you know what they all had inmon?¡± I remained silent, my throat too tight to speak. ¡°They weren¡¯t good enough,¡± she said simply. ¡°None of them were. Because Hunter Reid doesn¡¯t really want to be tied down. He wants the chase, the conquest, the temporary thrill. And when he¡¯s done ying house with you, he¡¯ll move on to someone more¡­ suitable.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± I whispered, but my voicecked conviction. ¡°Am I? Tell me, Celine ¨C has he mentioned marriage? Has he talked about your future together? Has he even acknowledged that Caesar is his son?¡± The silence that followed was deafening. Each unanswered question felt like a nail in the coffin of my hopes. Eleanor¡¯s expression softened slightly, but it felt more predatory thanforting. ¡°I¡¯m not saying this to be cruel. I¡¯m saying it because I¡¯ve seen this pattern before. My son is a Reid, and Reids marry within their social circle. It¡¯s simply how things are done.¡± She reached for the leather portfolio, opening it to reveal a single sheet of paper¡­. crisp, official¨Clooking, with numbers that made my vision blur. ¡°Two million dors,¡± she said quietly. ¡°More than generous for someone in your¡­ position.¡± My breath caught in my throat. ¡°What?¡± ¡°A clean break. I will allow you to take Caesar, you disappear, and you never contact Hunter again. In return, you get enough money to give your son every opportunity he could ever want. Private schools, college, a house in a good neighborhood¡­..everything you¡¯ve ever dreamed of providing for him.¡± The numbers swam before my eyes. Two million dors. More money than I¡¯d ever imagined having. Enough to secure Caesar¡¯s entire future. ¡°You think you can buy my son?¡± I asked, horrified. ¡°I¡¯m not buying your son. I¡¯m buying your silence. Your absence.¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice remained perfectly calm. ¡°Caesar will be fine. Better than 2/4 ?????? ???? fin?novel 19s you could never give him not your even Eleaver¡¯s smile turned predatory. ¡°Then i have no choice but to explore other options Legal options. After all, Hunter does have other, doesn¡¯t he** The threat hung in the air between us like a loaded gun. My hands began to shake. My tam has resources you can¡¯t imagine, Celine Lawyers, investigators, and connections that reach into every corner of the legal system. We could prove that you ve been an unfit mother¡­.. a single woman working multiple jobs, living in poverty, denying a child his birthright¡± That¡¯s not true protested weakly ¡°Truth is rtive when you have enough money to shape it,¡± Eleanor replied coldly. *s your price worth Caesar¡¯s future? Because that¡¯s what you¡¯re choosing between¨Cyour stubborn refusal to ept reality, or your son¡¯s wellbeing I thought of Caesar, sleeping peacefully in his little bed just down the hall. My beautiful, innocent boy who deserved so much more than the struggle I¡¯d given him so far. would never hurt Caesar,¡± I said through gritted teeth. m not asking you to hurt him. I¡¯m asking you to love him enough to let him go.¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice took on an almost gentle tone. ¡°Think about it, Celine. Really think. You¡¯re a maid. Hunter is a billionaire. Youe from nothing. Hees from everything. How do you think this story ends?¡± The words hit their mark with devastating precision. All my deepest fears, all my secret insecurities,y bare by this woman who barely knew me but understood exactly where to strike. ¡°Hunter cares about me,¡± I said, but even to my own ears, it sounded like I was trying to convince myself. ¡°Hunter cares about the idea of you.¡± Eleanor corrected. ¡°The novelty, the rebellion against his upbringing. But novelty wears off, Celine. And when it does, where will that leave you?¡± She stood gracefully, smoothing down her skirt. ¡°I¡¯ll give you forty¨Ceight hours to decide. Choose wisely, for Caesar¡¯s sake.¡± She moved toward the door, then paused, her hand on the handle. ¡°One more thing,¡± she said without turning around. ¡°If you think Hunter will ride to your rescue, you¡¯re mistaken. He¡¯s never defied me on anything that truly mattered. He won¡¯t start now.¡± The door closed behind her with a soft click, leaving me alone with the contract and the weight of an impossible choice. Two million dorsy spread across my coffee table like a devil¡¯s bargain. And despite everything in me that wanted to tear it up and throw it in Eleanor Reid¡¯s face, I couldn¡¯t stop staring at those numbers, thinking about Caesar¡¯s future, and wondering if maybe¡­.. just maybe¡­..she was right about everything. The clock on the wall ticked loudly in the silence, counting down the forty¨Ceight hours that would determine the rest of our thes thad never felt more alone. 314 Legacy 119 ylist suggestion: ¡°Constetion¡± by Jade LeMac. ¡°Young and Beautiful¡± by Lana Del Ray ¡°A Thousand Years¡± by Christina Perri HUNTER¡¯S POV The amber liquid swirled in my ss like liquid gold, catching the dim lights of Vincent¡¯s penthouse bar. The city sprawled below us through floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows, a glittering maze of lights and possibilities that somehow felt less overwhelming than the chaos in my chest. ¡°So,¡± Vincent said, settling into the leather chair across from me with his own drink, ¡°how¡¯s the love life going with the pretty Celine?¡± Despite everything, I found myself smiling¨Ca real smile that felt foreign on my face after years of practiced corporate expressions. ¡°Different,¡± I admitted, taking a sip of the whiskey. ¡°She makes me feel¡­ different.¡± Vincent raised an eyebrow, his green eyes sparkling with mischief. ¡°Different how? Like you¡¯ve discovered emotions beyond a cold, calcting businessman?¡± Hleaned back in my chair, the leather creaking softly. ¡°The past few days, taking her on that date, just being around her¡­ I feel like a different man. Lighter, somehow. Like I can breathe for the first time in years.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be damned.¡± Vincent grinned, gesturing at me with his ss. ¡°Look at you, actually talking about feelings without looking like you¡¯re going to break out in hives. And you¡¯re not brooding! This is historic.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t brood,¡± I protested, but even I could hear the lie in my voice. ¡°Hunter, my friend, you¡¯ve perfected brooding into an art form. Buttely?¡± He studied my face with the intensity of someone examining a rare artifact. ¡°You look¡­ human again.¡± The warmth in my chest dimmed slightly as reality crept back in. ¡°My mother¡¯s back in town.¡± Vincent nearly choked on his drink. ¡°The Ice Queen of Reid has returned? Christ, Hunter. How determined is she to make your life miserable this time?¡± Iran a hand through my hair, the familiar tension creeping back into my shoulders. ¡°She walked in on us. Celine and I. In my bed. This morning.¡± ¡°Jesus.¡± Vincent set down his ss with a sharp clink. ¡°While Celine was¡­?¡± ¡°Naked. Completely mortified.¡± The memory of Celine¡¯s face, the way she¡¯d scrambled for the sheets, the humiliation in her eyes¨Cit made my jaw clench. ¡°Then Mother insisted on having breakfast with us. Turned it into an interrogation.¡± 13:08 Tue, 5 Aug ¡°How did Celine handle it?¡± 20 The question hit me like a punch to the gut. ¡°She was embarrassed, In front of Caesar, in front of the staff. My mother made sure everyone in that room knew exactly what she thought of Celine. Called her¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t bring myself to repeat the words. Vincent was quiet for a moment, swirling his drink thoughtfully. ¡°What are you going to do about it?¡± I leaned forward, my mind racing through possibilities. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about sending them abroad. Celine and Caesar. Somewhere safe where my mother can¡¯t reach them. Or maybe I could set them up somewhere else entirely¨Cget Celine out of the maid position, find them a nice ce where no one would look down on them.¡± ¡°So you want to hide her.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hiding her,¡± I said quickly, defensively. ¡°I¡¯m keeping her safe. There¡¯s a difference.¡± Vincent went quiet, his expression growing serious in a way that made me ufortable. He studied me for a long moment, then asked the question that stopped my world. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just marry her?¡± The word hit me like a physical blow. My ss froze halfway to my lips, the whiskey forgotten as memories crashed over me like a tsunami. ¡®London. Three years ago.¡® ¡®The taste of victory was still sweet on my tongue as I walked through the front door of my Kensington penthouse, ready to celebrate closing the biggest deal of my career. I had champagne chilling, dinner reservations at Sophia¡¯s favorite restaurant, and the ring I¡¯d been carrying for weeks burning a hole in my pocket.¡¯ ¡®But the universe had other ns.¡¯ ¡®I found them in our bedroom¨Cmy bedroom¨CSophia¡¯s blonde hair spilled across my pillows, her body tangled with someone I recognized immediately. Patrick¡¯s cousin. The same Patrick who¡¯d introduced us three years ago, who¡¯d been at every business dinner, every celebration.¡® ¡®The sound that escaped my throat wasn¡¯t quite human.¡® ¡®Sophia¡¯s blue eyes met mine across the room, wide with shock and something that might have been relief. She didn¡¯t even try to cover herself, didn¡¯t scramble for exnations or apologies. She just stared at me like she¡¯d been waiting for this moment.¡¯ ¡®I turned and walked out without a word.¡® ¡°Hunter?¡± Vincent¡¯s voice seemed toe from very far away. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost.¡± I drained my ss in one burning gulp, the whiskey doing nothing to numb the ache that had suddenly opened in my chest. ¡°I need another drink.¡± But even as Vincent refilled my ss, the memories kepting, relentless as a tide. ¡®The club was loud, pulsing with music andughter that felt like mockery. I¡¯d called Patrick, needing answers, needing someone to exin how my entire life had imploded in the space of ten seconds.¡® ¡°What happened?¡± Patrick asked when he found me at our usual table, his face a mask of concern that I now recognized as perfectly crafted lies. ¡°Did you know?¡± The words came out rougher than I intended. ¡°Did you know your cousin was sleeping with Sophia?¡± 13:08 Tue, 5 Aug Patrick¡¯s face went carefully nk. ¡°What are you insinuating, Hunter?¡± 3038 ¡°You introduced us,¡± I said, my voice deadly quiet. ¡°Three years ago. You brought her to that charity g, made sure she met me. Were you nning this from the beginning?¡± ¡°That¡¯s insane. Why would Sophia cheat? She loves you.¡± Iughed, but there was no humor in it. ¡°I just found the woman who loves me in bed with another man.¡± Patrick reached out, cing a hand on my shoulder that felt like a brand. ¡°Don¡¯t do something stupid that you¡¯ll regret.¡± I shrugged him off and walked away, not knowing that his words would prove prophetic in ways I couldn¡¯t imagine.¡¯ ¡°Hunter.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was sharper now, concerned. ¡°Talk to me.¡± I blinked, finding myself back in the present, my friend¡¯s worried face swimming into focus. ¡°Sophia was waiting for me when I got home,¡± I heard myself say. ¡°Sitting on the couch like nothing had happened.¡± The words started pouring out then, three years of buried pain spilling between us like blood from a wound. ¡°We need to talk about what happened,¡± she¡¯d said, her voice small and uncertain. ¡®I¡¯d tried to ignore her, tried to walk past her to my room where I could lock the door and pretend my world hadn¡¯t just ended. But she blocked my path, her small hands wrapping around my wrist. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me,¡± I¡¯d snarled, jerking away from her like her skin burned. But she held her ground, those blue eyes I¡¯d once loved now bright with unshed tears. ¡°I deserve that. But Hunter, please-¡± ¡°Why?¡± The word exploded out of me with three years of suppressed emotion. ¡°Why him? Why destroy everything we had?¡± ¡®Her face crumpled, and for a moment she looked like the scaredw firm secretary I¡¯d fallen in love with. ¡°I felt like I was suffocating. Everything was moving so fast, and you were always working, always busy. The rumors about us, about me being amon secretary engaged to someone like you¡­ It was too much.¡± ¡°You could have talked to me,¡± I¡¯d said, my voice breaking despite my efforts to stay strong. ¡°You were never around to talk to.¡± ¡®I¡¯d stared at her then, really looked at her. Her short blonde bob was mussed, her blue eyes red with tears, her professionalposurepletely shattered. She was still beautiful, still the woman I¡¯d nned to propose to.¡® ¡°When did it start?¡± I asked, though I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted the answer. ¡°The day you missed my birthday,¡± she whispered. ¡°I went out to eat alone, and I ran into him at the restaurant. He was kind, Hunter. He listened to me.¡± ¡°I got stuck in traffic,¡± I said weakly, remembering that night, remembering the guilt that had eaten at me for weeks. ¡°I tried to call-¡± ¡°I know you didn¡¯t do it on purpose,¡± she said quickly. ¡°But when he asked me to have a drink, to talk¡­ I felt something I hadn¡¯t felt in months. Like someone actually cared about what I had to say.¡± The betrayal cut deeper than any knife. ¡°So you decided to sleep with him.¡± She started crying then, real sobs that shook her whole body. ¡°He made me feel things I hadn¡¯t felt in so long, Hunter. Things you used to make me feel.¡± 1308 100, DAUN ÁÖûœ55%Òô 55%ÔÚ i stumbled backward, the words fitting me like physical blows. ¡°Why are you telling me this? Why are you making it gorse¡± ¡°Descause we wouldn¡¯t have been happy anyway,¡± she said through her tears. ¡°Your mother hates me. She would have made my life miserable would have been miserable marrying you.¡± Something inside me shatteredpletely. ¡°I would have fought heaven and earth for you,¡± I whispered. ¡°My mother, my family, anyone fin tried toe between us. And you were already giving up.¡± I turned away from her then, unable to look at her face any longer. The sound of her sobbing followed me to my room, where I locked the door and broke down myself. ¡°She left the ring.¡± I continued, my voice barely audible even to my own ears. ¡°One weekter. Just left it on the kitchen counter with a letter was too much of a coward to read.¡± Vincent waspletely still, his drink forgotten in his hands. ¡°Patrick tried to talk to me after I ended our partnership. Wanted to know if I¡¯d heard from her. Said she was broken, that she regretted everything.¡± Iughed bitterly. ¡°Three dayster, her aunt called my old number.¡± The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken understanding. ¡°She killed herself, Vincent.¡± The words felt like ss in my throat. ¡°Overdose. Her aunt said they couldn¡¯t reach anyone, that she¡¯d been trying to call me but I¡¯d changed my number.¡± Vincent¡¯s face went pale. ¡°Jesus, Hunter-¡± ¡°I found her things when I cleaned out the apartment. She kept everything¨Cthe ne I gave her for our first anniversary, the perfume i bought her in Paris, a picture of us from that weekend in Scond.¡± My hands were shaking now, the whiskey making everything feel raw and exposed. ¡°And a letter. Her final letter.¡± ¡®Hunter,¡® ¡®By the time you read this, I¡¯ll be gone. I know I don¡¯t deserve your forgiveness, and I¡¯m not asking for it. I just need you to know that I never stopped loving you. Not for a single day, not for a single moment. ¡®I wish I could go back in time and fight for us instead of running away. I wish I could be brave enough to stand up to your mother, to the rumors, to all of it. I wish I could be the woman you deserved.¡® ¡°You were right¨CI gave up on us when I should have fought. I let fear and insecurity destroy the best thing that ever happened to me. I let them destroy us.¡® ¡®I hope someday you can forgive me. I hope someday you can love someone the way you loved me, someone who will fight for you the way I never could.¡® ¡®I will love you forever.¡® ¡®Sophia¡® ¡°She never stopped loving me,¡± I whispered, the words barely audible. ¡°And I let her die thinking I hated her.¡± Vincent was quiet for a long time, just sitting with me in the weight of my confession. Finally, he spoke. ¡°Is that why you can¡¯t marry Celine? Because of Sophia?¡± 4/5 13:08 Tue, 5 Aug 56% I looked up at him, my vision blurry with unshed tears. ¡°What if I fail her too? What if my love isn¡¯t enough to protect her from my mother, from this world? What if I lose her the same way?¡± ¡°Hunter,¡± Vincent said gently, ¡°Celine isn¡¯t Sophia. And you¡¯re not the same man you were three years ago.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t I?¡± I asked bitterly. ¡°I¡¯m already thinking about sending her away to keep her safe. How is that any different from giving up?¡± Vincent leaned forward, his eyes intense. ¡°Because this time, you¡¯re not running from the fight. You¡¯re trying to protect someone you love. That¡¯s not giving up¨Cthat¡¯s love.¡± I stared into my empty ss, seeing Celine¡¯s face reflected in the amber dregs. Her warm brown eyes, her shy smile, the way she looked at me like I was something precious instead of something broken. For original chapters go to find?novel ¡°I can¡¯t lose her,¡± I whispered. ¡°Then don¡¯t,¡± Vincent said simply. ¡°Fight for her. Fight for Caesar. Fight for the family you could have.¡± ¡®Fight for the family you could have.¡¯ The words echoed in my mind as I sat there, surrounded by the ghosts of my past and the possibility of a future I¡¯d never dared to hope for. Sophia was gone. But Celine was here, warm and real and brave enough to love a broken man like me. Maybe it was time to stop running from happiness. Maybe it was time to fight. Legacy 120 Chapter 120 ylist suggestion: ¡°Cinnamon girl¡± by Lana del Ray -CELINE¡¯S POV- A sat curled up at the dining table, my head resting on my knees as I stared at the two¨Cmillion¨Cdor check Hunter¡¯s mother had given me. The elegant script of Eleanor Reid¡¯s signature seemed to mock me from the expensive paper, each zero feeling like another nail in the coffin of my happiness. The thought of leaving Hunter gued my mind. I trailed my finger along the check¡¯s edge, his mother¡¯s cruel words echoing in my head¨Chow Hunter would never marry me, how she could take everything from me if I didn¡¯t disappear willingly. My eyes drifted to the room where Caesar was sleeping peacefully, blissfully unaware that his entire world might be about to change. My mind debated endlessly: take Caesar and leave quietly, or tell Hunter about his mother¡¯s ultimatum and watch their family tear itself apart because of me. I told myself I loved Hunter¨CGod, I loved him so much that the thought of leaving him made my heart physically ache. But staying with him meant dragging Caesar into drama he shouldn¡¯t be subjected to, meant watching Hunter destroy his rtionship with his mother, meant living with the constant fear that Eleanor Reid would find other ways to make our lives miserable. Tears slipped from my eyes as I remembered how smoothly things had been going between Hunter and me. The perfect date, the way he¡¯d made love to me with such tenderness, the way he looked at Caesar like he was something precious. It had felt like we were building something real, somethingsting. A sudden knock on the door pulled me from my spiral of despair. I quickly wiped my tears and scrambled to hide the check under some papers before going to answer. ¡°Who is it?¡± I called softly, not wanting to wake Caesar. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find~Novel ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Hunter¡¯s voice was unmistakable, but something was different about it. I unlocked the door and found him standing there, reeking of alcohol and wearing a smile that seemed both genuine and heartbreaking. I stared at him in surprise) I was used to Hunter being controlled,posed¡­.even when he¡¯d been drinking before, he¡¯d maintained that rigid posture. But this was different. This was Hunter with his wallspletely down. ¡°Celine,¡± he said my name like a prayer, pulling me into his arms before I could react. He held me tight, mumbling against my hair about how much he¡¯d missed me, how much he loved me. 13:08 Tue, 5 Aug The scent of expensive whiskey clung to him, and I could feel the weight of whatever had driven him to drink so heavily tonight. I gently pulled back from his embrace, my heart breaking at the vulnerability in his eyes. ¡°Come on,¡± I whispered, guiding him inside and toward the couch. ¡°Sit down before you fall.¡°. 56% Hunter copsed onto the small sofa with less grace than I¡¯d ever seen from him, his usually perfect hair disheveled, his tie loosened and hanging askew. I ran a hand through my own hair, trying to process this new development. ¡°Hunter, why do you alwayse home drunktely?¡± He smiled¡­that boyish, unguarded smile that made him look years younger. ¡°Vincent was being a jerk, saying I can¡¯t hold my liquor.¡± Despite everything, I felt a small smile tug at my lips. ¡°So you wanted to prove him wrong?¡± ¡°Something like that,¡± he mumbled, watching me as I knelt to help him out of his expensive dress shoes. I could feel his gaze on me as I worked, and when I lifted my head, our eyes met. He was studying my face with an intensity that made my breath catch, even in his intoxicated state. I stared back from where I was kneeling, my heart aching as I remembered his mother¡¯s words. The woman was probably right¡­.this couldn¡¯tst. Women like me didn¡¯t end up with men like Hunter Reid. We were temporary diversions, pleasant distractions until reality reasserted itself. I stood up abruptly, needing distance from those piercing blue eyes that seemed to see too much. ¡°I¡¯ll get you some water,¡± I said, my voice slightly hoarse. ¡°Maybe that¡¯ll help sober you up.¡± But before I could take a step, Hunter¡¯s hand shot out and caught my wrist, his grip gentle but firm. ¡°Have you been crying?¡± he asked, his voice softer now, more focused despite the alcohol. I forced out augh that sounded hollow even to my own ears. ¡°Are you so drunk that you¡¯re seeing things now?¡± I tried to free my hand, but he held on, his thumb brushing over my wrist in a gesture so tender it made my chest tight. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said suddenly, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°About my mother. About what she said to you this morning. She had no right to speak to you that way. She was wrong.¡± The sincerity in his voice nearly undid me. I forced a smile and shook my head. ¡°I¡¯m okay, Hunter. Really. Don¡¯t fight with your mother because of me¡­..that would only make me feel worse.¡± Hunterughed, but there was no humor in it. ¡°You know what made me fall in love with you?¡± he said, his words slightly slurred but his meaning crystal clear. ¡°Your kindness. Even now, after she hurt you, you¡¯re worried about protecting her feelings. You always try to see the best in everyone.¡± My heart clenched painfully. He had it backwards¡­.I wasn¡¯t kind, I was a coward. A truly brave woman would fight for the man she loved, would stand up to his mother, and would refuse to be bought off. ¡°Let me get you that water,¡± I said again, but he still didn¡¯t release my wrist. ¡°I¡¯m not like that,¡± he continued, his voice dropping to almost a whisper. ¡°I¡¯m not a good person, Celine. The Reid blood runs so deep in me, it¡¯s beginning to take shape. I can feel myself bing like them¡­.cold, calcting, ruthless.¡± 13:08 Tue, 5 Aug You¡¯re wrong. I thought desperately. 56% 973 He wasn¡¯t like his mother. He was kind underneath all that armor, different even though he tried to use his cold facade to push everyone away. A truly cold man wouldn¡¯t love Caesar the way Hunter did, wouldn¡¯t look at my son like he was a gift. He wasn¡¯t perfect, but he was so much better than they painted him to be. ¡°I¡¯ll get you that water,¡± I said softly, and this time he let me go. I walked to the small kitchen on unsteady legs, fetching a ss and filling it with cold water. My eyes involuntarily went to where I¡¯d hidden the check, Eleanor Reid¡¯s weapon of choice. I stared at Hunter¡¯s back where he sat slumped on the couch, debating whether I should tell him about his mother¡¯s visit, about the ultimatum. My mind reyed the scene from this morning¡­.Hunter and his mother were arguing because of me, and the hurt in Eleanor¡¯s eyes when Hunter had said those awful things to her. No mother should have to hear such words from her child. Even though my own mother was far from perfect, ying favorites between Jesse and me, I still loved her regardless of her ws. I sighed, running my free hand through my hair. I was so tired¡­not from work, but from everything. From constantly feeling like I wasn¡¯t enough, from fighting battles I wasn¡¯t equipped to win, from loving someone whose world was so far removed from mine. I returned to Hunter and handed him the ss. He took it, stared at the water for a moment as if contemting its purpose, then drank it down in severalrge gulps. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, handing the empty ss back to me. I ced it on the small coffee table, then straightened. ¡°I¡¯ll get you a nket in case you decide to crash here tonight.¡± But before I could move, Hunter grabbed my wrist again, this time pulling me down onto hisp. Inded with a soft gasp, my hands instinctively going to his shoulders for bnce. ¡°Hunter, what are you doing?¡± I asked, my voice breathless from the sudden proximity. He reached up and brushed a strand of hair away from my face, his fingers trailing along my cheek with heartbreaking gentleness. Then his thumb traced my lower lip, and I couldn¡¯t help the sharp intake of breath that followed. ¡°Tell me,¡± he said, his blue eyes searching mine intently. ¡°Who made you cry? Did my mothere here after I left? Did she say more horrible things to you?¡± I shook my head quickly. ¡°I just¡­ I got something in my eyes earlier. That¡¯s all.¡± He studied my face for what felt like an eternity, and I couldn¡¯t tell whether he believed me or not. But then he smiled¡­that rare, genuine smile that transformed his entire face. ¡°I will never let my mother hurt you or Caesar,¡± he said with quiet conviction. ¡°You¡¯re under my protection now, both of you. I¡¯ll do anything to keep you safe.¡± 13.00 56% 201 The words should have beenforting, but instead, they made my heart hurt worse. He was making promises he might not be able to keep, offering protection that could cost him everything. I managed a smile in return, even as my heart felt like it was breaking. ¡°I know.¡± Hunter closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the couch, suddenly looking exhausted. The alcohol was catching up with him, but he seemed more rxed now, more at peace. ¡°Hunter?¡± I called softly. ¡°Mmm?¡± he responded without opening his eyes. ¡°If¡­ if I were to leave, if Caesar and I weren¡¯t here anymore¡­ would you be hurt?¡± His eyes snapped open, immediately alert despite his intoxicated state. ¡°What? Why would you ask that? Is something wrong?¡± I shook my head quickly. ¡°No, nothing¡¯s wrong. It¡¯s just¡­. a hypothetical question.¡± Hunter stared at me for a long moment, his gaze sharp and searching. Something flickered in his expression¡­suspicion, fear, I couldn¡¯t tell which. ¡°You and Caesar aren¡¯t going anywhere,¡± he said finally, his voice firm despite the slight slur. ¡°But to answer your question.. Yes, I would be devastated. You¡¯re my family now, both of you. I have no intention of ever letting either of you go.¡± The words hit me like a physical blow. ¡°Family: The word I¡¯d always longed to hear,ing from the lips of the man I loved more than life itself. ¡°Especially you,¡± he continued, his handing up to cup my cheek. ¡°You¡¯re mine, Celine. You belong to me, and I belong to you. That¡¯s not something I take lightly.¡± I stared at him, stunned by the possessiveness in his voice, by the certainty. ¡°You can¡¯t run from me,¡± he said, his thumb stroking across my cheekbone. ¡°No matter where you try to go, I¡¯ll find you, I¡¯ll bring you home to me, always. So don¡¯t even dream of leaving, because I won¡¯t let you.¡± I let out a shakyugh, trying to hide how his words affected me. ¡°You¡¯re crazy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m crazy for you,¡± he replied without hesitation. ¡°Only for you.¡± And then he was pulling me closer, his hand tangling in my hair as his lips met mine. Legacy 121 CELINE¡¯S POV- The kiss consumed me like wildfire, Hunter¡¯s lips moving against mine with a desperate hunger that made my heart race and my will crumble. His hands tangled in my hair, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us, and for a moment¡­just one perfect, dangerous moment. let myself believe that love could conquer everything. But then reality crashed back in like ice water. I pulled away breathlessly, my chest heaving as I stared into his blue eyes that were now dark with desire and something deeper¡­.something that looked terrifyingly like forever. ¡°Hunter,¡± I whispered, my voice shaky. ¡°You¡¯re drunk.¡± He cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away tears I didn¡¯t realize had fallen. ¡°Not drunk enough to lie about loving you,¡± he said, his voice rough with emotion. ¡°Never drunk enough for that.¡± My heart shattered and soared at the same time. How could he say these beautiful things when his mother¡¯s words still echoed in my mind? ¡®Men like Hunter don¡¯t choose women like you for keeps.¡® ¡°You should sleep,¡± I said quietly, trying to slide off hisp, but his arms tightened around me. ¡°Stay with me,¡± he murmured against my temple. ¡°Just stay.¡± I closed my eyes, breathing in his familiar scent¡­.expensive cologne mixed with whiskey and something uniquely Hunter. How many more nights like this would I have? How many more moments before reality tore us apart? ¡°Celine.¡± His voice was softer now, more vulnerable. ¡°What¡¯s really wrong? And don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s nothing. I can see it in your eyes¡­.you look like you¡¯re already saying goodbye.¡± The observation cut too close to the truth. I forced myself to meet his gaze, to lie to the man I loved more than my own life. ¡°I¡¯m just tired,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s been a long day.¡± Hunter studied my face for what felt like eternity, and I could see him trying to decide whether to push or let it go. Finally, he sighed and pressed his forehead against mine. ¡°Promise me something,¡± he said. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Promise me that if something¡¯s wrong¡­.if someone hurts you or threatens you¡­..you¡¯lle to me. You¡¯ll let me protect you.¡± The irony was devastating. The person threatening me was his own mother, and the protection he offered came with a price I wasn¡¯t sure I could let him pay. ¡°Hunter. Aug ¡°Promise me. Celine.¡± His grip on my hands tightened. ¡°I need to know you trust me enough to let me fight for you.¡± ¡°Trust. The word hung between us like a bridge was terrified to cross. How could I tell him that i trusted him with my heart, my body, my soul¡­But i didn¡¯t trust his love to survive his mother¡¯s disapproval? How could I admit that I was too much of a coward to find out? ¡°I promise,¡± I lied, the words tasting like poison on my tongue. He smiled then, that rare, genuine smile that transformed his entire face and made him look like the boy he must have been before the weight of expectations crushed his spirit. ¡°Good,¡± he said, pulling me closer. ¡°Because I meant what I said earlier. You¡¯re mine, Celine. Mine to protect, mine to love, mine to keep safe. And I don¡¯t give up what¡¯s mine.¡± The possessiveness in his voice should have frightened me, but instead it sent heat racing through my veins. This was the Hunter I had fallen in love with¡­not the cold billionaire the world saw, but the passionate, protective man who held me like i was precious. ¡°You can¡¯t just im people, Hunter,¡± I said softly, but there was no real protest in my voice. ¡°Can¡¯t?¡± His lips curved in a smile that was pure sin. ¡°You imed me first, sweetheart. The moment you looked at me with those beautiful brown eyes and saw something worth saving.¡± Before I could respond, he was kissing me again, slower this time but no less devastating. His hands roamed my body with reverent touches, as if he were memorizing every curve, every soft sigh that escaped my lips. ¡°Let me love you,¡± he whispered against my skin, his mouth trailing down my neck. ¡°Let me show you how precious you are to me.¡± And God help me, I let him. We moved together toward my bedroom, his hands never leaving my body, our lips never parting for more than a breath. Every touch was electric, every kiss a promise, every whispered endearment another crack in my resolve. Hunter loved me like a man possessed, like he could somehow hold onto me forever through sheer force of will. And I loved him back with everything I had, knowing it might be thest time. Afterward, we , Syum. 18 me want to be legio You make the war to fight for something Tears stung my Byrs ¡°Huile ¡°I¡¯m going to marry you,¡± be confined, his arm tightening around the ¡°Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next month, but someday. When you¡¯re ready, when Cantar¡¯s ready, when the world stops trying to tear us apart, I¡¯m going to make you my wife, Celine Brown, and no one¡­not my mother, not society, not God himself¡­is going to stop me.¡± The tearse then, silent and devastating. He thought he was making promises, but to me they sounded like fantasies. Beautiful, impossible dreams that his mother¡¯s money was about to destroy. ¡°Steep,¡± whispered, pressing a kiss to his chest. ¡°Just sleep.¡± His breathing gradually evened out, but Iy awake for hours, memorizing the feel of him beside me, the weight of his arm around my waist, the way he murmured my name in his sleep. The question was whether I was strong enough to let him go. ~HUNTER¡¯S POV- I woke up naked in Celine¡¯s bed, her sleeping form pressed against my side, and for a moment everything felt perfect. She looked beautiful, peaceful¡­like an angel who¡¯d somehow found her way into my dark world. She was mine. The thought sent a surge of possessive satisfaction through me. Then the hangover hit, and I groaned softly, careful not to wake her. 1 remembered having drinks with Vincent, our conversation about marriage, and me revealing everything that had happened with Sophia. The memories came flooding back¡­every word I¡¯d said to Celine, every promise I had made. My eyes drifted back to her sleeping figure, and I wondered about the questions she¡¯d askedst night. There had been something in her eyes, something that looked like goodbye. The thought made my chest tighten with panic. If Celine left me, I might break. I might never recover from it. Updates are released by f¦É¦Ídn¦Ïvel I had never loved someone the way I loved her. I¡¯d loved Sophia, but this was different. Sophia had beenplicated, always distant, keeping to herself. When she smiled, it never reached her eyes. But Celine smiled with her whole heart. She was like a star that hade into my darkened world and lit it up, bringing Caesar¡­her little moon¡­along with her. She was easy to love and impossible to read all at once. Smart, hardworking, and terrible at keeping secrets from me. She had a childlike wonder about certain things, and I loved her naivety almost as much as I loved her strength. I had told myself I would never let her go. She was mine, and I would do anything to keep her. leaned over and ced a soft kiss on her cheek before carefully extracting myself from the bed. After getting dressed, I stepped into the living room to check my phone, only to find Caesar and Caroline sitting at the small dining table, sharing cereal. Caroline¡¯s eyebrow arched with a mischievous smile, and I muttered a low ¡°fuck.¡± ¡°Good morning, Daddy Hunter!¡± Caesar waved enthusiastically, his blue eyes sparkling. I smiled back despite my embarrassment and made my way toward them. ¡°Morning, buddy.¡± Caesar immediately started peppering me with questions. ¡°Did youe to see Mama? Did you sleep in the same bed with Mama?¡± I hesitated, very aware of Caroline¡¯s amused expression as she watched me squirm under her godson¡¯s innocent interrogation. ¡°Yes,¡± I answered truthfully, because lying to Caesar felt wrong. ¡°Are you going to live here with us instead of in your big room?¡± Caesar asked, shoving another spoonful of cereal into his mouth. I smiled and ruffled his hair. ¡°Would you like that?¡± Caesar nodded enthusiastically, milk dripping down his chin. Caroline smiled as she watched the exchange. ¡°Is Mommy still sleeping? Are you hungry?¡± Caesar continued his rapid¨Cfire questions. ¡°I¡¯ll eatter,¡± I told him, then turned to Caroline. ¡°What are you doing here at eight o¡¯clock in the morning?¡± Caroline grinned. ¡°Can¡¯t I visit my best friend? I wanted a little gossip about how your date went, since I wasn¡¯t here to n everything.¡± Her smirk widened. ¡°Though I didn¡¯t expect to find youing out of her bedroom looking thoroughly¡­ satisfied.¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t get to question my love life when you¡¯re busy having fun on vacation dates with Frederic.¡± Caroline shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject. I hope you didn¡¯t ruin everything.¡± Before I could respond, Celine¡¯s voice called out to Caesar as she walked into the dining area. She was wearing a pink silk robe that seemed to expose just enough to make my mouth go dry. The teeth marks I had left on her neck were clearly visible, along with her thoroughly kissed lips and tousled hair. My eyes took in her morning¨Cafter look, and I was instantly hard. She looked beautiful, and I was tempted to take her back to that bedroom and make love to her all over again. But I could sense Celine¡¯s difort as she quickly adjusted her robe, very aware of Caroline¡¯s knowing smile and my heated stare. She bit her lower lip nervously, her eyes darting between me, Caroline, and Caesar. ¡°What are you eating, baby?¡± ¡°Aunt Caroline made me breakfast!¡± Caesar announced proudly. Carolineughed. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call cereal breakfast, but it¡¯s what I¡¯m good at making. I¡¯m kitchen¨Cphobic.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a word,¡± I said automatically. ¡°It is too,¡± she argued. ¡°Maybe your time going on vacation instead of working has made you dull.¡± Celine smiled, and Caesar giggled at our banter. My phone chimed with a message from my assistant about a morning meeting. ¡°I have to go,¡± I said reluctantly. When Caesar¡¯s face fell, asking if I was leaving because he wanted to spend time with me, Celine spoke before I could. ¡°Daddy Hunter is busy, sweetheart. He has important work to do. He¡¯ll y with you another time, but you need to be a good boy and finish your cereal.¡± I shot her a grateful look. ¡°Thank you.¡± As I headed for the door, Caroline called out teasingly, ¡°Don¡¯t forget about us little people when you¡¯re making your millions!¡± ¡°You better get back to work and stop taking vacation breaks, or I might fire you,¡± I shot back. The business meeting with investors went smoothly, but the dinner meeting with the Director of H&C Enterprises proved moreplicated. He had brought his daughter Amy, and it became clear within minutes that this was a setup staged by my mother. Amy kept smiling at me throughout the meal while I tried to focus on the business discussion with her father. When he excused himself to the bathroom, leaving us alone, I knew it was intentional. Amy did most of the talking while my mind drifted to how Celine had looked this morning. Just thinking about her was making me hard again. I loosened my tie, catching Amy staring at me with obvious lust. ¡°You¡¯re a very handsome man,¡± she blurted out. I raised an eyebrow but said nothing, my eyes shifting to the dessert cart at the next table. There was a chocte cake that reminded me of Celine¡¯s sweet tooth. I called the waiter over. ¡°What kind of cake is that? What other types do you have?¡± After he listed them, I said, ¡°Pack all of them for me.¡± Amy looked confused. ¡°I didn¡¯t see you as someone with a sweet tooth.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± I said simply. ¡°They¡¯re for someone special.¡± Amy fell quiet, and I watched her like a predator studying prey. Finally, she asked, ¡°Is it a she?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I answered without hesitation. ¡°Do you love her?¡± I met her eyes directly, my voice steady and sure. ¡°With all my heart.¡± The silence that followed was deafening, but I didn¡¯t care. Let Amy report back to whoever had set this up. Let my mother know that her 13:08 Tue, 5 Aug attempts at matchmaking were fruitless. Because I was going home to Celine, and nothing¡­.not blind dates, not family pressure, not million¨Cdor ultimatums¡­.was going to change that. I was in love, and for the first time in my life, that felt like enough. Legacy 122 CELINE¡¯S POV- The cleaning rag shook in my hands as I stood frozen in the marble hallway, my mind a tempest of Hunter¡¯s promises from the night before. His voice echoed in my memory¡­.raw, desperate, certain¡­as he¡¯d spoken of marriage, of forever, of making me his wife despite a world chosen to tear us apart. ¡°I¡¯m going to marry you, Celine Brown, and no one¡­not my mother, not society, not God himself¡­is going to stop me.¡± I wanted to believe him with every fiber of my being. Wanted to trust that the man who¡¯d held me like I was precious, who¡¯d whispered derations of love against my skin, would fight for us. But Eleanor¡¯s words slithered through my thoughts like poison: ¡®Men like Hunter don¡¯t choose women like you for keeps! The sound of Caesar¡¯sughter drifted from the gardens where he yed with Caroline, pure and innocent, oblivious to the storm brewing around us. That sweet sound made my chest constrict painfully. How could I destroy his happiness? How could I rip him away from the father he adored, from this life of security and love? But staying meant watching Hunter slowly realize his mother was right. Staying meant watching him choose his legacy over his heart. I should take the money. Take Caesar. Disappear into the night like the nobody Eleanor believed me to be. A sharp cough made me look up, and my blood chilled. Ana stood at the far end of the hallway, her pale eyes glittering with malicious satisfaction. She wasn¡¯t alone¡­three other staff members nked her, their expressions ranging from disgust to barely concealed glee. The whispers started immediately. ¡°Look at her, still pretending she belongs here.¡± ¡°Did you see the marks on her neck this morning? Shameless.¡± ¡°That poor child doesn¡¯t even know his mother¡¯s a¡­¡± The word they were about to use for Caesar¡­.for my beautiful, innocent son¡­made rage re in my chest. My hands clenched into fists, the cleaning supplies forgotten as 1 took a step toward them. But then Sally¡¯s warm voice cut through the venom. ¡°Don¡¯t you all have work to do?¡± The head maid appeared at my side like a guardian angel, her weathered face stern as she faced down the gossips. Behind her stood Marcus, one of the senior chefs, his massive frame and crossed arms making the group scatter like startled birds. ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible. Sally¡¯s expression softened as she ced a gentle hand on my shoulder. ¡°How are you holding up, dear? I know this morning was¡­ difficult.¡± The kindness in her voice nearly broke me. ¡°I¡¯m managing.¡± 201 Marcus stepped forward, his deep voice gentle despite his intimidating appearance. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to the vultures. They¡¯re just bitter because they¡¯ve never had what you have with Mr. Reid. Real love makes people vicious when they¡¯ve never experienced it themselves.¡± Tears pricked my eyes at their unexpected support. In a house full of enemies, these two souls saw past the scandal to the human being underneath. ¡°He does love you,¡± Sally added quietly, ¡°I¡¯ve worked for this family for fifteen years, and I¡¯ve never seen Mr. Reid look at anyone the way he looks at you. Like you hung the stars just for him.¡± The tears threatened to spill over. If only it were that simple. If only love could conquer bloodlines and billion¨Cdor legacies and mothers who wielded money like weapons. Hourster, I sat in my modest quarters with Caroline, trying to focus on her animated recounting of Frederic¡¯stest romantic gesture. My best friend glowed when she spoke of her boyfriend¡­how they¡¯d met during a disastrous blind date where both had been stood up, only to find each other and discover something real. ¡°He sent me flowers to the office yesterday,¡± Caroline gushed, her eyes sparkling. ¡°Twenty¨Cfour roses with a note that said he couldn¡¯t wait twenty¨Cfour hours to see me again.¡± I managed a smile, genuinely happy for her despite the turmoil in my own heart. Caroline deserved love, deserved someone who cherished her. ¡°He sounds wonderful.¡± ¡°He is.¡± She paused, her expression shifting to concern. ¡°But we¡¯re not here to talk about me. Celine, are you okay? And don¡¯t say you¡¯re fine¡­.I can see right through that lie.¡± 1 deflected weakly. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be okay?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Caroline¡¯s voice turned sharp. ¡°I heard about Eleanor¡¯s breakfast performance.¡± Heat flooded my cheeks. ¡°Hunter told you?¡± ¡°Hunter didn¡¯t say a word¡­.he doesn¡¯t have to. The staff are buzzing about it like bees around honey. Apparently, his mother made quite a scene before storming out.¡± The blood drained from my face. If the staff were talking, then everyone knew. The whispers, the stares, the cruelments¡­they all made sense now. ¡°Do you¡­¡± I swallowed hard, hating myself for asking. ¡°Do you think they¡¯re right? About what they¡¯re saying?¡± Caroline¡¯s face transformed into a mask of hurt and fury. ¡°How dare you ask me that? How could you even think I would stoop so low as to believe their poison? I¡¯m your best friend, Celine. I would die before I thought those things about you.¡± The emotion in her voice broke something inside me, and suddenly everything came pouring out. ¡°I can¡¯t do this anymore, Caroline. I can¡¯t handle the whispers, the hatred, Eleanor¡¯s threats. Most of all, I can¡¯t stay here and watch Hunter realize his family is right about me.¡± Caroline watched me with growing rm as I stood abruptly, beginning to pace the small room like a caged animal. ¡°Everyone wants me gone,¡± I continued, my voice rising. ¡°His mother, his staff, probably half of New York society. Maybe they¡¯re right. Maybe I¡¯m just fooling myself thinking someone like Hunter could actually choose someone like me.¡± ¡°Stop.¡± Caroline grabbed my hands, forcing me to look at her. ¡°Since when does Celine Brown give a damn what other people think?¡± 20 13:09 Tue, 5 Aug Iughed bitterly. ¡°Since she fell in love with a man so far out of her league that she needs a telescope to see him.¡± ¡°Hunter loves you¡­¡± ¡°I know he does!¡± The words exploded out of me. ¡°That¡¯s what terrifies me! He loves me enough to destroy his rtionship with his family, to risk his inheritance, to turn his back on everything he¡¯s worked for. And I love him too much to let him do it.¡± Caroline was quiet for a long moment, her hands still gripping mine. When she finally spoke, her voice was strange¡­hesitant and guilt- ridden in a way I¡¯d never heard before. ¡°Celine, there¡¯s something I need to tell you. Something about that night four years ago.¡± Ice flooded my veins. ¡°What about it?¡± She released my hands and stood, beginning to pace now herself. ¡°I need you to understand that everything I did, I did because I love you both. Because I could see something between you two that neither of you recognized.¡± ¡°Caroline, what are you talking about?¡± She turned to face me, tears already streaming down her cheeks. ¡°I orchestrated that night. All of it.¡± The words hit me like a physical blow. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I dragged you to that club, remember? You didn¡¯t want to go¡­you had studying to do, but I begged and pleaded until you gave in. And Hunter¡­ God, I harassed him for weeks to meet us there. He only came because I wouldn¡¯t leave him alone.¡± My legs gave out, and I sank back into my chair. ¡°Caroline¡­¡± ¡°The drink I gave you¡­I drugged it.¡± The confession came out in a rush, like she couldn¡¯t bear to hold it inside anymore. ¡°When I said I was going to the bathroom, I lied. I wanted you two to be alone together. I watched you talk, watched youugh, watched you both share that same drink, and I knew¡­ I knew something was happening.¡± ¡°No.¡± The word came out as a whisper. ¡°No, you wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°I had to!¡± Caroline¡¯s voice cracked. ¡°Do you know what I found out about Hunter back then? Do you know why I was so desperate?¡± I stared at her, unable to process what I was hearing. ¡°He has fertility issues, Celine. Low sperm count. The doctors told him his chances of having children naturally were slim to none.¡± Tears streamed down her face as she continued. ¡°If Hunter doesn¡¯t have an heir, the Reid bloodline¡¯dies with him. Everything¡­thepany, the legacy, the family name¡­.it all ends.¡± The room spun around me. ¡°So you¡­ You decided to fix that by getting him drunk and¡­¡± ¡°He was drowning, Celine! After his father¡¯s death, after his diagnosis, after years of carrying the weight of his family¡¯s expectations¡­he was destroying himself. And you¡­ You were this bright, beautiful light who could save him if only you had the chance.¡± ¡°The condom wrapper.¡± My voice was hollow. ¡°I saw it on the floor the next morning. We used protection.¡± Caroline¡¯s face crumpledpletely. ¡°I put it there. While you were both asleep, I snuck in and ced it on the floor. I wanted you both to think you¡¯d been responsible, even though you were too drugged to remember.¡± 13:09 Tue, 5 Aug 3 The betrayal was soplete, so devastating, that for a moment I couldn¡¯t breathe. Four years. Four years of believing that night was an ident, a mistake, a moment of weakness that had changed everything. ¡°You destroyed my life.¡± The words came out t, emotionless. ¡°No, I gave you a life¡­¡± ¡°You RUINED everything!¡± I shot to my feet, fury recing shock. ¡°I could have gone to art school! I could have followed my dreams! My family might have been terrible, but they would still be my family! I wouldn¡¯t be alone, struggling, fighting for scraps of respect!¡± ¡°But look at you now¡­¡± ¡°SHUT UP!¡± I grabbed the edge of the table for support, my entire world tilting off its axis. ¡°How could you do this to me? How could you manipte us like we were pieces on a chessboard?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Caroline sobbed. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, but I thought¨CI hoped¡­¡± ¡°Get out.¡± My voice was deadly quiet now. ¡°Celine, please¡­.¡± ¡°GET OUT!¡± Caroline stumbled toward the door, her face streaked with tears and guilt. She reached for the handle with shaking hands, turned it, and froze. Hunter stood in the doorway. His usually fresh appearance was disheveled¡­.tie loosened, hair mussed, eyes zing with a fury so cold it made the air crackle with electricity. In his hands, he carried white boxes that smelled like cake and chocte¡­treats he had obviously brought for me, for Caesar, tokens of love that now seemed to mock the devastation surrounding us. When he spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of an avnche. ¡°What the hell did you say you did?¡± The silence that followed was deafening. Caroline¡¯s face went ashen, and I felt thest of my strength abandon me. Everything was crumbling¡­.four years of lies, four years of believing in fate and second chances and love conquering all. But as Hunter¡¯s eyes moved from Caroline to me, I saw something that terrified me more than his anger: understanding. He was piecing it together, connecting the dots, realizing that everything we had built was founded on illusion. ¡°Hunter,¡± Caroline whispered, ¡°I can exin¡­¡± ¡°Exin?¡± His voice was soft, dangerous, ¡°Exin how you drugged the woman I love? Exin how you manipted us both? Exin how you yed God with our lives?¡± The white boxes slipped from his hands, hitting the floor with a hollow thud that seemed to echo in the devastating silence. And in that moment, I realized Eleanor¡¯s ultimatum was nothingpared to this. The foundation of our love story¡­the night that had given us Caesar, that had brought us back together, that had made everything possible¡­.was built on lies. How do you recover from that? How do you rebuild when the very ground beneath you has turned to quicksand? Hunter¡¯s eyes found mine across the wreckage of our trust, and I saw my own heartbreak reflected there. We were all about to fall, and I wasn¡¯t sure any of us would survive thending. AD Comment Chapters first released on F¦Énd£Îovel Send gift No Ads 14201 Legacy 123 Chapter 123 Chapter 123 -CELINE¡¯S POV- Three days had passed since Caroline¡¯s devastating revtion, and the silence between Hunter and me had be deafening. The truth about that night¡­.how Caroline had staged everything, manipted us both hung in the air like paison, infecting every moment we might have shared. Hunter had be a ghost in his own home. He left for work before dawn and returned long after Caesar had fallen asleep, his footsteps echoing through the halls like a stranger¡¯s. Find the newest release on f¦É¦Ídn¦Ïvel The man who once spent every free moment with my son, who read him bedtime stories and built and decorated pillow forts, now avoided cur quarters entirely ¡°Mama, where¡¯s Daddy Hunter?¡± Caesar asked for the hundredth time that morning, his blue eyes¡­so heartbreakingly simr to Hunter¡¯s¡­filled with confusion and hurt. ¡°He¡¯s very busy with work, sweetheart,¡± Ilied, the words tasting like ash in my mouth, How many times had I repeated this lie? How many times had I watched my son¡¯s face fall when Hunter failed to appear? Caroline had been calling relentlessly, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to answer. Her voicemails piled up, each one more desperate than the , begging for forgiveness, exining her pure intentions. But pure intentions didn¡¯t erase the damage she had caused. Pure intentions didn¡¯t heal the crack in my rtionship with Hunter or ease the doubt in his family¡¯s eyes. I buried myself in work, scrubbing floors until my knees ached, foldingundry until my fingers were raw. Anything to keep busy, anything to avoid thinking about how we were falling apart plece by piece. Even the staff had noticed. Ana took particr pleasure in her observations, her voice dipping with false sympathy whenever she cornered me in theundry room. ¡°Poor thing,¡± she¡¯d coo, her eyes gleaming with malice. ¡°Looks like Mr. Reid is finallying to his senses. About time he remembered his ce¡­and yours.¡± Her words cut deep because part of me wondered if she was right. Maybe Hunter was realizing what everyone else already knew¡­that someone like me could never truly belong in his world, I was rounding off my evening shift, my arms full of fresh linens, when I saw him. Hunter stood at the end of the hallway, and for a moment, my heart stopped. He looked different¡­.thinner, his usually perfect appearance disheveled. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his clothes hung loose on his frame.. Our eyes met across the distance, and I felt my grip tighten on theundry I held, This was it. This was the moment he woulde to me, exin his distance, and tell me we were going to be okay. Tell me he still loved me despite everything that had happened But Hunter just stared at me for a long, painful monsent. His expression was unreadable, cold in a way that made my chest ach Then, without a word, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there with my heart in ces. That night, I sat in my small living room, staring at the check Eleanor had pressed into my hands days ago. To milion dors. Enough to disappear, to give Caesar a fresh start somewhere far from whispers and judgment. My eyes drifted to Caesar¡¯s room, where my son slept peacefully, unaware that his world was crumbling around him. I crept into his room and sat on the edge of his bed, running my fingers through his dark curls. He looked so much like his father, even in sleep. The same strong jawline, the same thickshes, the same stubborn cowlick that refused to be tamed. Maybe this was for the best. Maybe leaving was the kindest thing I could do for all of us. The next morning brought chaos Hunter hadn¡¯t left for work as usual, and Eleanor Reid¡¯s car sat in the circr drive like a ck omen. Raised voices echoed from the upper floors, followed by the sound of something crashing. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± I asked Sally, the head maid, as she hurried past with worry etched on her weathered face. ¡°Mr. Reid came down with a fever overnight,¡± she exined, clutching her hands. ¡°And his mother chose the worst possible day to visit. They¡¯ve been at each other¡¯s throats for an hour.¡± Sally¡¯s eyes searched my face. ¡°Miss Celine, what really happened the day Miss Caroline came by? Mr. Reid hasn¡¯t been the same since, and now this¡­¡± I wrapped my arms around myself, unable to meet her gaze. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t talk about it.¡± The screaming from upstairs intensified, followed by another crash. Sally winced and hurried away, leaving me standing in the hallway with my heart pounding. Evening came, and Ana came down the stairs carrying a full dinner tray, her expression smug with satisfaction. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t even open the door,¡± she announced to Sally and anyone else within earshot. ¡°Mr. Reid¡¯s made it clear he doesn¡¯t want to be disturbed by anyone.¡± I was wiping Caesar¡¯s muddy face after our park visit, but my attention was fixed on the untouched tray. This was the third meal returned today, along with the medication Sally had been trying to get him to take, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± asked Sally quietly. Ana scoffed. ¡°None of your damn business¡­¡± ¡°Ana, enough,¡± Sally snapped, then turned to me with genuine concern. ¡°He¡¯s been refusing to eat for days. Won¡¯t take his mu I¡¯m worried about him, truly worried¡± either. I stared at the returned food and medication, my chest tight with an emotion I couldn¡¯t name. I wanted to ignore it, to let Hunter destroy himself if that¡¯s what he chose. But I couldn¡¯t. Despite everything, despite his coldness and distance, I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of him suffering. ¡°Caesar, stay right here and don¡¯t move, okay?¡± I told my son, then turned to Sally. ¡°Can you prepare a fresh meal and get his medicine?¡± 93% Sally¡¯s eyes widened.¡± Celine, are you sure? He¡¯s been difficult.¡± ¦°¦© I nodded, though my hands were already shaking. ¡°I need to know something. I need to know if he¡¯s given up on uspletely!¡± Twenty minutester, I stood outside Hunter¡¯s door with a tray of soup, bread, and his fever medication, Thest time I been in this room, I had run out wrapped in his bedsheet while his mother barged in. The memory felt like it belonged to I smiled sadly at the irony and knocked on the door, ¡°Go away!¡± Hunter¡¯s voice was husky, strained, ¡°Hold everyone I need to be alone!¡± But I didn¡¯t leave. I turned the handle and stepped inside. Hunter sat behind hisptop at the small desk in the corner, his eyes lifting to meet mine with surprise and something else I couldn¡¯t identity He looked terrible¡­.unshaven, his hair messy, his shirt wrinkled and stained. ¡°brought your medicine and some food,¡± I said quietly, setting the tray on his dresser, ¡°Take it out,¡± he said coldly, not looking at me. ¡°I need to be alone.¡± But I didn¡¯t move. I stood there with the tray, watching him pretend to work on hisptop, and something inside me snapped. ¡°You have to eat something, I insisted. ¡°I don¡¯t have to do anything,¡± he replied, his voice t and emotionless. ¡°And I certainly don¡¯t need you ying nursemaid.¡± The cruelty in his tone hit me like a physical blow, ¡°Hunter, what¡¯s wrong with you? Why are you being like this?¡± He finally looked up, his blue eyes cold as winter. ¡°Like what? Realistic? I¡¯m just epting the truth of the situation, Celine. Something you should do too.¡± ¡°What truth?¡± I demanded, my voice rising. ¡°That you¡¯re too much of a coward to fight for what we have? That you¡¯re letting your mother and everyone else decide your life for you?¡± Hunter¡¯sugh was bitter. ¡°Fight for what? A rtionship built on lies? Caroline manipted both of us, Celine. She orchestrated everything¡­that night, Caesar¡¯s conception, even us finding each other again. None of it was real¡± Tears burned my eyes. ¡°So that¡¯s it? You¡¯re just giving up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m being practical.¡± He turned back to hisptop, dismissing me. ¡°You should go back to your quarters. Caesar needs you.¡± The casual way he said it, like i was just another member of his staff, shattered something inside me. All the pain, all the fear, all the love I had been holding back erupted at once. ¡°I hate you,¡± I whispered, then louder, ¡°I hate you for making me believe in fairy tales. I hate you for making me think some matter to someone like you.¡± ake me could Hunter¡¯s fingers stilled 01 the keyboard, but he didn¡¯t look at me. ¡°I hate you for promising Caesar forever and then abandoning him the moment things got difficult. I hate you for being exactly what everyone said you were.. a spoiled rich boy who ys with people¡¯s hearts.¡± My voice broke on thest words, and the tears came in earnest now. 18 Wed 6 Aug Hunter still hadn¡¯t moved, hadn¡¯t defended himself, or tried to just sat there, taking every word like he deserved it. Without thinking, I crossed the room and pped him hard across the face. The sound echoed in the quiet room, and Hunter¡¯s head trapped; to the side. But he didn¡¯t react, didn¡¯t even touch his reddening cheek. ¡°Say something!¡± I screamed. ¡°Fight back! Tell me I¡¯m wrong! Tell me you still love me!¡± But Hunter just stared at me with those empty blue eyes, and I realized with crushing certainty that i had lost himpletely I turned to leave, my vision blurred with tears, but just as I reached the door, I felt his fingers wrap around my wrist. His touch was gentle, his thumb brushing softly against my skin in a gesture so familiar it made my heart ache. For a moment, I thought he might pull me back, might finally say the words I desperately needed to hear. But then his grip loosened, and he let me go. I stumbled out of his room and copsed against his door, sobs wracking my body. Inside, I could hear things crashing, Hunter¡¯s voice raised in misery as he destroyed whatever was within reach But the door remained closed between us, and I knew with devastating clearness that it always would be. ¡°Goodbye, Hunter,¡± I whispered to the closed door. I sat there crying as the sounds of destruction continued from within, both of us breaking apart on opposite sides of the same door. My decision was made. Tomorrow, I will take Eleanor¡¯s money and disappear. Caesar and I would start over somewhere far from here, somewhere the Reid name held no power. It was better this way. Better for everyone, Even if it killed me to leave the only man I had ever truly loved. My phone buzzed in my pocket¡­.a text from an unknown number. Through my tears, I read: ¡°Miss Celine, this is Kevin Martinez, Mr. Reid¡¯s attorney. We need to talk urgently. Can you meet me tomorrow at 2 PM? It¡¯s about Caesar¡¯s future.¡± I stared at the message, my blood running cold. How did Hunter¡¯swyer even have my number? And what could he possibly want with me? But as Hunter¡¯s destruction continued behind his door, I realized it didn¡¯t matter. By tomorrow evening, Caesar and I would be gone, and whatever Kevin Martinez wanted to discuss would be irrelevant. The fine pure it use limo fem pality AD Comment Legacy 124 No Ads Chapter 124 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- I woke up mixed up, my body heavy with exhaustion and the lingering effects of fever. The afternoon sun streamed through my bedroom windows, casting long shadows across the floor, A nce at my bedside clock made me blink in disbelief¡­. noon. I couldn¡¯t remember thest time I had slept past sunrise, let alone into the afternoon. Sitting up slowly, I ran a hand through my disheveled hair, wincing as the movement sent a dull ache through my skull. The events of the past few days crashed back with brutal rity¡­.Caroline¡¯s devastating confession, Celine¡¯s tears, and the way I had pushed away the only woman I had ever truly loved when she needed me most, My gaze drifted to the nightstand where an empty soup bowl sat alongside a small bottle of fever medication. Celine had brought them to me yesterday, despite everything. Despite my cruelty, my coldness, my cowardice¡­she¡¯d still cared enough to ensure I ate and took my medicine. ¡°God, what kind of monster had be?¡± I forced myself to stand and walk to the window, pulling back the heavy curtains. The sudden flood of light made me squint, but I weed the difort. I deserved it. I deserved every ache, every moment of misery for how I¡¯d treated her. Turning back to survey my room, I was confronted with the aftermath of my breakdown. Broken ss littered the floor near the dresser where I had hurled a crystal decanter. Booksy scattered, their pages torn and crumpled. Picture frames¡­most containing photos of Celine and Caesary face¨Cdown, their ss cracked beyond repair. With a heavy sigh, I began picking up therger pieces, cing them carefully in the wastebasket. Each piece seemed to mock me, reflecting my fractured soul at me in jagged pieces. This destruction was nothingpared to what I¡¯d done to my rtionship with Celine and Caesar. As I worked, my mind reyed ourst encounter with sickening rity. The way Celine had looked at me¡­her beautiful brown eyes filled with pain and disbelief. The way her voice had broken when she¡¯d screamed that she hated me. The sound of her tears as she¡¯d fled my room. ¡°Thate v you.¡± you for making me believe in fairy tales,¡± she¡¯d said. ¡°I hate you for making me think someone like me could n someone he But that was the cruelest irony of all, she was everything that mattered to me. She and Caesar were the only light in my dark, suffocating world. Yet when faced with the truth about Caroline¡¯s maniption, I¡¯d retreated into the cold, emotionless shell that had protected me for so long. I¡¯d acted exactly like the monster everyone expected a field to be The truth about that night four years ago had shattered me in ways I couldn¡¯t fully exin. Not because Caroline had orchestrated out meeting¡­deep down, I was grateful she had. No, what destroyed me was realizing how much pain Celine had endured because of my family¡¯s dysfunction Her dreams crushed, her future detailed, her life turned upside down¨Call because my cousin thought she could y God with our hearts. I¡¯d stood outside Celine¡¯s door after Caroline¡¯s confession, listening to her break down, hearing the anguish in her voice as she¡¯d realized how herlile had been used. The knowledge that I was partly responsible for her suffering had nearly brought me to my knees Caroline¡¯s voicemails had piled up¨Cfifteen increasingly desperate messages begging for forgiveness, exining her intentions, pleading with me to understand. But how could I be angry with her? Caroline had been like a sister to me, the only family member who¡¯d ever truly understood my struggles. She¡¯d acted out of love, misguided though it was. I¡¯d kept my fertility issues from her precisely because I knew how she¡¯d react. Caroline was a fixer, always trying to solve everyone¡¯s problems. When she¡¯d learned about my low sperm count diagnosis, her brilliant mind had immediately started scheming The bitter irony was that I¡¯d never particrly cared about having biological children. The Reid name was a curse, not a blessing. Nothing good ever came from being a Reid¨Cwe destroyed everything we touched, ruined everything pure and beautiful in our wake. Just as I¡¯d ruined Celine. ¡°She must hate me,¡± I thought, sinking onto the edge of my bed. ¡®Of course, she hates me. I¡¯ve been nothing but a source of pain and disappointment.¡± But even as the thought tormented me, I knew I couldn¡¯t leave things as they were. I had to make amends¨Cto both Celine and Caesar I had to spend whatever time I had left proving that I was worthy of their love, e, even if it took the rest of my life. After a quick shower and shave, I dressed in fresh clothes and made my way downstairs. The staff looked shocked to see me¡­. ¡­ My self¨Cimposed istion had been the subject of considerable gossip. Sally, the head maid, immediately bustled over, her weathered face creased with concern and relief, ¡°Mr. Reid! Thank goodness,¡± she eximed, reaching up to touch my cheek with motherly affection. ¡°You gave us all such a fright. Look at you¨Cyou¡¯re nothing but skin and bones!¡± Despite everything, her genuine care brought the first smile to my lips in days. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for worrying you, Sally.¡± ¡°Well, you should be,¡± she scolded, though her eyes were kind. ¡°I¡¯m going to make it my mission to put some meat back on those bones, young man. Can¡¯t have you wasting away on my watch.¡± I squeezed her hand gratefully, ¡°I¡¯d appreciate that. But first, I need to¡­.¡± My words died as I scanned the main Hallway, suddenly realizing what was missing. 10:18 Wed 6 Aug Or rather, who was missing? Usually by this time of day, Caesar would be racing through these halls, hisughter echoing off the marble walls, Cefine would be nearby watching him with that soft smile that never failed to take my breath away But the mansion felt eerily quiet. ¡°Where are Celine and Caesar? Lasked, trying to keep the growing unease from my voice. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? F¦Énd£Îovel Sally¡¯s expression shifted, bing worried. ¡°They haven¡¯te out of their quarters all morning, Mr. Reid. Not even for breakfast, which is unusual for little Caesar From across the hallway, Ana¡¯s voice cut through the air with its typical venom ¡°Probably toozy to get out of bed. Some people think just because they spread their legs for the boss, they don¡¯t have to work anymore¡± The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees as both Sally a and I turned to stare at Ana The young maid¡¯s face went pale as she realized she¡¯d crossed a line, but the damage was done. ¡°Get back to work,¡± said quietly, my voice carrying enough ice to freeze hellfire. ¡°Now¡± Ana scurried away like the rat she was, but her words had nted a seed of dread in my chest. It wasn¡¯t like Celine to avoid her duties, and Caesar was naturally an early riser who preferred the outdoors to being cooped up inside. ¡°I¡¯ll go check on them,¡± I told Sally, who nodded with obvious reliel. The walk to their quarters felt endless, each step weighted with growing suspicion, Something was wrong¨CI could feel it in my bones. As I approached their door, I hesitated, my hand hovering over the wood. Thest time I¡¯d seen Celine, I¡¯d been cruel and cold, pushing her away when she¡¯d tried to care for me. What if What if she refused to see me? What if Caesar had finally given up hope that his ¡°Daddy Hunter¡± woulde back to him? Taking a deep breath, I knocked softly. ¡°Celine? Caesar? It¡¯s me.¡± Silence I knocked again, harder this time. ¡°Celine, I know you¡¯re upset with me, and you have every right to be. But we need to talk. Please.¡± Still nothing Achill ran down my spine as I reached for the door handle. It turned easily¡­unlocked. That was strange. Celine was always careful about security, especially with Caesar. I stepped inside, immediately struck by the unnatural quiet. ¡°Celine? Caesar?¡± My voice echoed in the space, answered only by silence. I moved through the small living area, noting that everything appeared normal at first nce. But as I looked closer, details began to register¨Cdrawers left slightly open, a few toys scattered haphazardly, as if someone had been packing 3/5 quickly. My heart began to race as thurried to Caesar¡¯s ro Empty. Groom. His bed was made, but when I opened his wardrobe, my vorst feard were confirmed. Every tiny shirt, every pair of little jeans, every beloved stuffed animal¨Cgone. ¡°No, no, no,¡± I whispered, stumbling toward Celine¡¯s room. Her wardrobe told the same devastating story. Empty hangers swayed gently, mocking me with their bareness. The dresser drawers hung open, cleaned out. Even her art supplies, the few precious items she¡¯d managed to keep from her old life were gone. Ifrantically searched every corner of the quarters, looking for some sign, some clue that this wasn¡¯t what it appeared to be. But the evidence was undeniable. With shaking hands, I pulled out my phone and dialed Celine¡¯s number. The automated message that greeted me felt like a dagger to the heart: ¡°The number you have dialed is no longer in service I tried again, desperate hope making me believe I¡¯d misdialed. Same message. Again. And again. ¡°Fuck!¡± I roared, hurling the phone against the wall with all my strength. it exploded into pieces, the sound of its destruction echoing my own shattered heart. How could she leave? How could she take Caesar and just disappear? After everything we¡¯d been through, after all the promises, after the love we¡¯d shared¡­ how could she abandon what we had? But even as the questions tormented me, a small, honest voice in the back of my mind whispered the truth i didn¡¯t want to face: ¡°You drove her away. You became exactly what she expected you to be..cold, cruel, impossible to love.¡± I stumbled out of their empty quarters, my vision blurred with unshed tears and rage. The staff scattered as I stormed through the hallways, probably sensing the dangerous energy radiating from me. Sally called my name, but I ignored her, heading straight for my study. I needed help. I needed someone who could find them, bring them back, fix what i¡¯d broken with my stupidity and pride. mming the study door behind me, I grabbed thendline and dialed a number I knew by heart. Vincent answered on the string ¡°Hunter? ? What¡¯s wrong? You sound¡­¡± ¡°Find her,¡± interrupted, my voice raw with desperation ¡°Find Celine Brown. Find my son, Find them and bring them home.¡± The silence on the other end stretched for several heartbeats before Vincent spoke again, his tone suddenly all business. ¡°How long have they been gone?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Hours? Days? I¡¯ve been¡­¡± I swallowed hard, shame washing over me. ¡°I¡¯ve been an idiot, Vincent. I pushed her away, and now U18 WeD, D ANY Chapter 124 she¡¯s taken Caesar and disappeared.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on my way,¡± he said without hesitation. ¡°And I¡¯m calling Derek right now¡­.he¡¯ll start tracking them immediately. Don¡¯t do anything stupid until I get there. We¡¯ll find them, Hunter | promise.¡± The line went dead, leaving me alone with the crushing weight of my failures. I sank into my leather chair, staring at the phone as if it might ring with news of Celine and Caesar¡¯s return. But deep down, I knew it wouldn¡¯t be that simple. I¡¯d lost them through my cowardice and cruelty. Getting them back¡­.if that was even possible¡­would require me to be the man they deserved. The m man I should have been all along ¡°Please, I prayed to whatever gods might be listening *Please let me have another chance. I¡¯ll do anything¡­give up everything¡­.just let me make this right! But the only answer was the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner, counting down the seconds since the two most important people in my world had walked out of my life. Possibly forever. Legacy 125 Chapter 125 -HUNTER¡¯S POW- The silence in my study felt like a tomb after Vincent hung up. I stared at the broken pieces of my phone scattered across the Persian ru remembering how I had thrown it in rage. Just like I had thrown away e everything good in my life. ¡°Why? Why?¡± The questions tormented me, but deep down, I knew the answers. I knew exactly why Celine had run Because I had be the monster everyone expected me to be. Because when she needed me to fight for us, I had retreated into the cold, heartless shell that had protected me for so long Because I had proven my mother right Each minute that passed felt like an eternity. I paced the length of my study, my mind spiraling through every horrible possibility. What if they were hurt? What if Caesar was scared and crying for me? What if Celine was somewhere broken and alone, believing I didn¡¯t Care? The study door burst open without ceremony, and Vincent strode in like an avenging angel in an expensive suit. His usually perfect hair was disheveled, his tie askew¡­.clear signs he had broken several trafficws getting here. ¡°Start from the beginning,¡± hemanded, settling into the chair across from my desk. ¡°When did youst see them?¡± ¡°Two days ago.¡± The admission tasted like poison. ¡°Two d Celine and me was built on maniption and lies.¡± days since Caroline¡¯s confession. Thee days since learned everything between Vincent¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Caroline did what exactly?¡± The story poured out of me¡­.Caroline¡¯s drugging of our drinks, her orchestration of that night, her desperate attempt to secure the Reid bloodline. With each word, Vincent¡¯s face grew more thunderous. ¡°That maniptive little¡­..¡± He caught himself, running both hands through his hair. ¡°Hunter, you do realize this changes nothing about how you feel about Celine, right? About Caesar?¡± Changes everything I shot back, rising from my chair to pace. ¡°Don¡¯t like pieces on a chess board.¡± t you see? She never chose me. Not really. Caroline forced us together ¡°Bullshit.¡± ¡°Vincent¡¯s voice cut through my spiral like a de. ¡°Caroline might have created the opportunity, but everything that happened after was real. The way you two look at e are with Caesar, the way she makes you actually smile¡­none of that was faked.¡± the way you I wanted to argue, but the words died in my throat. Because somewhere beneath the pain and betrayal, I knew he was right. ¡°She left because of me,¡± I whispered. ¡°Because I pushed her away when she needed me most.¡± ¡°Then we get her back.¡± The simple certainty in his voice made me look up. Vincent was already pulling out his phone, fingers flying over the screen ¡°Derek is already on it.¡± he said, referring to his private investigator. ¡°I called him on my way over, Best tracker in the business. If Celine and Caesar are anywhere in the continental United States, he¡¯ll find them.¡± Hope, dangerous and fragile, began to bloom in my chest. ¡°You think¡­.. ¡°I think you¡¯re an idiot who¡¯s wasted three days feeling sorry for himself instead of fighting for the woman he loves.¡± His words were harsh but necessary. ¡°But I also think it¡¯s not toote. Assuming you¡¯re ready to actually do something about it.¡± Before I could respond, Sally appeared in the doorway, her weathered face creased with worry. ¡°Mr. Peid? I¡¯m sorry to interrupt, but there¡¯s something you need to see.¡± She held out an envelope, cream¨Ccolored and expensive. My mother¡¯s stationary. My blood turned to ice as I recognized the elegant script on the front: ¡°To My Son: With trembling fingers, I tore it open and read: ¡®Hunter, ¡°By the time you read this, Miss Brown and the child will be long gone. I offered her a generous sum to disappear, and she epted. Two million dors to vanish from our lives forever¡± ¡®Before you let your emotions cloud your judgment, remember what you are. You are a Reid. You have responsibilities that transcend personal desires. Miss Brown understood this, even if you refuse to.¡± ¡°She took the money willingly. That should tell you everything you need to know about her true character. ¡®I¡¯ve done what needed to be done to protect our family¡¯s future.¡± ¡®Your Mother¡® The letter fluttered from my numb fingers as rage¡­pure, incandescent fury¡­.consumed me. Vincent caught the paper before it hit the floor, his eyes scanning the contents rapidly ¡°That cold¨Chearted witch,¡± he breathed. But I was already moving, my vision tinged red with angen I strode past Sally, past Vincent¡¯s calls for me to wait, up the grand staircase toward my mother¡¯s favorite sitting room. She would be there now, probably taking tea and congratting herself on ridding the family of itstest embarrassment. I found her exactly where I expected, posed like a queen on her velvet throne, delicate china cup raised to her lips. She looked up as I entered, her expressionposed, expectant, ¡°Hunter. I see you received my note.¡± ¡°You unbelievable witch.¡± My voice was deadly quiet, each word dripping with venom. ¡°How dare you? How dare you good thing in my life?¡± away the only Eleanor set down her cup with practiced grace. ¡°I did what was necessary. That woman was using you, using Caesar to climb into our world The money simply revealed her true natyre.¡± ¡°Her true nature?¡± Iughed, the sound bitter and sharp. ¡°You want to talk about true nature? Let¡¯s discuss yours. The woman who¡¯s so terrified of losing control that she¡¯d rather see her miserable than risk him finding happiness outside her influence My mother¡¯sposure cracked slightly. ¡°Everything I¡¯ve done has been for you, for this family¡­.¡± ¡°No,¡± I stepped closer, lowering over her chair, ¡°Everything you¡¯ve done has been about control. About maintaining your precious image. About keeping me trapped in this gilded cage so you¡¯ll never have to face the fact that you failed as a mother¡± Eleanor rose, her face flushing with anger. ¡°I gave you everything! Education, opportunities, a legacy most men would kill for¡­. ¡°You gave me nothing!¡± The words exploded from me with years of suppressed resentment. ¡°No love, no support, no eptance. Just endless expectations and criticism. Do you know what Celine gave me? Peace. Joy. A son who looked at me like 1 hung the stars.¡± ¡°That boy isn¡¯t even¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± My voice dropped to a whisper so dangerous that Eleanor actually stepped back. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare finish that sentence. Caesaris my son in every way that matters. He¡¯s the best part of me, and you drove him away.¡± Tears¡­actual tears¡­.began streaming down my mother¡¯s face, but I felt no sympathy. Not anymore. ¡°She doesn¡¯t des deserve you,¡± she whispered. ¡°Caesar is yours. I know it hard for you but she wouldn¡¯t have left without her son.¡± The confession hit me like a physical blow. ¡°You knew? he is your grandson and you still¡­.¡± ¡°I did what I thought was best for everyone involved.¡± ¡°You did did what you thought would keep me under your thumb. I turned toward the door, my decision crystallizing with brutal rity. ¡°Well, congrattions, Mother. You¡¯ve finally seeded in destroying thest plece of love I had for you.¡±¡± ¡°Hunter, wait¡­.¡± But I was already gone, my footsteps echoing through the hallway as I returned to Vincent. He looked up from his phone as I entered the study, hope lighting his features: ¡°Derek found something¡± he said. ¡°Credit card activity from this morning. Gas station outside Albany, New York. They¡¯re heading north.¡± This text is hosted at find?novel North. Toward the Canadian border, maybe. Somewhere she could disappearpletely with Caesar, where the Reid name meant nothing and my money couldn¡¯t reach them. ¡°How long ago?¡± I demanded. ¡°Four hours. But Hunter, there¡¯s something else.¡± Vincent¡¯s expression grew troubled. ¡°The gas station clerk remembers them. Sad the woman seemed upset, like she¡¯d been crying. And the little boy kept asking when they were going home.¡± The image of Caesar confused and scared, of Celine breaking down in some roadside gas station, nearly brought me to my knees. ¡°I need a car,¡± I said, my voice hoarse. ¡°Something fast.¡± ¡°Already on it. My Ferrari¡¯s out front.¡± Vincent tossed me the keys. ¡°But Hunter¡­.you can¡¯t just chase her down like some saker, fine ba reason. If you want her back, you need to give her a reason to stay¡± He was right, of course. But as I caught the keys and headed for the door, only one thought consumed me: I had already lost them once through my own cowardice. I wouldn¡¯t lose them again. Not without a fight. Legacy 126 Chapter 126 -CELINE¡¯S POV The fluorescent light in the dingy motel room flickered like a dying heartbeat, casting erratic shadows across the water stained walls. I sat curled on the threadbare carpet, my knees drawn to my chest, watching the muted television screen where somete¨Cnight infomercial promised to change lives for three easy payments of $19.99. If only it were that simple. The digital clock on the nightstand glowed 3:47 AM in harsh red numbers. In just over three hours, Caesar and I would board the 7 AM bus that would take us even further from everything we¡¯d ever known. Further from Hunter. Further from the life that had briefly felt like a fairy tale before crumbling into this nightmare. Caesar stirred on the narrow bed, his small fist clutching his beloved stuffed dinosaur¡­.Rex, as he¡¯d named it. Even in sleep, tear tracks stained his cherubic cheeks. He¡¯d cried for hours at the bus station, then here in this godforsaken room, his little voice breaking as he kept asking when we were going home to see ¡°Daddy Hunter.¡± How do you exin to a three¨Cyear¨Cold that the man he¡¯de to love as a father might never want to see him again? How do you tell him that his mother had been branded a gold¨Cdigger and paid to disappear like some dirty secret? My fingers traced the crumpled envelope hidden in my jacket pocket¡­ the one containing more money than I had ever seen in my life. Eleanor Reid¡¯s blood money. Her price for my silence, for my absence, for pretending Caesar didn¡¯t exist. ¡°He¡¯ll be better off without you,¡± her cold voice echoed in my memory. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a distraction from his real responsibilities, Take the money and give that boy a proper life somewhere else. Don¡¯t make this harder than it needs to be.¡± rt? The message that hade through Hunter¡¯swyer just hours before I packed our meager belongings. But the worst part? The formal, clinicalnguage that had shattered what remained of my heart: ¡°Mr. Reid wishes to inform you that your employment is terminated effective immediately. He requests that you vacate the premises with your belongings and the child by dawn. Any attempt to contact him directly will result in legal action.¡± Legal action. As if I were some crazed stalker instead of the woman who had shared his bed, who¡¯d watched his walls crumble in the darkness, who¡¯d seen. himugh with genuine joy for the first time when Caesar called him ¡°Daddy.¡± I had stood outside his bedroom door for what felt like hours, my hand raised to knock, desperate to hear his voice tell me it was all a That he hadn¡¯t meant those cruel words he¡¯d spoken after Caroline¡¯s confession That he still wanted us. 10:19 Wed, 6 Augi But the silence had been deafening. No footsteps pacing the floor. No sound of his restless sleep. Just emptiness that confirmed what I had feared he was done with us, The tears came then, hot and bitter, sliding down my cheeks as I stared at my sleeping son. Caesar had been so excited yesterday chattering about the boat trip Hunter had promised him. About how he was going to bring Rex along and maybe invite ke and Caroline too. His innocent enthusiasm had been like a knife twisting in my chest. ¡°Mama, when are we seeing Papa?¡± he¡¯d asked as I had hurriedly packed our things. ¡°He promised to show me the big boats in the ocean And Chef Marcus said he¡¯d make my favorite cookies!¡± I¡¯d led to him then Told him we were going on an adventure, that we¡¯d see Papa soon. The words had tasted like ash on my tongue. Now, watching him sleep fitfully, I wondered if I¡¯d made the right choice. Maybe I should have fought harder. Maybe I should have demanded to see Hunter face¨Cto¨Cface instead of running like a coward in the night. But what would have been the point? He¡¯d already made his decision. The money in my pocket was proof enough of that. My phone¡­now destroyed and discarded in three different dumpsters across two states¡­had been myst connection to the life we¡¯d briefly shared. No way for Hunter to track us even if he wanted to. Which he probably didn¡¯t. He was likely relieved we were gone. Free to marry his mother¡¯s choice¡­.some polished debutante like Mia ckwood who¡¯d never embarrass the Reid name. Who had never brought the scandal of an illegitimate child or the shame of loving someone beneath their station. The thought of Hunter moving on, forgetting us like we¡¯d neverexisted, sent a fresh wave of agony through my chest. But maybe that was for the best. Caesar deserved better than a father who could discard him so easily. We both did. I pulled my knees tighter to my chest, trying to ward off the chill that had nothing to do with the motel¡¯s faulty heating. By this time tomorrow, we¡¯d be in a new city, starting over again. I¡¯d find work, rent a small apartment, maybe even pursue my art again with the money Eleanor had given me. The irony wasn¡¯t lost on me¡­the woman who¡¯d destroyed my life was also funding my escape from it. ¡°Mama?¡± Caesar¡¯s small voice made me look up. He was sitting up in bed, rubbing his eyes, Rex clutched to his chest. Even in the dim light, I could see the confusion and sadness in his blue eyes¡­.Hunter¡¯s eyes. ¡°What is it, baby?¡± I whispered, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. ¡°I had a bad dream,¡± he said, his lower lip trembling ¡°Daddy Hupter was looking for us, but we weren¡¯t there. He was sad and calling our names, but we couldn¡¯t answer.¡± 10:19 Wed d My heart clenched. Even in sleep, Caesar¡¯s subconscious was processing our abandonment it was just a dream, sweetheart- ¡°But what if it¡¯s real? What if Daddy Hunteres home and we¡¯re not there? What if he thinks we don¡¯t love him anymore The Innocence in his voice nearly broke me, How could I exin that sometimes love wasn¡¯t enough? That sometimes the people we love hurt us so deeply that staying bes impossible? ¡°Daddy Hunter knows we love him,¡± I managed, though the words felt like files. ¡°But sometimes¡­ sometimes people have to go different ways.¡± ¡°Like when Grandma and Grandpa didn¡¯t want us anymore?¡± The casual way he referenced my parents¡® rejection cut deep. At three years old, Caesar had already experienced more abandonment than any child should. And now I was adding to that pain by taking him away from the only father figure he¡¯d ever known ¡°This is different,¡± I said, though I wasn¡¯t sure it was. Caesar studied my face with those too¨Cwise eyes. ¡°Are you sad, Mama!¡± I forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m okay, baby. We¡¯re going to be okay.¡± But even as I said the words, I felt the familiar dizziness creeping in. The stress of the past few days,bined with barely eating and no sleep, was taking its toll. My head felt foggy, my limbs heavy. ¡°Try to go back to sleep,¡± I told Caesar, tucking the thin motel nket around him. ¡°We have a big day tomorrow Will th there be other kids where we¡¯re going?¡± ¡°I hope so.¡± ¡°Will they like dinosaurs?¡± Despite everything, his question made me smile genuinely. ¡°How could they not not? Rex is pretty amazing.¡± Caesar hugged his dinosaur tighter. ¡°Maybe they¡¯ll want to y boats with us. Even if Daddy Hunter can¡¯te.¡± The casual eptance in his voice¡­the way he was already adapting to a life without Hunter¡­.should have been reassuring Instead, it felt like another loss. I managed to get him settled again, but sleep eluded me. I found myself back on the floor, staring at the wall where someone had scratched ¡°HOPE¡± into the paint. The word seemed to mock me. Hope was a luxury I couldn¡¯t afford anymore.. The hours crawled by with agonizing slowness. 4AM 5AM. 6AM. When the rm finally buzzed at 6:15, Caesar bounced up with the resilience only children possessed, ¡°is it time for our adventure, Mama! 3/4 10:19 Wed, 6 Auge ¡°Almost, sweetheart, I tried to stand, but the room tilted dangerously. My vision blurred, and I grabbed the edge of the dresser for support. The stress, theck of food, the emotional trauma¡­it was all catching up with me at the worst possible moment. ¡°Mama? Are you okay?¡± I couldn¡¯t worry him. Not now. We had fifteen minutes to catch our bus¡­.our escape route to a new life. ¡°I¡¯m fine, baby. Just a little tired.¡± But as I took another step, my legs gave outpletely. Thest thing I heard was Caesar¡¯s frightened voice calling my name as the world went ck. And somewhere in the darkness, I could have sworn I heard the sound of expensive Italian leather shoes running across pavement, getting closer. But that was impossible. Wasn¡¯t it? C Read full story at F¦Énd£Îovel Comment Legacy 127 -CELINE¡¯S POV The harsh fluorescent hospital lights pierced through my consciousness like needles, dragging me back from the merciful darkness had been floating in. My eyelids felt heavy as lead, and when I finally managed to force them open, the sterile white ceiling above me came into focus slowly, the a photograph developing. Where was 17 The antiseptic smell hit me next¡­that unique hospital cocktail of disinfectant and sadness that made my stomach lurch. I tried to sit up quickly, panic flooding my system as fragmented memories crashed back. The motel. Caesar crying. The bus we were supposed to catch. My legs were giving out just when we needed to escape the most. ¡°Whos there, honey. Easy does it.¡± A gentle hand pressed against my shoulder, guiding me back against the pillows. A middle¨Caged nurse with kind eyes and graying hair smiled down at me, her scrubs decorated with tiny cartoon cats that seemed absurdly cheerful in this sterile environment. ¡°You gave us quite a scare,¡± she said, adjusting something on the IV pole beside my bed. ¡°Try not to move too quickly. You¡¯re still recovering.¡± The dizziness hit me like a freight train the moment I tried to sit up again, confirming her warning. ¡°What¡­ what happened to me?¡± ¡°Exhaustion, dehydration, severe stress,¡± she rattled off clinically, but her tone remained warm, ¡°When did youst eat a proper meal, sweetheart? Your blood sugar was dangerously low when they brought you in.¡± Brought me in. The words made my heart skip several beats.. ¡°Who brought me in?¡± I whispered, though part of me already knew the answer my treacherous heart wanted to hear. ¡°A gentleman found you copsed in that motel room with your little boy crying over you. Lucky thing too¡­you could have been unconscious for hours if he hadn¡¯t heard themotion.¡± Hunter It had to be Hunter He¡¯d found us somehow, tracked us down despite all my precautions. My pulse hammered against my throat as i frantically scanned the small hospital room. The generdscape painting on the wall, The ufortable¨Clooking visitor¡¯s chair. The window showed nothing but gray sky, But no sign of Caesar ¡°Where¡¯s my son?¡± The words came out sharper than I intended, edged with maternal panic. ¡°He¡¯s three years old, blue eyes, dark curly hair¡­where is he?¡± 10:19 Wed, 0 Aug The nurse¡¯s expression softened further. The source of th?s content is ?ovelFind ¡°Oh, the little angel with the dinosaur? Don¡¯t worry, sweetheart. He¡¯s perfectly safe. That bay wouldn¡¯t leave your side for anything,¨C kept. parting your hand and telling you to wake up. Nearly broke all our hearts. Relief flooded through me, but it was quickly reced by fresh anxiety. ¡°But where it he now?¡± ¡°His father took him to get some ice cream, Poor little thing was getting pretty upset, crying for his mama Smart man, knew exactly how to distract him.¡± She bustled around the bed, checking monitors and making notes on her clipboard. ¡°You¡¯re lucky to have a husband who cares so much. He¡¯s been pacing these halls like a caged tiger, demanding updates every five minutes.¡± Husband The word hit me like a physical blow. The nurse thought Hunter was my husband. Of course she did¡­.what else would she think when a man brought in a woman and child, refusing to leave their sides? But something felt wrong. Hunter would never pace with worry. Hunter would handle the situation with his typical cold efficiency, maybe hire the best doctors money could buy, but pacing? Showing emotion in front of strangers? That didn¡¯t sound like the man who had had me thrown out of his life through hiswyer and hurtful words. need to see him,¡± I said, throwing back the thin hospital nket. ¡°I need to see my son.¡± ¡°Now hold on there,¡± the nurse said, moving to block my path as I swung my legs over the side of the bed. ¡°The doctor still needs to speak with you. And you shouldn¡¯t be up and about just yet¨Cyou gave your body quite a shock.¡± But I was already reaching for my shoes¡­the same scuffed ts i had been wearing when i had packed our meager belongings in the dark. I had to find Caesar. Had to make sure he was okay, Had to figure out how Hunter had found us and what he nned to do now. The world wobbled dangerously as I stood, and I had to grip the bed rail to keep from falling. Every muscle in my body ached like I had been hit by a truck. ¡°Please, just rest a bit longer,¡± the nurse pleaded. ¡°Your husband will be back soon with your little boy.¡± But I couldn¡¯t wait. Couldn¡¯t just lie here tolerant and helpless while my entire world potentially crumbled around me again. What if Hunter was nning to take Caesar from me? What if this was all some detailed setup staged by his mother to prove I was an unfit parent? Fighting through the dizziness, I made my wayslowly toward the door, using the wall for support. The hospital corridor stretched endlessly in both directions, all beige walls and muted lighting designed to be soothing but somehow making everything feel more ominous. And then I saw him. Caesar was sitting in one of the waiting area chairs, his little legs, swinging back and forth, Rex clutched protectively against his chest. 10:19% Wed: 6 Aug Chapter 127 He looked so small in that big chair, but he seemed calm¨Cnot traumatized or frightened. When he spotted me wavering in the doorwa face lit up like Christmas morning ¡°Mamal But before he could run to me, a voice called his name, drawing both our attention to the tall figure approaching with two ice cream cups in his hands. My heart stopped. This wasn¡¯t Hunter. The man walking toward my son on was tall¡­probably close to Hunter¡¯s height¡­but where Hunter was all sharp angles and controlled power, this stranger moved with an easy, rxed grace. His hair was golden brown instead of dark, catching the fluorescent lights as he smiled down at Caesar And when he looked up in my direction, following Caesar¡¯s pointing finger, I found myself staring into the warmest green eyes I¡¯d ever seen, Not the piercing blue of Hunter¡¯s gaze that could freeze or burn depending on his mood. These eyes held only kindness and concem. I should have felt relief flooding through me. This meant Hunter hadn¡¯t found us. We were still free, still had a chance to disappear and start CYCL. But instead of relief, all I felt was a crushing disappointment that made no sense. Deep down, despite everything that had happened, despite the cruel dismissal and his mother¡¯s blood money, I had wanted it to be Hunter. Had wanted to see that familiar face, even if it meant facing his anger. Had wanted proof that we mattered enough for him to chase us across state lines. ¡°Mama, mamal¡± Caesar scrambled down from the chair and ran toward me, his ice cream forgotten. I dropped to my knees just in time to catch him, wrapping my arms around his small body and breathing in that sweet little boy scent that always made everything seem manageable. ¡°Are you okay, baby?¡± I whispered against his curls, checking him over with desperate maternal hands. ¡°You¡¯re not hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay, Mama. But you were sleeping for so long and you wouldn¡¯t wake up and I got scared.¡± His voice was muffled against my shoulder, but I could hear the remaining fear underneath his excitement. see you¡¯re awake.¡± The voice was closer now, warm and tinged with what sounded like genuine relief. I looked up to find the stranger standing just a few feet away, and this close I could see he was definitely magazine¨Chandsome¡­.the kind of casually perfect that suggested good genes and expensive grooming without trying too hard. I felt heat rise in my cheeks as I realized how I must look Hospital¨Cpale, my hair probably a disaster, wearing yesterday¡¯s wrinkled clothes. Not exactly the image of a capable singl ¡°I almost thought you might not wake up until tomorrow,¡± he continued with a soft smile that made tiny lines appear at the corners of his eyes. ¡°You gave your boy quite the scare wed, 6 Aug Caesar pulled back from our embrace, his eyes bright with excitement. ¡°Mama, this is the nice mant He helped us when you fell and wouldn¡¯t wake up. He brought us to the hospital and got me ice cream!¡±. The strange¡­this unexpected guardian angel waved off Caesar¡¯s excited introduction with obvious embarrassment. I was just lucky to be checking out of the motel when I heard the crying. Really, it was nothing Nothing. As if saving my life and probably Caesar¡¯s sanity was just a casual good deed. I struggled to my feet, Caesar¡¯s small hand gripping mine for support. ¡°Thank you,¡± I managed, my voice rougher than I intended. Tim so sorry if Caesar was any trouble, I can¡¯t imagine what you must think__¡± ¡°Your son is quite the charmer,¡± he said, reaching down to ruffle Caesar¡¯s hair with an ease that suggested he wasfortable around children. ¡°He told me all about his dinosaur friend here and how his mama makes the best cookies in the whole world.¡± Despite everything, felt a smile tugging at my lips, Trust Caesar to turn a medical emergency into a social opportunity ¡°I¡¯m ncey, by the way.¡± He extended a hand toward me. ¡°ncey Morrison.¡± ¡°Celine,¡± I replied, taking his hand briefly before pulling mine back when he held it just a moment too long. There was something in his eyes¡­interest, maybe?¡­.that made me look away and focus on Caesar instead. ¡°Where are our things?¡± I asked, suddenly realizing i had no idea what had happened to our meager belongings after I¡¯d copsed. ¡°I spoke with the motel manager,¡± ncey said. ¡°He¡¯s keeping your room and belongings safe. I figured you might want to check back inter with your son, once you¡¯re feeling better¡± The kindness of a stranger was almost too much to process. When had anyone ever gone out of their way to help me without expecting something in return? ¡°I don¡¯t know how to thank you,¡± I said, emotion threatening to clog my throat. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to do any of this.¡± ¡°Have you seen the doctor yet?¡± he asked, ignoring my gratitude with another of those easy smiles: ¡°He mentioned wanting to speak with you since I¡¯m not¡­ well, since I¡¯m not your husband or boyfriend.¡± The way he said it¡­.with just the slightest questioning inflection¡­.made me wonder if he was fishing for information about my rtionship status But that was ridiculous. Men like ncey Morrison didn¡¯t notice women like me, especially women withplicated histories and three¨Cyear old baggage s attention. ¡°I should go find him,¡± I said, needing to escape the intensity of his a ¡°Room 314,¡± ncey called after me as I started down the hall with Caesar¡¯s hand in mine. ¡°I¡¯ll be here when you get back.¡± The promise in those words sent an unexpected flutter through my chest, but I pushed it aside. I had bigger problems tha motives of handsome strangers. Yong the Dr. Goldberg was a thin, serious man with wire¨Crimmed sses and the bedside manner of someone who¡¯d delivered difficult news too many Limes. He gestured for me to sit in the chair across from his desk, his expression unreadable. ¡°Miss Brown,¡± he began, consulting the chart in front of him ¡°Your blood work came back, and while we¡¯ve addressed the immediate issues¡­.the dehydration and malnutrition. there¡¯s something else we need to discuss.¡± My stomach clenched. Had I hurt something when I copsed? Was there permanent damage from pushing my body too hard for too long? Dr. Goldberg removed his sses and cleaned them carefully, a gesture that somehow made the silence more frightening. ¡°Miss Brown,¡± he said finally, meeting my eyes directly ¡°You¡¯re pregnant.¡± The words hit me like a physical blow, knocking the air from my lungs. The room seemed to tilt sideways, and for a moment I was sure I was going to faint again. Pregnant. Which meant¡­ Hunter¡¯s baby. The result of the many nights of love making, when I¡¯d believed we might actually have a future together. I was carrying the child of the man who¡¯d hurt me so badly with his words and promises The man who had probably forgotten about Caesar and me ? Legacy 128 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- The gas station attendant¡¯s face twisted with anger the moment he saw me approaching the counter again. His weathered features bore the expression of a man who had already answered these questions and had no patience for repeating himself ¡°Look, buddy, I already told your investigator guy everything I know he hid before I could even open my mouth. ¡°Lady with a kid, bought pas, seemed upset. That¡¯s it.¡± I pulled out the photograph anyway, my hands trembling slightly as I slid it across the scratched counter. The image of Celine and Caesar smiled back at me¡­. picture taken just weeks ago in the mansion¡¯s garden, when Caesar had insisted on showing me his ¡°dinosaur dance¡± while Celineughed in the background. Back when we were still a family. ¡°Please,¡± I said, my voice rougher than I nned. ¡°Just look one more time. Anything you might have remembered since talking to my investigator The attendant¡­.Mike, ording to his name tag¡­nced at his watch with obvious annoyance. ¡°Dude, I told your people everything. She paid cash, filled up some beat¨Cup Honda, kid was crying about wanting to go home. What more do you want me to say?¡± Home The word hit me like a physical blow to the chest. Caesar had been crying to go home¡­.to me, to the Reid mansion, to the only stable life he had ever known. While I had been wallowing in my wounded pride and self¨Cpity, my son had been begging his mother to bring him back to his father. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to process the guilt that threatened to devastate me. ¡°The kid¡­you said he was crying about going home?¡± ¡°Yeah, poor little guy. Kept asking his mama when they could go back to daddy. She looked like she¡¯d been crying too.¡± Mike¡¯s face softened slightly. ¡°Look, man, I don¡¯t know what kind of family drama you got going on, but that woman looked heartbroken.¡°¡± Heartbroken. Because of me. Because of the cruel words I had thrown at her, the cold dismissal, the way I had retreated into my shell instead of fighting for what we had. My phone buzzed, and I grabbed it eagerly, hoping for news from Vincent ¡°Tell me you have something,¡± I said without checking the caller ID. ¡°I do,¡± Vincent¡¯s voice came through the speaker, tense with urgency. ¡°Derek mentioned something about a bus station. to disappearpletely, public transportation would be their best bet.¡± My blood ran cold. ¡°Bus station? Vincent, what if they have already leh? What if they caught a bus and they¡¯re already gone?¡± were nning ¡°Hey, calm down¡­..¡± ¡°Damn it, Celine!¡± I mmed my fist against the gas station wall, ignoring the sharp pain that shot up my arm and Mike¡¯s started expression ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just talk to me? Why didn¡¯t you give me a chance to exin?¡± ¡°Hunter, getting worked up won¡¯t help anyone,¡± Vincent¡¯s voice cut through my spiral. ¡°You need to calm down and act like sine person not some desperate ex chasing his girlfriend.¡± I , the sound bitter and sharp. ¡°Ex? Is that what I am?¡± ¡°You¡¯re whatever you choose to be. But first, you have to find them. Head to the bus station¡­.Derek is pulling more information as we speak.¡± Before I could respond, Vincent¡¯s tone softened. ¡°And Hunter? When you do find them, remember that they ran for a reason. You can¡¯t just drag them back. You have to give them a reason to want toe home.¡± The line went dead, leaving me staring at the darkening sky. The sun was setting, painting everything in shades of amber and regret. Somewhere out there, Celine was probably putting Caesar to bed in some strange ce, maybe telling him bedtime stories about the life they had left behind. ¡°Just where the hell are you, Celine? I muttered, climbing back into Vincent¡¯s Ferrari. The bus station was a maze of chaos¡­.families rushing with oversized luggage, announcements crackling through ancient speakers, the smell of diesel and hopelessness hanging thick in the air, I pushed through the crowd toward the ticket counter, clutching Celine¡¯s photo like a lifeline. The ticket agent was a heavyset man with graying temples and the expression of someone who had dealt with too many emergencies in his Cicer. He barely looked up as I approached. ¡°Excuse me,¡± I said, cutting in front of a woman with three screaming children. ¡°I need to ask you about¡­..¡± ¡°Hey!¡± The woman shoved my shoulder hard. ¡°There¡¯s a line, asshole!¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am, I apologize,¡± I said, turning to face the growing crowd of annoyed travelers. ¡°This is a family emergency.¡± The ticket agent sighed heavily. ¡°Buddy, everyone thinks their trip is an emergency, Back of the line.¡± I pped the photo on the counter, desperation making my voice crack. ¡°Please. Just look at this picture. Have you seen them?¡± The agent nced at the photo with professional disinterest, the same bored expression he probably gave to hundreds of travelers every day. ¡°I see hundreds of people daily, sir, Can¡¯t possibly remember individual faces.¡± ¡°Please, just try,¡± I pressed, leaning across the counter. ¡°The little boy would have had a stuffed dinosaur¡­.green, abo is big- ¡°What¡¯s going on over here?¡± A woman¡¯s voice cut through the noise. I turned to see another ticket agent approaching¡­..younger, with kind eyes and an expression of real curiosity rather than irritated Her coworker exined the situation with visible exasperation. ¡°Who are they to you?¡± she asked, taking the photo and studying it more carefully than her colleague had. I hesitated for just a moment, then met her eyes directly. ¡°They¡¯re my family. My wife and my son.¡± The words slipped out before I could stop them, but they felt more real than anything I¡¯d said in days. That¡¯s what Celine was to me¨Cwhat she should have been all along if I hadn¡¯t been too scared and damaged to admit it Not just the mother of my child, not just the woman I had been sleeping with. My family. The woman¡¯s face softened immediately. ¡°You¡¯re lucky to have such a beautiful family,¡± she said, then turned to her colleague. ¡°Sarah, doesn¡¯t this woman look familiar? Like thatdy yesterday with the crying boy?¡°¡± My heart nearly stopped beating. ¡°Yesterday?¡± Sarah took the photo, squinting at it under the harsh fluorescent lights. After what felt like an eternity, her face lit up with recognition. ¡°Oh my God, yes! That¡¯s her! The little boy had that green dinosaur toy¡­.Rex, I think he called it. Wouldn¡¯t stop crying about wanting to go home to daddy,¡± ¡°Rex,¡± I whispered. Caesar¡¯s beloved stuffed dinosaur, the one he had hugged during thunderstorms and carried everywhere he went. Sarah handed the photo back with an understanding smile. ¡°Your little boy made quite a scene yesterday. Poor thing was so upset, kept asking his mama when they were going home, I had to give him some candy from my personal stash before he calmed down enough for her to buy the tickets.¡± The image of Caesar crying, confused and scared, asking for the while I had been too soaked up in my drama¡­. it felt like someone had reached into my chest and squeezed my heart with an iron fist. ¡°She b bought tickets?¡± I managed to ask. ¡°Two tickets for the 7:30 AM bus this morning,¡± the first woman confirmed, ¡°But I¡¯m not sure if they actually made it on board. My shift endedst night and I just started again this evening.¡± This morning. Hours ago. They could be in another state by now, or¡­.. ¡°Did they board the bus?¡± The question came out barely above a whisper. The woman shrugged apologetically. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know. But¡­¡± She pointed toward the far end of the parki sat inactive. ¡°That¡¯s the bus they y would have taken. It¡¯s back from its morning route. You could ask the driver.¡± where arge blue bus Hope exploded in my chest¡­.dangerous, desperate hope that made my hands shake as I headed toward the parking lot. Chap 178 The bus driver was a middle aged men with wrinkled nuds and tired eyes, performing some kind of ite booked up as approached, wanness creeping into his fare at whatever he saw on my fore ¡°Help you with something?¡± neck on his vehicle. Content originallyes from f¦É¦Ídn¦Ïvel I thrust the photo toward him, my heart hammering against my ribs. ¡°These two people, did they board your bus this morning? The 7:30 departure The driver took the photo, studying it with the careful attention of someone who had learned to be attentive about his passenge He held it under the overhead light, squinting slightly Aber what felt like an eternity, he shook his head. ¡°Hope. Never saw these two ¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Desperation crept into my wolne. ¡°Please, look again. The boy would have had a stuffed dinosaur, the woman might have ¡°Son, I¡¯m certain,¡± he said, handing the photo back with genuine sympathy. ¡°This woman and kid never gut on my bus. I would have remembered the dinosaur toy¨Ckids with special toys always stick in my memory My phone rang before I could ask another question. Vincent¡¯s name shed on the screen ¡°Tell me you have news,¡± I said, my voice hoarse with exhaustion and fear. ¡°do, and you¡¯re going to want to sit down for this¡± Vincent¡¯s tone was strange¨Curgent but also something else I couldn¡¯t identity. ¡°Derek found them, Hunter. He traced them to a motel¨Cthe Sunset Lodge, about fifteen minutes from where you are.¡± ¡°What?¡± I was already sprinting toward the Ferrari. ¡°Are they still there?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the thing¡­.Derek doesn¡¯t think so. But Hunter, there¡¯s something else. Something important.¡± I mmed the car door, engine roaring to life. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Emergency services were called to that motel this morning. An ambnce¡± The world staggered sideways. Everything¡­.the parking lot, the darkening sky, the distant sound of traffic¨Cseemed to fade into white noise. ¡°What?¡± I whispered. ¡°I don¡¯t have all the details yet, but Derek¡¯s at the motel now getting more information, Hunter, if someone got hurt, if something happened to them while you were¡­¡­ ¡°I¡¯m already on my way,¡± I said, cutting him off before he could finish that thought. I couldn¡¯t process the possibility that while thad been racing across state lines, Celine or Caesar might have been in some kind of medical emergency. Alone. Scared. Thinking I didn¡¯t care enough toe for them, ¡°Derek will meet you there with whatever he¡¯s found. But Hunter?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Whatever happened, whatever you find when you get there¡­ Just remember that they left for a reason. You can¡¯t just demand they back. You have to prove you deserve them,¡± The line went dead as I peeled out of the bus station parking lot, tires screaming against asphalt The Sunset Lodge was a straight shot down the main highway, but every red light felt like torture, every slow¨Cmoving car like a personal insult. An ambnce had been called. Someone had been hurt. And I hadn¡¯t been there. As I pulled into the motel¡¯s cracked parking lot, I could see Derek¡¯s ck SUV already parked near the office. My hands shook as I killed the engine, dread and desperate hope warring in my chest. I was about to find out what had happened to the two most important people in my world. And I wasn¡¯t sure I was ready for the answer. Comment Legacy 129 Chapter 129 -CELINE¡¯S POV- I came out of Dr. Goldberg¡¯s office squeezing the pregnancy report in my trembling hand, my mind spinning from the Impossible news. The paper felt like it weighed a thousand pounds as I stared down at the words that would change everything once again. Pregnant. Hunter¡¯s baby. Another child growing inside me at the worst possible time, when I was barely surviving with Caesar, when I was trying to disappear from the very man whose seed was now taking root in my body. My free hand moved instinctively to my still¨Ct stomach. How was this even possible? Caroline¡¯s words echoed in my memory¡­.Hunter¡¯s low sperm count, his fears about continuing the Reid family line. Had she been lying about his medical condition? Or was this some cruel twist of fate? The irony wasn¡¯t lost on me. Here I was, carrying the child of a man who had thrown insults at me like I was garbage, who had made me feel worthless with his cold dismissal. Another Hunter Reid baby was growing inside me while I was trying to escape his shadow. Taking care of another baby meant more sleepless nights, more financial stress, more of everything I was already struggling to provide for Caesar, I remembered those early days with my son¡­.the exhaustion, the fear, the overwhelming duty of keeping another human being alive while barely managing to keep myself afloat But even as panic threatened to devastate me, a small part of my heart fluttered with something that might have been joy. Despite everything, despite the circumstances, this was a life! A piece of the love Hunter and I had shared, even if that love had been built an lies and maniption. I forced myself to take a deep breath and looked up toward the waiting area. Caesar was exactly where I had left him, sitting in the oversized chair with Rex clutched against his chest, his little legs swinging back and forth as he chattered animatedly with ncey. Both pairs of eyes¡­.Caesar¡¯s bright blue ones and ncey¡¯s warm green ones¡­.turned toward me as I approached. I quickly folded the pregnancy report and shoved it deep into my pocket, forcing my face into what I hoped was a normal expression. ¡°That was quick,¡± ncey said with that easy smile that seemed toe so naturally to him. ¡°I was expecting you to be in there longer.¡± I managed a strained smile in return, hoping he couldn¡¯t see through my carefully created act. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that important. Just the normal stress¨Crted talk, you know?¡± My hand clenched around the crumpled report in my pocket, the paper cutting into my palm like a reminder of the secret I now carried. Another secret to add to my growing collection, ncey¡¯s green eyes seemed to study my face with an intensity that made me ufortable, as if he could see right through my d His gaze flickered briefly to where my hand was buried in my pocket, but his smille ne wavered. ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± he said finally. ¡°I¡¯m d it was nothing serious,¡± I knelt to Caesar¡¯s level, needing the distraction of focusing on my so I straightened his wrinkled shirt and smoothed down his unruly curls, my hands shaking slightly as I tried to center myself. ¡°You really don¡¯t have to stay,¡± I told ncey without looking up at him. ¡°I¡¯m okay now. I¡¯m sure you have somewhere important to be.¡± ncey¡¯s here? In a hospital?¡± ¡°I like being around you two,¡± he exined, his voice soft but certain. ¡°Especially this little guy.¡± He ruffled Caesar¡¯s hair affectionately, and my son smiled up at him with the kind of uplicated adoration that children gave so freely. ¡°I like you too!¡± Caesar announced with the enthusiasm only a three¨Cyear old could muster. ¡°And Rex likes you too! Don¡¯t you, Rex?¡± He held up his stuffed dinosaur as if the toy might actually respond, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile at his innocentjoy It had been so long since I had seen Caesar thisfortable with a stranger, this happy and carefree. ¡°Rex has excellent taste,¡± ncey said solemnly, addressing the dinosaur directly. ¡°You¡¯re both pretty greatpany.¡± Caesar¡¯s face lit up even brighter, and then he said the words that made my blood run cold: ¡°Maybe you cane visit us at Daddy Hunter¡¯s ce!¡± My heart stopped. ¡°Caesar, no¡­..¡± But my son was already in full storytelling mode, his excitement making him oblivious to my grief. ¡°Daddy Hunter is the best papa in the whole world! He¡¯s super tall and really handsome and rich tool He has so many cars and he loves pancakes and he builds things¡­¡± I felt heat rise in my cheeks as ncey¡¯s attention shifted from Caesar to me, those sharp green eyes studying my face with fresh interest This was exactly what I had been trying to avoid¡­questions about Caesar¡¯s father, about our situation, about why we were running. ¡°Caesar, that¡¯s enough,¡± I tried to interrupt, but my son was on a roll ¡°Daddy Hunter is really smart and he buys me nice things and takes me to the park,¡± Caesar continued, his voice filled with love and longing that broke my heart ¡°He bought me Rex! And he reads me stories/and makes funny voices for all the characters and ¡°Caesar, please,¡± I said more firmly, but ncey was already responding ¡°Your Daddy Hunter sounds like an amazing person,¡± he said, his voice gentle and encouraging. ¡°I would love to meet him. Is heing to pick you up?¡± Chapter 179 The hope that had been shining in Caesar¡¯s eyes dimmed immediately, his small shoulders sagging with disappointmen ¡°No,¡± he said quietly, hugging Rex tighter against his chest. ¡°Mama is mad at Daddy Hunter, so now we¡¯re going on an adventure The pain in my son¡¯s voice was like a knife to my heart. I reached for him, pulling him into my arms and trying to project confidence feel. ¡°We don¡¯t need Daddy Hunter for our adventure, baby,¡± I whispered against his curls. ¡°it¡¯s just going to be you and me, like sways Caesar pulled back to look at me with those serious blue eyes that were to achingly familiar. ¡°But Mama, if braddy Hunter can¡¯te with us, can Uncle nceye ¡°What?¡± The word slipped out before I could stop it. nceyughed, but I could see something thoughtful in his face. ¡°I do love a good adventure,¡± he said carefully, ¡°but¡­.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to answer that,¡± I said quickly, standing up and putting a protective hand on Caesar¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You don¡¯t have to coddle him. I¡¯m grateful for everything you¡¯ve done, but can¡¯t keep epting your help.¡± Thest thing I needed was anotherplication, another person getting involved in our mess. I had learned the hard way that depending on others only led to heartbreak and disappointment. ¡°Celine, I don¡¯t think you understand¡­.¡± ncey began, but I was already turning away. ¡°I need to settle the hospital bills so we can leave,¡± I said, my voice sharper than I aimed at. ¡°Caesar,e on.¡± Before could take more than a step, ncey¡¯s hand closed around my wrist, stopping me in my tracks. The contact sent an unexpected jolt through me¡­.not icky, but startling in its intensity. I turned to face him, my eyes wide with surprise as i stared first at his face, then down at where his fingers encircled my wrist. There was something about his touch that felt different from Hunter¡¯s¡­.gentler, less demanding, but no less electric. ¡°I already took care of the hospital bills,¡± ncey said softly, The words hit me like a physical blow. I stared at him in shock, then down at my wrist where his touch seemed to burn against my skin The feeling was too much, too reminiscent of another man¡¯s hands on my body, another man¡¯s promises that had turned to ash. ncey must have seen something in my expression because he released me immediately, his hand dropping to his side. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said quickly. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to¡­. I rubbed my wrist reflexively, as if his touch had actually stung me. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have done that,¡± I said, my voice tight with emotion couldn¡¯t quite name. ¡°I hate owing debts. Caesar and I¡­ we¡¯re not charity cases. We¡¯re not some pathetic single mother and child who need handouts.¡± The words tumbled out before i could stop them, revealing more of my y insecurities than I had intended. But I couldn¡¯t help it Thad Every instinct I had was screaming at me to run, to get away from this kind stranger before I started depending on him une way depended on Hunter, ¡°That¡¯s not why I helped,¡± ncey said, his voice firm but gentle. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it because I think you need charity.¡± Th?s chapter is updated by f¦É¦Ídn¦Ïvel Then why?¡± I demanded, my arms crossed defensively over my chest. ¡°Why would you pay a strangi here for hours with people you don¡¯t even know? What do you want from us?? ncey looked genuinely confused by my questions, as if the answers should be clear. When he didn¡¯t respond immediately.) hand and started to turn away again. ¡°It just felt right,¡± he said suddenly, the words stopping me in my tracks. I turned back to face him, searching his face for any sign of deception or hidden motives ¡°I¡¯m not usually the type to just¡­ do things like this,¡± he continued, running a hand through his golden brown hair. ¡°But paying that bill, being here with you and Caesar¡­ it feels right, Like this is exactly where I¡¯m supposed to be His green eyes met mine with an intensity that made my breath catch, ¡°I want to be here, Celine. I want to help, not because I think you need saving, but because something about you two makes me want to be a better person.¡± The sincerity in his voice was almost overwhelming. When was thest time s someone wanted to help me without expecting something in return? When had anyone ever made me feel like I was worth their time and attention just for who I was? Caesar tugged on my hand, drawing my attention back to him. ¡°Mama, I like Uncle ncey,¡± he said with that devastating three¨Cyear¨Cold honesty. ¡°Can we keep him?¡± Despite everything¡­the pregnancy news, the fear, the uncertainty about our future¨CI found myselfughing at my son¡¯s innocent request ¡°Baby, people aren¡¯t pets. We can¡¯t just keep them.¡± ¡°But why not?¡± Caesar asked with the perfect reasoning of a child. ¡°He¡¯s nice and he smells good and he bought me ice cream. And he doesn¡¯t make you cry like Daddy Hunter did.¡± The observation hit me like a punch to the gut. Had Caesar noticed my tears? Had he seen more of Hunter¡¯s and my deteriorating rtionship than I had realized? I looked back at ncey, who was watching our conversation with something that looked like understanding in his eyes. He knelt to Caesar¡¯s level, his face serious but kind. ¡°You know what, buddy?¡± he said to Caesar. ¡°I would be honored to be your Uncle ncey, if that¡¯s okay with your mama¡± ep away?* Caesar¡¯s face lit up like Christmas morning. ¡°Really? You promise you won¡¯t go ¡°I promise I¡¯ll stay y as long as your mama wants me to,¡± ncey said, ncing up at me with a question in his eyes. The pregnancy report felt like it was burning a hole in my pocket. I was carrying the child of a man who had br life that had turned toxic, with no clear n for the future. Thest thing I should be doing is letting another man into our lives. my heart, running from a But as I looked at Caesar¡¯s hopeful face and felt the warmth of ncey¡¯s s steady presence, I found myself nodding slowly. ¡°Okay,¡± I whispered, the word slipping out before I could stop it. ¡°You can. You can stay. For now ncey¡¯s smile was like sunshine breaking through storm clouds. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said simply ¡°I won¡¯t As Caesarunched himself into ncey¡¯s arms with a happy squeal, I ced my hand over my pocket where I didn¡¯t know what the future held, but for the first time in days, I wasn¡¯t facing itpletely alone. Maybe that was enough, down regnancy report maited For now. C Legacy 130 Chapter 130 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- The Sunset Lodge looked like something pulled from a fever dream¡­cracked asphalt parking in littered with cigarette butts, neon slen nickering weakly against the darkening sky, paint peeling from every surface like old skin.. This was where my family had been hiding? This dump was where Celine had brought my son! I sat in Vincent¡¯s Ferrari for a moment, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles went white. My phone buzzed against my leg. ¡°Tell me you¡¯re not sitting in that parking lot overthinking,¡± Vincent¡¯s voice cut through the static when¡¯t answered. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± I said, my voice hoarse from the drive and the weight of everything unsaid. ¡°Vincent, what if they¡¯re not here? What if this is just another dead end?¡± ¡°Then we keep looking. But Hunter, you need to prepare yourself for whatever you¡¯re about to find in there. That ambnce call¡­ it could mean anything.¡± The line went dead, leaving me alone with my spiraling thoughts. An ambnce. Someone had been hurt badly enough to require emergency medical attention. And I hadn¡¯t been there. I had been too broken, too wounded, too fucking stupid to care about them, when they needed men mos. I forced myself out of the car, legs shaky as I approached the motel office. The bell above the door chimed weakly as I entered, the sound like a death knell in the stuffy air. The ce reeked of musty cigarettes and disinfectant. Behind a scratched stic barrier sat a man who looked like he hadn¡¯t seen sunlight in months¡­.pale, greasy hair falling into his eyes, a bag of chips bnced on his protruding belly He waspletely absorbed in some reality show ying on a small television mounted in the corner. ¡°Wee,¡± he mumbled without looking up, shoving another handful of chips into his mouth. I looked around the shabby reception area with disgust. Water stains decorated the ceiling, the carpet was worn through to the backing in several ces, and the air felt thick with decades of neglect, This was where Celine had brought Caesar? My son had slept in this ce? I mmed my palm against the desk, the sharp sound making the clerk jump and nearly drop his chips. ¡°Jesus!¡± He wiped his greasy fingers on an already stained shirt and finally looked at me His eyes widened slightly¡­.probably at my expression, which I imagined looked murderous. ¡°Uh, sorry about that. Wee to Sunset Lodge. You need a room?¡± 1/5 I pulled out the photograph of Celine and Caesar, my hands trembling as i pped it down on the sncky surface of the naik ¡°I¡¯m not here for a room. I¡¯m looking for these two people. Have you seen them?¡± The clerk picked up the photo, squinting at it under the harsh fluorescent lighting He nced up at me, then back at the picture, a slow recognition dawning in his bloodshot eyes. ¡°Why are you looking for them?¡± he asked, setting the photo down and crossing his arms defensively 1 felt my jaw clench so hard it ached. After everything¡­the drive, the fear, the desperate searching¡­.this asshole wanted to y gamest ¡°That¡¯s none of your damn business,¡± Isnapped, He shrugged, settling back in his chair with a ticking off. ¡°Then I don¡¯t know anything, Guy¡¯s gotta know what he¡¯s getting into before he opens his mouth, you know?¡± I stared at him, my vision actually starting to blur around the edges with rage. The silence stretched between us until he began to twitch ufortably under my re. ¡°She¡¯s my wife,¡± I finally said, the lie slipping out easily. ¡°He¡¯s my son. They ran away from home.¡± The clerk picked up the photo again, studying Caesar¡¯s face more carefully. ¡°Yeah, I can see it now. Kid does look a lot like you¨Csame eyes, same stubborn chin.¡± ¡°Stop wasting my time and tell me what you know,¡± I growled. His eyes twinkled with something that made my skin crawl. ¡°What¡¯s in it for me if I talk? Information¡¯s valuable, you know.¡± I muttered a curse under my breath. This piece of shit wanted to be paid for information about my own family. ¡°A guy¡¯s gotta survive somehow,¡± he added with a shrug that made me want to reach across the desk and shake him. I dug into my pocket, pulling out my wallet with more force than necessary. I took out several hundred dor bills and mmed them down on the desk, but when he reached for them, I snatched them back. ¡°Talk first, or forget it.¡± His tongue darted out to wet his lips as he stared at the money with obvious hunger. ¡°Alright, alright. Yeah, thedy and the kid checked in yesterday. Real pretty thing, looked like she¡¯d been crying though, Kid was cube, kept asking when they were going home.¡± Relief flooded through me so suddenly that I had to grip the edge of the desk to stay upright. They had been here. This wasn¡¯t another dead end. ¡°Where are they now?¡± I demanded. ¡°What room?¡± The clerk¡¯s face shifted, bing more serious. ¡°That¡¯s the thing, man. Thedy she was rushed to the hospital this morning. Found her unconscious in her room around dawn.¡± The world wobbled sideways. Unconscious. Celine had been unconscious, alone, probably scared, and I hadn¡¯t ¡°Which hospital?¡± The words came out as barely more than a whisper. ¡°Don¡¯t know exactly, but there¡¯s only one hospital close enough. Metro General, about een minutes from Bere found her and took her in his can¡±. Another man Some stranger had found Celine unconscious and taken her to the hospital The thought of another man¡¯s hands on her, even in a medical emergency, made my vision goed ine try The guy told me to keep their room,¡± the clerk continued. ¡°Left his stuff here too. Said they¡¯d probably be back! I threw the money at him without another word and pulled out my phone. Vincent answered on the first ring ¡°Vincent, I found them.¡± ¡°Fucking thank God,¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was thick with relief. ¡°I was already nning on how to talk this turned into another dead end.¡± ¡°They were here.¡± I said, pacing in front of the motel office. ¡°But Celine was rushed to the hor s morning There was a moment of silence. ¡°Shit, Hunter. Is she okay? Is Caesar with her!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Some guy took her to Metro General. I¡¯m trying to decide if I should storm the hospital or wait here for them toe back ¡°Hunter, breathe,¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was calm, steady. ¡°Celine¡¯s going to be fine. She¡¯s a strong woman¡­.beautiful, stubi nails. Whatever happened, she¡¯ll pull through,¡± stubborn, and tough Despite everything, I found myself smiling at his description, Vincent was right. Celine was stronger than she looked, more resilient than she knew. ¡°I¡¯m going to wait for them here,¡± I decided. ¡°If they kept the room, maybe they¡¯re nning toe back.¡± I got the room number and key from the clerk, who was busy counting his money with obvious satisfaction. Room 247, second floor, overlooking the parking lot. I stood outside the door for a long moment, key in hand, heart hammering against my r without me? Proof that they were better off running? y ribs. What would fin Evidence of their life The lock clicked open, and I stepped inside, The scent hit me immediately¨CCeline¡¯s shampoo, that slight vani fragrance that had haunted my dreams for days. Their belongings were scattered around the small space: Caesar¡¯s clothes folded neatly on one bed, Celine¡¯s suitcase open on the dresser. Caesar¡¯s toys sitting guard on the nightstand. Bus ticketsy on the small table near the window I picked them up with shaking hands¡­two tickets for the 7:30 AM departure, just like the woman at the station had said. But they were unused, the perforated edge¡¯s still intact. I moved through their things like a man in a trance, trying to piece together their story from the evidence they had left behind. Caesar¡¯s favorite books were stacked carefully on the dresser. Celine¡¯s art supplies tucked into a corner of her suitcase I picked up one of her shirts, bringing it to my face and inhaling deeply, tod, had missed her son, missed everything about bar That¡¯s when swit For original chapters go to f?ndnovel A folded piece of paper had fallen from between her clothes when I moved them. I bent to pick it up, and my blood to unfolded it A check Two million dors. My mother¡¯s signature was scrawled across the across the bottom in her unique handwriting My legs gave out, and I copsed onto the bed, staring at the check in my hands. She had taken the money After everything, after all her protests about not being a charity case, she had taken my mother¡¯s b The betrayal hit me like a physical blow I had been ready to apologize, to gravel, to do whatever it took to win her back. But she had taken the damn money. She had put a price on our rtionship and found it eptable. I clenched the check in my fist, the paper crinkling as rage and heartbreak warred in my chest. That¡¯s when I heard them. Footsteps in the hallway outside, apanied byughter, Caesar¡¯s high, bright giggle that I would recognize anywhere. Celine¡¯s voice, softer but unmistakably hers. And another voice¨Cdeeper, masculine, unfamiliar. My heart stopped. They were back. I stood up, the crumpled check still clutched in my hand, and moved toward the door The footsteps were getting closer, the voices clearer. Caesar was chattering excitedly about something, and the man was responding with warmth that made my jaw clench. anto turn. The doorknob began I took a step back, my entire body twisted like a spring, ready for whatever was about to happen. Ready to face the woman who had taken my mother¡¯s money and the man who had apparently taken my ce. The door swung open, and Celine stepped inside, her key still in her hand. ar eyes met across the small room, and I watched all the color drain from her face. Her lips parted in shock, and for a moment, neither of us moved. Our Behind her, I could see Caesar bouncing excitedly and a tall man with sandy hair and concerned green eyes. ¡°Hello, Celine,¡± I said, my voice deadly calm as i held up the crumpled check. ¡°Surprise to see me Legacy 131 Chapter 131 -CELINE¡¯S POV- (One hour earlier. At the hospital, before the motel confrontation) The discharge papers felt like lead in my trembling hands as I signed the final line, my signature barely readable through the haze of exhaustion and shock. The pregnancy report was still burning a hole in my pocket, its secret weight making every movement feel surres! I couldn¡¯t bring myself to look at ncey as we made our way through the sterile hospital corridors toward the exit. His words from earlier kept echoing in my mind-¡°I want to be here, Celine. Something about you two makes me want to be a better person He had known us for less than a day. How could he possibly mean that? ¡°He must be a flirt, I told myself firmly, clutching Caesar¡¯s hand a little tighter. ¡®Obviously a smooth talker who says whatever women want to hear. When ncey¡¯s warm hand reached out to steady me as I stumbled slightly, I flinched away from his touch so violently that he immediately dropped his arm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said softly, that gentle smile never leaving his face. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to scare you.¡± The kindness in his voice only made me feel worse. Here was this stranger who had paid my hospital bills, stayed with my son for hours, and 1 was treating him like he had some ulterior motive. ¡®Because men always do, a bitter voice in my head whispered. We stood in the hospital parking lot, the evening air cool against my flushed cheeks. I bit my lip nervously, trying to figure out how to gracefully extract myself and Caesar from this situation. ¡°Caesar and I will take the bus back to the motel, I announced, my voiceing out sharper than I nned. ¡°Thank you for everything. truly, but we can manage from here.¡± ncey¡¯s easy expression shifted into a frown. ¡°Celine, I don¡¯t mind dropping you off. Please stop avoiding my help.. it¡¯s making me feel like I¡¯ve done something wrong.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t,¡± I said quickly, then added more quietly, ¡°I just¡­ I don¡¯t want to be a burden.¡± The word ¡®burden¡± tasted bitter on my tongue. My thoughts drifted unwillingly to Hunter, as they always seemed to do. Did he think I was a burden when I was staying at his mansion, working as his maid? He must have. Maybe that¡¯s why he had sent hiswyers to do his dirty work instead of having the courage to face me himself. The memory of that sterile legal message made my chest tighten with familiar pain. ¡°I hate him, I thought fiercely. Thate him so much. But even as the words formed in my mind, my heart was betraying me with its aching longing. How could I hate someone and yet miss them so desperately? How could the thought of never seeing him again, never feeling his touch, never having him look at me like I was something parcious, hurt this badly? I missed his pumpy morning moods, the way he softened around Caesar, the rare moments when his walls came down and glimpsed the vulnerable man underneath his cold surface. ¡°You¡¯re not a burden, Celine,¡± ncey¡¯s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. ¡°And honestly, it¡¯s pretty obvious you don¡¯t even have your purse or any cash with you.¡± Flooked down at myself in shock, realizing he was absolutely right in my panic this morning, I had been rushed to the hospital with nothing but the clothes had on Caesar tugged on my hand, drawing my attention down to his upturned face. ¡°Mama, I¡¯m hungry,¡± he said in that matter of fact way that three¨Cyear olds had. I stared at him as if he had just spoken a foreignnguage. It was gettingte, and I hadn¡¯t fed my son. What kind of mother was I? The guilt crashed over me in waves. ¡°There¡¯s a diner not too far from the motel, ncey offered gently. ¡°We could grab something to eat there.¡± Every instinct I had screamed at me to refuse, to maintain what little independence I had left. But Caesar was starving, I was exhausted and hungry, and walking back to the motel just to get cash would drain what Ettle energy I had : remaining. ¡°I¡¯m not taking it for free,¡± I said stiffly, litting my chin with what dignity I could muster. ¡°I will pay you back once we get to the motel.¡± ncey¡¯s smile was warm and understanding. ¡°No problem at all.¡± He unlocked his car doors, and I helped Caesar into the backseat before sliding into the passenger seat myself. The interior smelled like leather and something woody¨Ccologne, maybe. It was clean andfortable, so different from the cramped bus seats I had been imagining for our journey. ¡°You seem to know this area well,¡± Tobserved as he pulled out of the parking lot. ¡°I was born in this part of the north,¡± he exined, navigating the streets with practiced ease. ¡°I live in the city now, but I¡¯m here for a business meeting.¡± ¡°Why did you choose to stay at a motel instead of a nice hotel? The question slipped out before I could stop it. ncey shrugged, ncing at me briefly before returning his attention to the road. ¡°The hotel was miles away from my meeting location, and the motel seemed closer. I took the easy route rather than spending hours driving back and forth. Besides, the motel isn¡¯t that bad¨Cjust needs a little fixing up.¡± I found myself smiling at his casual attitude., In my experience, wealthy men¡­ and ncey¡¯s car and clothes suggested he had money¡­.were usually selectiv ut their amodations. ¡°Does your cargo fast?¡± Caesar piped up from the backseat, his earlier hunger soon forgotten in his curiosity. uzu wed, 6 Aug nceyughed, the sound rich and genuine. ¡°Your papa¡¯s car must be a sports car. Mine¡¯s not quite that exciting¡± Caesar¡¯s face fell into a pout, and I could see ncey searching for something to cheer him up ¡°Caesar, don¡¯t be rude,¡± I scolded gently. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ncey said quickly, catching my eye in the rearview mirror. ¡°Don¡¯t be too hard on him. The boy must love his I looked at Caesar, who was clutching Rex tightly against his chest, and my heart broke a little more I knew my son missed Hunter terribly He would give anything to be back home with the man he called papa, and I was denying him that. Read full story at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? I hated being the cause of his unhappiness. The weight of that responsibility sat heavy on my shoulders. ncey must have noticed my troubled face because he quickly changed the subject. ¡°The diner sells amazing pancakes,¡± he announced to Caesar. yes lit up like a Christmas tree. ¡°Really? What kind? Do they have chocte chips? And blueberry? And banana?¡± My son¡¯s eyes ¡°All kinds,¡± ncey assured him, earning an excited bounce from Caesar. ¡°You seem to know a lot about pancakes.¡± ¡°Papa makes the best pancakes in the whole world,¡± Caesar announced with three¨Cyear¨Cold certainty. ¡°He makes funny faces with 1 and sometimes he lets me help flip them.¡± The casual mention of Hunter made my chest tighten, but seeing Caesar¡¯s joy as he chattered about different pancake varieties made meugh despite myself¡­.the first genuineugh I had had since we had left the hospital. ¡°See?¡± ncey¡¯s eyes met mine briefly, his expression soft. ¡°I knew yourugh was as beautiful as you look. It suits you much better than that worried frown. Thepliment hit me like a physical blow. I turned away abruptly, staring out the passenger window at the passing scenery, my cheeks burning with unwanted heat. ¡°Don¡¯t, I warned myself. ¡°Don¡¯t let him get under your skin. You can¡¯t afford to trust another man with pretty words and charming smiles The diner was a small, homey ce with checkered tablecloths and the warm smell offort food wathing from the kitchen. A waitress with graying hair and kind eyes approached our table with obvious familiarity ¡°Back again, ncey?¡± she asked with a knowing smile. ¡°I was wondering when you¡¯d show up for dinner.¡± ¡°The motel food is pretty terrible,¡± he admitted with a sheepish grin. ¡°I¡¯ve been eating here since my stay began.¡± ¡°How long have you been staying at the motel?¡± I found myself asking. odays now, ¡°Five days he replied, settling back in the vinyl booth. ¡°Today was supposed to be myst day, actually, I was checking out when I heard Caesar crying and your call for help. I couldn¡¯t just walk away when a damsel was in distress.¡± I blushed at his his words, ducking my head to hide my reaction. ¡°I¡¯m sorry again for all the trouble.¡± ¡°Are you traveling somewhere?¡± The question was casual, but I could sense genuine curiosity behind it. I hesitated, not sure how much I wanted to reveal to this virtual stranger. Finally, I decided on a partial truth 10-20 Wed, 0 Aug ¡°We were supposed to board a bus this moming to cross the Canadian border,¡± I said quietly, ying nervously with the salt and pepper shakers on the table. ¡°Thanks to my episode. We¡¯ll have to wait.¡± ¡°Canada¡± ncey¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°That¡¯s pretty far. There are nice ces closer by if you¡¯re looking for a good town to settle in I bit my lip, feeling the weight of his curious gaze Caesar was coloring on a kids¡® menu the waitress had brought,pletely absorbed in his task. The normality of the moment¡­.sitting in a diner, my son upied and happy, a kind man asking gentle questions¡­felt surreal everything we had been through. Looking up at ncey¡¯s patient, encouraging expression, I felt something inside me crack open just a little. ¡°I want to be as far away from here as possible,¡± I whispered, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. The admission hung between us like a confession, heavy with all the pain and fear I had been carrying ncey¡¯s green eyes softened with understanding, and for a moment, I thought I might cry right there in the middle of the diner Instead, I pressed my lips together and waited for his response, knowing that whatever he said next might decide whether could with the rest of our story. AD Comment Legacy 132 Chapter 132 -CELINE¡¯S POV- (One hour earlier: At the hospital, before the motel confrontation) ncey¡¯s hand was warm against mine as he reached across the diner table, and i frozepletely. The salt and pepper shakers I had been fidgeting with suddenly felt like anchors in my sweaty palms, ¡°understand,¡± he said softly, his green eyes filled with something that lonked dangerously close to genuine concern. ¡°It couldn¡¯t have been an easy decision to make, especially with Caesar¡± I bit my lower lip so hard I tasted copper, Eghting back the tears that seemed determined to spill over. He was right. it hadn¡¯t been easy. Nothing about this nightmare had been easy. And now, knowing what I carried in my pocket, what I carried in my body, everything felt impossiblyplicated. The pregnancy test results seemed to burn through the paper, through my clothes, straight into my skin. Another secret. Another burden. Another reason why running away felt like the only option left. ¡°Here we go!¡± The waitress¡¯s cheerful voice cut through the heavy moment as she approached our table with steaming tes. ¡°One chocte chip pancake stack for the little man, and two dinner specials for the adults.¡± Caesar¡¯s face lit up like the Fourth of July, and I quickly pulled my hand away from ncey¡¯s, my cheeks burning What was I thinking, letting a strangerfort me like that? I couldn¡¯t afford to get attached, couldn¡¯t afford to trust anyone else with my heart or my secrets. ncey nced at his empty hand, then back at me, but his smile never wavered. That easy, understanding expression that made my chest tighten with dangerous warmth. The waitress beamed at Caesar¡¯s obvious excitement. ¡°Someone¡¯s happy about those pancakes! I cleared my throat, trying to regain someposure, ¡°Caesar, what do you say to the nice uncle who bought you dinner?¡± My son looked up from his te, syrup already coating his chin, and turned those bright eyes toward ncey. ¡°Thank you, Uncle nceyl The rightful source is F?nd-Novel These are almost as good as Papa¡¯s!¡± ¡°Anytime, buddy,¡± ncey said, reaching ing over to ruffle Caesar¡¯s hair with such natural affection that my heart clenched. I managed to whisper my own thanks, but ncey shook his head with mock seriousness, ¡°If you say ¡°thank you! one more time, I might be forced to do something you won¡¯t like.¡± I blinked at him, confusion wrinkling my brow, ¡°What do you mean?¡± His grin turned yful, almost mischievous. ¡°I might have to start charging interest on all that gratitude.¡± Despite everything¡­the fear, the tiredness, the secrets weighing me down¨CI found myself smiling 10-20. Wed, Actually smiling. When was thest time I had done that? Before thewyers¡® message, certainly. Before everything fell apart ncey chuckled at my face and began eating his own meal, and for a few precious minutes, we existed in this bubble of normality Just three people sharing dinner, like a real family might. But i wasn¡¯t part of a real family. I was a runaway with a toddler and a secret that could change everything (The Motel Scene] The drive back to the motel was quiet except for Caesar¡¯s sleepy chatter from the backseat. As we pulled into the parking lot, my eyes immediately locked onto the sleek Ferrari sitting like a predator among the beaten down ¡°Now that¡¯s what I call slumming it,¡± nceymented, following my gaze. ¡°Wonder what kind of person drives a car like that to a ce like this.¡± I stared at my rented Honda, looking pathetic and worn next to the Ferrari¡¯s gleaming perfection. Something about that car made my skin crawl with unease, though I couldn¡¯t put my finger on why. ¡°Probably someone who got lost,¡± I murmured, but the words felt hollow We made our way toward the reception area, Caesar¡¯s hand secure in mine. Instead of Victor, the usual desk clerk, there re was a woman behind the counter with bleached hair and a cigarette dangling from her lips. The acrid smoke hit us immediately, and I quickly covered Caesar¡¯s nose and mouth with my free hand. ncey frowned deeply, gesturing toward the prominent ¡°NO SMOKING¡± sign on the wall behind her. ¡°Excuse me, I think you missed the sign.¡± The woman barely nced up from her magazine. ¡°Yeah, and? Your need a room or what?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get your key,¡± ncey said to me, his voice tight with annoyance. ¡°Stay back here with Caesar.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to¡­ But the was was already approaching the counter, his shoulders set in conclusion. ¡°Where¡¯s the guy who¡¯s usually here!¡± ¡°Victor? Had an emergency. Family thing¡± She took another long drag, blowing smoke directly in his direction. ¡°You want a room for you and your family or not?¡± ncey nced back at me and Caesar, and I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile. The word ¡°family¡± shouldn¡¯t have made my heart skip, but it did. ¡°Thedy was rushed to the hospital this morning.¡± ncey exined. ¡°Her things are still in her room. We need the key.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes shifted from ncey to me, recognition dawning ¡°Ahir, you¡¯re the one who caused all themotion. Yeah. I heard about that.¡± ¡°The room key?¡± ncey¡¯s patience was clearly wearing thin She stubbed out her cigarette in an overflowing ashtray and turned to examine the keyboard on the art Boom 247 shook was empty ¡°Key¡¯s not here. You sure you didn¡¯t take it with you?¡± I ¡°I never took the key,¡± I said, stepping closer despite the lingering trinke. ¡°I was unconscious when they took me to the hospita ¡°How the hell do you lose someone¡¯s room key?¡± ncey¡¯s voice carried a dangerous edge The woman scowled and muttered something under her breath that made my ears burn, then yanked open a drawer and pulled out a spare key. ¡°Here, shitheads. Try not to lose this one.¡± ¡°Charming,¡± ncey said dryly, pocketing the key. ¡°Your customer service really sets this ce apart.¡± As we headed toward the stairs, I feltpelled to apologize. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about her betuvior. She was rude to you because of nceyughed, the sound echoing in the narrow stairwell. ¡°Trust me, I¡¯m used to dealing with people like that. masty, they just wear better suits while they do it.¡± ¡°She was scary,¡± Caesar whispered, pressing closer to my leg inessmen can be just us Both ncey and I smiled at that, the innocence of my son¡¯s observation cutting through the tension. At least some things were simple in a three year¨Cold¡¯s world. We reached the second floor, and I felt my steps slow as we approached room 247. Something felt wrong The air felt different, charged with an energy that made the hair on my arms stand up ncey hand me the key as i slid the key into the lock, and the door swung open. My world stopped. Hunter stood in the center of the small room like an avenging angel, his dark hair disheveled, his expensive clothes wrinkled from travel In his clenched fist was a crumpled piece of paper that I recoplized with sinking dread¡­the check his mother had given me. Our eyes met across the space that suddenly felt smaller than a coffin, and I watched his face transform from surprise to cold fury. ¡°Hello, Celine,¡± he said, his voice deadly calm as he held up the crumpled check. ¡°Surprised to see me?¡± Before could find my voice, before I could even process what was happening, Caesar let out a squeal of pure joy ¡°Papal Papal¡± He broke free from my grip and ran straight into Hunter¡¯s arms. ¡°You found us! I knew you would!¡± Hunter¡¯s entire behavior changed as he dropped to his knees and swept Caesar into a fierce embrace. For a moment, his mask slipped, and I saw the raw relief and love in his eyes as he buried his face in our son¡¯s hair. ¡°I found you, buddy,¡± he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°I found you.¡± But when he looked up at me over Caesar¡¯s head, the cold fury was back, more intense than before. His gaze shifted to ncey¡¯s hand on my shoulder¡­when had he put it there? and something dangerous shed in those blue eyes. I felt my knees go weak, and only ncey¡¯s steadying grip kept me upright. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ncey asked quietly, concern evident in his voice, I couldn¡¯t answer. Couldn¡¯t breathe. Couldn¡¯t think past the terrible certainty that everything was about to fall apart all Hunter stood slowly, lifting Caesar with him, never breaking eye contact with me. ¡°Let¡¯s go home, buddy,¡± he said to our son, but his words felt like a threat. Home. As if I still had one. As if I belonged anywhere in his world. The check in his hand told a different story. Legacy 133 Chapter 133 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- The sight of that bastard¡¯s hand on Celine¡¯s shoulder sent molten rage coursing through my veins like poison. My reasonable mind¡­.what little remained of it¡­screamed that I should ask if she was okay. I should find out what had happened, why she had been rushed to the hospital, whether she was hurt or in pain. Vincent¡¯s voice echoed somewhere in the back of my skull, reminding me that Celine must have had reasons for leaving Reasons? What fucking reasons could justify this? Justify her running away with my son, taking my mother¡¯s blood money, and apparently throwing herself into the arms of the First man who showed her attention? The stranger¡¯s fingers were still curved protectively around her shoulder, and something primal and violent twisted in my chest. She was mine. Caesar was mine. This picture¨Cperfect moment of domestic bliss they had created was built on lies and betrayal. But I pres ¡°Let¡¯s go, Celine.¡± My voice came out harder than I¡¯d intended, but I was beyond caring about tone or tactfulness. I shifted Caesar¡¯s sleeping weight in my arms and reached for her, my fingers closing around her wrist like a vise. She felt so small, so fragile under my grip, but the softness of her skin only fueled my anger. How dare she feel familiar when she had ripped our family apart! ¡°No,¡± she gasped, trying to pull away from me. ¡°Hunter, I don¡¯t want to go back.¡± Her words hit me like physical blows. She didn¡¯t want toe home. She preferred this¡­this shabby motel, this stranger, this pathetic excuse for a life over what we had had together. Tignored her protests and started moving toward the door, dragging her along despite her resistance. Caesar¡¯s head lolled against my shoulder,pletely unaware to the storm raging around him. At least my son would be safe. At least I could give him the solidity and love he deserved. But with every step, Celine fought me harder, her heels digging into the cheap carpet, her free hand scrabbling for purchase on anything that might slow our progress. Her desperation only made me more furious. Why was she fighting so hard to stay? What had this stranger offered her that I couldn¡¯t? ¡°Hey.¡± The man¡¯s voice cut through the tension like a de. ¡°Thedy doesn¡¯t want to go. You shouldn¡¯t force her.¡± I stopped dead in the hallway, my grip on Celine¡¯s wrist tightening until she flinched. The audacity of this piece of shit¨Cto insert himself into my family, to act like he had any right to an opinion about what happened between me and my woman. ¡°Fuck off,¡± I snarled without turning around. ¡°Stay away from things you know nothing about¡± 1/4 But he didn¡¯t back down. Of course he didn¡¯t. Men like him¨Csmooth talkers with their fake concern and hereplexes they never knew when to quit. ¡°Look, I know I shouldn¡¯t get involved,¡± he said, raising his hands in a e of surrender that fooled no one. ¡°But I can¡¯t turn a blind eye here. It¡¯s obvious she doesn¡¯t want to go with you. And she just got back from the hospital¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± The word came out as a growl. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare use that against me.¡± He e was trying to make me look like the viin, using Celine¡¯s medical emergency to paint himself as the caring protector and me as the monster. But where had I been when she had copsed? Where had I been when she had needed me most? Driving myself insane looking for them, that¡¯s where. While this stranger had been ying house with my family. ¡°What the hell do you think you know about what she wants!¡± I turned to face him fully, Caesar¡¯s weight solid and grounding in my arms. ¡°You think spending one day with her makes you an expert on her feelings? On what¡¯s best for her?¡± Those er green eyes of his so earnest, so fucking righteous¨Cnever wavered. ¡°I think anyone can see¡­. ¡°ncey, please.¡± Celine¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper, but it cut through our standoff like a gunshot. ¡°Please don¡¯t get involved. I¡­ thank you for everything you¡¯ve done for us. If we ever meet again, I¡¯ll find a way to repay you.¡± If we ve ever meet again. The casual way she said it, like she was already nning future meets with this man, sent a fresh wave of rage crashing over me. I yanked her closer to my side, noting with savage satisfaction how she stumbled slightly. We made our way through the lobby in tense silence. The bleached¨Cblonde receptionist watched our little parade with obvious interest, her cigarette dangling from her lips, but she had enough sense to keep her mouth shut The parking lot felt like a battlefield under the flickering neon lights. My Ferrari sat gleaming among the rust¨Cbuckets and broken dreams, a reminder of the world I could offer her¨Cshould have been offering her all along. ¡°Hunter.¡± Celine¡¯s voice was small, defeated. ¡°Hunter, please¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± I spun to face h her, the single word exploding from my chest like a gunsho She flinched backward, genuine fear flickering in those brown eyes that had once looked at me with such warmth. The sight of it made something twist painfully in my gut, but I shoved the feeling down. She had brought this on herself. Her fear was nothingpared to the agony she had put me through. ¡°What is it, Celine?¡± I demanded again, my voice only slightly less harsh. 2/4 97% Her gaze dropped to where my fingers were still wrapped around her wrist, and I followed her line of sight. My knuckles were white with the force of my grip, and her skin looked pale and delicate against my darker hand. ¡°You¡¯re hurting me,¡± she whispered. The words hit me ! me like a physical blow, I released her immediately, watching as she cradled her wrist against her chest and turned away from me. Even in the artificial glow of the motel¡¯s lights, even after everything that had happened, she was breathtaking The way her hair caught the neon pink, the curve of her neck, the stubborn set of her shoulders everything about her called to something deep and desperate in my chest. I wanted to pull her into my arms. I wanted to bury my face in her hair and breathe her in until the fear and anger and betrayal all faded away. I wanted to whisper apologies and promises and sweet words until that scared look left her eyes. Instead, I focused on Caesar, carefully settling his sleeping form into the Ferrari¡¯s backseat. His face was peaceful, unmarked by the chaos Discover more novels at find{n}ovel surrounding him. At least one of us could find some peace in this nightmare. ¡°What about our things?¡± Celine asked quietly, still not looking at me. ¡°I¡¯ll pay someone to collect them.¡± I didn¡¯t trust myself to look at her either. The pull between us was still there¡­stronger than ever, if I was being honest¡­.and I couldn¡¯t afford to let it cloud my judgment again. I moved to the passenger side and opened the door, the soft click unnaturally loud in the night air. ¡°Get in, Celine¡± She hesitated, still rubbing her wrist where I had gripped her too tightly. The sight of that unconscious gesture made my chest ache with something that might have been regret. ¡°Get in,¡± repeated, my voice carefully controlled. ¡°And trust me¡­.I won¡¯t ask a second time.¡± The threat hung between us like smoke, heavy and suffocating. I watched her face in the reflection of the car window, saw the moment she realized she had no choice. Her shoulders sagged in defeat, and she slid into the passenger seat without another word. As closed the door behind her, I caught a glimpse of the stranger¨Cncey¨Cstill standing in the motel doorway. His hands were shoved deep in his pockets, his face creased with concern as he watched us prepare to leave. Let him watch. Let him see exactly who Celine belonged to. I walked around to the driver¡¯s side with deliberate slowness, making sure he got a good look at the car, at the expensive clothes, at everything I could offer that he couldn¡¯t. Then I slid behind the wheel and started the engine, the Ferrari¡¯s purr drowning out whatever protests he might have been mak 10:21 Wed, 6 Aug Celine sat stiff in the passenger seat, her hands folded tightly in herp, her gaze fixed on something beyond the windshield. She looked like a prisoner being led to execution, and theparison made my stomach chum. This wasn¡¯t how it was supposed to go. Finding them was supposed to lix everything, supposed to bring us back together as a family, Instead, I felt like I was driving away y with two beautiful strangers who wanted nothing to do with me. But they were mine. Whatever had happened, whatever had driven her to run, whatever promises that smooth¨Ctalking bastard had made her¡­ none of it mattered now. Thad them back, and I wasn¡¯t letting go again. Even if it killed us all. Comment Legacy 134 Chapter 134 -CELINE¡¯S POV- The silence in the Ferrari was suffocating, broken only by the soft hum of the engine and Caesar¡¯s peaceful breathing from the backseat. Five minutes had passed since Hunter pulled out of the motel parking lot, and each second lelt like an eternity stretching between us. I kept my eyes fixed on the window, watching g the neon lights of roadside diners and gas stations blur past like dying stars. My teeth worried at my lower lip until I tasted the metallic tang of blood. The habit had gotten worse since everything fell apart¡­another small piece of evidence that I was slowly unraveling Turning slightly, I nced back at Caesar¡¯s sleeping form sprawled across the leather seats. Even in sleep, his face held that same peaceful happiness he had worn since seeing Hunter again. He looked like he belonged here, in this expensive car with his papa, and maybe that was the truth I had been running from. Maybe Caesar did belong here, and I was the one who didn¡¯t fit. The check. Hunter had found the check his mother had given me, the one I had hidden away like a shameful secret. ted to exin, to tell him about the desperation that had driven me to take Eleanor Reid¡¯s blood money. Part of me wanted to But arger part¨Cthe part that was tired of fighting tired of defending choices that felt impossible¡­.wanted him to think the worst of me. Let him call me a gold digger. Let him believe I was exactly what his mother had always said I was. Maybe it would be easier that way. Maybe if he hated me enough, he would finally let me go But then why was there? Why hadn¡¯t he just taken Caesar and left me behind at that motel? The question gnawed at me, creating anxieties in a mind already crowded with fear. new Maybe he was nning to make me sign papers. Maybe this ride was just a warm¨Cup to some legal proceeding where I would be forced to surrender all rights to my son. The thought made my stomach clench with such violence that I had to press my hand against my mouth to keep from being sick. ¡®T¡¯ll never sign anything I thought fiercely. ¡°No matter what he threatens, no matter what he promises or what his that came with carrying their name. That¡¯s what I had told myself when Eleanor had made her offer, when she had made it clear that taking the money forever. y meant disappearing I should say something I should clear the air, make it known that I wouldn¡¯t surrender to him or his mother no matter what power they wielded. But as I opened my mouth to speak, Hunter¡¯s voice cut through the silence like a de. heard you were rushed to the hospital¡± The words were carefully neutral, but I could hear the tension underneath, like a wire pulled too tight His knuckles were white against the steering wheel, and I found myself staring at his hands¨Chands that had once touched me wit tenderness, hands that had now learned how to hurt. ¡°Once we get back home,¡± he continued, his tone still maddeningly calm, ¡°I¡¯m going to have the best doctors in the city examine you. Full- workup, blood tests, scans¨Cwhatever it takes to make sure you¡¯re all right.¡± The word ¡®home¡® hit me like a physical blow. There was no home anymore, not for me. There was only the life he would create around me, the gilded cage he would build with Caesar as the key to keep me trapped inside. Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel But it was his next words that sentice through my veins. The thought of doctors, of medical tests, of someone discovering the secret i carried. The pregnancy test results felt like they were burning a hole in my pocket, and I instinctively pressed my hand against my still¨Ct stomach. ¡°He can¡¯t know. Not yet. Not like this. If Hunter discovered I was pregnant with his child, he would never let me go. He would have two reasons to keep me prisoner, two lives to use as leverage against any thought of escape. And what if he tried to take this baby too, the way he was taking Caesar? What if he decided I was too unstable, too much of a fight risk to be trusted with either of his children? ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I said quickly, the words tumbling out in a rush. ¡°I don¡¯t need your doctors. I don¡¯t need your care.¡± The silence that followed my deration felt explosive: I watched Hunter¡¯s jaw clench, watched his grip on the steering wheel tighten until I thought he might crack the leather. ¡°You¡¯re damn well getting checked whether you like it or not,¡± he said, d, his voice low and dangerous. ¡°And you don¡¯t have the right to refuse me, Celine. Not after everything you¡¯ve done The casual way be dismissed my autonomy, the assumption that my betrayal had stripped away my right to make decisions about my own body¨Cit ignited something desperate and fierce in my chest. ¡°if you hate me so much,¡± I said, my voicensing despite my efforts to stay calm, ¡°why didn¡¯t you just let Caesar and me go? Why chase after The question hung in the air between us, heavy with days of unspoken bitterness and pain. I watched Hunter¡¯s profile in the dashboard light, saw the muscle in his jaw tick as he processed my words. When he finally looked at me, his eyes were arctic blue, cold enough to freeze blood in veins. ¡°Because I want to make you pay,¡± he said simply ¡°For betraying my trust. For trying to take what belongs to me away from me. His voice dropped to a whisper that somehow sounded more threatening than any shout. ¡°You need to shut up and take whatever punishmentes your way¡± The honesty of it was more terrifying than any lie would have been. He wasn¡¯t taking me back because he loved me, or because he wanted to rebuild our family. He was taking me back because he wanted revenge, because his pride demanded payback for the humiliation I had caused him. Without warning. Hunter yanked the car to the shoulder of the highway. The sudden motion new me against the door, and ed at him in $101213 WEL U200 Chapter 134 confusion and growing rm What was he doing? Were we stopping here, on this dark stretch of road with nothing but empty fields stretching into the night I watched in stunned silence as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the crumpled check¨Cmy shame made paper, the of my desperation reduced to something he could destroy with his bare hands. Slowly, deliberately, he began tearing it into pieces. The sound of ripping paper was unnaturally loud in the confined space of the car, each tear like a small explosion, When he was finished, he rolled down his window and let the pieces flutter away into the darkness like dying moths. I wanted to say something, wanted to exin or protest or defend myself, but the fury radiating from him was so intense it seemed to steal the words from my throat. I had never seen Hunter this angry before, not even during our worst fights. This wasn¡¯t the controlled businessman i had fallen in love with, or even the hurt lover who had discovered my betrayal. This was something else entirely. Something dangerous Hunter started the car again and pulled back onto the highway, his movements sharp and aggressive. When he spoke again, deceptively conversational his voice was ¡°Were you happy! away me, Celine? Were you nning to run away with your new boyfriend?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± I whispered, but even to my y own ears the denial sounded weak. ¡°I wasn¡¯t.. ¡°Why did you do it?¡± The question exploded from him with such force that i flinched back against the passenger door. ¡°We were happy, weren¡¯t we? You could have been patient with me, could have tried to understand what I was going through. If you needed money so badly, you could have asked me instead of taking my mother¡¯s blood money and proving to her that you were always the gold digger she used you of being.¡± Each word was like a physical blow, and I felt tears gathering in my eyes as the lights from passing vehicles shed across the windshield like searchlights. In the unsteady brightness, I could see Hunter¡¯s face clearly¨Cthe pain etched in every line, the sadness that warred with the anger in his blue eyes. He was right, and that was the worst part. I could have talked to him, could have exined my fears about his mother¡¯s threats and the pressure I felt being around him. Instead, I had taken the money and run, confirming every terrible thing Eleanor Reid had ever said about me. Hunter turned back to face the road, but his next words made my blood turn to ice water in my veins. ¡°You¡¯re going to spend the rest of your life learning why running away from me was the wrong choice,¡± he said, his voice soft and calm and absolutely terrifying ¡°I never let go of what¡¯s mine, Celine. That was your mistake¨Cthinking you could get away.¡± The promises that followed were delivered in the same conversational tone he might use to discuss the weather, but the content made my soul shrivel with fear. ¡°I¡¯m going to hurt you in ways that will make you beg me for death, but you won¡¯t find it. Even in death, you¡¯ll be mine, and I¡¯ll spend every day reminding you of that fact.¡± My heart skipped a beat, then began racing so fast I thought it might burst. This wasn¡¯t the man had fallen in love with speake This was someone else entirely, someone my love had created through betrayal and abandonment and days of festering rage. A monster ¡°My love had created a monster. The realization hit me with the force of a physical blow The gentle, passionate man who had once held me like I was precious, who had whispered promises of forever against my skin¨CI had broken him sopletely that this cold, vengeful stranger was all that remained. And the most terrifying part was the certainty in his voice, the absolute conviction that he owned me, that I belonged to him no matter what i wanted or how hard I fought. There would be no escape from this version of Hunter Reid. No amount of running or hiding or pleading would make him let me go I was trapped, just as surely as if he¡¯d locked me in a cage. The highway stretched endlessly ahead of us, carrying us toward whatever punishment he had nned. In the backseat, Caesar slept on, innocent and unaware that the family he was so happy to have back together was already irreparably broken. d like a death knell. ¡°No matter how much I try, no matter how far I run, I¡¯ll never ¡°I¡¯m trapped,¡± Lhought again, the words echoing in my mind escape him.¡± And somewhere in the darkness of the car, I felt the first flutter of the new life growing inside me¨Canother chain to bind me to this beautiful, terrible man who had promised to make my life a living hell. The monster I had created would never er let me
  1. go.
Not in this life. Not in any life. Legacy 135 Chapter 135 CELINE¡¯S POV- The city lights blurred past the Ferrari¡¯s windows in streaks of gold and white, but something was wrong. This was not the route to Hunter¡¯s mansion¡­I had made that drive enough times to know every turn, everyndmark that signaled we were almost home. How different this felt from all those bus rides I used to take as his maid, pressed against the window watching these same streets pass by while squeezing my small purse and thinking about grocery lists and cleaning schedules. Get full chapters from Find¡ïNovel ¡°We¡¯re going the wrong way,¡± I said, my voice cutting through the muggy silence that had settled between us like a living thing. Hunter¡¯s hands remained locked on the steering wheel, his knuckles still white with tension. He did not even nce in my direction, did not acknowledge that I had spoken at all. The silence stretched on, punctuated only by Caesar¡¯s soft breathing from the backseat and the low purr of the engine. ¡®He won¡¯t hurt us,¡® I told myself, the thought circling through my mind like a desperate prayer. ¡®He¡¯s angry, he¡¯s hurt by what I did, but that doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯ll actually hurt us. He¡¯s not that kind of man.¡® But even as I repeated the words, I could not shake the memory of his voice promising punishment, the cold look in his eyes when he had told me I belonged to him. This was not the Hunter I had fallen in love with¡ªthis was someone else entirely, someone capable of things I did not want to imagine. My teeth found my lower lip again, worrying at the already tender skin until I tasted blood. The normal nervous habit had be almost endless since everything fell apart, a physical manifestation of the anxiety that never left me anymore. The Ferrari slowed down and turned into the circr driveway of a tall skyscraper made of ss and steel. This building stood as a symbol of wealth and power. The entrance disyed ¡°Golden Lock¡± inrge, elegant letters. Even from the car, I sensed the exclusive atmosphere surrounding the building.. A valet in a neat uniform came to Hunter¡¯s window before we had even stopped the car. He had a friendly and professional smile ready. This apartment building is special. Celebrities and billionaires use it as a private getaway. Here, people can buy privacy, and getting good service is important. I looked up at the tall building through the windshield. I remembered all the times I took the bus past ces like this on my way to Hunter¡¯s mansion. I used to press my face to the bus window and wonder what kind of people lived in buildings that touched the sky, never imagining I had ever set foot in one. Now here I was, but not as a guest¨Cas a prisoner. Hunter stopped the engine and turned to look at me for the first time since we left the motel. His blue eyes were hard to read in the low light, but his intense stare made me feel aware of his presence. 70% ¡°Get out,¡± he said simply. There was no please, no exnation, no gentleness in his tone. He gave amand that required immediate follow¨Cthrough. When I paused, I noticed his jaw tighten slightly¡ªthis was the only sign I would get. He didn¡¯t say the same thing twice. Instead, he unlocked his door and stepped outside into the night air. He tossed his keys to the waiting valet, who caught them easily. Already moving toward the driver¡¯s seat as Hunter opened the back door and carefully lifted Caesar¡¯s sleeping form into his arms. My son looked so small and vulnerable against Hunter¡¯s broad chest, his little face peaceful and trusting even in sleep. The sight made something twist painfully in my chest¨CCaesar had no idea that the father he adored had be someone dangerous, someone who saw love and possession as the same thing. I fumbled with the door handle, my hands shaking slightly as I finally managed to step out onto the sidewalk. The cool night air hit my face like a p, carrying with it the scents of expensive perfume and car exhaust that seemed to define this part of the city. The valet greeted Hunter like an old friend, his good¨Cnaturedness tinged with genuine warmth. ¡°Evening, Mr. Reid. Good to see you again.¡± ¡°Henry,¡± Hunter acknowledged with a slight nod, already moving toward the building¡¯s entrance. The security guard held the door open for us, his greeting just as familiar. ¡°Mr. Reid, sir. Hope you¡¯re having a good evening.¡± Hunter knew this building well. He was a regr visitor and had a ce in this tall, luxury tower filled with secrets. Everything about his interactions showed that this was part of his routine. The realization sent a chill down my spine that had nothing to do with the night air. The lobby took my breath away despite my growing dread. The polished marble floors shone brightly under crystal chandeliers that spread rainbow colors across the ivory walls. Fresh orchids in tall vases filled the air with their light scent. In the distance, the gentle sound of water created a calm and elegant atmosphere.. A few people moved through the space gracefully, showing that they were used to luxury. Some nodded at Hunter, respecting him as someone with real power. Others were more familiar, calling out greetings that spoke of deeper rtionships. ¡°Hunter! Darling, I haven¡¯t seen you in ages!¡± The voice belonged to a stunning brte in a designer dress that probably cost more than most people¡¯s monthly sry. She walked towards us confidently, as if she were used to being noticed. She reached out her perfectly manicured fingers to touch Hunter¡¯s arm in greeting. ¡°When are we going to have that dinner you promised?¡± she purred, her eyes sliding over him with unmistakable hunger. (126) More women appeared as if drawn by some invisible signal, each one more beautiful and polished than thest. They surrounded Hunter like moths to a me, theirughter bright and practiced as theypeted for his attention. ¡°Hunter, call me soon!¡± ¡°We should do lunch this week!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be such a stranger!¡± I watched with increasing anger as Hunter responded to their greetings with small smiles and vague answers. These women knew him well enough to befortable with casual touches and suggested invitations. They knew him well enough to expect his attention. Jealousy burned through my chest like acid, mixing with humiliation and rage until I could barely breathe. Some of the women¡¯s eyes found me, taking in my rumpled clothes and tear¨Cstained face with expressions that ranged from curiosity to barely hidden hate. I felt like a stray cat that had wandered into a room full of pedigreed show animals. ¡®I lookpletely out of ce,¡® I realized with crushing certainty. ¡®They can see exactly what I am¨Csomeone who doesn¡¯t belong in their world.¡® The thought of all those bus rides to work, counting coins for fare while these women probably never touched public transportation, made the difference even sharper. Hunter turned slightly toward me, his voice cutting through the social chatter. ¡°Follow me.¡± It wasn¡¯t a request. He was already moving toward the elevators, Caesar still sleeping peacefully in his arms, leaving me no choice but to trail behind him like an obedient pet. Legacy 136 Chapter 136 -CELINE¡¯S POV 0 The elevator doors opened quietly, showing an interior that looked more like art than a ce for transportation. We stepped inside, and Hunter moved Caesar a bit to reach the panel, confidently pressing the button for the thirteenth floor. ¡°I can carry him,¡± I offered quietly, reaching toward my son. Hunter¡¯s response was to turn slightly away from me, his bodynguage making it clear that Caesar was staying exactly where he was. The rejection stung more than it should have, especially considering everything that had happened between us. frowned, hating the way he was ignoring me even though I knew he had every right to his anger. The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken recriminations and the weight of all the words we weren¡¯t saying. ¡°How long are you nning to ignore me?¡± I asked finally, unable to stand the stifling quiet anymore. Hunter did not respond, didn¡¯t even acknowledge that I had spoken. His attention remained fixed on the ascending floor numbers, his profile carved from marble in the elevator¡¯s soft lighting. I looked down at my hands, feeling the familiarbination of sadness, hurt, and anger that had be my steadypanions. When I lifted my eyes again, I caught sight of our reflection in the elevator¡¯s mirrored wall¨Cand found Hunter staring back at me through the ss. For just a moment, his expression softened. The harsh lines of anger smoothed slightly, and I caught a peek of something that might have been regret or longing flickering in his blue eyes. But even in that softened moment, the cold fury remained, burning beneath the surface like piled¨Cup coals ready to set on fire. The elevator chimed softly as we reached the thirteenth floor, and the doors slid open to reveal a hallway that held only one door. Not an apartment¨Ca penthouse. The entire floor belonged to whatever waited behind that imposing entrance. I hesitated at the elevator threshold, my feet suddenly reluctant to carry me forward. Something about this moment felt final, like once I stepped into that hallway, there would be no going back to whatever remained of the life I had known. Hunter waited, his patience limited, until I finally forced myself to follow him. We stood together in front of the door¨Cclose enough that I could smell his cologne, that familiar scent that had once meant safety and love and home. He adjusted Caesar to one arm and easily entered a code into the electronic lock. The soft beep confirmed eptance, followed by a quiet click as the locks disengaged. Hunter stepped aside, waiting for me to enter before following me into the space beyond. The penthouse was breathtaking in a way that made my chest tight with shing emotions. The living room spread out before us like something from an architectural magazine, all clean lines and expensive materials. A massive television dominated one wall, while floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows offered a stunning view of the New York skyline, the city lights twinkling like fallen stars against the dark canvas of night. The kitchen was a masterpiece of modern design, all gleaming surfaces and professional¨Cgrade appliances. Everything about the space screamed wealth and taste and the kind of casual luxury that most people could only dream about. ¡®This is the kind of ce celebrities live in,¡® I thought numbly. ¡®But why would Hunter bring us here?¡® Hunter moved past me without exnation, carrying Caesar toward a hallway that led deeper into the penthouse. I watched him unlock one of the doors and disappear inside, appearing a few minutester without our son. He closed the door with careful quiet, leaving it slightly ajar¨Cclose enough to ensure Caesar¡¯s privacy but open enough to hear if he woke. Moving to the kitchen, Hunter opened an expensive¨Clooking refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. His eyes found mine as he took a long drink, the simple action somehow loaded with tension and unspoken meaning. Heat flooded my face under his scrutiny, and I turned away to stare out at the glittering cityscape beyond the windows. The view was stunning, but it felt like looking at the world from behind ss¨Cbeautiful but untouchable, a reminder of everything thaty beyond my reach. ¡°You¡¯ll be staying here with Caesar,¡± Hunter said finally, his voice cutting through the silence like a de. I wasn¡¯t surprised by his words, but hearing them out loud made the reality sink in with crushing weight. This wasn¡¯t a temporary arrangement or a safe house¨Cthis was my new prison, painted in rosy colors and luxurious but a cage nheless. ¡°Are you hiding us?¡± I asked, turning back to face him. ¡°You can¡¯t take us back to your mansion because you¡¯re ashamed of us?¡± Hunter¡¯s frown deepened, but he didn¡¯t deny it. Instead, he continued as if I hadn¡¯t spoken. ¡°Tomorrow I¡¯ll send a doctor to examine you. Someone will also bring everything you and Caesar need¨Cclothes, food, whatever else might be necessary for yourfort.¡± The clinical way he discussed my captivity made something rebel inside my chest. ¡°Is this my punishment?¡± I demanded, my voice rising despite my efforts to stay calm. ¡°Locking me and my son away in one of your penthouses? How low can you get?¡± Hunter paused halfway to the door, and then heughed¨Ca sound so cold and bitter it made my blood freeze in my veins. When he turned back to face me, his smile was sharp enough to cut. ¡°Celine,¡± he said softly, ¡°you have no idea how low I¡¯m prepared to go to punish you. You shouldn¡¯t be in such a hurry¨CI n to give you your punishment very slowly, very carefully. I want you to savor every moment of it.¡± The promise in his voice made my knees weak with terror. Chisple: 136 This wasn¡¯t an idle threat this was a man who had thought long and hard about exactly how he wanted to make me suffer. ¡°Get some rest,¡± he continued, his tone returning to that terrible casual pleasantness. ¡°And I suggest you think twice before considering escape. You won¡¯t even make it to the elevator without me knowing about it¡± The finality of his words broke something inside me. ¡°I hate you!¡± I screamed, all the fear and frustration and heartbreak of the past few days exploding out at once. ¡°I hate you and I will never forgive you for this!¡± Hunter¡¯s smile never wavered. ¡°I¡¯m not looking for your forgiveness, Celine. I never was.¡± And then he was gone, the door closing behind him with a soft click that sounded like the end of everything. The silence that followed was deafening. I stood frozen in the middle of that beautiful prison, surrounded by luxury that felt like mockery, until my legs finally gave out and I copsed to the floor. All the tears I had been holding back, all the grief and terror and desperate sadness I had been carrying¨Cit all came pouring out at once. I sobbed until my chest ached, until my throat was raw, until there was nothing left inside me but emptiness and the devastating certainty that my life as I had known it was over. When the tears finally stopped, I found my hand pressed against my stomach, protecting the secret that grew there like a ticking time bomb. With shaking fingers, I pulled the pregnancy test from my pocket, staring at the paper reminder of everything that was about to be infinitely moreplicated. I forced myself to stand on unsteady legs and began opening doors, searching through the penthouse until I found the master bathroom. It was as breathtaking as everything else, all marble and gold fixtures and mirrors that reflected my tear¨Cstained face from every angle. I knelt beside the toilet, staring down at the pregnancy test in my hands. Newest update provided by FindN()vel The positive result seemed to mock me with its look, its promise of a future that Hunter could never be allowed to control. Slowly, deliberately, I began tearing the test into pieces, destroying the evidence of the secret I carried. Each rip felt like a small act of defiance, a way of keeping onest piece of myself away from Hunter¡¯s reach. The pieces disappeared into the water with barely a ssh, and I flushed them away like I was trying to flush away the truth itself. ¡°He¡¯ll never know,¡± I whispered to my reflection in the bathroom mirror, wiping the tears from my cheeks with hands that still trembled. ¡°I¡¯ll never let him know. He can¡¯t find out. Never.¡± My reflection stared back at me¨Chollow¨Ceyed and broken, a woman I barely recognized anymore. Underneath the destruction, there was something strong. It was a fierce desire to protect and a determination that even Hunter¡¯s cruelty couldn¡¯tpletely break. ¡°I¡¯m tired, Hunter,¡± I whispered to the empty bathroom, my words echoing off the marble walls. ¡°I¡¯m so damn tired of all of this.¡± But tired or, than to keep eliting for Care, for the shore growing inside The golden prison around me was beautiful and secure, but it was stel a prison. And somehow, someday, I would find a way to escape. Legacy 137 Chapter 137 -HUNTER POV- I pushed through the ss doors of the lobby, my footsteps echoing against the marble floor. Henry, the valet, stood waiting with his endless smile the kind that never wavered, no matter howte I arrived or how dark my mood. ¡°Your keys, sir,¡± he said, extending them with that cheerful behavior I had grown used to over the years. The Golden Lock had been my sanctuary once¨Ca ce I had purchased to escape my mother¡¯s suffocating expectations and the weight of ¨C the Reid name. How ironic that it had be a prison for the woman I loved. But she had left me no choice. The anger still burned in my chest, hot and consuming. I wanted to hurt her the way she had hurt me, to make her understand the wreckage she had caused. But earlier, trapped in that elevator with her, all I had wanted was to pull her into my arms, to let her whisper sweet lies while I buried my face in her hair and pretended she hadn¡¯t tried to steal my son and disappear from my life forever. Vincent had insisted they had their reasons. I was waiting to hear Celine¡¯s. Perhaps I had be too much for her to bear. Perhaps my love wasn¡¯t enough¨Chad never been enough. Newest update provided by find[f]ovel ¡°Thank you, Henry.¡± I took the keys and slid into the Ferrari, the leather seats cold against my back. The engine roared to life, and I peeled out of the parking lot, Manhattan¡¯s neon¨Clit streets blurring past my windows. My knuckles were white against the steering wheel as her words yed on repeat in my mind. ¡°I hate you.¡± The words cut deeper each time I remembered them. How could she say that to my face? Everything I did, everything I nned¨Cit was all for her. Because I loved her with a desperation that was slowly killing me. The realization that she had never loved me the same way was a knife twisting in my chest. ¡®Fuck you, Celine.¡¯ Yes, I was a monster.- I would dly wear that title if it meant keeping her close. Even if it meant locking her in that penthouse until she learned to ept me, to ept my love. I pulled over at the corner of Fifth Avenue, my hands shaking as I rested my head against the seat. Tiredness took hold of me like a physical thing. I hadn¡¯t slept properly since the night had discovered they were gone. Days of phone calls, bribes, and threats¨Canything to track them down. 16 Thu Aldo o Charter 137 At least they were sale now. Safe and within my reach. Trubbed my temples, trying to ease the tension that had taken up permanent residence there. Maybe a good night¡¯s sleep would help me think clearly. Maybe then I could figure out how to fix the mess I had made. The mansion was quiet when I arrived, the staff having retired hours ago. I had specifically told them not to wait up, but as I approached the staircase, I noticed a familiar figure standing in the shadows. Sally, the head maid, stood wrapped in her shawl, her silver hair caught in the dim light. ¡°Sally,¡± I called out, genuine concern in my voice. ¡°Oh, Young Master Reid,¡± she said, her voice carrying that motherly warmth that hadforted me since childhood. ¡°You¡¯re home.¡± ¡°I told you not to wait up. You should be in bed.¡± She approached me slowly, her weathered hands reaching up to cup my face. The gesture was so gentle, so full of unconditional care, found myself leaning into her touch. ¡°You look exhausted, child,¡± she whispered. ¡°You¡¯re going to worry this old woman to death.¡± I managed a weak smile. This was what my mother had never understood¨Cthe power of simplepassion. While she demanded perfection and forbade weakness, Sally offeredfort without conditions. that! ¡°That¡¯ll never happen,¡± I told her, gently removing her hands from my face. ¡°You¡¯ve got at least a thousand years left in you. Now please, go to bed.¡± I moved toward the stairs, but her voice stopped me. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re alright?¡± she asked without turning around. She knew. Of course, she knew. Sally had always been the sharpest person in this house, the only one who truly saw beneath the surface. ¡°Yes, Sally.¡± ¡°Good,¡± she sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t mess this up, young master. I can see you¡¯re both hurting, but don¡¯t let the Reid way of loving destroy everything good.¡± Her words followed me up the stairs as she disappeared down the hallway toward the servants¡® quarters. I stood on thending longer than I should have, her warning echoing in my mind. The Reid way of loving¨Cpossessive, controlling, destructive. Was that what I had be? My feet carried me toward the east wing, toward the rooms where Celine and Caesar had lived. I paused at the door, foolishly hoping she might appear, might smile at me the way she used to. But the hallway remained empty. I unlocked the door and stepped inside, immediately overwhelmed by memories. Celine folding Caesar¡¯s tiny clothes on the couch. 50 Celine in the kitchen, flour dusting her check as she baked his favorite cookies. Celineughing as Caesar demonstrated a new dance he had learned at the yground. Her world had always revolved around Caesar. She would have done anything for him, and my mother had exploited that love, used it as a weapon. I copsed onto the couch, staring at the ceiling. How could I have called her a gold digger when I knew¨Cknew¨Cthat if she had taken the money, it was for Caesar¡¯s sake? I was a mess, undeserving of her love. Running my hands through my hair, I tried to find afortable position on the couch. I had already ruined everything. Celine hated me, and she would probably never love me again. But I didn¡¯t care anymore. She was here, in my world, close enough to touch. That had to be enough. She would learn to love me again. I would make sure of it. The hate she imed to feel would transform back into love¨Cit had to. We would be a family again. I would keep her safe from my mother, from the Reid legacy that ruined everything it touched. I would destroy anyone who tried toe between us. Celine Brown had been mine from the moment she walked into my life, from the first second Iid eyes on her. And I would remind her of that, no matter what it cost. Tloved her. And perhaps that was my greatest sin of all. The couch in what used to be Celine and Caesar¡¯s room felt like lying on broken ss. Every breath I took was filled with her scent¨Cthat soft vani and jasmine that had haunted my dreams for weeks. The throw pillow still held the impression of her head, and I pressed my face into it like a man drowning. I must have dozed off, because the sound of footsteps in the hallway jolted me awake. My heart hammered against my ribs as I sat up, disoriented and aching from sleeping in such an awkward position. ¡°Young master?¡± Sally¡¯s voice was soft but concerned. ¡°What are you doing in here?¡± I ran a hand through my disheveled hair, trying topose myself. ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep in my room.¡± Sally stepped into the doorway, her weathered face creased with worry. In the dim light filtering through the curtains, she looked older than her years¨Cand sadder. ¡°This isn¡¯t healthy, child,¡± she said gently. ¡°Sleeping in here, torturing yourself with memories. It won¡¯t bring her back.¡± ¡°She is back,¡± I said, my voice rough with sleep and emotion. ¡°I brought her back.¡± Sally¡¯s face shifted, and I saw something that looked like fear flicker across her features. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Tound them. Celine and Caesar. They¡¯re¡­ they¡¯re safe now.¡± ¡°Safe?¡± Sally¡¯s voice rose slightly. ¡°Or trapped?¡± The question hit me like a physical blow. ¡°She tried to leave me, Sally. She took my son and ran away in the middle of the night. What was ! supposed to do, just let them go?¡± Sally moved closer, her footsteps soft on the carpet. ¡°And now? Where are they now?¡± I couldn¡¯t meet her eyes. ¡°Somewhere secure. Where can take care of them?¡± ¡°Listen to yourself,¡± Sally said, her voice carrying the weight of decades of watching the Reid family destroy everything they touched. ¡°You sound just like your father did, talking about your mother before she¡­¡± She stopped herself, but the meaning hung in the air like poison. ¡°I¡¯m not my father,¡± I said through gritted teeth. ¡°No?¡± Sally¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°Then tell me, Hunter Reid¨Cdoes she have a choice? Can she leave if she wants to?¡± The silence stretched between us, heavy with truth I didn¡¯t want to acknowledge. ¡°She made her choice when she took my mother¡¯s money and ran,¡± I finally said. ¡°She chose to betray me.¡± Sally moved to the window, pulling back the curtain to look out at the dawning light. ¡°That girl loved you more than life itself. I saw it in her eyes every time she looked at you, every time she spoke your name. If she ran, it was because she was afraid¨Cnot of you, but for you.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Sally turned back to me, and I was startled to see tears in her eyes. ¡°Your mother didn¡¯t just offer her money, did she? She threatened her. Threatened what would happen to you, to Caesar, if she stayed.¡± The blood drained from my face. ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been in this house for forty years, young master. I¡¯ve seen what Eleanor Reid does to women who get too close to her son. I saw what she did to your father¡¯s first wife, to the woman he loved before your mother trapped him with pregnancy and maniption.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not¡­..¡± ¡°Your father¡¯s first wife disappeared one night, just like Celine tried to do. Found floating in the Hudson River three dayster. They said it was suicide, but I knew better. Just like I know what your mother threatened that poor girl with.¡± My hands were shaking. ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°Am J? Then why haven¡¯t you taken them home? Why are you hiding them away like a dirty secret?¡± The truth crashed over me like a wave. Even in/my rage, even in my need for revenge, some part of me had known. Some part of me had understood that bringing Celine back to this house would be signing her death warrant. ¡°Oh God,¡± I whispered, the full magnitude of what I¡¯d done hitting me. ¡°What have I done?¡± Legacy 138 Chapter 138 CELINE POV- Caesar¡¯s screams woke me from the first real sleep I had had in days. I shot up from the leather couch where I had finally copsed, my heart racing as I heard my son¡¯s terrified cries echoing through the penthouse. The sound was raw, primal¨Cthe cry of a child lost and afraid. ¡°Caesar!¡± I ran toward the bedroom where Hunter had put him, my bare feet sliding on the polished floors. ¡°Baby, I¡¯m here!¡± I found him sitting up in the massive bed, his face red and streaked with tears. His small hands clutched at the expensive sheets as if they might anchor him to reality. ¡°Mama!¡± Heunched himself into my arms, his small body shaking with sobs. ¡°I had a bad dream! I dreamed Papa was angry and you were crying and we couldn¡¯t go home!¡± My heart shattered. ¡°Oh, sweetheart¡­¡± ¡°Where are we, Mama? This isn¡¯t home. This isn¡¯t Papa¡¯s house. Why does it smell different? Why are there no pictures of us?¡± I held him tighter, pressing my face into his soft hair. How could I exin to a Three¨Cyear¨Cold that we were prisoners? That the father he adored had be our captor? ¡°We¡¯re¡­ we¡¯re staying somewhere new for a while,¡± I managed. ¡°But I want to go home! I want to y with my toys and sleep in my bed!¡± His voice rose to a wail. ¡°I want Papa to read me a story like he used to!¡± The doorbell chimed through the penthouse, its elegant tone cutting through Caesar¡¯s sobs. My blood turned to ice. Who could be here this early in the morning? ¡°Stay here, baby,¡± I whispered, settling Caesar back onto the bed. ¡°I need to see who¡¯s at the door.¡± padded to the front door, my bare feet silent on the cold marble. Through the peephole, I saw a middle¨Caged woman in a white coat, carrying a medical bag. She had kind eyes and graying hair pulled back in a professional bun. My heart began to race. The medical examination that Hunter had promised. The one that could reveal the secret I had destroyed the evidence of, the secret that could never see the light of day. I considered not answering, but she rang the bell again, and I knew Hunter would find out if I refused to let her in. ¡°I¡¯ming,¡± I called out, my voice shaking slightly. I opened the door trying topose myself. ¡°Yes? ¡°Mrs Brown? I¡¯m Dr. Martinez. Mr. Reid sent me to check on you¡± I stepped back reluctantly, ¡°I¡¯m fine. There¡¯s nothing wrong with me.¡± Dr. Martinez smiled gently as she entered, setting her bag down in the foyer. ¡°Mr. Reid was very concerned about the hospital incident. He just wants to make sure you¡¯re healthy.¡± ¡°Mama,¡± Caesar appeared in the hallway, his face still streaked with tears. ¡°Mama, were you sick? Is that why we had to go away?¡± ¡°No, baby, I wasn¡¯t sick. I was just¡­ tired.¡± Dr. Martinez¡¯s trained eyes moved between Caesar and me, taking in our messy appearance, my defensive posture, and the obvious tension in the room. ¡°Why don¡¯t we start with some basic questions? Then we can do a simple examination.¡± I backed toward the window, wrapping my arms around myself. ¡°I said I¡¯m fine. I don¡¯t need an examination.¡± ¡°Mrs. Brown, I understand you might be feeling anxious, but Mr. Reid was very clear about his instructions. He¡¯s concerned about your health after the fainting episode.¡± The way she said it¨Cthe careful way she watched my reaction¨Cmade my stomach clench with fear. There was something in her expression, a knowing look that made me wonder if she suspected more than she was letting on. ¡°What exactly did Hunter tell you?¡± I asked carefully. Dr. Martinez consulted her notes. ¡°He mentioned you¡¯d been experiencing nausea, fatigue, and had a fainting spell that required hospitalization. He wants to make sure there¡¯s no underlying condition causing these symptoms.¡± I felt my face drain of color. The symptoms she listed¨Cwere textbook signs of early pregnancy. And the way she was looking at me, with that gentle but knowing expression, told me she had put the pieces together. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­.¡± I started, then stopped myself. I couldn¡¯t say the words without lying, and something told me this doctor would see right through me. ¡°Mrs. Brown,¡± Dr. Martinez said softly, ¡°I¡¯ve been practicing medicine for twenty years. I¡¯ve seen every kind of situation you can imagine. Whatever you¡¯re going through, I¡¯m here to help, not to judge.¡± Caesar tugged at my pajama pants. ¡°Mama, what¡¯s wrong? Why do you look scared?¡± I knelt to his level, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong, sweetheart. The doctor just wants to make sure Mama is healthy.¡± Dr. Martinez watched this exchange with growing concern. ¡°Mrs. Brown, if you¡¯re pregnant, it¡¯s important that we monitor your health. Early prenatal care is crucial for both mother and baby.¡± The word ¡®pregnant¡® hung in the air like a bomb waiting to explode. I felt my hands instinctively move to my still¨Ct stomach, a gesture that didn¡¯t go unnoticed by the doctor. ¡°I¡¯m not pregnant.¡± I said desperately. ¡°There¡¯s no baby.¡± But even as I said it, I could feel the lie crumbling. The morning sickness I had been attributing to stress, the exhaustion, the emotional vtility¨Cit all added up to a truth I had been trying to deny. Dr. Martinez¡¯s expression grew even more concerned. ¡°Mrs. Brown, denial isn¡¯t umon in early pregnancy, especially under stressful circumstances. But if you are carrying a child, avoiding medical care could put both you and the baby at risk.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no baby!¡± I shouted, causing Caesar to flinch away from me. ¡°Tell Hunter there¡¯s no baby!¡± The doctor¡¯s eyebrows rose, and I saw understanding dawn in her eyes. ¡°Mr. Reid doesn¡¯t know, does he? He suspects, but he didn¡¯t ask me to test for pregnancy specifically.¡± The room spun around me. My outburst had confirmed what she had already suspected. I had just given her the bullet that could destroy what little control I had left over my life. ¡°Please,¡± I whispered, sinking into a chair. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell him. Not yet.¡± Dr. Martinez moved closer, her voice gentle but firm. ¡°Mrs. Brown, I need to take a blood sample. It will tell us definitively whether you¡¯re pregnant or not. If you are, that baby needs medical care. If you¡¯re not, then we can rule it out and focus on whatever else might be causing your symptoms.¡± ¡°No.¡± I shook my head frantically. ¡°I won¡¯t let you.¡± ¡°Mama, you¡¯re scaring me,¡± Caesar whispered, crawling into myp. The doctor sighed. ¡°Mrs. Brown, I can see you¡¯re in a difficult situation. But running away from the truth isn¡¯t going to change whatever¡¯s happening in your body. If you¡¯re pregnant, that baby deserve¡¯s the best possible care.¡± I looked down at Caesar¡¯s worried face, saw the confusion and fear in his eyes. My son needed me to be strong, to be the adult in this situation. But I also knew that the moment Dr. Martinez confirmed what I already knew in my heart, my life as I knew it would be over. Hunter would never let me go if I were carrying his child. Checktest chapters at find(?)ovel He would have two reasons to keep me prisoner, two lives to control and manipte. ¡°Mama,¡± Caesar said softly, ¡°are you going to have a baby?¡± The innocent question broke something inside me. I looked at my son¡ªthis beautiful, pure child who deserved so much better than the broken adults who were supposed to protect him. ¡°I don¡¯t know, baby,¡± I whispered. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything anymore.¡± Dr. Martinez stood slowly. THU, ZABO 00 ¡°I¡¯ll give you a few minutes to think about it. But Mrs. Brown, I need you to understand¨Cwhether Mr. Reid knows or not, if you are pregnant, that baby needs medical attention. Is that something you want to risk?¡± After she stepped into the hallway to make a phone call, I sank deeper into the chair, Caesar still in my arms. The morning sun was streaming through the windows, making the city below look deceptively peaceful. ¡°Mama,¡± Caesar said quietly, ¡°if you¡¯re having a baby, will it be my brother or sister?¡± I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of secrets and lies pressing down on me like a physical force. ¡°I might be, sweetheart.¡± ¡°Will Papa be happy? He always said he wanted more kids.¡± The question hit me like a knife to the heart. Once upon a time, Hunter and I had talked about having more children. We had nned a future together, dreamed of a houseful of kids who would grow up knowing they were loved and wanted. Now, the thought of bringing another child into this nightmare made me sick. ¡°I don¡¯t know if Papa will be happy,¡± I admitted. Caesar was quiet for a long moment. Then he looked up at me with those serious blue eyes that looked so much like his father¡¯s. ¡°Mama, why don¡¯t you and Papa love each other anymore?¡± The question shattered what remained of myposure. I buried my face in his hair and let the tears fall, knowing that no matter what I said, no matter how I tried to protect him, Caesar would bear the scars of our broken family for the rest of his life. ¡°We do love each other, baby,¡± I whispered. ¡°Sometimes grown¨Cups love each other so much it hurts, and they don¡¯t know how to fix it.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you just say sorry?¡± If only it were that simple. If only love could heal the damage we had done to each other, the trust we had shattered, the wounds we had inflicted in our desperation and pain. ¡°Sometimes sorry isn¡¯t enough,¡± I said softly. From the hallway, I could hear Dr. Martinez¡¯s voice as she spoke quietly on the phone. I caught fragments: ¡°¡­possible pregnancy¡­ patient seems distressed¡­ may need additional support¡­¡± My heart sank. Even if she didn¡¯t tell Hunter directly, she was documenting everything. There would be a record, a paper trail that would eventually lead to the truth. Outside, the city hummed with life and possibility. But inside this golden cage, with my son in my arms and the secret of his father¡¯s child growing in my womb, I felt more trapped than ever. Dr. Martinez would be back soon, and with her woulde the choice that would seal my fate forever. Hunter Reid would never let me go. Not now. Tha Thu L¨¢NG ??U Not ever. Ìï Comment Legacy 139 Chapter 139 -CELINE POV I pulled Caesar away from my arms, standing up straight. There was no point in hiding it anymore. For original chapters go to F?nd-Novel Hunter would find out eventually¡­.Dr. Martinez was on his payroll, and of course, she would report every detail to him. ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± I said, my voice loud but surprisingly calm. Dr. Martinez pulled her phone away from her ear for a brief moment, speaking to whoever was on the line, assuring them not to worry. She slipped the phone into her jacket pocket and walked toward me. I grabbed Caesar¡¯s hand tightly, as if holding him could somehow make everything better. What had I been thinking? Why was I so sure! could keep this from Hunter? ¡°Miss Brown, please take your seat. I don¡¯t want to stress you¡­ It might not be good for you,¡± Dr. Martinez said in her professional tone. I did as was told, settling onto the couch. Caesar wasted no time sitting beside me, his small hand still wrapped tightly in mine. We watched Dr. Martinez work with practiced efficiency. She asked a few routine questions before preparing to take a blood sample. I winced as the cold needle pierced my skin, the sharp pinch making me tense. Caesar began to cry beside me. He had never been a fan of needles¨CI remembered the countless battles we had fought every time he needed shots when he was sick. Despite my own anxiety, Iughed softly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt, Caesar,¡± I said in a calm voice, trying to reassure him. ¡°See? It¡¯s all over. Mama is fine.¡± I waved my other hand where the needle had pierced, showing him the tiny bandage. He wiped his tears with his free hand, and I smiled at his bravery. Dr. Martinez praised him for being such a strong boy, telling him that big boys don¡¯t cry. Caesar nodded solemnly, dering that he was indeed a big boy. I watched as Dr. Martinez carefully packed her tools back into the medical bag she¡¯d brought. I supposed she had everything she needed now. Dr. Martinez looked at me with those knowing eyes, and I felt thest of my defenses crumble. ¡°You are going to tell him, aren¡¯t you?¡± I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. She closed her medical bag with a soft click. Mrs. Brown, I¡¯m required to report my findings to the person who requested the examination.¡± My heart stopped. ¡°Please. You don¡¯t understand what this means.¡± ¡°I understand more than you think,¡± she said quietly, ncing at Caesar who was now ying with a throw pillow on the couch. ¡°But I also understand that denial won¡¯t change what¡¯s happening in your body.¡± I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling more vulnerable than had in years. ¡°How long do I have?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll need to run the blood work to confirm, but based on your symptoms and my examination¡­¡± She paused, studying my face. ¡°Mrs. Brown, when was yourst period?¡± The question hit me like a physical blow. I tried to remember, tried to count back through the chaos of the past few weeks. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. Everything¡¯s been so stressful, I haven¡¯t been keeping track.¡± ¡°That¡¯s understandable. Stress can affect your cycle, but it can also mask other symptoms.¡± She pulled out her phone. ¡°I¡¯m going to call in these test results. You should have confirmation within the hour.¡± ¡°An hour?¡± Panic wed at my throat. ¡°That¡¯s all I have?¡± Dr. Martinez¡¯s face softened. ¡°Mrs. Brown, may I ask you something? Are you afraid of Mr. Reid?¡± The question hung in the air between us. Caesar looked up from his pillow, those innocent blue eyes watching our conversation with confusion. ¡°I¡¯m afraid of what he¡¯ll do,¡± I admitted. ¡°I¡¯m afraid of what this means for my son.¡± ¡°And for yourself?¡± I couldn¡¯t answer that. The truth was tooplicated, too painful. I was afraid of Hunter, yes, but I was also afraid of how much I still loved him despite everything. I was afraid of the hope that would bloom in my chest when he found out about the baby, and I was afraid of howpletely he would own me then. ¡°Mama,¡± Caesar said softly, ¡°why are you crying?¡± I hadn¡¯t realized tears were falling. I wiped them away quickly, kneeling beside him. ¡°I¡¯m just tired, baby.¡± ¡°Is Papaing to see us today?¡± The innocent question shattered what was left of myposure. ¡°I don¡¯t know, sweetheart.¡± Dr. Martinez was speaking quietly into her phone, and I caught fragments: ¡°¡­positive indicators¡­ need immediate consultation¡­ yes, sir, I understand the urgency¡­¡± My blood turned to ice. She was talking to Hunter. Right now. While I sat here with his son on myp and his unborn child growing inside me. She hung up and turned back to me. ¡°Mrs. Brown¡­.¡± ¡°You told him.¡± It wasn¡¯t a question. ¡°I told him I needed to discuss my findings with him privately. He¡¯s on his way.¡± The world staggered. ¡°He¡¯sing here? Now?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sorry, but given the circumstances¡­.¡± ¡°What circumstances?¡± I stood up so quickly that Caesar tumbled off myp. ¡°What exactly did you tell him?¡± 69 ¡°That your condition requires immediate attention and ongoing care.¡± Telt like I was drowning. ¡°You might as well have told him outright.¡± ¡°Mrs. Brown, if you are pregnant, that baby needs medical care. Regardless of your¡­ situation with Mr. Reid.¡± ¡°My situation?¡±ughed bitterly. ¡°Is that what we¡¯re calling kidnapping now?¡± Caesar¡¯s face crumpled. ¡°Mama, you¡¯re scaring me.¡± I pulled him into my arms, holding him tight. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, baby. I¡¯m so sorry.¡± The sound of the elevator opening made my heart stop. Heavy footsteps in the hallway. A key turns in the lock. Hunter walked in like he owned the ce¨Cwhich, of course, he did. He owned everything, including me. His eyes swept the room, taking in Dr. Martinez¡¯s presence, my tear¨Cstained face, and Caesar clinging to me like a lifeline. ¡°Well?¡± he said, his voice cold and controlled. ¡°What¡¯s the verdict?¡± Dr. Martinez cleared her throat. ¡°Mr. Reid, I think it would be best if we discussed this privately¡­..¡± ¡°No.¡± Hunter¡¯s gaze locked on mine. ¡°Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of Celine. She¡¯s obviously already figured it out.¡± The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken truths and broken promises. ¡°Papa!¡± Caesar broke free from my arms and ran to Hunter, who automatically lifted him. The sight of them together¨Cso natural, so right- made my heart ache. ¡°Hey, buddy,¡± Hunter said, his voice gentling as he looked at his son. ¡°Have you been taking care of your mom?¡± ¡°She¡¯s been sad,¡± Caesar said seriously. ¡°And the doctordy made her cry.¡± Hunter¡¯s eyes found mine again, and for a moment, I saw something that looked like regret flicker across his face. ¡°Dr. Martinez,¡± he said without looking away from me, ¡°I believe you have something to tell me.¡± ¡°Mr. Reid, Mrs. Brown is pregnant.¡± The words fell into the silence like stones into still water, creating ripples that would change everything. Hunter¡¯s face wentpletely nk. Caesar looked between us, confusion written all over his features. ¡°How far along?¡± Hunter asked, his voice carefully neutral. ¡°Based on my examination, approximately two weeks.¡± Two weeks. The night we had been together at the mansion. The night I thought we were healing. Hunter set Caesar down gently. ¡°Caesar, why don¡¯t you go y with your toys in the bedroom for a few minutes? The grown¨Cups need to talk.¡± ¡°But Papa¡­¡­¡± ¡°Go.¡± Themand was soft but firm, Caesar obeyed, casting worried nces over his shoulder. 44 When the hottram de closed, Hunter fuftine 15 that it ne The question was liba sh ¡°Ofesure it¡¯s yours ¡°Forgive me if I don¡¯t take your word for it. You¡¯ve proven quite capable of deception. wever lied to you about Caesar No, you just let me believe he wasn¡¯t my son for three years.¡± We stared at each other across the room, the weight of our broken trust hanging between us like a wall. ¡°Congrattions,¡± Hunter said finally, his voice empty. ¡°You¡¯ve just given me another reason to never let you go¡± Comment Legacy 140 HUNTER POV- The words exhord in my mind like a death sentence and a miracle rated into one The i stared at Celine¡¯s pale face, watching the fear tinge in her brown eyes, and left something cold and calcting settle over me like armest For original chapters go to Find_Novel(. Two weeks. The timeline made perfect sense. The night at the mansion when I had been fool enough to think we were healing, when I had held her like she was something precious instead of the lying, maniptive woman who had stolen my son and run away in the middle of the night. Dr. Martinez cleared her throat. ¡°Mr. Reid, I will need to schedule regr prenatal appointments. Given Mrs. Brown¡¯s stress levels and the circumstances, careful monitoring will be necessary.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± I said, my voice steady despite the chaos in my chest. ¡°Whatever she needs.¡± Celine flinched at my tone. Good. She should be afraid. ¡°I will also need to discuss nutrition, prenatal vitamins, and¡­.¡± ¡°Dr. Martinez,¡± I interrupted, ¡°send me aplete list of requirements. I will ensure she has everything necessary.¡± ¡°Everything necessary. As if she were a prize mare I was breeding. The thought should have disgusted me. Instead, it sent a dark satisfaction through my veins. She had tried to leave me, tried to take my son and disappear forever. Now she was carrying another of my children, another tie that would bind her to me permanently. ¡°Mr. Reid,¡± Dr. Martinez said carefully, ¡°I should mention that given your previous medical concerns, this pregnancy is quite significant.¡± Celine¡¯s head snapped up. ¡°What medical concerns?¡± I shot Dr. Martinez a warning look, but she continued. ¡°Mr. Reid was diagnosed with oligospermia¡­.low sperm count. The chances of natural conception were considered quite low.¡± The silence that followed was deafening. I watched Celine¡¯s face as understanding dawned, and saw the moment she realized what this meant. ¡°How low?¡± she whispered. ¡°Less than a fifteen percent chance of natural conception,¡± Dr. Martinez replied. ¡°Which makes both Caesar and this new baby rather miraculous.¡± ¡®Miraculous. The word tasted bitter in my mouth. There was nothing miraculous about the way this woman had wormed her way into my life, made me believe in something real, then 69% betrayed me in the cruelest way possible. ¡°I see,¡± Celine said softly, her hand moving instinctively to her stomach. ¡°Indeed,¡± I said, my voice cutting through the moment like a de. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve been blessed with exceptional luck when ites to you, hasn¡¯t it, Celine?¡± She flinched again, and I felt that familiar satisfaction. The same satisfaction I had felt when I had found her in that pathetic little Motel,ughing at another man¡¯s jokes and pretending she could escape me. ¡°Dr. Martinez,¡± I continued, ¡°I trust you¡¯ll provide me with regr updates on both mother and baby¡¯s health. Weekly reports will suffice.¡± ¡°Mr. Reid, patient confidentiality¡­.¡± ¡°Is irrelevant when I¡¯m the one paying for the care.¡± I pulled out my phone. ¡°I will have my assistant send you the necessary legal documents. Mrs. Brown will sign them, won¡¯t you, Celine?¡± It wasn¡¯t a request. Celine¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°And if I refuse?¡± I smiled, the expression cold enough to freeze blood. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have mywyers petition for custody of both children based on your demonstrated flight risk and unstable mental state. The hospitalization records will be very helpful in that regard.¡± The color drained from her facepletely. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Try me.¡± Dr. Martinez looked between us, clearly ufortable with the tension. ¡°Perhaps I should go. I¡¯ll callter to schedule the first appointment.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± I said, walking to the door. ¡°I¡¯ll have my assistant coordinate everything. Thank you for your services.¡± I held the door open, making it clear her presence was no longer required. After she left, I turned back to Celine, who was still standing frozen in the middle of the room. ¡°Sit down,¡± Imanded. ¡°I¡¯m fine standing.¡± ¡°Sit. Down.¡± The authority in my voice was absolute, and after a moment of defiance, she sank onto the couch. Her hands were shaking. ¡°Let me make something very clear,¡± I said, moving to stand in front of her. ¡°You are carrying my child. My heir. That makes you infinitely more valuable to me than you were before, and infinitely more dangerous to yourself.¡± ¡°Hunter¡­..¡± ¡°You ran away from me once. Took my son, my money, and disappeared like a thief in the night. Did you really think I would just let you go? Did you think I wouldn¡¯t find you?¡± Her eyes filled with tears, but I felt no sympathy. Not anymore. Chanter 140 ¡°I spent days searching for you. Days wondering if my son was safe, if he was happy, if he even remembered me. Do you have any idea what that did to me?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand¡­ ¡°I understand perfectly. You¡¯re a coward who ran instead of fighting for what we had. You¡¯re a liar who let me believe Caesar wasn¡¯t mine for three years. And now you¡¯re a fool if you think this changes anything between us.¡± I leaned down, bracing my hands on either side of her, trapping her against the couch. ¡°But here¡¯s what you need to understand, Celine. That baby growing inside you? It¡¯s mine. Caesar? He¡¯s mine. And you? You¡¯ve always been mine, whether you want to admit it or not.¡± Her breath hitched. ¡°Hunter, please¡­..¡± ¡°Please what? Please let you go? Please pretend this never happened. Please forget that you destroyed me?¡± I straightened, putting distance between us again. ¡°Those days are over.¡± From the bedroom came the sound of Caesar¡¯s voice, calling for his mother. The sound of my son¡ªour son¨Cwho had spent a day thinking! had abandoned him. ¡°Here¡¯s what¡¯s going to happen,¡± I said, my voice deadly calm. ¡°You¡¯re going to take care of yourself and my baby. You¡¯re going to follow every medical instruction to the letter. And you¡¯re going to learn to be grateful for the life I¡¯m giving you.¡± ¡°And if I don¡¯t?¡± I smiled again, the expression holding no warmth whatsoever. ¡°Then you¡¯ll discover just how ruthless I can be when someone threatens what belongs to me.¡± I walked to the door, then paused. ¡°Oh, and Celine? Wee to your new life. I do hope you¡¯ll find it more¡­ permanent than yourst attempt at freedom.¡± The door clicked shut behind me, leaving her alone with the weight of her choices and the child that would ensure she never escaped me again. ¡®Two children now.¡® The thought should have filled me with joy. Instead, it filled me with a cold, calcted satisfaction. She was mine. Completely, irrevocably mine. And Legacy 141 Chapter 141 -CELINE POV The silence in the penthouse was suffocating after Hunter left. I sat on the couch where he had trapped me with his words, his threats still echoing in my mind like a death sentence. ¡°You¡¯ve just given me another reason to never let you go.¡± Caesar appeared from the bedroom, his little face scrunched with confusion. ¡°Mama, why did Papa leave? He looked angry.¡± I pulled him onto myp, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡°Papa had to go to work, baby.¡± ¡°But he didn¡¯t say goodbye to me.¡± Caesar¡¯s bottom lip trembled. ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡± ¡°No, sweetheart. You didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± I kissed the top of his head, breathing in his innocent scent. ¡°Papa loves you very much.¡± ¡®Even if he sees me as nothing more than a breeding mare.¡¯ The next morning, I woke to the sound of the doorbell. My heart leaped¡­.Hunter?-but when I opened the door, I found a woman in scrubs holding a medical bag. ¡°Miss Brown? I¡¯m Nurse Patricia Williams. Mr. Reid has arranged for me to provide your daily prenatal care.¡± ¡°Daily?¡± I stepped back, suddenly aware I was still in my pajamas. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. I¡¯m perfectly capable of¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid Mr. Reid was quite specific about the level of care you¡¯re to receive.¡± Her smile was professional but firm. ¡°May Ie in?¡± I wanted to refuse, to m the door in her face, but Hunter¡¯s words came back to me: ¡®Try me.¡® ???? ????s? ???????s ?? findnovel Twenty minutester, Nurse Williams had taken my blood pressure, temperature, and drawn blood for ¡°routine monitoring.¡± She left behind a bag of prenatal vitamins and a folder thick with dietary guidelines. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow at the same time,¡± she said cheerfully. ¡°Mr. Reid wants daily reports on your progress.¡± The door closed behind her, leaving me staring at the medical supplies like they were prison bars. By the third day, I was ready to scream. The deliveries had started¨Cflowers, gourmet meals, toys for Caesar. Each one came with a note in Hunter¡¯s precise handwriting: ¡°Pregnant women need proper nutrition. ¨C H¡± ¡°Ensure you¡¯re eating enough protein. ¨C H¡± ¡°The salmon is rich in omega¨C3s. Good for the baby. ¨C H¡± 1 threw thest note in the trash, my hands shaking with fury. Caesar watched from the kitchen table, picking at his borate meal from some five¨Cstar restaurant. ¡°Mama, why are you angry at Papa¡¯s presents?¡± How could I exin to a four¨Cyear¨Cold that his father¡¯s gifts felt like golden chains? 1/4 The Market rang spin this time, i duan bathes tooking through the people and the dan apan, randy is fall andther delivery person to take their expense offering srid. Hello, Celine Hunter stood in the hallway, looking devastatingly handsome in a charcoal soft, holding a small wrapped box. ¡°May Ie in?¡± I wanted to say no. Every instinct screamed at me to m the door in his face. Instead, I stepped aside, hating myself for the way my heart raced at his presence. ¡°Papal¡± Caesarunched himself at Hunter, who caught him effortlessly. ¡°Hey, buddy. How¡¯s my boy?¡± ¡°missed you! Are you staying for dinner?¡± Hunter¡¯s eyes found mine over Caesar¡¯s head. ¡°That depends on your mother.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t recall inviting you,¡± I said coldly. ¡°Consider it a wellness check.¡± He set Caesar down and extended the box. ¡°For you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want your gifts.¡± ¡°Open it.¡± ¡°No.¡± We stared at each other across the room, the tension so thick Caesar looked between us uncertainly. ¡°Mama, Papa brought you a present.¡± ¡°Yes, sweetheart. That was very¡­ thoughtful of him.¡± Hunter¡¯s lips twitched at my tone. ¡°Open it, Celine.¡± Something in his voice made me take the box. Inside was a delicate gold ne with a small pendant¡ªa mother and child intertwined. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± I admitted reluctantly. ¡°May I?¡± He gestured to the ne. Before I could protest, he was behind me, his fingers brushing my neck as he fastened the sp. His touch sent electricity through my body, and I hated myself for it. ¡°There,¡± he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. ¡°Perfect.¡± I spun around, putting distance between us. ¡°Why are you here, Hunter?¡± ¡°To check on my investment.¡± The words hit like a p. ¡°Your investment?¡± Caesar tugged on Hunter¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Papa, what¡¯s an investment?¡± Hunter¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ when you put time and care into something important to you.¡± ¡°Like how Mama takes care of me?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Hunter said softly, his eyes never leaving mine. ¡°Exactly like that.¡± HUNTER POV- I was in the middle of a board meeting when my phone buzzed with a text from Nurse Williams: ¡®Patient is healthy but resistant to care. Vitals normal. Will continue monitoring as requested¡® ¡®Resistant.¡® Of course she was. Celine never made anything easy. ¡°Mr. Reid?¡± The CFO¡¯s voice cut through my thoughts. ¡°Your thoughts on the quarterly projections?¡± ¡°Increase security at all our properties,¡± I said, not looking up from my phone. ¡°And I want background checks on all new employees.¡± The room fell silent. I finally looked up to find twelve pairs of confused eyes staring at me. ¡°The quarterly projections, sir?¡± the CFO repeated. I cleared my throat. ¡°Approve them. Meeting adjourned.¡± Vincent remained as the others filed out, his eyebrows raised. ¡°You want to talk about what just happened?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Hunter, you just ordered security increases during a discussion about profit margins. That¡¯s not like you.¡± I loosened my tie, feeling suddenly suffocated. ¡°I have things on my mind.¡± ¡°Things? Or a certain brte?¡± I shot him a warning look. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Fine. But maybe you should actually go see her instead of having nurses monitor her every breath.¡± ¡®Monitor her.¡® As if making sure she was healthy was some kind of betrayal. ¡°I¡¯m ensuring she receives proper medical care.¡± ¡°You¡¯re ensuring she feels like a prisoner.¡± I stood abruptly. ¡°This conversation is over.¡± But Vincent¡¯s words followed me out of the boardroom, echoing in my mind like an usation. That evening, I found myself standing outside the penthouse door, holding a jewelry box I had spent an hour selecting. The reasonable part of my mind called it weakness. The rest of me called it necessity. Caesar¡¯s excited greeting when I entered made something tight in my chest loosen. But it was Celine¡¯s wary expression that held my attention. She looked tired. Stressed. The pregnancy was barely showing, but I could see the strain in her shoulders, the way she held herself like she was bracing for impact. Good The thought came unasked and unwee. I didn¡¯t want her to suffer. I just wanted her to understand that running wasn¡¯t an option anymore. ¡°To check on my investment,¡± I said, immediately regretting the words when I saw her flinch. Caesar¡¯s innocent question about investments gave ine a moment to recover, to find a gentler way to exin what I couldn¡¯t say directly: that she and our unborn child were the most important things in my world, and I would do anything to protect them. Even if it meant protecting them from her own poor choices. AD Comment Send gift Legacy 142 CELINE MOV The pattern continued for two weeks. Hunter would arrive unannounced, bringing gifts, staying just long enough to make me question my own sanity, then leaving me more frustrated than before. Today, he brought Caesar a tablet loaded with educational games and me a selection of pregnancy books. ¡°You don¡¯t have to buy his love,¡± I said, watching Caesar y with his new toy. ¡°I¡¯m not buying anything. I¡¯m providing for my son.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not a pet you can win over with treats.¡± Hunter¡¯s eyes shed. ¡°I¡¯m well aware of what Caesar is to me.¡± ¡°Are you? Because sometimes I wonder if you see him as anything more than another possession.¡± The words hung in the air between us like a thrown gauntlet. Hunter¡¯s face went dangerously still. ¡°Careful, Celine.¡± ¡°Or what? You¡¯ll have me monitored more closely? Send more nurses to check on me? Install cameras?¡± ¡°I¡¯m protecting you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re suffocating me!¡± The words exploded out of me, two weeks of frustration and fear finally boiling over. ¡°I can¡¯t breathe in here, Hunter. I can¡¯t think, I can¡¯t move without someone watching me. I¡¯m not your property!¡± ¡°You¡¯re carrying my child.¡± ¡°So that gives you the right to treat me like an incubator?¡± Caesar looked up from his tablet, his face troubled. ¡°Why are you and Papa fighting?¡± I knelt beside him, forcing my voice to calm. ¡°We¡¯re just talking, sweetheart. Sometimes grown¨Cups talk loudly.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like it when you talk loudly. It makes me scared.¡± My heart broke. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, baby. Papa and I won¡¯t talk loudly anymore.¡± J stood, facing Hunter again. ¡°We need to discuss this privately.¡± ¡°Caesar, stay here with your tablet. Your mother and I are going to talk in the kitchen.¡± Once we were alone, Hunter¡¯s mask slipped. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing to you?¡± ¡°Then why¡­¡± ¡°Because I can¡¯t lose you again!¡± The words tore out of him with raw desperation. ¡°I can¡¯t lose another child. I can¡¯t watch you disappear like you did before.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re going to keep ine prisoner instead?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to keep you safe.¡± ¡°Safe from what? From living? From making my own choices?¡± We stood facing each other across the kitchen ind, both breathing hard. The air between us crackled with tension¨Canger, fear, and something else i didn¡¯t want to name. ¡°I hate you,¡± I whispered. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°I hate that you make me feel like this. I hate that you think you can control every aspect of my life. I hate that you¡­.¡± ¡°That I what?¡± 1 bit my lip, the words stuck in my throat. ¡®That I still love you despite everything!¡® ¡°Nothing.¡± Hunter stepped closer, his eyes intense. ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Celine¡­..¡± A crash from the living room interrupted us. We both rushed out to find Caesar standing frozen by the front door, his tablet shattered on the floor. ¡°Caesar? What happened?¡± ¡°I heard footsteps outside,¡± he whispered. ¡°But they stopped when I came to look.¡± Hunter was instantly alert, his body tensing. He moved to the door, checking the security monitor. ¡°What is it?¡± I demanded. ¡°Nothing on the cameras.¡± But his voice was tight with concern. ¡°Caesar,e here.¡± My son ran to Hunter, who picked him up protectively. ¡°It¡¯s okay, buddy. You did good telling us.¡± ¡°Are the bad peopleing?¡± Caesar asked. ¡°No,¡± Hunter said firmly. ¡°No one can get in here. You¡¯re safe.¡± But I caught the way Hunter¡¯s jaw tightened as he carried Caesar back to the couch. Something had him worried, and that terrified me more than any argument we¡¯d had. ¡°Hunter, what aren¡¯t you telling me?¡± ¡°Nothing you need to worry about.¡± He set Caesar down and pulled out his phone. ¡°I¡¯m calling Vincent. He¡¯s going toe stay with you tonight.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± 24 14:37 Thu, Alig ¡°Because I have a meeting I can¡¯t postpone, and I don¡¯t want you alone.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been alone for weeks!¡± ¡°That was before¡­..¡± He stopped himself, jaw clenching. ¡°Before what?¡± ¡°Before I realized how many people want to hurt what¡¯s mine.¡± The possessiveness in his voice sent a chill down my spine. ¡°Hunter, you¡¯re scaring me.¡± ¡°Good. Maybe that will keep you from doing anything stupid.¡± He was already dialing Vincent¡¯s number, his free hand running through his hair in agitation. ¡°Vincent? I need you toe to the penthouse. Now.¡± I couldn¡¯t hear Vincent¡¯s response, but Hunter¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you¡¯re doing. Drop it and get here. And Vincent?¡± His voice dropped to a lethal whisper. ¡°Come armed.¡± -HUNTER POV- Vincent arrived within the hour, his usual casual behavior reced by sharp alertness. I met him in the hallway outside the penthouse. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked without preamble. ¡°I¡¯ve been getting reports. Someone¡¯s been asking questions about Celine. About her location.¡± Vincent¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What kind of questions?¡± ¡°The kind that suggest whoever it is knows she¡¯s important to me.¡± I handed him a file. ¡°Three separate incidents in the past week. A man iming to be from a modeling agency. A woman asking Caesar¡¯s school about his emergency contacts. A delivery driver who tried to get the doorman to confirm which apartment Celine lives in.¡± ¡°You think it¡¯s connected?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe in coincidences.¡± I nced back at the penthouse door. ¡°She doesn¡¯t know. I don¡¯t want her to panic.¡± ¡°Hunter, if someone¡¯s targeting her¡­.¡± ¡°Then they¡¯ll have to go through me first.¡± The words came out with deadly certainty. ¡°I¡¯m not losing her, Vincent. Not again.¡± Vincent studied my face. ¡°You want to tell me what¡¯s really going on? Because this level of paranoia isn¡¯t normal, even for you.¡± I hesitated, then decided he needed to know. ¡°She¡¯s pregnant.¡± Vincent¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Pregnant? How¨CI thought you said¡­.¡± ¡°I know what I said. Apparently, miracles happen.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re keeping her locked up in there because?¡± 414 ¡°Because she ran before. Because she¡¯s tanying my child Because¡­.I stopped, the words catching in my throat. ¡°Because you love her¡± ¡°Because I can¡¯t lose another child,¡± I corrected harshly. Vincent was quiet for a long moment. ¡°You know this isn¡¯t going to work, right? Keeping her prisoner? She¡¯s going to hate you,¡± ¡°She already hates me.¡± Fresh chapters posted on F¦Énd£Îovel ¡°But she doesn¡¯t fear you. Yet.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice carried a warning. ¡°Keep this up, and she will. And once that happens, you¡¯ll never get her back.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll deal with that when the timees.¡± ¡°Will you? Because from where I¡¯m standing, it looks like you¡¯re so terrified of losing her that you¡¯re destroying any chance of keeping her.¡± I wanted to argue, to tell him he was wrong. But the look in Celine¡¯s eyes earlier¨Cthe fear, the desperation¨Cechoed in my mind. ¡°Just keep her safe tonight,¡± I said instead. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± Vincent nodded, but his expression remained troubled. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I hope you figure out how to fix this before it¡¯s toote.¡± As I walked away, his words followed me like a curse. Legacy 143 V?nernie praganer in the penthauer fait like welding fuel to a fire that was treaty hurning out of contrat He was polite, vien charming with Caesar, but I could see the strain in hit thisutders, the way his eyes constantly scanned the windows. ¡°What & Hunter to afraid of?¡± I asked after Caesar had gone to bed. we¡¯s just being careful, Vincent replied, but his smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Careful about what? Vincent, please. I¡¯m going insane not knowing what¡¯s happening¡± He was quiet for a long moment, clearly debating how much to tell me. ¡°There have been some¡­ inquiries. About you. About Cansar My blood turned to ice. ¡°What kind of inquiries?¡± ¡°People asking questions. Trying to find out where you live, what your routines are.¡± ¡°Oh God.¡± I sank onto the couch, my hands automatically moving to my stomach. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s Eleanor? Hunter¡¯s mother?¡± ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know. But Hunter¡¯s not taking any chances.¡± ¡°So he¡¯s going to keep me locked up forever?¡± This content belongs to F?ndNovel Vincent sat across from me, his face serious. ¡°Celine, I need you to understand something. Hunter isn¡¯t just being controlling. He¡¯s terrified. I¡¯ve never seen him like this.¡± ¡°Terrified of what?¡± ¡°Of losing you. Of losing that baby. Of losing Caesar.¡± Vincent leaned forward. ¡°I know his methods are¡­ intense. But the man is barely holding it together.¡± Iughed bitterly. ¡°Barely holding it together? He¡¯s running my life like a military operation.¡± ¡°Because that¡¯s the only way he knows how to cope.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice softened. ¡°He lost a child before, Celine. Did you know that?¡± I shook my head, something cold settling in my chest. ¡°A long time ago. Different circumstances, but¡­ it nearly destroyed him. And now, with you, with Caesar, with this new baby¨Che¡¯s reliving all of that trauma.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t give him the right to imprison me.¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t. But it exins why he¡¯s so desperate to control everything.¡± We sat in silence for a moment, the effect of Vincent¡¯s words settling over me like a heavy nket. ¡°I can¡¯t live like this,¡± I whispered finally. ¡°I can¡¯t be his beautiful bird in a cage, no matter how coated with gold leaf it is.¡± ¡°Then you need to fight back.¡± I looked up at him, surprised. ¡°Not by running,¡± Vincent exined quickly. ¡°By making him see that keeping you prisoner isn¡¯t protecting you¨Cit¡¯s destroying you. And eventually, it will destroy him toy.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. But figure it out fast, because I don¡¯t think either of you can survive this standoff much longer¡± The next morning, Vincent left early, reced by two security guards who stationed themselves in the hallway. I didn¡¯t even pretend to be okay with it anymore. When Hunter arrived that afternoon, I was ready for war. ¡°I want them gone,¡± I said the moment he walked through the door. ¡°The guards? They¡¯re for your protection.¡± ¡°They¡¯re for your peace of mind. I want them gone, Hunter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not happening.¡± ¡°Then I want to leave.¡± ¡°Also not happening.¡± Caesar looked up from his coloring book, sensing the tension. ¡°Mama, are you and Papa fighting again?¡± ¡°No, sweetheart,¡± I said, forcing a smile. ¡°We¡¯re just discussing something important.¡± ¡°Can I go to my room? I don¡¯t like it when you discuss things.¡± ¡°Of course, baby.¡± Once Caesar was gone, I turned back to Hunter. ¡°This has to stop.¡± ¡°What has to stop?¡± ¡°This!¡± I gestured wildly around the penthouse. ¡°The guards, the nurses, the constant surveince. I feel like I¡¯m suffocating.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being dramatic.¡± ¡°I¡¯m being human!¡± The words tore out of me with raw emotion. ¡°I¡¯m a person, Hunter. Not a possession. Not an incubator. Not a problem to be managed.¡± ¡°I never said¡­..¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to say it. Your actions speak loud enough.¡± Hunter¡¯s face went dangerously still. ¡°My actions are keeping you safe.¡± ¡°Your actions are slowly killing me inside.¡± Something shed in his eyes¨Cuncertainty, maybe even regret. But it was gone so quickly I might have imagined it. ¡°I can¡¯t lose you again,¡± he said quietly. ¡°So instead you¡¯re going to love me to death?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what it takes.¡± The words hung between us like a death sentence. I stared at him, this man I had once loved with everything in me, and saw only a beautiful stranger wearing his face. ¡°I hate you, and I am saying it again for you to hear,¡± I whispered. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°I hate that you¡¯re doing this to us. To our family. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°I hate that you think this is love.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Then why won¡¯t you stop?¡± Hunter stepped closer, his blue eyes intense and desperate. ¡°Because the option is watching you disappear. And I would rather have you hate me and be alive than love me and be gone.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± I said, my voice breaking. ¡°The option is trusting me. Trusting us. Trusting that what we have is strong enough to survive without chains.¡± ¡°I tried trust once. It didn¡¯t work.¡± ¡°When?¡± ¡°When I was in London. With someone who promised to love me forever and then chose death over staying with me.¡± The pain in his voice was raw, unfiltered. I felt my anger waver, reced by something dangerously close to understanding. ¡°Hunter¡­..¡± ¡°I won¡¯t make that mistake again.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not her.¡± ¡°No,¡± he agreed. ¡°You¡¯re not. You¡¯re stronger. Which is why I know you¡¯ll fight me every step of the way. And I¡¯m prepared for that.¡± ¡°What if I promised not to run?¡± ¡°You already did that once. Right before you disappeared in the middle of the night.¡± The usation hit like a physical blow. ¡°That was different. I was trying to protect Caesar.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s to stop you from deciding you need to protect him again?¡± I opened my mouth to argue, then stopped. Because he was right. If I thought staying with him was hurting Caesar, I would run. In a heartbeat. ¡°You see?¡± Hunter¡¯s voice was soft, almost gentle. ¡°You can¡¯t promise not to run because you¡¯re a mother first. Just like I can¡¯t promise not to hold too tight because I¡¯m a father now,¡± ¡°So what are we supposed to do?¡± 3/4 ¡°We¡¯re suprised to figure out together. ¡°Together means trusting each other ¡°Together means beeping our children safe¡± We stared at each other across the impossible gulf between us, both right, both wrong, both desperately trying to protect what we loved most The sound of the front door exploding inward shattered the moment. ¡°Caesar!¡± I screamed, running toward the bedroom as armed figures poured into the penthouse. Hunter was already moving, his hand reaching for something inside his jacket, his body positioning itself between me and the threat. ¡°Get down!¡± he shouted, and thest thing I saw before the world erupted into chaos was the look of pure terror on his face. AD Comment Legacy 144 HUNTER POV My hands are steady as I draw both guns, training them on the armed intruders who dare vite my sanctuary. The weight of the weapons feels familiar,forting even¨Ca reminder of skills I had hoped never to use again. ¡°Move and I¡¯ll put a bullet through your brain,¡± I say, my voice deadly calm. ¡°Trust me, my aim is wless.¡± Latest content published on F?ndNovel The men freeze, their own weapons half¨Craised, Smart. They should be afraid. I¡¯ve never felt this wild need to protect before¨Cthis savage instinct that roars through my veins like wildfire. Celine, Caesar, our unborn child¡­.they are my world now, my everything. I would dly fall into hell itself before allowing harm to touch them. The seconds taut as we face each other in this deadly standoff. But something¡¯s off. These men aren¡¯t firing. They¡¯re not even trying to take cover. Professional killers would have already engaged. Then it hits me like a physical blow. ¡°Fucking hell,¡± I breathe, my eyes widening with the terrible realization. ¡°She sent you.¡± My mother. Eleanor Reid had orchestrated this. ¡°Who sent you?¡± I demand, my voice cutting through the pressure like a de. ¡°Think very carefully before you answer, because I¡¯m not afraid to die¨Cand I¡¯ll make damn sure to take you with me.¡± The distant wail of sirens reaches us, growing louder. Someone must have called the police when the explosion rocked the building. Good. Let theme. How dare she? How dare my own mother blow up my penthouse and send armed men after the woman I love and my son? The check for two million dors was one thing¨Ccruel, calcted, but this? This crosses every line that exists between mother and son. ¡°How much did she pay you?¡± I ask, studying their faces. They exchange hesitant nces. ¡°Because you¡¯re not leaving this building. It¡¯s already surrounded. Your only choice is whether you want to make this easy or spend the rest of your lives in prison.¡± One of them shifts nervously. ¡°And if we refuse?¡± ¡°Life sentence for attempted murder and breaking.¡± I shrug as if discussing the weather. ¡°Your choice.¡± Through the chaos, I catch a peek of the bedroom door where Celine disappeared with Caesar. She doesn¡¯t need this stress. None of this is good for the baby. THE thought they euld be cats here. In my panties, any from my mother the Twat wrong The first gunman cracks. ¡°Fuck it,¡± he mutters, ignoring his partner¡¯s sharp protest. ¡°I¡¯ve put a family to think about. A sick daughter who needs surgery. Thedy approached is at the casino downtown¨Cknew everything about us, offered any amount we wanted.¡± My blood turns to fre. ¡°Whatdy?¡± ¡°Hall payment upfront,¡± he continues, words tumbling out in a rush. ¡°The rest when we delivered the woman and the child.¡± Delivered. Not killed. Delivered. The meaning hit me like a sledgehammer. My mother doesn¡¯t just want Celine gone¨Cshe wants her taken somewhere. Somewhere I will never find her. Heavy footsteps echo in the hallway as police and security crowd the penthouse. I quickly holster my weapons, my mind already racing ahead to whates next. ¡°Sir, are you injured?¡± The lead officer approaches cautiously. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± I watch as they cuff the intruders, my jaw clenched tight. ¡°These men were hired to kidnap my¡­ to kidnap the woman and child in my care.¡± The security chief looks embarrassed. ¡°Mr. Reid, I¡¯m so sorry. The camera system has been malfunctioning¨Cwe¡¯re having maintenancee in to fix it tomorrow.¡± Of course. Nothing about this was random. My mother had this nned to thest detail. Murmurs ripple through the crowd of tenants who have gathered to gawk. 1 catch pieces of their whispered conversations¨Cspection about who Celine is, what she means to me, why I¡¯m hiding a woman and child in my penthouse. Let them talk. I have bigger concerns. The bedroom door opens, and Celine appears with Caesar clinging to her like a lifeline. Her face is pale, her eyes wide with terror. Every protective instinct I possess screams at the sight of her fear. I cross to them immediately, my hands gentle despite the violence still coursing through my system. ¡°Are you okay?¡± She flinches at my touch, and something dies inside my chest. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Her voice is barely a whisper. ¡°Who were those men?¡± I meet her eyes, seeing the brightness there, the doubt when I offer her the obvious lie. ¡°Robbers. Nothing for you to worry about.¡± She knows I¡¯m lying. Of course she does. Celine¡¯s too smart to buy such a weak exnation. I lift Caesar into my arms, feeling his small body trembling against mine. ¡°Hey, buddy. You¡¯re safe now. I promise.¡± Ch 144 ¡°I was scared, he whispert againe my nek know. But you don¡¯t have to be scared anymore. I¡¯ll always protect you AB of your Looking at Celime over Caesar¡¯s head, I make the decision that will change everything, ¡°We¡¯re leaving. This ce isn¡¯t safe anymore! Why?¡± she asks, though I can see she already suspects the answer. ¡°Pack what you need. I¡¯ll send someone for the rest¡± She starts to protest, but I cut her off with a harshness that makes her step back. ¡°Listen to me for once in your goddamn life.¡± The drive to the cabin passes in tense silence. My knuckles are white on the steering wheel, rage and fear warring in my chest. Caesar chatters asionally from the backseat, but Celine says nothing, staring out the window with that distant look I¡¯vee to dread. The cabines into view as twilight settles over theke. Thest time we were here was for Celine¡¯s birthday¨Cthat perfect, golden afternoon when I had kissed her for the first time and allowed myself to believe in happiness. Now it feels like a lifetime ago. Caesar perks up immediately. ¡°Can we go swimming?¡± ¡°Not tonight, sweetheart,¡± Celine says softly. ¡°We just got here.¡± I unlock the door, breathing in the familiar scent of wood andke air. This ce has always been my haven, but now it feels like a fortress. Which is exactly what we need. ¡°You¡¯ll be safe here,¡± I tell Celine as we step inside. ¡°I¡¯ll send someone with supplies and your things from the penthouse.¡± She turns to face me, and I can see the questions burning in her eyes. ¡°We need to talk about what happened. About what¡¯s really going on.¡± ¡°I know. But not tonight. I need to go take care of something.¡± Her face pales further. ¡°You¡¯re leaving us here alone?¡± The fear in her voice nearly breaks my resolve. I want to gather her in my arms, promise her I will never leave her side again. But I can¡¯t. Not until I¡¯ve dealt with the source of this threat. ¡°This ce is safe. Camera system, neighbors in the other cabins. You¡¯ll be safe.¡± I crouch down to Caesar¡¯s level. ¡°I¡¯m counting on you to take care of your mama and the baby, okay?¡± His little chest puffs out with pride. ¡°I promise, papa.¡± I stand slowly, my eyes finding Celine¡¯s onest time. If only she knew how far I¡¯m willing to go for her. How much I love her with every fiber of my being. How she¡¯s be the very air I breathe. But she hates me. I can see it in her eyes, feel it in the way she flinches from my touch. Maybe it¡¯s better this way. Maybe her hatred will keep her safe when my love couldn¡¯t. Without another word, I turn and walk out into the gathering darkness, leaving my heart behind in that cabin with the only people who¡¯ve ever truly mattered to me. Vincent answers on the first ring. ¡°Jesus Christ, Hunter. What the hell happened?¡± ¡°My mother hired men to kidnap Celine and Caesar.¡± The words taste like poison. ¡°I¡¯m done ying games, Vincent. This ends tonight.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do anything stupid, man. Who knows what else that witch has nned?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to confront her. Put an end to this once and for all.¡± ¡°Hunter¡­.¡± I hang up and press harder on the elerator. The Reid family estate looms before me like a mausoleum of childhood nightmares. I bypass the butler entirely, my footsteps echoing through the marble halls as I make my way to the tea room¨Cmy mother¡¯s favorite sanctuary. I don¡¯t knock. I never knock anymore. She¡¯s there, of course, sitting across from Mia like they¡¯re discussing the weather instead of attempted kidnapping. Both women look up as I enter, but I only have eyes for one. ¡°How could you?¡± The wordse out raw, usatory. ¡°Hunter,¡± Mia starts, her voice falsely bright. ¡°I was hoping you would¡­.¡± ¡°Get out.¡± I don¡¯t even look at her. ¡°Now.¡± Eleanor waves her hand dismissively. ¡°Mia, dear, perhaps you should give us a moment alone.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Mia¡¯s smile is strained as she gathers her purse. ¡°I¡¯ll call youter, Eleanor.¡± The door closes behind her with a soft click, leaving me alone with the woman who gave me life¨Cand who just tried to destroy it. ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten your manners,¡± my mother says calmly, setting down her teacup. ¡°Acting like a savage in front of my guest.¡± Iugh, but there¡¯s no humor in it. ¡°That scared little boy who worried about your approval? He¡¯s gone, Mother. Now I have something actually worth protecting.¡± Her eyes narrow. ¡°That woman has corrupted you. You would never have spoken to me this way before¡­.¡± ¡°Before I found love?¡± I step closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. ¡°Before I discovered what it means to have a real family? You¡¯re right. I wouldn¡¯t have had the courage to stand up to you before.¡± ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m warning you.¡± I lean over her chair, close enough to see the hint of uncertainty in her eyes. ¡°This is yourst warning. Don¡¯t mistake my years of silence for weakness.¡± Chap 148 She straighises, trying to reexin hepere ¡°won¡¯t with you any home and ene your If you touch one haunt than heads,¡± i interrupt, my voice desely wit at of my life septakaly, you¡¯ll snifar il pris drat hart & san at sh The words hit the mark 1 see her flinch, see the first crack in her perfect facade. she is the pregnant again? The questiones out strangled. I don¡¯t answer, I simply turn toward the door, my message delivered. But as i reach the threshold, I pause without looking back ¡°Don¡¯t push me, Mother. You created this monster. Don¡¯t make me show you what I¡¯m truly capable of.¡± The door closes behind me with a finality that echoes through the halls of my childhood home. And for the first time in my life, Eleanor Reid is left speechless. Legacy 145 -HUNTER- Theke cabin is too quiet. Thate quiet. At gives me too much time to think, and thinking leads to ces I don¡¯t want to go. Like how three days away from them feels like three years. Like how I¡¯m standing outside this door with my arms full of packages, trying to work up the courage to knock. Courage. What a joke. I have closed billion¨Cdor deals without breaking a sweat, but the thought of facing Celine makes my hands shake. use my key instead. ¡°Hunter?¡± Her voice hits me like a punch to the chest. She appears from the kitchen wearing one of the sweaters I had delivered, her hair in a messy bun that makes her look younger. Softer. The way she used to look when she would wake up in my bed after many countless sex¡± ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I brought some things.¡± I set the packages down, keeping my face nk. Professional. Like this is just another business transaction. ¡°Art supplies for you. Educational toys for Caesar.¡± But it¡¯s not just another transaction. It¡¯s me, desperate and pathetic, trying to buy my way back into their lives with overpriced guilt gifts. Her eyes widen when she sees the professional¨Cgrade paints and brushes. She wraps her arms around herself¨Ca sign I have memorized because she does it every time she¡¯s trying to protect herself from me. ¡°Hunter, this is too much. I can¡¯t ept¡­.¡± ¡°You can and you will.¡± The wordse out harsh. Too harsh. I am supposed to be getting better at this, but apparently, I¡¯m still failing. Caesar bounces around the packages like it¡¯s Christmas morning. ¡°What do you say, buddy? Want to see what I brought you?¡± ¡°Yes, Papa!¡± He ps his hands together. ¡°Did you bring me books?¡± Papa. God, I love it when he calls me that. It makes me feel like maybe I¡¯m notpletely screwing this up. 12 ¡°Better than books.¡± I pull out wooden puzzles and building blocks, my voice automatically softening for him. It¡¯s the only time I sound human anymore. ¡°These will help you learn while you y.¡± Celine watches with that look¨Cthe one that says she¡¯s grateful but doesn¡¯t trust me, Can¡¯t trust me. And why should she? I¡¯m the man who¡¯s keeping her prisoner in the name of protection. ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep buying us things.¡± ¡°I want to.¡± Liar. I need to. Because if I stop giving them things, what¡¯s left? What reason do they have to keep me around? ¡°Besides, you¡¯re carrying my child. You both deserve the best.¡± Caesar tugs on my sleeve. ¡°Papa, will you help me with the puzzle?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± I settle onto the floor beside him, and for a moment, I forget about the tension. I forget about the lies and the maniption and the way Celine looks at me like I¡¯m a stranger wearing the face of someone she used to love. ¡°But first, how about some lunch? I could make us something.¡± ¡°You cook?¡± The skepticism in her voice shouldn¡¯t sting, but it does. Because she¡¯s right to be skeptical. The old Hunter¡­.the one from before I lost everything¡­..couldn¡¯t even make toast without burning it. ¡°I learned.¡± And I did. I learned because I imagined mornings like this. I learned because I wanted to be the kind of father who could make his children smile over something as simple as breakfast. I learned because I¡¯m desperate to be someone worth loving. ¡°Pancakes? Caesar loves pancakes.¡± Caesar jumps up and down. ¡°Yes! Papa makes the best pancakes!¡± The best. God, if he only knew how many I burned before I figured out the right temperature. How many YouTube videos I watched. How many times I practiced because I wanted to be perfect for him. ¡°When did you learn to make decent breakfast?¡± Celine asks as we move to the kitchen. The truth burns in my throat, I learned because I was nning a future that included them. I learned because I thought maybe, if I could just be better, be different, I could have this. ¡°I learned,¡± 1 say quietly. ¡°Does it matter why?¡± She studies my face, and I can see the questions there. But she doesn¡¯t push. Maybe she knows the answer would hurt us both. The morning passes in careful domesticity. Caesar chatters about everything and nothing, clueless to thendmines between his mother and me. I catch myself watching them both, memorizing every detail. This is what I want. This is what I¡¯m fighting for. Even if I¡¯m going about it all wrong. ¡°I¡¯m staying tonight,¡± I announce as we finish lunch. Celine¡¯s fork tters against her te. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Security reasons. There could be more threats.¡± It¡¯s a lie. There are no more threats. I just can¡¯t bear the thought of another night in that empty Mansion, wondering if they¡¯re safe, if they¡¯re thinking about me, if Caesar is asking where Papa went. ¡°Hunter, no. You can¡¯t just¡­.¡± ¡°I can and I will.¡± I stand, carrying my te to the sink with deliberate calm, ¡°I won¡¯t let anything happen to you or Caesar.¡± ¡°This is exactly what I¡¯m talking about! You can¡¯t just make decisions for us.¡± But I can. I will. Because the alternative is losing them, and I won¡¯t survive that. I barely survived it the first time. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss thister.¡± The afternoon stretches with unspoken tension. I work on puzzles with Caesar while Celine withdraws to the art supplies. Despite her protests, I can see the longing in her eyes as she examines the paints. ¡°Mama¡¯s really good at drawing,¡± Caesar tells me, struggling with a puzzle piece. ¡°She draws me pictures of dragons and princesses.¡± ¡°Does she?¡± I nce at Celine, who¡¯s pretending not to listen. ¡°Your mama is very talented.¡± She is. She¡¯s talented and beautiful and stubborn and everything I don¡¯t deserve. ¡°Will you read me a story tonight, Papa?¡± The question hits me in the chest. ¡°If you want me to.¡± ¡°I do! Mama has a nice voice, but yours is different. It sounds like¡­ like thunder, but not scary thunder.¡± Despite myself, my lips twitch. ¡°Thunder, huh?¡± ¡°Good thunder. The kind that makes you feel safe.¡± From the corner of my eye, I see Celine¡¯s brush pause mid¨Cstroke. Safe. When¡¯s thest time she felt safe with me? Eveninges with its own tensions. I insist on cooking dinner, and Celine epts the meal with grudging thanks. 1738 Thu?c Auto Caesar fills the silence with his innocent chatter, and I find myself rxing for the first time in days. ¡°When did you be so domestic?¡± she asks as I clear dishes. ¡°Recently.¡± I rinse a te, hyper¨Caware of her presence behind me. ¡°Turns out I¡¯m full of surprises.¡± ¡°Apparently.¡± There¡¯s something soft in her voice, almost wondering, before she catches herself and looks away. But I heard it. That tiny crack in her armor. Bath time is Caesar¡¯s domain, and when he insists I help, Celine hovers nearby. Ready to take over if I screw up. Which I probably will. ¡°Papa, can you make the water warm but not too hot?¡± ¡°Like this?¡± I adjust the faucet, my voice automatically gentling for him. ¡°Perfect! Now the bubbles!¡± 69% I add bubble bath, watching his face light up as foam begins to form. These simple moments feel more precious than any business deal I¡¯ve ever closed. ¡°Mama, look! Papa made good bubbles!¡± Celine leans against the doorframe, and for a moment, her guard slips. I see something soft in her face before she schools her features back to detachment. Story time is in Caesar¡¯s bedroom. His bed is small, covered with a handmade quilt, and I settle beside him, acutely aware of Celine in the doorway. ¡°This one, Papa!¡± Caesar holds up a book about a little boy who goes on adventures. ¡°It¡¯s my favorite.¡± I read, doing my best to give each character a different voice. Caesar giggles at my attempts, and even Celine¡¯s lips quirk upward before she catches herself. ¡°And so the little boy learned that the greatest adventures happen when you¡¯re brave enough to try,¡± I read the final line. ¡°That¡¯s like you, Papa. You¡¯re brave.¡± ¡°Am I?¡± ¡°Uh¨Chuh. Mama says brave people do scary things to protect the people they love.¡± I nce at Celine, who¡¯s suddenly very interested in the floor. Brave. If only he knew how terrified I am. Every day. Every moment. ¡°Will you be here when I wake up?¡± The question is innocent, but it cuts deep. ¡°I¡¯ll be here.¡± ¡°Promise?¡± ¡°I promise.¡± After Caesar falls asleep, I find Celine in the kitchen, making tea. She doesn¡¯t look at me when I enter. ¡°He¡¯s asleep,¡± report quietly. ¡°Thank you. For¡­ for being good with him.¡± ¡°He¡¯s my son too. ¡°I know. I just¡­ I didn¡¯t expect you to be so¡­ gentle with him. So patient.¡± ¡°Did you think I¡¯d be cruel to a child?¡± ¡°No, 1¡­¡± She sighs. ¡°I don¡¯t know what I thought. Everything¡¯s soplicated.¡± I step closer, drawn by the sadness in her voice. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t it?¡± Sheughs, but there¡¯s noedy in it. ¡°You¡¯re keeping me prisoner here, Hunter. How is that notplicated?¡± ¡°I¡¯m keeping you safe.¡± ¡°By taking away my choices?¡± ¡°By taking away the opportunity for you to make the wrong choice.¡± The wordse out harsher than I nned, and I see her flinch. God, I¡¯m such an asshole. ¡°And who decides what¡¯s wrong? You?¡± ¡°When ites to your safety? Yes.¡± She turns away from me, reaching for a mug on the high shelf. She¡¯s too short to reach itfortably, stretching on her tiptoes. Without thinking, I move behind her, my chest pressed against her back as I reach over her head. The contact is electric. I can feel her breathing, can smell her shampoo, can sense the way her body stiffens at my closeness. For a moment, we¡¯re frozen¨Cher trapped between my body and the counter, both of us breathing too hard. ¡°Here,¡± I whisper, setting the mug down beside her. She turns in the cage of my arms, and suddenly we¡¯re face to face, mere inches apart. Her eyes are wide, dark with something that might be desire or might be fear. ¡°Hunter¡­¡± ¡°I know you hate me,¡± I say quietly, my hands braced on the counter on either side of her. ¡°I know you think I¡¯m controlling. But I need you to understand something.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I would rather have you hate me and be alive than love me and be gone.¡± Her lips part, and for a moment, I think she might cry. Instead, she whispers, ¡°You¡¯re impossible.¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to protect you.¡± ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel ¡°You have a strange way of showing it,¡± Pin trading te doen. Tenuh inse you spain, Cellna won¡¯t e ¡°ou¡¯re not going to the me¡± ¡°To protect Caesar.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s to stop you from deciding you need to protect him from me?¡± The question hangs in the air between us. We both know the answer. if I became a threat to Caesar, she would run. In a heartbeat. ¡°You see?¡± I step back abruptly, my mask sliding back into ce. ¡°I can¡¯t trust you not to run, and you can¡¯t trust me not to hold too light We¡¯re at a standoff¡± ¡°So what do we do?¡± ¡°We figure it out. Together.¡± She studies my face for a long moment. ¡°You¡¯re really going to sleep here tonight?¡± Yes.¡± ¡°Fine. But the couch is all yours. And Hunter?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Next time you want to help me reach something, just ask. Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t do that again.¡± But even as she says it, I catch the slight tremor in her voice, the way her eyes stays on my face for just a moment too long. She felt it too- that spark, that pull between us that neither of us can deny. ¡°Noted,¡± I say quietly. She disappears down the hallway, leaving me alone in the kitchen with the echo of her words and the memory of her body against mine. I know I¡¯m being possessive. I know I¡¯m crossing lines. But I can¡¯t stop myself. The thought of losing her, of losing Caesar, of losing this chance at the family I never thought I would have¨Cit¡¯s unbearable. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll try to be better. I¡¯ll try to give her space, to respect her boundaries. But tonight, I¡¯ll sleep on her couch, and for the first time in days, I¡¯ll be close enough to protect what matters most. Ever AD Comment Send gift Legacy 146 Chapter 146 ~CELINE- The silence in Hunter¡¯s car feels like it¡¯s trying to choke me. I used to love car rides with him. Windows down, music loud, his hand finding mine at every red light. Now I¡¯m pressed against the passenger door like I¡¯m afraid he might reach over and¡­ what? Hurt me? He¡¯s never hurt me. Not physically. But there are so many ways to hurt someone without everying a hand on them. ¡°You don¡¯t have toe in,¡± I whisper as we pull into the medical building¡¯s parking lot. My voice sounds strange to my own ears¨Csmall and broken. His jaw does that thing where it tightens and I know he¡¯s grinding his teeth. ¡°I¡¯ming in.¡± ¡°Hunter, I can handle¡­..¡± ¡°You can¡¯t handle anything.¡± The words hit me like a p. Sharp. Final. True. Because he¡¯s right, isn¡¯t he? I couldn¡¯t handle telling him the truth. I couldn¡¯t handle his reaction when he found out. I couldn¡¯t handle any of this. I want to argue, but the words get stuck somewhere between my chest and my throat. This Hunter¡­the one sitting next to me with his designer suit and his cold eyes¨CI don¡¯t recognize him. The Hunter I fell in love with used to make pancakes shaped like hearts and read bedtime stories to Caesar with different voices for every character. That Hunter is gone. And it¡¯s my fault. The waiting room is full of couples who look happy. Glowing pregnant women with partners who rub their backs and bring them water. sit next to Hunter and wonder if we look like them from the outside. If anyone can see the cracks in our act. ¡°Mrs. Brown?¡± Dr. Martinez appears, and I see the exact moment she notices Hunter. Her smile falters. Just for a second, but I catch it. ¡°I escort my¡­ Mrs. Brown to all her appointments now.¡± Hunter¡¯s voice is smooth, but there¡¯s something possessive in the way he says ¡®my¡® that makes my skin crawl. We follow her into the examination room, and suddenly the space feels microscopic. Hunter positions himself in the corner like he¡¯s guarding the door, and I perch on the edge of the examination table wondering how my life became a prison with beige walls and medical equipment. ¡°How are you feeling, Celine?¡± Dr. Mart¨ªnez asks. ¡°Fine.¡± The lie tastes bitter on my tongue. ¡°And your stress levels?¡± I feel Hunter¡¯s eyes on me, burning into my skin. ¡°She¡¯s been under minimal stress,¡± he answers for me. ¡°I¡¯ve made sure of that.¡± Talmostugh. Almost. Because minimal stress? When I¡¯m being held captive by the man I love? When I can¡¯t see my do anything without his permission? When every breath feels like it might be myst moment of freedom? ¡°I would like to do an ultrasound today,¡± Dr. Martinez says gently. ¡°Check on the baby¡¯s development.¡± My heart stops. Restarts. Stops again. I¡¯m not ready for this. I¡¯m not ready to see the tiny life growing inside me, not ready to make this real with Hunter watching like a hawk. ¡°Is that necessary?¡± The questiones out smaller than I intended. ¡°It¡¯s standard procedure.¡± Standard procedure. Like there¡¯s anything standard about this situation. Hunter moves closer as Dr. Martinez prepares the machine. ¡°May 12¡± She nods, and he¡¯s suddenly right there, close enough that I can smell his cologne. The same one he wore on our first date. The same one that used to make me feel safe. Now it just makes me want to cry. I lie back and lift my shirt, exposing my stomach. It¡¯s barely showing yet, just a slight curve that could be mistaken for too much dinner. But Hunter¡¯s eyes are fixed on it like he¡¯s seeing a miracle. The gel is cold, and I shiver. Dr. Martinez positions the wand, and suddenly there¡¯s an image on the screen. Grainy and ck and white andpletely impossible. ¡°There we are,¡± she says softly. ¡°About eight weeks along.¡± And then we hear it. The heartbeat. Fast and strong and so impossibly real that I forget how to breathe. Hunter makes a sound¨Csoft and broken and so full of wonder that for a moment, just a moment, I remember why I fell in love with him. ¡°The heartbeat is strong,¡± Dr. Martinez continues. ¡°Everything looks normal.¡± Without warning, Hunter¡¯s hand covers mine where it rests on my stomach. His palm is warm and trembling, and I hate myself for the way my body responds to his touch. For the way I still crave it despite everything ¡°Can you can you hear that he whispers. ¡°yes, I breathe. His thumb traces gentle circles on my hand, and suddenly we¡¯re not captor and prisoner. We¡¯re just two people listening to the heartbeat of our child for the first time. ¡°It¡¯s so fast,¡± he says, and his voice is full of wonder. ¡°One hundred and fifty beats per minute,¡± Dr. Martinez confirms. ¡°Perfectly normal.¡± Hunter¡¯s free hand hovers over my stomach, not quite touching. ¡°May 1?¡± The question is directed at me, not the doctor. And there¡¯s something vulnerable in his voice that cracks my chest wide open. 1 nod. His palm settles gently on my stomach, warm and protective. His hand is so muchrger than mine, spanning almost my entire abdomen. ¡°Hello, little one,¡± he whispers. ¡°I¡¯m your daddy.¡± Tears blur my vision, and I blink them away furiously. This is exactly what I can¡¯t let happen. I can¡¯t let myself be fooled by these moments of tenderness, these glimpses of the man I thought I knew. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll protect you,¡± he continues, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°Both of you. Always.¡± The vow sends ice through my veins. Because I know he means it. But Hunter¡¯s idea of protection involves cages and control, threats and maniption. ¡°Mr. Reid,¡± Dr. Martinez says carefully, ¡°I do need to discuss some concerns.¡± Hunter¡¯s hand stills on my stomach. ¡°What concerns?¡± ¡°Given Mrs. Brown¡¯s history and current stress levels, this pregnancy will need careful monitoring. Stress can have serious effect for both mother and baby.¡± ¡°What kind of effect?¡± ¡°Pretermbor, low birth weight, developmental issues. That¡¯s why it¡¯s crucial that Mrs. Brown maintain a calm, supportive environment.¡± Hunter¡¯s eyes find mine, and I see the calction there. He¡¯s already figuring out how to use this information against me. ¡°What do you rmend?¡± he asks. ¡°Reduced stress, gentle exercise, proper nutrition. And most importantly, emotional support. Mrs. Brown needs to feel safe and secure.¡± ¡°She is safe,¡± Hunter says firmly. ¡°I¡¯ve made sure of that.¡± Dr. Martinez hesitates. ¡°Mr. Reid, with respect, safety isn¡¯t just about physical protection. Emotional well¨Cbeing is equally important.¡± The temperature in the room drops. Hunter¡¯s hand tightens possessively on my stomach. ¡°I understand,¡± he says, his voice deceptively mild. ¡°Mrs. Brown¡¯s emotional well¨Cbeing is my top priority.¡± It¡¯s a lie, and we all know it. In the car afterward, the silence is different. Heavy with the weight of what we just experienced. ¡°The baby is healthy,¡± Hunter says finally. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The heartbeat was strong.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He pulls into traffic, knuckles white on the steering wheel. ¡°You¡¯ll follow all of Dr. Martinez¡¯s rmendations.¡± It¡¯s not a question. ¡°Hunter¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll take your vitamins, eat properly, get enough rest. You¡¯ll do everything necessary to keep our baby healthy.¡± ¡°Our baby?¡± The words slip out before I can stop them. His eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror, dark and possessive. ¡°Yes. Our baby. The baby you¡¯re carrying because I couldn¡¯t bring myself to stay away from you, despite everything you¡¯ve done.¡± The usation in his voice steals my breath. ¡°I didn¡¯t n this.¡± ¡°Neither did I. But here we are.¡± He turns into the parking garage of his building. ¡°And now we both have to live with the consequences.¡± As he parks, his hand finds my stomach again, gentle despite his harsh words. ¡°I meant what I said in there,¡± he murmurs. ¡°I¡¯ll protect you both. Whatever it takes.¡± The promise shouldfort me. Instead, it terrifies me. Because Hunter¡¯s idea of protection has be my beautiful, suffocating prison. And now there¡¯s no escape for either of us. This update is avable on find?novel Legacy 147 Chapter 147 HUNTER- 69% The numbers on myptop screen swim together like tears I refuse to shed. Quarterly reports. Profit margins. Growth predictions. All of it meaningless when the only thing that matters is forty¨Cthree floors below me, locked away in a penthouse that¡¯s be more prison than home. My chest constricts with that constant, crushing weight. The coffee in my cup has gone cold hours ago, untouched. Two months since I brought Celine home. Two months since I made the decision that¡¯s slowly killing us both. The door to my office doesn¡¯t knock. It never does when Vincent has reached his breaking point. ¡°We need to talk.¡± I don¡¯t look up. If I meet his eyes, I¡¯ll see the disappointment written there. My fingers hover over the keyboard, frozen. ¡°Make an appointment with Sarah. I¡¯m busy.¡± ¡°Cut the shit, Hunt.¡± His voice slices through me like ss. ¡°You know exactly why I¡¯m here.¡± That tone¨CI know that tone. It¡¯s the same one he used in college when he¡¯d find me three days deep in a bender, when he had to drag me out of whatever hole I¡¯d crawled into. I finally lean back, meeting his eyes. ¡°Enlighten me.¡± He¡¯s standing in my doorway, fury burning in his dark eyes, disgust tightening his jaw, heartbreak sagging his shoulders despite his rigid posture. ¡°I just came from the penthouse.¡± He closes the door behind him, and the soft click echoes like a death knell. ¡°Interesting renovations you¡¯ve made.¡± A cold smile tugs at my lips. ¡°The security upgrades were necessary.¡°¡± ¡°Necessary?¡± He moves closer, hands trembling. ¡°You¡¯ve turned your home into a prison, Hunter. Biometric locks, armed guards, surveince cameras¡­..¡± ¡°Not in every room. I¡¯m not a monster.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡± He ms his palms against my desk. Coffee sloshes over quarterly projections. ¡°Because from where I¡¯m standing, it looks like you¡¯ve lost your goddamn mind.¡± I lean back, trying to project calm while inside I¡¯m screaming. ¡°I have secured my family. There¡¯s a difference.¡± ¡°Your family?¡± Hisugh is broken, hollow. ¡°Is that what you call holding a woman prisoner?¡± ¡°Celine is carrying my child.¡± The words feel like swallowing razor des. ¡°After everything¡­ after the lies, the betrayal, she¡¯s proven she can¡¯t be trusted with her own safety.¡± Latest content published on f?ndnovel ¡°So you decided to y God?¡± Vincent runs his hands through his hair. ¡°Jesus Christ, Hunter. Do you even hear yourself?¡± I close myptop with deliberate care, ¡°She ran, Vincent. She took Caesar and disappeared for days. She would have done it again.¡± ¡°Maybe because you gave her reason to run!¡± The words hit like a sledgehammer. I stand slowly. ¡°Careful. You¡¯re walking a very thin line.¡± ¡°Am I?¡± His eyes sh with something I¡¯ve never seen before¨Cpity. ¡°The Hunter I knew, the man who built an empire from nothing, whomanded respect through strength and intelligence¡ªthat man wouldn¡¯t resort to keeping a woman against her will.¡± ¡°That woman is the mother of my children.¡± My voice cracks on ¡®children,¡® and I hate myself for it. Caesar, who spent three years thinking his father didn¡¯t want him. The baby who will be born into this mess I¡¯ve created. ¡°And you¡¯re the father. Act like it.¡± Vincent moves around my desk, invading my space. ¡°What do you think Caesar is going to think when he finds out Daddy locked Mommy in a cage?¡± Ice floods my veins. Caesar, who looks at me like I hung the moon. Caesar, who I¡¯ve failed in every way that matters. ¡°He¡¯s too young to understand¡­.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not stupid, Hunter. Children see everything. They feel everything.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice breaks, tears on his cheeks. ¡°He¡¯ll know something¡¯s wrong, and when he¡¯s old enough to put the pieces together¡­ you¡¯ll lose him too.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t lose anyone.¡± The wordse out as a whisper. ¡°Not again.¡± ¡°Then stop acting like a psychopath and start acting like a man.¡± Vincent¡¯s words find every insecurity I¡¯ve buried. ¡°You want to keep your family together? Try love instead of locks. Try trust instead of threats.¡± I turn to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows. Somewhere down there, people are living normal lives. Going to work,ing home to families who choose to stay. ¡°You don¡¯t understand what it¡¯s like to lose everything that matters. To watch it slip through your fingers because you weren¡¯t strong enough to hold on.¡± ¡°I understand that you¡¯re destroying the very thing you¡¯re trying to protect.¡± His voice is softer now, but it cuts deeper. ¡°Celine will never forgive you for this. And deep down, you know it.¡± He¡¯s right. But the thought of releasing her, of giving her the chance to disappear again, makes my chest tighten with panic. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have to forgive me.¡± I press my palm against the cool ss. ¡°She just has to stay.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not love, Hunter. That¡¯s ownership.¡± ¡°Sometimes they¡¯re the same thing.¡± The silence stretches between us, heavy with twenty years of friendship and everything we¡¯re not saying. ¡°I¡¯ve known you for twenty years,¡± Vincent says finally. ¡°Watched you build something incredible from nothing. Seen you be ruthless in business, calcting in negotiations, cold when you needed to be. But I¡¯ve never seen you weak.¡± I turn to face him, expression carefully neutral. ¡°I¡¯m not weak.¡± ¡°Mo? Then what do you call this?¡± He gestires toward the door ¡°You¡¯re so terrified of losing her that you¡¯re willing to be the viin in het story You¡¯re so scared of being abandoned that you¡¯ve guaranteed a ¡°She¡¯s not leaving. I¡¯ve made sure of that.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve made sure of nothing.¡± Vincent¡¯s eyes are sad now, disappointed in a way that cuts deeper than anger. ¡°You think those locks and guards will keep her with you? They¡¯re not keeping her, Hunter. They¡¯re keeping you from Raving to face the truth.¡± ¡°Which is?¡± ¡°That you don¡¯t trust her because you don¡¯t trust yourself. You don¡¯t believe you¡¯re worth staying for, so you¡¯re forcing her to stay. But forced love isn¡¯t love at all¨Cit¡¯s just another form of hate.¡± The words hit their mark, finding the wound I¡¯ve been trying to ignore. ¡°She betrayed me,¡± i say quietly. ¡°Lied to me. Kept Caesar from me for three years.¡± Three years of bedtime stories I didn¡¯t read. Three years of a little boy wondering why his daddy didn¡¯t love him enough to stay. ¡°And now you¡¯re doing worse to her.¡± Vincent moves closer, voice urgent. ¡°You¡¯re taking away her choice, her freedom, her dignity. You¡¯re making her a prisoner in her own life.¡± ¡°I¡¯m protecting her.¡± ¡°From what? From you?¡± Vincentughs bitterly. ¡°You¡¯re not protecting her from some external threat. You¡¯re protecting yourself from the possibility that she might choose to leave.¡± I don¡¯t answer. Can¡¯t answer. Because he¡¯s right. ¡°I won¡¯t watch you destroy yourself,¡± Vincent continues. ¡°Or her. Or Caesar, who worships you. This ends now, Hunter. You let her go, or I walk away from twenty years of friendship.¡± The ultimatum hangs in the air like a sword. Vincent has never made idle threats. But the thought of releasing Celine makes my chest tighten with panic so acute I can taste copper. ¡°You don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re asking.¡± ¡°I understand perfectly. I¡¯m asking you to be the man I¡¯ve always believed you were, instead of the monster you¡¯re bing.¡± Vincent straightens his jacket. ¡°You have forty¨Ceight hours to make this right. After that, I¡¯m done. With the business, with the friendship, with all of it.¡± He turns to leave, but pauses at the door. ¡°You know what the saddest part is? She probably would havee back on her own. If you¡¯d given her time, if you¡¯d shown her the man you could be instead of the tyrant you¡¯ve be¡­ she might have chosen you.¡± The door closes with a soft click, leaving me alone with his words and the city sprawling below. My phone buzzes with a text from Eric. Subject is resting. Prenatal appointment confirmed for tomorrow at 2 PM. Subject. That¡¯s what Celine has be a problem to be managed, an asset to be controlled. Not the woman who used tough at my terrible jokes, who made pancakes shaped like dinosaurs for Caesar, who whispered my name like a prayer in the darkness. I stare at my reflection in the ck screen of myptop. The man looking back at me is a stranger¨Ccold, calcting, consumed by a need to control that¡¯s slowly destroying everything I im to protect. But I can¡¯t let her go. Won¡¯t let her go. Because love without possession isn¡¯t love at all. It¡¯s just another word for loss. And I¡¯ve lost enough for one lifetime. My reflection stares back at me from the darkened window, and for the first time in months, I see myself clearly. I see the monster I¡¯ve be. The question is: is it toote to find the man I used to be? Legacy 148 I am awak ngain. The clock glows 247 AM, and low without looking, without listening that Hunter is awakes too. it¡¯s been three days since he started sleeping on the couch, and somehow my body has memorized the sound of his sleeplessness. His footsteps. Always so careful. Always trying not to wake us, But am already awake. Whave been awake since he moved out of our bed. Since he decided that sleeping on the couch was somehow going to fix the mess he¡¯s made of our lives. The thing about loving someone who destroys everything they touch is that you start to crave the destruction. You start to miss the chaos because at least it feels like something. At least it feels like ¡®him¡® ¡°Mama?¡± Caesar¡¯s voice cuts through the darkness like a knife through my chest. He¡¯s standing in the doorway, clutching that stupid elephant that¡¯s falling apart but that I can¡¯t bring myself to throw away. ¡°What is it, baby?¡± He climbs into bed, and his little body is so warm against mine that I almost start crying. Almost. Because if I start crying about how much! love this little boy, I will never stop. ¡°I had a bad dream.¡± ¡®Join the club, sweetheart.¡® ¡°Tell me about it.¡± ¡°Papa was crying.¡± My breath catches. Because of course, he was. Of course, my three¨Cyear¨Cold son is dreaming about his father¡¯s tears while I¡¯m lying here pretending I don¡¯t hear Hunter pacing the hallway at two in the morning. ¡°It was just a dream, Caesar.¡± ¡°But why was he crying in my dream?¡± ¡®Because he¡¯s destroying us. Because he loves us so much that he¡¯s suffocating us with it. Because your father is broken in ways that I don¡¯t know how to fix. ¡°Sometimes grown¨Cups cry when they¡¯re scared.¡± ¡°Papa¡¯s scared?¡± ¡®Terrified.¡® ¡°Everyone gets scared sometimes. Caesar traces patterns on my arm with his tiny fingers, and I wonder if he knows. If he can feel the tension that lives in this cabin like a fourth Derson we¡¯re all trying to ignore. ¡°Even you, Mama?¡± ¡®Especially me.¡± ¡°Even me.¡± For more chapters visit findnovel ¡°I wish Papa wasn¡¯t sad. He makes good pancakes when he¡¯s happy.¡± And there it is. The thing that breaks me every single time. The way Caesar still sees the good in Hunter, even when i can barely remember it myself. ¡°Go back to sleep, baby.¡± But he¡¯s already drifting off, his breathing evening out as he curls into my side. I hold him close and try to memorize this moment. The weight of his little body. The trust in the way he sleeps against me. This is what Hunter doesn¡¯t understand. Love isn¡¯t about keeping someone. It¡¯s about giving them a reason to stay. The floorboards creak in the hallway. 1 freeze. The footsteps stop outside my door, and I hold my breath. Waiting. Always waiting with Hunter. Waiting for him to make the next move, the next decision, the next choice that will determine the direction of our lives. After what feels like forever, the footsteps continue toward the living room. He¡¯s checking on us. Making sure we¡¯re still here, still safe in his carefully constructed prison. Still his. Morninges, and I wake up to the smell of coffee and the sound of Caesar¡¯sughter. I find them at the kitchen table. Hunter¡¯s massive frame folded into a chair that¡¯s too small for him, helping Caesar with a puzzle. The sight is so normal, so ¡®domestic¡®, that for a second I forget we are not a real family. For a second, I forget that this is all pretend. ¡°Good morning.¡± Hunter doesn¡¯t look up, but his shoulders tense. Like my voice is a physical thing that hits him. ¡°Morning.¡± I move to the coffee maker, hyperaware of every breath he takes. Every shift of his body. Every way he¡¯s trying so hard to be casual when nothing about this is casual. ¡°How did you sleep?¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Liar. Tcan see the exhaustion in every line of his body. The way his hair is messed up like he¡¯s been running his hands through it. The stubble on his jaw that makes him look younger and more broken than usual. ¡°Mama, look!¡± Caesar holds up a puzzle piece, and his face is so bright with excitement that my chest physically hurts. ¡°Papa helped me find the corner pieces first!¡± ¡°That¡¯s smart, baby.¡± I pour coffee and steal nces at Hunter. He¡¯s wearing jeans and a gray sweater that makes his eyes look more blue than steel. He looks good. He always looks good, and I hate that I still notice. I hate that I still care. ¡°I thought we could go for a walk today.¡± His voice is carefully uninvolved, but I know him well enough to hear the hope underneath. ¡°A walk?¡± I set my mug down too hard, and coffee sloshed over the rim. ¡°We¡¯re allowed to leave?¡± His jaw tightens. ¡°It¡¯s not prison, Celine.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± The words hang between us like a challenge. It is a truth we both avoid facing. Caesar looks between us, and I see the moment he realizes that Mama and Papa are fighting again. His little face falls, and I want to take the words back. But I can¡¯t. Because they¡¯re true. ¡°We¡¯ll stay close to the cabin,¡± Hunter says quietly, and his voice is softer now. Gentler. ¡°Caesar could use the fresh air.¡± And of course, he uses Caesar. Of course, he knows exactly which button to push to make me give in. ¡°Please, Mama? I want to see theke!¡± Damn him. ¡°Okay. But we don¡¯t go far.¡± Hunter¡¯s smile is small but genuine, and for a second¨Cjust a second¨CI remember why I fell in love with him. ¡°Thank you.¡± Legacy 149 Warm suh Gentle hier. Thend of day that make you believe in and cows and track starts and all the things fligt tear impicable when you¡¯re lying awake at 2:47 AM We walk along theke shore, Cisar running ahead to collect stones while Hunter and Irsamtain our carshof distance Maps careful. Always wallding on eggshells around each other. ¡°He¡¯s happy here,¡± Hunter says, watching Caesar chase a butterfly. ¡°He¡¯s happy everywhere. That¡¯s who he is.¡± ¡°He gets that from you.¡± I nce at him, surprised. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°The way you find joy in small things. The way you make everything feel¡­¡± He pauses, searching for the word. ¡°Warmer¡± My chest tightens. This is the Hunter I fell in love with. The one who made me feel special just by existing. The one who saw beauty in ordinary moments. The one who made me believe I was worth loving. ¡°Don¡¯t¡± ¡°Don¡¯t what?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do this. Don¡¯t be sweet and thoughtful and make me remember.¡± ¡°Remember what?¡± ¡°Why I loved you.¡± The words are out before I can stop them, and Hunter stops walking. He turns to face me, and there¡¯s something raw in his expression. ¡°Would that be so terrible?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± My voice cracks. ¡°Because none of this is real, Hunter. You¡¯re not keeping me here because you love me. You¡¯re keeping me here because you¡¯re scared of losing control.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t it be both?¡± The question hits me like a physical blow. Because what if it can be both? What if love and control can exist in the same space? What if Hunter loves me ¡®and¡® he¡¯s destroying me? What if that¡¯s the most dangerousbination of all? ¡°Mama! Papa! Look!¡± 1439 Thu, 7 AUU ? D Caesar runs toward us, holding a piece of driftwood shaped like a heart. His face is so bright, so full of joy, that I almost start crying right there on the beach ¡°That¡¯s beautiful, baby.¡± ¡°It¡¯s for you.¡± He presses it into my hands. ¡°Because you¡¯re the best mama in the whole world.¡± The tearse anyway. Hot and fast and impossible to stop. ¡°Thank you, sweetheart.¡± Hunter watches this exchange with something raw in his expression. Longing. Regret. Love. Always love with Hunter. Too much love. The kind that suffocates. ¡°We should head back,¡± he says quietly. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte.¡± That evening, I¡¯m standing in front of the easel that Hunter bought me. I have been staring at the nk canvas for an hour, brush suspended in midair, unable to make the first mark. Because what do you paint when your life is falling apart? What do you create when everything you touch turns to ash? ¡°You¡¯re thinking too hard.¡± I jump, spinning around to find Hunter in the doorway. I didn¡¯t hear him approach, but then again, I never do. He moves like a predator. Silent and careful and always watching. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to startle you.¡± He steps into the room, and I hate how my body reacts to his presence. The way my heart speeds up. The way my skin feels is too tight. ¡°May 1?¡± No. ¡°I guess.¡± He settles into the chair beside me, close enough that I can smell his cologne. The same one he wore on our first date, when he told me I was beautiful and made me believe it. When everything was simple and perfect and not destroyed by his need to control everything. ¡°What are you trying to paint?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. That¡¯s the problem.¡± ¡°Then start with what you feel.¡± Iugh, but there¡¯s no funniness in it. ¡°What I feel would burn the canvas.¡± ¡°Try me.¡± I load my brush with crimson paint and sh it across the white surface. The color bleeds like an open wound, angry and raw and honest. ¡°pher trappast Bogn och af de cat is in My pisze pond, but tranfeal his tension. The way he ha?ng himself so will, like any incuentent might heel water flintsty thing galste between us. add ck weit. Dark, swirls that consume the red like it¡¯s consuming me. ¡°feel angry. At you. At myself at this whole situation¡± ¡°And¡°¡± His voice is barely above a whisper. I hesitate, then add touches of blue. Soft, sad blue that speaks of tears and longing and all the things I can¡¯t say out loud. ¡°And I feel confused. Because sometimes, in moments like this, I remember why I fell in love with you. And I hate myself for it.¡± The brush trembles in my hand. Hunter reaches out, his fingers covering mine, and the contact is electric. Dangerous. ¡°Don¡¯t hate yourself,¡± he says softly. ¡°Hate me if you need to. But don¡¯t hate yourself for feeling something real.¡± look at him¨Clook¨Cand see the man I fell in love with. Vulnerable. Uncertain. Desperate to be worthy of love but terrified to trust it. ¡°Why are you doing this to us?¡± His thumb strokes across my knuckles, and I should pull away. I should run. But I don¡¯t. ¡°Because I¡¯m selfish. Because I¡¯m terrified. Because I love you so much it¡¯s killing me, and I don¡¯t know how to let you go.¡± ¡°So you decided not to give me the choice?¡± ¡°I decided to fight for you. Even if it makes me the viin.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not the viin, Hunter.¡± I turn my hand in his, our fingers intertwining. ¡°You¡¯re just broken. And you¡¯re breaking me too.¡± ¡°I know.¡± His voice is thick with emotion. ¡°God, Celine, I know, But I don¡¯t know how to stop.¡± We sit in silence, hands joined, staring at the angry painting that somehow captured everything we can¡¯t say. The room feels smaller. The air is thicker. ¡°I should go,¡± Hunter says finally. But he doesn¡¯t move. ¡°You should.¡± But I don¡¯t want him to. Our eyes meet, and I see my own confusion reflected back at me. The pull between us is maic. Dangerous. Inevitable. ¡°Celine¡­¡± His voice is rough. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± But even as I say it, I¡¯m leaning closer. ¡°I¡¯m trying to be better. For you. For Caesar. For our baby.¡± ¡°know¡± My free handes up to cup his cheek. ¡°I can see you trying.¡± This text is hosted at fin?novel He closes his eyes, leaning into my touch like he¡¯s starving for it. Like I¡¯m the only thing keeping him alive. ¡°I¡¯m so tired of fighting this.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t.¡± The words slip out before I can stop them. Hunter¡¯s eyes fly open, searching my face. ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying I¡¯m tired too. Tired of hating you when I want to love you. Tired of fighting something that feels unavoidable.¡± ¡°Celine.¡± He breathes my name like a prayer, and suddenly the space between us disappears. His lips find mine, soft and desperate and full of everything we¡¯ve been trying to deny. This kiss is different. Not born of anger or maniption, but of exhaustion and hope and the desperate need for connection. 1 kiss him back, pouring all my confusion and anger, and stubborn love into the contact. His hands frame my face, thumb stroking across my cheekbone. ¡°I love you,¡± he whispers against my lips. ¡°I know I¡¯ve ruined everything, but I love you.¡± ¡°I love you too.¡± The admission tears from my throat. ¡°And I hate myself for it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t. Please don¡¯t.¡± He pulls back to look at me, and I see tears in his eyes. Real tears. Not the calcted emotion I¡¯ve be ustomed to. ¡°I want to trust you,¡± I whisper. ¡°But I¡¯m scared.¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯m scared too.¡± ¡°Then what do we do?¡± He strokes my hair, tucking a strand behind my ear. The gesture is so tender, so familiar, that I almost start crying again. ¡°We try. We take it one day at a time and try to find our way back to each other.¡± ¡°And if we can¡¯t?¡± ¡°Then at least we¡¯ll know we tried.¡± The moment between us feels delicate and valuable. I want to believe in second chances, redemption, and that love can ovee the need for control. But I¡¯m terrified. ¡°I need time,¡± I say finally. ¡°To think. To figure out what I want.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you all the time you need.¡± ¡°And space?¡± He hesitates, and I see the war in his eyes. The desperate need to control warring with his genuine desire to be better. 18:30 Thu, 2 kilo Cluster 196 AG OR Share. Ms agree finsly. ¡°But notplete spate, 1sked to know you It¡¯s not perfect. It¡¯s not freedom. But it¡¯s progress. ¡°hay He leans forward, pressing his forehead to mine. ¡°We¡¯re going to figure this out.¡± ¡°Are we ¡°We have to. Because the alternative is losing everything that matters.¡± A sound from the hallway breaks the moment. Caesar¡¯s footsteps. Hunter and I spring apart like we¡¯ve been burned. ¡°I should go,¡± he says, but his eyes never leave mine. ¡°Yes.¡± He stands, but pauses at the door. ¡°Celine?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Thank you. For giving me hope.¡± He leaves, and I¡¯m alone with my painting and my racing heart. The canvas stares back at me, a riot of angry colors that somehow, in the right light, might be beautiful. Just like us. I pick up my brush and add a touch of gold to the chaos. A small spark of light in the darkness. Because maybe we¡¯re not beyond saving. But as I hear Hunter¡¯s door close down the hall, I can¡¯t shake the feeling that we¡¯re standing on the edge of a cliff. One wrong move will send us both tumbling. The question is: are we brave enough to take the leap together? Or will fear destroy us both? It usually does. Legacy 150 Chapter 150 CELINE ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? F?nd-Novel The bathwater is perfect¨Cwarm enough to reduce the ache in my lower back, scented withvender to calm my racing thoughts. I sink deeper into the porcin tub, letting the heat seep into my bones as my hand instinctively finds the small curve of my belly. Seventeen weeks. I close my eyes and try to push away the memory of Eleanor Reid¡¯s cold smile, the way she slid that check across the marble table like I was nothing more than a transaction to bepleted. ¡®Two million dors to disappear.¡® The money sits in my ount, untouched. A steady reminder of how little his mother thinks of me. Of how easily she believed I could be bought. But I ran. Like a coward, I ran instead of fighting for us. ¡°Celine?¡± Hunter¡¯s voice drifts through the bathroom door, followed by a gentle knock. ¡°Are you alright in there?¡± My heart does that stupid flutter thing it always does when he¡¯s near. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just¡­rxing.¡± ¡°Good.¡± There¡¯s a pause. ¡°I brought you something.¡± I smile despite myself. He¡¯s been doing this for three days now¡­.small gestures that feel like apologies without words. Yesterday it was my favorite tea. This morning, he bought a book of poetry he found at a local shop. ¡°What is it this time?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have toe see.¡± I drain the tub and wrap myself in the fluffy robe he bought me¨Canother small gesture. When I open the door, Hunter is standing there holding a bouquet of sunflowers, their bright yellow faces almost as brilliant as his shy smile. ¡°I saw them at the market,¡± he says, running a hand through his hair. ¡°They reminded me of you.¡± ¡°Sunflowers remind you of me?¡± I take the flowers, inhaling their earthy sweetness. ¡°They face the sun. Always reaching for light, even when everything around them is dark.¡± His eyes meet mine. ¡°Like you do.¡± My throat tightens. This is the Hunter I fell in love with¨Cthe one who saw poetry in ordinary moments, who made me feel like I was worth something beautiful. ¡°Thank you.¡± I bury my face in the petals. ¡°They¡¯re perfect.¡± ¡°I have a confession.¡± He follows me to the kitchen, watching as I fill a vase with water. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about baby names.¡± I freeze. ¡°Have you?¡± ¡°For a girl, I like Luna. It means moon¡­.a light in the darkness.¡± He pauses. ¡°What do you think?¡± The question catches me off guard. Not because he¡¯s thinking about names, but because he¡¯s asking my opinion. Really asking, like my answer matters. ¡°I think it¡¯s beautiful,¡± I say softly. ¡°What about for a boy?¡± ¡°I was hoping you would have ideas.¡± This is new. Hunter asking for my input instead of making decisions for me. It¡¯s such a small thing, but it feels huge. ¡°Gabriel,¡± I say without thinking. ¡°It means ¡®God is my strength.¡± ¡°Gabriel.¡± He tests the name on his tongue. ¡°I like it. Gabriel Reid.¡± ¡°Or Gabriel Brown¨CReid.¡± The words slip out before I can stop them, and Hunter¡¯s smile widens. ¡°You had hyphenate?¡± ¡°Maybe. If¡­¡± I trail off, suddenly shy. ¡°If we ever get to that point.¡± ¡°We will.¡± His certainty should annoy me, but instead, it makes me feel anchored. Safe. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± I nod. ¡°Are you scared? About the baby, I mean.¡± The honest answer lodges in my throat. ¡®I¡¯m terrified. Of your mother. Of not being enough. Of having to run again.¡® ¡°Sometimes,¡± I admit. ¡°Are you?¡± ¡°Every day.¡± He moves closer, and I can smell his cologne¨Ccedar and something beautifully him. ¡°But not because I don¡¯t want this. Because I want it so much it terrifies me.¡± ¡°Hunter¡­¡± ¡°I know I¡¯ve given you every reason not to trust me. But I need you to know¨CI¡¯m not going anywhere. Whatever happens, whoever tries to interfere, I¡¯m staying. We¡¯re going to figure this out together.¡± The conviction in his voice makes my chest tight. This is what I¡¯ve been waiting for¨Cproof that he¡¯ll choose us over everything else. ¡°I want to believe you.¡± ¡°Then let me prove it.¡± He reaches out slowly, giving me time to pull away. When I don¡¯t, his palm settles over my stomach. ¡°May I?¡± I cover his hand with mine, pressing it firmer against the small swell. ¡°The baby¡¯s been active today.¡± As if summoned by my words, there¡¯s a flutter¨Cbarely there, but unmistakable. Hunter¡¯s eyes widen. ¡°Was that¡­?¡± ¡°Your son or daughter saying hello.¡± Aug The look on his face is pure wonder. Like he¡¯s witnessing a miracle. His thumb strokes across my belly, and I feel the baby respond with another gentle kick. ¡°Hi, little one,¡± he whispers. ¡°Daddy¡¯s here.¡± Tears blur my vision. This moment¡­Hunter¡¯s voice soft with awe, his hand protective over our child¨Cthis is what I¡¯ve been afraid to hope for. ¡°I love you,¡± he says, and I¡¯m not sure if he¡¯s talking to me or the baby. Maybe both. ¡°I love you too.¡± The wordse out broken, honest. ¡°God help me, I love you too.¡± He kisses my forehead, and for a moment, everything feels possible. Like maybe we can survive his mother¡¯s disapproval, society¡¯s judgment, all the obstacles that stand between us and happiness. ¡°I have to go out of town next week,¡± he says quietly. ¡°Business. Three days in Chicago.¡± My stomach drops. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I can cancel. Send Vincent instead.¡± ¡°No.¡± I shake my head. ¡°You can¡¯t put your life on hold for me.¡± ¡°You are my life.¡± His intensity makes me shiver. ¡°You and Caesar and this baby¨Cyou¡¯re all that matters.¡± ¡°Hunter.¡± I cup his face, feeling the stubble rough against my palms. ¡°I¡¯ll be here when you get back.¡± Something changes in his expression¨Crelief mixed with desperate hope. ¡°Promise me.¡± ¡°I promise.¡± He kisses me then, soft and searching, like he¡¯s trying to memorize the taste of my lips. When we break apart, he rests his forehead against mine. ¡°I¡¯ll call you every night.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll answer.¡± ¡°Even if you¡¯re angry with me?¡± ¡°Especially then.¡± Hisugh is shaky. ¡°I don¡¯t deserve you.¡± ¡°Maybe not. But you¡¯re trying to.¡± That night, I lie in bed listening to Hunter pack in the room next door. He¡¯s leaving at dawn, and despite my promise, part of me wants to run. To take Caesar and disappear before Eleanor Reid realizes I¡¯m back in her son¡¯s life. But I won¡¯t. Not this time. Because Hunter asked me to trust him, and for the first time in my life, I want to be brave enough to try. My phone buzzes with a text. Hunter: ¡®Can¡¯t sleep. Thinking about you.¡® smile, typing kat Tianteng shui Yo Yo Hunter ¡°n: paing to miss you You haven¡¯t the Painter: dy missing you I¡¯m about to respond when my phone rings. Hunter¡¯s name fiathes on the screen. ¡°Couldn¡¯t wait until morning?¡± I tease. ¡°I needed to hear your voice.¡± He sounds tired, vulnerable. ¡°Tell me this is real. That you¡¯re not going to disappear the moment I leave ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± ¡°Sweari ¡°swear.¡± There¡¯s a long pause, then: ¡°I have something to tell you when I get back. Something important.¡± My heart skips. ¡°What kind of something?¡± ¡°The kind that changes everything.¡± ¡°Hunter, you¡¯re scaring me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. It¡¯s good. I think¡­I hope it¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you tell me now?¡± ¡°Face to face. Some things need to be said in person.¡± I close my eyes, trying to imagine what could be so important. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I love you, Celine. Whatever happens, remember that.¡± ¡°I love you too.¡± After he hangs up, I lie in the dark with my hand on my belly, wondering what secret he¡¯s carrying. What news could change everything? Outside, I hear the soft rumble of a car engine starting. Hunter, leaving for today, he would be back tomorrow to get his stuff. I drift off to sleep with his words echoing in my mind: ¡®Something that changes everything.¡¯ I wake to my phone ringing. The caller ID makes my blood run cold. ¡®Eleanor Reid.¡¯ My hands shake as I unlock my phone. I texted back. ¡°Hello, Eleanor.¡± ¡°Hello, Celine.¡± Her voice is ice. ¡°We need to talk.¡± Legacy 151 Chapter 151 ~CELINE Morning light filters through the curtains, casting long shadows across the empty driveway where Hunter¡¯s car sat just hours ago. I wrap my arms around myself, the silk of my robe doing nothing to chase away the chill that has nothing to do with the morning air. My phone sits on the nightstand like a weapon, Eleanor¡¯s message still glowing on the screen: ¡°We need to talk.¡± Four simple words that make my stomach twist into knots. It¡¯s like she was watching, waiting for the exact moment Hunter would leave. Like she has some sixth sense that tells her when I¡¯m alone and vulnerable. I should call him. Tell him his mother contacted me. But Hunter¡¯s probably boarding his flight right now, focused on whatever business crisis requires his attention. Thest thing he needs is me falling apart over a text message. My phone buzzes again, and I flinch so hard I nearly drop it. But this time, it¡¯s Hunter¡¯s name on the screen. ¡®Just got to the airport. How¡¯s Caesar? Give him a kiss from Papa.¡® Relief floods through me. Hunter. Not his mother. Just Hunter, checking in like he promised. I type back quickly: ¡®Still sleeping. He¡¯s going to miss his papa when he wakes up.¡¯ Almost immediately, my phone rings. Hunter¡¯s name shes across the screen, and I hesitate. My thumb hovers over the answer button while Eleanor¡¯s message burns in my peripheral vision. Answer it. Act normal. Don¡¯t let him know anything¡¯s wrong. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°What took you so long?¡± Hunter¡¯s voice is warm but concerned. ¡°I was starting to worry.¡± ¡°Sorry, I was justing out of the bathroom.¡± The lie slips out easily, and I hate myself for it. ¡°How was the drive?¡± ¡°Fine. Traffic was light.¡± There¡¯s a pause, and I can picture him running his hand through his hair. ¡°I miss you already.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been gone for two hours.¡± ¡°Two hours too long.¡± Hisugh is soft, intimate. ¡°Tell me what you¡¯re wearing.¡± ¡°Hunter.¡± I can¡¯t help but smile. ¡°You¡¯re in public.¡± 1/4 FTI, Aug ¡°I¡¯m at my gate. No one¡¯s paying attention.¡± His voice drops lower. ¡°Are you still in that blue robe?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°Good. I like thinking of you wrapped in something I bought you.¡± My free hand unconsciously goes to my belly, where our baby is growing. Where our secret is still safe. ¡°Hunter?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Be careful in Chicago. Come home to us.¡± ¡°Always.¡± The certainty in his voice makes my chest tight. ¡°I love you, Celine.¡± ¡°I love you too.¡± After he hangs up, I stare at the phone in my hand. Eleanor¡¯s message is still there, waiting. I should have told him. Should have been honest about his mother¡¯s text. But I didn¡¯t. And now it feels like a betrayal. ¡°Mommy!¡± Caesar¡¯s voice cuts through my guilt as he storms into my room, his dark curls wild from sleep. He climbs onto the bed with the determined grace of a three¨Cyear¨Cold on a mission. ¡°Good morning, baby.¡± I pull him into my embrace, breathing in his sleepy warmth. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± ¡°Is Papaing today?¡± He looks toward the door expectantly. ¡°His room is empty.¡± My heart breaks a little. ¡°Papa won¡¯t being today, sweetheart. He¡¯s busy with work and will be for a while.¡± Caesar¡¯s face falls, and I see Hunter¡¯s stubborn expression in the set of his small jaw. ¡°But I want him here.¡± ¡°I know, baby. I want him here too.¡± I smooth his hair back from his forehead. ¡°But we can talk to him through FaceTime. Would you like that?¡± ¡°I like him here better.¡± Caesar¡¯s voice is small, disappointed. ¡°Me too,¡± I admit, pulling him closer. Without saying that I¡¯m scared. That his grandmother wants to tear our family apart. That I¡¯m terrified of being alone again. We stay like that for a moment, Caesar¡¯s warm weight against my chest grounding me. Then I force brightness into my voice. ¡°How about we have a special mommy and Caesar ytime day?¡± His face lights up instantly. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s when you¡¯re a lucky boy who gets to spend the whole day with Mommy doing whatever you want.¡± I tickle his sides, making him giggle. ¡°We can have adventures, y games, maybe even build a fort.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really. And I¡¯ll make you a delicious breakfast. Eggs, bacon, toast with jam¡­¡± I pause dramatically. ¡°What am I forgetting? ¡°PANCAKES!¡± Caesar shouts, bouncing on the bed. ¡°Ah yes, pancakes.¡± I ruffle his hair. ¡°How could I forget?¡± ¡°I love mommy and Caesar time!¡± He throws his arms around my neck, squeezing tightly. The pure joy in his voice makes my throat tight. This is what I¡¯m fighting for. This happiness, this innocence, this beautiful little boy who deserves a family. Caesar pulls away and starts to climb down from the bed. ¡°I need to get my cape.¡± ¡°Your cape?¡± ¡°My ytime cape. For adventures.¡± He says it like it¡¯s the most obvious thing in the world. Iugh despite everything. ¡°Well, then you better hurry and get it. I¡¯ll be here when youe back.¡± ¡°Promise?¡± ¡°Promise.¡± He runs out of the room, and I can hear his footsteps racing down the hallway. I smile, letting his excitement wash over me for just a moment. Then I look at my phone again. Eleanor¡¯s message is still there, waiting like a snake in the grass. But this time, I don¡¯t hesitate. I type back quickly: ¡®The coffee shop on Maple Street. 10 AM. I¡¯ll be there.¡¯ I hit send before I could change my mind. My phone buzzes immediately: ¡®Good. We have much to discuss.¡® Then another message that makes my blood run cold: ¡®Especially your little secret. My hands shake as I read the words again. Little secret. She knows. Somehow, Eleanor Reid knows about the baby. I press my palm to my stomach protectively. How is that possible? We haven¡¯t told anyone except Caroline, and she would never¡­ Would she? My phone rings, and for a wild moment, I think it might be Hunter. But the caller ID shows a number I don¡¯t recognize. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Miss Brown?¡± The voice is professional, clinical. ¡°This is Dr. Martinez from St. Mary¡¯s Hospital. I¡¯m calling about your recent blood work.¡± ¡°My blood work?¡± ¡°Yes, theprehensive panel fromst week. Your insurancepany requested a copy of the results, and I wanted to confi. address before sending them.¡± I never gave my insurancepany permission to request anything. ¡°I think there¡¯s been a mistake. I didn¡¯t¡­.¡± ¡°The request came from Reid Industries¡® corporate wellness program. They¡¯re covering your medical expenses?¡± 13:04 Fri, 8 Aug Reid Industries. Hunter¡¯spany. But I¡¯m not an employee, and Hunter wouldn¡¯t have ess to my medical records without my permission. Well given how he is now, he would, but this is not like Hunter¡­then that leaves¡­ Unless someone else requested them. Someone with connections, money, and the ruthless determination to get what they want, ¡°Miss Brown? Are you still there?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m¡­there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. Please don¡¯t send those results to anyone. I¡¯ll pick them up myself¡± ¡°Of course. I apologize for the confusion.¡± I hang up, my hands shaking. Eleanor doesn¡¯t just know about the baby¨Cshe has my medical records. She knows exactly how far along farm, when I¡¯m due, everything ¡°Mommy! Look!¡± Caesar runs back into the room wearing a red towel tied around his neck like a cape. He strikes a superhero pose, and despite everything can¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Very impressive, Captain Caesar¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna protect you today!¡± He climbs back onto the bed, his little face serious. ¡°From all the bad guys.¡± If only it were that simple. ¡°And I¡¯m going to protect you too, baby.¡± I pull him close, kissing the top of his head. ¡°Always.¡± But as I hold my son and think about the fight waiting for me in a few hours, I wonder if love is enough to protect us from Eleanor Reid¡¯s fury And what she¡¯ll do when she realizes I¡¯m not running away this time. Legacy 152 Chapter 152 -CELINE The caf¨¦ tastes like backstabbing and burnt coffee. I watch Caesar tear down his chocte cake, his small fingers sticky with frosting, and try to ignore the way my phone keeps buzzing against. the table. Hunter¡¯s name shes across the screen for the third time in ten minutes. ¡®Miss you already. How¡¯s the park?¡® The lie sits in my throat like poison. I had looked him straight in the eye this morning on face time and told him we were going for fresh air and yground time. Instead, I¡¯m sitting in a caf¨¦ waiting for his mother to destroy what¡¯s left of my world. ¡°Mommy, is Papaing?¡± Caesar asks, chocte smeared across his cheek. ¡°No, baby. Papa¡¯s working.¡± I dab at his face with a napkin, my hands steadier than they have any right to be. ¡°Remember? He¡¯s on his big trip.¡± Caesar¡¯s face falls the way it always does when Hunter isn¡¯t here. Three years old and already attached to a father he barely knows. The thought makes my chest tight. The bell above the door chimes, and I know without looking that she¡¯s here. The entire caf¨¦ seems to hold its breath as Eleanor Reid makes her entrance. She¡¯s magnificent in the way natural disasters are magnificent¨Cbeautiful and terrible and absolutely destructive. Her designer coat probably costs more than I make in six months. Every silver hair is perfectly in ce, her makeup wless despite the early hour. When her eyes find mine across the room, I feel like prey. ¡°Grandma Eleanor!¡± Caesar bounces in his seat, waving enthusiastically. My stomach drops. Of course he remembers her. Children always remember the people who give them expensive gifts and empty promises. Eleanor glides toward our table, her smile widening as she approaches Caesar. ¡°Hello, darling boy. Look how big you¡¯ve gotten.¡± She bends to ept his excited hug, and for a moment, something almost human crosses her face. Almost. ¡°I missed you, Grandma,¡± Caesar says, clinging to her coat. ¡°Did you now?¡± Her voice is soft, fond even. Then she looks at me, and the warmth vanishes like it was never there at all. ¡°Celine.¡± ¡°Eleanor.¡± I don¡¯t stand. Don¡¯t offer a greeting. Three months of Hunter¡¯s coldness taught me how to ice people out when necessary. She slides into the booth across from me with fluid grace. ¡°Charming location. Very¡­ authentic.¡± The insult is wrapped in silk, but it still cuts. I feel the familiar shame creep up my neck¨Cthe same shame I felt as a child when Jesse got new clothes and I got hand me downs. ¡°You didn¡¯t ask me here to critique my restaurant choices.¡± ¡°No.¡± Eleanor¡¯s smile is sharp as broken ss. ¡°I asked you here to discuss your interesting condition.¡± My hand moves instinctively to my stomach. Still t, still my secret. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡± ¡°Please, dear. I¡¯m not stupid.¡± She signals the waitress with the high¨Chanded wave of someone who¡¯s never been told no. ¡°Your medical records make for fascinating reading.¡± The blood drains from my face. ¡°You had no right¡­.¡± ¡°I had every right. My son¡¯s welfare is my concern.¡± The waitress approaches, and Eleanor barely nces at her. ¡°Sparkling water. San Pellegrino, if you have it.¡± The poor girl looks confused. ¡°We don¡¯t carry.. ¡°Then whatever passes for water in this ce will have to do.¡± Eleanor¡¯s dismissal is absolute. I want to apologize to the waitress, but I can¡¯t find my voice. Can¡¯t find anything except the crushing effect of Eleanor¡¯s presence across from
  1. me.
¡°You¡¯re wondering how I knew,¡± Eleanor continues conversationally. ¡°It wasn¡¯t difficult. Hunter visiting maternity wards, looking at you like you hung the moon, that little glow you¡¯re trying so hard to hide.¡± Her eyes narrow. ¡°Did you think I wouldn¡¯t notice?¡± ¡°Does Hunter know?¡± The question tears out of me before I can stop it. ¡°Well let say he does. But i know my son, he won¡¯t hide such news for long. The question is whether you¡¯ll be around when he does.¡± The waitress returns with a ss of tap water, setting it down with slightly more force than necessary. Eleanor doesn¡¯t acknowledge her. ¡°I gave you two million dors to disappear,¡± Eleanor says, h¨¦r voice barely above a whisper. ¡°You were supposed to be gone. Instead, you¡¯re here, pregnant with my son¡¯s child, ying house like some delusional little girl.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not ying anything.¡± My voice is stronger than I expected. ¡°Hunter asked me to stay. He loves me.¡± ¡°Love.¡± Eleanorughs, and it¡¯s the most terrifying sound I¡¯ve ever heard. ¡°My dear, naive girl. Hunter doesn¡¯t love you. He feels guilty about you. There¡¯s a difference.¡± The words hit like physical blows. Because part of me¨Cthe part that¡¯s been abandoned and overlooked my entire life¨Cbelieves them. ¡°You¡¯re wrong.¡± ¡°Am I? Then why are you here instead of with him? Why are you lying to him about where you are right now?¡± Eleanor leans forward, her perfume overwhelming. ¡°Because you know I¡¯m right. You know you don¡¯t belong in his world.¡± Caesar has gone quiet beside me, sensing the tension even if he doesn¡¯t understand it. His small hand finds mine under the table, and I squeeze it like a lifeline. 13:04 Fri, 8 Aug ¡°What do you want from me? P ¡°I want you to disappear. Take your son, take whatever money you need, and go somewhere my son will never find you¡± fleandro valce (e matter¨Cof¨Cfact, like she¡¯s discussing the weather. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? F¦ÉndNovel ¡°Have the baby quietly. Live your little life. Leave Hunter to build the life he deserves.¡± ¡°And if I refuse?¡± Eleanor¡¯s smile is winter incarnate. ¡°Then I¡¯ll destroy you. Slowly. Methodically, I¡¯ll make sure every door in this city closes to you. Every job, every opportunity, every friend you think you have. I¡¯ll make you wish you had never been born.¡± The threat feels real between us, like smoke in the air. I can taste my fear; it is sharp and metallic. But then Caesar squeezes my hand again, and I remember what I¡¯m fighting for. Not just Hunter¡¯s love, but my son¡¯s future. The baby growing inside me. The family we could be. ¡°No.¡± Eleanor blinks, clearly not expecting that response. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°I said no.¡± I straighten in my seat, drawing strength from some ce I didn¡¯t know existed. ¡°I¡¯m not running anymore. I¡¯m not letting you decide who¡¯s worthy of love and who isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°You little¡­¡± Eleanor¡¯sposure or just a moment, revealing something ugly underneath. ¡°I love your son. And he loves me. And this baby¡­.¡± I press my hand to my stomach, ¡°¡ªthis baby is going to be born into a family that wants them. You can threaten me all you want, but I¡¯m done being afraid.¡± Eleanor stands abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. Several heads turn in our direction. ¡°You have no idea what you¡¯re up against.¡± ¡°Then I guess I¡¯ll find out.¡± She stares at me for a long moment, something like respect flickering in her eyes before it¡¯s gone. Then she turns and walks away, her heels clicking against the floor like a countdown. The bell chimes as she leaves, and suddenly I can breathe again. ¡°Mommy?¡± Caesar tugs at my sleeve. ¡°Why was Grandma Eleanor mad?¡± I pull him into myp, burying my face in his hair. He smells like chocte and innocence and everything I need to protect. ¡°Sometimes grown¨Cups disagree about things, baby. But it¡¯s going to be okay.¡± ¡°Promise?¡± I close my eyes and think about Hunter¡¯s hands on my belly, the way he whispered to our unborn child. I think about the life we¡¯re building together, fragile and precious and worth fighting for. ¡°I promise.¡± But as I hold my son, wonder what kind of world I¡¯m bringing another child into. And whether love is enough to protect us from Eleanor Reid¡¯s wrath. Legacy 153 CELINE I¡¯m still shaking from my meeting with Eleanor when Caesar tugs at my sleeve, pointing excitedly at the chopping Bags spilling from someone¡¯s arms near the mall entrance. ¡°Aunt Caroline!¡± Caesar shouts, breaking free from my hand and running toward the familiar figure. My heart stops. Of all the people to run into right now, when I¡¯m barely holding myself together¡­. ¡°Caesar!¡± Caroline drops her bags without hesitation, catching him in a fierce hug that lifts him off his feet. ¡°My favorite little man! What are you doing here?¡± Over Caesar¡¯s dark curls, Caroline¡¯s eyes find mine. Even from a distance, I can see the surprise and concern written across her face. I try to smile, but it feels wobbly and unconvincing. ¡°Mommy bought me ice cream!¡± Caesar announces proudly, still wrapped in Caroline¡¯s arms. ¡°And we saw Grandma Eleanor! She was here too!¡± I watch Caroline¡¯s face change, her smile faltering as she processes Caesar¡¯s innocent words. When she looks at me again, her face is full of questions I¡¯m not ready to answer. ¡°Grandma Eleanor?¡± Caroline repeats carefully, setting Caesar down but keeping her hands on his shoulders. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ interesting.¡± I avoid her eyes, focusing instead on Caesar as he chatters about his chocte cake and the toy car Caroline bought him months back. But I can feel her stare burning into me, full of worry and unstated questions. ¡°Caesar, sweetheart,¡± Caroline says gently, ¡°why don¡¯t you go look at those stuffed animals in the window over there? Stay where Mommy can see you.¡± He skips off happily, and Caroline immediately moves to my side. ¡°Celine.¡± Her voice is soft but urgent. ¡°What happened? Are you okay?¡± I finally meet her eyes, and whatever she see there makes her face crumple with concern. ¡°Come on,¡± she says, linking her arm through mine. ¡°We¡¯re getting coffee. Real coffee. Not whatever you were drinking earlier.¡± Twenty minutester, we¡¯re seated in a cozy caf¨¦ with actualtte art and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to stay for hours. Caesar is in the y area, building an borate tower with foam blocks while I watch him like a hawk. Caroline and I sit infortable silence for a moment, both of us seemingly lost in our thoughts. ¡°Celine¡­¡± ¡°Caroline¡­¡± We speak at the same time, and despite everything, it makes meugh. A realugh, the first genuine one I¡¯ve had all day. ¡°You first,¡± I say, wrapping my hands around my mug for warmth. Chapter 153 Caroline takes a deep breath, her usual confidence nowhere to be found. ¡°I need to apologize. I know my actions don¡¯t deserve forgivene but I have to try.¡± I start to interrupt, but she holds up a hand. ¡°Please, let me finish. You trusted me, Celine. You were my best friend, and I¡­¡± She swallows hard. ¡°I did something evil. I manipted you, drugged you, and put you in danger. All because I thought I knew what was best for everyone.¡± Her voice cracks, and I see tears gathering in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m so ashamed of myself. I¡¯m angry at myself. I became exactly like the Reid family I¡¯ve always hated¡ªputting my own selfish needs above everything else. Because of me, you got thrown out by your family. Because of me, you suffered white trying to take care of Caesar alone. She looks down at her hands, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°I knew Caesar¡¯s father was Hunter, and I said nothing. I watched you struggle, and I said nothing. No amount of sorry will ever erase what did to you.¡± I study her face, seeing the genuine remorse etched in every line. I should hate her, Part of me wants to. But¡­ ¡°Caroline, look at me.¡± She raises her eyes, and I see my friend¡­.really see her¡­.for the first time in months. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t hate yourself,¡± I say quietly. ¡°It¡¯s not like my shitty family wouldn¡¯t have thrown me out eventually anyway. They were just looking for an excuse.¡± Caroline opens her mouth to protest, but I continue. ¡°And if you hadn¡¯t yed matchmaker that night, I wouldn¡¯t have Caesar. I wouldn¡¯t have met Hunter. Yes, the way you went about it was wrong, but¡­¡± I nce over at Caesar, who¡¯s now making airne sounds as he flies a toy ne around his block tower. ¡°I can¡¯t regret having him. And I can¡¯t regret¡­ everything that came after.¡± ¡°Celine, you¡¯re too forgiving,¡± Caroline says, shaking her head. ¡°You should be furious with me.¡± ¡°I was furious. For a long time.¡± I take a sip of mytte, letting the warmth spread through me. ¡°But I¡¯m tired of hating people, Caroline. You¡¯re my friend. Your intentions were pure, even if your methods werepletely insane.¡± That gets a wateryugh out of her. ¡°I can¡¯t afford to lose friends,¡± I continue. ¡°Not when I have so few of them.¡± Read full story at Caroline reaches across the table to grab my hand, and I let her. ¡°Now,¡± she says, her voice stronger, ¡°what¡¯s this about running into Aunt Eleanor? Did she hurt you? Say something mean?¡± I try to look casual, but Caroline knows me too well. ¡°We just¡­ ran into each other. You know, coincidence.¡± Caroline raises an eyebrow. ¡°Ah, you ran into Aunt Eleanor in a ce like this? My aunt Eleanor?¡± 13:04 Fri, 8 Aug O ¡°Maybe she had someone to meet here,¡± I say weakly. ¡°Celine.¡± Caroline¡¯s voice is t. ¡°Aunt Eleanor doesn¡¯t ¡®run into¡® people. She summons them.¡± I fidget with my mug. ¡°It¡¯s not that bad of a ce. It has great shopping malls and nice caf¨¦s¡­¡± ¡°Yes, for people like us. Not for Aunt Eleanor.¡± Caroline rolls her eyes. ¡°That womanins about everything. She probably had the driver circle the block three times before she had even gotten out of the car.¡± Despite everything, I find myself smiling. ¡°She did seem¡­ out of ce.¡± ¡°I still can¡¯t believe someone like Hunter came from her,¡± Caroline continues, warming to her favorite topic of mocking her aunt. ¡°Can you imagine if Hunter were more like his mother? He wouldn¡¯t look at you twice, let alone want anything to do with you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d he¡¯s not,¡± I say softly. Caroline¡¯s eyes sparkle with mischief. ¡°Oh my God, you are so in love.¡± ¡°Caroline!¡± I feel my cheeks burning. ¡°It¡¯s written all over your face! You get this dreamy look whenever someone mentions his name.¡± She leans forward conspiratorially. ¡°So, things are good between you two?¡± Before I can answer, she gasps, her grip on my hand tightening. ¡°Wait, I felt something. What-¡± She turns my hand over, studying my palm where something smooth grazed her fingers. Her eyes widen as she spots the ring on her hand. ¡°Caroline.¡± My voice is barely a whisper. ¡°Is that what I think it is?¡± Her smile could power the entire city. ¡°Fredric proposed!¡± I cover my mouth with my free hand, staring at the gorgeous diamond sparkling on her finger. ¡°Oh my God! Caroline!¡± ¡°I was so happy, and I wanted to call you the moment it happened, but with our fight¡­¡± She trails off, looking guilty again. ¡°I¡¯m so happy for you!¡± I squeeze her hand, and this time the tears in my eyes are happy ones. ¡°Tell me everything!¡± Carolineunches into the story, her face glowing with joy as she describes Fredric¡¯s borate proposal at sunset on the beach. I listen, letting her happiness wash over me, grateful for this moment of normality. ¡°And he wants a spring wedding,¡± she continues, practically bouncing in her seat. ¡°Something romantic but not too over the top. He suggested a garden theme, maybe at the estate¡­¡± ¡°That sounds perfect,¡± I say, meaning it. ¡°You¡¯ll be the most beautiful bride.¡± ¡°I also heard about your news,¡± Caroline says, her voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°Vincent mentioned that you¡¯re pregnant I nod, unconsciously cing a hand over my still¨Ct stomach. ¡°Hunter must be over the moon,¡± she continues. ¡°After everything with the doctors telling him about his¡­ condition¡­ this must feel like a miracle.¡± 3/4 13:05 Fri, 8 Aug ¡°It does,¡± I whisper. We sit there for a moment, both of us lost in thoughts of the future. Then Caroline starts describing Fredric¡® & ideas for the v¨¦n¨¦ CANE find myselfughing at her animated gestures. For the first time in hours, I feel free. Light. Despite whatever happened with Eleanor, despite the threats and the fear, I have 1706 I have my friend back, my son ying happily nearby, and the promise of new life growing inside me Sometimes, I realize, the sweetest momentse right after the darkest ones, ¡°Mommy!¡± Caesar calls from the y area. ¡°Look what I built!* I look over to see him standing proudly next to a tower that¡¯s nearly as tall as he is, constructed entirety of colorful blocks ¡°That¡¯s amazing, baby!¡± I call back. ¡°It¡¯s for the new baby!¡± he announces. ¡°So they have somewhere to y!¡± Caroline and I exchange a look, and she grins. ¡°He¡¯s going to be such a good big brother,¡± she says. ¡°He already is,¡± I reply, watching as Caesar carefully adds another block to his creation. And for the first time in a long time, I let myself believe that everything might be okay. A.. Legacy 154 Chapter 154 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- The numbers in the quarterly report mix like colors in the rain. I blink hard, forcing my eyes to focus on the profit margins spread across the mahogany conference table, but my mind keeps drifting three thousand miles away to a woman with warm brown eyes and the child growing in her belly. ¡°Mr. Reid?¡± The voice cuts through my haze like a de. ¡°The projections for the third quarter?¡± I look up to find eight pairs of eyes staring at me expectantly. The London boardroom feels suffocating despite its soaring ceilings and floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows overlooking the Thames. ¡°I apologize,¡± I say, straightening my tie. ¡°Could you repeat the question?¡± Jameson Morris, my London operations director, exchanges nces with his colleagues. The kind of look that says ¡®the boss is losing his edge.¡® ¡°The third quarter projections, sir. For the European development.¡± Right. The development that should be the crowning achievement of my career. The deal I¡¯ve been directing for two years. Instead, all I can think about is whether Celine remembered to take her prenatal vitamins this morning. Whether Caesar ate his breakfast without throwing a tantrum. Whether Dr. Martinez called with any updates about the baby. The baby. ¡®Our¡® baby. A warmth spreads through my chest at the thought, followed immediately by a cold spike of anxiety. Find the newest release on find?novel Dr. Martinez¡¯s call yesterday still echoes in my mind¡­Reid Industries requesting Celine¡¯s medical records. My mother¡¯s fingerprints are all over it. ¡°Mr. Reid?¡± I snap back to attention. ¡°The projections look solid. Move forward with franchise.¡± it¡¯s a general response that seems to work for them. The meeting goes on around me, and the voices mix into background noise as I look out at the gray London sky. What is my mother nning? She¡¯s not stupid¡ªshe knows Dr. Martinez would report back to me. Which means she wants me to know she¡¯s digging. The question is why. Two hourster, I¡¯m shaking hands with thest of the associates, their satisfied smiles telling me the meeting went better than I deserve. My assistant gathers the papers while I loosen my tie, desperate to escape the corporate theater. ¡°Sir?¡± Robert, my London driver, greets me with his crisp British ent as I appear from the building. ¡°Finished for the day?¡± 13:05 Fri, 8 Aug ¡°Yes, Robert.¡± I manage a smile as I approach the sleek ck car. ¡°Thank you.¡± I¡¯m reaching for the door handle when a voice stops me cold. ¡°Hunter?¡± The blood freezes in my veins. I know that voice¡ªit¡¯s haunted my dreams for three years. I turn slowly, and there she is. Mrs. Greyson. Sophia¡¯s mother. She looks older, more fragile than I remember, but her blue eyes¡­..so much like Sophia¡¯s¨Care bright with recognition. Beside her stands a young woman, maybe sixteen, with golden hair and those same devastating blue eyes. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure it was you,¡± Mrs. Greyson says, her voice trembling slightly. ¡°Hello, Mrs. Greyson.¡± My throat feels raw. ¡°How are you?¡± ¡°We¡¯re well, dear. Very well.¡± She gestures to the girl beside her. ¡°You remember little Arie, don¡¯t you?¡± Little Arie. I remember a gap¨Ctoothed twelve¨Cyear¨Cold who used to hide behind Sophia¡¯s legs whenever I visited. Now she¡¯s a young woman, beautiful in a way that makes my chest ache because she looks so much like her sister. ¡°She doesn¡¯t look so little anymore,¡± I manage. Arie blushes but mutters something under her breath that sounds suspiciously like a curse. The corners of my mouth twitch upward despite everything¨CSophia used to do the same thing when she was embarrassed. ¡°We were just picking up some supplies for the house,¡± Mrs. Greyson exins. ¡°Nothing important.¡± ¡°Can I drop you somewhere?¡± The offeres out automatically, bred from years of politeness and a desperate need to somehow make amends for sins I can¡¯t even name. ¡°Oh, we couldn¡¯t impose¡­.¡± ¡°Please. I insist.¡± Mrs. Greyson¡¯s eyes soften. ¡°If you¡¯re certain¡­¡± Robert opens the door for both women while I slide into the front passenger seat, needing the distance. The familiar streets of London roll past the windows, but all I can see are memories of another time, another life. The Greyson house tooks the same¨Ca modest cottage with cheerful yellow trim and window boxes overflowing with flowers. Sophia used to drag me here every other weekend, desperate to share her family with me. To show me what normal looked like. Standing on the sidewalk now, staring at the front door where she used to wait for me with that brilliant smile, I feel like I¡¯m drowning in the past. ¡°Hunter?¡± Mrs. Greyson¡¯s voice is gentle. It¡¯s been a long time since you¡¯ve been here.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I whisper. ¡°A long time.¡± 13:05 Fri, 8 Aug She must see something in my face because she sends Are Inside with Robert to carry the packages, then turne to me with the wind al maternal concern that used to make me believe in happy families. ¡°Would you like toe in for tea? Every instinct screams at me to run. To get back in the car and drive away from this house full of ghosts and might have bands, But I have Celine now. Caesar. A baby on the way. I can¡¯t keep running from the past if I want to build a future ¡°I would like that,¡± I hear myself say. The moment I step through the front door, the memories hit like a physical blow. Christmas morning three years ago¡­.Sophia hanging on my arm as she introduced me to extended family, her face glowing with pride. The warmth of eptance I had never felt in my own home. The smell of Mrs. Greyson¡¯s famous mince pies and the sound of ver. Greyson¡¯s boomingugh. Everything the Reid family never was and never would be. ¡°Hunter!¡± Mrs. Greyson calls from the kitchen. ¡°Make yourself at home, dear!¡± I remove my coat and gloves, draping them carefully over the familiar sofa. The living room is a shrine to family memories¨Cphotos covering every surface, chronicling birthdays and holidays and ordinary moments made precious by love. My feet carry me down the hallway without conscious thought, stopping outside a door I recognize but have never had the courage to enter Sophia¡¯s room. My hand hovers over the doorknob, trembling. Part of me expects to find her there¨Ccurled up on the bed with a book, ready to scold me for staring. Ready to forgive me for everything i did wrong. I turn the handle. AD Send gift Legacy 155 Chapter 155 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- The room has a faint but clear smell of her perfume. The bed is neatly made, and her books are lined up in straight rows. Christmas lights twinkle around photographs covering one entire wall¨Cher life in snapshots, from gap¨Ctoothed baby to glowing young woman. And there, in the center of it all, is us. Our first date photo. She had insisted on ice skating instead of dinner at some stuffy restaurant,ughing as she staggered on the rink while I tried desperately not to fall. We look so young, so hopeful. Sopletely naware of how badly we would destroy each other. My fingers trace the edge of the frame before moving to her bookshelf. Her favorite novel sits exactly where it always did, pages soft from countless readings. I open it carefully, finding her margin notes in different colored inks¨Ca rainbow of thoughts and feelings spanning our entire rtionship. One note, dated a year after we went public, makes my heart stop: ¡°Sometimes I wonder if he sees me or just the idea of me. If he loves Sophia or loves having someone who loves him unconditionally. I¡¯m scared I¡¯m not enough for his world, but I¡¯m more scared of a world without him in it.¡± The book falls from my hands. ¡°Sophia,¡± I whisper to the empty room. ¡°How are you doing?¡± For a moment¨Cjust a moment¨CI can almost see her. Sitting on the bed with her legs tucked under her, hair falling in her face as she reads. She looks up at me with those impossibly blue eyes and smiles. ¡°Better now that you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°I met someone,¡± I tell her ghost. ¡°Her name is Celine. She¡¯s¡­ she¡¯s stubborn. Strong. She looks at me like I¡¯m something worth loving instead of something broken.¡± ¡°Do you love her?¡± ¡°Yes. And I¡¯m terrified I¡¯ll ruin it like I ruined us.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t ruin us, Hunter. We ruined ourselves/Both of us, together.¡± ¡°I should have fought harder. Should have made you feel safe instead of making you feel small.¡± ¡°And I should have trusted you instead of running scare I sink onto the bed, devastated by memories and regrets and the weight of carrying someone else¡¯s ghost for three years. ¡°I¡¯m going to be a father again,¡± I whisper. TOLUJ TITO AUy Chapter 155 ¡°There¡¯s Caesar¡­.he¡¯s three, and he calls me Papa. And there¡¯s a babying. I¡¯m scared, Sophia. What if I¡¯m not enought what if my lo isn¡¯t enough to protect them?¡± ¡°Then you fight anyway. You fight because they¡¯re worth it. Because love is always worth fighting for, even when it¡¯s scary?¡± The vision fades, leaving me alone with her jewelry box. Inside, exactly where I knew they would be, are the engagement ring and ne I gave her. The symbols of promises I couldn¡¯t keep. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I say to the silence. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I never tried to understand your pain. I¡¯m sorry I made you feel like you weren¡¯t enough when you were everything.¡± I close the box gently, sealing away another piece of my past, and walk back to the living room where a different kind of healing waits. Dinner with the Greysons is exactly what I remembered¨Cwarm, chaotic, full of the kind of love that doesn¡¯t demand anything in return. Mr. Greyson regales me with stories from his job at the postal service while Mrs. Greyson fusses over everyone¡¯s tes. Arie sits quietly, watching me with curious eyes that hold too much understanding for someone so young. ¡°Is there someone special in your life?¡± Mrs. Greyson asks as we finish dessert. The question catches me off guard. I look around the table at these people who loved Sophia, who have every reason to hate me, and find only genuine curiosity and hope in their faces. ¡°I¡¯m a father,¡± I say finally. ¡°To two children, actually.¡± Mrs. Greyson¡¯s face lights up. ¡°How wonderful! She must be a lovely girl.¡± I think about Celine¨Cher fierce protectiveness, her quiet strength, the way she makes everything better just by existing. ¡°She is. You would love her.¡± ¡°Bring her next time,¡± Mrs. Greyson insists. ¡°We¡¯d love to meet her.¡± ¡°I will.¡± And I mean it. Standing at the front door an hourter, saying goodbye, I feel lighter than I have in years. Mrs. Greyson hugs me tight, pressing a kiss to my cheek. ¡°Sophia would be proud of you,¡± she whispers, tears in her eyes. ¡°She¡¯s at peace now, Hunter. She would want you to be happy.¡± Mr. Greyson pulls his wife inside with gentle scolding about being a ¡°crybaby,¡± leaving me alone with Arie on the doorstep. We don¡¯t speak for a moment, just stand there in the London twilight with three years of unspoken words between us. ¡°If you ever need anything,¡± I tell her, handing over my business card, ¡°don¡¯t hesitate to call.¡± She takes it, studying my face with those too¨Cknowing eyes. ¡°She really loved you, you know.¡± I nod, not trusting my voice. ¡°And she would want you to be happy now.¡± Arie reaches into her pocket and pulls out an envelope, pressing it into my hands. ?? The source of th?s content is find?novel ¡°She wrote this for you. Before¡­ before everything fell apart. I found it in her things, but was too tear to send The paper feels fragile in my hands, like it might crumble at the slightest touch. ¡°Thank you.¡± She disappears inside, leaving me alone with Robert and a letter from the dead. Later, in my London penthouse, I sit on the leather sofa with a ss of scotch and stare at the envelope. My name is written in Sophia¡¯s careful script, each letter formed with the uracy she brought to everything. The date in the corner makes my breath catch: three years ago. My birthday. The business trip I chose over celebrating with her One of the first cracks in our foundation. My hands shake as I tear it open. ¡®My Dearest Hunter,¡® ¡®It¡¯s your birthday, and you¡¯re three thousand miles away closing some deal that couldn¡¯t wait another day. I know I should be angry, but instead I¡¯m sitting in our empty apartment writing you a letter I will probably never send.¡® ¡®I¡¯ve been thinking about ustely. About the woman I was when we met and the woman I¡¯m bing now.¡± ¡®I used to be brave, remember? I used to speak up for myself, dream big dreams, believe I could conquer the world.¡± ¡®Somewhere along the way, I got small. Your mother¡¯s disapproval, the whispers at corporate events, the constant feeling that I¡¯m not smart enough, glossed enough, good enough for your world¨Cit all chipped away at me until I barely recognize myself.¡± ¡®But that¡¯s not your fault, my love. It¡¯s mine, for forgetting that you chose me. For letting other people¡¯s opinions matter more than your love.¡± ¡®I know I¡¯ve been distanttely. Distracted. You probably think I¡¯m pulling away because I don¡¯t love you anymore, but it¡¯s the opposite. I love you so much it terrifies me. Because loving you means risking everything, and I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m brave enough for that kind of risk. ¡®I watch you build empires andmand boardrooms, and sometimes I wonder what you see in the girl who still gets nervous ordering at fancy restaurants. But then you smile at me¡­.really smile, not your corporate smile¨Cand I remember.¡® ¡°You see me. The reat me. And somehow, miraculously, you love her.¡¯ ¡®I want to be worthy of that love, Hunter, I want to stand beside you without feeling like I¡¯m constantly catching up I want to be your partner, not your project.¡¯ ¡®So I¡¯m going to try to be braver. Starting now. Starting with this letter that I¡¯m actually going to give you when you get home.¡± ¡®Happy birthday, my love. Thank you for seeing something in me worth fighting for. I promise I¡¯ll try to see it too.¡± ¡®I love you, Hunter. Always and forever 13:05 Fri, 8 Aug ¡®Yours,¡® ¡®Sophia¡® The letter falls from my numb fingers. She was trying. In the end, despite everything, she was trying to find her way back to us. Back to the brave girl I fell in love with. If only I had been home for that birthday. If only I had read this letter when it mattered. If only we had learned to fight for each other instead of against each other. I drain my scotch and reach for my phone, scrolling to Celine¡¯s contact. It¡¯ste in New York, but I need to hear her voice. Need to know she¡¯s safe and happy and not slipping away like sand through my fingers. ¡°Hunter?¡± Her sleepy voice fills me with warmth. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s fine,¡± I lie smoothly. ¡°I just wanted to hear your voice before you went to sleep.¡± ¡°Mmm. How was your day?¡± I think about the meeting I barely paid attention to, the confrontation with my past, the letter that feels like a knife in my chest. ¡°Different,¡± I say finally. ¡°But good. How are you feeling? Any morning sickness?¡± ¡°A little. Caesar was being extra helpful today¨Che brought me crackers in bed.¡± Sheughs softly, and the sound heals something inside me. ¡°He¡¯s going to be such a good big brother.¡± ¡®Caesar. Our son. Our family.¡® ¡°I love you,¡± I say suddenly, desperately. ¡°You know that, right? You know I¡¯m not going anywhere?¡± There¡¯s a pause, and I can almost see her frowning in the darkness of our bedroom. ¡°Hunter? Are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± ¡°Just missing you. Missing home.¡± ¡°We miss you too. Come back to us soon?¡± ¡°As soon as I can. I promise.¡± After we hang up, I sit in the silence of my London apartment and make another promise¨Cthis one to Sophia¡¯s memory and to the future I¡¯m building with Celine. I won¡¯t make the same mistakes twice. This time, I will fight. 13:05 Fri, 8 Aug Legacy 156 Chapter 156 -MIA- (Eight months ago) The Rosewood Ballroom looked like a scene from a fairy tale. It featured crystal chandeliers and gold ents that reflected light in many ways. I smoothed my hands over my emerald silk gown¡­Valentino, naturally¡­and studied the crowd of Manhattan¡¯s elite hanging out below the grand staircase. Another charity g. Another night of perfectly nned conversations and strategicworking disguised as unselfishness. ¡°Mia, darling, you look absolutely radiant.¡± Senator Patricia Wells air¨Ckissed both my cheeks, her champagne breath tickling my ear. ¡°Your father must be so proud. That education reform bill he sponsored is all anyone¡¯s talking about.¡± ¡°Thank you, Senator Wells.¡± I smiled the smile I had perfected at cotillion twenty years ago. ¡°Daddy does love making a difference.¡± The lie rolled off my tongue effortlessly. Daddy loved making headlines, not differences. But Patricia Wells didn¡¯t need to know that. ¡°Speaking of making differences,¡± she continued, lowering her voice conspiratorially, ¡°have you met Hunter Reid? The hotel mogul? Absolutely brilliant man, and handsome as sin. Still single, too.¡± My pulse sped at the mention of his name. I had been hearing whispers about Hunter Reid for months¡­.the young CEO who had built the best hotel empire before thirty, the eligible bachelor every mother in New York wanted for her daughter. ¡°I don¡¯t believe we¡¯ve been introduced,¡± I said carefully. ¡°Well, we simply must fix that. Eleanor Reid and I went to school together, you know. Lovely woman, though she can be a bit¡­¡± Patricia paused, searching for the right word. ¡°Particr about who she considers suitable for her son.¡± The challenge in her tone was unmistakable. Senator¡¯s daughter or not, I would need Eleanor Reid¡¯s approval to get anywhere near Hunter. t was still processing this information when the crowd near the entrance shifted, and I saw him. Hunter Reidmanded attention without trying, Tall and broad¨Cshouldered in his perfectly tailored tuxedo, dark hair that looked like he had run his fingers through it, and the kind of strong jaw that belonged on magazine covers. It was his bright blue eyes that took my breath away. They were smart, calcted, and showed no interest in the shy events happening around him. He moved through the crowd confidently, as if he always belonged there, He epted congrattions and chatted easily with everyone. When heughed at something the mayor said, the sound was rich and genuine, and I felt something flutter in my chest that had nothing to do with champagne. 1/4 This was the man I was going to marry. The thought came out of nowhere, sudden and certain. I had dated plenty of suitable men¨Csenators¡® sons, investment bankers, corporate heirs. But looking at Hunter Reid, I understood for the first time what people meant when they talked about chemistry. ¡°There he is now,¡± Patricia murmured. ¡°Shall I make the introduction?¡± ¡°Please.¡± We made our way across the ballroom, my heart hammering against my ribs with each step. Up close, Hunter was even more devastating His cologne was subtle and expensive, his hands strong when he shook mine. ?????? ???? F?ndNovel ¡°Hunter, I would like you to meet Mia ckwood. Senator ckwood¡¯s daughter.¡± ¡°Miss ckwood.¡± His smile was polite, professional. ¡°Pleasure to meet you.¡± ¡°The pleasure is mine, Mr. Reid. I¡¯ve heard such wonderful things about your hotel business.¡± It was a safe opener¨Cevery woman here had probablyplimented his business sense. But Hunter¡¯s face shifted slightly, genuine interest flickering in those blue eyes. ¡°You¡¯re familiar with the hospitality industry?¡± ¡°My graduate view touched on urban development and luxury hospitality.¡± True, though I had written it more to impress professors than out of real passion. ¡°I found your growth into sustainable hotel methods incredibly creative.¡± That earned me a real smile, and my heart did a little flip. ¡°Not many people pay attention to our environmental enterprises.¡± ¡°What can I say? I¡¯m full of surprises.¡± We discussed business sustainability and corporate responsibility for several minutes. I could see that I was making a good impression. Hunter was actually listening, asking follow¨Cup questions, treating me like I had a brain instead of just looking at my dress. Then something changed. His attention seemed to drift, his responses bing slightly dyed. I followed his gaze and saw him looking toward the service entrance where catering staff moved in and out with skillful invisibility. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said, blinking back to focus. ¡°You were saying about the guest experience programs?¡± ¡°Just that they¡¯re only effective with proper staff training,¡± I finished, though he clearly hadn¡¯t heard the first part of my sentence. The pattern continued throughout our conversation. Hunter would bepletely present for several minutes, charming and engaged, then something would pull his attention away. Always toward the service areas. Always searching for something¨Cor someone. 13:05 FM & Aug ¡°Hunter, darling!¡± Eleanor Reid appeared next to him like a powerful force of nature, perfectly styled ¡°I see you¡¯ve met Mix at the lovely is The approval in her voice was unmistakable. Eleanor Reid had already decided I was suitable daughter inw material. ¡°Mother.¡± Hunter¡¯s tone was carefully uninterested. ¡°Mia was just telling me about her work in policy development.¡± ¡°How wonderful. Beauty and brains¨Cwhat more could a mother ask for?¡± Eleanor¡¯s smile was sharp as diamonds. ¡°Mia, dear, you simply must join us for dinner next week. Hunter would love to hear more about your¡­ interests.¡± It wasn¡¯t really an invitation so much as a royal decree. But looking at Hunter¡­.handsome, sessful, exactly the kind of man I had been raised to marry¡­.I found I didn¡¯t mind being managed. ¡°I would be delighted.¡± ¡°Excellent. Hunter, why don¡¯t you show Mia the rose garden? The moonlight is simply divine tonight.¡± Hunter offered his arm with gentleman¡¯s courtesy, but I caught the way his eyes swept the room one more time before we walked toward the terrace doors. The gardens were beautiful¡­.perfectly manicured pathways winding between flowering bushes, soft lighting that made everything look romantic. We walked infortable silence for a few minutes, and I let myself imagine doing this for the rest of my life. Elegant parties, beautiful homes, the kind of marriage my parents had always envisioned for me. ¡°So,¡± I said eventually, ¡°what do you do when you¡¯re not revolutionizing the hospitality industry?¡± Hunter¡¯sugh was soft. ¡°Sleep, mostly. Thepany keeps me pretty busy.¡± ¡°All work and no y?¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± There was a distance in his voice that hadn¡¯t been there during our earlier conversation. Like he was physically present but mentally somewhere else entirely. ¡°You seem¡­ distracted tonight,¡± I ventured. For a moment, his pretense slipped. Something raw and vulnerable crossed his face before he caught himself. ¡°Just thinking about a project at work. Nothing that can¡¯t wait until Monday.¡± But it wasn¡¯t work. I could see it in the way he kept checking his phone, the way his jaw tightened when it didn¡¯t buzz with messages. Someone had Hunter Reid¡¯s attention, and it wasn¡¯t his business or his mother¡¯s matchmaking or even me. It was a woman. I was sure of it. The realization should have discouraged me. Instead, it only made me more determined. I had never had to work for a man¡¯s attention before they usually fell over themselves trying to win mine. But Hunter keld was direct Difficult. Challenging. And challenges had always brought out the best in me. ¡°We should head back,¡± Hunter said, ncing at his watch. ¡°Mother will send a search party if we¡¯re gone too long.¡± As we walked back toward the ballroom, I made my decision. Hunter Reid was going to be mine. Whatever¨Cwhoever¨Chad imed his attention now would have to step aside. I was Mia ckwood. I had been groomed my entire life to be the perfect wife for a man exactly like Hunter, I spoke fournguages, had degrees from Harvard and Columbia, could host a dinner party for fifty or charm foreign dignitaries with equal ease. Some nobody who had to hide in service corridors wasn¡¯t going to stand in my way. The thought should have felt cruel, but it didn¡¯t. It felt reasonable. Necessary. By the time we rejoined the party, I was already nning my next move. Eleanor Reid wanted me for her son, and I wanted Hunter for myself. All I had to do was figure out who my realpetition was¨Cand get rid of her. Comment Legacy 157 Chapter 157 -MIA- (SIX MONTH AGO: THE CEASAR INCIDENT) The drive back to the city should have been humiliating. Should have been the death knell of whatever fantasy I had been having about Hunter Reid and our supposed future together. Instead, I found myself strangely energized. I stared out the window of the hired car as Mahanttan¡¯s skyline came into view, reying every moment of this afternoon¡¯s disaster. The way Hunter had looked at that woman¨CCeline¨Cwith such raw protectiveness. The way he had spoken to his own mother with barely contained fury. The way his entire world had shifted the moment that child started crying. ¡®Caesar¡® Such an unusual name for such an unusual little boy. Those bright blue eyes, so familiar yet unceable. The way he had asked if I was going to marry ¡°Mr. Hunter¡± with such innocent curiosity. And Celine herself. I had expected some cheap gold¨Cdigger, all bleached hair and push¨Cup bras. Instead, she had been¡­ dull. in uniform, tired brown eyes, the kind of forgettable prettiness that faded into background noise at parties like tonight¡¯s charity g. So why couldn¡¯t Hunter forget her? My phone buzzed against my clutch. Eleanor Reid¡¯s name shed across the screen. ¡°Eleanor,¡± I answered, not bothering with pleasantries. ¡°My dear, I cannot begin to express how ashamed I am about today¡¯s¡­ unpleasantness.¡± Her voice was silk wrapped around steel. ¡°That woman¡¯s behavior was absolutely inexcusable.¡± ¡°Was it?¡± I found myself saying, ¡°She was protecting her child. Any mother would have done the same.¡± A moment passed in silence between us. When Eleanor spoke again, her tone had changed slightly. ¡°You¡¯re very observant, Mia. Maternal instinct is strong, isn¡¯t it? We should talk about this more. Are you free for lunch tomorrow?¡± Something in her voice made my pulse quicken. This wasn¡¯t just about apologies or damage control. Eleanor Reid had a n. ¡°The Four Seasons? One o¡¯clock?¡± ¡°Perfect. And Mia? This conversation should remain between us for now. Hunter is¡­ emotionallypromised at the moment.¡± The line went dead, leaving me staring at my phone with growing expectation. 13:05 Fri, 8 Aug The Four Seasons restaurant buzzed with the kind of understated elegance I had grown up taking for granted for months. Chapters first released on Find_Novel(. Crystal sses caught the afternoon light, conversations hummed at the perfect volume, and the waitstaff moved with skillful invisibility Eleanor was already seated when I arrived, looking impable in cream Chanel and pearls that probably cost more than most people¡¯s cars. She rose to greet me with air kisses and a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. ¡°You look lovely, dear. That color is divine on you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± I had chosen my outfit carefully¡­a navy sheath dress that was professional but feminine, jewelry that suggested wealth without screaming it. ¡°I have to say, I¡¯m curious about what couldn¡¯t wait until our next scheduled dinner.¡± Eleanor¡¯sugh was musical and cold. ¡°Direct. I like that. Your father raised you well.¡± We ordered¨CEleanor barely nced at the menu, clearly a regr¨Cand made small talk until the waitstaff pulled out. Then Eleanor leaned forward slightly, her expression growing serious. ¡°What happened yesterday was unfortunate but illuminating,¡± she began. ¡°I think you saw a side of my son that few people witness.¡± ¡°He was protecting someone he cares about.¡± ¡°He was being manipted by someone who knows exactly which buttons to push.¡± Eleanor¡¯s tone was matter¨Cof¨Cfact, like she was discussing the weather. ¡°Tell me, what did you think of Celine?¡± I considered my words carefully. ¡°She seemed¡­ devoted to her son.¡± ¡°Devoted, yes. But to which son, I wonder?¡± Eleanor¡¯s suggestion filled the room with a weighty meaning. It was clear that she was hinting at something specific, something that made me feel both excited and anxious. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I follow.¡± Eleanor smiled, and for the first time since I had known her, it looked genuine. Predatory, but genuine. ¡°My dear girl, you¡¯re far too intelligent to y coy. You saw that little boy yesterday. Those eyes. That bone structure. The way Hunter reacted when Ceasar was upset.¡± She paused to sip her wine. ¡°Children can be such perfect weapons when wielded correctly.¡± The pieces clicked into ce with stunning clearness. Ceasar wasn¡¯t just some random child Hunter had grown fond of. He was Hunter¡¯s son. And Celine¡­in,monce Celine¡­.was the mother of Hunter Reid¡¯s heir. ¡°How long has Hunter known?¡± I managed to ask. ¡°That¡¯s the delicious part¨CI don¡¯t think he wants to acknowledge it. Or if he suspects, he hasn¡¯t acted on it.¡± Eleanor¡¯s eyes glittered with nasty joy. ¡°Which means we have an opportunity.¡± ¡°We?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look so shocked, Mia. You want my son, and I want what¡¯s best for his future. That woman and her child represent chaos, scandal, If Ceasar was Hunter¡¯s son, then Celine had been lying to him for years. Keeping his child from him, letting him believe she was just some employee he had developed feelings for. The deception was breathtaking in its audacity. ¡°What exactly are you proposing?¡± ¡°Information, my dear. Carefully ced truths that reveal Celine¡¯s true nature. Hunter is infatuated, but infatuation rarely survives the cold light of reality.¡± Eleanor¡¯s smile was sharp as a de. ¡°For instance, did you know that Celine has a rather colorful employment history? Multiple jobs, multiple terminations, always moving on when things getplicated?¡± ¡°You investigated her?¡± ¡°I investigate everyone who enters my son¡¯s orbit. It¡¯s called being a good mother.¡± Eleanor signaled the waiter for another wine. ¡°There¡¯s also the matter of her family. A sister who only contacts her when she needs money, parents who abandoned her when she got pregnant so young. Not exactly the kind of stable background one wants in a daughter¨Cinw.¡± Each revtion was a knife twist. Not because I felt sorry for Celine¨CI didn¡¯t¨Cbut because they painted a picture of exactly the kind of woman who would trap a man like Hunter with a pregnancy. ¡°And if Hunter refuses to see reason?¡± ¡°Then we make the choice for him.¡°Eleanor¡¯s voice was calm and steady. ¡°Men like my son¡­powerful, sessful men¡­.they need to be protected from their own urges sometimes. It¡¯s our job as the women who love them to guarantee they make the right decisions.¡± Our food arrived, interrupting the conversation, but my appetite had vanished. Not from disgust¨Cfrom excitement. For two months, I had been ying defense, trying topete with a ghost, someone I couldn¡¯t see or fight. Now I knew exactly who my enemy was, and she was far more vulnerable than I had imagined. ¡°What do you need from me?¡± I asked when the waiter left. ¡°Be patient, have a n, and above all, be ready to support Hunter when his current situation falls apart.¡± Eleanor cut her salmon precisely. ¡°You¡¯re young, educated, from the right family. When this affair burns out¨Cand it will¨Cyou¡¯ll be there to offer him something real. Something 13:06 Fri, 8 Aug ¡°And if she fights back?¡± Eleanor¡¯sugh was like breaking ss. ¡°With what weapons? She¡¯s a maid with a bastard child and a troubled family. You¡¯re a senator¡¯s daughter with impable breeding and unlimited resources.¡± Her eyes met mine across the table. ( ¡°This isn¡¯t a fair fight, Mia. It was never meant to be.¡± The rxed cruelty of it should have disturbed me. Instead, I felt something loosen in my chest, some knot of frustration and uncertainty finally unwinding. I had spent my entire life being told I was destined for greatness, raised to marry well and maintain the family legacy. But until now, I had never had to actually fight for what I wanted. ¡°When do we start?¡± Eleanor¡¯s smile was triumphant. ¡°We already have, dear. We already have.¡± As we finished lunch, Eleanor wrapped up the all¨Caround strokes of her n. Nothing dramatic or obvious¡­.Hunter was too smart for that. Instead, a careful action of revtion and advice. Show him Celine¡¯s past, her instability, her unsuitability. Meanwhile, position me as the stable choice, the woman who could give him the life and family he deserved. It was ruthless. It was summed up. It was exactly the kind of strategic thinking that had gotten the Reid family where they were today. And as I walked back to my car, I realized I felt more alive than I had in months. The woman who had Hunter¡¯s heart might have won the first battle by virtue of getting there first. But I had something she didn¡¯t¡­Eleanor Reid as an ally, unlimited resources, and the breeding to y a long game. Celine might have won Hunter¡¯s heart with her doe¨Ceyed innocence and her son¡¯s maniption. But love was temporary. Marriage was forever. And I intended to be thest woman standing. The game was no longer about winning Hunter¡¯s attention. It was about destroying thepetition entirely. Let the real hattle hesin Comment Send gift No A Legacy 158 Chapter 158 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- PLAYLIST SUGGESTION: ¡°Do you better ¨C slowed + Reverb¡± by Rohan. The wheels of the ne had barely touched the tarmac before I was reaching for my phone, scrolling through the messages I had forced myself not to check during the five¨Chour flight from London. Three missed calls from Vincent. Two texts from Caroline. Nothing from Celine. The absence of her name on my screen made my chest tight in a way that had nothing to do with cabin pressure. I pulled my cap low and slipped on my sunsses as I made my way through the terminal, dragging my suitcase behind me. Five days in London had felt like five years, every business meeting stretching endlessly as I thought about home. About her. About the child growing inside her that I still couldn¡¯t quite believe was real. The arrivals area was packed with families and taxi drivers holding signs, but Vincent¡¯s was impossible to miss. In bold ck letters: ¡°WELCOME HOME ASSHOLE.¡± Several families stared at him like he had lost his mind, while a group of young women near the coffee stand were practically drooling. Vincent himself lookedpletely unbothered by the attention, leaning against a pir in his designer jeans and perfectly styled hair like he was posing for a magazine shoot. I pulled my sunsses down just enough to give him a withering look. ¡°Really?¡± His grin was unashamed. ¡°What? I thought it was weing.¡± I snatched the sign from his hands, crumpled it up, and tossed it in the nearest waste bin. ¡°Let¡¯s go, dummy.¡± ¡°Ouch. Five days in London and youe back even more charming than when you left,¡± Vincent said in that cocky tone I had missed more than I cared to admit. He fell into step beside me as we headed toward the exit. ¡°So, how was the trip? Please tell me you at least gotid while you were there. All that British ent action had to be good for something.¡± ¡°Vincent.¡± ¡°What? I¡¯m just saying, you¡¯ve been wound tighter than a¡­¡± ¡°Shut up and get the car.¡± Heughed, pulling out his keys with a flourish. ¡°Your chariot awaits, Your Grumpiness.¡± The ¡°chariot¡± turned out to be Vincent¡¯stest acquisition¡ªa bright red Ferrari that screamed for attention from three blocks away I stared at it in disbelief. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have brought a normal car?¡± ¡°This attracts thedies better,¡± he said, running his hand along the hood like he was caressing a lover. ¡°You should try it sometimei Might help with that permanent scowl you¡¯ve got going on.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t scowl.¡± ¡°Right. And I don¡¯t have devastatingly good looks and incredible charm.¡± I squeezed myself into the passenger seat, my knees practically touching my chin. ¡°How do you even fit in this thing?¡± ¡°Carefully.¡± Vincent slid into the driver¡¯s seat with skillful ease, then reached over and squeezed my bicep. ¡°Have you been working out? You feel more solid than¡­¡± I pped his hand away so hard it made a sharp crack in the confined space. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± The genuineughter that burst out of me surprised us both. It felt good tough, to fall back into the easy rhythm of our friendship after five days of Stressful business meetings and carefully crafted negotiations. ¡°There he is,¡± Vincent said, starting the engine with a roar that turned heads on the sidewalk. ¡°I was starting to think London had turned you into one of those polite British gentlemen.¡± As we pulled into traffic, Vincentunched into what sounded like a prepared speech about how well he had taken care of ¡°my woman and son¡± while I was gone. He went on about Caesar¡¯s intelligence, his curiosity, hispleteck of resemnce to my ¡°brooding, overly serious personality.¡± ¡°I hope you haven¡¯t been teaching my son any of your nonsense,¡± I said, though I was smiling despite myself. ¡°Nonsense? I¡¯m molding my future godson into a properdies¡® man. Starting early is key to sess in these matters.¡± ¡°He¡¯s three years old, Vincent. He hasn¡¯t even started kindergarten yet.¡± ¡°Exactly. The earlier the better. You can¡¯t start building charm too young.¡± We fell intofortable silence for a while, the familiar sights of Manhattan streaming past the windows. But the closer we got to the penthouse, the more my anxiety ramped up. ¡°How is she?¡± asked finally. ¡°Celine. Has she been okay? Did you notice anything¡­ strange?¡± Vincent nced at me from the corner of his eye. ¡°She and the baby are in perfect health, ording to Dr. Martinez. You can stop worrying.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help it.¡± ¡°I know. But seriously, Hunter, calm down. Everything¡¯s fine.¡± Something in his tone made me look at him more closely. ¡°What aren¡¯t you telling me?¡± ¡°Nothing. Why would you think¡­¡­¡± ¡°Vincent.¡± My voice dropped to the tone I used in boardrooms when I wanted answers. ¡°Spill. What happened while I was poi He was quiet for so long I thought he wasn¡¯t going to answer. When he finally spoke, his usual cockiness was gone. ¡°Okay, look, I¡¯m going to tell you something, but you can¡¯t freak out, all right?¡± My entire body went rigid. ¡°Just tell me.¡± ¡°Caroline ran into Celine at the shopping mall the day you left for London. Caesar mentioned that they had seen your mother while you were away.¡± The words hit me like a physical blow. My mother. She had contacted Celine while I was three thousand miles away and unable to protect them. ¡°What did she want?¡± The question came out low and dangerous. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Caroline said Celine seemed fine, so whatever happened, it couldn¡¯t have been too bad. And the fact that Celine didn¡¯t mention it to you when you called probably means¡­.¡± ¡°It means she¡¯s keeping secrets again.¡± My hands clenched into fists in myp. ¡°I thought we were past this.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was gentler now. ¡°Maybe she just didn¡¯t want you to worry while you were handling business in London. You know how she is¨Cshe tries to protect everyone else from drama.¡± But I knew my mother too well. Eleanor Reid didn¡¯t make social calls, especially not to women she considered beneath her son¡¯s notice. Whatever she had said to Celine, whatever she had done, it hadn¡¯t been harmless. ¡°As long as she and the baby and Caesar are fine, there¡¯s nothing to worry about,¡± Vincent continued. ¡°I moved them to your penthouse like you asked. The security there could keep out a small army.¡± Updates are released by Find~Novel ¡°You think I¡¯m overdoing it.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re being cautious. There¡¯s a difference.¡± He pulled into the circr drive of my building. ¡°Your mother might be maniptive, but she¡¯s not going to blow up your penthouse again just to make another point.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know her like I do.¡± I thought about Sophia and how a constant wave of doubt and criticism made her believe she didn¡¯t belong in my world. ¡°She pushed Sophia away with nothing but words and perfectly timedments. She¡¯s capable of more than you think.¡± Vincent parked and turned to face me fully. ¡°Then act nice when you go up there. Don¡¯t walk in looking like a man who¡¯s been sentenced to death. Go see your family.¡± The word hit me square in the chest. Family. That¡¯s what they were now, wasn¡¯t it? Celine, Caesar, and the baby we¡¯d made together. I pulled my suitcase from the back seat, then leaned down to Vincent¡¯s open window. ¡°Thank you. For everything. I know taking care of them 5 ? 66% wasn¡¯t your responsibility.¡± ¡°They¡¯re important to you, which makes them important to me. Besides,¡± his cocky grin returned, ¡°Caesar¡¯s going to make an excellent wingman in about fifteen years.¡± ¡°Get out of here before I change my mind about thanking you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going, I¡¯m going. Got some prettydies waiting for me to bury myself in their¡­¡­¡± ¡°Vincent.¡± Heughed and peeled out of the driveway with the kind of dramatic ir that only he could pull off. I was adjusting my sunsses when I caught sight of a strange figure sitting at a caf¨¦ across the street. Thedy was staring directly at me. but when our eyes met, she quickly looked away. Something about her seemed suspicious, but I couldn¡¯t ce her. After a moment, I dismissed it and headed inside. ¡°Good evening, Mr. Reid,¡± Henry the valet said as I passed through the lobby. ¡°Wee home.¡± The security guards nodded respectfully, but I barely acknowledged them. My mind was already upstairs, with Celine and Caesar and the thousand questions I needed to ask about my mother¡¯s visit. The elevator ride to the penthouse felt endless. I had had cameras installed while I was gone¡­discrete ones that Vincent had assured me were state¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cart. 1 checked the hallway one more time before punching in my security code. The door had barely closed behind me when I heard her voice from the bedroom. ¡°Vincent? Is that you?¡± I stood frozen in the entryway, my arms crossed, leaning against the wall as Celine appeared in the doorway. The sight of her knocked the breath clean out of my lungs. She was wearing a silk nightgown that seemed to flow like water over her curves, the deep blue fabric making her skin look radiant. Her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, and there was something different about her¨Ca glow that hadn¡¯t been there before I left. The pregnancy. She was showing now, just barely, but enough that the silk clung to the subtle curve of her belly. When she saw me, her face lit up with a smile so genuine and beautiful that it undid every defense I had built during the flight home. ¡°Hunter.¡± My name was a whisper on her lips. I pushed myself off the wall and crossed the room in three long strides, my hand immediately going to her cheek. Her skin was soft and warm, and she leaned into my touch like she¡¯d been starving for it. ¡°I missed you,¡± she breathed. My other hand found her waist, pulling her against me, and I could feel the small changes in her body¡ªthe fullness in her breasts, the slight roundness of her belly where our child was growing. Five days. Five fucking days, and I had nearly lost my mind missing her. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful,¡± I murmured, my thumb tracing the line of her cheekbone. ¡°So fucking beautiful.¡± Her breath hitched, and I could see the pulse fluttering in her throat. The silk nightgown left little to the imagination¨Cthe swell of her breasts, the curve of her hips, the long line of her legs. My body responded instantly, blood rushing south so fast it made me dizzy. I wanted to ask about my mother. Wanted to demand answers about what had happened while I was gone. But right now, with Celine warm and soft in my arms, nothing else mattered. ¡°I need you,¡± I said, my voice rough with five days of pent¨Cup desire. ¡°Right now.¡± Her eyes darkened, pupils dting as she looked up at me. ¡°Hunter¡­¡± I backed her toward the wall, my hands sliding down to grip her hips. The silk was so thin I could feel the heat of her skin through it, and when she arched against me, I nearly lost what little control I had left. ¡°Papa!¡± Caesar¡¯s voice rang out from the bedroom, followed by the sound of small feet running across hardwood floors. Celine and I sprang apart just as he came barreling into the living room, his dark hair messy from sleep, wearing dinosaur pajamas that were too big for his small frame. ¡°Papa! You¡¯re home!¡± Heunched himself at my legs with the kind of trust and zeal that made my chest tight. t scooped him up, breathing in his familiar scent of baby shampoo and innocence. ¡°Hey, buddy. Did you miss me?¡± ¡°So much! Uncle Vincent taught me how to y poker, and Mama made pancakes that looked like cars, and we watched movies about robots!¡± His words tumbled over each other in his excitement. Over his head, I caught Celine¡¯s eye. She was smoothing down her nightgown, her cheeks flushed with desire and embarrassment. But there was something else in her expression. Something that looked almost like guilt. My mother¡¯s visit. Whatever had happened, whatever Eleanor had said to her, it was written all over Celine¡¯s face. The questions I had been avoiding crashed back over me all at once. But Caesar was chattering about his week, and Celine was looking at me with those wide, trusting eyes, and I realized that whatever storm wasing whatavaraama my mother was ying it could wait until morning Righ Comment in five Legacy 159 Chapter 159 MY PLAYLIST SUGGESTIONS: ¡°That way¡± by Tate McRae -CELINE POV- J I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, my cheeks still flushed from Hunter¡¯s touch. The silk nightgown he had bought me clung to my changing body, and for the first time in three years, I felt beautiful. Really, truly beautiful. My skin had that pregnancy glow everyone talked about¨Cluminous and warm. My hair fell in glossy waves past my shoulders, fuller and shinier than it had ever been. My face looked softer somehow, more womanly. And my breasts¡­ I cupped them gently, admiring at how full and round they had be. I turned sideways, running my hand over the barely visible bump. Still small, still our secret, but there was a life growing inside me. Hunter¡¯s child. Our child. The memory hit me like a physical blow. Three years ago. Two months pregnant with Caesar. Standing in front of a cracked mirror in a dingy bathroom above Mrs. Chen¡¯s burger joint, my reflection a shadow of what I saw now. I had been working two jobs¡­the burger ce during the day, cleaning office buildings at night. My feet were constantly swollen, my back ached from bending over greasy fryers, and I spent every night crying into a pillow that smelled like cheap detergent and other people¡¯s despair. ¡°Girl, you gonna mess up my floor with all that water!¡± The memory of that day crashed over me in vivid detail. Tommy O¡¯Brien, a truck driver who came in every Tuesday for the grease special. Old enough to be my father, with yellowed teeth and hands that wandered where they shouldn¡¯t. I had been refilling his coffee when his calloused fingers slid up my thigh, higher than any stranger had a right to touch. The pregnancy had made me sensitive to everything¨Csmells, sounds, unwanted touches that made my skin crawl. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy now, honey. I got money for a pretty little thing like you.¡± The words had made my stomach turn. I had grabbed the water pitcher and dumped it over his head without thinking, ice cubes scattering across the linoleum floor. The p came so fast I didn¡¯t see iting. My cheek exploded in pain, the force of it sending me stumbling backward into the counter. The entire diner went silent except for the drip¨Cdrip¨Cdrip of water falling from Tommy¡¯s soaked hair. ¡°You crazy bitch! I was just being friendly!¡± ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?¡± My manager, Gary, came rushing from the kitchen, his face red with anger. Not at Tommy. At me. ¡°Apologize to Mr. O¡¯Brien right now!¡± I stood there, water dripping from my uniform, my cheek burning where he had hit me. Neen years old and two months pregnant, with nowhere else to go and no one else to turn to. The whispers started immediately. ¡°That¡¯s what happens when you sleep around¡­¡± ¡°Poor girl probably doesn¡¯t even know who the daddy is¡­¡± Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel ¡°Whore got what she deserved¡­¡± A few of the older women looked at me with pity, but no one said anything. No one stood up for me. I was just the pregnant girl who worked too many hours for too little money, and pregnant girls like me didn¡¯t matter. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible. I bit down on my already split lip, tasting blood and shame. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. O¡¯Brien.¡± Tommy smirked, adjusting his belt. ¡°That¡¯s better. Maybe next time you¡¯ll be more grateful for the attention.¡± I called Caroline from the bathroom, sobbing so hard I could barely speak. She showed up twenty minutester like an avenging angel in designer jeans and fury. ¡°You¡¯re all animals!¡± she had screamed at the dining room full of shocked faces. ¡°You watched a man hit a pregnant woman and did nothing! What is wrong with you people?¡± ¡°Maybe she shouldn¡¯t sleep around if she can¡¯t handle the consequences,¡± some faceless voice called out. Caroline¡¯s response was to grab the nearest ketchup bottle and hurl it at the wall. Then the salt shakers. Then whatever else she could reach. The police came eventually, but Caroline¡¯s family name carried weight. She paid for the damages and walked me out of that ce like I was made of ss. ¡°Why do you let them treat you like that?¡± she had askedter, as Iy in her guest room, my back turned to her so she couldn¡¯t see me crying. ¡°Because they¡¯re not entirely wrong,¡± I had whispered into the pillow. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare say that.¡± But I had copsed then, all the fear and shame and exhaustion pouring out of me in broken sobs. Caroline held me while I shattered, whispering that it would be okay, that things would get better. She had offered to help¨Cmoney, a job with her family¡¯spany, anything I needed. But I couldn¡¯t ept it. My own family had thrown me out when they discovered I was pregnant. I couldn¡¯t bear to be a burden to Caroline¡¯s family too, the people 13:00 FII, 8 Aug who had already given me so much kindness. I wanted to provide for my baby, even if it was so little. I wanted it toe from me, from my own hard work and determination. I wiped the tears from my cheeks, bringing myself back to the present. Look how far I hade. From that broken girl in a greasy diner to this¨Cstanding in Hunter¡¯s bathroom, wearing silk he had chosen for me, carrying his child. I had never believed I would meet a man like Hunter. Never believed Caesar¡¯s father would turn out to be someone who looked at me like hung the moon. But the guilt was still there, sharp and stubborn. Eleanor¡¯s words echoed in my mind, her threats and maniptions. Hunter deserved to know about the meeting, but how could I tell him? How could I be the reason he fought with his mother? ¡°Celine?¡± Hunter¡¯s voice called from the living room, warm and patient. ¡°Coming!¡± I stepped out of the bathroom to find him standing by the windows, dressed in ck sweatpants and a fitted t¨Cshirt that brought out every line of his muscled torso. His hair was wet from the shower, and he looked like something out of a magazine¨Call sharp angles and masculine beauty. ¡°Caesar?¡± I asked. ¡°Finally asleep. It took three bedtime stories and a promise that we¡¯d build a rocket ship tomorrow.¡± His smile was soft, paternal. ¡°You might want to have a talk with him about negotiating tactics. He¡¯s getting too good at it.¡± Iughed despite my emotional restlessness. ¡°Don¡¯t spoil him. You need to scold him sometimes too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll work on it.¡± We stood there infortable awkwardness, the effect of five days apart settling between us. There was so much I wanted to say, so much I was afraid to say. ¡°Celine.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± He spread his arms wide, an invitation and amand all at once. ¡°Come here.¡± Hooked at his face¡­open, patient, beautiful¡­and started moving. When I reached him, I pressed my cheek to his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. His scent enveloped me, clean and masculine and uniquely Hunter. ¡°You smell nice,¡± I murmured against his shirt. His arms tightened around me. ¡°Just nice?¡± ¡°Mmm¡­ you smell like home.¡± I felt his sharp intake of breath, the way his body tensed slightly at my words. ¡°Keep going.¡± he said, his voice teasing but with an underlying heat that made my stomach flutter. I closed my eyes, breathing him in. ¡°You smell like¡­ safety. Like everything¡¯s going to be okay.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°And you smell expensive. Like those fancy hotels where they put little choctes on the pillows.¡± His chest rumbled withughter. ¡°Expensive? That¡¯s what you¡¯re going with?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good expensive. The kind that makes me want to bury my face in your neck and never leave.¡± ¡°Christ, Celine.¡± His voice was rougher now, his hands sliding down to rest at the small of my back. ¡°Do you have any idea what you do to me?¡± I tilted my head back to look at him, and the intensity in his dark eyes made my breath catch. ¡°Tell me about London,¡± I said, suddenly needing to break the tension before it consumed us both. ¡°London?¡± He looked amused. ¡°That¡¯s what you want to talk about right now?¡± ¡°Tell me something interesting. Something I don¡¯t know.¡± Hunter was quiet for a moment, his thumbs tracing small circles on my lower back. ¡°Did you know that London has morenguages spoken in it than any other city in the world? Over three hundred.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Mmm. And the London Underground has abandoned stations that are now used for everything from film sets to mushroom farms.¡± ¡°Mushroom farms?¡± ¡°In the tunnels. Perfect temperature and humidity for growing exotic mushrooms.¡± His eyes sparkled with mischief. ¡°There are also rumors of abandoned military bunkers and secret government facilities, but those are probably just stories.¡± ¡°Probably?¡± ¡°Well, I may have identally wandered into a restricted area during my morning run. Security was very polite about escorting me out.¡± ¡°What can I say? I have a talent for finding trouble.¡± The easy conversation felt likeing home, like slipping into a warm bath after a long day. This was what I had missed most while he was gone¨Cnot just his physical presence, but this. The way he made me feel like I was enough, like I was worth talking to and listening to. But underneath the warmth, the guilt still chewed at me. Eleanor¡¯s face shed in my mind, her cold smile and calcted threats, ¡°Celine.¡± Something in his tone made me look up sharply. The yfulness was gone from his expression, reced by something gentler but more serious. 13:06 Fri, 8 Aug? ¡°I know about my mother meeting you.¡± My heart stopped. The words hung between us like a sharp de. I wanted to step back and create some space, but he held me tighter in his arms. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered. ¡°I should have told you. I just¡­¡± ¡°Hey¡± His voice was impossibly gentle, no anger in it at all. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not. I promised no more secrets, and then I¡­.¡± ¡°Celine. Look at me.¡± I forced myself to meet his eyes, expecting to see disappointment or hurt. Instead, I found understanding and something that looked like protective fury¨Cnot directed at me, but for me. ¡°Just don¡¯t keep secrets from me anymore, okay? We¡¯re in this together.¡± His hand came up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear I didn¡¯t realize had fallen. ¡°Whatever she said, whatever she threatened, we¡¯ll face it together.¡± The gentleness in his voice broke something inside me. After years of facing everything alone, the promise of partnership felt like a gift I didn¡¯t deserve. ¡°I love you, Celine Brown.¡± The words hit me like a physical force, stealing my breath and making my knees weak. He had said it before, but tonight it felt different. Deeper. Like a vow. Like a promise that this time, I wouldn¡¯t have to face the world alone. ? Legacy 160 Chapter 160 -HUNTER- I woke to an empty bed and the faint sound of voices drifting from the kitchen. For a moment, I justy there, savoring the remaining warmth of Celine¡¯s presence beside me. Last night had been perfect. We had talked for hours, watched old movies curled up on the couch, and when she had fallen asleep against my shoulder, I had carried her to bed. She had pulled me down with sleepy hands, whispering that she wanted me to stay. I had held her all night, listening to her breathe, feeling the quiet changes in her body as our child grew inside her. Groaning, I reached for my phone. 7:30 AM. I had a board meeting at ten¨Csomething I used to look forward to, the joy of nning and negotiation. Now all I could think about was getting back home to Celine and Caesar. Christ, how had I changed so much? The voices from the kitchen grew clearer as I padded toward the living room in my sweatpants. Celine stood at the ind with ra, the housekeeper Caroline had rmended. ra was in her forties, efficient and kind, and thankfully, Celine seemedfortable with her. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Reid,¡± ra said with a warm smile when she spotted me. Celine looked up from the pastries she was rolling, flour dusting her cheek. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± ¡°Better,¡± I said, meaning it. Better than I had in months, actually. ra excused herself to attend to other tasks, and I moved toward the kitchen, drawn by the sight of Celine in her element. ¡°What are you making?¡± I asked, leaning against the counter. ¡°Trying a new recipe for apple turnovers. I found it in one of those cookbooks you bought me.¡± Her face lit up with enthusiasm. ¡°I think I¡¯m getting the hang of the pastry dough.¡± I reached for one of the finished pieces, and she swatted my hand away. ¡°Hunter! They¡¯re not ready yet.¡± ¡°Just a taste,¡± I said, grinning at the way her nose scrunched when she was annoyed. ¡°You look pretty when you¡¯re angry, you know that?¡± She rolled her eyes, but I caught the smile she was trying to hide. Moving behind her, I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her back against my chest. The off¨Cshoulder beige sweater she wore exposed the elegant line of her neck, and I couldn¡¯t resist pressing my lips there, ¡°Hunter,¡± she breathed, but didn¡¯t pull away. 13:06 PM, 8 Aug My hands slid beneath her sweater, finding the soft skin of her thighs. She shivered under my touch, and I felt that familiar surge of possessive hunger. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked, her voice slightly breathless. ¡°Caesar might walk in. Or ra¡­¡± ¡°Making sure you¡¯re working properly,¡± I murmured against her neck, my thumbs tracing small circles on her skin. ¡°You¡¯re distracting me.¡± ¡°Good.¡± I took another bite of the pastry, savoring the sweet vor. ¡°These taste incredible. You should think about opening a pastry shop instead of going to art school.¡± She turned in my arms, eyes wide. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really. Your pastries taste sweet¡­¡± I grabbed her chin gently, tilting her face up to mine. ¡°Just like you.¡± Before she could respond, I captured her lips in a kiss that was hungry, desperate, five days of missing her poured into the connection. She melted against me, her hands fisting in my shirt. ¡°Ew! Mommy and Papa are doing the muah muah!¡± We sprang apart as Caesar¡¯s voice rang out from the doorway. Celine¡¯s cheeks flushed pink, and I couldn¡¯t help butugh at his disgusted expression. ¡°You were spying on us, buddy,¡± I said, scooping him up and tickling his sides. ¡°That means you¡¯re getting the tickle punishment.¡± Caesar shrieked withughter, squirming in my arms. ¡°No! No tickles!¡± ¡°Boys, no ying in the kitchen,¡± Celine said, but she was smiling. ¡°Breakfast will be ready soon.¡± Breakfast as a family. The words should have terrified me¨CI had spent my entire adult life avoiding exactly this kind of domestic scene. Instead, it felt likeing home. We sat around the small dining table, Caesar chattering about his ns to build a rocket ship, Celine teasing me about my messy hair, me stealing bites of her food just to see her reaction. It was chaotic and warm and perfect. When it was time to leave for work, I found myself reluctant to go. ¡°I need to stop by the mansion to pick up some files,¡± I told Celine as I adjusted my tie. ¡°Probably won¡¯t be back until after six.¡± ¡°How are Sally and the other staff doing?¡± she asked, and something wistful crossed her face. ¡°I miss them. I miss the mansio too. I still haven¡¯t gotten used to staying here.¡± I understood. The penthouse was safer, more secure, but it wasn¡¯t home the way the mansion had be for her. ¡°I could take you and Caesar to visit when work slows down,¡± I said. Her face lit up. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really. Though I¡¯m not sure all the staff will be thrilled to see you.¡± The words came out harsher than I intended. ¡°Some of them were.. fes 716 13.00 than weing when you worked there.¡± ¡°I know,¡± she said quietly. ¡°But Sally and Marcus were kind. And Mrs. Peterson always saved extra cookies for Caesar.¡± I kissed her forehead. ¡°We¡¯ll go soon, I promise.¡± ¡°Oh, Caroline and ke areing overter to discuss bachelor party ns,¡± she said as I headed for the door. ¡°Is your cousin happy? I mean, really happy?¡± I thought about Frederick, about the way his entire face changed when he talked about Caroline. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen Caroline this happy. She really loves him.¡± The words made me wonder¨Cif I proposed to Celine, would she say yes? Would she want to spend the rest of her life with me, officially, legally, forever? The thought should have scared me. Instead, it made me want to rush to the nearest jewelry store. ¡°Have fun with the wedding nning,¡± I said, kissing her once more. As I walked to my car, my eyes automatically scanned the area. The woman I had noticed yesterday was back at the caf¨¦ across the street, somewhat hidden behind a newspaper. Something about her presence made my skin crawl, but I forced myself to dismiss it. I couldn¡¯t suspect every stranger of being a threat. The board meeting dragged on forever, filled with quarterly projections and budget allocations that normally would have held my attention. Today, all I could think about was getting home. I was reviewing contracts in my office when my assistant announced that my mother was here. Eleanor swept in without waiting for permission, impably dressed as always, her expression carefully uninterested. ¡°You could call before just stopping by,¡± I said without looking up from myptop. ¡°Why should I do that? I¡¯m your mother.¡± There was no point arguing with her logic. Besides, I was d she was here¡­.it saved me the trouble of tracking her down. ¡°You¡¯ve been busy,¡± I said, still not looking at her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean requesting Celine¡¯s medical records. Meeting with her while I was away.¡± Now I did look up, my voice dropping to the tone I used in hostile negotiations. ¡°It seems my warning about backing off from my family didn¡¯t sink in.¡± Eleanor¡¯s mask slipped for just a moment, revealing something cold and calcting underneath. ¡°Mind your tongue, Hunter. I¡¯m still your mother, and I won¡¯t have you disrespecting me because of some lowlife maid who got herself knocked up.¡± The casual cruelty in her voice made my blood boil. ¡°Don¡¯t ever call her names again.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call her whatever I like. And you need to start behaving like the man fraised instead of this lovesick foot I stood slowly, my hands t on the desk. ¡°Is your aim in life to make me miserable? Do you hate seeing me happy? Because! honestly can¡¯t understand your obsession with controlling my love life.¡± ¡°Of course I want you happy,¡± she said, but her tone suggested otherwise. ¡°With the right woman.¡± ¡°And what makes you so sure Celine isn¡¯t the right woman?¡± Eleanor¡¯s smile was sharp as broken ss. ¡°She took the two million dors I offered her. She was after your money all along ¡°You forced that money on her,¡± I said coldly. ¡°Whatever threats you used pushed her to take it. That¡¯s on you, not her.¡± ¡°She¡¯s beneath you, Hunter. You need someone on your level, someone who can think and move in your world.¡± ¡°You mean Mia. Your perfect choice.¡± ¡°Yes. And you should be grateful she¡¯s such a kind, forgiving person. You humiliated her at that disaster of a tea party, but she¡¯s still concerned about you. Still asking about you.¡± I sighed, knowing this conversation would continue until I ended it definitively. ¡°I¡¯m sure Mia is a great woman. Perfect, probably. But I don¡¯t love her, and I never will. She¡¯s nothing more to me than the woman you¡¯re trying to force on me.¡± Eleanor¡¯s face flushed with anger. ¡°Hunter¡­..¡± ¡°Give up on your stupid dream of controlling my life,¡± I continued, grabbing my jacket. ¡°And if you ever try to hurt Celine or my family again, I¡¯ll never forgive you. This is myst warning, Mother. The next time, I cut all ties.¡± I was halfway to the door when Eleanor¡¯s voice turned venomous behind me, but I didn¡¯t stop to listen. I had better things to do than waste time on her maniptions. I unlocked my office door and stepped into the hallway, only to find Mia ckwood standing there like she¡¯d been waiting. Shit. How long had she been there? How much had she heard? ¡°Eleanor?¡± Mia¡¯s voice was a shocked whisper as she spotted my mother behind me. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this,¡± I said, moving to brush past her. ¡°Excuse me.¡± ¡°Hunter, wait.¡± Mia¡¯s voice stopped me. ¡°I know I¡¯m the best fit for you. I can see it, feel it. You just have to give me room, and you¡¯ll see it too.¡± I turned to face her fully, making sure my voice was clear and unmistakable. ¡°My heart is already upied, Mia. There¡¯s no room for anyone else. Find someone who can love you the way you deserve. It¡¯s not me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking this,¡± she said, stepping closer. ¡°I believe in fate, and it¡¯s never wrong. I won¡¯t give up. I¡¯ll be standing by your side soon. The belief in her voice sent a chill down my spine, but I didn¡¯t have time to analyze it. Ihad to get home to Celine. The penthouse was quieter when I returned. ra was just leaving, and she informed me that Caroline had taken Caesar shopping and Celine was taking a bath. I made my way to the small study I had set up, trying to focus on work, but Mia¡¯s words kept echoing in my head The certainty in her voice, like she knew something I didn¡¯t. A gentle knock pulled my attention from theptop screen. Celine stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame in a way that made my mouth go dry. She wore a flowing dress that hugged her curves perfectly, her hair pulled up in a messy bun that left her neck exposed. She looked like every fantasy I had ever had. ¡°ra said you were back,¡± she said, walking toward me. Without hesitation, she settled onto myp, her arms wrapping around my neck as she peered at myptop screen. ¡°What are you working on?¡± she asked. ¡°Boring work stuff,¡± I said, but my attention was entirely focused on the way she felt in my arms, warm and soft and perfect. ¡°I want to know.¡± ¡°Really?¡± I looked at her skeptically. ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡± Iunched into an exnation of quarterly projections and market analysis, watching her face grow more confused with each technical term. ¡°See?¡± Iughed. ¡°I¡¯m sure you have no idea what I¡¯m talking about.¡± ¡°Actually,¡± she said, tilting her head thoughtfully, ¡°I just realized you¡¯re very handsome when you talk business. And sexy too.¡± The bold statement hit me like lightning. ¡°You¡¯re getting good at flirting with words.¡± She smiled, starting to stand. ¡°Don¡¯t overwork yourself. I should start dinner before Caroline gets back with Caesar.¡± I caught her hand, pulling her back down. ¡°I¡¯m lucky,¡± I said, the wordsing out more serious than I had intended. ¡°Lucky to have met someone like you.¡± She studied my face with concerned eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting weird since you came back from London.¡± ¡°Really?¡± I pulled her closer. ¡°Maybe I just really, really missed you.¡± Caroline stayed for dinner, filling the apartment with her usual energy andughter. She and Caesar were nning borate bachelor party scenarios that involved everything from treasure hunts to rocket ship rides. ¡°You¡¯re going to spoil him,¡± Celine told her, but she wasughing. Discover more novels at Find?Novel I watched them together¨Cmy cousin, the woman I loved, the son who was mine in every way that mattered¡­.and felt something settle deep in my chest. After Caroline left and Caesar was tucked into bed, I stood at the window looking out at the city lights. ¡°Mia, you¡¯re wrong,¡± I said quietly to the empty air. Celine appeared beside me, slipping her hand into mine. ¡°Did you say something?¡± I turned to face her, taking in her beautiful face, the way she looked at me like I was everything she¡¯d ever wanted. 13:07 Fri, 8 Aug ¡°Just thinking out loud,¡± I said, bringing her hand to my lips. ¡°We¡¯re meant to be, you know that? You and me. Forever. The words hung between us like a promise, like the beginning of something that wouldst the rest of our lives. Legacy 161 Chapter 161 4576 128 -CELINE- The waiting room at Dr. Martinez¡¯s office buzzed with the quiet energy of expectant parents. I sat beside Hunter, his hand warm and steady in mine, trying to calm the nervous flutter in my stomach. ¡°Celine Brown?¡± The nurse called from the doorway, clipboard in hand. Hunter squeezed my fingers as we stood. ¡°Ready?¡± he asked softly. I nodded, though my heart was racing. Today we would finally know if we were having a boy or a girl. Part of me was terrified¨Cnot of the baby¡¯s gender, but of how real everything would be once we knew. Dr. Martinez greeted us with her usual warm smile. ¡°How are we feeling today, Celine?¡± ¡°Good. The morning sickness has finally stopped, thank goodness.¡± ¡°Excellent. And you, Mr. Reid? Any questions or concerns?¡± Hunter shook his head, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. He had been quiet on the drive over, lost in thought. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s take a look at this baby,¡± Dr. Martinez said, patting the examination table. ¡°Same routine as before.¡± I settled onto the table, lifting my shirt to expose my belly. The bump was more pronounced now at twenty weeks, unmistakably a pregnancy rather than just bloating. Hunter¡¯s eyes fixed on the gentle curve, and something soft crossed his features. The cool gel made me shiver, and then Dr. Martinez ced the ultrasound wand against my skin. The familiar whooshing sound filled the room as she moved it around, searching. ¡°There we are,¡± she murmured, and suddenly the screen came alive with the grainy ck and white image of our baby. Hunter leaned forward, his grip on my hand tightening. ¡°Is that¡­?¡± ¡°Your daughter,¡± Dr. Martinez said with a smile. ¡°Congrattions, you¡¯re having a girl.¡± The words hit me like a physical force. A daughter. I was going to have a daughter. But it was Hunter¡¯s reaction that stole my breath. His face transformedpletely¨Cwonder, joy, and something that looked almost like fear mixed in his dark eyes. He stared at the screen like he was seeing a miracle. ¡°A girl,¡± he whispered, his voice barely audible. ¡°We¡¯re having a girl.¡± Dr. Martinez continued the examination, pointing out tiny fingers and toes, the baby¡¯s profile, and her strong heartbeat. But Hunter seemed transfixed, hanging on every word. ¡°Everything looks perfect,¡± Dr. Martinez assured us. ¡°She¡¯s measuring right on track, heartbeat is strong and steady. Would you like some pictures?¡± 15:08 Sat, 9 Aug ¡°Yes,¡± Hunter said immediately. ¡°All of them. Every angle.¡± Iughed despite the tears pricking my eyes. ¡°Hunter, we don¡¯t need twenty pictures.¡± ¡°We need them all,¡± he said ¡®seriously, making Dr. Martinez chuckle. As we walked to the car afterward, Hunter was unusually quiet, clutching the ultrasound photos like precious artifacts. ¡°Are you okay?¡± I asked as he started the engine. Read full story at find?novel He was quiet for so long I thought he hadn¡¯t heard me. Then he turned to look at me, his eyes bright with unshed tears. ¡°I¡¯m going to be a father to a little girl,¡± he said, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°I keep thinking about¡­ everything I want to give her. Everything I want to protect her from.¡± My heart clenched at the vulnerability in his voice. ¡°She¡¯s going to be so loved, Hunter. By both of us.¡± ¡°I want to give her the world,¡± he continued, pulling into traffic. ¡°The best schools, travel, opportunities¡­ but also just normal things. Bedtime stories and tea parties and teaching her to ride a bike.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to be an amazing father.¡± ¡°What if I¡¯m not? What if I mess this up like my father messed me up?¡± 45% 28 The raw fear in his voice made me reach over and ce my hand on his thigh. ¡°You¡¯re nothing like your father, Hunter. Look how you are with Caesar¨Cpatient, kind, yful. Our daughter is going to adore you.¡± He covered my hand with his, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. ¡°A daughter,¡± he repeated, like he was testing how the words felt. ¡°Caesar¡¯s going to be such a good big brother.¡± ~HUNTER~ That night, after Caesar was asleep and the apartment was quiet, I found myself unable to settle. The ultrasound photos sat on my nightstand, and I had already looked at them a dozen times. Celine appeared from the bathroom in her silk nightgown, her hair wet from her shower. She looked beautiful¨Cglowing with pregnancy, her body changing in ways that made my chest tight with possessive pride. ¡°You¡¯ve been staring at those pictures for an hour,¡± she said, settling beside me on the bed. ¡°I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s real. That we made her.¡± Celine curled up against my side, her head on my shoulder. ¡°Talk to me,¡± she said softly. ¡°You¡¯ve been distant since we left the doctor¡¯s office.¡± I was quiet for a long moment, trying to find the words. ¡°My father wasn¡¯t a good man, Celine. I¡¯ve told you bits and pieces, but¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to¡­.¡± ¡°I want to.¡± I turned to face her, needing her to understand. ¡°When I was growing up, I promised myself I would never have children. Never continue the Reid legacy.¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°Hunter¡­¡± ¡°My father was cold, calcting. Everything was about business, about maintaining the family reputation. He married my mother because she was suitable, not because he loved her.¡± I paused, the memories bitter. ¡°Actually, that¡¯s not entirely true. She was his mistress first.¡± Celine¡¯s hand found mine. ¡°What happened to his first wife?¡± ¡°She died mysteriously when I was five. Car ident, they said, but¡­¡± I shrugged. ¡°My mother moved from mistress to wife very quickly after that.¡± ¡°Oh, Hunter.¡± ¡°I grew up watching him destroy everything he touched. His businesses, his rtionships, even his own son. I was so grateful when the doctors told me I had a low sperm count.¡± Iughed bitterly. ¡°I thought it meant I would never have to worry about repeating his mistakes.¡± Celine was quiet for a moment, then she lifted her head to look at me. ¡°But if that were true, Caesar wouldn¡¯t exist. And neither would our daughter.¡± The simple truth of it hit me like lightning. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not your father, Hunter. The way you love Caesar, the way you¡¯re already nning our daughter¡¯s future with such tenderness¡­ you¡¯re going to break the cycle.¡± I cupped her face in my hands, overwhelmed by her faith in me. ¡°What if I don¡¯t know how? What if I can¡¯t protect them from this world?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out together,¡± she said firmly. ¡°But Hunter, I need you to know something. Raising children in your world¡­ it scares me sometimes.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°The scrutiny, the expectations, people like your mother who think they can decide what¡¯s best for our family.¡± Her voice grew smaller. ¡°What if our daughter grows up thinking she¡¯s not good enough because of where I came from?¡± The fear in her voice broke something inside me. I pulled her closer, burying my face in her hair. ¡°She¡¯ll know she¡¯s perfect exactly as she is,¡± I said fiercely. ¡°She¡¯ll know her mother is the strongest, most beautiful woman in the world. And anyone who suggests otherwise will have to deal with me.¡± Celine pulled back to look at me, tears shining in her eyes. ¡°I love you so much it terrifies me sometimes.¡± ¡°Good,¡± I said, brushing my thumb across her cheek. ¡°Because I love you more than I ever thought possible.¡± 3/3 AD Comment Send gift No Ads 15:08 Sat, 9 Aug Legacy 162 Chapter 162 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- 4045% The air between us changed, filled with feelings that went beyond words. I leaned in, kissing her softly at first, my lips grazing hers, tasting the faint sweetness of her chapstick. But the kiss deepened, her tongue meeting mine, slow and tender, a dance of warmth and need. My hands roamed her body, careful but hungry, tracing the swell of her breasts, fuller now with pregnancy, her nipples peaking through the thin fabric of her nightgown. ¡°God, I¡¯ve missed this,¡± I murmured against her lips, my voice thick with want. It had been months since we had made love¨Cher pregnancy had made us cautious, and I had been terrified of hurting her or the baby. But tonight, with her body pressed against mine, I couldn¡¯t hold back. I slid her nightgown up, my fingers grazing her thighs, soft and warm, until I reached thece of her panties. I hooked my fingers under the band, pulling them down slowly, my eyes locked on hers. Her breath hitched, a soft gasp escaping as I tossed the fabric aside, revealing the delicate folds of her pussy, already glistening with arousal. Her body was a marvel¨Ccurves softened by pregnancy, her breasts heavy, her skin flushed with a glow that made my cock throb painfully in my boxers. I stripped off my shirt, then my boxers, my hard cock springing free, the tip already slick with precum. Celine¡¯s eyes darkened, her lips parting as she reached for me, her fingers wrapping around my shaft, stroking slowly. ¡°Fuck, Celine,¡± I groaned, my hips jerking into her hand. ¡°You¡¯re gonna kill me.¡± She smiled, wicked and tender all at once, and leaned up to kiss me, her tongue swirling around mine, imitating the slow, intentional strokes of her hand. I pulled back, my breath ragged, and gently pushed her back against the pillows. ¡°Let me take care of you,¡± I whispered, my lips brushing her ear, making her shiver. I kissed my way down her body, pausing to suck gently at her corbone, then lower, my lips closing around one swollen nipple. She moaned softly, ¡°Oh, Hunter,¡± her fingers tangling in my hair as I licked and sucked, careful not to be too rough. My hand slid between her thighs, finding her slick and ready, her clit swollen under my fingers. I circled it slowly, teasing, watching her hips shift, her breathsing in soft pants. I moved lower, kissing the soft curve of her belly, then settling between her legs. Her pussy was a perfect, wet flower, and I groaned at the sight, my cock twitching. I parted her lips with my fingers, my tongue darting out top at her clit, slow and deliberate. She tasted like heaven¨Csweet, musky, and so fucking wet. ¡°Oh fuck, Hunter,¡± she gasped, her hips bucking as I sucked her clit into my mouth, swirling my tongue, my fingers sliding inside her, curling gently to stroke her walls. I worked her slowly, savoring every moan, every shudder, keeping her on the edge but not letting her tip over. 1/3 ¡°Not yet, baby.¡± I murmured against her, my breath tickling her slick folds. Her hands gripped the sheets, her body trembling as Ipped at her juices, my tongue delving deep, fucking her with slow, steady thrusts. ¡°You taste so fucking good,¡± I growled, my fingers pumping faster, her walls clenching around me. When her moans grew desperate, ¡°Oh fucking hell, I¡¯m so close,¡± I pulled back, kissing her inner thigh, letting her cool down.. I wanted this tost. I climbed back up, kissing her deeply, letting her taste herself on my tongue. ¡°I need you,¡± I whispered, my cock aching as I positioned myself between her legs, careful to keep my weight off her belly. I rubbed my cock up and down her slit, coating myself in her wetness, teasing her clit until she whimpered, ¡°Please, Hunter, fuck me.¡± I eased into her slowly, inch by inch, her tight, slick pussy engulfing me in wet heat. ¡°Fuck, you¡¯re so tight,¡± I groaned, setting a gentle rhythm, my hands bracing on either side of her. Her nails dug into my shoulders, her moans soft but urgent, ¡°Umm, oh fuck, Hunter.¡± I kept it slow, tender, every thrust careful but deep, watching her face for any sign of difort. Her breasts bounced softly with each movement, her lips parted, her eyes locked on mine. ¡°You feel so good,¡± I panted, my cock throbbing inside her, the pleasure building too fast. I slowed, pausing when I was buried deep, letting her walls pulse around me, prolonging the moment. ¡°Turn over,¡± I whispered, helping her onto her side, one leg propped on a pillow forfort. I slid back into her pussy from behind, spooning her, my hand cupping her breast, pinching her nipple gently as I rocked into her. ¡°Oh, fuck, yes,¡± she moaned, her hand reaching back to grip my hip, urging me deeper. 1 I kissed her neck, sucking the skin into my mouth, leaving a faint mark as I thrust harder, still careful, my fingers slipping down to rub her clit. Her moans grew louder, ¡°Ungh, Hunter, I¡¯m gonna¨Coh my pussy,¡± and I felt her climax hit, her walls clenching tight, pulling me over the edge. I groaned, ¡°Fuck, Celine,¡± my cock pulsing as I spilled inside her, my thrusts slowing as we rode out the waves together. I held her close, my lips brushing her shoulder, our bodies slick with sweat, our breaths mingling in the quiet. ¡°I love you,¡± I whispered, my voice raw, my heart full. Outside, the city hummed with life, but in here, with her in my arms, the shadows of my past felt a little less heavy. Wey in the aftermath, her body curved against mine, my hand resting protectively over her belly where our daughter was growing. ¡°She¡¯s going to be so loved,¡± Celine whispered sleepily. ¡°More than she¡¯ll ever know,¡± I agreed, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. For the first time in my life, the idea of the future didn¡¯t terrify me. With Celine beside me and our children to protect, I finally understood what I was fighting for. Chapter 163 Updates are released by find[f]ovel Legacy 163 Chapter 163 -HUNTER- 45% The charity g was a fucking nightmare wrapped in silk and champagne. I stood in the corner of the Grand Ballroom, nursing a whiskey I didn¡¯t want while Manhattan¡¯s elite preened and posed around me. Crystal chandeliers cast everything in golden light, but all I could think about was Celine curled up at home in her pajamas, probably reading pregnancy books while Caesar built pillow forts. ¡°Hunter Reid. Still brooding in corners, I see.¡± I didn¡¯t need to turn around to know who it was. Mia ckwood¡¯s voice had the same effect on me as nails on a chalkboard¨Cpolished, perfect, andpletely fucking grating. ¡°Mia.¡± I faced her, taking in the emerald gown that probably cost more than most people¡¯s rent. She looked stunning. Objectively, mathematically beautiful. And I felt absolutely nothing. ¡°You look handsome tonight.¡± Her smile was rehearsed, the kind they taught at finishing school. ¡°Though you seem¡­ different.¡± Different. Yeah, that was one word for it. Six months ago, I would have been working this room, making deals between the appetizer course and the silent auction. Now all I wanted was to go home to my family. My family, The words still sent something warm and fierce through my chest. ¡°How so?¡± I asked, though I didn¡¯t particrly care about her answer. She moved closer, her perfume, expensive and cloying¨Cmaking me miss Celine¡¯s simple vani scent. ¡°You used to enjoy these events. Now you look like you would rather be anywhere else.¡± Wise. I would give her that. ¡°Maybe I would,¡± I said simply. Herugh was like wind chimes¨Cpretty but holl¨®w. ¡°Come now, Hunter. This is your world. These are your people.¡± My people. I looked around the ballroom at the faces I had known for years. Politicians and socialites, old money and new, all ying the same tired games. None of them gave a shit about the children¡¯s hospital we were supposedly supporting tonight. They were here to be seen, towork, to maintain their carefully constructed images. 1/5 15:08 Sat, 9 Aug A year ago, I would have been right there with them. ¡°Things change,¡± I said. ¡°Not everything has to.¡± Mia¡¯s hand found my arm, her touch light but deliberate. ¡°I heard about your¡­ situation.¡± The way she said it¨Clike Celine and our daughter were a problem to be solved¡ªmade my jaw clench. ¡°My family, you mean.¡± ¡°Hunter.¡± Her voice went soft, sympathetic. ¡°I know you think you¡¯ve found something special, but is it real? Or are you just ying house with someone who doesn¡¯t understand your world?¡± The usation hit like a p. ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t I?¡± She stepped closer, green eyes searching my face. ¡°I know you, Hunter. Better than anyone. I know the pressure you¡¯re under, the expectations. I know what it¡¯s like to carry the weight of a family name.¡± For a split second, I almost understood why my mother had chosen her. Mia was everything that made sense on paper¨Cbeautiful, educated, from the right family. She had never struggled with board meetings or charity gs. She would fit seamlessly into my world. But that was the problem. I didn¡¯t want my world anymore. I wanted Celine¡¯s world. Messy and real and full ofughter. I wanted Caesar¡¯s sticky fingers and bedtime stories. I wanted to watch Celine¡¯s belly grow with our daughter and know that I was building something that mattered. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I said, and Mia¡¯s face lit up with triumph. ¡°I do know what I want.¡± I pulled out my phone and walked to the terrace, needing air that didn¡¯t smell like her perfume. Celine answered on the second ring, her voice sleepy and warm. ¡°Hunter? Everything okay?¡± Just hearing her say my name made my chest ease. ¡°Perfect. How are you feeling?¡± ¡°Tired but good. Caesar made me watch Frozen again. I think I know every song by heart now.¡± I smiled, picturing her on our couch with my son..our son¡­curled up beside her. ¡°I¡¯ll be home soon.¡± ¡°Drive safe. I love you.¡± ¡°I love you too, baby.¡± When I hung up, Mia was watching me from the doorway. ¡°She has you wrapped around her little finger, doesn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, not bothering to deny it. ¡°She does.¡± ¡°Hunter, please. Just think about what makes sense. Think about your future, your family¡¯s legacy¡­.¡± Tour Sat, Y AU ¡°I am thinking about my future.¡± I pocketed my phone and looked at her directly. ¡°And it¡¯s with her. Only her.¡± For a brief moment, the mask showed a cold and calcting side underneath. Then she smiled again, that perfect society smile. ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± she said softly. Something in her tone made my blood chill, but I was already walking away, done with this conversation and this whole fucking evening. All I wanted was to go home. -CELINE I woke up to sunlight and the sound of Hunter making coffee in the kitchen. My phone was buzzing incessantly on the nightstand¨Cprobably Caroline with some new wedding crisis. But it wasn¡¯t Caroline. It was a text with a link to Page Six. My stomach dropped before I even clicked it. There, in full color, was Hunter atst night¡¯s g. He looked devastating in his tuxedo, every inch the powerful billionaire. And beside him, touching his arm with casual intimacy, was Mia, ¡®to me¡® the most beautiful woman I have seen. *Reid heir spotted with longtime family friend Mia ckwood atst night¡¯s charity g. Sources say the pair looked ¡°veryfortable¡± together.¡¯ 1 scrolled through more photos, each one a knife to the chest. Her hand was on his arm. Him leaning down to listen to something she was saying. Both of them looked like they belonged in that glittering world. A world where I would always be an outsider. The pregnancy hormones made everything worse. Tears I couldn¡¯t control started streaming down my face as I stared at the photos. She was everything I wasn¡¯t¨Cpolished, sophisticated, born to this life. ¡°Morning, beautiful.¡± I looked up to find Hunter in the doorway, already dressed for work. He looked so handsome that it made my chest ache. And for a moment, seeing him there, I could almost forget about the photos. Almost. ¡°Hi,¡± I managed, quickly closing the browser. But Hunter never missed anything. His eyes sharpened, taking in my tear¨Cstained face and defensive posture. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He was across the room in two strides, sitting on the edge of the bed. ¡°Celine, what happened?¡± I wanted to be mature about this. Wanted to be the cool, understanding girlfriend who didn¡¯t get jealous over society photos. But the hormones and insecurity got the better of me. ???? ? ??? 44% 28 ¡°She¡¯s beautiful,¡± I whispered. ¡°Who?¡± I showed him the photos, hating myself for it. ¡°Mia. You look¡­ You look like you belong together.¡± Hunter¡¯s expression darkened as he scrolled through the images. When he looked back at me, his eyes were fierce. ¡°Do you want to know what I was thinking about all night?¡± I shook my head, not trusting my voice. ¡°You.¡± His hands cupped my face, thumbs brushing away tears. ¡°Sitting here in our bed, carrying our daughter. How much I wanted to leave that boring¨Cass party ande home to my family.¡± ¡°But she¡¯s perfect for you¡­.¡± ¡°Fuck what¡¯s perfect on paper.¡± The force in his voice startled me. ¡°You know what¡¯s perfect for me? Someone who makes meugh until my stomach hurts. Someone who challenges me to be better. Someone who loves me despite my fucked¨Cup family and doesn¡¯t care about my money.¡± His hands moved to rest on my belly, where our daughter was growing. ¡°Someone brave enough to give me everything I never knew I wanted.¡± ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel The sincerity in his voice broke something open in my chest. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I know I¡¯m being ridiculous¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being human. And pregnant. And dealing with my mother¡¯s psychotic matchmaking attempts.¡± He kissed my forehead softly. ¡°But Celine, I need you to understand something.¡± I looked up at him, this beautiful,plicated man who¡¯d somehow chosen me. ¡°I¡¯m done with that world,¡± he said quietly. ¡°The gs, the society bullshit, all of it. I only wentst night because it was for charity. But sitting there, listening to people talk about nothing¡­ all I could think was that I don¡¯t want to belong there anymore.¡± My heart hammered against my ribs. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°You.¡± The word was fierce, certain. ¡°I want to belong to you.¡± He stood suddenly, pacing to the window. The morning light caught the strong line of his jaw, the breadth of his shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking,¡± he said, his back still to me. ¡°About us. About making this official.¡± The air left my lungs in a rush. ¡°Hunter¡­¡± ¡°I want Caesar to legally be known as my son. I want our daughter to have both our names.¡± He turned, his dark eyes burning with intensity. ¡°I want everyone to know that you¡¯re mine and I¡¯m yours.¡± The words hung between us like a promise. ¡°Are you asking me to marry you?¡± My voice came out barely above a whisper. Saty Aug ¡°I¡¯m asking you to think about it.¡± He crossed back to me, sitting on the bed and taking my hands in his. ¡°When you¡¯re ready¡­when we¡¯re both ready¡­I want to spend the rest of my life proving that you¡¯re the only woman I could ever love!¡± My heart felt too big for my chest. This beautiful, powerful man wanted to marry me. I, with my messy past and uncertain future. ¡°Ask me again,¡± I said softly, reaching up to cup his face. ¡°In a few months, when we¡¯re not dealing with crazy mothers and pregnancy hormones and society drama.¡± Disappointment flickered across his features, but I wasn¡¯t finished. ¡°Ask me again, and the answer will be yes.¡± I smiled through my tears. ¡°It¡¯s always been yes.¡± 446 14287 The smile that spread across his face was devastating. He swept me into his arms, spinning me around until Iughed and begged him to stop. ¡°I love you,¡± he said, setting me down gently. ¡°God, I fucking love you.¡± ¡°I love you too.¡± I pulled him down for a kiss that tasted like promises and forever. ¡°Now go to work before you¡¯rete.¡± ¡°My almost¨Cfianc¨¦e is kicking me out?¡± He grinned, and I loved seeing him this happy. ¡°Your almost¨Cfianc¨¦e has a doctor¡¯s appointment.¡± As he headed for the door, he paused, looking back at me with an expression I couldn¡¯t quite read. ¡°What?¡± I asked. ¡°Nothing.¡± His voice was soft, reverent. ¡°Just memorizing this moment.¡± After he left, I stood at the window looking out at the city. Somewhere out there, Mia ckwood was probably nning her next move. Eleanor Reid was undoubtedly scheming. The society pages were already gossiping aboutst night¡¯s photos. But here, in our home, none of that mattered. Hunter had chosen me. Was choosing me, every single day. And soon, I would choose him right back¨Cofficially, legally, forever Legacy 164 Chapter 164 -HUNTER- ¡°Derek, I need you to look into someone.¡± My private investigator¡¯s voice crackled through the phone speaker as I stared out my office window at the caf¨¦ across the street. The same woman had been there every morning for the past week, always positioned with a clear view of my building. ¡°What do you have?¡± Derek asked, all business. ¡°Middle¨Caged woman, brown hair, usually wears dark clothing. She¡¯s been watching me from Romano¡¯s Caf¨¦. Daily surveince for seven days straight.¡± ¡°Could be a journalist. Or someone working for apetitor.¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± But my instincts said otherwise. This felt personal. ¡°I need everything¨Cname, background, connections. Fast.¡± ¡°Give me twenty¨Cfour hours.¡± After ending the call, I tried to focus on the Files on my desk, but the woman¡¯s presence nagged at me. In my world, surveince usually meant trouble. Corporate spying, hostile takeovers, or worse¨Cthreats against my family. The thought of someone watching Celine and Caesar made my blood run cold. Derek called back at exactly 4:47 PM. ¡°Her name is Margaret Torres,¡± he said without preamble. ¡°Fifty¨Cthree years old, works part¨Ctime at a grocery store in Queens. And Hunter? She¡¯s Celine¡¯s aunt. Her mother¡¯s sister.¡± The words hit like a physical blow. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Margaret Torres, n¨¦e Brown. Celine¡¯s maternal aunt. ording to my sources, there¡¯s been bad blood in that family for years. Margaret and Celine¡¯s mother had some kind of falling out before Celine was thrown out.¡± My mind raced. Celine rarely talked about her family, but when she did, the pain in her voice was unmistakable. Her mother had sent her packing, the moment she found out Celine was pregnant, cutting all tiespletely. Her sister viewed her aspetition rather than family. So why was her aunt watching me? ¡°What does she want?¡± I asked. ¡°That¡¯s the million¨Cdor question. It could be curiosity. It could be she¡¯s reporting back to the family about Celine¡¯s situation. Or¡­¡± ¡°Or?¡± ¡°She could be looking for an opportunity. Your rtionship with Celine isn¡¯t exactly secret anymore. Maybe the family thinks there¡¯s money to be made.¡± 29 15.08 Sat 9 AUG Fairt The test thing Celine needed was her towic family trying to worn their way back into fier life, especially now that she was pregnant ¡°keep monitoring her,¡± I told Derek. ¡°I want to know everywhere she goes, everyone she talks to ¡°Already on it.¡± After hanging up, I sat in my chair for a long moment, processing this information. Celine was finally happy, finally healing from the wounds her family had inflicted. I would be damned if i let them hurt her again. But i wouldn¡¯t tell her about Margaret. Not yet. Not until I knew what the woman wanted. Instead, I should focus on the good things. Like the fact that I was about to be a father again, and Caesar was going to be the best big brother in the world. I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door. Time to go shopping for my family. The florist on Fifth Avenue knew me by name now¨Ca side effect of dating someone who lit up every time I brought her flowers. Today I chose white roses mixed with baby¡¯s breath, Celine¡¯s favorites. ¡°The usual arrangement, Mr. Reid?¡± Maria, the owner, asked with a knowing smile. ¡°Actually, make it bigger this time. And add some pink roses. For the baby.¡± Maria¡¯s face softened. ¡°Congrattions. Boy or girl?¡± ¡°Girl.¡± The word still sent a thrill through me. ¡°We just found out.¡± ¡°How wonderful. I¡¯ll make this extra special.¡± From there, I headed to the toy store a few blocks away. Caesar had been eyeing aplex Lego set for weeks¨Csomething about space stations and alien battles that wentpletely over my head but fascinated my Three¨Cyear¨Cold. The children¡¯s section was a maze of bright colors and overstimted parents. I wasparing Lego sets when I heard a familiar voice behind me. ¡°Hunter? What a surprise.¡± I closed my eyes briefly, recognizing the voice before I turned around. Mia ckwood stood near the doll section with an older woman who had her same sharp features and a younger brte I vaguely recognized from various social events. ¡°Mia.¡± I nodded politely, hoping this interaction would be brief. Her eyes swept over my armload of purchases¨Cthe flowers, the Lego set, and a pregnancy pillow I had grabbed for Celine. Her perfectly trained expression didn¡¯t change, but I caught the sh of calction in her green eyes. ????? ¡°Shopping for someone special?¡± The older woman stepped forward with a predatory smile. ¡°I don¡¯t believe we¡¯ve been properly introduced. I¡¯m Victoria ckwood, Mia¡¯s mother.¡± Of course, she was. The resemnce was unmistakable¨Cthe same cold beauty, the same assessing stare. ¡°Mrs. ckwood.¡± I shifted the packages, trying to signal that I was in a hurry. ¡°Those are lovely choices,¡± Victoria continued, her gaze staying on the pregnancy pillow. ¡°Very¡­ domestic.¡± The word dripped with disgust, and I felt my jaw clench. These people thought they were unpretentious, but their judgment was written all over their faces. ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t you and Jessica continue shopping?¡± Mia said suddenly, her voice bright but strained. ¡°I would love to catch up with Hunter privately.¡± This content belongs to find?novel Victoria¡¯s face lit up like Christmas morning. ¡°What a wonderful idea, darling. Take all the time you need.¡± She practically dragged the brte¡­ Jessica¡­.toward the exit, leaving me alone with Mia in the middle of the toy store. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have done that,¡± I said once her mother was out of earshot. Mia sighed as she felt her calmness start to fade. ¡°I needed the space. Mom¡¯s been trying to set me up with every suitable politician¡¯s son in the city. Apparently, I¡¯m getting too old to be picky.¡± Despite everything, I almost smiled. ¡°Wee to my world.¡± ¡°Your mother can be¡­ persistent.¡± ¡°That¡¯s one word for it.¡± We stood in awkward silence for a moment, surrounded by toys and the chatter of families. It struck me how surreal this was¨Chaving a semi¨Cnormal conversation with the woman my mother wanted me to marry while holding gifts for the woman I actually loved. ¡°So,¡± Mia said eventually, gesturing to my packages. ¡°Caesar and Celine?¡± The directness of the question caught me off guard. There was no point in lying¨Chalf of Manhattan¡¯s social scene already knew about my rtionship, thanks to various paparazzi pictures and my mother¡¯s less¨Cthan¨Csubtle disapproval. ¡°Among others,¡± I said carefully. Mia¡¯s smile was sharp. ¡°You¡¯re not hiding it anymore. Smart choice, considering the cameras.¡± She was right. Paparazzi had gotten shots of me with Celine at restaurants, even walking in Central Park with Caesar. My private life wasn¡¯t private anymore. ¡°I was never hiding anything,¡± I said. ¡°I just prefer to keep my personal life separate from business.¡± ¡°And yet here you are, shopping for baby supplies in the middle of the day.¡± Her tone was light, conversational, but her eyes were calcting. UY SBLY Aug ¡°She must be getting close to her due date.¡± Warning bells went off in my head. Mia was fishing for information, and I had no intention of giving her any ¡°I should go,¡± I said, adjusting my grip on the packages. ¡°Enjoy your shopping.¡± ¡°Hunter, wait.¡± She touched my arm lightly, her expression suddenly vulnerable. µÚ44% ¡°I know this isplicated, with our mothers and their expectations. But I want you to know¨CI don¡¯t need their matchmaking. If something were to happen between us, I would want it to be real.¡± The sincerity in her voice was almost convincing. Almost. ¡°Mia, I think you¡¯re a lovely person,¡± I said carefully. ¡°But nothing is going to happen between us. My heart is already taken.¡± Something shed across her face¨Churt, maybe, or anger quickly masked. ¡°She¡¯s lucky,¡± she said finally. ¡°Celine I mean.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the lucky one.¡± As I walked away, I saw her reflection in the store window. She was watching me leave, looking thoughtful and calcting. Something about that look made my skin crawl. ~MIA- I stood in the toy store long after Hunter left, my mind racing. Pregnant. That woman was pregnant. The pregnancy pillow had been a dead giveaway, but it was more than that. The way Hunter had said ¡°among others¡± when I asked about his shopping. The protective way he had held those packages, like they contained something precious. He wasn¡¯t just ying house with a nobody like Celine. He was building a family. My phone buzzed. A text from my mother: ¡°How did it go with Hunter? Did you make progress?¡± Progress. As if seducing a man was just another item on my to¨Cdo list, like nning a charity luncheon or updating my LinkedIn profile. But maybe it was. Maybe that¡¯s exactly what this was¨Ca project that required strategy, patience, and the right leverage. I thought back to Hunter¡¯s face when he talked about being lucky. The soft way his voice changed when he mentioned his ¡°heart being taken.¡± He was in love. Really, truly in love. Which meant I was fighting more than just some temporary infatuation. I was fighting against someone who had already imed the part of him I wanted. But I would never back down from a challenge before. My phone rang. ¡°Mom?¡± 4/5 ¡°Darling, you disappeared so quickly. How was your chat with Hunter?¡± ¡°Illuminating.¡± I said, walking toward the store¡¯s exit. ¡°I think I understand the situation better now¡± ¡°And?¡± I thought about Hunter¡¯s protective stance, the way he had deflected my questions, the obvious evidence that his girlfriend was pregnant. Most women would have walked away. Would have epted defeat and moved on to the next suitable bachelor. But I wasn¡¯t most women. I was Mia ckwood, and I¡¯d been groomed my entire life to get what I wanted. ¡°I think,¡± I said slowly, ¡°that I need to be more strategic.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± I stepped out onto the sidewalk, watching the crowds of people hurrying past. Somewhere in this city was Celine, the woman who had captured Hunter Reid¡¯s heart. The woman carrying his child. The woman standing between me and everything I wanted. ¡°I mean,¡± I said, my voice growing stronger with each word, ¡°that if I want Hunter, I need to remove thepetition.¡± My mother¡¯sugh was sharp and approving. ¡°Now you¡¯re thinking like a ckwood.¡± As I hung up and hailed a taxi, I was already formting ns. Hunter Reid was going to be mine, one way or another. His current distraction would just have to be dealt with. After all, I had learned from the best. And Eleanor Reid had made it very clear that she wanted her son with someone suitable. Someone like me. It was time to give her what she wanted¨Cand take what I deserved. Legacy 165 CELINE ¡°Oh my God, this ce is gorgeous!¡± ke¡¯s voice echoed through Caroline¡¯s new apartment as we stepped inside. The space was everything I had expected from Caroline and Fredric, elegant but warm, with floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows overlooking Central Park and furniture that probably cost more than most people¡¯s cars. For original chapters go to find[f]ovel ¡°I hope it¡¯s okay that I brought ke,¡± I said to Caroline, suddenly worried about mixing my worlds. Caroline smiled, pulling me into a hug. ¡°The more the merrier! Besides, I need all the moral support I can get for my bachelorette nning.¡± Three other women were already gathered in the living room, champagne sses in hand andughter filling the air. Caroline¡¯s work friends from her marketing firm¨Csessful, polished women who looked like they belonged in this expensive space. ¡°Ladies, I want you to meet someone very special,¡± Caroline announced, her arm still around my shoulders. ¡°This is Celine, the woman who stole my heart before Fredric ever had a chance.¡± ¡°Caroline!¡± Iughed, feeling my cheeks flush as the women smiled at us. ¡°Stop embarrassing me.¡± ¡°Never. It¡¯s my job as your best friend.¡± She grinned wickedly. ¡°Nowe on, let me give you all the grand tour. I want to show off every ridiculously expensive thing Fredric insisted we needed.¡± As we moved through the apartment, I found myself at the back of the group, listening to Caroline breathe life intoments about Italian marble countertops and custom¨Cbuilt wine cers. My phone buzzed with a text from Hunter. Hunter: ¡®How¡¯s girls¡® night? Should Ie rescue you from Caroline¡¯s chaos?¡® I smiled, typing back quickly. Me: ¡®No guys allowed. Caroline would probably make you wear a tiara or something. Hunter: ¡®That¡¯s oddly specific. Should I be worried?¡® Before I could respond, my phone rang. Hunter¡¯s name shing on the screen. ¡°Excuse me,¡± I murmured to the group, stepping into Caroline¡¯s study to answer. ¡°Missing me already?¡± I teased. ¡°Always.¡± His voice was warm, affectionate. ¡°Are you having fun?¡± ¡°It¡¯s only been an hour, Hunter.¡± ¡°Vincent says I¡¯m being clingy,¡± Hunter continued, and I could hear Vincent¡¯s voice in the background making what sounded like kissing noises. ¡°Tell him he¡¯s wrong.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being a little clingy,¡± I admitted, grinning at his dissatisfied response. ¡°Traitor. I thought you were on my side.¡± 644% ¡°I am. But I¡¯m also pregnant and surrounded by women who will definitely notice if I disappear to talk to my boyfriend for too long.¡± ¡°Boyfriend?¡± Hunter¡¯s voice turned mock¨Cserious. ¡°Is that all I am to you?¡± ¡°Hunter Reid, are you fishing forpliments?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± I could hear Caroline¡¯s voice getting closer, probably wondering where I had wandered off to. ¡°I have to go before Caroline sends out a search party. I love you.¡± ¡°Love you too, baby.¡± I ended the call, still smiling, and turned to head back to the group. But I stopped short when I saw a brte woman standing in the doorway¨CJessica, one of Caroline¡¯s coworkers. She was watching me with an expression I couldn¡¯t quite read. ¡°Sorry,¡± I said, forcing a smile. ¡°Just had to take that call.¡± Jessica¡¯s smile was sharp, calcting. ¡°No problem at all.¡± Something about her tone made me ufortable, but I pushed past her to rejoin the group. ¡°I will never understand rich people,¡± ke was saying as we settled onto Caroline¡¯s plush sectional sofa after the tour. ¡°Who needs a wine cer in Manhattan? And don¡¯t get me started on the heated bathroom floors.¡± Iughed, curling up beside her. ¡°You haven¡¯t experienced money yet. Give it time.¡± ¡°Like you have?¡± ke raised an eyebrow, then her expression softened. ¡°Though guess things are different now. You and Hunter seem really happy. You¡¯re giving the paparazzi a run for their money with all your public appearances.¡± Before I could respond, Caroline appeared with a champagne bottle, the cork flying across the room with a satisfying pop. ¡°Ladies!¡± she announced dramatically. ¡°It¡¯s time to discuss my bachelorette party ns!¡± The room exploded in giggles and excited chatter. Myra, a tall blonde from Caroline¡¯s office, pped her hands together. ¡°Please tell me we¡¯re going somewhere scandalous.¡± ¡°Oh, we¡¯re definitely going out,¡± Caroline said with a mischievous grin that made me slightly nervous. The doorbell rang, and Caroline practically bounced toward the door. ¡°That¡¯ll be the catering! Tessa, can you help me show them to the kitchen?¡± Tessa, a redhead with kind eyes, followed Caroline out. I stood up, suddenly thirsty. ¡°I¡¯m just going to grab some water from the kitchen,¡± I announced to ke. The kitchen was a masterpiece of marble and stainless steel. I opened the massive refrigerator, reaching for a bottle of water, when a voice behind me made me jump.. ¡°Sorry! Didn¡¯t mean to scare you.¡± I turned to find Jessica standing in the doorway, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. ¡°it¡¯s okay,¡± I said, though my heart was still racing. The catering staff bustled in with trays of tasty hors d¡¯oeuvres, and Jessica stepped aside to let them pass. But instead of leaving, she moved closer to me. ¡°I¡¯m so d I finally get to meet the woman who stole Hunter Reid¡¯s heart,¡± she said, her tone friendly but with an underlying edge. I knew immediately this conversation wasn¡¯t going to go well. ¡°I would love some tips,¡± Jessica continued as Myra appeared, directing the servers where to set up the food. ¡°How did you manage to win over someone like Hunter Reid?¡± Myra nced over, her interest clearly piqued. ¡°Seriously, Hunter was always so cold and distant. Most women found it impossible to approach him. I had a friend who had a fling with Vincent once, and even she couldn¡¯t get Hunter¡¯s attention. She ended up settling for Vincent instead.¡± The casual way they spoke about Hunter, like he was a prize to be won, made my stomach twist. I forced a smile, trying to think of a polite way to escape this conversation. ¡°What¡¯s going on in here?¡± Caroline¡¯s voice cut through the tension as she appeared in the doorway, her eyes moving between Jessica, Myra, and me. Her expression sharpened, that protective instinct I remembered from our High school days kicking in. ¡°We were just talking,¡± Jessica said innocently. Caroline¡¯s gaze narrowed. ¡°Jessica, Myra, could you please go tell the others that lunch is ready?¡± ¡°Myra can handle that,¡± Jessica said with a dismissive wave. ¡°I know she can,¡± Caroline¡¯s voice took on that steely tone I¡¯d heard her use with difficult people. ¡°But I think two voices would be faster.¡± Jessica rolled her eyes but finally left, Myra trailing behind her. Caroline immediately turned to me, concern written across her face. ¡°Are you okay? I¡¯m sorry about them. They can be¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± I said, though it wasn¡¯t really. ¡°I¡¯m just happy to be here.¡± ¡°Jessica was probably just fishing because she¡¯s friends with Mia,¡± Caroline said, her expression darkening. ¡°That¡¯s why she was being so nosy,¡± The pieces clicked into ce. Of course. Mia ckwood¡¯s spywork extended to Caroline¡¯s workce. Caroline¡¯s expression suddenly turned mischievous, her earlier concern forgotten. ¡°Speaking of which, I hope Hunter won¡¯t be too lonely tonight. He might be out of his mind when he sees what I have nned for you.¡± ¡°Caroline, what did you do?¡± I asked, though I was already dreading the answer. Her grin was absolutely wicked. ¡°You¡¯ll see¡­¡± 15:09 Sat, 9 Aug The doorbell rang, cutting her off. Caroline actually squeaked with excitement. ¡°They¡¯re here!¡± she announced, pping her hands together. ¡°Who¡¯s here?¡± But Caroline was already running toward the front door. Twenty minutester, I understood exactly what Caroline had nned. Male strippers. Three of them, to be precise, currently performing in Caroline¡¯s living room while her friends cheered and ke screamed withughter, champagne sloshing from her ss. ¡°Caroline Crawford, you are insane!¡± I called over the music, though I couldn¡¯t help butugh at the absurdity of it all. ¡°It¡¯s my bachelorette nningmittee!¡± she yelled back, recording everything on her phone. ¡°Research!¡± One of the performers¨Ca tall, muscr guy with kind eyes¨Cseemed to have zeroed in on me, despite my attempts to blend into the background. He approached with that professional charm that was part of the act. ¡°No, thank you,¡± I said politely, trying to wave him off. But he was persistent, gently pulling me toward the center of the action despite my protests. ¡°Careful with her!¡± Caroline called out,ughing and slightly tipsy. ¡°She¡¯s carrying the golden heiress of a very grumpy guy I know and am unfortunately rted to!¡± ke was practically falling off the couch withughter, reaching over to poke at the performer¡¯s abs. ¡°Celine, you have to feel these! It¡¯s like a washboard!¡± I nced around the room, noting that everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves except for Jessica, who was glued to her phone, asionally shooting me mocking nces as she typed furiously. The doorbell rang again. ¡°I¡¯ll get it!¡± Caroline announced, stumbling slightly as she made her way to the door. I tried to focus on the performance, letting ke¡¯s infectiousughter distract me from Jessica¡¯s calcting stares. The music was loud, the energy was high, and for a moment, I almost forgot about Eleanor¡¯s threats and Mia¡¯s schemes. Then Caroline appeared in the living room doorway, her face pale. Behind her stood Hunter and Vincent. Hunter¡¯s expression was thunderous as he took in the scene¨Cthe half¨Cnaked men, the champagne, the general chaos of Caroline¡¯s bachelorette party. His dark eyes found mine across the room, and I felt my stomach drop. ¡°Are you having fun?¡± he asked, his voice dangerously calm. ??? 7.7??? The music stopped. The performers froze. Even ke sobered up immediately. Vincent, meanwhile, looked absolutely delighted by the whole situation. ¡°Well,¡± he said cheerfully, ¡°this is interesting.¡± Legacy 166 Chapter 166 -HUNTER~ The first thing that hit me wasn¡¯t the sight of half¨Cnaked men gyrating in my cousin¡¯s living room. It wasn¡¯t even the fact that my pregnant girlfriend was being pulled into the center of what could only be described as Caroline¡¯stest chaotic scheme. No, the first thing that hit me was the look of pure shame on Celine¡¯s face when she saw me standing in the doorway. That look¡­.like she wanted the floor to swallow her whole¡­.made something protective and fierce unfurl in my chest. My initial surge of jealousy, the crude urge to im what was mine, dissolved the moment I saw how ufortable she was. One of the performers had his hands on her waist despite her obvious attempts to politely decline his attention. Her face was flushed with embarrassment, not excitement. She wasn¡¯t enjoying this. She was enduring it. ¡°Vincent,¡± I said quietly, never taking my eyes off Celine. ¡°On it.¡± My best friend stepped forward with that easy charm that made him invaluable in delicate situations. ¡°Ladies, gentlemen¨CI hate to interrupt such an¡­ educational performance, but we need to borrow our girls for a moment.¡± The music stopped abruptly. The performer who¡¯d been focused on Celine immediately stepped back, professional enough to read the room. Caroline, flushed with champagne and embarrassment, stumbled toward me. ¡°Hunter! This isn¡¯t what it looks like. Well, it is what it looks like, but it¡¯s research! For my bachelorette party nningmittee!¡± ¡°Research,¡± I repeated tly. ¡°Yes! I¡¯m being very thorough. Fredric will appreciate my dedication to¡­.¡± ¡°Caroline.¡± My voice cut through her rambling. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss your research methodster.¡± Discover more novels at f?ndnovel I moved across the room toward Celine, noting how the other women watched me with undisguised fascination. One of them¡­a brte I recognize¡­.had her phone out, though she lowered it quickly when I looked her way. ¡°Are you okay?¡± I asked Celine quietly, my voice intended only for her. She nodded, but I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way she was unconsciously protecting her stomach with one hand. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, but her voice was strained. ¡°Just¡­ this is a lot.¡± I looked around the room¨Cat the half¨Cdressed performers, at Caroline¡¯s friends with their cameras and champagne, at the chaos my cousin had orchestrated in the name of ¡°research.¡± ¡°Get your things,¡± I told Celine. ¡°We¡¯re leaving.¡± ¡°Hunter, you can¡¯t just¡­.¡± Caroline started. ¡°I can and I am.¡± I kept my voice level but firm. ¡°Celine is three months pregnant, Caroline. This kind of stress isn¡¯t good for her or the baby.¡± ??? Daly Aug ke, who had been unusually quiet since my arrival, stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯ll get her purse.¡± I was grateful for the support, even from someone who usually viewed me with suspicion. ¡°I don¡¯t need to be rescued,¡± Celine said quietly, but she didn¡¯t sound convincing. 4344%D ¡°I know you don¡¯t.¡± I moved closer, close enough that only she could hear me. ¡°But sometimes it¡¯s okay to let someone take care of you anyway.¡± Something shifted in her expression¨Csurprise, maybe, or something softer that made my chest tighten. 28 Vincent appeared at my elbow with Celine¡¯s coat and purse. ¡°The cavalry has arrived,¡± he announced cheerfully. ¡°Ladies, it¡¯s been absolutely fascinating, but duty calls.¡± As we prepared to leave, I caught Caroline¡¯s arm. ¡°Next time you want to conduct research, maybe warn people first?¡± She had the grace to look sheepish. ¡°I just wanted everyone to have fun.¡± ¡°I know.¡± My tone softened slightly. ¡°But think about your guests¡®fort level before you spring surprises on them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Celine,¡± Caroline called out as we headed for the door. ¡°I really didn¡¯t think it through!¡± Celine managed a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Caroline. Just¡­ maybe fewer surprises next time? In the elevator down to the parking garage, the silence stretched between us. Vincent, wise enough to sense the tension, focused intently on his phone. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to do that,¡± Celine said finally. ¡°Do what?¡± ¡°Ride in like some white knight. I was handling it.¡± I looked at her¨Creally looked at her. The stress lines around her eyes, the way she was still unconsciously protecting her stomach, the lingering embarrassment in her posture. ¡°You were handling it,¡± I agreed. ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t have had to.¡± The elevator dinged as we reached the parking level. ¡°I called the car,¡± Vincent announced. ¡°Should be here in two minutes.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Celine said quietly. We waited in the rtive privacy of the parking garage, the sounds of the city muted by concrete and steel. ¡°I wasn¡¯t jealous,¡± I said suddenly, the words surprising even me. Celine raised an eyebrow. ¡°No?¡± ¡°Okay, I was jealous,¡± I admitted. ¡°For about thirty seconds. But then I saw your face.¡± ¡°My face?¡± ¡°You looked like you wanted to disappear. And I realized that my feelings about the situation didn¡¯t matter. Yours did.¡± She was quiet for a long moment, studying me with those warm brown eyes that always seemed to see too much. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ surprisingly mature of you,¡± she said finally. ¡°Don¡¯t sound so shocked. I¡¯m capable of growth.¡± A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. ¡°Evidence suggests otherwise, but I¡¯m willing to be proven wrong.¡± The town car pulled up, and Vincent opened the door for us. As Celine settled into the seat beside me, I caught a glimpse of something that made my blood run cold. Across the street, partially hidden behind a parked car, a middle¨Caged woman with dark hair was watching us. She held a camera with a telephoto lens, and as our car pulled away, I saw her raise it to capture our departure. I pulled out my phone and quickly typed a message to Derek: ¡®The woman from the caf¨¦. She¡¯s here. Romano¡¯s parking garage across from the Meridian building. Get everything you can.¡¯ ¡°Something wrong?¡± Celine asked, noticing my sudden tension. I looked at her¨Ctired, pregnant, still processing the emotional whish of the evening¨Cand made a decision. ¡°No,¡± I said, sliding my phone back into my pocket. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine.¡± Some battles were mine to fight alone. At least until I knew what we were up against. But as the car carried us through the night toward home, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that our peaceful bubble was about to be shattered. Again. ~CELINE~ The ride back to the penthouse was quieter than usual, filled with an tension I couldn¡¯t quite name. Hunter seemed lost in thought, his jaw tight in a way that meant he was either angry or worried. Probably both. ¡°I really didn¡¯t know about the strippers,¡± I said as the elevator carried us up to his floor. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Caroline means well, she just¡­.¡± ¡°Celine.¡± He turned to face me, his blue eyes serious. ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin Caroline to me. I¡¯ve known her my entire life.¡± The elevator dinged softly as we reached the penthouse. ¡°Then why do you look like you want to murder someone?¡± He was quiet as we stepped into the apartment, his movements careful and controlled in that way that meant he was thinking hard about something. ¡°Hunter?¡± Instead of answering, he moved to therge windows overlooking the city, his hands shoved deep in his pockets. ¡°There¡¯s something I need to tell you,¡± he said finally. 15.09 Sat, 9 Aug My stomach dropped. Nothing good ever started with those words. ¡°What is it?¡± He turned back to me, his expression conflicted. ¡°Someone¡¯s been watching me. Us. For the past week.¡± ¡°Watching us? What do you mean watching us?¡± ¡°A woman. Middle¨Caged, dark hair. She¡¯s been positioned at the caf¨¦ across from my office every morning. Today she followed us to Caroline¡¯s building.¡± The room suddenly felt too warm. ¡°Who is she?¡± Hunter¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Her name is Margaret Torres. She¡¯s your aunt. Your mother¡¯s sister.¡± The words hit me like a physical blow. I reached for the back of the nearest chair, needing something solid to hold onto. ¡°My aunt?¡± My voice came out as barely a whisper. ¡°Margaret?¡± ¡°You know her?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± I shook my head, trying to process this information. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen her in years. Not since I was a teenager. She and my mother had some kind of falling out.¡± ¡°What kind of falling out?¡± I sank into the chair, my mind racing back to fragments of overheard conversations, hushed arguments between my mother and her sister that had ended abruptly whenever I entered the room. ¡°I was never really clear on the details,¡± I said slowly. ¡°But I think it had something to do with money. Margaret was always asking my mother for loans, and my mother thought she was irresponsible.¡± Hunter moved closer, his expression dark. ¡°What would she want with you now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± But even as I said it, pieces were starting to fall into ce. ¡°Unless¡­¡± ¡°Unless what?¡± ¡°Unless she knows about you. About us.¡± I looked up at him, fear beginning to creep into my voice. ¡°Hunter, what if she¡¯s not just watching? What if she¡¯s nning something?¡± His expression grew even more grim. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m worried about.¡± The penthouse suddenly felt less like a sanctuary and more like a cage. Outside the windows, the city sparkled with millions of lights, but all I could think about was a woman with dark hair and a camera, watching, waiting. nning. ¡°What do we do?¡± I asked. Hunter¡¯s phone buzzed. He nced at it, and his expression darkened further. ¡°We figure out what she wants,¡± he said grimly, ¡°before she makes her move.¡± He showed me the phone screen. A text message with a photo attachment. 15:09 Sat, 9 Aug 44%È« A photo of us leaving Caroline¡¯s building tonight. Clear, professional quality. The kind of photo that would look very interesting in the right tabloid. Below the image, a phone number and a single line of text: ¡®We need to talk Legacy 167 Chapter 167 -CELINE- The morning sunlight screened through the penthouse windows as I stood at the kitchen counter, mechanically spreading mayonnaise on bread for Hunter¡¯s club sandwich. The habit should have beenforting, but my mind kept drifting to that threatening text message fromst night. ¡®We need to talk.¡® ¡°Mommy, did you hear me?¡± Caesar¡¯s voice pulled me back to the present. ¡°Sorry, sweetheart. What did you say?¡± He swung his little legs from his chair at the dining table, a piece of toast clutched in his small hands. ¡°I said Bryan showed me how to build a really big sandcastle yesterday. But then that mean girl Emma kicked it down and made Bryan cry.¡± I turned to face him, forcing a smile. ¡°That wasn¡¯t very nice of Emma. Did you help Bryan feel better?¡± ¡°Uh¨Chuh. We built an even bigger one, and this time we put a moat around it so she couldn¡¯t reach it.¡± His face lit up with pride. ¡°Bryan said I¡¯m his best friend now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful, baby.¡± I added lettuce to the sandwich, half¨Clistening as Caesar continued chattering about his yground adventures. My thoughts kept circling back to Margaret Torres and what she could possibly want from me. Hunter walked into the kitchen, dressed casually in dark jeans and a gray sweater that made his eyes look almost silver. He ruffled Caesar¡¯s hair as he passed, earning a giggle from our son. ¡°Morning, buddy. How¡¯s breakfast?¡± ¡°Good! Mommy made the crusts the way I like them.¡± Hunter moved behind me, pressing a gentle kiss to my cheek. ¡°Smells incredible,¡± he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. ¡°You spoil us.¡± I leaned into him for just a moment, drawingfort from his solid presence. ¡°It¡¯s just a sandwich.¡± ¡°The best sandwich.¡± He reached around me to open the refrigerator, pulling out the orange juice. ¡°Have I mentionedtely that you¡¯re amazing?¡± Any other morning, his words would have made me smile. Today, they felt heavy with the weight of everything unsaid between us. ¡°Hunter,¡± I said quietly, not turning around. ¡°I want to meet with her.¡± He froze, the orange juice carton halfway to the counter. Slowly, he set it down and poured himself a ss, taking a deliberate sip before responding. ¡°No.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m going to say.¡± 4471 ¡°I knew exactly what you¡¯re going to say.¡°He took another sip. He moved in a controlled and careful way. ¡°You want to meet with your aunt. You think you can handle whatever game she¡¯s ying. And you¡¯re wrong.¡± I sighed, finally turning to face him. ¡°I knew you¡¯d say that.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s the smart thing to say.¡± His jaw was tight, that familiar stubborn set to his features. ¡°Celine, we don¡¯t know what she wants or if she can be trusted. This could be¡­.¡± ¡°She¡¯s my aunt, Hunter.¡± ¡°She¡¯s someone you haven¡¯t seen since you were sixteen.¡± His voice grew sharper. ¡°Given that you¡¯re no longer in contact with your family for very good reasons, I can¡¯t allow you to¡­..¡± ¡°Allow me?¡± The words came out harsher than I nned. ¡°You¡¯re doing that thing again.¡± ¡°What thing?¡± ¡°Where you make decisions for me and call it being in my best interest.¡± Hunter set his ss down with a sharp clink. ¡°It is in your best interest.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± Frustration bubbled up in my chest, hot and overwhelming. ¡°You¡¯re living my life for me, Hunter. I have no say in anything. You either want something or you don¡¯t, and I just have to go along with it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not¡­.. ¡°It is!¡± The words exploded out of me. ¡°It¡¯s suffocating, and I can¡¯t take it anymore!¡± I mmed the mayonnaise jar down on the counter with more force than necessary. The ss shattered on impact, and I felt a sharp pain slice across my palm. ¡°Shit!¡± I jerked my hand back, staring at the blood already welling from the cut. ¡°Jesus, Celine!¡± Hunter was beside me in an instant, his hands reaching for mine. ¡°What the hell were you thinking?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t¡­.¡± I tried to pull my hand away, but his grip tightened. ¡°Stay still,¡± he ordered, his voice rough with anger he was barely controlling. ¡°Let me see how deep it is.¡± ¡°Mommy?¡± Caesar¡¯s small voice cut through our tension. ¡°Are you okay?¡± I looked over at him, seeing the worry in his big blue eyes, and felt shame wash over me. I¡¯d lost control in front of my three¨Cyear¨Cold son. ¡°I¡¯m okay, sweetheart,¡± I said, forcing a smile even as Hunter examined my bleeding palm. ¡°Mommy just had a little ident.¡± Hunter moved to the cab where we kept the first aid kit, He moves sharply and efficiently. ¡°Caesar, go back and finish your breakfast while I take care of Mommy.¡± Our son hesitated, clearly sensing the tension between us, but finally turned back to his toast. Hunter worked in silence, cleaning the cut with gentle but firm hands. The antiseptic stung, but I bit back any sound of difort. His jaw was still tight with anger, but his touch was careful, almost tender. When he finished wrapping my palm in gauze, I stared down at the white bandage, feeling hollow and defeated. 15:09 Sat, 9 Aug ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered. He didn¡¯t respond. Chapters first released on find?novel I ran my uninjured hand through my hair and turned toward the door. ¡°I¡¯m going to lie down for a bit.¡± Hunter didn¡¯t try to stop me. 44% I sat on the edge of our bed, staring at my phone. I had memorized Margaret¡¯s number from Hunter¡¯s messages, my finger hovering over the screen as I debated whether to call. I was curious¨Cdesperately so. Why was my aunt watching me? Had my mother and Jesse sent her? What could she possibly want after all these years? I bit my lower lip, my thumb moving toward the call button, when a soft knock on the doorframe made me look up. Hunter stood in the doorway, arms folded across his chest, his expression unreadable. ¡°What do you want?¡± I asked, my voiceing out more defensive than I intended. ¡°You already told me I can¡¯t go. There¡¯s no need to keep watching me.¡± He was quiet for a long moment, just studying my face. ¡°I¡¯m angry with you,¡± he said finally. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Not for wanting to see your aunt.¡± His voice was carefully controlled. ¡°I¡¯m angry because you hurt yourself over people who don¡¯t give a damn if you¡¯re alive or dead.¡± I looked away, shame burning in my chest. He was right, and we both knew it. ¡°I¡¯m angry,¡± he continued, stepping into the room, ¡°because you¡¯d rather put yourself in danger than trust me to protect you.¡± ¡°Hunter¡­.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m also wrong.¡± The admission stopped me cold. ¡°I¡¯m wrong to make decisions for you like you¡¯re a child who can¡¯t think for herself.¡± I stared at him, not trusting my ears. ¡°You¡¯re not a kid, Celine. You¡¯re a grown woman who¡¯s capable of making her own choices, even the ones I disagree with.¡± He moved closer, his expression softening slightly. ¡°I just¡­ the thought of someone hurting you again makes me lose my mind.¡± ¡°I know you want to protect me,¡± I said quietly. ¡°But sometimes your protection feels like a cage.¡± He flinched as if I¡¯d pped him. ¡°That¡¯s thest thing I want.¡± ¡°Then trust me to make my own mistakes.¡± Hunter was quiet for a long moment, his inner struggle ying out across his features. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. ¡°If you¡¯re determined to meet with her,¡± he said slowly, ¡°then I can¡¯t stop you. But I have conditions.¡± 4444 Traised an eyebrow. ¡°Conditions?¡± ¡°Public ce. Daytime. And I¡¯m nearby, even if I¡¯m not at the table with you.¡± ¡°Hunter¡­..¡± ¡°Those are my terms, Celine. Non¨Cnegotiable.¡± His blue eyes were steel. ¡°Your aunt has been stalking us for a week. She¡¯s up to something, and I won¡¯t let you walk into whatever trap she¡¯s set without backup.¡± I considered his words. The conditions were reasonable, even if the protective instinct behind them still chafed. ¡°Fine,¡± I said finally. ¡°But you stay out of sight unless I signal that I need help.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Two hourster, I sat across from Margaret Torres in a crowded caf¨¦ in Midtown, my hands wrapped around a cup of tea I hadn¡¯t touched. She looked older than I remembered¨Charder somehow, with deep lines around her eyes and a bitterness in her expression that hadn¡¯t been there when I was a teenager. ¡°Well, well,¡± she said, stirring sugar into her coffee with sharp, decisive movements. ¡°Look at you. Finallynded yourself a real hotshot, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Aunt Margaret¡­.¡± ¡°I have to say, I¡¯m impressed.¡± She leaned back in her chair, studying me with calcting eyes. ¡°Your mother always said you were the smart one, despite all herining. At least you turned out better than that stupid, foul¨Cmouthed brat Jesse.¡± The rxed cruelty in her voice made me flinch. This was what I had fought with Hunter for? To sit here and listen to my family tear each other apart with the same venom they had always used? ¡°You always acted like such a little saint,¡± Margaret continued, ¡°but you were always this clever, weren¡¯t you? Using a pregnancy to tie down a man like Hunter Reid. Brilliant strategy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± I said quietly. ¡°Oh, please.¡± She waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Don¡¯t y innocent with me, Celine. I know how these things work.¡± \ I stared at her, feeling something cold settle in my stomach. This was my family. This was what I¡¯d been hoping to reconnect with. ¡°What do you want, Aunt Margaret?¡± Her smile was sharp and predatory. ¡°Two hundred thousand dors.¡± The number hit me like a physical blow. I blinked, certain I¡¯d misheard. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You heard me. Two hundred thousand. J¡¯have some debts that need settling, and your boyfriend has more money than God.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t¡­..¡± I shook my head, speechless. ¡°How would I even get that kind of money?¡± 44% 8251 1500 Sat, y Aug ¡°Ask him.¡± She shrugged as if we were discussing the weather. ¡°You¡¯re carrying his child, living in his penthouse. Surely you have some influence.¡± I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. ¡°This was a mistake. I thought¡­ I hoped this might be some kind of family reunion, but¡­.. ¡°But what? You thought i would wee you with open arms and pretend the past twenty years didn¡¯t happen?¡± Margaret¡¯sugh was bitter. ¡°Grow up, Celine.¡± I stood, reaching for my purse. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± Her hand shot out, fingers wrapping around my wrist with surprising strength. ¡°Sit down. We¡¯re not finished.¡± ¡°Let go of me.¡± I looked down at her grip, a frown creasing my brow. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Margaret¡¯s eyes glittered with malice. ¡°You know, it¡¯s no surprise your mother treated you like dirt. It¡¯s no surprise she hated you all these years.¡± ¡°Aunt Margaret¡­.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t me my sister for the way she acted.¡± Her voice turned venomous, each word carefully chosen to inflict maximum damage. ¡°After all, you¡¯re not her biological daughter. You¡¯re just the bastard child from some affair your father had.¡± The words hit me like a physical blow. The caf¨¦ around us seemed to fade, the chatter of other customers bing a distant buzz as her revtion sank in. ¡°What?¡± The word came out as barely a whisper. Margaret¡¯s smile was triumphant and cruel. ¡°Oh, you didn¡¯t know? How delicious. Your precious daddy had a little fling, and you were the unwanted reminder of his betrayal. No wonder my sister could never stand the sight of you.¡± I felt the ground shift beneath me, my entire world tilting on its axis. Everything I thought I knew about my family, about why my mother had always favored Jesse, about why I¡¯d never quite fit in¡­ ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°Am I?¡± Margaret leaned forward, her grip on my wrist tightening. ¡°Why do you think you look nothing like Jesse? Why do you think your mother threw you out the second she had an excuse?¡± My vision blurred, and for a moment I thought I might be sick. Twenty years of feeling like an outsider in my own family suddenly made horrible, perfect sense. ¡°Now¡± Margaret continund harunion almost pleasant about that mannu 11 \ AD Comment Legacy 168 Chapter 168 -HUNTER- I was positioned at a corner table in a coffee shop across the street, my Yankees cap pulled low and dressed in the most generic clothes owned¨Cdark jeans, a in gray t¨Cshirt, and sneakers that had seen better days. Vincent would haveughed himself sick seeing me try to blend in like some amateur spy. But nothing was funny about the way Celine looked as she came out of the caf¨¦, Pale. Latest content published on find?novel That was my first thought. She walked carefully, as if she had been hurt. Her steps were slow, and it seemed like she wasn¡¯t sure if the ground would support her. I was out of my chair and across the street before I¡¯d consciously decided to move. ¡°Celine.¡± I caught her arm gently, and she startled like I¡¯d shouted her name. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She looked up at me, and for a moment, her eyes werepletely nk. Like she was looking through me instead of at me. ¡°I¡­¡± She blinked, and some awareness returned to her expression. ¡°I just want to go home.¡± Every instinct I had was screaming at me to march into that caf¨¦ and demand answers from Margaret Torres. The woman had done something¡­¡­said something¡­.that had left Celine looking like a ghost of herself. ¡°What did she tell you?¡± I started to turn toward the caf¨¦ entrance. ¡°I¡¯m going to¡­..¡± ¡°No.¡± Her hand shot out, gripping my arm with surprising strength. ¡°Please, Hunter. Just¡­ please take me home.¡± The desperation in her voice stopped me cold. Whatever had happened in there, pushing for answers right now would only make it worse. ¡°Okay,¡± I said quietly. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll go home.¡± The drive back to the penthouse was torture. Celine sat pressed against the passenger door, staring out the window like she was memorizing every building we passed. Her hands were folded tightly in herp, and I could see the white bandage on her palm from this morning¡¯s ident. This morning felt like a lifetime ago. I wanted to fill the silence, to say something that would bring her back to me, but every time I opened my mouth, the words died in my throat. She looked so fragile, like the wrong word might shatter herpletely. ¡°Hunter?¡± Her voice was barely above a whisper. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Can you stop at Romano¡¯s Pastry? The one on Fifth?¡± i nced at her, surprised. It wasn¡¯t what I¡¯d expected her to say. ¡°Of course¡± Romano¡¯s was a small, family owned shop with disy cases full of cannoli, tiramisu, and garnished cakes that belonged in art museums. The smell of vani and espresso should have beenforting, but watching Celine move through the space like a sleepwalker made my chest tight with worry. She drifted from case to case, her movements too careful, too controlled. Everything about her bodynguage screamed that she was holding herself together by sheer force of will. ¡°These look good,¡± she said, pointing to a tray of chocte¨Cdipped strawberries. Her voice was bright, almost cheerful, but it didn¡¯t reach her eyes. The youngdy behind the counter smiled warmly. ¡°Those are fresh this morning. Very popr.¡± ¡°I will take six, please.¡± Celine looked at me, and for a moment, I saw her true feelings. There was something desperate and broken in her eyes before she quickly looked away. ¡°Hunter, do you want anything?¡± I wanted to know what Margaret Torres had said to put that look in her eyes. I wanted to turn around and go back to that caf¨¦ and get answers, even if I had to shake them out of the woman. Instead, I smiled and moved to stand beside Celine. ¡°What would you rmend?¡± She turned to the sales girl,unching into a lively discussion about the values of cannoli versus sfogliatelle, but I could see the tremor in her hands as she gestured. Whatever was happening inside her head, she was working overtime to keep it hidden. I pulled out my phone while she was distracted, typing a quick message to Derek: ¡®Need you to find out what Margaret Torres discussed with Celine today. Pay her if you have to. I need to know what she said.¡® ¡°Hunter?¡± Celine was looking at me expectantly, a white pastry box in her hands. ¡°Sorry, just checking messages.¡± I slipped my phone back into my pocket. ¡°Ready to go?¡± Back at the penthouse, Celine kicked off her shoes and padded into the living room like nothing had happened. Like she hadn¡¯t just had a meeting that left her looking like someone had told her the world was ending. ¡°Caesar¡¯s out with ra until dinner,¡± she said, settling onto the couch with the pastry box. ¡°And Caroline¡¯s engagement party is tomorrow.¡± She looked up at me with that same too¨Cbright smile. ¡°How about we watch a movie? Something mindless and fun.¡± I stared at her. She was suggesting a movie night. After whatever bomb Margaret Torres had just dropped on her, she wanted to watch Netflix and eat pastries. ¡°Celine¡­..¡± ¡°I found this romanticedy that looked cute,¡± she continued, already reaching for the remote. ¡°Or we could watch an action movie if you prefer. I¡¯m not picky.¡± The forced cheerfulness in her voice was like nails on a chalkboard. This wasn¡¯t my Celine this was someone wearing her face and trying too hard to convince me everything was normal. But pushing wouldn¡¯t help. Not yet. ¡°Comedy sounds perfect,¡± I said, settling beside her on the couch. For two hours, I watched Celineugh at all the wrong moments and miss every actual funny scene. She sat stiff beside me, her attention focused on the screen with an intensity that suggested she was memorizing every frame. She opened the pastry box and methodically ate a cannoli without seeming to taste it. When I reached for one of the chocte strawberries, she immediately offered to get me something to drink, jumping up like she was grateful for any excuse to move. Every instinct I had was screaming that something was desperately wrong, but she deflected every gentle attempt I made to talk about it. ¡°This actor is so funny,¡± she said during a particrly unfunny scene, herugh just a little too loud. ¡°Don¡¯t you think he¡¯s funny?¡± ¡°Hrious,¡± I agreed, watching her instead of the screen. When the credits rolled, she immediately suggested another movie. Then another. Like if she kept moving, kept talking, kept performing normalcy, whatever was eating her alive couldn¡¯t catch up. It was almost midnight when she finally ran out of steam. ¡°I should shower,¡± she said, standing abruptly. ¡°It¡¯s been a long day.¡± ¡°Celine.¡± Icaught her hand as she passed the couch. ¡°Are you okay?¡± For just a moment, her carefully built mask wavered. I saw pain sh across her features, raw and devastating, before she pulled it back into ce. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, but her voice cracked slightly on the words. ¡°Just tired.¡± She disappeared into the bathroom, and I heard the shower turn on. Then, a few minutester, I heard something that made my blood run cold. Crying. Deep, wrenching sobs that sounded like they were being torn from somewhere deep in her chest. I stood outside the bathroom door, my hand raised to knock, torn between respecting her privacy and my desperate need tofort her. The soundsing from behind that door weren¡¯t just tears¨Cthey were the sound of someone¡¯s world falling apart. Twenty minutester, the shower turned off. I moved to sit on the edge of the bed, my heart pounding as I waited. When the bathroom door opened, Celine stood in the doorway wearing one of my old t¨Cshirts, her face blotchy and her eyes swollen from crying. She looked smaller somehow, like whatever she¡¯d been carrying all day had finally broken her down. 3/4 ¡°Hunter,¡± she whispered, and her voice was so broken it made my chest ache. I didn¡¯t say anything. I just opened my arms. She crossed the room like her legs might give out, falling into my embrace with a sob that seemed toe from the very core of her being. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her tight against my chest as she shatteredpletely. ¡°I don¡¯t know who I am,¡± she cried into my shirt, her words muffled but clear enough to break my heart. ¡°I don¡¯t know who I am anymore.¡± I stroked her hair, feeling utterly helpless. ¡°You¡¯re Celine. You¡¯re the woman I love. You¡¯re Caesar¡¯s mother. You¡¯re the strongest person i know.¡± ¡°But what if I¡¯m not?¡± She pulled back to look at me, her eyes red and desperate. ¡°What if everything I thought I knew about myself was a lie?¡± Margaret Torres. What that woman told Celine changed something important in her life. It took away a part of her identity that she had built her sense of self on. ¡°Tell me,¡± I said quietly. ¡°Whatever she said, tell me.¡± Celine shook her head, fresh tears spilling over. ¡°I can¡¯t. Not yet. I just¡­ I need you to hold me. Please.¡± So I did. I held her while she cried until there were no tears left. I held her while she trembled against me like she was trying to absorb my warmth, my strength, my certainty in who she was even when hers had been shaken. And I held her as she finally drifted off to sleep in my arms, exhausted from carrying whatever terrible secret Margaret Torres had burdened her with. Just before she lost consciousnesspletely, she whispered something against my chest¨Cwords so quiet I almost missed them. ¡°She said I¡¯m not really a Brown.¡± My blood ran cold. Not really a Brown. What the hell did that mean? As Celine¡¯s breathing finally evened out in sleep, I made a mental note to call Derek first thing in the morning. Whatever game Margaret Torres was ying, whatever lies she was spreading, I was going to put a stop to it. But first, I was going to find out exactly what truth¨Cor lie¨Chad broken the woman I loved into pieces. Legacy 169 Chapter 169 -CELINE- 44% I stood at the end of Maple Street, staring at the small two¨Cstory house with its peeling blue paint and overgrown front yard. Four years. It had been four years since I hadst stood on this sidewalk, neen years old with a duffel bag in my hand and my mother¡¯s cruel words ringing in my ears. ¡°Don¡¯te back here with that bastard child. You¡¯ve brought enough shame to this family.¡± The taxi had already pulled away, leaving me alone with my memories and the sick feeling in my stomach that told me this was a mistake. But Margaret¡¯s words wouldn¡¯t stop echoing in my head. ¡®You¡¯re not her biological daughter. You¡¯re just the bastard child from some affair your father had. I needed to know the truth. Even if it destroyed me. The front gate still squeaked when I pushed it open. The sound transported me back to childhood¨Cracing home from school to tell my father about my day, back when I still believed he might protect me from my mother¡¯s sharp tongue. Before I reached the front door, it swung open. ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡± My mother stood in the doorway, older and grayer than I remembered, but her expression was exactly the same. Cold. Disgusted. Like I was something unpleasant she had found on the bottom of her shoe. ¡°Hello, Mom.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you ¡®Mom¡® me.¡± She crossed her arms over her chest. ¡°I told you never toe back here.¡± ¡°I heard about Dad.¡± The words came out smaller than I¡¯d intended. ¡°Mrs. Andy told me he¡­ that he passedst two months.¡± Something shed across her face¨Cguilt, maybe, or just irritation that I had found out. ¡°He¡¯s dead. What do you want, a medal?¡± I felt the harshness of it hit me like a p. ¡°I wanted to pay my respects. He was my father.¡± ¡°Was he?¡± Sheughed, sharp and bitter. ¡°Funny how you¡¯re so sure about that.¡± My blood turned to ice. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t know?¡± Her smile was vicious. ¡°Well, this is rich. Margaret said she might have mentioned something, but I wasn¡¯t sure if she had actually gone through with it. ¡°Margard told you the saw the ¡°Of course she did. We may not get along, but family is family.¡± She stepped aside, gesturing for me toe in. ¡°Come on then. If you¡¯re here for the truth, you might as well hear all of it.¡± The living room looked exactly the same¨Csame faded floral couch, same family photos on the mantel that somehow never included me, same smell of cigarettes and disappointment. ¡°Sit down,¡± my mothermanded, settling into her recliner like a queen holding court. ¡°I would rather stand.¡± ¡°Suit yourself.¡± She reached for a cigarette from the pack on the side table. ¡°So Margaret told you about your father¡¯s little indiscretion, did she?¡± ¡°She said¡­ she said I wasn¡¯t your biological daughter.¡± My mother lit her cigarette, taking a long drag before answering. ¡°Margaret always was a bbermouth. But yes, she¡¯s right. You¡¯re not mine.¡± The words struck me hard, even though I had been preparing for them since yesterday. ¡°Who¡­¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°Who was she?¡± ¡°A secretary at his workce. Cheap little thing with brown hair and big ideas.¡± She puffed out smoke in my direction. ¡°Got herself knocked up and thought she had hit the jackpot. I thought Jackson would leave me for her.¡± ¡°What happened to her?¡± ¡°Car ident when you were two. Very convenient timing, if you ask me.¡± The simple way she said it made my stomach turn. ¡°You¡¯re talking about my mother.¡± ¡°I¡¯m your mother,¡± she snapped. ¡°I¡¯m the one who fed you, clothed you, put a roof over your head when Thomas brought you home like some stray cat.¡± ¡°And made sure I knew I wasn¡¯t wanted every single day.¡± ¡°Because you weren¡¯t!¡± The words exploded out of her. ¡°You were a constant reminder of my husband¡¯s betrayal. Every time I looked at you, I saw her. That woman who tried to steal my life.¡± I felt something crack inside my chest. Twenty years of wondering why I was never good enough, why Jesse was the golden child, and why nothing I did could earn my mother¡¯s love. Now I knew. I had never had a chance. ¡°Where¡¯s Jesse?¡± I asked, my voice barely steady. ¡°At work. She¡¯s a manager now, you know. Has her life together, unlike some people.¡± As if summoned by the mention of her name, the front door mmed open and Jesse walked in, her designer purse over her shoulder and her phone pressed to her ear. 15:10 Sat, 9 Aug ¡°Mom, I left my¡­¡± She stopped mid¨Csentence when she saw me. ¡°What the fuck is this crazy bitch doing here?¡± ¡°Language, Jesse,¡± my mother said mildly. 44% ¡°No, seriously.¡± Jesse ended her call and stared at me with undisguised disgust. ¡°Why is she here? I thought we agreed we were done with her pathetic sob story.¡± ¡°She heard about your father and thought she¡¯de pay her respects.¡± ¡°To a man who wasn¡¯t even her real father?¡± Jesseughed. ¡°That¡¯s rich. What¡¯s next, Celine? Going to cry about how hard your life has been? How mean we were to poor little you?¡± I looked between them¡­.these two women who had shaped my childhood with their cruelty and rejection¡­.and felt something shift inside
  1. me.
¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I said quietly. They both blinked, clearly not expecting agreement. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Jesse. Dad wasn¡¯t my biological father. And Mom¡­.¡± I looked at the woman who had raised me with such obvious resentment, ¡°¡­ you¡¯re not my biological mother either.¡± ¡°Damn right,¡± my mother muttered. ¡°But you know what?¡± My voice grew stronger. ¡°I¡¯m d.¡± Jesse¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°I¡¯m d I¡¯m not really part of this family. I¡¯m d I don¡¯t share your blood or your values or your ability for cruelty.¡± I turned toward the door. ¡°I spent twenty years wondering what was wrong with me, why I could never be good enough for you. Turns out there was never anything wrong with me. The problem was you.¡± ¡°Now you listen here¡­..¡± my mother started. ¡°No.¡± I spun back around. ¡°You listen. I came here looking for answers, and I got them. But I also got something else. Closure.¡± I pulled out my wallet and extracted all the cash I had¨Cmaybe three hundred dors. ¡°This is for Dad¡¯s funeral expenses. Consider it my final gift to this family.¡± I dropped the money on the coffee table. ¡°Don¡¯t contact me again. Don¡¯t contact your son. We¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Your bastard son, you mean,¡± Jesse sneered. ¡°What kind of mother doesn¡¯t even know who the father is?¡± ¡°A better mother than either of you would ever be,¡± I said calmly. ¡°Caesar has more love and kindness in his three¨Cyear¨Cold heart than both of youbined.¡± I walked to the door, my hand on the knob, when my mother¡¯s voice stopped me. ¡°You think you¡¯re so much better than us now that you¡¯ve got that rich man paying for everything? Think you¡¯ve won some kind of prize?¡± I turned back onest time.¡± I don¡¯t think I¡¯m better than you. I know I am. And it has nothing to do with Hunter¡¯s money and everything to do with the fact that I learned how to love despite growing up in this house.¡± ???? ? -HUNTER- The note was short and written in Celine¡¯s careful handwriting: ¡®Gone to run errands. Backter. -C¡® But her phone was going straight to voicemail, and something about the way she¡¯d been acting since yesterday had every instinct possessed screaming danger. I called Derek. ¡°I need you to track Celine¡¯s location,¡°I began without any introduction. ¡°Good morning to you too, Hunter. Any particr reason you¡¯re stalking your pregnant girlfriend?¡± ¡°She¡¯s been acting strange since her meeting with Margaret Torres yesterday. She left this morning without telling me where she was going, and her phone is off.¡± Derek¡¯s tone sobered. ¡°Give me ten minutes.¡± Those were the longest ten minutes of my life. I paced the length of the penthouse, imagining every possible scenario, each one worse than thest. My phone rang. ¡°She¡¯s in Queens,¡± Derek said. ¡°Residential address. I¡¯m sending you the location now.¡± I was already grabbing my keys. ¡°Whose address?¡± ¡°ording to public records, it belongs to Patricia Brown. Age sixty¨Ctwo.¡± My blood turned to ice. Patricia Brown. Celine¡¯s mother. ¡°Fuck.¡± ¡°Hunter? What¡¯s going on?¡± But I was already out the door, my phone pressed to my ear as I waited for the elevator. ¡°Derek, I need you to do something else for me. I need you to investigate Margaret Torres¡¯s ims about Celine¡¯s parentage. Find out if Jackson Brown had an affair, if there¡¯s any truth to what she told Celine.¡± ¡°How deep do you want me to dig?¡± ¡°As deep as it takes. I need facts, not rumors.¡± The elevator seemed to take forever. When I finally reached the parking garage, I was practically running. ¡°And Derek? If Margaret Torres is lying about this, I want to know why. I want to know what she gains from destroying Celine¡¯s sense of identity.¡± ¡°Consider it done.¡± I ended the call and focused on driving, pushing my car as fast as I dared through the city traffic. Celine was walking into an emotional minefield, and she was doing it alone. The GPS led me to a neighborhood I had never been to before¨Cnarrow streets lined with small houses, working¨Css families, the kind of ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find¡¤novel 4/6 gara whate pespile minitati mal was tweinken ane celine tanding on the sidewalk in from biler, hindre dating was silent baare puted up to the curb and rolled down the window. ¡°Gen* She turned, surprise shing cross her tear streaked face. Home? how did your*. *Get in, Celine¡± She climbed into the passenger seat without argument, and I immediately noticed the way she was holding herself like someone who had faken a beating ¡°Are you angry with me?¡± she asked quietly. ¡°yes¡± i pulled away from the curb, putting distance between us and that house. ¡°But not for the reason you think. ¡°I had to know the truth.¡± ¡°I understand that. I¡¯m angry because you went alone. I¡¯m angry because you turned off your phone. I¡¯m angry because you didn¡¯t trust me enough to be there for you.¡± She was quiet for a long moment. Then, in a voice so broken it made my chest ache: ¡°She told me everything. About my real mother. About why they never loved me.¡± She took a shuddering breath. ¡°Margaret was telling the truth. I¡¯m not really a Brown.¡± I pulled over at the first safe spot I could find and turned to face her. ¡°Tell me everything.¡± So she did. She told me about the affair, about her biological mother¡¯s death, about twenty years of being treated like an unwanted reminder of betrayal. She told me about Jesse¡¯s cruelty and her mother¡¯s final confirmation that she¡¯d never been wanted. And with every word, my fury at the Brown family grew. ¡°They don¡¯t deserve you,¡± I said when she finished. ¡°They never did.¡± ¡°I know that now.¡± She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. ¡°I¡¯m done with them. For good this time.¡± ¡°Good.¡± I reached over and took her hand. ¡°Because you have a family now. A real family. Me, Caesar, Caroline¨Cpeople who love you for exactly who you are.¡± ¡°Even if I¡¯m not who I thought I was?¡± ¡°Especially then.¡± I lifted her hand to my lips, pressing a gentle kiss to her palm. ¡°Your worth isn¡¯t determined by the people who gave you life, Celine. It¡¯s determined by the life you¡¯ve built, the love you give, the person you choose to be.¡± She started crying again, but these tears felt different. Cleaner somehow. My phone buzzed with a text from Derek; ¡®Found something interesting about the Brown family finances. Margaret Torres has been ckmailing Patricia Brown for years. This might not be about money¨Cit might be about revenge.¡± I looked at Celine, who was finally starting to look like herself again, and made a decision. Legacy 170 70 Chapter 170 -HUNTER- I found Celine exactly where I had left her an hour ago¨Ccurled up on our bed, staring at nothing. She had barely spoken since we had returned from Queens, and the silence was killing me. She had showered and changed into one of my old Columbia t¨Cshirts and a pair of soft leggings, but there was still something breakable about the way she held herself. Like she was afraid that moving too quickly might shatter whatever peace she had managed to find. ¡°Celine?¡± I knocked softly on the doorframe. She turned her head toward me, and I was relieved to see that her eyes looked clearer than they had earlier. Not happy, but notpletely devastated either. ¡°Caesar¡¯s back,¡± I said. ¡°ra dropped him off a few minutes ago. He¡¯s asking for you.¡± A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth¨Cthe first real expression I had seen from her all day. ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°Living room. But he¡¯s covered in paint from ra¡¯s art project, so fair warning.¡± She sat up, pushing her hair back from her face. ¡°I should go see him.¡± ¡°Actually,¡± I said, stepping into the room, ¡°I have a better idea.¡± Twenty minutester, I was helping Caesar out of his paint¨Cstained clothes in his bathroom while Celine watched from the doorway, a genuine smile finally reaching her eyes. ¡°Daddy, took!¡± Caesar held up his hands, which were still streaked with blue and yellow paint. ¡°ra taught me how to make green!¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing, buddy.¡± I lifted him into the bathtub, where/¡®d already run a warm bath with his favorite bubble bath. ¡°You¡¯re going to be a great artist like Mommy.¡± ¡°Mommy is amazing?¡± Caesar looked at Celine with wide eyes. ¡°Yes she is,¡± I said, catching her gaze in the mirror. ¡°She¡¯s very great at it.¡± Celine¡¯s face grew dreamy. ¡°That was a long time ago.¡± ¡°Not that long,¡± I said quietly. Caesar sshed happily in the bubbles, chattering about his day with ra while I helped wash the paint from his hair. In the mirror, I noticed Celine rxing more as she watched our son y. Her shoulders became less tense. This was what I had been hoping for. Normal Family. The kind of simple happiness that could help heal whatever damage the Brown family had inflicted today. ¡°Mommy, rame eft Seas demanded, poleting to the edge of the tot Celine nced at me, and I nodded encouragingly. She moved to sit on the bathroom floor beside the tub, letting Caesar ssh water on her hands while he told her about the picture he¡¯d painted for her. ¡°It¡¯s a butterfly,¡± he said seriously. ¡°ra said butterflies are pretty like you* ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see it,¡± Celine said, and for the first time today, her voice soundedpletely genuine. After Caesar was clean, dressed in his pajamas, and settled in the living room with his art supplies to recreate his butterfly masterpiece, found Celine in the kitchen making tea. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± I asked, leaning against the counter. ¡°Better.¡± She poured hot water over the tea bag, her movements careful and intentional. ¡°Thank you. For earlier. For finding me, for bringing me home.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me for that.¡± ¡°I do.¡± She turned to face me, holding the mug between her hands like she was drawingfort from its warmth. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about what you said. About having a real family now.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re right.¡± She took a sip of her tea. ¡°Caesar and I¡­.we¡¯ve been on our own for so long that I forgot what it felt like to have someone who woulde looking for me when I disappeared.¡± Something tight in my chest loosened at her words. ¡°I made reservations for dinner,¡± I said. ¡°Nothing fancy. That Italian ce Caesar likes, the one with the crayons and the breadsticks.¡± Her face brightened. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Unless you would rather stay in. I just thought¡­ we could use a normal family evening. The three of us.¡± ¡°I would love that.¡± She set down her mug and moved closer to me. ¡°Hunter?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry I scared you today. I¡¯m sorry I went alone.¡± I reached up to cup her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing across her cheekbones. ¡°Promise me something.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Promise me that from now on, when something is eating you alive, you¡¯ll tell me. Even if you think you need to handle it alone. Even if you¡¯re not ready to talk about it. Just¡­ tell me you¡¯re struggling, and let me be there.¡± ¡°I promise.¡± She leaned into my touch. ¡°But only if you promise me something too.¡± 4341 ¡°Anything.¡± ¡°Promise me you¡¯ll stop treating me like I¡¯m made of ss. I know you want to protect me, but I need to know you believe I¡¯m strong enough to handle whateveres next.¡± 1 studied her face the determination in her brown eyes, the stubborn set of her jaw that I¡¯d fallen in love with. She was right. She was stronger than I gave her credit for. ¡°I promise,¡± I said, and meant it. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed me, soft and sweet and full of gratitude. ¡°Daddy! Mommy! Come look!¡± We broke apart,ughing, and headed back to the living room where Caesar was holding up histest creation¨Ca butterfly that was mostly purple with wings that looked suspiciously like handprints. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, sweetheart,¡± Celine said, crouching down to Caesar¡¯s level. ¡°Can we hang it on the refrigerator?¡± ¡°Yes! And I want to make one for baby sister too!¡± Celine¡¯s hand went automatically to her stomach, her expression softening. ¡°Baby sister would love that.¡± ~CELINE~ Dinner at Rosetta¡¯s was exactly what my soul needed. Caesar charmed our waitress by asking if they had ¡°the special breadsticks that taste like heaven,¡± while Hunter quietly made sure I actually ate something instead of just pushing food around my te. Fresh chapters posted on find?novel The restaurant was busy but not overwhelming, filled with the kind of families we were pretending to be¨Cnormal people with normal problems; not billionaires dealing with ckmail schemes and identity crises. ¡°Mommy, try this!¡± Caesar held out a forkful of spaghetti, sauce dripping dangerously close to his clean shirt. ¡°Careful, buddy,¡± Hunter said, reaching over with a napkin. ¡°We want to keep Mommy¡¯s clothes clean.¡± I took the bite Caesar offered, making exaggerated appreciative noises that made him giggle. ¡°Delicious. You have excellent taste, Mr. Brown.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Reid,¡± Caesar corrected seriously. The words hit me like a gentle shock. In all the chaos of the past few days, I¡¯d forgotten that Caesar had started calling himself by Hunter¡¯sst name. ¡°Is that what you want?¡± I asked carefully. ¡°To pe Caesar Reid?¡± He nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Like Daddy. We¡¯re a family.¡± I looked across the table at Hunter, who was watching us both with an expression I couldn¡¯t quite read. ¡°We are a family,¡± I agreed. ¡°A very good family.¡± After dinner, we walked slowly back to the car, Caesar between us, his small hands holding onto both of ours. The evening air was warm, and for the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe properly. ¡°Ice cream?¡± Hunter suggested that we pass a gto shop. ¡°Can we, Mommy? Please?¡± Caesar bounced on his toes. ¡°Just a small one,¡± I said, unable to resist his excitement. We sat on a bench outside the shop, Caesar between us again, his face covered in chocte gto while he told us about a book ra had read to him about a brave knight who saved a dragon from a mean king. ¡°The dragon wasn¡¯t scary,¡± he exined seriously. ¡°He was just sad because nobody liked him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good story,¡± Hunter said. ¡°Sometimes people who seem scary are just misunderstood.¡± ¡°Like monsters under the bed?¡± ¡°Exactly like that.¡± I watched them talk, my heart full in a way it hadn¡¯t been in years. This was what happiness felt like. Not the desperate, clinging kind had grown up with, but the steady, certain kind that came from being unconditionally loved. My phone buzzed with a text message. I nced at it expecting something Caroline¨Crted, but the number was strange. ¡®This isn¡¯t over, Some secrets are worth more than others. ¨C M¡® My blood ran cold. Margaret. Hunter noticed my change in expression immediately. ¡°What is it?¡± I showed him the phone, watching his face darken as he read the message. ¡°Daddy, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Caesar had finished his gto and was looking between us with concern. ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong, buddy,¡± Hunter said, his voice carefully controlled. ¡°Mommy just got a message from someone we don¡¯t need to worry about.¡± But I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his free hand had clenched into a fist, ¡°She¡¯s not going to stop,¡± I said quietly. ¡°She will,¡± Hunter said, his voice carrying a promise. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure of it.¡± As we walked back to the car, Caesar chattering about wanting to draw a picture of the brave knight¡¯s dragon, I felt a heavy feeling settle over me again as I anticipated what wasing.. But this time, I wasn¡¯t facing it alone. This time, I had a family who would fight for me. ~HUNTER~ After Caesar was tucked into bed with his new butterfly picture taped to the wall beside his nightlight, I found Celine on the penthouse balcony, wrapped in one of my sweaters and staring out at the city lights. ¡°She¡¯s really not going to strip, is she? the aid without turning around ¡°Not on her own, no ¡°I moved to stand beside her, close enough that she could lean against me if she wanted to ¡°But Dere found something today About Margaret¡¯s rtionship with your mother She turned to look at me. ¡°What kind of rtionship?¡± ¡°Margaret¡¯s been ckmailing Patricia for years. Small amounts, but regr payments. Derek thinks Margaret might have been the one who told your father¡¯s employer about the affair, which cost him a promotion and probably contributed to the family¡¯s financial problems.¡± Celine was quiet for a long moment, processing this information. ¡°So this isn¡¯t just about money,¡± she said finally. ¡°It¡¯s about revenge.¡± ¡°Against your mother, yes. But somehow you¡¯ve be the target.¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m the visible proof of the affair.¡± Her voice was calm, analytical. ¡°I¡¯m the reminder she can use to hurt Patricia.¡± I nodded. ¡°But here¡¯s the thing about ckmailers, Celine. They only have power if you care about the secret they¡¯re threatening to expose.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± I turned to face her fully. ¡°You¡¯ve already faced the worst of it. You know the truth about your parentage, and you¡¯ve cut ties with the people who used it to hurt you. What can Margaret actually threaten you with now?¡± A slow smile spread across her face. ¡°Nothing. She can¡¯t threaten me with nothing.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± I pulled her into my arms, breathing in the scent of her shampoo. ¡°Tomorrow, we¡¯ll deal with Margaret Torres. Tonight, we¡¯re just a family who had dinner and gto and came home to our son¡¯s artwork on the refrigerator.¡± She melted against me, her arms wrapping around my waist. ¡°I love you,¡± she said into my chest. ¡°I love our life. I love our family.¡± ¡°I love you too.¡± I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. ¡°All of you. Exactly as you are.¡± Standing there on the balcony, holding the woman I loved while our son slept safely inside, I made a silent promise. Margaret Torres had picked the wrong family to mess with. And tomorrow, she was going to find out exactly what happened to people who threatened what was mine. Legacy 171 Chapter 171 -HUNTER- I found Margaret Torres exactly where Derek said she would be¨CRomano¡¯s Caf¨¦, sitting at her usual table by the window with a clear view of my building. She looked nothing like Celine up close, worn down by years of bitterness and whatever twisted game she had been ying with the Brown family. But her eyes were sharp, adding up as she watched me approach her table. ¡°Mr. Reid.¡± She didn¡¯t seem surprised to see me. ¡°I wondered when you would show up.¡± ¡°Margaret Torres.¡± I didn¡¯t sit down. ¡°We need to talk.¡± ¡°About what?¡± She stirred her coffee with intentional slowness, ying innocent. I pulled out my phone and showed her the screenshot of the text she had sent Celine. ¡°About this. And about the fact that you¡¯ve been ckmailing Patricia Brown for years.¡± Her calm slipped for just a moment¡­.a sh of surprise, maybe fear¡­.before she regained control. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Derek Ross is very thorough,¡± I said, sliding into the seat across from her. ¡°Bank records, payment patterns, witness statements. Should I continue?¡± Margaret¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°You rich boys think you can buy anything, don¡¯t you? Wave some money around and make problems disappear.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t about money.¡± I kept my voice low, controlled. ¡°This is about you threatening a pregnant woman who never did anything to hurt you.¡± ¡°Never did anything?¡± Margaret¡¯s voice rose slightly, drawing nces from other patrons. She lowered it again, leaning forward. ¡°That girl is living proof of my brother¨Cinw¡¯s betrayal. She¡¯s the reason my sister¡¯s marriage fell apart.¡± ¡°Your sister¡¯s marriage fell apart because your brother¨Cinw had an affair. Celine was a child. An innocent child who lost her mother and got stuck with people who resented her existence.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lecture me about family loyalty.¡± Margaret¡¯s eyes shed with decades of resentment. ¡°You have no idea what that family went through because of her.¡± I studied her face¨Cthe lines of bitterness, the way her hands shook slightly as she gripped her coffee cup. This wasn¡¯t just about Celine. This was about something deeper. ¡°What do you really want, Margaret?¡± She was quiet for a long moment, and when she spoke again, her voice was different. Tired. ¡°Patricia thinks she¡¯s so high and mighty, Always did. Even when we were kids, she acted like she was better than me. Smarter. Prettier. More deserving.¡± Sheughed, but there was no humor in it. ¡°Then she married Jackson, had her perfect little family, and I¡­ I got nothing.¡± 1/4 ¡°I decided to Hiske her pay Vargaret¡¯s thick slippedparaty may revesting the raw hurt underneath. Mackson¡¯s affair was just the beginning i made sure his boss knew about it. Made sure he lost that promotion Stade sure their perfect liste life started cracking¡± ¡°And Celine?¡± ¡°Was supposed to be my insurance policy. The constant reminder of Patricia¡¯s humiliation.¡± Margaret shrugged. ¡°But then the girt ran away. and Patricia cut her offpletely. Suddenly my leverage was gone.¡± Understanding dawned. ¡°Until you found out she was with me.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Margaret¡¯s smile was predatory now. ¡°Patricia¡¯s bastard stepdaughter, pregnant and ying house with a billionaire. The irony was too perfect to ignore.¡± I felt something cold settle in my chest. ¡°What exactly did you think you could aplish?¡± ¡°Recognition. Respect. Maybe a little financialpensation for years of keeping family secrets.¡± She leaned back in her chair. ¡°Or maybe I just wanted to watch Patricia¡¯s face when she realized her discarded daughter had won the lottery.¡± ¡°Celine isn¡¯t a lottery ticket. She¡¯s a person you¡¯ve been terrorizing for your own sick satisfaction.¡± ¡°Save the righteous anger,¡± Margaret snapped. ¡°You don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to watch someone else get everything you deserved. To be invisible while they shine.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. I don¡¯t.¡± I pulled out an envelope from my jacket pocket and ced it on the table between us. ¡°But I do know what it¡¯s like to protect the people I love.¡± Margaret eyed the envelope suspiciously. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°A choice.¡± I leaned forward, my voice dropping to barely above a whisper. ¡°Inside that envelope is enough evidence to have you arrested for ckmail, harassment, and stalking. Bank records, phone records, witness statements from everyone you¡¯ve contacted about Celine.¡± Her face went pale. ¡°But,¡± I continued, ¡°it¡¯s also a one¨Cway ticket to Florida and a cashier¡¯s check for fifty thousand dors. Enough to start over somewhere far away from here.¡± ¡°You¡¯re buying me off?¡± ¡°I¡¯m giving you an exit strategy. Take the money, move to Florida, and never contact Celine or anyone in her family again. Or stay here and face the consequences of what you¡¯ve done,¡± Margaret stared at the envelope for a long moment. ¡°And if I choose Florida?¡± ¡°Then this conversation never happened. You disappear, Celine gets to live her life in peace, and everyone wins.¡± ¡°What makes you think I won¡¯t just take the money ande back?¡± I smiled, but there was no warmth in it. ¡°Because Derek Ross will be watching. And if you so much as Google Celine¡¯s name, that evidence goes straight to the NYPD. Are we clear?¡± 2/4 The rightful source is F¦ÉndNovel Margaret opened the envelope with shaking hands, her eyes widening as she saw the check. ¡°Fifty thousand dors to walk away from a family that never wanted me anyway,¡± she murmured. ¡°That¡¯s one way to look at it.¡± She was quiet for a long moment, staring out the window at my building. Finally, she folded the envelope and tucked it into her purse. ¡°I suppose Florida has better weather anyway.¡± ¡°Much better.¡± I stood up, straightening my jacket. ¡°The flight leaves tonight. I suggest you don¡¯t miss it.¡± As I walked away, I heard her call after me. ¡°Mr. Reid?¡± I turned back. ¡°She¡¯s lucky to have you,¡± Margaret said, and for the first time since I¡¯d sat down, her voice held no malice. ¡°That girl¡­ she¡¯s nothing like her mother or her sister. Maybe that¡¯s a good thing.¡± I nodded once and left the caf¨¦, pulling out my phone to call Derek. ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± I said when he answered. ¡°Make sure she gets on that flight.¡± ¡°Already tracking her phone. The moment she boards, I¡¯ll confirm.¡± As I crossed the street back to my building, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. One threat down. Now I could focus on the engagement party tonight and making sure Celine enjoyed herself without worrying about shadows from her past. She deserved nothing less thanplete happiness. And I was going to make sure she got it. ~CELINE~ ¡°Are you sure this dress looks okay?¡± I asked ke for the third time, smoothing my hands over the soft blue fabric. ¡°Celine, you look gorgeous. Stop fidgeting.¡± ke was putting the finishing touches on her makeup in my bathroom mirror. ¡°Hunter¡¯s going to lose his mind when he sees you.¡± The dress was new¨Ca gift from Hunter that had arrived that morning with a note that simply said, ¡°For tonight. You¡¯ll be the most beautiful woman in the room. ¨C H¡± It was a deep navy blue, flowing and elegant, with delicate beading along the neckline that caught the light when I moved. The fabric draped perfectly over my growing belly, making me feel both feminine and radiant. ¡°Where is Hunter anyway?¡± ke asked, capping her lipstick. ¡°Business call that rante. He said he¡¯d meet us at the party.¡± I checked my phone again. No new messages. ¡°Well, his loss, More time for us to make an entrance together.¡± 3/4 1511 Sat. 9 Aud 1 smiled, gratefit as always for ke¡¯s unwavering friendship. she¡¯d been my anchor through so much, and having her here tonight made me feel more confident about facing Caroline¡¯s social circle. My phone buzzed with a text from Hunter. Hunter: ¡°Sorry I¡¯m runningte. Handle some unexpected business. You¡¯re going to look incredible tonight. Can¡¯t wait to see you. F Me. ¡°Everything okay?¡± Hunter: ¡°Everything¡¯s perfect now. See you soon.¡± Something about his response feit off, but before I could analyze it further, ke grabbed my arm. ¡°Come on, supermodel. Time to show Caroline¡¯s fancy friends what they¡¯re dealing with.¡± As we headed for the door, I caught my reflection in the hallway mirror. ke was right¨CI did look good. The dress, the subtle makeup, the way my hair fell in soft waves around my shoulders. For the first time in weeks, I felt like myself again. Not the girl who¡¯d been rejected by her family, not the victim of Margaret¡¯s games, but simply Celine. Hunter¡¯s Celine. Caesar¡¯s mother. Caroline¡¯s best friend. Tonight was going to be perfect. I could feel it. 4/4 Comment Legacy 172 Chapter 172 -CELINE- The penthouse overlooking Central Park was exactly what I had expected for Caroline and Fredric¡¯s engagement party¡­elegant, sophisticated, and filled with the kind of people who belonged in magazines. Crystal chandeliers cast warm light over groups of guests sipping champagne and making polite conversation. The floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the city lights, and everything from the flower arrangements to the perfectly coordinated catering screamed expensive taste. ¡°This is incredible,¡± ke whispered as we stepped inside, her eyes wide as she took in the wealthy surroundings. smoothed my hands over my navy dress one more time, grateful that Hunter¡¯s impable taste had guaranteed I had fit right in. Around us, women wore designer gowns and men sported tailored suits that probably cost more than most people¡¯s monthly rent. ¡°Celine!¡± Caroline¡¯s voice stood out as she approached us. radiant in a stunning champagne¨Ccolored gown that made her look like a fairy tale princess. She pulled me into a warm hug, careful not to crush either of our dresses. ¡°You look absolutely gorgeous! That dress is perfect on you.¡± ¡°You look incredible,¡± I said, meaning it. ¡°This whole ce is amazing.¡± Before I could finish mypliment, a tall man with kind eyes and an easy smile approached us. ¡°This must be the famous Celine,¡± he said, stretching out his hand with genuine warmth. ¡°I¡¯m Fredric. Caroline talks about you constantly.¡± ¡°All good things, I hope,¡± I replied, shaking his hand and immediately liking his straightforward manner. ¡°The best things,¡± he assured me. ¡°She credits you with keeping her sane through high school and everything after. I owe you a debt of gratitude for taking such good care of my fianc¨¦e.¡± Caroline beamed at him, and I could see why she had fallen for him. He had a genuine quality that was rare in wealthy circles¨Cat least from my little experience. As we chatted, I found myself rxing for the first time in days. This felt normal, social, like the kind of evening I used to dream about having¨Cgood friends, graceful surroundings, and the simple pleasure of getting dressed up and celebrating love. ¡°I need to steal Celine for a moment,¡± Caroline said, linking her arm through mine. Her expression had shifted to something more serious, and my stomach immediately tightened. ¡°Everything okay?¡± I asked as she led me toward a quieter corner. ¡°There¡¯s something I need to tell you,¡± she said quietly, ncing around to make sure we weren¡¯t overheard. ¡°Mia ckwood is here.¡± My chest tightened, but I forced myself to take a steady breath. ¡°Oh.¡± Discover more novels at Find1Novel ¡°Fredric and Iran into her at Meridianst week you know, that ridiculoutly expensive restaurant he loves. She was dining alone, and when she saw us, she came over to say hello.¡± Caroline¡¯s expression was apologetic but determined. ¡°Fredric didn¡¯t know about¡­ well, about Eleanor¡¯s ns for her and Hunter. So when she mentioned wanting to congratte us, he invited her tonight.¡± ¡°Caroline, you don¡¯t have to exin,¡± I said, cing my hand on her arm. ¡°It¡¯s your party. You can invite anyone you want.¡± ¡°Yes, but knowing she¡¯s the woman Aunt Eleanor wants for Hunter¡­.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± I cut her off gently, surprised by my own calm. ¡°This is your engagement party. I¡¯m not going to let Eleanor¡¯s matchmaking schemes ruin your celebration.¡± Caroline studied my face, searching for any sign that I was just putting on a brave front. ¡°Are you sure? Because I can ask her to leave. Fredric would understand once I exined.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± I said, and meant it. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m curious to get to know the woman who has Eleanor so convinced she¡¯s perfect for Hunter.¡± As if summoned by our conversation, I caught sight of Mia across the room. She was everything I had envied¨Ctall, elegant, with the kind of effortless beauty that came from good genes and expensive maintenance. Her ck dress was sophisticated without being shy, and she moved through the crowd with the confidence of someone who had never doubted her ce in the world. She was also looking directly at me. ¡°She knows who I am,¡± I murmured to Caroline. ¡°Of course she does. The question is what she ns to do about it.¡± Before I could respond, Mia was walking toward us, her smile polite and perfectly calibrated. ¡°Caroline, what a wonderful party,¡± she said, air¨Ckissing Caroline¡¯s cheeks with skillful uracy. ¡°Fredric has excellent taste.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mia. I¡¯m so d you could make it.¡± Caroline¡¯s voice was polite but cooler than usual. ¡°I would like you to meet my best friend, Celine.¡± Mia turned to me with that same perfect smile, but I caught the calcting look in her blue eyes as they swept over my dress, my face, and finally remained on my still¨Csmall bump. ¡°Celine,¡± she said warmly, extending her manicured hand. ¡°How lovely to see you again.¡± I shook her hand briefly, remembering our previous meeting at Hunter¡¯s mansion. She was just as bright then and just as careful in her judgment of me. ¡°Hello, Mia,¡± I replied, keeping my voice neutral. ¡°Nice to see you too.¡± ¡°I remember now¨Cwe met briefly at Hunter¡¯s house when you were working there.¡± The mention of my old job as his maid was sharp and pointed, meant to remind everyone nearby of the ss difference between us. But instead of feeling embarrassed, I found myself standing straighter. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. It seems like a lifetime ago.¡± ¡°Things have certainly changed since then,¡± she agreed, her smile never wavering. Then her hand shot out, grasping mine with surprising firmness. ¡°Congrattions on your pregnancy, by the way. Such exciting news.¡± The blood drained from my face. How could she possibly know? Hunter and I had been so careful, only telling Caroline and a few close friends. My mind raced¨Chad Hunter told her? Had Eleanor somehow found out and shared the information? ¡°Thank you,¡± I managed, my voice steady despite the panic racing through my system. I tried to pull my hand away, but her grip tightened for just a moment before releasing me. ¡°Your son is adorable too,¡± Mia continued, apparently ignorant to my shock. ¡°Caesar, isn¡¯t it? Such a sweet boy. I heard he¡¯s been adjusting well to his new circumstances.¡± Every word felt like a sharp reminder. She knew personal details about my life and my family. The simple way she spoke about Caesar made my skin crawl. ¡°He¡¯s around here somewhere,¡± I said, forcing a smile. ¡°Probably with ke, charming someone into giving him extra dessert.¡± ¡°Children are such a joy,¡± Mia said wistfully, her eyes taking on a dreamy quality. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted a big family myself. There¡¯s something so appealing about the idea of building somethingsting with the right person.¡± The message was very clear. She saw herself as the right person for Hunter, and my presence was merely a temporary obstacle to ovee. ¡°Well,¡± I said, deciding I¡¯d had enough of this conversation, ¡°I should go find Caesar and make sure he¡¯s not causing too much trouble. Enjoy the party, Mia.¡± ¡°Of course. It was so lovely to finally meet you properly, Celine.¡± As I walked away, I felt her watching me closely, noticing every step and movement. The meeting made me feel helpless, as if she could see through all my defenses. Caroline appeared at my elbow within seconds. ¡°What did she say to you?¡± she asked, concern etched across her features. ¡°Nothing I need to worry about,¡± I lied, not wanting to burden my friend on her special night. ¡°Just the usual pleasantries.¡± Before Caroline could investigate further, a familiar voice called my name from across the room. ¡°Celine? Celine Brown?¡± I turned to see a man approaching with a huge grin, and it took me a moment to ce him. Then recognition hit like lightning. ¡°ncey?¡± I gasped, hardly believing my eyes. ¡°I knew it was you!¡± He reached me in three quick strides, pulling me into a warm hug that smelled like expensive cologne and brought back a flood of memories from our time at the motel and hospital. ¡°What are the odds?¡± ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I asked, stepping back to look at him properly. He looked different in his tailored suit¨Cmore polished, more at home in these surroundings than I would have expected. ¡°Fredric¡¯s my cousin,¡± he exined, his green eyes bright with genuine pleasure at seeing me. ¡°When I heard he was getting engaged, I had toe support him. But I never imagined I¡¯d run into you here.¡± ¡°Your cousin?¡± The pieces clicked into ce. ¡°That¡¯s why you were in that area for business meetings.¡± ¡°Family business,¡± he confirmed with a wry smile. ¡°The exciting world of corporate restructuring. Not nearly as exciting as pancakes and diner coffee, but it pays the bills.¡± I found myselfughing for the first time since arriving at the party, the sounding easily and naturally. ncey had always had that effect on me¨Cmaking me feel normal, rxed, like I could just be myself without worrying about judgment or ulterior motives. ¡°How¡¯s Caesar?¡± he asked, his expression growing more serious. ¡°Is he here tonight?¡± ¡°He¡¯s with a friend somewhere,¡± I said, ncing around the room. ¡°Probably making friends with every adult who¡¯ll listen to his stories about dinosaurs and superheroes.¡± ¡°Some things never change,¡± ncey said fondly. ¡°He was quite the chatterbox at the hospital. And you? How are you doing? You look¡­¡± He paused, studying my face with those sharp green eyes. ¡°You look happy. Really happy.¡± ¡°I am,¡± I realized, and it was true. Despite Eleanor¡¯s schemes and Mia¡¯s veiled threats and all theplications of my rtionship with Hunter, I was genuinely happy. ¡°Things are good. Really good.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d,¡± ncey said softly. ¡°You deserve all the happiness in the world, Celine. Both you and Caesar.¡± The simple sincerity of his words made something warm bloom in my chest. Here was someone who had seen me at my lowest point¨Ccopsed in a motel room, desperate and afraid¨Cand still looked at me like I was worth something. Before I could respond, ke appeared at my elbow with Caesar in tow, my son¡¯s face lighting up when he spotted ncey. ¡°Uncle ncey!¡± Caesarunched himself at the man who had bought him pancakes months ago, apparently remembering him perfectly despite the time that had passed. ¡°Hey there, buddy!¡± ncey scooped Caesar up easily, spinning him around before setting him back down. ¡°Look how much you¡¯ve grown! You¡¯re practically a giant now.¡± Caesar giggled, the sound drawing warm smiles from other party guests nearby. ¡°Are you friends with Aunt Caroline too?¡± ¡°Caroline¡¯s marrying my cousin,¡± ncey exined. ¡°Which makes us all family now, in a way.¡± The simple statement made something swell in my chest. 4/5 Family. The word had taken on such different meanings for me over the past few months, but this felt right. Chosen family, found family, the kind of connections that mattered more than blood. For the first time in weeks, I felt like I belonged somewhere. Not because of Hunter¡¯s wealth or status, not because of what I could offer someone else, but simply because I was me. And that¡¯s when I heard his voice cut through the ambient party noise like a de. ¡°Celine.¡± I turned to see Hunter approaching us, devastating in his ck suit, but there was something in his blue eyes that made my pulse quicken with anxiety rather than attraction. He looked like a storm barely contained, and I could see the exact moment his gazended on ncey¡¯s hand resting casually on Caesar¡¯s shoulder. The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.. ¡°Hunter,¡± I said carefully, moving instinctively closer to him. ¡°You made it.¡± But his attention was entirely focused on ncey, his jaw tight, his stance spreading out the kind of controlled danger that made smart people step back. The evening that had felt perfect a moment ago suddenly seemed uncertain, and I had a sinking feeling that everything was about to change Ìï Legacy 173 HUNTER¡¯S POV- The drive to Caroline¡¯s engagement party had been a blur of city lights and racing thoughts. Margaret Torres was handled¨Cpermanently removed from our lives with a one¨Cway ticket to Florida and enough money to ensure she stayed gone. I should have felt victorious, protective, like the kind of man who could shield his family from any threat. Instead, all I could think about was how Celine had looked this morning when I had left for that meeting. Soft and sleepy in our bed, her hair spread across my pillow like dark silk, one hand unconsciously resting on the gentle curve where our baby grew. She had smiled when I kissed her goodbye, murmuring something about seeing me at the party. ¡°Don¡¯t work toote,¡± she¡¯d whispered, her fingers trailing down my arm. ¡°I want to dance with you tonight.¡± I was already twenty minuteste. The penthouse was exactly what I had expected¨Call crystal and marble and carefully created ssiness. Caroline had outdone herself, though I barely registered the details as I stepped inside. My eyes were already searching, scanning the crowd of Manhattan¡¯s elite for the only face that mattered. And then I found her. She stood near the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows overlooking Central Park, the city lights creating a halo around her silhouette. The navy dress I had chosen clung to her in all the right ces, the soft beading catching the light every time she moved. She looked radiant, absolutely breathtaking¨Cand my chest tightened with the familiar surge of possession and pride that always hit me when I saw her like this. But she wasn¡¯t alone. A man stood beside her, and even from across the room, I could see the easy acquaintance between them. He was tall, well¨Cdressed, with the kind of sure pose that spoke of old money and Ivy League educations. Everything about his bodynguage screamedfort, intimacy, and belonging. My steps slowed as recognition hit like a physical blow. It was him. The bastard from the motel. Of course. Of course, it would be him. 1 I watched them from the bar, my fingers wrapped around a crystal tumbler of whiskey that I didn¡¯t remember ordering. Celine wasughing¨Creallyughing¨Cin a way that made something twist painfully in my chest. When was thest time I heard that sound from her? When was thest time she had looked that rxed, that genuinely happy? Not in weeks. Maybe longer. He leaned in to say something, and she yfully nudged his shoulder in response. Such a small gesture, innocent enough, but it felt like a knife between my ribs. She touched him so easily, so naturally, like they had been doing this dance for years. ¡®You trust her,¡® I told myself, the words feeling hollow even in my own head. ¡®She chose you, She¡¯s having your baby. She said yes when you proposed.¡¯ But watching them together, seeing the way her face lit up when he spoke, the way she unconsciously swayed closer to him when the crowd pressed in around them¨Cit didn¡¯t feel like trust. It felt like watching someone else live the life I wanted. The life I thought I had. ¡°You look like you¡¯re nning a murder.¡± ke¡¯s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. I nced down to see my knuckles white around the ss, the crystal groaning under the pressure. ¡°Just watching the party,¡± I said carefully, not trusting my voice to stay level. ke followed my gaze to where Celine and the guy were still deep in conversation. ¡°That¡¯s Fredric¡¯s cousin. ncey something. Apparently, he and Celine know each other from before.¡± Before. Such a loaded word. Before me? Before us? Before she learned to be careful with herughter around men who might want to steal it? ¡°How well do they know each other?¡± The question came out rougher than I had intended. ¡°I don¡¯t know the details.¡± ke studied my face with those sharp eyes that missed nothing. ¡°But Hunter, whatever you¡¯re thinking¡­..¡± ¡°I¡¯m not thinking about anything.¡± I downed the whiskey in one burning gulp, weing the fire that did nothing to cool the heat building in my chest. ¡°She¡¯s allowed to have friends.¡± The words tasted like lies. Across the room, Celine threw her head back as sheughed at something ncey said, and the gesture¡­.so unguarded, so genuine¡­.felt like a betrayal. That was supposed to be mine. Her joy, her ease, herplete attention. Now she was giving it all to him. ¡°Hunter.¡± ke¡¯s voice had taken on a warning tone. ¡°You need to get a grip. She¡¯s not doing anything wrong.¡± I knew that. Rationally, I knew that. Celine was exactly where she was supposed to be¨Cat Caroline¡¯s party, socializing, being the kind of partner who could hold her own in any room. Everything Thad ever warded in a woman So why did watching her were at it make me want to drag her home and lock her away where only could see her smile? *Because you¡¯re a possessive bastard, the voice in my head supplied helpfully. Because you know what men like him want, and you¡¯ve seen that look before. I had seen it before. In my own mirror, years ago, when I was the one circling married women and recent divorcees with practiced charm and expensive gifts. I knew exactly what ncey was thinking when he looked at Celine, knew exactly what he was offering with those careful touches and attentive conversation. And the worst part? Part of me couldn¡¯t me him. ¡°I need another drink,¡± I muttered, pushing away from ke before she couldunch into whatever lecture she was preparing The bartender, a nervous young man who kept ncing at my face like he expected me to explode, poured another double whiskey with shaking hands. In the mirror behind him, I caught another glimpse of them¡­..heads bent together over something on ncey¡¯s phone, Celine¡¯s hand resting briefly on his arm as she pointed at whatever they were looking at. Such small intimacies. Such innocent gestures. So why did they feel like watching her cheat? Let me stand beside you, not behind you.¡® Her words from this morning echoed in my head, sweet and trusting and full of faith in our future together. Yet here she was, standing beside someone else while I watched from across the room like a jealous teenager. Maybe this was what she needed¨Csomeone who didn¡¯te with the baggage of billion¨Cdor empires and hostile takeovers. Someone who could make herugh without calcting the cost. Someone who looked at her like she was enough, just as she was, without needing to drape her in designer gowns and diamond jewelry to prove her worth. The thought made me sick. Someone called my name, probably a business associate looking towork¡­.But I ignored them. All my attention was focused on the nightmare unfolding across the room, on the growing certainty that I was losing her to a man who probably thought pancakes and bad coffee made up a romantic gesture. Discover more novels at Find_Novel(. When had I be the kind of man who inspired duty instead of joy? When did loving me be work instead of pleasure? I was so lost in my spiraling thoughts that I almost missed it¨Cthe moment Celine reached out and touched ncey¡¯s arm again, her fingers staying just a second too long as she made some point about whatever story he was telling. That was it. The final straw. I set the empty ss down with controlled precision and started across the room, my focus narrowing to a tunnel. Conversations muddled into background noise. The glittering crowd faded to shadows. The careful control I had built over years of boardroom negotiations and hostile takeovers cracked like ice under pressure. There was only her. Only them. Only the space between us that I was about to eliminate. With each step, I felt the civilized man I¡¯d spent decades bing slip away, reced by something primitive and possessive that didn¡¯t care about proper behavior or social conventions. I told myself I¡¯d stay calm, that I¡¯d handle this with the sophistication expected of a man in my position. But I knew I¡¯d already lost that battle. ncey noticed me first. Those green eyes¨Cthe same ones that had stared me down in a motel parking lot months ago¨Cwidened slightly as he took in my expression. Recognition shed across his face, followed quickly by something that might have been resignation. He remembered ourst meeting too. Good. Celine turned a heartbeatter, her face lighting up with genuine pleasure that almost¨Calmost¨Cmade me forget why I was angry. ¡°Hunter! You made it.¡± She reached for me instinctively, her hand warm against my arm. ¡°I was starting to worry you¡¯d miss the whole party.¡± But her smile died when she really looked at my face. I watched the joy drain from her eyes, reced by something that looked dangerously close to fear. The reasonable part of my brain screamed at me to smile, to pull her close and kiss her hello, to act like the man she deserved instead of the monster I was bing. But that part was drowning under a tide of jealousy so pure and vicious it left me breathless. The temperature around us seemed to drop ten degrees. Other guests began to notice the tension, conversations faltering as curious eyes turned our way. ¡°Am I interrupting something?¡± The words came out low and cold, each syble strictly pronounced. Celine¡¯s hand tightened on my arm, her fingers trembling slightly. ¡°Hunter, you remember ncey. He¡¯s Fredric¡¯s cousin.¡± Of course he fucking was. The universe had a sick sense of humor, bringing the man who¡¯d tried to y white knight to my runaway woman right back into our lives. I looked at ncey¨Clooked at him in his expensive suit, standing in these elite surroundings like he belonged here. Like he belonged near her. The same protective posture, the same righteous concern in his eyes that had made me want to break his neck at that motel. ¡°ncey,¡± I said, his name tasting like,poison. ¡°What a¡­ coincidence.¡± The silence stretched between us, thick with unstated threats and half¨Cremembered violence. Around us, the party continued, but I could feel the effect of curious stares, the slight shift as people sensed drama brewing in their carefully orchestrated evening. And in the middle of it all stood Celine, my beautiful, pregnant girlfriend, looking between us like she was watching a bomb tick down to zero. Legacy 174 Chapter 174 -MIA¡¯S POV- I watched Hunter from across the room like I was nning my next move in a game. He stood at the bar, looking dangerous in his expensive ck suit. His hand gripped a whiskey ss so tightly I thought it might break. But he wasn¡¯t looking at his drink or the fancy people around us. He was staring at her. Celine wasughing at something ncey said. The sound carried across the room, bright and happy. Even from here, I could see how her whole face lit up when she smiled. She looked beautiful in that navy dress¡­Hunter probably picked it out for her. He always had good taste. Most of the time. I grabbed two whiskeys from a waiter and walked over to Hunter. He didn¡¯t even notice meing¨Ctoo busy watching Celine and her friend. His jaw was tight, his shoulders stiff. He looked like he was about to explode. Perfect. ¡°You still drink this, right?¡± I said quietly, holding out the second ss. He took it without looking at me. His eyes stayed glued to Celine and ncey by the windows. Up close, I could see how tense he was. His free hand was clenched in a fist. ¡°They look good together,¡± I said, taking a small sip of my drink. That got his attention. His head snapped toward me, his blue eyes sharp and angry. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Celine and ncey.¡± I shrugged like it was no big deal. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s nothing. But they do seem¡­ close.¡± Hunter didn¡¯t say anything, but I saw his grip tighten on the ss. ¡°It¡¯s sweet, really,¡± I went on, keeping my voice light. ¡°The way he looks at her. Like she¡¯s the only person who matters.¡± I paused, letting that sink in. ¡°I guess that¡¯s what happens when someone really knows you. When they knew you before all¡­ this.¡± I waved my hand at the expensive party around us¡­the fancy dresses, the rich people, the world that Celine was still learning to fit into. ¡°Before the money and the mansion and bing the perfect rich man¡¯s girlfriend.¡± I gave him a sympathetic smile. ¡°Sometimes the people who knew us when we were nobody see us best.¡± Hunter¡¯s breathing changed. Shorter. More controlled. Like he was trying not to lose it. ¡°She worked so hard to fit into your world,¡± I said, watching Celine across the room. ¡°Learning fancy manners, how to talk to important people. It must be tiring, always having to be perfect. Always putting on a show.¡± Right then, Celine touched ncey¡¯s arm while talking to him. Her hand stayed there a little too long. Hunter wentpletely still ¡°But look at her now,¡± I said softly. ¡°See how happy she looks with him? So rxed, so natural, Like she can finally be herself¡± Theard Hunter¡¯s ss crack¨Cjust a tiny sound, but enough. A drop of whiskey ran down his hand. ¡°I¡¯m probably making too much of it,¡± I added quickly, like I felt bad for saying anything. ¡°I tend to overthink things. It¡¯s just¡­¡± Het my voice fade, like I wasn¡¯t sure if I should keep talking. ¡°Just what?¡± His voice was rough, barely controlled. ¡°I¡¯ve seen this happen before. Sessful men get so busy building their empires, taking care of everything. And meanwhile, someone else is there¡­.someone simpler, more avable¡­.giving the one thing money can¡¯t buy.¡± ¡°Which is?¡± ¡°Understanding. The feeling of being epted exactly as you are. No need to be more or different or better.¡± I put my ss down on the bar. ¡°But I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t have anything to worry about. Celine picked you. She¡¯s having your baby. That has to mean something.¡± The words hung in the air between us. I watched Hunter¡¯s face and saw the exact moment my words hit their target. ¡°Anyway,¡± I said, straightening my ck dress, ¡°I should go talk to other people. Caroline did such a nice job with this party.¡± I started to walk away, then stopped like I just remembered something. ¡°Oh, Hunter? You might want to look at that ss. It¡¯s bleeding.¡± I didn¡¯t wait for him to answer. I never had to. As I walked away, I could feel the change behind me¨Cthe moment when his control finally snapped. I didn¡¯t need to look back to know Hunter was no longer staring at his broken ss. He was walking across the room, moving like a predator, his whole body radiating barely controlled anger. Right on time. I found a spot where I could watch what was about to happen. From here, I had a perfect view of the crash I had just caused. Celine was stillughing with ncey,pletely unaware of the storm heading her way. She looked so young, so genuinely happy. It was almost sad to ruin it. Almost. But some people had to learn things the hard way. And if Celine thought she could enter Hunter¡¯s world and keep her old friends, her simple pleasures, her fantasy that love didn¡¯te with a price¡­.well, she was about to find out differently. Hunter reached them just as Celine threw her head backughing again. I watched ncey notice him first, saw the recognition and worry cross his face. Then Celine turned, her face bright with joy that died the second she saw Hunter¡¯s expression. ¡°Am I interrupting something?¡± Hunter¡¯s voice cut through the sudden quiet around them, low and cold and dangerous. I smiled and took another sip of whiskey, gettingfortable to watch the show. After all, I had worked hard to make it happen. Updates are released by f?ndnovel Legacy 175 Chapter 175 -CLANCEY POV- Original content can be found at f?ndnovel 1 felt the shift in the room before I saw him. It was hushed at first¨Cconversations quieting, people ncing over their shoulders, the kind of wave that moves through a crowd when something dangerous approaches. The champagne in my ss suddenly felt heavier, and I had the strangest urge to step protectively in front of Celine. Then I saw Hunter cutting through the crowd like a shark through water. ¡°Shit,¡± I muttered under my breath. Everything about his posture screamed barely controlled violence. His jaw was locked, his blue eyes fixed on us withser focus, and his hands¨CChrist, his hands were already clenched into fists at his sides. This wasn¡¯t theposed billionaire I had met at the motel months ago. This was something wild and dangerous. Celine was stillughing at something I had said about Caesar¡¯stest dinosaur obsession,pletely unaware of the storm heading our way. When she finally turned and saw Hunter approaching, her smile died instantly. ¡°Hunter!¡± Her voice was bright, but I caught the nervous edge underneath. ¡°You made it. I was starting to worry¡­.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t realize I waste to a private date,¡± Hunter said, his voice cold enough to frost the windows. I felt my jaw tighten. Here we go. ¡°It¡¯s called a conversation,¡± I replied, keeping my tone level. ¡°You should try it sometime.¡± Hunter¡¯s gaze never left me, even when Celine stepped between us with her hands raised. ¡°Hunter, don¡¯t,¡± she said quietly. ¡°Please.¡± But he was already locked onto me like a guided missile. I had seen that look before¨Cin boardrooms, in back alleys, in men who had too much power and too little self¨Ccontrol. The kind of look that meant someone was about to get hurt. ¡°You think this is funny?¡± Hunter asked, his voice low but carrying enough harshness to cut ss. ¡°ying the good guy while sneaking behind my back?¡± I almostughed. Almost. ¡°You think I would go after your girl? Get over yourself.¡± The crowd around us was starting to take notice. Conversations were dying, heads turning our way with the kind of morbid curiosity that came with watching a train wreck in real time. I could see Caroline across the room, her face pale with rm as she started moving toward us. 15:11 Sat, Aud ¡°Don¡¯t mistake my tolerance for trust,¡± Hunter continued, stepping closer. ¡°You¡¯ve been circling her since the hospital.¡± That hit a nerve. Not because it was true, but because of the way he said it like Celine was a piece of property someone might steal. ¡°And you¡¯ve been controlling her since day one,¡± I shot back, my calm starting to crack. The words hit him like a physical blow. I watched his entire body go rigid, saw the muscle in his jaw twitch as he fought for control. Around us, the party guests were trying to pretend they weren¡¯t listening while hanging on every word. Celine must have sensed how close we were to the edge because she stepped forward again. ¡°Enough,¡± she said firmly. ¡°Both of you. This is Caroline¡¯s engagement party, not a boxing ring.¡± But neither of us was listening anymore. We were too busy staring each other down like wolves establishing territory. ¡°You think you¡¯re protecting her,¡± I said, my voice calm but carrying its warning, ¡°but all you do is suffocate her.¡± Hunter¡¯s hands flexed at his sides. ¡°At least I don¡¯t flirt with a woman I can¡¯t have.¡± The usation hung between us like a challenge. I could have walked away then. Should have walked away. But something about his arrogance, his assumption that he owned every aspect of Celine¡¯s life, made me push back. ¡°The only reason she stays,¡± I said quietly, ¡°is because she doesn¡¯t see a way out.¡± Silence. Complete, dead silence. The words hit the small crowd around us like a bomb. I heard someone gasp, saw the shock register on nearby faces. Even the string quartet seemed to falter for a moment. But it was Hunter¡¯s reaction that made my blood run cold. The mask of perfect control he had been wearingpletely slipped, revealing something raw and violent underneath. His breathing deepened, his pupils dted, and I could practically see the reasonable part of his brain shutting down. This was about to get very, very bad. ¡°Hunter, please,¡± Celine¡¯s voice was pleading now, desperate. ¡°Let¡¯s just go. We can talk about this at home.¡± But it was toote. Hunter had already crossed some invisible line in his head, and there was no bringing him back from it. He took a step forward, and every instinct I had screamed at me to either run or swing first. But we were surrounded by innocent people, by Celine¡¯s friends, by cameras that would undoubtedly capture whatever happened next. ¡°You don¡¯t know what the hell you¡¯re talking about,¡± Hunter said, his voice deadly quiet. ¡°Don¡¯t I?¡± I held his stare, refusing to back down even though every survival instinct I had was telling me to. ¡°When¡¯s thest time you saw herugh like that? When¡¯s thest time she looked at you the way she used to?¡± It was a low blow, and I knew it. But watching the way he treated her¡­.like a beautiful possession instead of a person¡­.had been eating at me since the moment I had met them. Hunter¡¯s face wentpletely nk, which somehow made him infinitely more dangerous. ¡°You son of a bitch,¡± he said softly. The crowd around us had grownrger, a circle of expensive suits and designer gowns watching our quarrel like it was dinner drama. Someone was definitely filming with their phone. Caroline was pushing through the crowd, her face a mask of regretful fury. Celine tried one more time to defuse the situation. ¡°Please,¡± she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. ¡°Both of you, just stop. This isn¡¯t worth it.¡± But I could see in Hunter¡¯s eyes that he was already gone. Whatever sensible thought process usually handled his actions had beenpletely crushed by rage and jealousy and wounded pride. He bent his fingers once, twice, like a boxer preparing for a fight. The party guests sensed it too¡­.some were backing away, others leaning in with morbid fascination. This was going to end badly for all of us. And there wasn¡¯t a damn thing any of us could do to stop it. Chap Legacy 176 Chapter 176 HUNTER POV- The words hit me so hard. ¡°The only reason she stays is because she doesn¡¯t see a way out.¡± Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Something snapped inside my chest. All the careful control I had built over years of boardroom meetings and nasty negotiations was crushed in a sh. He thought he knew her better than I did? Thought he understood what we had? The sane part of my brain¨Cthe part that usually kept me civilized¡­.wentpletely quiet. All I could hear was my heartbeat and the echo of his words bouncing around in my skull. Without warning, without thought, I swung. My fist connected with his jaw with a satisfying crack that sent him struggling backward. He crashed into a high¨Ctop table, sending champagne flutes flying. The sound of breaking ss mixed with gasps from the crowd around us. For a split second, the entire room went dead silent. Then chaos exploded. ncey recovered faster than I had expected. He wiped blood from his lip and came at me with a growl, grabbing the front of my jacket and swinging back. His knuckles caught my cheekbone, snapping my head to the side. The effect cleared my vision just long enough to see the horror on Celine¡¯s face before rage took over again. We were grappling now, both of us throwing wild punches while trying to stay on our feet. My expensive suit jacket tore at the shoulder. His cor was crooked, his tie hanging loose. Around us, people were screaming. ¡°Security!¡± someone yelled, ¡°Get security!¡± I barely registered the voices. All my focus was on the man in front of me, onnding another hit, on making him hurt the way his words had made me hurt. We crashed into another table, sending more sses to the floor. The sound was deafening in the marble¨Cfloored space. ¡°Stop it!¡± Celine¡¯s voice cut through the noise/high and desperate. ¡°Hunter, stop!¡± I could see her trying to get between us, but Caroline grabbed her arm, pulling her back. ¡°Stay away from them,¡± Caroline snapped. ¡°You could get hurt.¡± Could get hurt. The baby. Our baby. The thought should have stopped me cold, should have brought me back to sanity. Instead, it only made me angrier. This bastard was putting my family at risk with his righteous bullshit. ncey caught me with an uppercut that made my ears ring. I tasted blood, felt my lip split open. But the pain just fed the fury burning in my chest. I grabbed him by his shirt and threw him backward. He hit the wall hard, pictures rattling in their frames. ¡°You don¡¯t know anything about us,¡± I snarled, moving on him again.. He pushed himself off the wall, his green eyes zing. ¡°I know enough.¡± We circled each other like animals. His left eye was already swelling, and I could feel my lip throbbing. Both of our suits were ruined, shirts torn and stained with blood. The crowd around us had backed away, forming a wide circle. Cell phones were out, recording everything. Tomorrow, this will be all over social media and the gossip blogs. I didn¡¯t care. ncey feinted left, then caught me in the ribs. The air rushed out of my lungs, but I managed tond a solid hit to his stomach in return. He doubled over, gasping. ¡°Enough!¡± The voice was sharp,manding, and furious. We both froze. Caroline stood at the edge of our makeshift arena, still in her beautiful champagne gown, but her face was white with rage. ¡°Security is on their way up,¡± she said, her voice deadly calm. ¡°Both of you need to stop this right now, before you ruin more than just my engagement party.¡± The words hit like ice water. I looked around at the destruction we had caused¨Cbroken ss everywhere, overturned tables, guests pressed against the walls with their phones out. The string quartet had stopped ying. Even the waiters had stopped serving. Caroline¡¯s special night. The party she had nned for months. And we had destroyed it. The shame hit me all at once, overwhelming and crushing. What the hell was wrong with me? This wasn¡¯t who I was supposed to be. I was better than this. Wasn¡¯t I? ncey straightened up slowly, wiping blood from his nose with the back of his hand. He looked around at the mess we had made, and I saw my shame reflected in his expression. ¡°Caroline,¡± he started, his voice rough. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± She held up one perfectly manicured hand. ¡°Just don¡¯t. Both of you need to leave. Now.¡± Security guards appeared at that moment¡ªthreerge men in ck suits who looked like they could handle much worse than two wealthy idiots throwing punches at a party. ¡°Gentlemen,¡± the lead guard said politely, ¡°we need you toe with us.¡± I started to protest, but then I saw Celine. She was standing behind Caroline, her face pale, her arms wrapped around herself protectively. She looked small and frightened andpletely disgusted. With me. ¡°Celine¡­.¡± I began. ¡°No.¡± Her voice was quiet, but it cut through all the noise and chaos like a de. ¡°Just¡­ no.¡± The disappointment in her eyes was worse than any punch ncey hadnded. She looked at me like she was seeing me clearly for the first time. Like she was seeing something she didn¡¯t recognize. Something she didn¡¯t like. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?¡± she whispered. I opened my mouth to exin, to justify what I had done, to make her understand that he had pushed me too far. But no words came out. Because she was right. What was wrong with me? ncey was being escorted toward the elevator by one of the guards. He looked back once, his swollen eye already turning purple, but his gaze wasn¡¯t on me. It was on Celine, and the expression on his face was pure concern. Even after our fight, even after I had bloodied his nose, he was worried about her. The realization hit me like another punch. ¡°Take him home,¡± Caroline said to Celine, her voice cold as winter. ¡°Before he embarrasses himself any more than he already has.¡± She wasn¡¯t talking to me. She was talking around me, like I wasn¡¯t even there. Like I didn¡¯t matter. ¡°This was supposed to be the happiest day of my life,¡± Caroline continued, and for the first time, herposure cracked slightly. ¡°My engagement party. And you¡­¡± She looked at me with something that might have been pity. ¡°You turned it into a circus.¡± The guards were waiting patiently for me toe with them voluntarily. Around us, the party was slowly trying to resume¨Cwaiters cleaning up broken ss, guests returning to their conversations with excited whispers about what they¡¯d just witnessed. But the magic was broken. The elegant evening Caroline had nned was ruined. Because of me. Celine approached slowly, like she was approaching a dangerous animal. Maybe that¡¯s exactly what I was. ¡°Come on,¡± she said quietly, not quite meeting my eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± I nodded, suddenly exhausted. The adrenaline was fading, leaving behind a bone¨Cdeep tiredness and the beginning of what I knew would be a stupendous headache. As we walked toward the elevator, I could feel every eye in the room on us. The whispers followed us like a wake. ¡°Hunter, are you okay?¡± Mia called. ¡°Not now Mia¡± Celine suddenly said leaving me staring at her stunned. ¡°I was just worried about him¡± Mia spoke again clearly not happy with the way Celine spoke. ¡°For Christ¡¯s sake¡­Read the room¡± That word alone stops her. ¡°Let¡¯s go hunter,¡± Celine said without so much as looking at me. The elevator doors closed with a soft ding, and suddenly we were alone. Celine stood as far from me as possible in the small space, her reflection in the shiny doors showing a woman who looked tired and sad and ¡°He didn¡¯t lose control,¡± I thought, remembering something my father had told me years ago after one of his spectacr public failures. ¡°He gave it away.¡± I had given it away. All of it. My reputation, my dignity, Caroline¡¯s respect, and worst of all¡­.Celine¡¯s trust. For what? Because another man had made herugh? Because she¡¯d seemed happy in a way that didn¡¯t revolve around me? The elevator came down in silence, carrying us away from the wreckage I had created and toward a conversation I wasn¡¯t ready to have. But ready or not, I could see iting. And I had a terrible feeling I wasn¡¯t going to like what Celine had to say. Legacy 177 CELINE POV The silence felt heavy as I guided Hunter through the crowd of shocked guests. My hand stayed firm on his arm, half¨Csupporting him, hau steering him toward the exit. His expensive suit was torn at the shoulder. Blood had dried on his knuckles. His tie hung loose around his neck. He moved like a man in a spell, his eyes unfocused but somehow still finding my face every few seconds. The whispers followed us out. ¡°Did you see what happened?¡± ¡°Hunter Reid, fighting like somemon thug¡­.¡± ¡°At Caroline¡¯s engagement party, of all ces¡­..¡± Eac stung. This wasn¡¯t just Hunter¡¯s humiliation. It was mine too. 7 Everyone would remember this night. Everyone would talk about how the billionaire lost control and his pregnant girlfriend couldn¡¯t keep him in line. The cool night air hit us as we stepped outside. Hunter¡¯s shoulders sagged immediately, and he leaned more heavily into me. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have done that,¡± he slurred, his voice rough. ¡°I made a fool of you.¡± I didn¡¯t answer. What could I say? He was right. Our driver pulled up within minutes. I helped Hunter into the back seat, then slid in beside him. The partition was already up, giving us privacy I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted. ¡°Home, please,¡± I told the driver. Hunter slumped against the leather seats, his head leaned back, eyes closed. In the dim light from the streemps, I could see the bruise forming on his cheekbone where ncey hadnded a hit. ¡°Celine.¡± His voice was quieter now, more sober. ¡°Look at me.¡± I turned, and his blue eyes were clearer than they¡¯d been all evening. ¡°I was terrified,¡± he said simply. ¡°Of what?¡± ¡°Of losing you.¡± His hand moved toward mine, then stopped. ¡°When I saw youughing with him, looking so happy¡­ I thought you were remembering what it was like before, Before all this mess with me.¡± The honesty in his voice caught me off guard. This wasn¡¯t the cold, controlled Hunter I knew. This was something rawer. ¡°So you decided to start a fight?¡± Find the newest release on F?nd-Novel ¡°I decided to stop thinking.¡± He ran his hand through his hair, messing it up even more. ¡°Which was stupid. Which was exactly what he wanted me to do.¡± IA Chapter 177- I studied his face in the passing streetlight. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Hunter was quiet for a long moment. When he spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. ¡°Someone said something to me. About you and ncey. About howfortable you looked together. How he touches you too much when I¡¯m not looking.¡± My stomach dropped. ¡°Who said that?¡± But I already knew. The same person who always seemed to appear at the exact wrong moments with the exact wrong words. ¡°Mia,¡± I said. Hunter closed his eyes. ¡°She got in my head. Made me doubt¡­ everything. Made me think you were already nning your way out.¡± The car turned onto our street, the familiar buildings sliding past the windows. I looked at Hunter¨Creally looked at him. His face was exhausted, defeated. Not the powerful man whomanded boardrooms, but someone who was genuinely afraid of losing the one thing that mattered to him. ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning anything,¡± I said quietly. ¡°I know.¡± He opened his eyes and looked at me. ¡°I know that now. But in that moment, when she was whispering in my ear about how you belonged with someone simpler, someone who understood you better¡­¡± ¡°You believed her.¡± ¡°I believed my own insecurities.¡± He reached for my hand, and this time I let him take it, ¡°That¡¯s what she¡¯s good at. Finding the thing you¡¯re already afraid of and making it seem real.¡± The car stopped in front of our building. Hunter made no move to get out. ¡°I ruined Caroline¡¯s night,¡± he said, staring out the window. ¡°You ruined more than that.¡± He looked at me sharply, but I wasn¡¯t finished. ¡°You ruined my trust. You let someone else¡¯s poison turn you into¡­ that. Into someone I didn¡¯t recognize.¡± Hunter¡¯s grip on my hand tightened. ¡°How do I fix it?¡°. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you do.¡± The words hung between us like a challenge. Hunter¡¯s face went very still, and I saw something that might have been panic trace in his eyes. ¡°Celine¡­..¡± ¡°We should go upstairs.¡± I pulled my hand free and reached for the door handle. ¡°You need to sleep this off.¡± The elevator ride was silent. Hunter stood as far from me as the small space allowed, but I could feel him watching me in the reflection of the doors. Inside the penthouse, everything was exactly as we¡¯d left it. caesars toys were scattered across the living room floor. The remains of sin dinner were sent on the kitchen Levantare M us to return to it If we still could. Hunter stood in the entryway, looking lost in his own home. I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said again, but his voice was stronger now. More sure. ¡°Not just for tonight. For letting her get to me. For not trusting what we have.¡± I turned to face him. ¡°Do we have something, Hunter? Or do we just have circumstances that keep throwing us together?¡± ¡°We have everything.¡± The certainty in his voice surprised me. ¡°At least, I do. You¡¯re everything I have that matters.¡± ¡°Then why is it so easy for other people to make you doubt that?¡± He was quiet for a long moment, considering the question seriously. ¡°Because I¡¯ve never had anything worth losing before,¡± he said finally. ¡°And I don¡¯t know how to stop being afraid that I will.¡± The honesty in his voice made my chest tight. This was the Hunter I had fallen for¨Cnot the cold businessman or the jealous fighter, but the man who was brave enough to admit he was scared. ¡°You almost lost it tonight,¡± I said softly. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°If you ever let someone manipte you like that again¡­ ¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving mine. ¡°I swear to you, Celine. I won¡¯t give anyone that power over us again.¡± I wanted to believe him. Standing there in our quiet home, looking at his bruised face and desperate eyes, I wanted to believe that love could be enough to ovee ?? jealousy and fear and all the ways other people tried to tear us apart. But wanting wasn¡¯t the same as trusting. ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± I said, and walked toward the bedroom. Behind me, I heard Hunter sink onto the couch with a heavy sigh. He would sleep there tonight, I knew. He wouldn¡¯t assume forgiveness just because I¡¯d brought him home safely. Maybe that was progress. Maybe it was enough to build on. Or maybe we were just postponing the inevitable¨Cthe moment when his fear would be stronger than his love, and everything we¡¯d built would crumble under the weight of his doubts. I closed the bedroom door and listened to the silence of our home, wondering which future we were heading toward. Legacy 178 Chapter 178 Chapter 178 -CELINE POV I sat at the dining table with Ceasar, watching him swing his little legs while he chattered about wanting to visit the waterpark. ¡°Mama, when will we go to the waterpark? Tomorrow?¡± Caesar bounced in his seat, syrup from his toast smeared across his grin. ¡°We¡¯ll see, baby,¡± I said, cutting his toast into small triangles the way he liked them. ¡°But I want to go with Papa too! Papa swims really good, right Mama?¡± Before I could answer, I heard footsteps on the hardwood floor. Hunter walked into the kitchen, barefoot and shirtless, wearing only ck sweatpants. His hair stuck up in three different directions, and the bruise on his cheekbone had turned purple overnight. Newest update provided by F?ndNovel ¡°Papa!¡± Caesar practicallyunched himself from his chair. Hunter¡¯s shoulders dropped. The hard line of his mouth rxed as he ruffled Caesar¡¯s curls and ced a gentte kiss on his cheek. ¡°Good morning, buddy.¡± I kept my eyes on my te, but I could feel Hunter moving around the kitchen behind me. The refrigerator door opened and closed. I heard the sound of him drinking water directly from the bottle. Even with my back turned, I knew he was staring at me. The effect of his gaze made my shoulders tense. ¡°What¡¯s for breakfast?¡± he asked quietly. ¡°Toast and eggs,¡± I replied without looking at him. ¡°Sounds fancy. Did you burn them on purpose, or is that just my luck today?¡± It was the kind of teasingment that would have made me roll my eyes and throw a dish towel at him yesterday. Today, I just ignored it Caesar giggled. ¡°Mama doesn¡¯t burn food, Papa! You¡¯re silly!¡± ¡°Your mama does a lot of things better than I.¡± Hunter¡¯s voice dropped to almost a whisper. ¡°Don¡¯t I, Celine?¡± I still didn¡¯t look at him. Caesar kept chattering, trying to pull Hunter into the conversation about the waterpark, about his toys, about everything and nothing. Hunter answered him patiently, but I could feel those blue eyes finding me every few seconds. When Hunter finally sat down across from me, breakfast became even more awkward. He kept staring at me while he ate, and every time I looked up, our eyes would meet. I would frown, feel my cheeks get hot, then look away again. This went on for ten minutes before I finally snapped. ¡°How long are you nning to stare at me?¡± Chapter 178 ¡°Until you talk to me,¡± he said simply. I set my fork down harder than necessary. ¡°You want to talk? Fine, Let¡¯s talk.¡± Hunter straightened in his chair, suddenly alert. ¡°Caroline came by earlier,¡± I said. ¡°Fuck.¡± ¡°Language,¡± I warned automatically, ncing at Caesar. Hunter winced. ¡°Sorry. How mad was she?¡± ¡°Furious. You ruined her engagement party, Hunter. Her special night.¡± He ran his hand through his hair, tugging at the ends. ¡°I know. I¡¯ll call her. I¡¯ll make it right.¡± ¡°Will you?¡± I pulled my phone out and set it on the table between us. ¡°Have you seen the tabloids this morning?¡± The color drained from his face. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Congrattions. You¡¯re more famous than ever.¡± Hunter grabbed his phone from the counter and started scrolling. I watched his expression change from confusion to horror as he read the headlines. ¡°BILLIONAIRE BRAWL: Hunter Reid Loses Control at Elite Party¡± ¡°Who Is the Mystery Woman? Reid¡¯s Pregnant Girlfriend Caught in Scandal¡± ¡°From Riches to Rags: The Fall of Hunter Reid¡± But those weren¡¯t the worst ones. Thements were brutal, especially about me. ¡°Gold digger finally showing her true colors¡± ¡°Pregnant and trashy ¨C perfect match for a man who fights like a thu ¡°Someone should take that kid away from both of them¡± Hunter kept scrolling, his jaw clenching tighter with each headline. Finally, he started muttering curses under his breath. ¡°Language,¡± I said again, nodding toward Caesar. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said immediately. ¡°God, Celine, I¡¯m so sorry. I¡¯ll get this sorted out. I¡¯ll have my PR team¡­.¡± ¡°No.¡± I shook my head. ¡°You don¡¯t get it, do you? You couldn¡¯t just keep it together. You had to drag me down with you. And now I¡¯m scared to show my face out there.¡± The words came out harsher than I meant them to, but I couldn¡¯t stop. ¡°Who knows what kind of threats are out there now? For me, for Caesar, for our baby?¡± I put my hand on my still¨Ct stomach. ¡°All because you couldn¡¯t handle seeing meugh with a friend.¡± Hunter¡¯s mouth opened slightly. His eyes went wide, then dropped to the table. ¡°Celine¡­.¡± I stood up from the table, suddenly needing space. Needing air. 2/3 40 Wea Chapter 178 ¡°Come on, Caesar,¡± I called. ¡°Time for your bath.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Caesar jumped up from his chair and started running toward the bathroom,pletely ignorant of the tension in the room. As I started to follow him, Hunter caught my wrist gently. ¡°I¡¯ll sort this out,¡± he said, his voice desperate. ¡°I promise you, I¡¯ll make this right.¡± I looked down at his hand on my arm, then up at his face. The bruise, the desperate blue eyes, the way he was holding me like he was afraid would disappear. Eleanor¡¯s words from weeks ago echoed in my head: ¡°You¡¯re not good for him, dear. Look what you¡¯re doing to him. Look what he¡¯s bing because of you.¡± The tabloids were proving her right. The whole world was watching Hunter fall apart, and they were ming me for it. Maybe they weren¡¯t wrong. ¡°Just¡­¡± I pulled my arm free gently. ¡°Just leave us alone for a while, okay? I need to think.¡± Hunter¡¯s hand dropped to his side. His shoulders sagged forward like someone had cut his strings. ¡°Celine, please don¡¯t¡­..¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere,¡± I said quickly, seeing the panic flicker across his features. ¡°I just need some space to figure out whates next. I walked away before he could say anything else, following Caesar¡¯s excited chatter toward the bathroom. Behind me, I heard Hunter sink back into his chair with a heavy sigh. The morning sun streamed through the penthouse windows, bright and warm andpletely at odds with the cold fear settling in my chest. How many more mornings like this could we survive before everything fell apartpletely? Legacy 179 Chapter 179 HUNTER POV- The media storm was relentless. I sat in my office at seven in the morning, scrolling through damage control reports from my PR team. Three different tabloids had run follow up stories about the fight. Two gossip blogs had dug up photos of Celine from her waitressing days. One particrly nasty article had analyzed her ¡°social climbing tactics¡± with quotes from anonymous sources who ¡°knew her before.¡± Every single piece painted her as the problem. The maniptive girlfriend who drove the stable billionaire to violence. It made me sick. ¡°Mr. Reid?¡± My assistant¡¯s voice came through the inte. ¡°Your mother is on line two.¡± I closed my eyes. Of course she was. ¡°Tell her I¡¯m in meetings all day.¡± ¡°She said you would say that. She also said to tell you that avoiding her won¡¯t make the headlines disappear.¡± I picked up the phone with a heavy sigh. ¡°Mother.¡± ¡°Hunter.¡± Her voice was crisp, businesslike. ¡°Have you seen the Journal¡¯s business section this morning?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen everything.¡± ¡°The board is concerned. Three major clients have called asking about your¡­ stability. The Patterson deal is on hold until this blows over.¡± I rubbed my temples. ¡°It¡¯ll blow over.¡± ¡°Will it? Because from where I¡¯m sitting, it looks like you¡¯re spiraling. Again.¡± Theparison to my breakdown after Sophia hit like a p. ¡°This is different.¡± ¡°Is it? You¡¯re making the same mistakes, Hunter. Letting emotion cloud your judgment. Putting that woman and her problems ahead of everything we¡¯ve built.¡± ¡°That woman is carrying my child.¡± ¡°All the more reason to handle this properly.¡± Her voice softened slightly, which somehow made it worse. ¡°End the whatever is going on between you two. Set up a trust for the children. Find someone suitable. Someone who won¡¯t destroy your reputation.¡± I hung up on her. The phone rang again immediately. I let it go to voicemail. 1/4 Chapter 179 By noon, I had fired my PR team and hired a new one. By two, I had had mywyers issue cease and desist letters to the three worst gossip sites. By four, I had scheduled interviews with two business publications to discuss ¡°moving forward¡± and ¡°focusing on what matters None of it would fix the real damage¡­.the fear I had seen in Celine¡¯s eyes this morning. The way she had pulled away from my touch. I was staring out my office window, trying to figure out how to repair what I had broken, when my assistant buzzed in again. ¡°Mr. Reid? Mia ckwood is here to see you. She says it¡¯s about the charity g next month?¡± I frowned. We weren¡¯t co¨Cchairing any events. ¡°Send her in.¡± Mia swept into my office like she owned it, wearing a perfectly tailored cream dress and carrying a leather portfolio. She looked polished, professional,pletely put¨Ctogether. Everything Celine probably felt like she wasn¡¯t right now. ¡°Hunter,¡± she said warmly, settling into the chair across from my desk. ¡°You look terrible.¡± ¡°Thanks. That¡¯s exactly what I needed to hear today.¡± She opened her portfolio and pulled out several papers. ¡°I¡¯ve been working on the Children¡¯s Hospital benefit. We need to finalize the venue contracts, and thought you might want to review the donor list.¡± I nced at the papers. We had discussed this event months ago, before everything with Celine becameplicated. I had forgotten all about it. ¡°Can¡¯t this wait? I¡¯m dealing with some issues right now.¡± ¡°The media circus, you mean?¡± Mia¡¯s voice was sympathetic. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Hunter. It must be awful having your private life dissected like this.¡± Something in her tone made me look up sharply. She was watching me with what appeared to be genuine concern, but there was something else underneath it. Something that looked almost satisfied. ¡°It¡¯ll pass,¡± I said curtly. ¡°Of course it will. These things always do.¡± She leaned forward slightly. ¡°Although¡­ well, I hate to say this, but some of the coverage is pretty harsh. Especially about Celine.¡± My jaw tightened. ¡°I don¡¯t want to discuss that¡± ¡°I¡¯m just worried about you. And about her, of course. It can¡¯t be easy being thrust into this kind of spotlight when you¡¯re not used to it. When you don¡¯t have the experience to handle it gracefully.¡± The unstated criticism of Celine was subtle but unmistakable. ¡°Mia.¡± Chapter 179 ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t mean to overstep. It¡¯s just¡­.¡± She reached across the desk and ced her hand over mine. ¡°I¡¯ve been in this world my whole life. I know how cruel it can be. If there¡¯s anything I can do to help¡­¡± I pulled my hand away and stood up. ¡°I appreciate the concern, but we¡¯re fine.¡± ¡°Are you?¡± She stood as well, moving closer. ¡°Because from the outside, it looks like you¡¯re under tremendous pressure. Like you¡¯re trying to protect someone who might not be able to handle being protected.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Nothing. Just¡­ if you ever need to talk to someone who understands this world, someone who won¡¯t judge you for the choices you have to make¡­¡± She let the offer hang in the air. Before I could respond, my assistant buzzed in. ¡°Mr. Reid? Vincent rke is here for your four¨Cthir ¡°Send him in,¡± I said quickly, grateful for the interruption. Vincent walked in just as Mia was gathering her papers. ¡°Mia,¡± he said with polite surprise. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡± ¡°Just discussing charity work,¡± she said smoothly. ¡°Hunter¡¯s been so generous with his time, as always.¡± She touched my arm briefly as she passed. ¡°Think about what I said.¡± After she left, Vincent dropped into the chair she had vacated and whistled low. ¡°Well, that was interesting.¡± ¡°It was nothing. Charity business.¡± ¡°Charity business that requires touching your arm and looking at you like you¡¯re a wounded puppy?¡± I poured myself a drink from the bar cart without offering him one. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Newest update provided by F¦ÉndNovel ¡°Hunter.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was serious now. ¡°That woman is circling like a shark. Have you noticed how often she¡¯s been ¡®dropping by¡®tely?¡± ¡°Lately?¡± ¡°Last week she showed up with lunch. Said she was in the neighborhood. Before that, it was some papers that needed your signature that somehow couldn¡¯t be handled by her assistant. This is the third time in two weeks.¡± I thought about it. He was right. I had been so distracted by everything else that I hadn¡¯t noticed the pattern. ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying a desperate woman is a dangerous woman. Especially one who¡¯s been nning her wedding to you since she met you at the charity fundraiser.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Vincent leaned forward. ¦¤¦©¦¡ 1542 Thu 12 Aug ¡°She¡¯s been to every event you¡¯ve attended for the past one years. She¡¯s never dated anyone seriously. Her mother and yours are best friends. And now, when you¡¯re finally with someone else, when you¡¯re happy for the first time in years, suddenly she¡¯s everywhere. I took a long drink, processing this. ¡°Even if that¡¯s true, it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m not interested.¡± ¡°But she doesn¡¯t know that. Or she¡¯s choosing not to see it.¡± Vincent stood up and straightened his tie. ¡°Just¡­ be careful, okay? Women like Mia don¡¯t give up easily. And with everything that¡¯s happening with the media, with your mother pressuring you¡­¡± He didn¡¯t need to finish the thought. I could see where this was heading. ¡°She¡¯s not a threat, Vincent.¡± ¡°Maybe not directly. But she¡¯s got ess to your world, your family. She knows exactly what buttons to push.¡± He paused at the door. ¡°And she¡¯s got nothing to lose.¡± After he left, I sat alone in my office as the sun set over the city. My phone had seventeen missed calls from reporters, four from my mother, and one from Caroline that I was too ashamed to return. But nothing from Celine. I thought about Mia¡¯s visit, about the subtle way she¡¯d criticized Celine while offering herself as an alternative. About the satisfaction I had glimpsed in her eyes when she mentioned the harsh media coverage. Vincent was right. She was circling. And with Celine pulling away, with my own family working against us, with the entire city watching our every move¡­ Maybe Mia thought she finally had her chance. I picked up my phone and scrolled to Celine¡¯s number. My thumb hovered over the call button. But what could I say? That I was sorry? That I would fix this? I¡¯d already said those things this morning, and they hadn¡¯t been enough. Instead, I put the phone away and poured another drink. Outside, the city glittered with a thousand lights, beautiful and cold and unforgiving. Just like the world I had dragged Celine into. Legacy 180 Chapter 180 -MIA POV- I stared at my phone screen, waiting for Hunter¡¯s name to appear. It had been three days since our meeting in his office, and nothing had happened. Not even a text about the charity g contracts I¡¯d conveniently left on his desk. Three days of silence while that woman got to wake up next to him every morning. i set the phone down harder than necessary and walked to my apartment window. From here, I could see the top floors of Hunter¡¯s building. Somewhere up there, Celine was ying house with my future husband. My phone buzzed. For a split second, my heart jumped. ¡°Lunch tomorrow? ¨C Mom¡± I deleted the message without responding. I wasn¡¯t in the mood for another conversation about patience and proper timing. But maybe I should be. I grabbed my keys and headed for the parking garage. Eleanor Reid always had good advice, even if I didn¡¯t always want to hear it. Eleanor¡¯s vi was exactly as I remembered¨Celegant, intimidating, and cold enough to make you forget it was someone¡¯s home. She greeted me with air kisses and led me to her sitting room, where tea was already waiting. ¡°You look frustrated, dear,¡± she said, settling into her chair with practiced grace. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ???? ????s? ???????s ?? fin?novel ¡°No, you¡¯re not. Let me guess¡­.Hunter is still being stubborn about that woman.¡± I stirred my tea, not trusting myself to speak civilly about Celine. ¡°The media attention has been helpful,¡± Eleanor continued. ¡°People are starting to see what I¡¯ve been telling Hunter all along. She¡¯s not suited for this life.¡± ¡°But he¡¯s not listening.¡± ¡°Men rarely do when they think they¡¯re in love.¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice carried the weight of experience. ¡°They have to discover the truth for themselves.¡± ¡°How long am I supposed to wait? She¡¯s having his baby, Eleanor. His second child. Every day I wait is another day she gets inore rooted in his Eleanor set down her teacup and studied me with those sharp blue eyes that Hunter had inherited. ¡°What have you been doing to insert yourself into his world?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been finding restent to see him Charity work, family events, business meetings. But he¡¯s always polite and distant Like I¡¯m just another responsibility, ¡°Because you¡¯re acting like one.¡± Eleanor leaned forward slightly. ¡°You¡¯re being too avable, too eager. Men like Hunter respond to challenge, not convenience.¡± ¡°So what do you suggest?¡± 6 ¡°Stop chasing him. Start making him chase you.¡± Eleanor stood and walked to the window. ¡°Create situations where he needs you. Where you¡¯re the solution to problems he doesn¡¯t even know he has yet.¡± I frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°That woman is his weakness right now. The media, the business concerns, the social pressure¨Cit¡¯s all connected to her. Instead ofpeting with her directly, make yourself necessary to solving the problems she¡¯s causing.¡± Eleanor turned back to me with a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Be the calm in his storm. Be the person who makes his life easier instead of moreplicated. And when he starts to rely on you¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯ll realize what he¡¯s been missing.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Eleanor returned to her chair. ¡°But you have to be strategic about it. No more convenient drop¨Cins. No more obvious pursuit. Mak hime to you.¡± I thought about this for a moment. It made sense, but it also felt like more waiting. ¡°What about C¨¨line? She¡¯s not just going to disappear.¡± Eleanor¡¯s expression hardened. Y ¡°Celine is already doing half the work for us. The media attention, the social pressure, the constant scrutiny¨Cit¡¯s wearing on her down. I can see it when i look at her. She¡¯s starting to question whether she belongs in Hunter¡¯s worid.¡± ¡°But what if she decides to fight for him?¡± ¡°Then we help her make the right decision.¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice was silk over steel. ¡°Every woman has a breaking point, dear. We just need to find hers.¡± The conversation continued for another hour, with Eleanor sharing stories of other unsuitable women who¡¯d been convinced to step aside for the greater good. By the time I left, I had a clearer picture of what needed to happen. But first, I needed to test Eleanor¡¯s theory about making Huntere to me. Two days , I was at Meridian, the exclusive restaurant where Hunter often had business lunches. I had made a reservation months ago for this exact purpose¨Cto be in his path without obviously seeking him out. I was halfway through my sd when I saw him walk in with two men in expensive suits. Business associates, probably discussing some merger or investment Hunter¡¯s eye found mine across the room, Frave him a polite smite and a small wave, then Immediately turned back to my gallery owner I had recruited for exactly this purpose ¡°The Degas collection would be perfect for your spring exhibition,¡± I said loudly enough for nearby tables to hear. ¡°My foundation would be happy to sponsor the opening.¡± Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hunter pause at his table, ncing our way. Perfect. I continued my conversation, making sure tough at appropriate moments, to look engaged and sessful, andpletely unbothered by his presence. When his server approached with the wine list, I stood to leave. ¡°Mia.¡± I turned, feigning surprise. ¡°Hunter. How nice to see you.¡± He looked different than he had in his office¨Cmore tired, more stressed. The media attention was taking its toll. ¡°Having a business lunch?¡± he asked, nodding toward mypanion. ¡°Arts funding. Very boring, I¡¯m sure.¡± I gathered my purse, making no effort to prolong the conversation. ¡°I should let you get back to your meeting.¡± ¡°Actually¡­..¡± He seemed to catch himself. ¡°How¡¯s the charity g nning going?¡± ¡°Wonderfully. We should have everything finalized soon. I¡¯ll have my assistant send you the final details.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to have your assistant¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s more efficient this way.¡± I smiled coolly. ¡°You have enough on your te right now.¡± I left before he could respond, feeling his eyes on me as I walked out. Phase oneplete. Over the next week, I staged three more ¡°idental¡± encounters. A business dinner where I wasworking with hispetitors. A charity function where I was the guest speaker. A gallery opening where I arrived with a well¨Cknown businessman¡¯s son. Each time, Hunter noticed. Each time, he tried to prolong our conversation. Each time, I politely pulled myself. I was ying hard to get, and it was working. But it wasn¡¯t enough Eleanor was right about Celine¡¯s problems creating opportunities, but those problems weren¡¯t escting fast enough. Maybe they needed help. I scrolled through my phone until I found the number for Reba Lawson, a gossip blogger who owed me a favor after I had given her an exclusive about a senator¡¯s wile¡¯s gambling problem. Reba? It¡¯s Mia ckwood. I have something that might interest you¡± I¡¯m listening ¡°It¡¯s about Hunter Reid and his girlfriend. I have some information about her past that your readers would find¡­ illuminating.¡± ¡°What kind of information?¡± I smiled, thinking about the private investigator¡¯s report I¡¯d tasked weeks ago. Nothing scandalous, unfortunately, but enough small details to paint a picture of instability. ¡°The kind that makes people question someone¡¯s motivations. Her financial problems before she met Hunter. The way she moved from job to job. Some interesting details about her family situation.¡± ¡°Send me what you have. If it¡¯s good, I can have something up tonight.¡± After I hung up, I felt a familiar thrill of anticipation. This wasn¡¯t about hurting Celine¨Cit was about helping her see the truth. She didn¡¯t belong in Hunter¡¯s world, and the sooner she realized that, the better for everyone. I was doing her a favor, really. By tomorrow, there would be new stories. New questions about Celine¡¯s past. New pressure on their rtionship. And when Hunter needed someone to help him steer the fallout, someone who understood his world and could make his life easier¡­ I would be ready. But first, I needed to make sure I stayed far away from anything that could be traced back to me. Thest thing I wanted was for Hunter to think Lwas behind the media attention. I was just a concerned friend, after all. A concerned friend who happened to be perfect for him. Legacy 181 Chapter 181 ~CELINE POV~ Three weeks. It had been three weeks since Caroline¡¯s engagement party, and everything was falling apart. I sat on the bathroom floor with my phone, scrolling through thetest articles about my past. Someone had dug up photos of me working at the diner. Someone else had found records of my family¡¯s financial struggles. Thements were worse than ever. ¡°Looks like a gold digger from day one¡± ¡°Poor kid doesn¡¯t stand a chance with parents like these¡± ¡°Hunter Reid really knows how to pick them¡± My hands shook as I read each cruel word. I had promised Caroline I would stay off social media, but I couldn¡¯t help myself. Every day, I told myself I wouldn¡¯t look. Every day, I ended up here, crying over strangers¡® hatred. The stress was killing me. Literally. Last week, I had copsed in the kitchen while making Caesar lunch. The sharp pain in my stomach had been so intense I couldn¡¯t breathe. Hunter had rushed me to the hospital, his face white with terror. Dr. Martinez had been gentle but firm. ¡°The stress levels in your blood arely high. If this continues, you risk losing the baby.¡± Those words haunted me. I was supposed to be protecting our child, but instead, I was putting both of us in danger by letting the world¡¯s cruelty consume me. Hunter had taken three days off work to stay home with us. He had tried to make everything normal¨Ccooking breakfast, ying games with Caesar, suggesting we watch movies together. But even when he was smiling, I could see the strain around his eyes. We were both pretending everything was fine when nothing was fine at all. I heard Caesar¡¯s voice from the living room and quickly wiped my tears, flushing the toilet to cover the sound of my crying. ¡°Mama? Where are you?¡± ¡°Coming, baby.¡± Lound him on the couch with his favorite truck, driving it over the cushions while making engine noises. ¡°Can we go to the park today?¡± he asked without looking up. My heart broke a little more. Not today, sweetheart.¡± ¡°Why not? I want to see the ducks¡± Because thest time we went outside, photographers had swarmed us. Because an angry woman had thrown an egg at me while screaming about home¨Cwreckers. Because Hunter had to hire security guards who made us look guilty of something just by existing. ¡°Maybe tomorrow,¡± I lied. Caesar¡¯s face fell. ¡°You always say tomorrow. I miss ying outside. I miss going ces with Papa.¡± ¡°I know, baby. I miss it too.¡± And I did. Nmissed the simple pleasure of walking down the street without feeling like prey. I missed taking Caesar to the yground without worrying about strangers asking him questions about his family. I missed feeling like a normal person instead of some cautionary tale about ambitious women who reached too high. ¡°When can we be a family again?¡± Caesar asked, his voice small. The question hit me like a physical blow. When could we be a family again? Did we even know how to be one anymore? ¡°Soon,¡± I whispered, pulling him onto myp. ¡°Papa¡¯s working very hard to make things better.¡± At least, I hoped he was. Some days, I wasn¡¯t sure what Hunter was doing locked in his study for hours, making phone calls that ended with him shouting or drinking whiskey at two in the afternoon. We had been giving each other space, but the space felt more like distance every day. Like we were two people drowning in the same ocean, too exhausted to reach for each other. The afternoon passed quietly. Caesar yed while I half¨Cwatched cartoons, my mind drifting to all the ways my life had changed. Three weeks ago, I had been nning our future. Now, I spent my days hiding from the world and wondering if we had any future left to n. By evening, Caesar had fallen asleep curled against my side on the couch. I stroked his hair and tried not to think about thetest articles I This text is hosted at ?ovelFind had seen. Someone had found my mother and gotten her toment about my ¡°pattern of making poor choices.¡± Someone else had interviewed Jesse, who had been happy to share details about my ¡°difficult personality¡± and ¡°unrealistic expectations.¡± Even my own family was throwing me to the wolves. The sound of the front door opening made me tense. Hunter¡¯s footsteps were heavy, tired. When he appeared in the living room doorway, he looked like he had aged years in the past few weeks. His hair was messy, his sleeves rolled up, his tie hanging loose around his neck. But it was his eyes that scared me¡ªthey were bloodshot and desperate. He stopped when he saw us on the couch, his gaze moving from Caesar¡¯s sleeping form to my face. ¡°How was your day?¡± he asked quietly. ¡°Fine¡± We both knew it was a lie. Thewyers think they can get the worst sites to take down the photos of Caesar,¡± he said, loosening his tiepletely. It might take a few more days, but ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± The words came out harsher than I meant them to. ¡°As soon as they take down one article, three more appear.¡± Hunter¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°I¡¯m handling it.¡± ¡°Are you? Because from where I¡¯m sitting, it looks like everything¡¯s getting worse.¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing everything in my power to fix this!¡± His voice rose, making Caesar stir in his sleep. I held my finger to my lips, warning him to keep quiet, and carefully moved our son to lie fully on the couch before standing up. ¡°Let¡¯s not do this here,¡± I said, walking toward the kitchen. Hunter followed, his frustration radiating off him in waves. ¡°I¡¯ve hired three different PR firms,¡± he said, his voice lower but no less intense. ¡°I¡¯ve had mywyers send dozens of cease and desist letters. I¡¯ve offered exclusive interviews to legitimate publications to try to control the narrative.¡± ¡°And none of it¡¯s working.¡± ¡°It takes time¡­.¡± ¡°Time we don¡¯t have!¡± The words exploded out of me. ¡°I almost lost our babyst week because of the stress. Caesar can¡¯t leave this apartment. I can¡¯t go to the grocery store without being harassed. What¡¯s happening to us, Hunter?¡± He ran his hands through his hair, making it even messier. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t know how it got this bad this fast.¡± We stood there in the kitchen, two feet apart but feeling like miles. The silence stretched between us, heavy with all the things we weren¡¯t saying. ¡°Do you still love me?¡± The question came out of nowhere, soft and broken. Hunter was looking at me like his entire world depended on my answer. ¡°Hunter¡­..¡± ¡°Just tell me you love me. Please. Tell me we¡¯re going to get through this.¡± I wanted to. God, I wanted to say those words and mean thempletely. But love feltplicated right now, tangled up with fear and resentment and exhaustion. I loved him. Of course, i loved him. But I also med him for the fight that started this nightmare. I med him for letting jealousy turn him into someone I didn¡¯t recognize. I med him for dragging me into a world that seemed determined to destroy us. When I didn¡¯t answer immediately, something in Hunter¡¯s expression cracked. He moved toward me, reaching out, but I flinched backward instinctively. The hurt in his eyes made my chest light, ¡°Don¡¯t¡± he whispered. ¡°Don¡¯t pull away from me But I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly unable to meet his gaze. Everything felt wrong. We felt wrong. ¡°Celine, look at me.¡± I couldn¡¯t. If I looked at him¡­.really looked at him¡­.I¡¯d see how much he was hurting too. I¡¯d see how much this was costing him. And I wasn¡¯t ready to forgive him for the price we were all paying. Suddenly, his arms were around me, pulling me against his chest despite my resistance. ¡°I love you,¡± he whispered into my hair. ¡°God, I love you so much it¡¯s killing me. You¡¯re everything to me. Everything. My breath, my heart, my whole world.¡± His voice broke on thest words, and I felt his tears against my temple. ¡°I would die if you left me,¡± he continued, holding me tighter. ¡°I know I messed up. I know this is my fault. But please don¡¯t give up on us. Please.¡± I stood frozen in his embrace, wanting to melt into him but afraid of what that surrender would cost us. We were both drowning, and I didn¡¯t know if we were strong enough to save each other anymore. Or if love would be enough to keep us both afloat. Legacy 182 Chapter 182 CELINE¡¯S POV- The invitation arrived on cream¨Ccolored cardstock so thick it felt expensive between my fingers. Eleanor Reid¡¯s perfect handwriting invited me to a ¡°small gathering ofdies¡± for brunch at the Metropolitan Club. ¡°I believe it¡¯s time we had a proper conversation. Perhaps we can findmon ground for Hunter¡¯s sake.¡± I stared at the invitation for a full minute, trying to decode the subtext. Eleanor had made her feelings about me crystal clear from day one. Why the sudden change of heart? ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Caroline asked, appearing in the kitchen with shopping bags from hertest retail therapy session. I handed her the card. Her eyebrows shot up as she read. ¡°Well, this is unexpected.¡± ¡°That¡¯s one word for it.¡± Caroline set down her bags and studied the invitation more carefully. ¡°You know what? I think you should go.¡± ¡°Are you insane?¡± ¡°Hear me out.¡± Caroline pulled out a chair and sat across from me. ¡°Eleanor¡¯s been part of the problem, right? All this family pressure on Hunter, the disapproval, the constant undermining. If she¡¯s genuinely trying to make peace¡­¡± ¡°You think she¡¯s being genuine?¡± ¡°I think she¡¯s smart enough to see which way the wind is blowing. You¡¯re having Hunter¡¯s baby. You¡¯re not going anywhere. She might be ready to ept that.¡± I wanted to believe it was possible, but everything about Eleanor Reid suggested she didn¡¯t ept anything she couldn¡¯t control. ¡°Even if she is being genuine, what about her friends? You know what those women are like.¡± Caroline waved her hand dismissively: ¡°Societydies bark, but they don¡¯t bite. Not really. And if Eleanor is endorsing you, they¡¯ll fall in line.¡± I looked at the invitation again. The address alone was intimidating¨Cthe Metropolitan Club was where New York¡¯s elite went to remind themselves how elite they were. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what to wear to something like that!¡± Caroline¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Now that I can help with.¡± Three hourster, I stood in front of Caroline¡¯s full¨Clength mirror wearing a navy blue dress that probably cost more than I used to make in a month. Caroline had insisted on doing my hair and makeup, dering that if I was going into battle, I needed proper armor. ¡°You look perfect,¡± she said, adjusting my ne for the third time. ¡°Elegant but not trying too hard. Expensive but not shy. I turned sideways, checking the fit. The dress was beautiful, but it felt like a costume. Like I was ying dress up in someone else¡¯s life. 1/4 ¡°What if this backfires? What if she¡¯s setting me up?¡± ¡°Then you handle it with ssiness and leave early.¡± Caroline squeezed my shoulders. ¡°But Celine, what if she¡¯s not? What if this is your chance to fix things with Hunter¡¯s family?¡± That was the hope I was clinging to. Hunter and I were barely hanging on by a thread. If I could I somehow make Maybe it would give us a chance to remember fell In ve in the first ce. with Eleanor, remove that source of stress from our lives¡­ ¡°Okay,¡± I said, taking a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m doing this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my girl.¡± Caroline hugged me carefully, mindful of my makeup. ¡°Text me if you need an emergency exit. I¡¯ll call with a fake crisis.¡± The Metropolitan Club was exactly as intimidating as I had expected. All marble columns and crystal chandeliers, with oil paintings of dead rich men ring down from gilded frames. The hostess led me through a maze of elegant rooms to a private dining area overlooking the park. Eleanor held court at the head of a perfectly set table, wearing a pale pink suit that probably cost more than my old rent. She smiled when she saw me¡ªa warm, weing expression that made me momentarily hopeful. ¡°Celine, darling! You look absolutely lovely.¡± She stood to air¨Ckiss my cheeks, her perfume expensive and subtle. For a moment, I almost believed this might be genuine. ¡°Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. Reid.¡± ¡°Eleanor, please. We¡¯re family now, aren¡¯t we?¡± The other women around the table smiled politely as Eleanor made introductions. I recognized some names from society pages¨Cwives of senators, CEOs, old¨Cmoney families whose ancestors had built New York. And sitting at the far end, looking perfectlyposed in a peach¨Ccolored dress, was Mia. Our eyes met briefly. She gave me a small smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes, then looked away. ¡°Ladies, you know Celine, of course,¡± Eleanor said as I took my seat. ¡°Hunter¡¯s lovely girlfriend and mother of my grandson.¡± There were murmurs of acknowledgment, but something in their tone made my skin crawl. Too sweet, unnatural, like a sweetener that left a bitter. aftertaste. ¡°We¡¯re so excited to finally meet you properly,¡± said a woman with silver hair and sharp cheekbones who had been introduced as Margaret something- or¨Cother. ¡°We¡¯ve heard so much about you.¡± ¡°All good things, I hope,¡± I said, trying to match their light tone. ¡°Oh, of course.¡± Margaret¡¯s smile was knife¨Csharp. ¡°Though one does hear such interesting stories these days. The media can be so¡­ creative.¡± My stomach tightened, but I kept smiling. ¡°Yes, they certainly have active imaginations.¡± Eleanor picked up her champagne ss. ¡°A toast,¡± she announced. ¡°To new beginnings and understanding.¡± 2/4 Original content can be found at Find[F]ovel 11:40 Mon, 18 Aug 0 Everyone raised their sses. I noticed several of the women had their phones casually positioned on the table, screens facing up. One woman.. a blonde in her forties.. seemed to be adjusting hers with particr care, The conversation started innocuously enough. The weather, uing charity events, someone¡¯s daughter¡¯s wedding in the Hamptons. I began to rx slightly, thinking maybe Caroline had been right. Then Margaret leaned forward with false concern. ¡°Celine, dear, you must tell us how are you coping with all the attention? It must be so overwhelming for someone¡­ new to this world.¡± ¡°I¡¯m managing.¡± I said carefully. ¡°Of course you are. Though I imagine it¡¯s quite different from what you¡¯re used to. Eleanor mentioned you worked in¡­ hospitality?¡± The way she said it made it sound like something shameful. ¡°I was a server, yes. There¡¯s nothing wrong with honest work.¡± ¡°Oh, absolutely not!¡± Margaret¡¯s voice dripped with fake agreement. ¡°It¡¯s admirable, really. So grounding. I imagine it helps you appreciate the finer things even more now.¡± A woman across from me¡­.Jennifer? Jessica?¡­.chimed in. ¡°Speaking of appreciation, that dress is lovely. Is it vintage?¡± ¡°It¡¯s borrowed,¡± I said honestly, immediately regretting it. ¡°How practical,¡± she said with a smile that felt like a p. ¡°One doesn¡¯t need to own everything to look the part, does one?¡± I felt heat rising in my cheeks. This wasn¡¯t a peace offering¨Cit was a carefully orchestrated humiliation. Eleanor, who had been quietly eating her sd, looked up with alleged surprise. ¡°Ladies, please. Celine is our guest.¡± But her intervention felt halfhearted, like she was going through the motions of politeness while allowing the attacks to continue. ¡°We¡¯re just getting to know her,¡± Margaret said innocently. ¡°After all, she¡¯s going to be part of our circle now. It¡¯s important to understand where someone ¡°And where you¡¯re going,¡± added another woman, this one younger with perfectly straight blonde hair. ¡°I mean, it must be quite an adjustment. Learning the ropes of¡­ all this.¡± She gestured around the elegant room. ¡°Hunter¡¯s been very patient, I¡¯m sure,¡± Margaret continued. ¡°Teaching you about our world, our expectations. Though I imagine there¡¯s quite a learning curve, I realized they weren¡¯t just talking about etiquette or social protocols. They were questioning my worthiness, my intelligence, my ability to exist in their rarefied air. ¡°I think you might be overrating how tricky basic human decency is,¡± I said, my voice cooler than I¡¯d intended. The temperature in the room dropped several degrees. ¡°Oh my,¡± Margaret said with a delightedugh. ¡°She has spirit. I can see why Hunter finds you¡­ refreshing.¡± The word ¡°refreshing¡± sounded like an insulting from her lips. ¡°Though one does wonder,¡± Jessica¨Cor¨CJennifer continued, ¡°about the timing of everything. Your rtionship, the pregnancy. She let the meaning hang in the air. I felt my face burn. ¡°What exactly are you suggesting?¡± 3/4 11:40 Mon 18 Aug D ¡°Nothing at all, dear. Just that some might find the series of events¡­ convenient.¡± Eleanor finally spoke up again, but not in my defense. ¡°I think what thedies are trying to say is that our world can be judgmental. People talk, they specte. It¡¯s important to present the right image ¡°The right image?¡± ¡°Purified. Educated. From the right background.¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice was gentle, but her words were knives. ¡°Unfortunately, the media attentiontely has raised¡­ questions.¡± I looked around the table at their perfectly made¨Cup faces, finally understanding what was happening. This wasn¡¯t about making peace. This was about putting me in my ce. And from the corner of my eye, I could see that blonde woman¡¯s phone was definitely recording. Legacy 183 No Ads Chapter 183 -CELINE POV- Mia sat silently through it all, her face carefully uninterested, asionally sipping her mimosa but never speaking up to defend me. ¡°I see,¡± I said quietly, setting down my fork. ¡°Well, thank you for the¡­ educational experience.¡± I started to stand, but Margaret wasn¡¯t finished. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t leave yet, dear. We haven¡¯t even gotten to dessert. Besides, we¡¯re just trying to help. A little guidance from women who understand this world could be invaluable. Especially with a baby on the way.¡± The mention of my pregnancy¡­Hunter¡¯s child¡­felt like a step too far. ¡°I appreciate your concern,¡± I said, my voice steady despite the rage building in my chest, ¡°but I think I understand this world perfectly well now.¡± Margaret smiled wider, sensing weakness. ¡°We¡¯re just looking out for Hunter, really. He¡¯s been through so much already. That awful situation with Sophia nearly destroyed him.¡± My heart stopped. They were bringing up Hunter¡¯s ex, the woman who had cheated on him and then¡­ ¡°Such a tragedy,¡± Eleanor added with false sympathy. ¡°Hunter was devastated when she took her own life. He med himself for months. We wouldn want him to go through something like that again.¡± The meaning was crystal clear. I was beingpared to a woman who had betrayed Hunter and thenmitted suicide. They were suggesting I might do the same¨Ceither betray him or be another tragedy he would have to carry. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re nothing like Sophia,¡± Jessica¨Cor¨CJennifer said sweetly. ¡°She was from our world, after all. She understood the pressures. But sometimes people from¡­ different backgrounds¡­ find it harder to cope with the expectations.¡± I felt dizzy. The room seemed to wobble around me, these perfectly dressed women bing a circle of predators closing in. ¡°Are you alright, dear?¡± Margaret asked with mock concern. ¡°You look a bit pale.¡± I gripped the edge of the table, trying to steady myself. The borrowed dress felt too tight, the elegant room too small. I wanted to run, to escape, but my legs felt weak. ¡°Perhaps we should call Hunter,¡± Eleanor suggested, reaching for her phone. ¡°He¡¯s so protective of you. Always worrying about your¡­ stability.¡± The word hung in the air like poison. Stability. They were questioning my mental health now, just like they had questioned everything else about me. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I whispered, but even I could hear how unconvincing it sounded. ¡°Of course you are,¡± Margaret cooed. ¡°But pregnancy can be so emotional. All those hormones. And with all the stress you¡¯ve been undertely¡­¡± They kept talking, their voices blending together into a symphony of unpretentious cruelty. I caught fragments¨Cquestions about my family¡¯s financial problems, spection about my motives, concerns about my ability to handle the pressure. All the while, that blonde woman¡¯s phone remained strategically positioned, capturing every moment of my humiliation. Mia continued to sit in silence, asionally nodding along with the others but never speaking. 1/3 58% 11:40¡ä¡ä Mon, 18 Aug Her quiet coboration somehow felt worse than outright hatred. ¡°You know,¡± Eleanor said thoughtfully, ¡°there are ways to make things easier. For everyone involved.¡± I looked up at her, confused by the sudden shift in tone. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Eleanor¡¯s smile was gentle, maternal even. ¡°Sometimes the kindest thing is to step aside. To put the needs of the people we love ahead of our own d¨¦sires.¡± My blood ran cold. ¡°You want me to leave Hunter.¡± ¡°I want you to consider what¡¯s best for him. For his career, his reputation, his future.¡± Eleanor leaned forward slightly. ¡°You love him, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Of course I do.¡± ¡°Then you must see how much this situation is damaging him. The media attention, the business concerns, the stress on his health.¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice was soft, persuasive. ¡°A woman who truly loves a man wants to see him thrive, not struggle.¡± The words hit me like physical blows. Everything she was saying echoed my own worst fears¨Cthat I was dragging Hunter down, that my presence in his life was hurting him. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared something for you,¡± Eleanor continued, reaching into her purse. She pulled out an envelope, thick with what looked like legal documents. ¡°A generous settlement. Enough to ensure you and your children arefortable for life. All you have to do is sign.¡± The envelope sat on the white tablecloth between us like a snake. ¡°You¡¯re trying to buy me off.¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to offer you a solution. A way for everyone to move forward with dignity.¡± Margaret nodded approvingly. ¡°It¡¯s more than generous, really. Most women in your position would be thrilled with such an opportunity.¡± ¡°My position?¡± ¡°Pregnant and unmarried to a man out of your league,¡± Jessica¨Cor¨CJennifer said bluntly. ¡°This is your chance tond on your feet instead of being discardedter.¡± The cruelty was breathtaking in its casualness. They were discussing my life, my rtionship, my children like we were pieces on a chess board. Readplete version only at find~novel ¡°Think about it logically,¡± Margaret continued. ¡°You¡¯ll never truly fit into this world. There will always be whispers, always be judgment. Your children will grow up hearing those whispers too.¡± ¡°Is that what you want?¡± Eleanor asked softly. ¡°For your children to be known as Hunter Reid¡¯s mistake?¡± 1 couldn¡¯t breathe. The room was spinning, their voices echoing in my head, the envelope sitting there like a judgment on my worthiness as a human being. Somewhere in the distance, I was dimly aware that phones were still recording, that this moment of myplete breakdown was being captured for posterity. But I couldn¡¯t move, couldn¡¯t speak, couldn¡¯t do anything but sit there and let them destroy me piece by piece. 2/3 11:40 Mon, 18 Aug Because deep down, in the part of my heart i tried to ignore, 1 was terrified they might be right. 3/3 Legacy 184 Chapter 184 -HUNTER¡¯S POV I was reviewing quarterly reports when my phone rang. Caroline¡¯s name shed on the screen, and after three weeks of avoiding her calls, I finally picked
  1. up.
¡°Hunter, I¡¯m so sorry. This is all my fault¡­.¡± ¡°Caroline, what are you¡­.¡± ¡°I should never have let her go. I thought Aunt Eleanor¡¯s offer was genuine, but I was so wrong¡­.¡± My blood went cold. ¡°Let who go? What offer?¡± ¡°Celine! She went to Aunt Eleanor¡¯s brunch, and I convinced her it was a good idea because I thought maybe Aunt Eleanor was finally ready to ept her, but it was a setup, Hunter. Aplete setup, and now¡­..¡± ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± But before Caroline could exin, my office door burst open. Vincent stormed in, his face grim, holding his phone like a weapon. ¡°Have you seen this?¡± he demanded, not bothering with pleasantries. He shoved his phone in my face. The screen showed a video from some socialite¡¯s Instagram ount. The caption read: ¡°Elitedies lunch gets MESSY when Hunter Reid¡¯s baby mama crashes the party!¡± My heart stopped. The video showed Celine sitting at an elegant table, surrounded by women I recognized¨Cmy mother¡¯s friends, society vultures who thrived on other people¡¯s misery. Even from the shaky phone footage, I could see how pale Celine looked, how trapped. The audio was crystal clear. ¡°Sometimes the kindest thing is to step aside. To put the needs of the people we love ahead of our own desires.¡± My mother¡¯s voice, syrupy with false concern. ¡°You¡¯ll never truly fit into this world. There will always be whispers, always be judgment,¡± ¡°Is that what you want? For your children to be known as Hunter Reid¡¯s mistake?¡± Each word hit me hard. I watched Celine shrink smaller and smaller in that chair, watched her face crumble as these women¡­women I¡¯d known my entire life¡­systematically destroyed her. And there, at the edge of the frame, was Mia. Sitting in silence, watching it happen. ¡°Hunter?¡± Caroline¡¯s voice came through the phone, tinny and desperate. ¡°Are you there?¡± ¡°What the hell did you do?¡± I snarled. ¡°I thought she was trying to make peace! swear to God, I would never have sent Celine there if I knew¡­ 1/4 11:40 Mon, 18 Aug 2 ? I was already reaching for my suit jacket, my hands shaking with rage. ¡°Hunter, calm down,¡± Vincent said, stepping closer. ¡°Think about this. Thest time you lost control in public¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m done being calm.¡± My voice was deadly quiet. ¡°I¡¯m done standing by while they destroy the woman I love.¡± ¡°Hunter, please,¡± Caroline begged through the phone. ¡°I know you¡¯re angry, but¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll deal with youter.¡± I grabbed my car keys from the desk. ¡°Is Ceasar with you?¡± ¡°Yes, he¡¯s¡­..¡± ¡°Take care of my son.¡± I hung up and headed for the door, but Vincent caught my arm. ¡°You¡¯re not driving anywhere in this state.¡± I turned to re at him, and whatever he saw in my expression made him take a step back. But he didn¡¯t let
  1. go.
¡°Fine. But I¡¯m driving.¡± Vincent snatched the keys from my hand and walked toward the door without another word. He knew better than to argue when I looked like this. In the car, I stared out the window at the city rushing past, my mind racing with fury and guilt. ¡°Why would she go there?¡± I muttered. ¡°Why didn¡¯t she tell me?¡± Vincent nced at me in the rearview mirror. ¡°Maybe she had her reasons.¡± ¡°They better be damn good ones.¡± But even as I said it, I knew why she had gone. She¡¯d been trying to fix things, trying to build bridges with my family for our sake. She¡¯d walked into that lion¡¯s den hoping to make peace, and they¡¯d torn her apart for it. While I¡¯d been sitting in my office reviewing reports,pletely oblivious. The Metropolitan Club came into view, its imposing front a monument to old money and older discriminations. Vincent pulled up to the valet stand. ¡°You sure about this?¡± he asked. ¡°Completely.¡± I walked through the club like I owned it, which, considering my family¡¯s membership fees, I practically did. The hostess tried to intercept me, but one look at my face sent her scurrying backward. I found them in the Astor Room, that nest of vipers still circling their prey. The conversation stopped dead when I appeared in the doorway. Celine sat frozen at the table, an envelope in front of her, her face tear¨Cstreaked and hollow. She looked up at me with such devastation that I wanted to burn the entire building down. ¡°Hunter!¡± My mother rose from her chair, her smile perfectly organized. ¡°What a lovely surprise. We were just¡­..¡± ¡°Getting acquainted with your future daughter¨Cinw?¡± The temperature in the room dropped ten degrees. Every woman at that table recognized the tone in my voice¡­the same one my father had used when someone made the mistake of crossing him. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? F?nd-Novel 2/4 11:40 Mon, 18 Aug 0 Eleanor¡¯s smile flickered. ¡°We were having a civilized conversation about¡­..¡± ¡°About buying her off.¡± I picked up the envelope from the table, not bothering to hide my disgust. ¡°How much, Mother? What¡¯s your price for my happiness?¡± ¡°Hunter, you¡¯re making a cene.¡± ¡°Am I?¡± I looked around the table at their shocked faces. Margaret looked like she had swallowed a lemon. The blonde with the phone was still recording, though her hand shook now. Good. Let them all see this. ¡°You want to know what¡¯s civilized?¡± I continued, my voice carrying across the room. ¡°Treating the woman carrying my child with respect. epting that I¡¯m capable of making my own choices about my life and my family.¡± I moved to Celine¡¯s chair and held out my hand. She stared at it for a moment, then slowly ced her fingers in mine. Her hand was ice cold. $581 ¡°You want to know what¡¯s uncivilized?¡± I helped her stand, keeping our fingers inteced. ¡°Ambushing a pregnant woman. Recording her humiliation for social media entertainment. Trying to destroy my family for your own twisted satisfaction.¡± Mia finally spoke up, her voice small. ¡°Hunter, we were just trying to help¡­..¡± I turned to look at her, and she flinched backward. ¡°Help? By sitting there in silence while they tore her apart? By letting thempare her to Sophia?¡± The mention of my ex sent a visible shock through the room. It wasn¡¯t something we talked about in polite society. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know what this was?¡± I continued, my gaze sweeping across every face at that table. ¡°You think I don¡¯t recognize a coordinated attack when i see one?¡± Eleanor straightened in her chair, trying to regain control. ¡°This is exactly what we were concerned about. You¡¯re embarrassing yourself for a¡­.¡± ¡°For the woman I love.¡± My voice cut through hers like a de. ¡°The mother of my children. My future wife.¡± I squeezed Celine¡¯s hand tighter. i say ¡°And if any of you ever¡­.ever¡­..treat her with anything less than the respect she deserves, you¡¯ll answer to me. And trust me when I say you that conversation.¡± The blonde was still holding up her phone, still recording. Vincent appeared beside her like a shadow. ¡°I¡¯d put that away if I were you,¡± he said, his voice conversational but loaded with menace. ¡°Unless you want your husband to find out about your little gambling problem.¡± The woman¡¯s face went white. The phone disappeared immediately. ¡°Good choice,¡± Vincent said pleasantly. I looked around the table onest time, memorizing their faces. ¡°Ladies,¡± said with mock politeness. ¡°It¡¯s been¡­ educational.¡± 3/4 11:40 Mon, 18 Aug I turned to leave, still holding Celine¡¯s hand, when my mother¡¯s voice stopped me. ¡°Hunter. If you walk out of here with her, don¡¯t expect¡­.¡± 58% ¡°Don¡¯t expect what, Mother? Your approval? Your support? Your love?¡± I turned back to face her, and for the first time in my life, I saw genuine fear in Eleanor Reid¡¯s eyes. ¡°I stopped expecting those things a long time ago.¡± We walked out in silence, leaving behind a table full of shocked socialites and one very shaken mother. In the hallway, Celine finally spoke. ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispered. I stopped walking and pulled her into my arms, not caring who might see. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said into her hair. ¡°I¡¯m so goddamn sorry I wasn¡¯t there sooner.¡± She was shaking against me, and I could feel her tears soaking through my shirt. ¡°Let¡¯s go home,¡± I said. Behind us, I could hear the angry buzz of conversation starting up again, the damage control beginning. But I didn¡¯t care what they said about this. Let them talk. For the first time in three weeks, I had done something right. I had chosen her. Publicly, definitively, without reservation. And I¡¯d do it again tomorrow if I had to. Legacy 185 Chapter 185 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- I watched Celine sleep in the soft morning light filtering through our bedroom curtains. 62% Her dark brown hair spread across the white pillowcase like spilled ink, and one hand rested protectively over her belly, where our baby grew. Beautiful. Peaceful. Safe. Everything hadn¡¯t been the same as yesterday. We had picked up Caesar from Caroline¡¯s apartment after leaving the Metropolitan Club. Frederick was waiting there too, his face heavy with the burden of apologizing that needed to be made. ¡°Hunter, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± he had said immediately. ¡°Caroline told me what happened. If I had known what Eleanor was nning¡­¡± Caroline herself had been a mess of tears and guilt. She had thrown herself into Celine¡¯s arms the moment we walked through the door. ¡°I¡¯m so stupid,¡± she had sobbed against Celine¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I thought she was finally ready to ept you. 1 would never have sent you there if I knew it was a trap.¡± I had watched Celinefort my cousin despite her pain, stroking Caroline¡¯s hair and whispering ease she probably didn¡¯t feel. ¡°We¡¯re even now,¡± I had told Caroline with a small smile. ¡°I almost ruined your engagement party. You almost got my girlfriend eaten alive by society vultures. I¡¯d say we¡¯re perfectly matched for chaos.¡± Caroline hadughed through her tears, and we¡¯d opened a bottle of wine to toast surviving another Reid family disaster. But , after Caesar was tucked into bed and we were finally alone, Celine had fallen apart. She had curled up on our bed still wearing that borrowed navy dress, her knees pulled to her chest, and cried until she had no tears left. ¡°Why do they hate me so much?¡± she had whispered. ¡°What did I ever do to deserve that?¡± I had tried teasing her out of the darkness, making jokes about my mother¡¯s ridiculous attempts at maniption. But when that failed, I had pulled her close and made her a promise. 14:19 Thu, 21 Aug 62% +13 ¡°No one will hurt you again. Not my mother, not society, not anyone. I won¡¯t let them.¡± She had looked up at me with those dark eyes I loved so much. ¡°Why?¡± I had lifted her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze. ¡°Because you¡¯re my world. My life. My future wife.¡± Her smile had been hesitant, fragile. ¡°I thought you were joking about that.¡± Thad clutched my chest in mock offense. ¡°Joking? About marrying the most incredible woman I¡¯ve ever known? Woman, you wound me.¡± Herugh had been the first real one I¡¯d heard from her all day. Soft and genuine and everything I wanted to protect. ¡°There¡¯s the smile I want to see every day,¡± I had murmured, pulling her onto myp. What happened next had been slow and gentle and desperate all at once. I had kissed away her tears, my hands finding the zipper of that borrowed dress, peeling it away from her skin like armor she no longer needed. She was pregnant, fragile in ways that terrified and awed me, Every touch had been careful, reverent. When Iy her back against our pillows, she was naked and beautiful and mine. ¡°Are you sure?¡± I had whispered, my hand tracing the slight curve of her belly. Her answer had been to pull me down for another kiss, her legs wrapping around my waist in invitation. I had taken my time with her, worshipping every inch of skin, every soft gasp that escaped her lips. When I finally moved inside her, it was with the kind of gentleness I hadn¡¯t known I possessed. She was silk and warmth and home. Her body weed me like it had been made for this, for us, for the life we were building together. We moved together in the darkness, her hands in my hair, my name falling from her lips like a prayer. When she came apart beneath me, her back arching off the bed, I followed her over the edge with a groan that came from my soul. Afterward, I had held her until she fell asleep, my hand protective over our child. Now, watching her sleep, I felt that same fierce protectiveness surge through me. But underneath it was something darker, something that had been building since I first saw that video, My phone sat on the nightstand, and against my better judgment, I reached for it. The video from yesterday had gone viral. Millions of views, thousands ofments, most of them as cruel as the women who had orchestrated Celine¡¯s 14:19 Thu, 21 Aug humiliation. O ¡°Gold digger finally put in her ce.¡± ¡°About time someone told her the truth.¡± ¡°Hunter Reid can do so much better.¡± 62% +13 My hand clenched around the phone, my jaw grinding with barely contained rage. These people didn¡¯t know her. They didn¡¯t know her strength, her kindness, the way she made Caesarugh, or how she fell asleep reading pregnancy books. All they saw was someone they deemed unworthy of their world. They were about to learn exactly how wrong they were. I slipped out of bed carefully, not wanting to wake Celine, and headed for my study. It was time to make some calls. Starting today, I was going to systematically dismantle every person who had hurt her. Beginning with my mother. The Aurelia Hotel¡¯s conference room buzzed with the kind of energy that meant serious money was about to change hands. Board members, investors, and department heads filled the space, all waiting for our quarterly review meeting to begin. 1 had deliberately chosen this venue instead of our usual boardroom. The Aurelia¡¯s lobby was always full of guests, staff, and most importantly, people with cameras. What was about to happen needed witnesses. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen,¡± I began, standing at the head of the polished table. ¡°Before we begin today¡¯s agenda, there¡¯s a personnel matter that needs addressing.¡± That¡¯s when the conference room doors burst open. Eleanor swept in like she owned the ce, her heels clicking authoritatively against the marble floor, She wore a cream¨Ccolored suit and the kind of confident smile that suggested she had no idea what wasing. ¡°Sorry I¡¯mte,¡± she announced to the room. ¡°Traffic was absolutely¡­¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t invited,¡± I said quietly. The room went dead silent. Every head turned between my mother and me, sensing the Tension in the air. 215 +13 Eleanor¡¯s smile faltered slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, Hunter. This is the quarterly review. Of course, I was invited.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. You usually would be.¡± I straightened my tie, my voice carrying to every corner of the room. ¡°But that was before yesterday.¡± ¡°What happened yesterday has nothing to do with business¡­¡± The rightful source is F?nd-Novel ¡°Doesn¡¯t it?¡± I pulled out my phone, the video already queued up. ¡°Everyone here has seen this, I¡¯m sure. My mother and her friends systematically humiliated the woman carrying my child. Recording it for entertainment. Offering her money to disappear from my life.¡± Eleanor¡¯s face flushed. ¡°Hunter, this is neither the time nor the ce¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re wrong again, Mother. This is exactly the time and ce.¡± I looked around the room at the faces watching us. Some shocked, some fascinated, allpletely interested. ¡°Effective immediately, Eleanor Reid is being removed from all business operations. She will no longer have ess topany ounts, decision¨Cmaking processes, or confidential information.¡± The murmur that went through the room was electric. Vincent, standing by the wall, didn¡¯t even try to hide his smirk. Eleanor¡¯s calm crackedpletely. ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me! I own as much of this business as you do!¡± Haughed, but there was no humor in it. ¡°Do you? Are you talking about the business you stole from my father¡¯s first wife? The woman whose entire legacy you erased so you could y queen of the corporate world?¡± The room was so quiet I could hear people breathing. ¡°You¡¯ve never truly owned anything, Mother. All you do is take. Take things that don¡¯t belong to you. Take credit for other people¡¯s work. Take whatever you want without caring who gets hurt in the process.¡± Eleanor stepped closer, her voice rising. ¡°I am your mother!¡± ¡°And I regret it.¡± The words came out t, emotionless. ¡°As much as I hate being brought into this world by you, I will never let you control my life again.¡± Something snapped in Eleanor¡¯s eyes. Before I could react, her hand flew across my face in a sharp p that echoed through the silent room. Security started moving forward, but I held up a hand to stop them. I smiled. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant expression. ¡°That,¡± I said, my voice soft and deadly, ¡°was a mistake.¡± I leaned close to her ear, close enough that only she could hear my next words. ¡°This is thest time you will ever raise a hand to me. The next time you try, you might consider yourself dead to
  1. me. Dead.¡±
I pulled back, my smile widening as I watched her face go pale. ¡°Now,¡± I continued in my normal voice, loud enough for everyone to hear. ¡°I suggest you live a quiet life. Gossip with your good¨Cfor¨Cnothing friends. Stay away from me and my family.¡± ¡°I am your family!¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice was shrill now, desperate. ¡°You were. But now I have something worth protecting.¡± ¡°This is all that wretched girl¡¯s fault!¡± Eleanor¡¯s mask slippedpletely. ¡°She¡¯s nted her thorns in you, turned you against your mother!¡± Iughed, genuinely and delighted. ¡°Yes, I guess she has. And Mother? I don¡¯t want her to ever take them out.¡± I turned toward the door, then paused. ¡°I want you out of these premises before I return from lunch. If you¡¯re not gone, security will escort you out.¡± I started walking again, then stopped one more time. ¡°Oh, and stop barging into my house like you own the ce. Sally is getting annoyed with the interruptions. The mansion belongs to Celine now anyway. It¡¯s in her name. Only she decides who gets to enter.¡± The silence that followed was deafening. I walked out of that conference room knowing that every phone in the vicinity was recording, that this moment would be online within minutes. Good. Let the world see exactly where Hunter Reid¡¯s loyalties lie. Let them know that Celine wasn¡¯t just my girlfriend or even my future baby mother. She 515 Legacy 186 Chapter 186 -MIA¡¯S POV-
  1. 13.
The restaurant gossiped about money and exclusivity. It had white linen tables, soft golden lighting, and a pianist¡¯s notes drifting faintly through the air. I had chosen my dress carefully¨Csleek ck silk that kissed my figure in all the right ces. Perfect. Because Mia ckwood was nothing if not perfect. Eleanor arrived twenty minuteste, draped in her signature pearls and carrying the air of a queen still clinging to her throne. The waiter bowed as if he had rehearsed it just for her. I rose gracefully, hiding the nerves dancing in my stomach, and leaned in to kiss the older woman¡¯s cheek. ¡°Eleanor, darling. I came as soon as I heard.¡± My tone was soaked in pity, every word carefully gauged. ¡°The news¡­ the conference¡­ Hunter is cutting ties with you. I still refuse to believe he would do such a thing. To his own mother.¡± I reached across the table and brushed my fingers against her hand, a sign offort that felt almost realistic. The waiter approached, and Eleanor ordered wine without looking at the menu. Something expensive, no doubt. Inside, I was screaming. I didn¡¯t give a damn about Eleanor¡¯s loss of power. If the woman became a liability, I would cut her off without hesitation. Thest thing I needed was Hunter assuming I was working with his mother to remove Celine from his life. Still, for now¡­ appearances mattered. Eleanor¡¯s lips curved into a bitter smile. ¡°My son has been blinded. That girl has poisoned his mind, made him forget his blood, his duty. All for what? Some little maid who wormed her way into his bed.¡± The words should haveforted me, but instead they burned. Because beneath Eleanor¡¯s venom, the truth remained like a knife between my ribs. Celine wasn¡¯t just a fling. Hunter had stood in that conference room and dered her his future wife. The memory of it made my throat tighten until I thought I might choke. Would he really propose to her? Would he tie himself forever to someone so¡­ low? No. No, no, no. 14:19 Thu, 21 Aug The thought coiled like barbed wire around my heart. Hunter Reid was supposed to be mine. Mia ckwood. Perfect. Admired. Beautiful. His rightful wife. 62% I forced a serene smile. ¡°You¡¯ve always known what¡¯s best for him. Perhaps¡­ perhaps it¡¯s time you reminded him. of that.¡± Eleanor¡¯s eyes narrowed, glittering like cut ss. She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°That girl needs to be put in her ce. She¡¯ll regret ever setting foot into my family.¡± Eleanor¡¯s fingers tightened around her wine ss. ¡°But I¡¯ll need your help, Mia. It¡¯s time you stepped up your game if you truly want Hunter¡¯s heart.¡± My pulse skipped. The words were a dare. An invitation. And oh, how delicious it felt to hear Eleanor finally acknowledge what I had known all along¨Cthat I belonged at Hunter¡¯s side. But I had to be careful. One wrong move, and Hunter would see me as just another threat to his precious Celine. ¡°What exactly are you suggesting?¡± I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Eleanor smiled, and it was harsh enough to mow ss. ¡°First, we remind Hunter of what he¡¯s throwing away. You, my dear, are everything that girl is not. Educated, purified, from the right family. You understand his world.¡± ¡°And second?¡±
  1. 13.
¡°We make sure Celine understands exactly where she belongs. Yesterday¡¯s little gathering was just the beginning.¡± I thought of the video that had gone viral. Celine, pale and shaking, surrounded by society¡¯s elite. The envelope full of money Eleanor had ced before her like a judgment. Readplete version only at F?ndNovel Hunter¡¯s rage when he¡¯d stormed in had been terrifying to witness. The way he¡¯d defended her, imed her, protected her¡­ When was thest time a man had looked at me like that? Like I was his entire world? Never. Because men saw Mia ckwood as a trophy to be won, not a woman to be cherished. ¡°You¡¯re thinking about something,¡± Eleanor observed, studying my face. ¡°What is it?¡± I couldn¡¯t tell her the truth. Couldn¡¯t admit that watching Hunter defend Celine had awakened something dark and desperate in my chest. 14:19 Thu, 21 Aug J Couldn¡¯t confess that I would rather have his hatred than his disregard. 62% 23 ¡°I¡¯m thinking about timing,¡± I lied smoothly. ¡°If we move too fast, too obviously, Hunter will see right through us.¡± Eleanor nodded approvingly. ¡°Exactly. Which is why you need to be subtle. Be a friend. Be the shoulder to cry on when things get difficult.¡± ¡°And things will get difficult?¡± Eleanor¡¯s smile was pure meanness. ¡°Oh, my dear girl. You have no idea what¡¯sing.¡± The waiter refilled our wine sses, and I used the interruption to study Eleanor¡¯s face. There was something there, hidden beneath the surface. A n she wasn¡¯t sharing. ¡°What aren¡¯t you telling me?¡± I asked. ¡°Let¡¯s just say that Celine¡¯s past holds some very interesting secrets. Secrets that could be¡­ problematic¡­ for Hunter¡¯s reputation.¡± My heart raced. ¡°What kind of secrets?¡± ¡°The kind that could destroy her credibility as a mother. As a partner. As anything more than what she¡¯s always been¡ªa gold¨Cdigging little nobody who got lucky.¡± I leaned back in my chair, processing this information. If Eleanor had ammunition against Celine, real ammunition, then maybe there was still hope. ¡°I want in,¡± I said quietly. Eleanor¡¯s smile widened. ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d say that.¡± She reached into her purse and pulled out a thick man folder. ¡°Everything you need to know is in here. Phone numbers, schedules, weak points. But remember, Mia¨Cthis has to look like it¡¯sing from you, not from me. Hunter cannot suspect we¡¯re working together.¡± I took the folder, feeling its weight in my hands. ¡°And if this doesn¡¯t work? If Hunter still chooses her?¡± For the first time since she¡¯d arrived, Eleanor¡¯s mask slipped. Her face hardened, and I saw something cold and harsh in her eyes. ¡°Then we make sure he doesn¡¯t have a choice.¡± The words sent a chill down my spine, but also a thrill. Eleanor wasn¡¯t just talking about social pressure or family disapproval. She was talking about something more permanent. 62% Eleanor¡¯s smile faltered slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, Hunter. This is the quarterly review. Of course, I was invited.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. You usually would be.¡± I straightened my tie, my voice carrying to every corner of the room. ¡°But that was before yesterday.¡± ¡°What happened yesterday has nothing to do with business¡­¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t it?¡± I pulled out my phone, the video already queued up. ¡°Everyone here has seen this, I¡¯m sure. My mother and her friends systematically humiliated the woman carrying my child. Recording it for entertainment. Offering her money to disappear from my life.¡± Eleanor¡¯s face flushed. ¡°Hunter, this is neither the time nor the ce¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re wrong again, Mother. This is exactly the time and ce.¡± I looked around the room at the faces watching us. Some shocked, some fascinated, allpletely interested. ¡°Effective immediately, Eleanor Reid is being removed from all business operations. She will no longer have ess topany ounts, decision¨Cmaking processes, or confidential information.¡± The murmur that went through the room was electric. Vincent, standing by the wall, didn¡¯t even try to hide his smirk. Eleanor¡¯s calm crackedpletely. ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me! I own as much of this business as you do!¡± Haughed, but there was no humor in it. ¡°Do you? Are you talking about the business you stole from my father¡¯s first wife? The woman whose entire legacy you erased so you could y queen of the corporate world?¡± The room was so quiet I could hear people breathing. ¡°You¡¯ve never truly owned anything, Mother. All you do is take. Take things that don¡¯t belong to you. Take credit for other people¡¯s work. Take whatever you want without caring who gets hurt in the process.¡± Eleanor stepped closer, her voice rising. ¡°I am your mother!¡± ¡°And I regret it.¡± The words came out t, emotionless. ¡°As much as I hate being brought into this world by you, t will never let you control my life again.¡± Something snapped in Eleanor¡¯s eyes. Before I could react, her hand flew across my face in a sharp p that echoed through the silent room. Security started moving forward, but I held up a hand to stop them. I smiled, it wasn¡¯t a pleasant expression. ¡°That,¡± I said, my voice soft and deadly, ¡°was a mistake.¡± 14 20 Thu, 21 Aug I leaned close to her ear, close enough that only she could hear my next words. ¡°This is thest time you will ever raise a hand to me. The next time you try, your
  1. me. Dead.¡±
I pulled back, my smile widening as I watched her face go pale. ?nsider yourself dead to ¡°Now,¡± I continued in my normal voice, loud enough for everyone to hear. ¡°I suggest you live a quiet life. Gossip with your good¨Cfor¨Cnothing friends. Stay away from me and my family.¡± ¡°I am your family!¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice was shrill now, desperate. ¡°You were. But now I have something worth protecting.¡± ¡°This is all that wretched girl¡¯s fault!¡± Eleanor¡¯s mask slippedpletely. ¡°She¡¯s nted her thorns in you, turned you against your mother!¡± Iughed, genuinely and delighted. ¡°Yes, I guess she has. And Mother? I don¡¯t want her to ever take them out.¡± I turned toward the door, then paused. ¡°I want you out of these premises before I return from lunch. If you¡¯re not gone, security will escort you out.¡± I started walking again, then stopped one more time. ¡°Oh, and stop barging into my house like you own the ce. Sally is getting annoyed with the interruptions. The mansion belongs to Celine now anyway. It¡¯s in her name. Only she decides who gets to enter.¡± The silence that followed was deafening. I walked out of that conference room knowing that every phone in the vicinity was recording, that this moment would be online within minutes. Good. Let the world see exactly where Hunter Reid¡¯s loyalties lie. Let them know that Celine wasn¡¯t just my girlfriend or even my future baby mother. She Comment natter Send gift ho tri AD Legacy 187 Chapter 187 -CELINE¡¯S POV- The boutique was the kind of ce I would have walked past without a second nce six months ago. Now Caroline dragged me through its ss doors like she owned the building, which, knowing her family¡¯s connections, she probably did. ¡°You need new clothes,¡± she announced, pulling me toward a rack of designer dresses. ¡°Something that screams ¡®future Mrs. Reid¡® instead of ¡®borrowed from Caroline¡¯s closet.¡°¡± I touched the price tag on a simple ck dress and nearly fainted. ¡°Caroline, I have had enough, thanks to Hunter and I cannot afford¡­¡± ¡°My treat. Consider it an investment in your future happiness.¡± She held up a sapphire blue dress against my frame. ¡°Besides, after what Hunter did to Aunt Eleanor yesterday, you need armor for whateveres next.¡± My stomach twisted at the mention of Hunter¡¯s Mother. ¡°Tell me again what exactly happened in that conference room.¡± Caroline¡¯s eyes lit up with wicked joy. ¡°Oh, it was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Vincent said Hunter was like apletely different person¡­.cold, calcted, ruthless. The way he should have been from the beginning.¡± She pulled me toward the fitting rooms, arms full of clothes I would never be able to afford on my own. ¡°Aunt Eleanor walked in like she owned the ce, and Hunter just¡­ destroyed her. In front of everyone. Board members, investors, people with cameras.¡± Caroline¡¯s voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°He told her she never truly owned anything, that she just takes what doesn¡¯t belong to her.¡± I sank onto the velvet bench in the fitting room. ¡°This is all my fault. I caused this rift between them.¡± ¡°Stop.¡± Caroline¡¯s voice was sharp. ¡°You didn¡¯t cause anything. Aunt Eleanor overstepped, and Hunter finally grew a backbone. It was long overdue.¡± She handed me the blue dress. ¡°Try this on. And while you do, let me paint you a picture of what¡¯sing next.¡± ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? F¦ÉndNovel I pulled the dress over my head, marveling at how the silk felt against my skin. In the mirror, I looked like someone else entirely. Someone who belonged in Hunter¡¯s world. ¡°What do you mean, what¡¯sing next?¡± Caroline¡¯s smile was pure mischief. ¡°A proposal, obviously. All Hunter needs to do now is put a ring on that finger and make you his forever.¡± My heart stopped. ¡°Caroline¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always dreamed we¡¯d get married on the same day,¡± she continued, her eyes sparkling with possibilities. ¡°Double wedding at the estate. You in/ivory, me in champagne, Our children growing up as cousins¡­¡± Her voice trailed off into happy nning, but I couldn¡¯t focus on her words. A proposal. Marriage. Forever. V.2V The concepts felt too big, too impossible, like trying to hold the ocean in my cupped hands. ¡°You¡¯re spiraling,¡± Caroline observed, studying my reflection. ¡°I can practically see the panic attack forming.¡± ¡°I just¡­ what if Eleanor retaliates? What if she finds a way to¡­¡± Caroline¡¯s phone buzzed, interrupting my fears. Her face changed as she read whatever message hade through. ¨C ¡°Celine.¡± Her voice was tight. ¡°We need to get home. Now.¡± The drive back to Caroline¡¯s apartment was tense and silent. She kept ncing at her phone, her jaw clenched with barely contained fury. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I asked for the third time. ¡°Just¡­ let¡¯s get inside first.¡± But I could see the answer in her white knuckles as she gripped the steering wheel. Whatever had happened, it was bad. Caroline¡¯s living room felt like a war room when we arrived. Frederick was there, hisptop open, his face grim. ncey sat across from him, scrolling through his phone with the kind of focus that meant damage control. ¡°How bad?¡± Caroline asked immediately. ncey looked up at me, his expression apologetic. ¡°Bad.¡± He turned hisptop screen toward us. The headline made my blood run cold: ¡°BILLIONAIRE HUNTER REID TIED DOWN BY WOMAN CLAIMING HIS CHILD¡± Below it was a photo of me leaving the Metropolitan Club yesterday, looking exactly like what the headline suggested¨Cdesperate, disheveled, defeated. ¡°There¡¯s more,¡± ncey said quietly. The next article featured an interview with someone I wish the media had avoided. My sister Jesse, sitting in what looked like a television studio, her face carefully made up for the cameras. ¡°Celine was always bragging about how she¡¯dnded this hotshot,¡± Jesse was saying, her voice dripping with false concern. ¡°She used to talk about moving in with him, how she was going to live this morous life. I just hope she¡¯s being honest about the baby, you know? Our family has a history of¡­plications.¡± I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. ¡°She¡¯s lying.¡± Caroline¡¯s face was murderous. ¡°I would like to go over to Jesse¡¯s ce and p some sense into her. What kind of sister does this?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother with them,¡± I said, my voice hollow. ¡°It¡¯s obvious someone is paying her to say these things.¡± I stared at my sister¡¯s face on the screen, remembering the girl who made my life helt. ¡°I always knew Jesse was shallow, but I didn¡¯t know she was this shallow.¡± 10:21 Fri, 22 Aug 0 ncey cleared his throat. ¡°There¡¯s more.¡± The next video made my knees buckle. My mother, sitting in her shabby living room, was speaking to what looked like a local news crew. ¡°Celine isn¡¯t even my biological daughter,¡± she was saying, her voice t and emotionless. ¡°She¡¯s the product of an affair. I tried to raise her right, but some people are just born with bad blood.¡± The room spun around me. Caroline caught my arm as I swayed, guiding me to the couch. ¡°She disowned me,¡± I whispered. ¡°She actually disowned me on television.¡± Frederick closed theptop. ¡°The inte is going insane. Twitter, Instagram, TikTok¨Cit¡¯s everywhere. Thements are¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Caroline said sharply. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need to see those.¡± But I could imagine them. All the cruel things people would say about me, about my pregnancy, about Caesar. The assumptions, the judgments, theplete character assassination of a woman they had never met. ¡°They¡¯re dragging Caesar into this, aren¡¯t they?¡± I asked. The silence that followed was answer enough. I stood up abruptly, pacing to the window. Outside, New York kept moving at its fast pace, unaware that my whole lifes being examined for entertainment. ¡°This is Eleanor¡¯s work,¡± I said quietly. ¡°We don¡¯t know that for sure,¡± ncey replied, but his tone suggested otherwise. Iughed, but there was noedy in it. ¡°My sister, who hasn¡¯t spoken to me in two months, suddenly gets a television interview the day after Hunter cuts Eleanor off? My mother, who¡¯s never watched the news in her life, happens to give a statement to reporters? This is nned.¡± Caroline joined me at the window. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± ¡°I want to disappear,¡± I said honestly. ¡°I want to take Caesar and run somewhere Eleanor Reid and her money and her influence will never find us.¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°But that would prove them right. That I¡¯m exactly what they say I am¨Ca gold digger who got in over her head.¡± My phone rang. Hunter¡¯s name shed on the screen, and for a moment I considered not answering. What would I say to him? How could I exin that my own family had sold me out for whatever his mother was paying them? But then I remembered his words fromst night. You¡¯re my world. My life. My future wife. I answered the phone. ¡°Are you okay?¡± His voice was tight with barely controlled rage. 10:21 Fri, 22 Aug ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I lied. ¡°You¡¯re not fine. I¡¯ve seen the interviews. I¡¯ming to get you.¡± ¡°Hunter, wait¡­¡± ¡°No. This ends now. I¡¯m done ying defense.¡± His voice was cold, calcting. ¡°It¡¯s time to go on the attack.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°It means my mother has no idea who she¡¯s fighting. And neither do your charming family members.¡± The call ended, and I stared at my phone, feeling both scared and excited. ¡°He¡¯sing,¡± I told Caroline. ¡°Good,¡± she said fiercely. ¡°It¡¯s about time my cousin remembered that the Reid family doesn¡¯t just have money¡­we have power. And it¡¯s time to use it.¡± I looked at my reflection in the window, still wearing that expensive blue dress that made me look like someone else. Someone worthy of Hunter Reid¡¯s protection and love. Eleanor wanted a war? Fine. But she had made one crucial mistake. She had underestimated exactly how far Hunter would go And now she was about to find out. to protect the woman carrying his child. Legacy 188 Chapter 188 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- The whispers started the moment I walked into my building. They thought they were being quiet¨Cthese employees who owed their careers to my family name, these board members who smiled to my face while checking their phones for thetest gossip. But I caught every sideways nce, every hushed conversation that died when I passed. My mother¡¯s work was everywhere.. In the elevator, I watched my reflection in the polished steel doors and saw something that would have terrified me six months ago. My eyes were cold, calcting, empty of the warmth I reserved for Celine and Caesar. This was the face my father had worn when he had built an empire from nothing. This was the face of a man ready to destroy anyone who threatened his family. ¡°Sir?¡± Derek appeared at my elbow the moment the elevator doors opened on the executive floor. ¡°I have the information you requested.¡± I walked into my office without acknowledging the stares from my staff. Derek followed, closing the door behind us with a soft click that felt like a gunshot in the silence. ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°Jesse Brown received a cash payment of fifty thousand dors yesterday morning. Deposited directly into her ount from a shepany traced back to Eleanor Reid¡¯s personal holdings.¡± Derek¡¯s voice was clear and professional. ¡°The mother, Maria Santos Brown, received twenty¨Cfive thousand and a promise of ongoing payments if she continues cooperating.¡± My hands clenched into fists. ¡°How long did it take you to find this?¡± ¡°Three hours.¡± ¡°My mother is getting sloppy.¡± Derek hesitated. ¡°There¡¯s more. The television interviews were arranged through a PR firm that Eleanor has used before. The same firm that handled damage control when your father¡¯s business partner died in that car ident.¡± I looked up sharply. My mother had never mentioned being involved in that particr piece of family history. ¡°Arrange a meeting with Celine¡¯s family,¡± I said quietly. ¡°Both of them. Today.¡± ¡°What kind of meeting?¡± ¡°The kind where they understand the consequences of biting the hand that could feed them for the rest of their lives.¡± I moved to the window, looking out over the city that bent to my will. ¡°And Derek? Make sure my mother receives an invitation to visit the estate. The private one. Tell her it¡¯s urgent family business.¡± ¡°The closed¨Coff property in the mountains?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the one.¡± I smiled, but it held no warmth. ¡°She needs some time to think about her choices. Away from her enablers and backscratchers.¡± Derek nodded and left without another word. He had worked for my family long enough to know when not to ask questions. I spent the next hour making phone calls. Each call was a move in a game my mother didn¡¯t even know she was part of. By the time I was finished, certain journalists would find their funding mysteriously cut, certain social media influencers would discover their sponsorships canceled, and certain television producers would receive visits from very expensivewyers. The Reid family hadn¡¯t stayed powerful for three generations by ying fair. The meeting with Celine¡¯s family took ce in a conference room that had hosted important discussions, business deals, and negotiations that influenced entire industries. Jesse Brown sat across from me looking like she¡¯d rather be anywhere else. Her designer handbag¡­new, expensive¡­sat on the table between us like proof in a murder trial. Her mother, Maria Santos Brown, wouldn¡¯t even meet my eyes. ¡°Ladies,¡± I said, my voice pleasant and conversational. ¡°I understand you¡¯ve been talking to reporterstely.¡± Jesse lifted her chin defiantly. ¡°Free country. I can talk to whoever I want.¡± ¡°Of course you can.¡± I leaned back in my chair, studying her face, ¡°Though I¡¯m curious about the sudden windfall in your bank ount. Fifty thousand dors is a lot of money for someone who now work at a nail salon, after getting fired from her PR job.¡± The color drained from Jesse¡¯s face. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you?¡± I pulled out my phone and scrolled through Derek¡¯s research. ¡°Deposited yesterday at 9:47 AM. From apany called Meridian Holdings. Would you like me to exin the connection between Meridian Holdings and my mother?¡± Maria Santos Brown finally spoke, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°We needed the money.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you did.¡± I set my phone on the table. ¡°But what you needed and what you¡¯ve done are two different things entirely.¡± Jesse¡¯s bravado cracked. ¡°Look, we just answered some questions. It¡¯s not like we made anything up.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you?¡± My voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°Because I have recordings of every conversation my mother had with her PR firm about this little publicity campaign. Including the detailed lies she wanted you to tell.¡°/ The lie came easily, smoothly. I had no such recordings, but they didn¡¯t know that. ¡°So here¡¯s what¡¯s going to happen,¡± I continued. ¡°You¡¯re going to call those same reporters who were so interested in your story. You¡¯re going to tell them you were forced into tying You¡¯re going to apologize to my girlfriend¡­.your sister¡­.publicly and sincerely.¡± ¡°And if we don¡¯t?¡± Jesse¡¯s voice was small, defeated. I smiled. It was the same smile my father had worn when he had driven threepetitors into bankruptcy in a single quarter. ¡°Jesse, you work at Paradise Nails on Fifth Avenue, don¡¯t you? Lovely little shop. The owner, Mrs. Denver, has been struggling with some tax issuestely. It would be such a shame if those issues became¡­ insurmountable.¡± Jesse¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You can¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°And Maria, that apartment you¡¯re renting in Queens? The building is owned by Meridian Properties. Different Meridian than the one that paid you, but simr name. Easy to get confused about lease renewals.¡± Maria Santos Brown began to cry. ¡°I¡¯m not threatening you,¡± I said gently. ¡°I¡¯m exining reality. My mother thought she could use you to hurt someone I love. She was wrong. And now you need to fix what you helped her break.¡± I stood up, straightening my tie. ¡°You have twenty¨Cfour hours. Derek will be in touch with the details.¡± Jesse grabbed my arm as I headed for the door. ¡°She¡¯s still our sister. Family. We would never really hurt¡­¡± I looked down at her hand on my sleeve, then back at her face. Whatever she saw in my expression made her let go immediately. ¡°Family,¡± I repeated slowly. ¡°Is that what you call selling someone out for money? Because where Ie from, family means something different entirely.¡± I walked out of that conference room knowing they would do exactly what I¡¯d asked. Fear was a powerful motivator, and they had just learned exactly how much they should fear crossing Hunter Reid. But the real conversation was still waiting for me. The mountain estate had been in my family for four generations. Isted, private, surrounded by enoughnd to ensureplete privacy. My grandfather had used it for business meetings that required absolute discretion. Tonight, it would serve a different purpose. My Mother was waiting in the main sitting room when I arrived, her pearl ne perfectly arranged, her stance strict with anger. Baron, the estate¡¯s caretaker, hovered near the doorway looking ufortable. ¡°Hunter, this is ridiculous. I demand you take me home immediately.¡± I dismissed Baron with a nod and waited until his footsteps faded down the hall. ¡°Sit down, Mother.¡± Chapter 188 Checktest chapters at FindN()vel ¡°I will not be treated like a¡­¡± ¡°Sit. Down.¡± Something in my voice made her sink into the leather armchair. For the first time since I was a child, Eleanor Reid looked genuinely afraid of me. Good. ¡°You staged the media campaign against Celine,¡± I said without a single hello. ¡°You paid her family to lie on television. You had her mother disown her publicly for entertainment.¡± Eleanor¡¯s mask of stillness didn¡¯t slip. ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Meridian Holdings. Ring a bell?¡± Her face went¨Cwhite. ¡°I know about the PR firm. I know about the payments. I know about every single phone call you made to destroy the woman ! love.¡± I moved closer, looming over her chair. ¡°What I don¡¯t know is why you thought I wouldn¡¯t find out.¡± Eleanor finally cracked. ¡°She doesn¡¯t belong in our world! Can¡¯t you see what she¡¯s doing to you? You¡¯re bing someone I don¡¯t recognize!¡± ¡°Good.¡± I crouched down so we were eye l¨¨vel. ¡°Because the man you raised would have let you get away with this. The man I¡¯m bing won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Hunter, please¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to stay here for one week. Baron will bring you meals, clean clothes, whatever you need. But you won¡¯t have ess to phones,puters, or any way to continue your little war against my family.¡± ¡°My family?¡± ¡°Celine and Caesar are my family now. You made your choice when you dered war on them.¡± Eleanor¡¯s eyes filled with tears I didn¡¯t believe for a second. ¡°I¡¯m your mother. I gave you life.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m grateful for that. Which is why you¡¯re going to have time to think about whether you want to be part of my future or a warning tale about what happens when people cross me.¡± I stood up, straightening my jacket. ¡°There are security cameras throughout this property. Armed guards patrol the perimeter. If you try to leave, they have instructions to stop you.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t keep me prisoner!¡± I paused at the doorway, looking back at her. ¡°I¡¯m not keeping you prisoner, Mother. I¡¯m keeping you alive.¡± Her face went pale. ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°It means that if you push me any further, if you hurt Celine or Caesar or my unborn child one more time¡­¡± I let the words hang in the air like smoke. 10:21 Fri, 22 Aug 34% ¡°I¡¯m prepared to stain my hands to protect them. And you know me well enough to understand that I don¡¯t make threats I¡¯m not willing to follow through on.¡± The silence that followed was deafening. ¡°One week,¡± I repeated. ¡°Use it wisely.¡± I left that house feeling like things had changed between us. Eleanor Reid taught me to be tough in business but to keep family matters respectful. She had forgotten that ruthlessness was just ruthlessness. And family was whoever you chose to protect. As I drove back to the city, back to Celine and Caesar and the life I was building with them, I felt something settle in my chest. A cold, permanent clearness about who I was and what I was willing to do. Eleanor wanted to y games with my happiness? Game on. But she should have remembered that Reid men didn¡¯t just y to win. We yed to destroy. Legacy 189 Chapter 189 ~CELINE¡¯S POV~ The first thing I noticed was his heartbeat against my back. Steady. Strong. Real. We were tangled together like we had been sleeping this way for years instead of surviving another war yesterday. His arm was a heavy anchor across my waist, and for once, the weight didn¡¯t feel like a cage¡­. it felt likeing home. I had never had a ¡°morning after¡± that felt like this. Soft. Sacred. Like something worth protecting. The apartment was bathed in honey light, and I could hear the city waking up twenty stories below us. 38 But up here, in this bed that smelled like our desperation and his cologne, the world felt small enough to hold in my cupped hands. I traced the scar on his forearm¡­the one he had gotten at twelve when he had tried to build Caroline a treehouse and nearly killed himself with power tools. He had told me that storyst night, between kisses that tasted like oaths. ¡°You¡¯re thinking too loud,¡± he murmured against my neck, his voice rough with sleep. ¡°How do you know I¡¯m thinking?¡± ¡°Your breathing changes when your brain starts spinning.¡± His lips found the spot behind my ear that made me shiver. ¡°What¡¯s got you so worked up at¡­.¡± He lifted his head to squint at the clock. ¡°¡­..seven in the morning?¡± I turned in his arms, studying his face in the golden light. Hair sticking up in every direction, stubble darker than usual, eyes still soft with sleep. He looked younger like this. Powerless in a way that made my chest tight. ¡°I was thinking about how I could get used to this.¡± Something shifted in his expression. ¡°Could?¡± ¡°Will,¡± I corrected softly. ¡°How I will get used to this?¡± The smile that spread across his face was pure sunshine. ¡°There¡¯s my girl.¡± He kissed me then, slow and thorough and tasting like forever. When he pulled back, his thumb traced my bottom lip like he was memorizing the shape of my mouth. ¡°Stay here,¡± he whispered. ¡°Let me make you breakfast.¡± ¡°Hunter Reid cooks?¡± ¡°Hunter Reid burns toast and scrambles eggs into rubber, but he tries very hard to impress the woman in his bed.¡± Iughed, the sound bubbling up from some deep ce that had been locked away for months. ¡°Go. Impress me.¡± Official source is f?ndnovel * 52% / 6 He kissed my forehead before rolling out of bed, gloriously naked andpletely unselfconscious. I watched him pull on sweatpants, muscles shifting under skin I had mapped with my tongue hours ago. ¡°Enjoying the view?¡± he asked without turning around. ¡°Awfully.¡± Hisugh followed him out of the room. I stretched in the sheets, still warm from his body heat, letting myself feel something I had forgotten how to feel:plete happiness. Then Caesar¡¯s voice cut through my happiness like a knife. ¡°MAMA! That mean Aunty Jesse is on TV again!¡± Ice flooded my veins. I grabbed Hunter¡¯s shirt from the floor and ran toward the living room, my heart beating against my ribs. Caesar sat cross¨Clegged in front of the television, pointing at the screen with his tiny finger. But it wasn¡¯t Eleanor. It was Jesse. My sister sat in a studio chair looking like she had been crying for hours, her mascara streaked, her hands shaking as she spoke to the camera. ¡°I need everyone to know that I lied,¡± she was saying, her voice deep with shame. ¡°Everything I said about my sister Celine was aplete lie. Someone paid me to destroy her reputation, and I¡­ God, I¡¯m so sorry, Celine. I¡¯m so fucking sorry.¡± The reporter looked scandalized by the swearword. ¡°Can you tell us who paid you?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say their name, but they know who they are. And they should be ashamed of themselves for using family against family like this.¡± Hunter appeared behind me with coffee and burnt toast, his face carefully uninterested. ¡°How long has this been on?¡± I asked, not taking my eyes off the screen. ¡°About twenty minutes. Your mother¡¯s interview airs after this one.¡± I turned to stare at him. ¡°My mother¡¯s what?¡± On cue, the screen switched to show my mother sitting in our old living room, the one with the peeling wallpaper and broken blinds. She looked smaller than I remembered, older, like the effect of her lies had physically aged her overnight. ¡°Celine is my daughter,¡± she said, her ent deep with emotion. ¡°She might not be my real daughter. I had no right to talk about the affair because¡­¡± She broke downpletely. ??52%?? (0 +38 ¡°Because I was jealous. Jealous that she escaped the life I couldn¡¯t. She deserved better than what I gave her, and instead of being proud, I tried to tear her down.¡± The camera zoomed in on her tears. ¡°Mija, if you¡¯re watching this¡­ I love you. I¡¯ve always loved you. And I¡¯m sorry I forgot how to show it.¡± I sank onto the couch next to Caesar, who immediately crawled into myp. ¡°Why is Abu crying, Mama?¡± ¡°Because sometimes grown¨Cups make mistakes, baby. Big ones.¡± Hunter sat on my other side, his arming around both of us. I leaned into his warmth, inhaling the scent of his skin beneath the coffee and smoke smell. ¡°You did this,¡± I said quietly. It wasn¡¯t a question. ¡°They needed to make it right.¡± ¡°How?¡± His smile was harsh enough to cut ss. ¡°I reminded them that family loyalty should flow both ways.¡± I studied his profile¡­.the strong jaw, the way his eyes had gone cold and calcting when he talked about protecting us. This was the man who had built an empire before thirty. The one who could destroy lives with a phone call. The one who had chosen to use that power for me. ¡°Should I ask what kind of reminder?¡± ¡°The kind that ensures they never forget where their loyalties should lie.¡± Caesar wiggled in myp, bored with adult conversation./¡¯Papa, can we make pancakes now? You promised.¡± ¡°I did promise, didn¡¯t I?¡± Hunter ruffled Caesar¡¯s hair. ¡°Go pick out what kind you want. The box is on the counter.¡± Caesar scrambled off myp and ran toward the kitchen, leaving us alone with the soft sound of morning news and my mother¡¯s continuing apology. I turned to face Hunter fully, tucking my legs under me. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me for protecting my family.¡± ¡°Is that what we are? Your family?¡± The question hung in the air between us, loaded with everything we hadn¡¯t said yet. Everything we were both afraid to name in case speaking it out loud made it disappear. Hunter¡¯s hand found mine, his thumb fracing over my knuckles. ¡°Celino, you and Caesar and this baby¡­¡± He ced his other hand on my still¨Ct stomach. ¡°You¡¯re not just my family. You¡¯re my whole world.¡± My throat closed up with emotion, ¡°Hunter¡­¡± 10:53 Sun, 24 Aug 52% 38 ¡°I know you need time. I know I¡¯ve fucked up more than I¡¯ve gotten right. But I need you to know that this¡­us¡­.it¡¯s not temporary for me. It¡¯s not some phase I¡¯m going through.¡± He leaned closer, his forehead resting against mine. ¡°I¡¯m in love with you. Completely, irrevocably, forever kind of in love with you. The kind that changes who you are at the cellr level.¡± Tears I didn¡¯t know I was crying slipped down my cheeks. ¡°I love you too. So much it scares me sometimes.¡± ¡°Good scared or bad scared?¡± I thought about that. About the way loving him felt like standing at the edge of a cliff, knowing the fall could either kill me or teach me how to fly. ¡°Both,¡± I admitted. ¡°But more good than bad.¡± He kissed me then, soft and sweet and full of promises we were both still learning how to make. When we broke apart, Caesar¡¯s voice echoed from the kitchen. ¡°PAPA! I can¡¯t reach the pancake mix!¡± Hunter groaned against my lips. ¡°Duty calls.¡± ¡°Go. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± I watched him walk away, admiring the way his sweatpants hung low on his hips, the flex of his shoulders as he reached to help Caesar. This beautiful, powerful, dangerous man who made pancakes for my son and would burn down the world to keep us safe. I touched my stomach, thinking about the tiny life growing there. Our child would never know what it felt like to be unwanted, unloved, unprotected. They would grow up in a house where love meant action, not just words. ¤· My phone buzzed with a text from Caroline: ¡°Saw the interviews. Hunter¡¯s terrifying when he wants to be. Love you both. Can¡¯t wait to meet my niece and nephew.? Then one from Vincent: ¡°Your boyfriend is officially the most ruthless bastard I¡¯ve ever worked with. It¡¯s hot. Don¡¯t tell Hunter I said that And finally, one from an unknown number: ¡°You won this round. Enjoy it while itsts. Anonymously¡± Eleanor. The happiness in my chest flickered, but didn¡¯t die. Let her y her games. Let her scheme and plot and rage against the walls Hunter had built around us. She had misjudged him once. She wouldn¡¯t make that mistake again. ¡°Mama! Come see! Papa¡¯s making Mickey Mouse pancakes!¡± I deleted the message without responding and headed toward the kitchen, toward the sound ofughter and the smell of coffee 10:53 Sun, 24 Aug and the promise of a million more mornings just like this one. I was done being afraid of happiness. It was time to learn how to fight for it instead. Chapter 90 Legacy 190 Chapter 190 ~MIA¡¯S POV~ The wine ss exploded against the wall in a spray of red liquid and crystal pieces. I stood there in my yellow silk robe, breathing hard, watching Celine¡¯s pathetic family grovel on television. Jesse¡¯s mascara streaked down her cheeks as she begged for forgiveness, while their mother wailed about being jealous and making mistakes. This wasn¡¯t how it was supposed to go. My hair fell in messy waves around my shoulders, the robe slipping off one side as I struggled around my apartment looking for my phone. I found it next to an empty wine bottle on my marble coffee table. Eleanor¡¯s number. I dialed with shaking fingers. Ring. Ring. Ring. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on fin?novel ¡°Pick up,¡± I muttered, pacing back and forth on bare feet. ¡°Pick up, you useless woman.¡± Ring. Ring. Ring. Why wasn¡¯t she answering? Why wasn¡¯t she stopping this disaster? What the hell was that stupid woman doing while her perfect n was crushed to pieces? I screamed, throwing my phone at the wall. It shattered into expensive pieces, the screen going ck forever. Then I crumbled to the floor,ughing like a madwoman. Of course, Eleanor¡¯s n had backfired. Of course, Hunter had figured out she was paying Celine¡¯s family to lie. The man didn¡¯t build an empire by being stupid. I had spent thousands gathering information about Celine¡¯s background, every dirty secret and family drama I could find. I had handed it all to Eleanor on a silver tter, knowing how much she hated that little maid. But seeing them apologize to Celine on national television? This had Hunter¡¯s fingerprints all over it. I grabbed my tablet from the couch, scrolling through thements section with hopeless fingers. The narrative was shifting. Instead of attacking Celine, people were turning on her family. ¡°Greedy monsters doing that to their own daughter.¡± ¡°Poor girl, imagine having a family like that.¡± ¡°Hunter Reid should sue them for emotional distress.¡± I dug my nails into my scalp, pulling at my hair until it hurt. This wasn¡¯t what I wanted. This wasn¡¯t helping me at all. 1/4 I tossed the tablet aside and curled into a ball on my Italian leather couch, mumbling to myself like the crazy person I was bing. ¡°She wins again. She always wins. Why does she always win?¡± My stomach lurched, and I struggled to the bathroom, barely making it before I threw up wine and bile. In the mirror above the sink, my reflection looked like a stranger. Hollow eyes, pale skin, hair like I had been electrocuted. I was Mia ckwood. The girl every man in New York would die to possess. But I only wanted to stand beside one man. The man who had stolen my heart the moment I¡¯did eyes on him at that charity event one year ago. I didn¡¯t just want Hunter Reid. I needed him to beplete. To be whole. The house phone beeped with a message as I dragged myself back to the living room. My mother¡¯s voice filled the apartment, harsh with disappointment. +38 ¡°Mia, what¡¯s going on with you? Your phone is going straight to voicemail. Why didn¡¯t you go on the blind date I arranged with Tech Globe¡¯s vice president? His grandson was very interested.¡± I closed my eyes, letting her voice wash over me like acid rain. ¡°You need toe home. Your father wants to talk to you, and I won¡¯t ept whatever excuse you¡¯ve prepared this time.¡± walked over to the phone and unplugged it. Silence. Finally. I copsed on the couch face¨Cfirst, shutting my eyes and letting myself drift into fantasies that felt more real than my actual life. Hunter in a ck tuxedo, waiting for me at the altar. Hunter smiled as I walked down the aisle in whitece and diamonds. Hunter saying ¡°I do¡± with tears in his eyes because he finally understood we were meant to be together. We would live in his penthouse, and I would let him keep Caesar because the boy was adorable and looked exactly like his father. Hunter would be happy. Hunter would smile at me every morning over coffee, Hunter would be mine. ¡°Hunter would be mine,¡± I mumbled into the couch cushions until sleep took me under I woke up with a splitting headache and yesterday¡¯s makeup smeared across my face. But I still put on my best designer outfit¡­a cream¨Ccolored dress that cost more than most people¡¯s rent¡­.and went to Hunter¡¯s office. Sarah, his secretary, looked up from her desk with that polite smile she dedicated to people she didn¡¯t particrly like but couldn¡¯t ignore. 50% ¡°Ms. ckwood, I¡¯m sorry, but Mr. Reid isn¡¯t expecting you today.¡± I kept my own smile perfectly in ce. ¡°Could you call him? Tell him I¡¯m here about the charity foundation we¡¯re working on together.¡± ¡°Mr. Reid is in an important meeting and can¡¯t take calls right now.¡± My jaw clenched, but I maintained my sweet expression. ¡°Sarah, how long have you worked here?¡± ¡°Two years, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Two years. That¡¯s wonderful.¡± I stepped closer to her desk, adjusting her slightly wrinkled blouse with gentle fingers. ¡°You know what I love about loyal employees? They understand the importance of going above and beyond for the people who matter.¡± 38 Sarah¡¯s eyes widened slightly at the threat wrapped in silk. ¡°Why don¡¯t you be a good girl and try calling Mr. Reid one more time?¡± Sarah reached for her phone, but a voice from behind me made us both freeze. ¡°She said he was in an important meeting.¡± I turned to see Vincent standing there, hands in his pockets, a smirk stered across his annoyingly handsome face. I rolled my eyes and cursed under my breath as he walked toward us. ¡°Vincent,¡± I said with a fake smile. ¡°What a surprise.¡± ¡°Mia.¡± His voice was teasing, amused. ¡°Your fake smiles are getting weaker. I can see right through them now.¡± My face dropped back to its natural state of irritation. No point pretending I was happy to see him. ¡°You seem to have a lot of time on your hands for someone supposedly handling a big charity event,¡± Vincent continued. ¡°Are you jealous that I don¡¯t work myself to the bone like a dog?¡± I shot back. ¡°After all, you need this job as Hunter¡¯s vice president to survive. My family practically owns the event I¡¯m hosting.¡± Vincentughed¡­actuallyughed¡­like I¡¯d told him the funniest joke in the world, ¡°I always found you interesting, Mia. Most people are boring, but you¡¯re like watching a train wreck in slow motion.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t find me interesting. I don¡¯t like you.¡± Vincent ced his hand over his heart in mock devastation. ¡°You wound me, Mia ckwood! And here I thought we could be best buddies.¡± Tignored him and turned back to Sarah ¡°Call Hunter¡± ¡°She wouldn¡¯t want to lose her job by following the wrong orders,¡± Vincent said casually. Sarah looked between us like a deer caught in headlights ¡°What are you doing?¡± I demanded. 3/4 10:58 Sun, 24 Aug ¡°Saving a poor girl¡¯s job.¡± Vincent¡¯s smile was infuriating. ¡°You know what you should do instead? Go hang out with Eleanor.¡± He paused, his grin widening. ¡°Oh wait, you can¡¯t. Eleanor will be out of reach for the next week.¡± My hands clenched into fists. Does he know about Eleanor¡¯s whereabouts? What wasn¡¯t Hunter telling me? I grabbed my designer bag and fixed Sarah with a look that could freeze blood. ¡°Tell Hunter I was here,¡± I said coldly, then brushed past Vincent so hard I hoped it hurt. 50% 38 ¡°Aww, leaving so soon?¡± Vincent called after me as I stalked toward the elevator. ¡°I was hoping we could talk longer. How about a date? You know there are other men on this besides Hunter Reid.¡± Hisughter followed me into the elevator. I flipped him off just as the doors closed, my eyes still ring at him through the reflection in the metal walls. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this humiliation, Vincent,¡± I promised my reflection. ¡°All of you will pay.¡± The elevator descended toward the lobby, carrying me away from Hunter¡¯s office, away from the man I loved, away from everything I wanted and couldn¡¯t have. But I wasn¡¯t giving up. Mia ckwood didn¡¯t give up. I was going to find another way to get to Hunter, even if it meant burning down everything and everyone in my path. Starting with Vincent rke. Legacy 191 Chapter 191 ylist: ¡°Liability¡± by SWIM -MIA¡¯S POV The Reid Oil and Tech building shone brightly like a ss symbol of everything I could not achieve. I walked through the marble lobby in my designer heels, each click echoing my frustration from yesterday¡¯s humiliation with Vincent. Jessica¡¯s office was on the fifteenth floor, far enough from Hunter¡¯s executive level to safe, close enough to feel like torture. I found her hunched over spreadsheets, her auburn hair falling in messy waves her face. She looked up when I knocked, and her expression immediately shifted from skilled politeness to genuine concern. ¡°Jesus, Mia. You look like shit.¡± ¡°Good morning to you too.¡± I slumped into the chair across from her desk, suddenly exhausted by the effort of maintaining my perfect act. ¡°Seriously, when was thest time you slept? Your mother called me asking if I had seen you. She¡¯s worried.¡± I rolled my eyes, epting the coffee Jessica pushed across her desk. The first sip burned ¡°My mother only cares about whether I¡¯ll show up to whatever blind date she¡¯s arranged this Jessicaughed, but there was no funniness in it. ¡°Can you me her? She¡¯s trying to help tongue, but I weed the pain. move on.¡± ¡°Move on from what?¡± ¡°From Hunter.¡± Jessica¡¯s voice went quiet, careful. ¡°Mia, how long are you going to keep obsessing over that man? It¡¯s obvious he doesn¡¯t have any romantic interest in you. He never has.¡± I ignored her words, focusing on the bitter taste of coffee and the way the morning light cut harsh shadows across her office. But Jessica wouldn¡¯t let it go. She never did. ¡°The man is expecting a second child, Mia. He seems serious about the woman he¡¯s with. Really serious.¡± My hand tightened on the coffee cup. ¡°So?¡± ¡°So maybe it¡¯s time to¡­¡­¡± The cup hit her desk with enough force to make Jessica flinch. Coffee sshed across her papers, staining h quarterly reports brown. ¡°Have you met her?¡± I asked quietly. Jessica blinked. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Celine. Have you met Hunter¡¯s little girlfriend?¡± ¡°I¡­ yes. At Caroline¡¯s housewarming party.¡± Jessica grabbed napkins from her drawer, dabbing at the mess I had made. ¡°Why?¡± I leaned forward, my voice dropping to a whisper that felt dangerous even to me. ¡°Does she look suitable to stand beside him? To be the face of the Reid empire?¡± Chapter 191 ¡°I don¡¯t mind if she¡¯s his baby making machine,¡± I continued, the words tasting like poison ¡°Let her pump out his heirs. But she was never meant to be by his side in public. She¡¯s a maid, Jessica. A maid who got lucky! Jessica sighed, abandoning the coffee stained papers. ¡°What are you nning to do? Hunter seems hell¨Cbent on keeping her A smile curved my lips, cold and calcting. ¡°I just need the perfect moment to be alone with him. To remind him what he¡¯s losing ¡°Mia¡­¡­¡± ¡°Caroline!¡± Jessica¡¯s eyes widened, looking over my shoulder. I turned to see Hunter¡¯s cousin walking toward the coffee counter, her blonde hair perfectly styled, her outfit effortlessly chic. She hadn¡¯t noticed us yet, too focused on her phone. ¡°That¡¯s perfect,¡± Jessica murmured. ¡°What?¡± Jessica turned back to me, excitement lighting her features. ¡°Caroline¡¯s bachelorette party is this weekend. She invited me and said I could bring a plus one.¡± My heart stopped, then started again with vicious hope. ¡°Hunter will be there.¡± ¡°Probably not at the bachelorette party itself, but¡­..¡± ¡°But he¡¯ll be involved in the wedding nning. He¡¯ll be around.¡°My mind was spinning as I calcted the possibilities. ¡°Caroline doesn¡¯t like me.¡± ¡°So?¡± I smiled, feeling truly happy for the first time in days. ¡°So I¡¯ll use anybody to get what I want.¡± I leaned closer to Jessica, dropping my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°So who¡¯s your plus one going to be?¡± Jessica¡¯s cheeks flushed pink. ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet.¡± ¡°Perfect. You have now.¡± ~CELINE¡¯S POV~ The Reid mansion looked exactly the same, yet everything felt different. Maybe it was because I wasn¡¯t wearing a maid¡¯s uniform. Maybe it was because Caesar was running ahead of me, shouting with joy instead of hiding behind my legs in fear. Or maybe it was because this time, I belonged here. ¡°Miss Celine!¡± Head maid Sally rushed toward me with tears in her eyes, her arms open wide. ¡°Oh, honey, it¡¯s so good to see you!¡± I let myself be enveloped in her warm embrace, breathing in the familiar scent ofvender and vani that always surrounded her. ¡°I missed you too, Sally.¡± 09:31 TOO 26 AUTT JOM ¡°And your¡± Bally crouched down as Caesar barreled into her arms. ¡°Look how big you¡¯ve gotten, my sweet boy!¡± ¡°Sally) Guess what? I¡¯m gonna have a baby sister or brother!¡± Sally¡¯s eyes went wide, then found mine over Caesar¡¯s head. The joy that spread across her weathered face was like sunshine. ¡°Oh, honey,¡± she whispered. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful news.¡± Behind Sally. I could see Ana and the other staff watching us with expressions ranging from stunned to calcting. They probably never expected me to return here, especially not like this. To be honest, I never expected it either. Thest time I had been in this house, I had run away in the middle of the night with Caesar in my arms. Now I was walking back in as Hunter¡¯s woman, the mother of his children. Not Celine¨Cthe¨Cmaid. Not Celine the gold¨Cdigger. Just Celine. ¡°We¡¯ve prepared everything for your arrival,¡± Sally said, taking Caesar¡¯s hand. ¡°Mr. Reid wanted everything to be perfect.¡± I followed her through the familiar halls, memories flooding with each step. The dining room where Caesar and Hunter had shared pancakes that first morning, before Hunter even knew Caesar was his son. The same table where Eleanor had tried to make me feel small. Hunter had renovated some of the spaces, but the memories remained like ghosts. ¡°This is Caesar¡¯s new room,¡± Sally announced, opening a door to reveal a space that made my breath catch. It was three times the size of his room at the penthouse, with floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows overlooking the garden. Toys and books filled custom¨Cbuilt shelves, and a reading nook had been created by the window with soft cushions and nkets. ¡°Papa made this for me?¡± Caesar whispered, awed. ¡°Your papa wanted you to have everything you could ever want,¡± Sally said softly. We continued down the hall to the master bedroom, and when Sally opened the door, I stopped breathing. The walls were covered with photographs. Not professional portraits or formal pictures, but candid shots of me. Meughing at something Caesar had said. Me sleeping with sunlight across my face. Me cooking in the kitchen, flour in my hair. When had Hunter taken these? How had I not noticed? ¡°He really loves you,¡± Sally said quietly. ¡°I never thought that boy was capable of loving anyone but himself. But seeing how happy he is with Caesar¡­ it gives this old heart hope.¡± Tears burned behind my eyes. ¡°Thank you, Sally.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let you settle in. Dinner will be ready whenever you are.¡± you and After she left, I walked to the window, looking out over the gardens where Caesar was already ying with a ser ball. I pulled out my phone and dialed Hunter¡¯s number. ¡°How¡¯s my girl?¡± His voice was warm honey over the phone. ¡°Overwhelmed,¡± I admitted. ¡°The pictures, Hunter¡­ when did you take all those pictures?¡± 3/5 wisugh was so iniliste vou¡¯re beauido eden you¡¯re not posing, won yourra pute have them. Here at of i ¡°Good. Because that¡¯s just the beginning. We talked for another ten minutes, sweet nothings and promises that inaute my chest ware will contentment When mestly and dis was stun My phone rang again immediately. ¡°Miss me already?¡± I answered without looking. ¡°Only every second,¡± Caroline¡¯s voiceughed through the speaker. ¡°Where are you? We¡¯re going out.¡± ¡°Caroline, I just got back to the mansion. I should¡­¡­¡± ¡°Thirty minutes, Celine. I¡¯m not taking no for an answer.¡± Thirty minutester, I found myself in a cooking ss Caroline had booked, watching her struggle to crack eggs without getting shell chunks es ¡°I thought you said you could cook,¡± Iughed, gently taking the whisk from her hands. ¡°I said I wanted to learn how to cook. There¡¯s a difference.¡± I showed her how to properly separate the whites from the yolks, trying not tough at her look of intense concentration. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? ¡°So Hunter moved you back to the mansion,¡± Caroline said, attempting to follow my technique. ¡°Are you okay with that? I know most of the staff there¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t like me,¡± I finished. ¡°I know. But honestly, I prefer the mansion to the penthouse. It feels more like home.¡± Caroline looked shocked. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Caesar¡¯s happier here. And it¡¯s where we started, you know? Where Hunter and I¡­ figured things out.¡± ¡°Well, if you say so. But if Ana or any of those bitter old bats try anything, you tell me. I¡¯ll have their jobs.¡± Iughed. ¡°Caroline, you can¡¯t fire people for not liking me.¡± ¡°Watch me.¡± We worked inpanionable silence for a while, Caroline slowly improving under my guidance. Finally, she brought up the topic I had been dreading. ¡°So I¡¯ve finally decided where I want to celebrate my bachelorette party.¡± I groaned. ¡°Please tell me you¡¯re not still serious about celebrating in another country.¡± Caroline¡¯s eyes lit up with mischievous joy, and my stomach dropped. ¡°Where?¡± I asked, though I already knew I didn¡¯t want to hear the answer. Caroline¡¯s grin was pure wickedness. ¡°Las Vegas, bestie. We¡¯re going to Las Vegas.¡± Legacy 192 Chapter 192 HUNTER¡¯S POV- The Gulfstream¡¯s engines hummed beneath my feet, but all I could hear was Vincent¡¯s endlessment on everything from the flight attendant¡¯s smile to my alleged sexual frustration. ¡°Six hours,¡± he said, checking his Rolex for the third time in ten minutes. ¡°That¡¯s how long you¡¯ve been separated from Celine. Your left eye is twitching.¡± I didn¡¯t dignify that with a response, focusing instead on the contract spread across myp. contract spread across myp. Numbers blurred together as my mind wandered to Celine, probablyughing with Caroline somewhere over the Pacific. I should have insisted we travel together, bachelorette party traditions be damned. 1 ¡°Seriously though,¡± Vincent continued, obviously immune to my silence, ¡°how are you handling the celibacy? Because your jaw¡¯s been clenched since takeoff, I¡¯m starting to worry about your mrs.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything better to do than psychoanalyze my sex life?¡± ¡°Not really. It¡¯s fascinating research.¡± I looked up from the contract. ¡°Research for what?¡± Vincent¡¯s grin was pure mischief. ¡°Understanding how you managed to lock Eleanor Reid in a mountain fortress. That kind of ruthless decision¨Cmaking requires serious emotional investment.¡± The mention of my mother sent ice through my veins. ¡°She needed time to reconsider her priorities.¡± ¡°Maybe. But you realize you¡¯re making things exponentially worse for Celine, right?¡± My hand stilled on the papers. ¡°Exin.¡± ¡°Eleanor doesn¡¯t strike me as someone who epts defeat gracefully. You¡¯ve essentially dered war on a woman who¡¯s spent thirty years perfecting the art of psychological warfare.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice lost its teasing edge. ¡°I like Celine. Hell, I would take a bullet for that woman after everything she¡¯s endured. But I¡¯m terrified of what happens when your mother gets out.¡± The ne touched down in Vegas with a bump that jolted my stomach. Or maybe that was Vincent¡¯s words settling like lead in my gut. Forty minutester, we stood outside the Begio while a valet took my keys. The source of th?s content is find?novel The desert heat hit like a wall, but it was nothingpared to the cold fury that froze my blood when I saw someone walking out of the hotel¡¯s sliding doors. ncey Morrison. 1/4 1702 Th? 28 Aug Phone pressed to his ear, designer sunsses reflecting the afternoon sun, looking every inch the entitled trust fund baby who had spent months trying to steal my family. ¡°You have got to be fucking kidding me.¡± The words escaped before I could stop them, my hands automatically clenching into fists. Vincent followed my gaze and let out a low whistle. ¡°Well, well. This weekend just became infinitely more interesting ¡°What the hell is he doing here?¡± ¡°Probably the same thing we are. Caroline¡¯s bachelorette party, Frederick¡¯s bachelor weekend.¡± Vincent shouldered his bag with clear amusement. ¡°Family duties and all that.¡± ncey hadn¡¯t noticed us yet, too engrossed in his phone conversation. I could hear pieces of his voice carried on the desert wind: ¡°¡­told you she would be here¡­¡± and ¡°¡­perfect opportunity¡­¡± Every instinct I had inherited from three generations of Reid men screamed danger. ¡°This was nned,¡± I said quietly. ¡°Probably. Bute on Hunter, you always think everything is nned, but even if it is, why would he?¡± I didn¡¯t answer, but we both knew. My mother might be locked away in the mountains, but her influence reached everywhere. And ncey Morrison had always been too eager to please, too willing to be used. ~CELINE¡¯S POV~ The silver dress twinkled like liquid mercury as I turned in front of the full¨Clength mirror in our suite. Caroline had made a great choice¡­..the dress was ssy enough for dinner but bold enough for a night out in Vegas. The fitted bodice grazed over my barely¨Cthere bump, our joy, our miracle, Behind me, Hunter moved around the bedroom like a caged wolf. He had been on edge since we hadnded, his mood darkening with each passing hour. ¡°I still don¡¯t understand why ncey has to be here,¡± he muttered, yanking a ck t¨Cshirt over his head with unnecessary. force. I turned from the mirror, watching him struggle with the simple task of getting dressed. His hair stuck up at odd angles, giving him a messy look that was somehow sexier than his usual perfectly styled appearance. ¡°For the third time, Hunter¡­..ncey is Frederick¡¯s cousin. Family.¡± I picked up the navy leather jacket from our bed, the buttery soft material warm from the afternoon sun streaming through the windows. ¡°He has every right to be here.¡± ¡°Family,¡± Hunter repeated, the word bitter on his tongue. I walked over to him, letting my fingers trail across the hard nes of his chest. His muscles tightened when I touched him, filled with frustration and something darker that I couldn¡¯t identify. ¡°y nice tonight,¡± I murmured, looking up into eyes that burned like blue mes. ¡°This isn¡¯t about you. It¡¯s about Caroline and Frederick.¡± Hunter¡¯s hands found my waist, his grip possessive and desperate. ¡°You¡¯re asking me to ignore every instinct I have.¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you to trust me.¡°I stood on my toes and kissed him. I could taste the mint toothpaste and feel his nervousness. ¡°Can you do that?¡± His forehead pressed against mine, and for a moment, the predator disappeared. In its ce was just Hunter¡­.my Hunter¡­.vulnerable and afraid. ¡°Always,¡± he whispered. My phone buzzed against the dresser, shattering our moment. The screen showed Caroline¡¯s name and a string of party emojis. ¡°She says they¡¯re meeting in her suite for drinks and games before hitting the clubs,¡± I read aloud. Hunter¡¯s face immediately darkened. ¡°Caroline¡¯s idea of games usually involves someone ending up naked or in jail.¡± Iughed despite the tension crackling between us. ¡°Come on, grumpy. It¡¯ll be fun.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what terrifies me.¡± I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the door, checking onest time that we had Caroline¡¯s gift¡­.a custom photo album I had spent weeks putting together. The elevator ride to the penthouse floor felt endless, Hunter¡¯s thumb tracing nervous circles on my palm. Music andughter filtered through Caroline¡¯s door, the sound of a party already in full swing. I smoothed my dress one final time, suddenly nervous about facing a room full of people who still saw me as the maid who had gotten lucky. Hunter must have sensed my hesitation because he squeezed my hand and kissed my temple. ¡°Hey. You belong here. With me. Always.¡± The simple words steadied me more than any pep talk could have. I squeezed back and nodded toward the door. Hunter pressed the doorbell, and we stood there waiting, fingers intertwined, both expecting to see Caroline¡¯s bright smile or maybe ke¡¯s friendly wave. 17:02 Thu 28 Aug Instead, the door swung open to reveal a nightmare wrapped in ck silk. ??? ??????? ???????? ? ???? Mia ckwood stood in the doorway, looking ferocious like a spider in its web. Her dark hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail that highlighted her sharp features. The dress she wore hugged her curves tightly, revealing much more than it covered. But it was her smile that made my blood freeze ¨C perfectly rehearsed, razor¨Csharp, and absolutely triumphant. ¡°Hello,¡± She spoke softly, her voice sweet but sharp. Hunter¡¯s hand tightened on mine so suddenly I almost gasped. I felt rather than saw his entire body go stiff beside me, every muscle coiled for attack or flight. This wasn¡¯t a coincidence. And I hated it, hated that we had walked straight into her trap! ¡°Mia.¡± Hunter¡¯s voice was deadly quiet, the kind of calm that came before volcanic outbursts. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Her smile widened, showing teeth white as fresh snow. ¡°Same thing you are, I imagine. Celebrating love.¡± I could see into the main room of the suite behind her. People I recognized were talking and mingling while holding champagne sses. Their smiles looked predatory. Caroline was nowhere to be seen, but I spotted Vincent near the bar, his expression grim as he caught sight of us. ¡°Where¡¯s Caroline?¡± I asked, proud of how steady my voice sounded. ¡°Oh, she¡¯ll be along shortly. She asked me to y hostess while she finished getting ready.¡± Mia moved to the side and signaled for us to enter. It felt more and more like we were walking into a trap. ¡°Please,e in. The party¡¯s just getting started.¡± As we walked in, I saw Hunter¡¯s reflection in the hallway mirror. He looked furious, but his eyes showed something even more dangerous than anger. This was going to be a very long night. I didn¡¯t think any of us woulde through this without getting hurt. Legacy 193 Chapter 193 -CELINE¡¯S POV- This content belongs to f?ndnovel ke materialized beside me like a guardian angel in fashionable heels, her eyes bright with wine and mischief. ¡°Holy shit, Celine. You look like a weapon in that dress.¡± I tried to smile, but my attention was hooked on the woman across the room. Mia stood in a group of admirers, her tinkling like wind tinkles in a hurricane. When her gaze swept the room andnded on mine, her lips curved into something that might have been a smile if smiles could draw blood. My stomach twisted. ¡°Where¡¯s Caroline?¡± I asked, needing something concrete to focus on. ke rolled her eyes. ¡°Making out with Frederick in some corner. I swear, engaged people lose all sense of hosting etiquette.¡± I tracked Hunter across the room. He stood near the bar with Vincent, but his stance screamed tension. Every few seconds, his eyes would flick toward Mia like a sniper checking his target. ¡°She¡¯s moving,¡± I murmured. ke followed my gaze. ¡°Who¡¯s¡­ oh. The hurricane in ck silk?¡± Mia paddled toward Hunter and Vincent with the kind of confidence that came from never hearing the word ¡®no.¡® My throat closed. ¡°That¡¯s her, isn¡¯t it?¡± ke¡¯s voice had gone quiet, deadly. ¡°The one who thinks she can steal your family.¡± I nodded, unable to speak. ke looked at Mia closely, like a surgeon examining a tumor.¡°She¡¯s beautiful.¡± My heart sank. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Beautiful like a cobra. All shine and hidden fangs.¡± ke grabbed two sses of something pink and alcoholic from a passing server. ¡°Stop letting her y games in your house.¡± ¡°ke¡­.¡± ¡°No.¡± She pressed the ss into my hand and hooked our arms together. ¡°We¡¯re going over there. Now.¡± Before I could protest, she was marching us across the room like we owned it. Which, technically, in Hunter¡¯s world, I suppose I did. 1/4 Mia¡¯s eyes found mine when we were still ten feet away. Her smile sharpened. Game on. -HUNTER¡¯S POV- ¡°Your cousin has questionable taste in friends,¡± Vincent murmured, watching Mia work her way through the crowd like a shark through a school of fish. Caroline would be getting a very pointed conversation about guest list approval. This was supposed to be a celebration, not a battlefield. ¡°She¡¯s trying too hard,¡± Vincent continued. ¡°It¡¯s almost sad. Like watching someone y chess when everyone else is ying poker.¡± Mia reached us before I could respond, her smile bright enough to power the Vegas strip. ¡°Hunter Reid. In the flesh.¡± She stretched out her hand like we were meeting for the first time. ¡°What an unexpected pleasure.¡± ¡°Is it unexpected?¡°Vincent¡¯s voice was smooth but cutting. ¡°Because Jessica mentioned you asked specifically about the guest list.¡± Mia¡¯s mask slipped for just a bit of a second. ¡°Jessica talks too much.¡± ¡°Jessica¡¯s honest. There¡¯s a difference.¡± I watched the exchange like a tennis match, noting how Mia¡¯s jaw tightened when Vincent refused to be charmed. She¡¯d built her whole identity around being irresistible to men. Vincent¡¯s immunity was throwing her off bnce. ¡°Did Caroline invite you directly?¡± I asked, already knowing the answer. ¡°I¡¯m Jessica¡¯s plus¨Cone. Girls¡® trip to Vegas.¡± The lie c¨¢me easily, rehearsed. ¡°Surely you don¡¯t begrudge old friends a little fun?¡± We weren¡¯t friends. We¡¯d never been friends. But calling her out would make me look petty, and she knew it. ¡°Of course not.¡± I smiled the same smile I used in nasty takeover meetings. ¡°I hope you enjoy yourself.¡± Her eyes twinkled like she had won something. ¡°Hope we¡¯re not interrupting the male bonding session.¡± ke¡¯s voice broke the silence and tension in the room. She appeared with Celine attached to her arm, both of them looking like they¡¯d stepped off a magazine cover. My chest loosened when Celine moved into my space. I caught her hand, pulling her against my side where she belonged, torrunting at all,¡± Vincent said smoothly. ¡°We were just discussing unexpected meetings.¡± Mia¡¯s smile turned brittle. ¡°How lovely for you.¡± The quiet that ensued was filled with unstated dangers. ke was the first to speak. ¡°Well, this has been fun, but I see someone I need towork with. Vincent, walk me to the bar?¡± Vincent¡¯s eyes lit with understanding. ¡°My pleasure.¡± They drifted away, leaving Mia standing alone in our coupled orbit. After a moment, she excused herself with wounded dignity. I brushed a strand of hair from Celine¡¯s face, studying her expression. ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just wondering where our hostess disappeared to.¡± ¡°Probably practicing her wedding vows on Frederick.¡± Celineughed, the sound loosening something in my chest. ¡°She¡¯s shameless.¡± The suite door opened, and my mood soured instantly. ncey Morrison entered like he owned the ce, his eyes immediately seeking and finding Celine. His smile when he saw her made me want to break his perfect teeth. Celine smiled back politely¨Cbecause she was kind. She saw the best in people, because she didn¡¯t understand that some smiles were weapons. Before I could do something that would end up on social media, Caroline and Frederick finally made their appearance. Caroline¡¯s lipstick was smudged, Frederick¡¯s hair was rumpled, and they both looked insufferably happy. ¡°There¡¯s my favorite cousin,¡± Caroline called out, making her way over with Frederick in tow. She hugged Celine like they were sisters, then turned to survey my appearance. ¡°Look at you, all cleaned up. I barely recognize you without a scowl.¡± ¡°Funny.¡± I caught Caroline¡¯s elbow. ¡°Frederick, entertain my girlfriend for a moment.¡± I guided Caroline toward the windows, away from curious ears. ¡°Why is Mia ckwood at your party?¡± Caroline¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°Jessica brought her as a plus¨Cone. What was I supposed to do, uninvite her at the door?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hunter.¡± Caroline nced back toward Celine, who wasughing at something Frederick had said. ¡°I¡¯m worried about her. She¡¯s stronger than she knows, but Mia is¡­ she¡¯s dangerous. She ys games most people don¡¯t even realize are happening.¡± I followed Caroline¡¯s gaze to where Mia stood near the champagne fountain, holding court with a group of Frederick¡¯s Chapter 193 friends. As if she felt my attention, she looked up and caught my eye. Her smile was slow, deliberate, predatory She lifted her champagne flute in a mock toast. ¡°She has no shame,¡± Caroline muttered. ¡°What are you going to do about her?¡± Caroline asked quietly. ¡°Because she¡¯s not going to stop. People like Mia don¡¯t know how to quit.¡± I watched Mia for a moment, noticing every small change in her expression and each move she made. She believed she was ying chess, but she had entered a battle she didn¡¯t understand. ¡°I¡¯m going to give her exactly what she wants,¡± I said softly. Caroline¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°What?¡± ¡°She wants me alone. Wants her moment to make her pitch.¡± I smiled, and Caroline actually took a step back. ¡°So I¡¯ll give her that moment. And then I¡¯ll destroy her sopletely she¡¯ll never even think my name again.¡± ¡°Hunter¡­..¡± ¡°Trust me. Some people only understand onenguage.¡± I straightened my leather jacket and turned back toward the party. ¡°And I happen to be fluent.¡± AD Legacy 194 Chapter 194 56% n ~HUNTER¡¯S POV~ ¡°Truth or dare!¡± Caroline announced with the readiness of someone who¡¯d had exactly three sses too many of champagne. ¡°Before we hit the Strip, let¡¯s y a little game.¡± Every instinct I had inherited from three generations of Reid men screamed danger. Nothing good ever came from party games involving alcohol, attractive people, and unresolved sexual pressure. ¡°Caroline,¡± I warned, but she was already arranging people in a circle like we were teenagers at a sleepover. ¡°Come on, cousin. Live a little.¡± She gestured dramatically at the assembled group. ¡°It¡¯ll be fun!¡± Fun. Right. With Mia positioned directly across from us like a sniper in a bell tower, Jessica practically vibrating with nasty glee, and ncey shooting nces at Celine every thirty seconds, this promised to be anything but fun. Vincent settled into the circle with conspicuous delight. ¡°Now this should be interesting.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m afraid of,¡± I muttered, pulling Celine onto myp before anyone could suggest alternative seating arrangements. Her body was tense against mine, every muscle coiled with the same suspicion I felt. The circle included Caroline and Frederick, ke looking amused, three of Frederick¡¯s college friends who¡¯d been eyeing the women all night, Vincent, Mia, Jessica, ncey, someone called Myra who worked with Caroline, and us. Ten people armed with alcohol and bad judgment. ¡°I¡¯ll start!¡± Jessica dered, spinning an empty champagne bottle in the center. Itnded on ke, who chose truth with characteristic confidence. ¡°Who in this room would you most like to kiss?¡± Jessica asked with predatory interest. ke smiled sweetly. ¡°Vincent. He¡¯s got that mysterious bad boy thing going, and I have a weakness for trouble.¡± Vincent preened while Caroline whistled appreciatively. The bottle spun again,nding on one of Frederick¡¯s friends, who chose dare and ended up doing push¨Cups while reciting the alphabet backwards. So far, so harmless. I started to rx. That was my first mistake. The bottle spun again, wobbled, and stopped pointing directly at ncey. My jaw automatically clenched. ¡°Truth or dare?¡± ke asked, still glowing from Vincent¡¯s appreciative grin. 10:45 Fri, 29 Aug R ¡°Truth.¡± ncey¡¯s voice was steady, confident. The voice of a man who thought he held winning cards. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find~novel ¡°If you could date and sleep with anyone in this room, who would it be?¡± 56% 38 The question hung in the air like smoke from a fire. I felt Celine stiffen against me, her breath catching. Around the circle, everyone leaned forward with the same sick fascination people had for car idents. ncey¡¯s eyes found Celine immediately. ¡°That¡¯s easy. Celine Brown. She¡¯s beautiful, intelligent, kind, and real in a way that¡¯s rare in our world.¡± The silence that followed was deafening. I felt Celine¡¯s intake of breath, felt the way her hands trembled slightly where they rested on my arms. ¡°She¡¯s also taken,¡± I said quietly, but my voice carried like a gunshot in the stillness. ncey¡¯s smile showed his confidence, and it was frustrating. ¡°The question was hypothetical, Hunter. Andst I checked, we were ying a game about honesty.¡± Vincent muttered something under his breath that sounded like ¡°this won¡¯t end well,¡± while Caroline.frantically tried to intervene. ¡°Who wants more wine? Food? We should probably¡­¡­¡± ¡°My turn to spin,¡± Mia interrupted smoothly, reaching for the bottle before anyone could protest. It spunzily, catching the light from the chandelier, before settling on its target with surgical uracy Celine. ¡°Truth or dare?¡± Mia¡¯s voice was honey over broken ss. I felt Celine¡¯s pulse spike where my hand rested against her wrist. ¡°Truth,¡± she said quietly. Mia¡¯s smile was bright and terrifying. ¡°Perfect. Since we¡¯re being honest about attractions¡­¡± She paused, letting the pressure build like a maestro conducting an orchestra. ¡°If you weren¡¯t with Hunter, would you consider dating ncey? You two have such lovely chemistry.¡± The question aimed to strike at many targets at once. I felt Celine freeze against me, felt the way her breathing went shallow and quick. The room waited. Even Frederick¡¯s friends had stopped their drunkenmentary, sensing the shift in atmosphere from yful to predatory. Celine was quiet for so long I could hear my own heartbeat. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. ¡°ncey is¡­ he¡¯s a good man. Kind, thoughtful. In another life, maybe¡­¡± She looked down at her hands. ¡°But I¡¯m not in another life. I¡¯m in this one, with Hunter, and that¡¯s where I want to be.¡± It wasn¡¯t enough. The ¡°maybe¡± hit me like acid, burning through every security I thought I¡¯d built. 10:45 Fri, 29 Aug R The idea that she¡¯d considered it, that she could see herself with him, that there was some part of her that found him appealing enough to wonder about. Jessica leaned forward like a shark scenting blood. ¡°That¡¯s so diplomatic, Celine. But the question was would you! consider it? Not should you, not what¡¯s practical, but would you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Celine¡¯s voice cracked slightly. ¡°I suppose¡­ if things were different¡­ yes. I might consider it.¡± The honesty was brutal. Pure. And it destroyed something inside me I hadn¡¯t known was fragile. The bottle spun again, and this time it pointed at me. 56% Vincent looked like he wanted to tackle me, and Caroline was making desperate ¡°stop talking¡± gestures, but I was past caring about diplomacy. ¡°Truth or dare, Hunter?¡± Jessica¡¯s eyes gleamed with anticipation. ¡°Truth.¡± The word came out harder than I¡¯d intended. ¡°Since we¡¯re all being so honest about hypotheticals¡­¡± Jessica¡¯s smile was pure venom. ¡°If you could be with anyone in this room besides Celine, who would it be?¡± It was a trap. Any answer would hurt Celine, would feed into whatever game Mia and Jessica were ying. The smart response would be to deflect, to refuse to answer, to call out the obvious maniption. But Celine¡¯s quiet ¡°maybe¡± was still echoing in my head, and I was bleeding from wounds I couldn¡¯t see. ¡°That¡¯s easy,¡± I heard myself say, the wordsing from some dark ce I usually kept locked away. ¡°Mia ckwood. She¡¯s exactly the kind of woman I was raised to be with. Beautiful, connected, from the right family. Noplications, no baggage, no questions about whether she belongs in my world.¡± The silence that followed was different from before. This wasn¡¯t suspense; this was horror, 38 I felt Celine gopletely still against me, felt the moment her heart broke like it was my own. Vincent was staring at me with undisguised disgust, shaking his head slowly. Caroline looked like I¡¯d pped her. And Mia¡­ Mia looked triumphant. But it was Celine¡¯s face that destroyed me. The way her eyes went wide with shock, then narrow with pain, then empty with the kind of hurt that carved out pieces of your soul and left them bleeding. She stood up slowly, carefully, like someone testing whether they could walk after a car ident. ¡°I think I¡¯ll take that drink Caroline was offering,¡± she said quietly, her voice unnaturally steady. She walked toward the bar without looking back, her spine straight, her head high, every line of her body screaming wounded dignity. 10:45 Fri, 29 Aug R I¡¯d won the game and lost everything that mattered. Vincent leaned over, his voice barely audible. ¡°You¡¯re an idiot.¡± ? .,56% > Caroline was already moving toward Celine, damage control instincts kicking in. Frederick looked confused and slightly horrified. ke was staring at me like I¡¯d revealed myself to be a serial killer. And in the silence that followed, I realized I¡¯d just handed Mia exactly what she wanted: proof that I could be pushed into destroying my own happiness. The game continued around me, but I¡¯d stopped ying. I was too busy watching my world fall apart, one brutal truth at a time. Across the circle, Mia raised her champagne ss in another mock toast. She had won. For now. 1 Legacy 195 Chapter 195 CELINE¡¯S POV- The champagne ss felt like ice against my fingers, but not as cold as Hunter¡¯s words echoing in my mind. ¡°Mia ckwood. She¡¯s exactly the kind of woman I was raised to be with. Beautiful, connected, from the right family. Noplications, no baggage, no questions about whether she belongs in my world.¡± I stood at Caroline¡¯s bar, my back to the circle of people who¡¯d just witnessed my public humiliation, focusing on the mechanical act of breathing. In, out. In, out. Don¡¯t let them see you break. ¡°Celine,¡± Caroline¡¯s voice was soft beside me, filled with gentle concern that made tears threaten. ¡°Honey, he didn¡¯t mean¡­..¡± ¡°Yes, he did.¡± My voice came out steadier than I felt. ¡°He meant every word.¡± I could feel their eyes on me. The entire party had gone quiet, the yful atmosphere destroyed by the brutal honesty Hunter and I had just exchanged. Part of me wanted to run, to grab Caesar from the hotel¡¯s childcare and disappear back to New York. Back to being just Celine Brown, nobody special, nobody¡¯splications. But a bigger part of me was angry. Furiously, devastatingly angry. I¡¯d answered honestly because that¡¯s what the game demanded. Yes, in another life, I might have considered ncey. He was kind, stable, uplicated. He looked at me like I was precious, not like I was a problem to be managed or a secret to be hidden.. But I¡¯d also made it clear that I chose Hunter. That I was choosing Hunter, every day, despite Eleanor Reids and Mia ckwoods¡® constant reminders that I didn¡¯t fit into his world. And his response had been to publicly fantasize about my recement. ¡°The game¡¯s getting out of hand,¡± Frederick said quietly, appearing on my other side. ¡°Maybe we should call it¡­.¡± ¡°No.¡± I turned back toward the circle, my chin lifted in defiance. ¡°I¡¯m not running away.¡± I walked back to the group with measured steps, very aware of how quiet everyone had be. Hunter¡¯s eyes found mine immediately, and the regret I saw there almost made me falter. Almost. But then I saw Mia¡¯s satisfied smirk, Jessica¡¯s barely contained joy, and my will hardened into steel. I didn¡¯t sit back down on Hunter¡¯sp. Instead, I took the empty spot between ke and Vincent, ignoring Hunter¡¯s sharp intake of breath. ¡°Whose turn is it?¡± I asked with weird brightness. Vincent leaned closer, his voice barely audible. ¡°Are you okay?¡± I gave him a smile that hurt my face. ¡°Perfect. Just ying the game.¡± The bottle had somehow found its way to ke, who spun it with obvious hesitation. Itnded on Vincent, who chose truth with the attitude of a man walking toward his execution. ¡°What¡¯s the most romantic thing you¡¯ve ever done for someone?¡± ke asked, her voice gentle, clearly trying to steer the conversation back to safer territory. Vincent¡¯s answer about surprising his ex¨Cgirlfriend with a trip to Paris felt like background noise. I was hyperaware of Hunter¡¯s presence behind me, of the way his hands kept clenching and unclenching on his knees, of how he kept starting to speak then stopping himself. The game continued, but the earlier yfulness was gone. Everyone was walking on eggshells, trying to avoid another explosion. When the bottlended on Caroline, she chose dare and was asked to kiss the person to her left, which happened to be Frederick. Their sweet, giggly kiss felt like a mockery of whatever Hunter and I were destroying. Then Myra spun the bottle, and it pointed directly at me again. ¡°Truth or dare?¡± she asked, her voice carefully neutral. ¡°Dare.¡± I met her eyes steadily. I was done with truths for tonight. Myra looked around the circle nervously, clearly not expecting that response. ¡°I¡­ um¡­ I dare you to¡­¡± ¡°Kiss the person you find most attractive in this circle,¡± Jessica interrupted smoothly, her eyes glittering with malice. The silence was overwhelming. I could feel Hunter¡¯s tension behind me, as if it were a physical force. I sensed that everyone was holding their breath. I looked around the circle slowly, deliberately. My eyes skipped over Mia¡¯s triumphant face, Jessica¡¯s eager expression, passed Hunter without lingering, and settled on ncey. He looked surprised, then hopeful, then concerned as he recognized the hurt driving my decision. The source of th?s content is f¦É¦Ídn¦Ïvel ¡°Celine,¡± Hunter¡¯s voice was rough, desperate. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± I stood up slowly, every movement precise and controlled. ¡°It¡¯s just a game, Hunter. Like you said.¡± I walked over to where ncey sat, my heart pounding so hard I was sure everyone could hear it. He stood to meet me halfway, his hands gentle as they framed my face. ¡°Are you sure?¡± he whispered, and the kindness in his voice almost broke myposure. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. The kiss was soft, gentle, nothing like the desperate passion Hunter and I shared. But it was warm and uplicated and it tasted like an option. Like a different life where I wouldn¡¯t constantly question whether I was enough. When we separated, the room fell silent. I could hear my own heartbeat, could feel the weight of ten pairs of eyes watching my every move. I walked back to my seat without looking at anyone, least of all Hunter. ¡°My turn,¡± I said quietly, reaching for the bottle. It spunzily before settling on one of Frederick¡¯s friends, a guy named Marcus who¡¯d been making increasingly inappropriatements all evening. ¡°Truth or dare, Marcus?¡± He grinned, emboldened by alcohol and the evening¡¯s revtions. ¡°Dare. Give me something good.¡± I smiled, and something in my expression made Vincent shift ufortably beside me. ¡°I dare you to apologize to every woman in this room for the sexistments you¡¯ve been making all night.¡± Marcus¡¯s grin faltered. ¡°Come on, that¡¯s not¡­.¡± ¡°You said ke was ¡®asking for attention¡® with her dress. You told Myra she should smile more. You¡¯ve been undressing every woman here with your eyes and making sure we all know it.¡± My voice was getting harder, colder. ¡°Apologize. Sincerely. Or leave.¡± The room was so quiet you could hear the traffic from the Strip twenty floors below. Marcus looked around for support and found none. Even his friends were avoiding eye contact. He mumbled something that might have been an apology. ¡°Louder,¡± I said pleasantly. ¡°And make eye contact.¡± It took him three tries to get through proper apologies to each of us. By the time he finished, his face was red with embarrassment and anger. Vincent was looking at me with something like respect. ke was grinning outright. Caroline seemed torn between pride and concern. And Hunter¡­ Hunter was staring at me like he¡¯d never seen me before. ¡°Anyone else want to y games?¡± I asked the room atrge. ¡°Because I¡¯m just getting started.¡± Sur, ou AUL Mia cleared her throat delicately. ¡°Maybe we should¡­.¡± ¡°Move on to the clubs?¡± I interrupted. ¡°Oh, I think we should definitely hit the Strip. After all, we¡¯re in Vegas, Sin City, Where people show their true colors.¡± I stood up and smoothed my silver dress, very aware of how it clung to my curves, how the light caught the sequins. For the first time tonight, I felt powerful. Dangerous. ¡°I¡¯m going to dance until my feet bleed,¡± I announced. ¡°I¡¯m going to flirt with strangers and drink expensive champagne and remember what it feels like to be wanted withoutplications.¡± Hunter was on his feet instantly. ¡°Celine¡­.¡± ¡°No.¡± I held up a hand, stopping him mid¨Csentence. ¡°You made your preferences clear, Hunter. So I¡¯m making mine clear too. Tonight, I¡¯m not yourplicated girlfriend with baggage who doesn¡¯t belong in your world. Tonight, I¡¯m just Celine Brown, and I¡¯m going to have the time of my life.¡± I headed for the door without waiting for a response, my heart hammering with adrenaline and hurt and something that felt dangerously like freedom. Behind me, I heard the chaos erupting¨Cmultiple people talking at once, chairs scraping, someone cursing. But I didn¡¯t look back. I was done being the good girl who made things easy for everyone else. Tonight, I was going to be theplication Hunter clearly found so exhausting. And maybe, just maybe, I would discover I liked her better. Ìï Legacy 196 -MIA¡¯S POV- Perfection. 55 vouchers I sat in the circle watching Hunter Reid¡¯s world burn down around him, and it was more beautiful than I¡¯d dared to imagine. When Jessica had suggested the truth or dare game, I knew it was my moment. Not the quiet maniption I¡¯d been nning, not the careful seduction over months¨Cthis was my chance to demolish everything in one stunning explosion. And it had worked beyond my wildest dreams. ¡°Mia ckwood. She¡¯s exactly the kind of woman I was raised to be with.¡± The words were still echoing in the suite, still rippling through the stunned silence like stones thrown into still water. Hunter had just publicly dered me his ideal woman while simultaneously destroying his rtionship with the maid. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. Celine stood at the bar like a broken doll, her spine straight but her hands shaking as she gripped her champagne ss. The silver dress that had made her look radiant when she¡¯d arrived now seemed to highlight how fragile she was, how easily shattered. Poor little Celine Brown. She¡¯d really thought she could y in my league. Caroline was rushing over tofort her, of course. Frederick looked confused and slightly sick. Vincent was ring at Hunter like he wanted to strangle him with his bare hands. And Hunter himself sat frozen in his chair, staring at Celine¡¯s back with the expression of a man who¡¯d just shot himself in the foot. But I wasn¡¯t done yet, When Celine walked back to rejoin the circle¡­admirable spine, really, most women would have run crying¨CI watched her refuse to sit on Hunter¡¯sp. The symbolism was delicious. She chose a spot between ke and Vincent instead, as far from 11:03 pm P Hunter as the circle would allow. The distance between them felt like an abyss I could drive a truck through. 55 vouchers I caught Jessica¡¯s eye and gave her the subtlest of nods. She¡¯d done well with her questions, creating the perfect setup for Hunter¡¯s stupendous self¨Cdestruction. I made a mental note to buy her something expensive as a thank¨Cyou gift. The game continued, but the atmosphere was ruined. Everyone was walking on eggshells, trying to pretend we hadn¡¯t just witnessed a rtionship implode in real time. Even I could feel the tension giving off from Hunter like heat from a fever. Then came the moment that made everything even better. When Celine was dared to kiss the person she found most attractive and chose ncey Morrison, I nearlyughed out loud. The sound she made¨Cthat soft, desperate whimper as she stood up¨Cwas music to my ears. watched Hunter¡¯s face as she walked over to ncey, watched him realize exactly what his cruel honesty had cost him. The way his hands clenched into fists, the way his breath caught when their lips met, the total wreckage in his eyes when she kissed another man with intentional, public intent¨Cit was better han any revenge fantasy I had ever constructed. And when she came back to the circle, transformed from broken doll into avenging angel, I knew I was witnessing something dangerous. She destroyed that pig Marcus with surgical uracy, reducing him to stammering apologies while the rest of us watched in fascination. This wasn¡¯t the scared maid who used to clean Hunter¡¯s Mansion. This was a woman with ws, and she¡¯d just remembered how to use them. ¡°Anyone else want to y games? Because I¡¯m just getting started.¡± The threat was unmistakable. Celine Brown had found her power, and she was pointing it directly at all of us. I should have been worried. This new version of Celine was unpredictable, potentially dangerous to my ns. But instead, I felt a thrill of excitement. Broken toys were boring. A worthy opponent made victory so much sweeter. When she announced her intention to dance and flirt and ¡°remember what it feels like to be wanted withoutplications,¡± I wanted to apud. 11:03 pm PS EX 55 vouchers She was handing me Hunter on a silver tter, gift¨Cwrapped with his own guilt and regret. Hunter jumped up like he¡¯d been electrocuted. ¡°Celine¡­.¡± ¡°No.¡± She cut him off with a hand gesture that would have made a queen proud. ¡°You made your preferences clear, Hunter. So I¡¯m making mine clear too. Tonight, I¡¯m not yourplicated girlfriend with baggage who doesn¡¯t belong in your world. Tonight, I¡¯m just Celine Santos, and I¡¯m going to have the time of my life.¡± Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. She swept out of the suite like a hurricane in designer heels, leaving chaos in her wake. The room red into nervous chatter, people trying to process what they¡¯d just witnessed. Hunter stood frozen for a moment, then started toward the door. Vincent caught his arm. ¡°Let her go,¡± Vincent said quietly. ¡°You¡¯ve done enough damage for one night.¡± ¡°I have to¡­.¡± ¡°You have to leave her alone.¡± ke appeared on Hunter¡¯s other side, her expression murderous. ¡°You just humiliated her in front of everyone and then acted surprised when she fought back.¡± I rose gracefully from my spot in the circle, smoothing my ck dress. ¡°This has been¡­ educational,¡± I said with a smile. ¡°But I think I¡¯ll follow Celine¡¯s example and explore what Vegas has to offer.¡± Hunter¡¯s eyes snapped to me, and for the first time tonight, I let him see exactly what I was thinking. My smile was pure predator. ¡°After all,¡± I continued, ¡°you did say I was exactly your type. Maybe it¡¯s time we explored that¡­patibility.¡± The look of horror that crossed his face was almost insulting. But I¡¯d expected it. Hunter Reid was still clinging to his doomed rtionship, still pretending he hadn¡¯t just revealed his true feelings to a room full of witnesses. That was fine. I was patient. ¡°Mia.¡± His voice was warning, threat, desperation all rolled into one. ¡°Hunter.¡± I moved closer, just close enough that my perfume would reach him, just close enough that he¡¯d have to acknowledge my presence. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on f?ndnovel ¡°You can¡¯t unsay what you said tonight. You can¡¯t take back the truth.¡± I reached out and straightened his leather jacket -a gesture intimate and possessive that made 11:03 pm P several people in the room suck in shocked breaths. 55 vouchers ¡°The question is,¡± I murmured, my voice low enough that only he could hear, ¡°what are you going to do about it?¡± I stepped back, gave the room my most dazzling smile, and headed for the door. ¡°I¡¯ll be at the Chandelier Bar if anyone wants to join me for a real drink.¡± I left them all standing there in the wreckage of Hunter¡¯s rtionship, my heart singing with triumph. Phase one wasplete. Hunter had destroyed his own happiness, with surgical precision, exactly as I¡¯d hoped. Celine was running wild through Vegas, probably about to make some spectacr mistakes that would push Hunter even further away. And I would be waiting, patient and perfect and exactly what he needed, when he finally realized what everyone else could see: we belonged together. The elevator descended toward the lobby, carrying me away from the scene of my victory. In the mirrored walls, I caught sight of my reflection¨Cck dress, perfect hair, eyes bright with satisfaction. Mia ckwood always got what she wanted. And what I wanted was currently upstairs, staring at the door his true love had just walked through, finally understanding that some bridges, once burned, could never be rebuilt. By morning, Hunter Reid would be mine. I was sure of it. Legacy 197 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- 55 vouchers The bass line from the club¡¯s sound system felt like a sledgehammer against my skull, but it was nothingpared to the pounding of regret in my chest. Vincent had dragged me here against my better judgment. ¡°You need to get out of that suite before you do something even stupider,¡± he¡¯d said, practically wrestling me into the elevator. Now I sat in our VIP section, surrounded by Frederick¡¯s bachelor party crew, watching amber liquid spin in my ss while my world fell apart twenty floors above us. Celine was out there somewhere with Caroline, ke, and Mia. The thought of Mia near her while she was hurt and vulnerable made my jaw clench so hard I thought my teeth might crack. ¡®You¡¯re drinking like the world¡¯s ending,¡± Frederick observed, settling into the chair across from me His earlier joy had been reced by concern that made me feel even worse. This was supposed to be his night. ¡®Maybe it is.¡± I drained my whiskey and immediately signaled for another. ¡®It¡¯s guilt eating him alive,¡± ncey said from his spot across the table, his voice carrying just enough satisfaction to make my blood boil. ¡®Can¡¯t say I me him. Those were some pretty harsh words to throw at someone you supposedly ove.¡± Vincent¡¯s ss hit the table with enough force to ssh alcohol onto the white tablecloth. ¡°Shut the hell up, ncey.¡± I¡¯m just saying.¡± ncey raised his hands in mock surrender, but his smile was quick. ¡°Truth hurts sometimes. Personally, I would never say something that cruel to Celine, no matter how jealous I got.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t get to be jealous,¡± Vincent snapped, leaning forward like he was ready to vault over the table. ¡°And just because she kissed you doesn¡¯t give you the right to run your mouth about things you don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Vincent, calm down,¡± Frederick interjected, but his voice had an edge. ¡°And ncey, quit talking. You¡¯re making this worse.¡± 11:04 pm P Iughed. 55 vouchers The sound came out hollow and bitter, nothing like humor. When I looked up at ncey, I let him see exactly what I was thinking. ¡°Savor it,¡± I spoke softly, my words slicing through the sound of the club like a knife. ¡°Savor every second of that kiss, because it¡¯s thest time you¡¯ll ever touch my woman. Next time you try, you six feet under.¡± Updates are released by findnovel I¡¯ll The temperature in our VIP section dropped about twenty degrees. One of Frederick¡¯s friends cleared his throat nervously. Another suddenly became very interested in his phone. Frederick rubbed his face with both hands.. ¡°I hate this atmosphere. Hunter, you messed up with Celine. Badly. But sitting here drinking yourself stupid and making death threats isn¡¯t going to fix it.¡± He stood up, his authority as the groom finally announcing itself. ¡°Get your shit together and go get your woman before it¡¯s toote.¡± put He turned to ncey with ice in his voice. ¡°And you ¨C be a good cousin and help make this bachelor party worth remembering instead of turning it into a funeral.¡± Vincent stood abruptly, pping me hard on the back. ¡°You know what? Frederick¡¯s right. Let¡¯s toast to the groom and stop wallowing in Hunter¡¯s self¨Cinflicted misery.¡± He grabbed his ss and held it high, his voice booming over the music. ¡°To Frederick Tyson Morrison, who has the balls to get married and the sense to choose a woman who actually wants to be with him!¡± The toast was brutal in its meaning, but it worked. The tension broke slightly, nervousughter rippling through our group. Three of Frederick¡¯s college friends, sensing an opportunity to salvage the evening, started calling over some of the club¡¯s hostesses. More drinks appeared. The music seemed to get louder, the lights brighter, the whole scene more desperate. Vincent dropped into the chair next to me as the others got distracted by alcohol and female attention. ¡°You¡¯re an idiot,¡± he said conversationally. ¡°I know.¡± 11:04 pm PS ¡°Aplete, total, unmitigated idiot.¡± ¡°I get it, Vincent.¡± ¡°Do you?¡± He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper only I could hear. 55 vouchers ¡°Because that woman just publicly admitted she might consider dating another man, then immediately rified that she chooses you. She chose you, Hunter. In front of everyone. And your response was to fantasize about her recement.¡± The words hit like physical blows. I closed my eyes, but I could still see Celine¡¯s face when she¡¯d answered that question. The way she¡¯d looked down at her hands, the careful honesty in her voice. ¡°In another life, maybe. But I¡¯m not in another life. I¡¯m in this one, with Hunter, and that¡¯s where I want to be.¡± She¡¯d chosen me. Publicly,pletely, without hesitation about what mattered. And I¡¯d destroyed her for it. ¡®You better have one hell of an apology n ready,¡± Vincent continued. ¡°Because if I were her, I¡¯d be on the next flight back to New York.¡± I pushed back from the table, my head spinning slightly from the alcohol and the realization of how badly I¡¯d screwed up. ¡®I need some air.¡± ¡®Don¡¯t do anything stupid,¡± Vincent called after me, but I was already walking away. The club¡¯s main floor was a maze of bodies and strobing lights. I made my way to the bar, needing water, needing space, needing to figure out how to fix the unfixable. ¡°Hunter.¡± The voice behind me was soft, familiar, andpletely unwee, I turned to find Mia ckwood standing there, her ck dress making her look like a beautiful shadow against the club¡¯s neon chaos. ¡°I thought you might need someone to talk to,¡± she said, moving closer with predatory grace. Iughed, the sound harsh even over the pounding music. ¡°How long have you been hiding those ws, Mia? You must have been thrilled to hear me say that to Celine.¡± For a moment, her mask slipped, and I saw pure satisfaction sh across her features. 11:04 pm PS 55 vouchers ¡°I was,¡± she admitted with startling honesty. ¡°I didn¡¯t even have to do anything. You destroyed your own rtionship all by yourself.¡± She reached out to touch my arm, her fingers soft against my skin. I brushed her hand away like it burned. ¡°You know what you did tonight changes everything,¡± she continued, undeterred. ¡°Celine might not ever trust you again. Some wounds don¡¯t heal, Hunter.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take my chances.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Her voice rose slightly, frustration bleeding through herposure. ¡°Why do you keep fighting what we could have? We¡¯re perfect for each other. Same world, same expectations, same understanding of what it means to have power.¡± I stared at her for a long moment, seeing her clearly for the first time. The calction behind her beauty. The emptiness behind her smile. The way she collected people like trophies. You want to know my mistake tonight?¡± I said quietly. ¡°My mistake was letting jealousy turn me into someone I don¡¯t recognize. Someone cold and cruel and calcting.¡± I stepped closer, close enough that she had to tilt her head back to meet my eyes. ¡®Despite that loaded question you and Jessica orchestrated, Celine still chose me. She told a room full of people that in this life, she was my woman. And I was too busy bleeding from my own insecurities to give her the answer she deserved.¡± Mia¡¯s confident smile wavered. ¡®In this life or any other,¡± I continued, ¡°I would always choose her. Not because she¡¯s convenient or expected or appropriate. Because she¡¯s Celine. Because she makes me better than I am. Because when she looks at me, she doesn¡¯t see Hunter Reid, heir to an empire. She sees someone worth loving.¡± I turned away from her, heading back toward the VIP section. ¡°Hunter, wait¡­.¡± ¡°We¡¯re done here, Mia, We were done before we started.¡± As I walked away, I felt something settle in my chest. Clearness, maybe. Or just the understanding that some choices weren¡¯t really choices at all. I had to find Celine. I had to make this right. 11:04 pm PS 55 vouchers And I had to hope that the woman I¡¯d fallen in love with would give me the chance to prove I was worth forgiving. Even if I wasn¡¯t sure I deserved it. Legacy 198 Chapter 198 -CELINE¡¯S POV- 65% The bass thrummed through my body like a second heartbeat, drowning out the echo of Hunter¡¯s voice that kept trying to surface in my mind. ¡°Mia ckwood. She¡¯s exactly the kind of woman I was raised to be with.¡± I spun away from my current dance partner¨Ca tourist from Ohio who smelled like expensive cologne and desperation¡­and immediately found another. A businessman in his forties with kind eyes and gentle hands who whisperedpliments about my dress, my smile, myugh. I giggled at whatever he said, the sound bright and hollow even to my own ears. The silver sequins on my dress caught the strobing lights, making me feel like a disco ball¨Call surface shine, reflecting everyone else¡¯s energy back at them while staying empty inside. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely stunning,¡± the businessman murmured in my ear as we swayed to the pounding beat. ¡°Your boyfriend is the luckiest man alive.¡± My smile cracked slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t have a boyfriend.¡± It wasn¡¯t technically a lie. After tonight, I wasn¡¯t sure what Hunter and I were anymore. From the corner of my eye, I caught ke watching me from our VIP section, her face tight with concern. Caroline stood beside her, still wearing her bachelorette party sash, looking torn between celebration and intervention. I turned back to my dance partner, pressing closer, letting his hands settle on my waist. He wasn¡¯t Hunter¡­.he didn¡¯t make my pulse race or my knees weak¡­.but he looked at me like I was precious. Like I wanted. Like I belonged exactly where I was. ¡°Beautiful, connected, from the right family. Noplications, no baggage, no questions about whether she belongs in my world.¡± The memory hit like a p, and I¡¯stumbled slightly. The businessman steadied me with gentle concern. ¡°Too much champagne?¡± he asked with a knowing smile. ¡°Something like that.¡± I forced brightness back into my voice. ¡°Dance with me?¡± We moved deeper into the crowd, where the music was louder and the lights more chaotic. Where I could lose myself in the press of bodies and the pulse of sound until I couldn¡¯t think about anything except staying upright. Another song, another partner. This one was younger, closer to my age, with sun¨Cbleached hair and the easy confidence of someone who¡¯d never been told he didn¡¯t belong anywhere. ¡°You¡¯re like a me,¡± he told me, his Australian ent making everything sound like poetry. ¡°Impossible to look away from.¡± Iughed¡­reallyughed this time¡­.and let him spin me around until the room tilted sideways. 09:18 Wed, 3 Sept That¡¯s when ke appeared, cutting through the dancers with the stubbornness of a woman on a mission. ¡°Celine!¡± She had to shout to be heard over the music. ¡°Take a break! You need water!¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± I called back, still moving to the beat. ¡°I¡¯m perfect! I¡¯m having the time of my life!¡± But ke was already grabbing my arm, her grip gentle but insistent. ¡°Come on. The girls are worried.¡± ¡°The girls can worry about themselves!¡± The words came out quicker than I nned, and I saw ke flinch slightly. But she didn¡¯t let go. Instead, she leaned closer, her voice dropping to something only I could hear. ¡°Honey, you¡¯re dancing like you¡¯re running from something. And you can¡¯t outrun heartbreak on a dance floor.¡± The fight went out of me all at once. I let her lead me back to our VIP section, my legs suddenly unsteady beneath me. Caroline was waiting with a bottle of water and eyes full of sympathy that made my throat close up. She still wore her bachelorette sash, but the excitement had dulled to worry. ¡°Here.¡± She pressed the cool bottle into my hands. ¡°Drink.¡± I sank into the plush booth, suddenly aware of how my feet ached in my heels, how my cheeks burned from forced smiles, how empty I felt despite all the attention. Myra leaned forward from across the table, her face carefully uninterested. ¡°Is it okay for you to be dancing like that in your¡­ condition?¡± I arched an eyebrow, taking a long sip of water. ¡°My condition?¡± ¡°You know.¡± She gestured vaguely. ¡°After everything that happened tonight. The stress, the emotions. Maybe you should take it easy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine.¡± I set the bottle down with more force than necessary. ¡°Everyone needs to loosen up. This is supposed to be a celebration, right?¡± I turned to Caroline, injecting false brightness into my voice. ¡°Come dance with me! It¡¯s your bachelorette party! You should be the one out there having fun!¡± Caroline¡¯s smile was sad. ¡°I¡¯m not really feeling it right now.¡± ¡°Because of me?¡± The question slipped out before I could stop it. ¡°Because I¡¯m ruining your night?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Mia¡¯s voice cut through the conversation like a de. I¡¯d almost forgotten she was there, sitting in the corner of our booth like a beautiful spider waiting for flies. Her ck dress made her nearly invisible in the club¡¯s dim lighting, but her smile was sharp enough to cut ss. ¡°You¡¯re acting like this is your moment,¡± she continued, her tone deceptively light. ¡°Give a girl a taste of attention and she thinks she can outshine everyone else.¡± The silence that followed was deafening, even over the club¡¯s pounding music. Caroline¡¯s face went white, then red with fury. ¡°Shut up, Mia.¡± Caroline¡¯s voice was deadly quiet. ¡°Just shut up for once and stop trying to start a fight.¡± ¡°Caroline, it¡¯s okay,¡± I started, but she was already leaning forward, her hands clenched into fists. 09:18 Wed, 3 Sept OD , ¡°No, it¡¯s not okay! She¡¯s been doing this all night, acting like she¡¯s different, like she¡¯s better than everyone else when she¡¯s nothing but a snake!¡± Mia gasped, pressing a hand to her chest in mock surprise. ¡°Caroline! I didn¡¯t expect that kind ofnguage from you.¡± She turned to me, her eyes glittering with malice. ¡°Are you happy now, Celine? You got exactly what you wanted¨Ceveryone fighting over your little drama.¡± I felt something cold settle in my stomach, but before I could respond, Mia was already standing, smoothing her dress with tasteful uracy. ¡°I think I need some air,¡± she said with false sweetness. ¡°This mood is getting a bit¡­ toxic for my She swept away from our table, disappearing into the crowd with the ssiness of a predator who¡¯d already gotten what she came for. The remaining silence was heavy with tension and unspoken words. ke looked like she wanted to throw something. Caroline was still trembling with anger. Myra and the other girls studied their drinks like they contained the secrets of the universe. Finally, Caroline grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the center of the table, her movements quick and decisive. ¡°Okay,¡± she announced loudly. ¡°New n. Anyone who wants to sit here and sulk can join Mia wherever she slithers off to. Anyone who wants to join me on the dance floor and get properly wasted, let¡¯s go.¡± She paused, her eyes finding mine. ¡°Except you, Celine. Sorry, but you can¡¯t drink.¡± The reminder hit like ice water. My hand moved unconsciously to my stomach, to my new world I was still processing, theplication that made everything even moreplicated. ¡°Right,¡± I whispered. ¡°Of course.¡± One by one, the others stood and headed for the dance floor, leaving me alone in the booth with my water and my thoughts. I pulled out my phone, my fingers trembling slightly as I scrolled through my messages. Nothing from Hunter. Not an apology, not an exnation, not even an acknowledgment that he¡¯d destroyed something beautiful tonight. The screen blurred as tears I¡¯d been holding back finally spilled over. I wiped them away angrily, refusing to break down in the middle of a crowded club. Around me, Vegas pulsed with life and possibility. Peopleughed and danced and fell in love and made mistakes they¡¯dugh about tomorrow. The city promised that anything could happen, that reinvention was always possible, that sometimes the best stories started with the worst nights. But all I felt was alone. I was about to put my phone away when a shadow fell across the table. I looked up, expecting to see ke returning with more concerned advice. Instead, I found Hunter. 09:18 Wed, 3 Sept ?? ???? 65%2 +13 He looked terrible¨Chis hair disheveled, his jacket draped on his back, his eyes red¨Crimmed and hopeless. But he was there, in the middle of a crowded club, looking at me like I was the only person in the world. ¡°Celine.¡± His voice was rough, barely audible over the music. I stared at him, my heart hammering against my ribs. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°What I should have done hours ago.¡± He extended his hand, palm up, like an offering. ¡°Come with me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think¡­¡­¡± ¡°Please.¡± The word came out broken, desperate. ¡°Let me try to fix this. Let me show you what I should have said tonight.¡± I looked at his outstretched hand, then back at his face. The face I¡¯d fallen in love with, the eyes that usually saw right through me, the mouth that had just hours ago spoken words that shattered my world. But beneath the hurt and anger and disappointment, there was something else. Hope, maybe. Or just the stubborn refusal to let the best thing in my life slip away without a fight. Slowly, I reached out and took his hand. He pulled me to my feet and led me away from the VIP section, away from the curious stares and whispered conversations, away from everything except the possibility of us. ¡°Where are we going?¡± I asked as we pushed through the crowd toward the exit. Hunter¡¯s grip on my hand tightened, like he was afraid I might disappear. N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find?Novel ¡°Everywhere,¡± he said simply. ¡°I¡¯m going to show you Vegas the way it should be seen. The way you should be treated. The way I should have been treating you all along.¡± As we stepped out into the neon¨Cbright night, I felt something shift inside me. Not forgiveness¨Cthat would take time. But possibility. The chance that maybe, just maybe, this story wasn¡¯t over yet. Maybe it was just beginning. B Legacy 199 Chapter 199 ~CELINE POV- # ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? f?ndnovel The Vegas Strip stretched before us like a river of light, tourists and locals weaving between casinos and street performers. Hunter kept my hand firmly in his as we walked, his thumb tracing circles across my knuckles. ¡°Hungry?¡± he asked, stopping in front of a hot dog cart that looked like it had been there since the seventies. Nblinked at him. ¡°You want to eat street food?¡± 65 13 ¡°I want to do everything with you that I should have done before.¡± He ordered two hot dogs with everything, ignoring the vendor¡¯s shocked face when he pulled out his tinum card for a five¨Cdor purchase. We found a bench near the Begio, and I watched in fascination as Hunter Reid, heir to billions, got mustard on his designer shirt and didn¡¯t care. ¡°This is surreal,¡± I murmured, taking a bite of what was surprisingly the best hot dog I¡¯d ever had. ¡°Good surreal or bad surreal?¡± I studied his face in the fountain lights. The desperate edge from earlier had softened into something warmer, more hopeful. ¡°Good, I think. Different.¡± We walked to Fremont Street, where the LED canopy painted us in shifting colors. Hunter bought me a tacky ¡°I Love Vegas¡± t¨Cshirt and a snow globe with a stic Elvis inside. ¡°Your mother would die if she saw you right now,¡± Iughed, clutching my ridiculous souvenirs. ¡°Good.¡± His smile was fierce. ¡°She¡¯s had enough say in my life. Tonight is about what I want. And I want you.¡± The words should have made me melt, but the memory of his earlier confession still stung. ¡°Even though I¡¯mplicated? Even though I have baggage?¡± Hunter stopped walking so abruptly that I nearly stumbled. He turned to face me, his hands framing my face with desperate gentleness. ¡°Celine, listen to me. What I said tonight¨Cthat wasn¡¯t me. That was fear talking. Fear that maybe you were right to consider someone else, someone easier.¡± ¡°Hunter¡­.¡± ¡°No, let me finish.¡± His eyes were bright with unshed tears. ¡°You chose me tonight. In front of everyone, you chose me. And instead of being grateful, instead of telling you that, in this life or any other I would always choose you back, I tried to hurt you first.¡± The breath caught in my throat. ¡°You were hurt too. The question about ncey¡­..¡± ¡°Was honest. And I should have respected that honesty instead of punishing you for it.¡± He pressed his forehead against mine. ¡°You¡¯re notplicated, Celine. You¡¯re tricky. You¡¯reyered and interesting and real. Mia is simple¨Cbeautiful and empty and forgettable. You¡¯re unforgettable.¡± 09:18 Wed, 3 Sept RD. 3 # We stood there in the middle of the tourist chaos, just breathing each other in. Around us, Vegas hummed with possibility and second chances. ¡°Come with me,¡± Hunter whispered. ¡°I want to show you something.¡± 65% He led me to the High Roller observation wheel, somehow securing us a private cabin that rose slowly above the glittering city. As Vegas spread out below us like a jewelry box, Hunter reached into his jacket pocket. My heart stopped. ¡°I¡¯ve been carrying this around for weeks,¡± he said quietly, pulling out a small ck velvet box. ¡°Waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect n, the perfect everything.¡± ¡°Hunter¡­..¡± +13 ¡°But tonight taught me something. There is no perfect. There¡¯s just us, and what we choose to build together.¡± He dropped to one knee in our slowly ascending cabin, the entire Strip rotating around us like the world¡¯s most expensive backdrop. ¡°Celine Brown, you make me better than I thought I could be. You see past every wall I¡¯ve built and love me anyway. You chose me tonight when you could have walked away, and I want to spend the rest of my life proving that I¡¯ll always choose you back.¡± The ring was stunning¨Ca perfect solitaire that caught the city lights and threw them back like captured stars. But it was his face that made me cry, the vulnerability and hope and desperate love written in every line. ¡°Will you marry me?¡± he whispered. ¡°Not someday, not when it¡¯s convenient or expected or proper. Tonight. Right now. In the most ridiculous, imperfect, absolutely perfect way possible.¡± 1 stared at him, my heart hammering so hard I was sure he could hear it over the cabin¡¯s gentle hum. ¡°You want to get married in Vegas? Tonight?¡± ¡°I want to marry you everywhere, every day, in every way possible. But yeah, I want to start in Vegas. Tonight. Before anything else can go wrong, before anyone else can interfere, before we lose our nerve.¡± The observation wheel reached its peak, the city spread out beneath us like a promise. In the distance, I could see the lights of the wedding chapels, the neon hearts and stic flowers and Elvis impersonators that made Vegas famous for love stories that started with bad decisions and ended with happy endings. ¡°Yes,¡± I whispered, and then louder, ¡°Yes, Hunter Reid. I¡¯ll marry you in Vegas. I¡¯ll marry you anywhere.¡± He slipped the ring onto my finger with shaking hands, then stood to kiss me so thoroughly that I forgot we were suspended two hundred feet above the Strip When we finally broke apart, both breathless and giddy, Hunter was grinning like a teenager who¡¯d just gotten away with something spectacr. ¡°I know just the ce,¡± he said. The Little White Wedding Chapel looked exactly like every Vegas wedding clichee to life. G 3 65% +13 Pink neon hearts blinked in the windows, stic flowers decorated the entrance, and somewhere inside, Elvis was singing ¡°Love Me Tender¡± in a voice that sounded nothing like the King. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± I asked as Hunter paid the chapel fee. ¡°Because this is definitely not what your mother pictured for your wedding.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why it¡¯s perfect.¡± He squeezed my hand. ¡°This is our story, Celine. Not theirs.¡± The chapel provided a simple white veil that clipped into my hair and a bouquet of silk roses that smelled faintly of artificial vani. Hunter pulled off his jacket and only in the t¨Cshirt he wore underneath, looking more rxed than I¡¯d seen him in weeks. Our witnesses were an elderly couple from Nebraska who¡¯d been married fifty¨Cthree years and were renewing their own vows. ¡°You two remind us of us,¡± the woman, Dorothy, said with tears in her eyes. ¡°Young and crazy and so in love it hurts to look at.¡± The Elvis officiant was actually pretty good, his voice warm and genuine as he guided us through vows that were both traditional and uniquely ours. ¡°Do you, Hunter, take Celine to be your wife, to love and honor and choose every single day, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, throughplications and baggage and anything else life throws your way?¡± Hunter¡¯s voice was steady and sure. ¡°I do. I choose her. Always.¡± ¡°And do you, Celine, take Hunter to be your husband, to love and support and believe in, through good times and bad, through fear and doubt and all the ways he might mess up in the future?¡± Iughed through my tears. ¡°I do. I choose him too. Always.¡± The kiss that sealed our marriage was soft and sweet and tasted like promises. The certificate we signed felt like the most important document either of us had ever touched. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen,¡± Elvis announced with a flourish, ¡°I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Reid!¡± We walked out of that tacky little chapel as husband and wife, both giddy with the spontaneity and rightness of it all. The Vegas night felt different now¨Cnot chaotic but magical, full of possibility and new beginnings. ¡°So, Mrs, Reid,¡± Hunter said, stopping to spin me around under a flickering neon sign. ¡°What do you want to do first as a married woman?¡± 1 looked at my new husband¨Cdisheveled and happy and more beautiful than any man had a right to be¨Cand felt my heart overflow with joy. ¡°Everything,¡± I said simply. ¡°I want to do everything with you.¡± And as Vegas pulsed around us with its proinise that anything could happen, that reinvention was always possible, that sometimes the best stories started with the worst nights, I knew we were exactly where we belonged. Together. Finally,pletely, ridiculously together. Legacy 200 -CELINE POV- 55 vouchers The hotel lobby was quieter than usual when we stepped inside, Caesar yawning against Hunter¡¯s shoulder, his little fist rubbing sleep from his eyes. The childcare center attendant smiled as she brought his tiny backpack over. ¡°Big night?¡± she teased, her eyes flicking to my hand. The diamond caught the lobby lights and winked back at her. Hunter¡¯s arm tightened around me, as if even acknowledging the ring might tempt fate. By the time we returned to the suite, Caesar had perked up a little, his natural curiosity winning against his drowsiness. He tugged at my hand as we stepped through the door. ¡°Where did you go? Why are you dressed like that?¡± His big blue eyes darted between
  1. us.
I crouched to his level, brushing his curls back. ¡°We went somewhere special, sweetheart. Daddy and I¡­ we got married tonight.¡± For a moment he just stared, his mouth forming a perfect ¡®O.¡® Then he squealed so loud I thought the chandelier above us might shatter. ¡®You¡¯re my Mommy Reid now? For real?¡± The words hit me like a lightning strike straight to the heart. Tears pricked my eyes, and I nodded, cupping his little cheeks. ¡°For real.¡± Hunter looked down at us, his face unguarded in a way I so rarely saw¨Chis fierce, handled calm stripped away, leaving nothing but love. He knelt beside me, wrapping both Caesar and me into his arms until we were one tangled heap on the hotel carpet. ¡°My family,¡± Hunter whispered, like he couldn¡¯t believe the words belonged to him. Later, we tucked Caesar into the massive hotel bed, his favorite stuffed dinosaur tucked under one arm. Hunter read aloud from the storybook Caesar had insisted on bringing from home, his deep voice gentling with every line. 2:07 pm 55 vouchers I watched them from the doorway, the sight of this man¨Cthis man who carried so much darkness¨Csoftening for a little boy, undoing mepletely. When Caesar¡¯s breaths evened into sleep, Hunter closed the book softly and set it aside. He brushed a kiss against his son¡¯s forehead, staying longer than usual. ¡°Sleep well, buddy,¡± he murmured. I tugged the door almost shut, leaving just enough open for me to peek in if Caesar stirred. When I turned back, Hunter was waiting with two sses¨Cchampagne for himself, water for me. He held mine out, and as I took it, his hand covered mine and then slid, slowly, to rest against my stomach. The world went still. ¡°I couldn¡¯t wait for perfect anymore,¡± he said, voice low, almost hoarse. ¡°I want this. I want you. To love you, raise our children, grow old with you¨Cstarting tonight.¡± The confession stole the breath from my lungs. My ss trembled in my hand until I set it aside on the table, then I reached for him. The first kiss starts gently, almost hesitant, but as my fingers tangle in his shirt, something inside him snaps. His hands frame my face, his mouth nting over mine with a hunger that has been caged too long. Hunter lifts me effortlessly, carrying me toward the bed, the world shrinking until there is only the heat of his body, the way Heys me down like I am something precious. The dim light from the window balcony casts a soft glow on his face, his features etched with a raw intensity that mirrors the storm inside me. His shirtes away between soft gasps and quietughter, the fabric sliding over his shoulders to reveal the hard nes of his chest. My dress follows, slipping down my shoulders, pooling at my waist, as his hands brush over my skin like a vow. ¡°God, Celine, I don¡¯t deserve this,¡± he whispers against my corbone, his breath warm and unsteady. ¡°Don¡¯t deserve you.¡± 2:07 pm 55 vouchers I trace the contours of his back, my fingers lingering on the scars I¡¯ve only glimpsed before. ¡°Yes, you do,¡± I reply firmly, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. ¡°You¡¯re mine now. No more running, Hunter. No more fear.¡± He looks at me then, bare and respectful, as if he¡¯s seeing the rest of his lifeid out before him, burning hotter than any touch. His eyes, dark and infinite, hold mine captive, and in that moment, I know we¡¯re both falling¡ªfalling into something deeper, something neither of us can escape. When his mouth finds mine again, the world dissolves into a symphony of touch and taste. His lips are demanding, his tongue tracing the seam of my mouth with a hunger that leaves me breathless. I wrap my arms around him, pulling him closer, needing to feel the weight of him, the heat of him, against every inch of my skin. His hands move with purpose, mapping the curves of my body like he¡¯s memorizing them. Every brush of his fingers feels like a im, every kiss like a promise. He trails kisses down my neck, his breath hot against my skin, His teeth grazing my shoulder in a way that makes me arch into him, a soft moan escaping my lips. ¡°Hunter,¡± I whisper, my voice thick with need, but he silences me with another kiss, deeper this time, his hands sliding down to cup my hips, pulling me closer still. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find_Novel(. The room spins, the world narrows, until there¡¯s only him, only this, only the way his body moves in sync with mine. He hesitates for a moment, his eyes searching mine, as if asking for permission he doesn¡¯t need. I nod, my fingers threading through his hair, urging him closer. ¡°No more fear,¡± I murmur, and he kisses me again, his touch growing bolder, more desperate. His hands slide down my thighs, his fingers tracing the hem of my dress, pushing it further down until it¡¯s a forgotten heap on the floor. My breath catches as his lips follow, kissing a path down my stomach, his tongue teasing the sensitive skin there. 2:07 pm 55 vouchers I gasp, my hands tangling in his hair, my body arching off the bed as he continues his slow, torturous descent. ¡°Hunter,¡± I breathe, my voice a plea, and he looks up at me, his eyes dark with desire. ¡°Please.¡± He smiles, a wicked glint in his eyes, before his mouth finds me, his tongue tracing patterns that make me shudder and cry out. His hands hold me steady, his touch firm but gentle, as he worships me with a longing that leaves me trembling, my body coiling tighter and tighter until I¡¯m on the edge, teetering, ready to fall. ¡°Hunter,¡± I moan, my voice breaking, but he doesn¡¯t stop, his mouth relentless, his fingers joining in, pushing me further, higher, until I¡¯m screaming his name, my body convulsing as I shatter around him. He kisses his way back up, his lips brushing mine, his breath unsteady. ¡°Your turn,¡± I whisper, my hands pulling him up, my body still buzzing with the aftermath of my release. He hesitates, his eyes flickering with hesitation, but I silence his doubts with a kiss, my hands guiding him, showing him what I need. He follows my lead, his touch hesitant at first, but growing more confident as I moan his name, my body arching into his. The room is filled with the sounds of our desire¨Csoft gasps, whispered pleas, the wet slide of skin on skin. His hands are everywhere, his mouth devouring, his body moving with a rhythm that matches my own. I wrap my legs around him, pulling him closer, needing to feel him, all of him, against
  1. me.
¡°Celine,¡± he groans, his voice thick with need, and I smile, my hands guiding him, showing him where I need him most. He enters me slowly, his eyes locked on mine, his face a mix of awe and desperation. ¡°No more fear,¡± I whisper, my hands on his hips, urging him deeper. He moves with a beat that¡¯s both tender and fierce, his body driving into mine with a 2:07 pm 55 vouchers hunger that matches my own. The bed creaks beneath us, the world narrows to the feel of him, the heat of him, the way he fills mepletely. ¡°Hunter¡­..,¡± I cry out, my nails digging into his back, my body tightening around him as I spiral toward the edge again. He follows, his movements growing more urgent, his breathing in ragged gasps as he whispers my name, his voice a raw, desperate plea. And then we¡¯re falling, together, our bodies moving in perfect sync as we shatter, our cries mingling in the dimly lit room. He copses on top of me, his weight afort, his heart pounding against mine as we lie there, breathless. He brushes a strand of hair from my face, his voice steady but filled with wonder. ¡°You were right, Celine. No more fear.¡± I smile, my hand resting on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart, knowing this is the final chapter, a closure that brings us both peace and a future together. ¡°No more running,¡± I whisper, and he kisses me, soft and slow, his lips sealing the vow we¡¯ve both made. After, wey tangled together, skin still slick with heat, the city lights spilling across us through the curtains. Hunter¡¯s arm was heavy around me, his hand again resting against my stomach. ¡°Mrs. Reid,¡± he murmured into my hair, as if testing how the name felt in his mouth. I smiled into his chest. ¡°Mr. Reid.¡± For once, there were no shadows, no storms, no threats waiting at the edges. There was only us¨CHunter, Celine, and Caesar. A family. An Comment ourse AD Send gift Legacy 201 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- {PLAYLIST SUGGESTION: ¡°YUKON¡± by Justin Bieber} 55 vouchers The first thing I registered when I woke wasn¡¯t the re of the Vegas sun filtering through the curtains. It was her. Celine, stretched out across my chest, her hair a dark spill of silk, the weight of her ring hand pressed against me like an anchor. For a moment, I let myself do something I rarely allowed: ¡®breathe.¡¯ No meetings. No responsibilities. No shadows. Just the steady rhythm of her breath, the faint scent of champagne and hotel sheets, and the quiet certainty that for once in my life, I hadn¡¯t let something good slip through my hands. I traced my thumb over her ring, the diamond catching slivers of morning light. She stirred, blinking awake, hershes brushing my skin. ¡°Morning, Mrs. Reid,¡± I murmured. Her lips curved into a sleepy smile that damn near knocked me t. ¡°Morning, Mr. Reid.¡± God, if I could freeze this moment, I would. We ordered breakfast in bed¨Ccroissants, fruit, eggs, coffee. Celine teased me for attempting to butter her toast like some lovesick idiot, but sheughed, her eyes glowing with something I didn¡¯t think I deserved but was selfish enough to take anyway. She admired her ring again and again, as if it might disappear. Each time, she nced up at me with disbelief, as if still trying to reconcile the man she thought I was with the one who had dragged her into a Vegas chapel and made her his wife. ¡°You¡¯re staring,¡± she whispered after a while, cheeks warming under my gaze. ¡°Get used to it,¡± I said simply. And then¨Cbecause fate has a twisted sense of humor- the world intruded. My phone, abandoned on the nightstand, started buzzing like a ho¡¯s nest. Then 2:07 pm Celine¡¯s did. Then the suite phone rang. I ignored them. At first. Until Vincent¡¯s name lit up my screen with the kind of persistence only he could manage. I answered with a growl. ¡°This better be life or death.¡± 55 vouchers Hisugh crackled down the line. ¡°Oh, it is. For your reputation, at least. Congrattions, lover boy¡ªyou¡¯re trending worldwide. #ReidWedding is the number- one topic on Twitter. And before you ask, yes, the tabloids already got their ws on it. Check your feed.¡± I ended the call without a word, jaw tight. My thumb flicked open a news alert. FRONT PAGE: BILLIONAIRE HUNTER REID MARRIES EX¨CMAID IN VEGAS!¡® Beneath the headline were grainy paparazzi shots of us outside the chapel. Celine¡¯s veil slipping sideways, my shirt rumpled, herugh frozen mid¨Cmotion. ¡®Cheap. Sensational. Dangerous.¡® I scrolled. ¡°Who is Celine Brown?¡± one article red. They spected about her past, dredged up half¨Ctruths and t¨Cout lies. Some pieces called her a ¡°Cindere story,¡± others whispered ¡°gold¨Cdigger.¡± The ugliest ones mentioned Caesar¨Cmy son¨Cwith a lurid knick¨Cknack. ¡°Secret child,¡± the headline read. My vision tunneled. I set the phone down with more force than necessary, and Celine flinched at the sound. Her eyes scanned my face, searching. ¡°What happened?¡± I swallowed hard, forcing my rage into words. ¡°They know. Aboutst night. About us. About this whole trip.¡± Her face went pale, her hand trembling as she reached for her phone. I caught it before she could see. ¡°No.¡± My voice was sharp. Final. ¡°You don¡¯t need to read this.¡± 2:08 pm This content belongs to Find[F]ovel ¡°But Hunter¡­..¡± 55 vouchers ¡°They¡¯ll twist everything, Celine. They¡¯ll take what we have, what we built, and drag it through the mud. And I¡¯ll be damned if I let them do that to you. Or him.¡± Her lip trembled, but she straightened her shoulders. ¡°I can handle whispers about me. But Caesar¡­..¡± That was it. The breaking point. I cupped her face, tilting it until she couldn¡¯t look anywhere but at me. ¡°Listen to me. Let theme. Let them write. Let them dig. I¡¯ll burn down anyone who touches you or Caesar. I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s the media, the shareholders, or half the goddamn world. You¡¯re mine. He¡¯s mine. That¡¯s all that matters.¡± Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She pressed her forehead to mine, whispering, ¡®I don¡¯t want you to fight every battle for me.¡± ¡®Toote,¡± I said softly. ¡°This is the only war I¡¯ve ever wanted to win.¡± We sat in the wreckage of our fragile bubble, phones buzzing endlessly, the city outside roaring obliviously. Celine¡¯s hands twisted in herp, her gaze darting to the ring again as though drawing strength from its weight. ¡®I knew this would happen,¡± she admitted, her voice breaking. ¡°Part of me always knew. But I thought maybe¡­ maybe we¡¯d have time. Just a little time before they tore it apart.¡± Her honesty cut me deeper than the tabloids ever could. I pulled her onto myp, holding her close. ¡°Then we¡¯ll make time. They can try to ruin us, but they don¡¯t get to touch what happens in this room. They don¡¯t get to touch what¡¯s ours.¡± She breathed out shakily, then nodded. Slowly, like she believed me. The suite door mmed open without warning. ¡°Jesus Christ,¡± Vincent announced, striding in like he owned the ce. He looked from the half¨Ceaten breakfast tray to Celine perched in myp, then at the ring glittering on her hand. 2:08 pm EZ 55 vouchers ¡°Well, well, well. I leave you alone for one night, and you two manage to break the inte. Congrats, newlyweds. Vegas weddings are cute until yourst name is Reid.¡± Celine stiffened, color rising to her cheeks. I red. ¡°Do you knock?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± He grabbed a croissant off the tray and bit into it like it belonged to him. ¡°Too busy watching the live feed of you trending worldwide. Oh, and by the way¨CEleanor¡¯s PR team? Already scrambling. The board? Furious. Investors? Panicking. You¡¯re wee for the update.¡± He smirked at Celine, who looked like she wanted to sink into the floor. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sweetheart. This¡¯ll all blow over in a week. Or a year. Depends on how many skeletons you¡¯ve got hiding in that maid closet of yours.¡± ¡°Vincent,¡± I warned, my voice dropping into lethal territory. He threw his hands up in mock surrender. ¡°Kidding. Rx. Sort of.¡± Then he leaned against the wall, watching us with too much amusement for my liking. ¡°You two better brace yourselves. The honeymoon phase?¡± He pointed toward the window, where cameras already shed from the street below. ¡°It¡¯s officially over.¡± **** Celine looked at me, her eyes wide and uncertain, and I knew she was thinking exactly what I was: ¡°The world had found us.¡¯ And it wasn¡¯t going to let go easily. Legacy 202 -CELINE¡¯S POV- The restaurant pulsed with thatte¨Cnight Vegas hum. Dim lighting cast everything in gold. Low music mixed with the smell of expensive food and perfume. Floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows looked out over the Strip Club, neon lights twinkling like fireflies against desert darkness. Caroline had insisted on this spot. ¡°Semi¨Cprivate but still fabulous,¡± she had said. She wasn¡¯t wrong. The booths gave us privacy without hiding us from the Strip¡¯s energy. The girls buzzed with champagne andughter. Their voices rose in bursts, echoing across the room like we had brought our own party. ke leaned back with her martini, watching me with narrowed eyes and a grin she couldn¡¯t suppress. Caroline kept stealing nces at my hand. At the ring. Her jaw dropped every few seconds like she couldn¡¯t believe it was real. Myra sat quiet but smiling, fingersced in herp. Jessica scrolled through her phone, expression halfway between boredom and curiosity. And then there was Mia. Across from me, silent. Her wine untouched, her eyes sharp. A cobra in silk. For the first few minutes, I let myself enjoy it. ¡°Holy hell, Celine,¡± Caroline burst out, grabbing my hand for the tenth time that night. The diamond caught the chandelier light, scattering prisms across the table. ¡°I cannot believe you did this. You! My cousin¡¯s grumpy face somehow softened long enough to marry someone before me? On my bachelorette night!¡± The table erupted intoughter. Even I had to bite back a giggle at her outrage. ¡°I didn¡¯t n it!¡± I protested, cheeks heating as I pulled my hand back gently. ¡°If you think I wanted to steal your thunder¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even¡± Caroline waved me off dramatically, nearly knocking over her champagne flute. ¡°This is the best plot twist I could have asked for. It¡¯s like reality TV except it¡¯s my real life. Honestly, I feel robbed you didn¡¯t at least KaceTime me from the chapel.¡± ke snorted into her drink. ¡°You would have shown up with pom¨Cpoms¡± ¡°Exactly¡± Caroline leaned bark, smug. ¡°Do you know how many bets were ced on who¡¯d marry first? I lost money on this, Celine Money!¡± ¡°Should I feel guilty?¡± I teased, sipping my mocktail. ¡°Yes,¡± Caroline said without hesitation, but then her expression softened. ¡°But also, you look so happy it makes me want to scream. So I¡¯ll forgive you. For now.¡± ke leaned forward, eyes narrowed in fake irritation. ¡°You know what I can¡¯t forgive? The fact that you had me worried sickst night. I thought you¡¯d run off to cry or plot revenge or something dramatic, but no. You were too busy saying ¡®I do.¡°¡± The table chuckled. ke smirked, flicking her hair back. ¡°Next time, a text would be nice. Something simple. ¡®Hey ke, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m just casually eloping with Vegas¡® most emotionally constipated billionaire. Be right back.¡± Laughter bubbled from me before I could stop it. ¡°You make it sound so easy.¡± ¡°Because it is.¡± ke leaned in conspiratorially. ¡°You¡¯re either stupid or brilliant. And since you¡¯re smiling right now, I¡¯m leaning brilliant.¡± Caroline raised her ss. ¡°Brilliant. Definitely.¡± Our sses clinked. Mocktail, champagne, martini. The warmth of it seeped into me. Then Myra surprised me. She leaned forward, her voice softer than the teasing energy around us. ¡°Congrattions, Celine. Truly.¡± All eyes turned toward her. Myra wasn¡¯t known for vulnerability. She usually yed quiet observer, slipping inments that were more reasonable than emotional. ¡°You deserve this,¡± she continued, earnest. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the way Hunter looks at you, even when he thinks no one notices. And I¡¯ve seen the way you¡¯ve handled everything. With Caesar, with the press, with all of it. You¡¯ve been stronger than most people could manage.¡± Heat prickled behind my eyes. ¡°Thank you, Myra.¡± She smiled faintly, a rare softness that made me wonder what pieces of her own life she was revealing without saying the words. Caroline squeezed my hand. ¡°See? Even Myra approves, and she doesn¡¯t approve of anything Moreughter, more warmth For a fleeting second, I believed we were untouchable Then Mia moved. One second she was still, sipping silence like a toxin. The nest, she was on her feet, reaching across the table and seizing my hand so suddenly I gasped ¡°Let me see it,¡± she said, her voice cutting through theughter. Her fingers mped around mine, digging into bone. Pain shot through my wrist. ¡°Mia¨Couch!¡± The sound escaped before I could stop it. Instantly, ke was up, her chair screeching against the floor. ¡°Hey! What the hell is your problem?¡± Caroline bristled, eyes choking as she yanked at Mia¡¯s grip. ¡°Let her go.¡± Original content can be found at F¦Énd£Îovel Mia didn¡¯t flinch. Her gaze was locked on the diamond, her lips curled in something between disbelief and rage. ¡°This is a joke,¡± she spat. ¡°This¡­.¡± she held my hand higher, like evidence ¡°¡­ is a joke. Hunter Reid doesn¡¯t marry women like you.¡± My chest tightened. The words weren¡¯t new, but the malice in them pierced deeper in front of witnesses. ¡°Mia.¡± Jessica¡¯s voice wavered, her hand tugging at Mia¡¯s arm. ¡°Let it go, okay? Just let it¡­..¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me,¡± Mia snapped, jerking away. Silence fell over the table. Diners at nearby tables turned to look. My pulse roared in my ears. Finally, Mia dropped my hand like it burned her. My skin throbbed where her nails had pressed crescents. Her eyes flicked up, zing. ¡°Enjoy it while itsts, Celine. Because girls like you? They never keep men like him.¡± With that, she spun on her heel and stormed out, heels striking sharp against the polished floor. Jessica scrambled to follow, throwing a helpless nce over her shoulder before disappearing after her friend. For a moment, no one breathed. Then ke breathed out a quickugh, incredulous. ¡°What the hell is wrong with her?¡± ¡°Everything I muttered, rubbing my wrist. Caroline scowled, fury radiating from her in waves. Ignore her. She¡¯s just bitter Bitter and petry anpletely unable to let anyone else be happy tone She leaned closer, her toor firm ¡°Don¡¯t let her get into your head, Celine. Not tonight. Not who y glowing like dis Ike smirked, softer this time. ¡°Yeah. Don¡¯t waste another thighs on her tioneath, she when it had Bail your spine! Warmth wrapped around me like armor Caroline, bls shield agained the meanness Mis tud Big For the first timur all night, I didn¡¯t feel like the derde table: 11 the Ikelsenk Dinner continued, lighter, the shades of Mia¡¯s tantrum fading beneath moreughter and teasing. But the ache in my wrist stayed, a reminder of her ws. And the war she wasn¡¯t finished fighting. As I traced the diamond ring on my finger under the tablecloth, I realized something thoughtful and certain: She could rage. She could storm. She could poison every room she entered. But she couldn¡¯t touch this. Hunter had chosen me. I had chosen him. And no amount of bitterness could take that away. Q Legacy 203 No Ads -HUNTER¡¯S POV- The pool hall smelled of whiskey and smoke, that particr Vegas brand of sin disguised as rxation. Neon signs buzzed overhead, casting blue and red glows across worn felt tables. The sound of balls cracking echoed, mingling with low hums of drunkenughter. Caesar sat at the corner booth, legs swinging as he munched on a mountain of fries and sipped apple juice from a stic cup. Every so often, he would p when someone sank a ball, like this was the grandest show on earth. I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off him. My son. My boy. Watching himugh in a room full of men and smoke should have unsettled me. Instead, it grounded me. Like he belonged here, tucked under my protection even in the roughest ces. ¡°Of all people, you beat me to the altar?¡± Frederick¡¯s booming voice cut across the table. He pped me hard on the shoulder, nearly spilling my drink. ¡°On my bachelor weekend? You¡¯re insane, Reid.¡± The others roared withughter. I smirked, taking a slow sip of bourbon. ¡°Guess I was done waiting for perfect timing.¡± Frederick shook his head in mock disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re certifiable. But hell¨Ccongrattions, man.¡± The sincerity in his eyes almost undid me. I nodded, voice low. ¡°Thanks.¡± Vincent was leaning on his cue stick, grinning like a wolf, clearly three drinks past his limit. ¡°Hunter Reid,¡± he drawled. ¡°Still figuring his way out of a woman¡¯s legs, and suddenly he¡¯s a husband. What¡¯s next, PTA meetings?¡± The men snorted. My jaw tightened instantly. Caesar¡¯s head lifted, curious eyes trained on us. I shot Vincent a re sharp enough to slice ss. Vincent¡¯s grin only widened¨Cuntil Caesar piped up. ¡°Daddy¡­ what¡¯s a woman¡¯s between?¡± The world stopped. I choked on my drink, coughing so hard bourbon burned up my nose. The table erupted in howlingughter. Frederick nearly fell off his stool. Even ncey cracked a rare grin ¡°Christ, I muttered under my breath, setting my ss down before I dropped it. ¡°Vincent.¡± 55 vouchers Vincent held his hands up, stillughing. ¡°Rx, rx, I¡¯ll fix it.¡± He turned to Caesar, who blinked at him expectantly. ¡°Uh¡­ it¡¯s¡­ like¡­ where¡­ babiese from?¡± Theughter tripled. My re could have killed him on the spot. ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± I hissed. Caesar tilted his head. ¡°Where babiese from? Like Mommy¡¯s belly?¡± Vincent went red, stammering. ¡°Yeah¨Cuh¨Csomething like¡­..¡± ncey saved him, stepping in smoothly, cue resting over his shoulder like he¡¯d been waiting for this exact moment. ¡°It¡¯s like a treasure chest, Caesar. Special, locked, and only talked about by pirates.¡± Caesar¡¯s eyes widened. His little hands pped the table in delight. ¡°Pirates?!¡± The room broke into another fit ofughter, lighter this time. Caesar was glowing, giggling to himself as if he¡¯d just learned a great secret. I exhaled, shaking my head. ¡°Thanks,¡± I muttered to ncey. He shrugged. ¡°Couldn¡¯t let Vincent destroy your kid¡¯s brain cells before kindergarten.¡± Vincent raised his ss in mock salute. ¡°You¡¯re wee for the entertainment.¡± I ignored him, ruffling Caesar¡¯s hair instead. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to Uncle Vincent. Ever.¡± ¡°Okay, Daddy.¡± Caesar stuffed another fry in his mouth, content. The night softened after that. The game continued, balls cracking across green felt whileughter ebbed and flowed like a tide. Caesar dozed eventually, curled against the booth, his juice straw still in his mouth. I leaned against the pool table, watching him sleep, and for once felt the kind of peace I hadn¡¯t known in years. Newest update provided by ¡°Hunter¡± ncey¡¯s voice pulled me back. He stood across the table, cue in hand, eyes steady ¡°All jokes aside,¡± he said quietly, ¡°you did the right thing.¡± I studied him, waiting. ¡°Celine¡¯s¡­ rare. His tone was careful, but sincere. ¡°She¡¯s not like the women we grew up with, not like the ones who circle us now. She¡¯s solid. Real. You¡¯d be a fool not to hold on to her Something in my chest clenched. I nodded once. ¡®I know. Trust me¨CI know.¡± ncey smiled faintly and lined up his next shot. ¡°Then you¡¯re a lucky man, Reid¡± The click of the cue ball was the only sound between us for a moment. Then the door mmed open. Theughter cut off instantly. Mia strode inside, heels striking like gunshots, eyes zing wild. Her hair was a tangled mess, her chest rising and falling with sharp breaths. Mascara streaked down her cheeks like war paint. Every man in the room froze. My body reacted before my brain did¡ªI stepped in front of Caesar, who stirred at the noise, my hand braced against the booth. ¡°Mia,¡± I said, my voice like ice. Her gazended on me¨Cand then on the sleeping child behind me. Something dangerous flickered in her expression. Something that made every instinct I had scream a warning. She looked unhinged. Broken. Like a beautiful thing that had finally shatteredpletely. ¡°There you are,¡± she breathed, taking a step forward. ¡°Hunter Reid. The happy groom.¡± The sarcasm in her voice was stuffy enough to choke on. Vincent straightened, his hand moving subtly toward the pool cue. Frederick stepped closer, forming a cold wall between her and Caesar. ¡°What do you want, Mia?¡± I kept my voice level, controlled. Sheughed, the sound sharp and bitter. ¡°What do I want? I want to understand how this happened. How you went from telling me I was exactly your type to marrying her in some tacky chapel.¡± ¡°You need to leave.¡± ¡°Do I?¡± She took another step, and I saw the tremor in her hands, the way her pupils were dted. She¡¯d been drinking. Or worse. ¡°Because I think we need to talk, Hunter. About what you said to mest night.¡± Every muscle in my body tensed. Caesar stirred behind me, and I prayed he wouldn¡¯t wake up. Not for this. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there?¡± Her voice rose, cracking. ¡°You told me I was perfect for you. You said I was exactly what you needed. And then¡­..¡± She gestured wildly, nearly losing her bnce. ¡°Then you married that little nobody. That maid.¡± The insult hit like a match to gasoline. My vision narrowed to a pinpoint, rage flooding my system so fast l could taste copper. ¡°Watch. Your, Mouth The words came out deadly quiet, but they carried across the room like a threat. Mia actually took a step back. eyes widening slightly. 9:49 Fri, Sep 5 94 The click of the cue ball was the only sound between us for a moment. Then the door mmed open. Theughter cut off instantly. 55 vouchers Mia strode inside, heels striking like gunshots, eyes zing wild. Her hair was a tangled mess, her chest rising and falling with sharp breaths. Mascara streaked down her cheeks like war paint. Every man in the room froze. My body reacted before my brain did¨CI stepped in front of Caesar, who stirred at the noise, my hand braced against the booth. ¡°Mia,¡± I said, my voice like ice. Her gazended on me¡ªand then on the sleeping child behind me. Something dangerous flickered in her expression. Something that made every instinct I had scream a warning. She looked unhinged. Broken. Like a beautiful thing that had finally shatteredpletely. ¡°There you are,¡± she breathed, taking a step forward. ¡°Hunter Reid. The happy groom.¡± The sarcasm in her voice was stuffy enough to choke on. Vincent straightened, his hand moving subtly toward the pool cue. Frederick stepped closer, forming a cold wall between her and Caesar. ¡°What do you want, Mia?¡± I kept my voice level, controlled. Sheughed, the sound sharp and bitter. ¡°What do I want? I want to understand how this happened. How you went from telling me I was exactly your type to marrying her in some tacky chapel.¡± ¡°You need to leave.¡± ¡°Do I?¡± She took another step, and I saw the tremor in her hands, the way her pupils were dted. She¡¯d been drinking. Or worse. ¡°Because I think we need to talk, Hunter. About what you said to mest night.¡± Every muscle in my body tensed. Caesar stirred behind me, and I prayed he wouldn¡¯t wake up. Not for this. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there?¡± Her voice rose, cracking. ¡°You told me I was perfect for you. You said I was exactly what you needed. And then She gestured wildly, nearly losing her bnce. ¡°Then you married that linle nobody. That maid.¡± The insult hit like a match to gasoline. My vision narrowed to a pinpoint, rage flooching my system so fast, I could taste copper. ¡°Watch. Your Mouth¡± The words came out deadly quiet, but they carried across the room like a threat Mia actually took a step back, eyes widening slightly. 9:49 Fri, Sep 5 55 voucher But then she snapped back, that twisted smile returning. ¡°Or what? You¡¯ll divorce her? We both know that¡¯s inevitable anyway.¡± ¡°Get out.¡± I moved forward, not caring that she was a woman, not caring about anything except getting her away from my son. ¡°Now.¡± ¡°Hunter¡­..¡± Vincent started, but I held up a hand. 94 Mia¡¯s eyes flicked to Caesar again, and something cold settled in my stomach. The way she was looking at him -like he was a problem to be solved. ¡°He¡¯s beautiful,¡± she said softly. ¡°Your son. It¡¯s a shame he¡¯ll have to grow up with all this¡­ instability. Divorced parents, scandal, his father¡¯s reputation in ruins.¡± The threat was subtle but unmistakable. I felt something dark and primal rise in my chest, something that had nothing to do with sophistication or restraint. ¡°If you ever¨Cand I mean ever¨Cthreaten my family again,¡± I said, my voice so low the others had to strain to hear it, ¡°I will destroy you. Not your reputation, not your family¡¯s money, not your little social circle. You. Personally. Completely.¡± For the first time since she¡¯d walked in, real fear flickered across her face. ¡°Hunter¡­..¡± ¡°No.¡± I stepped closer, close enough that she had to tilt her head back to meet my eyes. Close enough that she could see exactly what I was capable of. ¡°You¡¯ve yed your games. You¡¯ve had your tantrum. But if youe near my wife or my son again. I will make sure you regret ever being born.¡± The silence that followed was deafening. Even the background noise of the bar seemed to fade away Mia stared at me for a long moment, her chest heaving. Then, without another word, she turned and stumbled toward the door, her heels clicking erratically against the floor Through the ss, I caught sight of Jessica¨Cwide¨Ceyed, pale¨Chovering just outside. She reached for Mia, whispering something frantic before shooting a horrified nce towart me. Then they vanished into the night together The door mmed behind her with enough force to rattle the window The air rushed back in Behind me, a soft voice pierced the quiet ¡°Daddy ?¡± Caesar stirred, rubbing lus eyes culs mussed, voice unall Every ounce of fury bled out of me in an instant. I crou best, brushing his hair back. ¡°Cu back to sleep, buddy. Daddy¡¯s here¡± 9:49 Fri, Sep 5 He tugged at my shirt with a tiny fist before copsing against me, out again. I exhaled, holding him close, my pulse finally slowing. ¡°Jesus Christ,¡± Vincent whispered. ¡°That woman ispletely unhinged.¡± Frederick nodded grimly. ¡°She¡¯s dangerous, Hunter. You need to be careful.¡± I looked down at my son, at his peaceful face and innocent dreams, and felt something settle into ce. A certainty that I¡¯d protect this. Protect them. No matter what it costs. ¡°I know,¡± I said quietly. ¡°But so am I.¡± Legacy 204 Chapter 204 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- 5415 EX 55 vouchers Caesar was finally asleep, his soft snores muffled under the hotel room¡¯s thick duvet. I stood by the edge of his bed for a moment, watching his little chest rise and fall. A smudge of fry grease still clung to his cheek from the pool hall, and I had to fight the urge to wake him just to clean it off. He looked too peaceful, too weightless, curled around his stuffed dinosaur. I kissed his forehead, tucked the nket higher, and shut the bedroom door halfway. Celine was waiting on the couch, legs curled beneath her in one of my shirts, and a pair of baggy ripped jeans, the sleeves swallowing her wrists. She looked up with a smile that undid me more than any boardroom victory ever could. ¡°How was Caesar?¡± she asked. ¡°Out cold. A champion of fries and juice boxes.¡± Herugh¨Clow, warm¨Cspilled into the room, and for a second I was back at the pool hall, surrounded by smoke and noise. Except this time, it was just her and me. No noise. No chaos. ¡°Tell me,¡± she said, patting the space beside her. ¡°Stories about your boys. I want to know what you¡¯re like when you¡¯re not terrifying boardrooms.¡± I sat down, let my arm drape along the back of the couch behind her. ¡°You mean when I¡¯m just a man with idiots for friends?¡± ¡°Exactly that,¡± she said, eyes glinting. So I told her. About Frederick nearly choking on his cigar the first time he tried to look suave in front of a girl. About Vincent losing three grand in poker, only to win it back with sheer dumb luck. About ncey saving Caesar tonight with a ridiculous pirate story. Celine¡¯sughter filled the room, easy and bright. She pressed her hand to her stomach every time she leaned forward, as if guarding the life inside her even while she was carried away in the moment. When I was done, she sighed happily and let her head fall against my shoulder. ¡°I like seeing you like this. Softer.¡± I kissed her hair. ¡°Don¡¯t let them hear you say that. They¡¯ll think I¡¯ve gone weak.¡± 15:30 Sun, Sep 7 ¡°You are weak,¡± she teased. ¡°For me.¡± That was true. : 54 55 vouchers Later, while she slipped under the covers, I undressed in the dim light. Jacket, shirt, belt¨Call falling away until it was just skin and shadows. I caught her gaze lingering, the way her eyes trailed over the scars on my chest, the line of muscle down my stomach. ¡°You¡¯re staring,¡± I said. ¡°You¡¯re showing off.¡± I smirked, taking off my wristwatch slowly as if to prove her right. ¡°Thene join me. In the bathroom.¡± Her brows lifted. ¡°Hunter¡­¡­¡± ¡°Celine,¡± I warned, already unbuttoning my pants. ¡°Don¡¯t make me beg.¡± She shook her head, exasperated, but the corner of her mouth curved. ¡°You¡¯re impossible.¡± ¡°And you love me for it.¡± The bathroom filled quickly with steam from the shower. The tiles glistened under golden light, fog curling around the mirror. I pulled her in, still wearing my shirt, and pressed her against the counter. I reached for her hand, pulling her toward me without a word. She resisted for a moment, her feet dragging slightly, but I could feel her resolve crumbling with every step. Inside, I pressed her against the cool counter, her back flush against the marble. Her breath quickened, her chest rising and falling rapidly as my presence dazed her. ¡°Hunter,¡± she murmured, her voice shaky, her eyes darting nervously toward the bedroom door. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t¨CCaesar¡¯s asleep right there¡­..¡± I silenced her with a look, my need raw and undeniable. ¡°He¡¯s out cold,¡± I growled, my voice thick with urgency. ¡°And I need you.¡± My mouth was already moving, tracing the delicate line of her neck, the curve of her corbone, the swell of her breasts beneath the damp fabric of her shirt. Her protests dissolved into gasps, her fingers tangling in my hair, pulling hard enough to make me groan. This wasn¡¯t about sex¨Cnot tonight. It was about something deeper, something unspoken that had always existed between us. But the way she shuddered under my touch, the way her nails dug into my shoulders, told me everything I needed to know. ¡­ She wanted this as much as I did. 54 55 vouchers I pressed closer, my breath hot against her ear, my hands roaming over her body with a possessiveness that left no doubt. Th?s chapter is updated by Find?Novel ¡°You¡¯re mine, Celine,¡± I whispered, my voice raw, hoarse with emotion. ¡°Always have been.¡± She tilted her head back, her eyes meeting mine in the foggy mirror. For a moment, we just looked at each other, the steam swirling around us like a veil. In her gaze, I saw the same unspoken truth I felt in my bones: we were each other¡¯s endgame, no matter the chaos beyond the bathroom door. Her lips parted, but no words came out. Instead, she pulled me closer, her hands sliding down to grip my waist, her body arching into mine. The damp fabric of her shirt clung to her skin, and I could feel the heat radiating from her, a mirror to my own desire. I kissed her then, slow and deep, my tongue tangling with hers as if to im her all over again. The sound of the shower was a distant hum, the steam enveloping us like a cocoon. I lifted her onto the counter, her legs wrapping around my waist as I pressed her back against the cool tile. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps, her eyes dark with need. ¡°Hunter,¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rush of water. ¡°What are you doing to me?¡± I smiled against her skin, my lips brushing her jawline, her neck, my hands roaming lower, teasing the hem of her shirt. ¡°Reminding you,¡± I murmured, my voice a low rumble. ¡°Of what we are. Of what we¡¯ll always be.¡± Her fingers dug into my shoulders again, her body trembling as I pulled her shirt over her head, revealing thece bra beneath. Her breasts were flushed, her nipples tight peaks that begged for attention. I took one into my mouth, sucking gently, my tongue swirling as she moaned, her head falling back against the wall. ¡°Hunter,¡± she gasped, her hands fisting in my hair, pulling me closer. ¡°Please¡­..¡± I didn¡¯t need her to finish the sentence. I knew what she wanted, what she needed. And I was more than willing to give it to her. My hands moved lower, unbuttoning her jeans, sliding them down her legs as she lifted her hips to help me. Her panties followed, pooling at her feet as I stepped back to admire her. She was breathtaking, her body a work of art, every curve and line a testament to her beauty. Her skin was ¡­ 54 flushed, her lips swollen from my kisses, her eyes zed with desire. 55 vouchers I wanted to worship her, to make her feel every ounce of the love and longing I¡¯d carried for her all these years. I knelt before her, my hands gripping her thighs as I pressed my mouth to her core. She tasted like heaven, sweet and musky, her essence coating my tongue as Ipped at her, my fingers delving inside her, teasing her until she was writhing, her cries echoing off the tiles. ¡°Hunter,¡± she moaned, her hands tangling in my hair, holding me close. ¡°Don¡¯t stop¨Cplease, don¡¯t stop¡­..¡± But I had no intention of stopping. Not until she was a trembling, breathless mess, her body shaking with the force of her orgasm. Legacy 205 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- 54 55 vouchers I sucked her clit into my mouth, flicking my tongue over it as my fingers thrust deeper, faster, until she was screaming my name, her body convulsing around me. When she finally stilled, I stood, lifting her into my arms as she clung to me, her legs wrapped around my waist. I carried her to the shower, the hot water cascading over us, washing away the sweat and the tension, leaving only the raw, aching need that had always defined us. I pressed her against the wall, my mouth iming hers in a kiss that was desperate, hungry, as if we¡¯d never touched before. Her hands roamed over me, her fingers tracing the muscles of my chest, my arms, her nails scraping my skin as she pulled me closer. ¡°I need you inside me,¡± she whispered, her voice hoarse, her eyes burning with desire. ¡°Now, Hunter. Please.¡± I didn¡¯t make her wait. My pants were already discarded, my erection throbbing, aching for her. I positioned myself at her entrance, teasing her with the tip before sliding inside her in one slow, deliberate thrust. She gasped, her head falling back as I filled herpletely, our bodies moving in perfect sync. The water beat down on us, the steam swirling around us as I moved, my hips snapping forward with a rhythm that was primal, urgent. Her walls clenched around me, her body tight and wet, her cries mingling with the sound of the shower. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel I gripped her hips, my fingers digging into her skin as I thrust deeper, harder, my breathing in short, sharp gasps. ¡°You¡¯re mine,¡± I growled, my voice a low rumble against her ear. ¡°Say it, Celine. Say it like you mean it.¡± Her eyes met mine, her lips curving into a small, satisfied smile. ¡°Yours,¡± she whispered, her voice thick with surrender. ¡°Always and forever.¡± It was enough. More than enough. I came then, my body shaking as I spilled into her, my name on her lips as her body clenched around me, milking me for everyst drop. We stayed like that for a moment, our hearts pounding, our breaths intertwining, the water washing over us like a blessing. When I finally pulled out, she slid down my body, her legs trembling as she stood on her own. 15:30 Sun, Sep 7 ¡­ 54 55 vouchers I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close as the shower continued to rain down on us, the steam clearing to reveal the world beyond. But in that moment, there was no world beyond. There was only us, our bodies still humming with the aftermath of our passion, our hearts beating as one. I pressed my lips to her forehead, my hands stroking her wet hair as she leaned into me, her eyes closed, a small smile ying on her lips. ¡°I love you,¡± I whispered, my voice soft, tender. ¡°Always have. Always will.¡± She opened her eyes, her gaze meeting mine, her expression soft, filled with a love that mirrored my own. ¡°I know,¡± she murmured, her fingers tracing the lines of my face. ¡°And I love you too. No matter what.¡± *** 1 We ended up on the balcony, wrapped in the hotel robe, a nket around both our shoulders. The Vegas night stretched below¨Clights screaming against the ck desert sky, the Strip club across pulsing with endless noise. Celine leaned against the railing, wide¨Ceyed. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful. I like this city.¡± ¡°Vegas?¡± I asked, incredulous. ¡°It¡¯s loud. Chaotic. A ce peoplee to forget themselves.¡± ¡°So is New York,¡± she said simply. Iughed, low. ¡°London isn¡¯t like that.¡± Something in her expression shifted¨Cquieter, more serious. She turned to face me fully, her hand sliding into mine. ¡°Hunter¡­ what really happened between you and Sophia?¡± The questionnded like a stone in my chest. I traced my thumb over her knuckles, buying time. The steam, the lights, the warmth of her body pressed against mine¨Call of it thinned into something fragile. ¡°I loved her,¡± I admitted. ¡°And I failed her.¡± Her eyes softened, but she didn¡¯t let me stop there. ¡°She must have loved you a lot.¡± Silence. My gaze dropped to the city, its glittering noise. Celine smiled faintly, though her voice cracked. ¡°I hate that I¡¯m jealous of a ghost.¡± That pulled my head up. ¡°Celine¡­¡­¡± She shook her head, cutting me off. ¡°No. It¡¯s not the kind of jealousy that poisons. It¡¯s just¡­ I want to be brave enough to love all of you. Even the parts that belonged to her once.¡± 54 55 vouchers Something inside me broke open. I pulled her closer until she was half in myp, her forehead against mine. ¡°You already are,¡± I whispered. We stayed like that for a long time, the Strip roaring beneath us, our silence louder than it all. Finally, she tilted her face up, voice softer than the wind. ¡°I¡¯d like to see London someday.¡± I went still. The thought of her walking those streets, of her standing in front of the Greysons¡® house, of Sophia¡¯s ghost rising between us¨CMy arms tightened around her instinctively. ¡°Someday,¡± I said carefully. ¡°When the time¡¯s right.¡± She studied me, eyes clear and knowing, but she didn¡¯t push. Instead, sheid her head against my chest, letting the conversation dissolve into the night. And for the first time in years, I felt like maybe¨Cjust maybe I could carry both past and future without being crushed. AD Legacy 206 -CELINE¡¯S POV- : 54 H55 vouchers The apartment felt different without the staff. Too quiet. Too bare. The kind of quiet that lets you hear the pop of eggs in a pan, the tick of the wall clock, even your own heartbeat. I flipped another pancake, the smell of butter and maple syrup curling through the kitchen. Sally and the rest of the staff had the day off¨Cit felt good to have the house to ourselves, even if it meant I was up before everyone else. Behind me, soft footsteps. Then a low, familiar voice. ¡°What¡¯s smelling so good?¡± I turned just as Hunter appeared in the doorway, shirt sleeves rolled to his elbows, hair still damp from the shower. He leaned against the frame with that crooked grin that always undid me. ¡°Breakfast,¡± I said, flipping the pancake onto a te. ¡°And before you ask, yes, I know we have Caroline¡¯s wedding to get to. There¡¯s plenty of time. I can get Caesar ready and still make sure my husband eats properly.¡± His brow arched. ¡°Husband.¡± The word seemed to settle in his chest like good whiskey. In three strides, he was behind me, arms circling my waist, his chin brushing my shoulder. ¡°Say it again,¡± he murmured. Iughed, pushing at his arm with the spat. ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous.¡± ¡°Maybe. But I like the way you say it.¡± He kissed the curve of my neck, warm and possessive. I leaned back against him, savoring the moment. But another thought intruded, serious than pancakes and stolen kisses. ¡°Hunter?¡± ¡°Mmm?¡± ¡°Will your mother be at the wedding?¡°His body went still. Only for a second, but I felt it. I pressed. ¡°She loves Caroline like her own daughter. I just¡­ I don¡¯t see her skipping it.¡± ¡°She won¡¯t be there.¡± His tone was final, clipped. That didn¡¯t sit right. ¡°Because she¡¯s busy, or because she doesn¡¯t approve of¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± He spun me gently in his arms so I faced him. His eyes were sharp, dangerous. ¡°Don¡¯t give her space 1 15:30 Sun, Sep 7 ¡­ in our morning. Not today.¡± I opened my mouth, then shut it. 54 55 vouchers He was hiding something¨CI could feel it in the way his jaw tightened. But before I could push further, another voice cut in. ¡°Good mornin¡®!¡± Caesar padded into the kitchen, hair sticking up like a dandelion, rubbing his eyes with tiny fists. ¡°Morning, sweetheart,¡± I said, softening instantly. Hunter bent, swooping him up with one arm, pressing a kiss to his son¡¯s cheek. Caesar squealed, giggling when Hunter tossed him up and caught him again. ¡°Breakfast with Mommy can wait,¡± Hunter told me, throwing Caesar over his shoulder like a sack of flour. ¡°This one needs to be turned into a gentleman for the wedding. Take your time.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got him.¡± He winked at me before disappearing down the hall with Caesar squealing upside down. The kitchen fell quiet again, the smell of butter thick in the air. I breathed out slowly and looked down at my ring. The diamond caught the light, blinding in its transparency. A reminder thatst two nights, in the chaos of Vegas, Hunter had looked at me and chosen forever. But forever came with headlines. I pulled my phone from the counter, scrolling instinctively. ¡°Billionaire Reid Fires 5% of Staff -Is New Wife to me?¡± ¡°From Maid to Mrs.: Cindere or Con¨CWoman?¡± ¡°Reid¡¯s Vegas Vows: Who Really Wins?¡± Thousands ofments below. Words like ¡®gold¨Cdigger, maniptor, homewrecker. I¡¯d seen them before. Interpretations of the same toxin. Still, it stung. Was this what Sophia had faced when she was with Hunter? Had that steady drip of venom eaten her alive until she broke? My stomach twisted. I shoved the phone away and reached for flour and sugar, ready to lose myself in cupcake batter¡­¡­something simple, something sweet. The phone buzzed again. A message this time. Jesse: ¡®Celine, please. I need to talk to you. Just once. Meet me. I¡¯m begging you.¡¯ ¡­ (54) 55 vouchers My throat tightened. My finger hovered over the reply for one long, painful second. Then I locked the screen and shoved it deep into my apron pocket. No. I was done bleeding for people who only knew how to cut me. By noon, the apartment hummed again¡ªmakeup brushes, Caesar¡¯sughter, Hunter in a tailored suit sharp enough to slice air. And me, in a blue ruffle chiffon dress that Caroline had picked for the bridesmaids. It hugged my waist, red softly at the knee. A small bouquet of white ranunculus in my handpleted the picture. But Caroline¨CCaroline was a vision. ¡°Do I look like a bride or like a pastry?¡± she asked, turning toward the mirror. ¡°You look¡­¡± I swallowed hard, blinking back emotion. ¡°Like every little girl¡¯s dream.¡± And she did. A mermaid gown of satin, pearls draping the bodice like water droplets. Her hair swept into a loose chignon, makeup dewy and luminous. I had gone with her to ten different shops. I¡¯d seen the way her face had lit up in this dress. Now, seeing her in it¨Cit was like watching her step into a storybook ending. ¡°You¡¯re going to make him faint,¡± I teased. ¡°Good. He deserves to sweat a little.¡± Caroline smirked, then caught my eyes in the mirror. Her expression softened. ¡°And you¡­you look happy, Celine. Like really happy.¡± ¡°I am.¡± My throat tightened. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ different.¡± Her smile grew knowing. ¡°Different doesn¡¯t mean bad.¡± No. It didn¡¯t. ** The garden ceremony was held at one of the Reid estates, transformed into something out of a magazine. Roses twined around white trellises, and silk ribbons fluttered in thete¨Csummer breeze, Gold chairs lined the aisle, each seat filled with New York¡¯s elite. I clutched my bouquet tighter as I followed the other bridesmaids down the aisle. The weight of stares pressed heavily, whispers curling at the edges. ¡°That¡¯s her. ¡°The maid who married him.¡¯ ¡®She doesn¡¯t belong here! 54 55 vouchers Something inside me broke open. I pulled her closer until she was half in myp, her forehead against mine. ¡°You already are,¡± I whispered. We stayed like that for a long time, the Strip roaring beneath us, our silence louder than it all. Finally, she tilted her face up, voice softer than the wind. ¡°I¡¯d like to see London someday.¡± I went still. The thought of her walking those streets, of her standing in front of the Greysons¡® house, of Sophia¡¯s ghost rising between us¨CMy arms tightened around her instinctively. ¡°Someday,¡± I said carefully. ¡°When the time¡¯s right.¡± She studied me, eyes clear and knowing, but she didn¡¯t push. Instead, sheid her head against my chest, letting the conversation dissolve into the night. And for the first time in years, I felt like maybe¨Cjust maybe¨CI could carry both past and future without being crushed. AD Comment Send gift No Ads 15:31 Sun, Sep 7 9 ¡­ -CELINE¡¯S POV- : 54 55 vouchers The apartment felt different without the staff. Too quiet. Too bare. The kind of quiet that lets you hear the pop of eggs in a pan, the tick of the wall clock, even your own heartbeat. I flipped another pancake, the smell of butter and maple syrup curling through the kitchen. Sally and the rest of the staff had the day off¨Cit felt good to have the house to ourselves, even if it meant I was up before everyone else. Behind me, soft footsteps. Then a low, familiar voice. ¡°What¡¯s smelling so good?¡± I turned just as Hunter appeared in the doorway, shirt sleeves rolled to his elbows, hair still damp from the shower. He leaned against the frame with that crooked grin that always undid me. ¡°Breakfast,¡± I said, flipping the pancake onto a te. ¡°And before you ask, yes, I know we have Caroline¡¯s wedding to get to. There¡¯s plenty of time. I can get Caesar ready and still make sure my husband eats properly.¡± His brow arched. ¡°Husband.¡± The word seemed to settle in his chest like good whiskey. In three strides, he was behind me, arms circling my waist, his chin brushing my shoulder. ¡°Say it again,¡± he murmured. Iughed, pushing at his arm with the spat. ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous.¡± ¡°Maybe. But I like the way you say it.¡± He kissed the curve of my neck, warm and possessive. I leaned back against him, savoring the moment. But another thought intruded, serious than pancakes and stolen kisses. ¡°Hunter?¡± ¡°Mmm?¡± ¡°Will your mother be at the wedding?¡°His body went still. Only for a second, but I felt it. I pressed. ¡°She loves Caroline like her own daughter. I just¡­ I don¡¯t see her skipping it.¡± ¡°She won¡¯t be there.¡± His tone was final, clipped. That didn¡¯t sit right. ¡°Because she¡¯s busy, or because she doesn¡¯t approve of¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± He spun me gently in his arms so I faced him. His eyes were sharp, dangerous. ¡°Don¡¯t give her space in our morning. Not today.¡± I opened my mouth, then shut it. : 54 55 vouchers He was hiding something¨CI could feel it in the way his jaw tightened. But before I could push further, another voice cut in. ¡°Good mornin¡®!¡± Caesar padded into the kitchen, hair sticking up like a dandelion, rubbing his eyes with tiny fists. ¡°Morning, sweetheart,¡± I said, softening instantly. Hunter bent, swooping him up with one arm, pressing a kiss to his son¡¯s cheek. Caesar squealed, giggling when Hunter tossed him up and caught him again. ¡°Breakfast with Mommy can wait,¡± Hunter told me, throwing Caesar over his shoulder like a sack of flour. ¡°This one needs to be turned into a gentleman for the wedding. Take your time.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got him.¡± He winked at me before disappearing down the hall with Caesar squealing upside down. The kitchen fell quiet again, the smell of butter thick in the air. I breathed out slowly and looked down at my ring. The diamond caught the light, blinding in its transparency. A reminder thatst two nights, in the chaos of Vegas, Hunter had looked at me and chosen forever. But forever came with headlines. I pulled my phone from the counter, scrolling instinctively. ¡°Billionaire Reid Fires 5% of Staff -Is New Wife to me?¡± ¡°From Maid to Mrs.: Cindere or Con¨CWoman?¡± ¡°Reid¡¯s Vegas Vows: Who Really Wins?¡± Thousands ofments below. Words like ¡®gold¨Cdigger, maniptor, homewrecker.¡® I¡¯d seen them before. Interpretations of the same toxin. Still, it stung. Was this what Sophia had faced when she was with Hunter? Had that steady drip of venom eaten her alive until she broke? My stomach twisted. I shoved the phone away and reached for flour and sugar, ready to lose myself in cupcake batter¡­¡­something simple, something sweet. The phone buzzed again. A message this time. Jesse: ¡®Celine, please. I need to talk to you. Just once. Meet me. I¡¯m begging you.¡® B 55 vouchers My throat tightened. My finger hovered over the reply for one long, painful second. Then I locked the screen and shoved it deep into my apron pocket. No. I was done bleeding for people who only knew how to cut me. By noon, the apartment hummed again¨Cmakeup brushes, Caesar¡¯sughter, Hunter in a tailored suit sharp enough to slice air. And me, in a blue ruffle chiffon dress that Caroline had picked for the bridesmaids. It hugged my waist, red softly at the knee. A small bouquet of white ranunculus in my handpleted the picture. But Caroline¨CCaroline was a vision. ¡°Do I look like a bride or like a pastry?¡± she asked, turning toward the mirror. ¡°You look¡­¡± I swallowed hard, blinking back emotion. ¡°Like every little girl¡¯s dream.¡± And she did. A mermaid gown of satin, pearls draping the bodice like water droplets. Her hair swept into a loose chignon, makeup dewy and luminous. I had gone with her to ten different shops. I¡¯d seen the way her face had lit up in this dress. Now, seeing her in it¨Cit was like watching her step into a storybook ending. ¡°You¡¯re going to make him faint,¡± I teased. ¡°Good. He deserves to sweat a little.¡± Caroline smirked, then caught my eyes in the mirror. Her expression softened. ¡°And you¡­.you look happy, Celine. Like really happy.¡± ¡°I am.¡± My throat tightened. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ different.¡± Her smile grew knowing. ¡°Different doesn¡¯t mean bad.¡± No. It didn¡¯t. **** The garden ceremony was held at one of the Reid estates, transformed into something out of a magazine. Roses twined around white trellises, and silk ribbons fluttered in thete¨Csummer breeze. Gold chairs lined the aisle, each seat filled with New York¡¯s elite. I clutched my bouquet tighter as I followed the other bridesmaids down the aisle. The weight of stares pressed heavily, whispers curling at the edges. ¡°That¡¯s her.¡¯ ¡°The maid who married him.¡¯ ¡®She doesn¡¯t belong here.¡® I lifted my chin higher. My son was watching. My husband was watching. 54 55 vouchers At the front, Frederick stood tall, impossibly handsome in a ck tuxedo, but his expression softened the moment Caroline appeared. Gasps rippled through the crowd. She was radiant, arm hooked through her father¡¯s, eyes locked only on Frederick. I felt a lump rise in my throat. Because as she walked, all I could think about was my own wedding¨Cthe neon lights of Vegas, the cheap archway, the trembling in my hands as I slipped a ring on Hunter¡¯s finger. Messy. Fast. Scandalous. But real. At the altar, Caroline¡¯s hand slid into Frederick¡¯s. They turned toward each other, the officiant¡¯s words a blur of tradition and blessing. And then¨Cvows. Frederick¡¯s voice shook, uncharacteristically tender. ¡°I swear to stand by you, Caroline. To be your shelter, your partner, your greatest admirer. From this day forward, in every storm and in every sunshine.¡± Caroline blinked rapidly, her voice thick. ¡°I promise to love you without condition, to fight with you and for you, to grow with you, and tough with you. Always.¡± The mood grew rich with love, with hope, with something sacred. I pressed my bouquet against my chest, blinking furiously against tears. And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her. Mia. Sitting quietly in the second row, lips painted scarlet, eyes shadowed dark. Not speaking. Not moving. Just watching. Get full chapters from Find?Novel The silence of her presence chilled me more than any outburst could have. As Caroline and Frederick sealed their vows with a kiss under a canopy of roses, apuse thundered through the garden. I forced my hands to p, my lips to smile. But in my chest, anxiousness twisted tight. Because sometimes silence is more dangerous than the loudest scream. Legacy 207 Chapter 207 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- : 75 55 vouchers The garden glowed with soft golden light,nterns strung through the trees like captured fireflies. A string quartet yed somewhere near the fountain, their music weaving through the low hum of conversation andughter. The reception was in full swing. Caroline was radiant in her pearls and satin, Frederick held her like she was spun out of silk, and guests drifted between champagne towers and the dance floor. I stood near the edge of the crowd, a tumbler of bourbon in hand, surrounded by Caroline¡¯s parents¨Cmy uncle and aunt. They¡¯d always carried themselves with a kind of Old New York dignity, the kind that made people step aside without realizing they were doing it. ¡°So, Hunter,¡± Aunt Elizabeth said, tilting her head, eyes sharp as ever, ¡°where¡¯s Eleanor? I assumed she wouldn¡¯t miss her goddaughter¡¯s wedding for the world.¡± The question was unavoidable. I had prepared for it, but still, the words felt heavy on my tongue. ¡°She¡¯s¡­upied,¡± I said smoothly, forcing my voice into an even rhythm. ¡°Too manymitments pulling her in different directions. But she sends her best wishes. And gifts.¡± Uncle Richard raised a brow, clearly suspicious, but nodded politely. ¡°Mm. That¡¯s unlike her. She always treated Caroline like one of her own.¡± I offered a thin smile, careful not to let anything else slip. If they knew the truth.. that my mother was still locked away on my mountain estate, her influence severed for the first time in decades¡­..they would never believe it. And I wasn¡¯t about to exin. Uncle Richard, broke the tension with a warm p to my shoulder. 14:33 Mon, Sep 8 G¡­ : 75 55 vouchers ¡°Hunter, I want you to know¡­.I¡¯m proud of you. Truly. You chose happiness, and with a good woman, too. Not many men in your position have the courage to do that.¡± My chest tightened. I followed his gaze instinctively, and there she was¨CCeline. She was on the dance floor with Caroline and ke, herughter carrying across the garden, head tipped back, curls spilling over her shoulders. Caesar darted nearby with ncey keeping an eye on him, shrieking in happiness as he chased bubbles some kids were blowing. Vincent, of course, was at the bar, already charming a group of women who should¡¯ve known better. Celine looked light. Untouched. Like none of the poison dripping from the tabloids could reach her here, wrapped in music and joy. But I knew better. I¡¯d seen herte at night, scrolling through her phone when she thought I was asleep. The faint furrow in her brow, the way she bit her lip. She pretended not to care, but every cruel headline carved into her. ¡®Gold digger. ¡®Brainwashed the billionaire.¡¯ ¡®Sophia all over again. She endured it in silence. And I hated it. I would burn down every publication in New York before I let them break her spirit. I had already started cleaning house¨Cfiring the disloyal, cklisting the ones who thought my mother still pulled the strings. They would regret ever doubting me, ever touching what was mine. I was about to say as much¨Cto tell Mr. Crawford just how lucky I was, and how fiercely I intended to guard that luck¨Cwhen a voice interrupted. ¡°Hunter. May I borrow you for a moment?¡± The hairs on my neck rose before I even turned. Mia. 5 vouchers She stood at the edge of the gathering, wine ss in hand, her dress immacte, her hair styled to perfection. Her smile was faint, polite, almost demure. It was unsettling¨Clike watching a wolf dressed in silk. Uncle Richard and Aunt Elizabeth exchanged nces, then excused themselves graciously. ¡°Of course, Hunter. We¡¯ll catch upter.¡± I set down my ss and turned to her, already weary. ¡°What do you want, Mia? Still have something left to say?¡± To my surprise, she didn¡¯t snap, didn¡¯t sneer. Instead, she lowered her gaze slightly, her voice gauged. ¡°Actually¡­no. I wanted to apologize. For how I behaved in Vegas. My reaction was¡­.uncalled for.¡± I stared at her, waiting for the venom, the sharp edge I¡¯de to expect. But it didn¡¯te. ¡°Uncalled for?¡± I repeated slowly. ¡°Yes.¡± She sipped her wine, eyes flicking up to mine. ¡°I was emotional. I overreacted. I don¡¯t want to lose our friendship over a moment of madness. So¡­.¡± She smiled faintly, a rehearsed softness. ¡°I hope we can put it behind us.¡± Friendship. The wordnded strangely, like a shard of ss in my chest. I searched her expression, trying to decipher the real angle. With Mia, there was always an angle. But her mask was wless tonight. I decided to y along. ¡°Fine. Apology epted.¡± Her smile widened a bit. ¡°Good¡± She swirled the wine in her ss, as though the conversation bored her now. ¡°I¡¯ll drop the finalized charity bills at your office tomorrow. ¡°Email them. Or give them to your assistant,¡± I said tly. ¡°No need to bring them yourself,¡± 14:33 Mon, Sep 8 B :. 55 vouchers For a moment, something shed in her eyes¡­.annoyance, maybe¡­ but it vanished quickly. She tilted her head, studying me. And then her gaze slid past my shoulder. I didn¡¯t need to turn to know where she was looking. Celine. I nced anyway, and sure enough, Celine had stilled on the dance floor. She was holding Caesar now, his small arms looped around her neck, but her eyes were on
  1. us.
On me and Mia, standing too close, talking too quietly. Confusion shadowed her features. Mia saw it too. I knew she did, because she looked back at me with a glint of sess before her expression softened again. ¡°Congrattions, Hunter,¡± she said smoothly, loud enough that anyone nearby could hear. ¡°On your marriage to Celine. She¡¯s¡­lucky.¡± The words were a dagger slipped between ribs, deliberate and cruel in their sweetness. And then she turned and walked away, her heels clicking over the stone path, her silhouette vanishing into the crowd like smoke. I stood there, muscles tense, jaw locked. Vincent appeared out of nowhere, a ss in hand, brows raised. ¡°What the hell did she want?¡± ¡°She came to apologize,¡± I muttered, still watching the spot where she disappeared. Vincent blinked, thenughed incredulously. ¡°She came to what?¡± ¡°She apologized.¡± Vincent downed his drink in one swallow, shaking his head. ¡°Hunter, Mia ckwood doesn¡¯t apologize. She reloads. You¡¯d better watch your back.¡± The rightful source is find?novel I finally tore my gaze away from the crowd and found Celine again. She was still 14:33 Mon, Sep 8 B¡­ 75 55 vouchers holding Caesar, swaying gently with him as he rubbed his sleepy eyes. Her confusion remained, but when Caesar tugged at her curls, she smiled again, pressing a kiss to his head. The sight undid me. Predator. Protector. Husband. Father. Every role shed in my chest at once. Vincent¡¯s words echoed, but I shoved them aside. All that mattered was her. Them. I would clear every obstacle. I would silence every voice that dared question her ce at my side. And when the time was right, I would give her the wedding she deserved¡ªno rushed chapel, no secrecy. A vow, in front of everyone, that she was mine. I tightened my grip on my ss, the bourbon burning in my throat as I drank it down. Mia could y her games. The world could whisper its poison. But I¡¯d burn it all to ash before I let anyone touch what was mine. 14:33 Mon, Sep 8 B Legacy 208 Chapter 208 -CELINE¡¯S POV- The reception was still glowing in my mind when we left. The garden had been covered in fairy lights, soft music, andughter. 75 55 vouchers I could still see Caroline in her pearl¨Cdraped gown, smiling at Frederick like she had just found the safest ce in the world. When they said their vows, my chest had tightened so much I thought I would cry. Not out of jealousy, not out of sadness¡ªjust out of knowing how much love can change a person. Hunter had been beside me the whole time, his hand brushing mine every few minutes, like he wanted to remind me I wasn¡¯t alone. Caesar had run around with the other children, giggling until he fell asleep in ncey¡¯sp. For once, even Mia had stayed quiet, sitting with a stiff smile but no drama. It had been a perfect evening. Now, as the car moved through the dark New York streets, the quiet wrapped around us. Caesar was asleep in the back, his small body leaning against the car seat, still holding the string of a half¨Cdeted balloon. Hunter drove with one hand. His other hand rested gently on my thigh. It was such a small thing, but it felt like a shield, a promise. Iid my hand over his, and he nced at me briefly, his lips softening into the smile he never gave anyone else. ¡°You¡¯re quiet,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m just thinking,¡± I whispered. ¡°About what?¡± I looked out the window. The city lights blurred against the ss. ¡°About 14:33 Mon, Sep 8 B. : everything. How much has changed. How much I¡¯ve gained.¡± 75 55 vouchers He didn¡¯t answer, but his thumb stroked against my skin slowly, warmly. And I knew he understood. ** ** When we reached the mansion, Hunter carried Caesar out of the car like he weighed nothing. Our son¡¯s head rested on his shoulder, his lips parted in deep sleep. I followed slowly, my dress brushing against my ankles, my heels clicking softly on the driveway. The night was still. Too still. No wind, no sounds of cars, no chirping crickets. Just silence. And then-¡°Celine¡­¡± The voice came from the shadows, sharp and trembling. I froze. From the corner near the fence, a figure stepped out. My heart squeezed, then dropped. ¡°Jesse.¡± My sister looked nothing like the woman I grew up admiring. Her hair was messy, her mascara streaked down her cheeks. Her once¨Cperfect clothes were wrinkled, her shoes scuffed. She looked broken, like someone had ripped the shine out of her. Hunter¡¯s entire body went stiff. His voice dropped low and cold. ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡± Jesse¡¯s eyes darted to him, then to Caesar in his arms. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Hunter¡¯s tone cut like ice. ¡°Do you want me to call security? Because I will.¡± She flinched, and for the first time in my life, I saw Jesse afraid. ¡°No, please¡­..¡± she began. 14:34 Mon, Sep 8 B : 75 56 vouchers But Hunter¡¯s re was quicker than knives. His arms tightened around Caesar, protective, dangerous. I touched his arm softly. ¡°Hunter.¡± He looked down at me, still hard, still brimming with fury. Chapters first released on ¡°Let me talk to her,¡± I¡¯whispered. ¡°Celine¡­.¡± His jaw locked. ¡°Please.¡± He studied me for a long moment, then gave a small, sharp nod. He brushed a kiss against my forehead before lowering his voice so only I could hear. ¡°If she hurts you, she won¡¯t live to regret it.¡± He turned and carried Caesar inside. The door shut behind him with a heavy sound, leaving me and Jesse in the cold night air. ***** **** ¡°What do you want, Jesse?¡± My voice was calm, colder than I expected. Jesse wrung her hands, stepping closer, but stopping when I raised mine. ¡°Don¡¯t. Stay there.¡± Her lips trembled. ¡°Celine, please. It¡¯s Mom¡­ she¡¯s sick.¡± Something in me jolted, but I kept my face still. ¡°She was rushed to the hospital,¡± Jesse continued quickly. ¡°They¡­ they found out it¡¯s lung cancer. We don¡¯t know how long she has.¡± I just stared at her. For years I had dreamed of hearing my mother say she was proud of me. For years I had wished Jesse would finally treat me like a sister instead of a stain. For years I had wanted their love. And now? Iughed. 75 1355 vouchers The sound startled even me¨Csharp, broken, echoing against the mansion walls. Jesse blinked. ¡°W¨Cwhy are youughing?¡± ¡°Because.¡± I took a step closer. ¡°Because maybe heaven finally decided to punish her. Maybe the universe is fair after all.¡± ¡°Celine!¡± Jesse gasped, horror on her face. ¡°What?¡± My voice was steady, but my heart was racing. ¡°Did you expect me to cry? To fall apart? To run to the hospital bed of the woman who called me a mistake every single day of my life?¡± ¡°She¡¯s still your mother,¡± Jesse whispered, voice cracking. ¡°No.¡± I shook my head. ¡°She¡¯s your mother. Not mine.¡± Jesse¡¯s mouth opened and closed, like she didn¡¯t know what to say. For once, she had no power. She dropped to her knees, mascara running, her voice breaking. ¡°I don¡¯t want her to die, Celine. Please. Please, don¡¯t let her die.¡± For a moment, I just looked at her. My perfect, polished sister¨Cnow broken, begging, kneeling in the dirt. I crouched down, my eyes level with hers. My voice was a whisper, harsh as ss. ¡°Do you remember what you called me? Bastard. Whore, Slut. Do you remember taking Eleanor¡¯s money to ruin me? Do you rememberughing when Mom called me trash?¡± Her tears fell faster. ¡°And now,¡± I continued, tilting my head, ¡°you want help. From the bastard daughter you hated.¡± ¡°Celine, I¡­.¡± ¡°No.¡± I stood up, brushing imaginary dust from my dress. ¡°You made your choice. And I¡¯ve made mine.¡± 14:34 Mon, Sep 8 B : 75 56 vouchers Her voice cracked as she called after me. ¡°Please! Don¡¯t walk away from me, Celine! Please!¡± But I didn¡¯t stop. I walked to the door, opened it, and stepped inside. **** Hunter was waiting just past the foyer, Caesar asleep against his chest, his eyes like a storm ready to break. ¡°She¡¯s still out there,¡± he said tly. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Did she hurt you?¡± ¡°No.¡± He studied me for a moment, then his gaze softened. ¡°Are you okay?¡± I reached out and took his free hand,cing my fingers with his. ¡°For the first time,¡± I whispered, ¡°yes.¡± His thumb brushed my knuckles, grounding me. Behind me, Jesse¡¯s cries echoed faintly through the night. But as I leaned into Hunter¡¯s warmth, I smiled. Not cruelly, not with malice. Just a smile of freedom. Because I was finally done. Done begging for love from people who never wanted me. Done letting my family¡¯s poison shape my life. Done carrying their shame. For the first time, I belonged where I stood¨Cinside this home, with my husband, with my son, with my future. And I wasn¡¯t going back. Legacy 209 Chapter 209 HUNTER POV- The ss of whiskey burned as it slid down my throat. I was sitting in my private corner of the bar¨Cthe same restaurant I had seized from my mother when she crossed the line one too many times. The irony wasn¡¯t lost on me: the bar she once used to charm senators and CEOS was now mine, stripped of her power. I was reviewing contracts when the heavy sound of boots echoed. Derek entered, dragging Jesse across the floor like she was trash he had picked up on the side of the road. He tossed her hard, and shended on the rug with a thud. I lifted my eyes slowly from the paper. And what I saw almost made meugh. Jesse Brown. The famous Jesse. The one Celine had grown up chasing after, trying to measure herself against. The girl who had always been dressed perfectly, who had the best grades, the brightest smile, the sharpest ws. Now she looked like a washed¨Cup roadside night girl. Her hair was wild, stiff with spray and grease. Her makeup was too thick, smudged around her bloodshot eyes. Her dress was short, cheap, and did nothing but expose skin. Beautiful, yes, but never in the same league as Celine. Celine¡¯s beauty was born of light and survival. Jesse¡¯s was now only a ghost of what it used to be. I sighed, tossed the file aside, and reached for my whiskey again. The door creaked, and Vincent strolled in, as casual as if this were a poker night. He spotted me, then Jesse, and a wicked grin spread across his face. ¡°Well, hell. If you wantedpany for a midday drink, Hunter, you could¡¯ve told 11:14 Tue, Sep 9 me to bring two escorts.¡± He smirked at Jesse. ¡°Or is the show already starting?¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± I muttered, pouring him a ss anyway. ¡°Yes, boss,¡± Vincent teased with augh, taking the seat opposite me. Jesse tried to cross her legs, but it only made her desperation more obvious. Her hands shook as she tugged her skirt down, her eyes darting around the room like a cornered rabbit. I leaned back. My voice was calm, steady. Deadly. ¡°What did I say about you contacting Celine again?¡± She flinched. Her lips parted, but for a second no words came. Then, bravely¡­.or stupidly¡­.she tried. ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to, I swear. But¡­ the situation at home¡­ It¡¯s bad. I had no choice.¡± I almostughed. Vincent did, scoffing into his ss. ¡°You had no choice?¡± I repeated, my eyes narrowing. ¡°She¡¯s still my sister,¡± Jesse said, her voice small but stubborn. That made meugh. A sharp, humorless sound that echoed in the empty bar. ¡°Your sister?¡± I shook my head. ¡°She¡¯s only your sister when your life is falling apart. Every other time? She¡¯s nothing to you. Worse than nothing. A stain you and your mother tried to erase.¡± Jesse swallowed hard, her mascara¨Cstreaked face twitching. ¡°Families fight,¡± she muttered. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t make us enemies.¡± Vincent leaned back, amused. ¡°Listen to this one. A poet.¡± I tapped my finger on the table slowly, letting the silence stretch, letting her nerves build. Then, without warning, I grabbed my ss and flung it. It smashed into the wall behind her, exploding into glittering pieces. She screamed, covering her head, curling in on herself like a child. 11:15 Tue, Sep 9 Vincent chuckled. ¡°Bad aim, brother. You almost missed.¡± I flexed my wrist, pretending it hurt. ¡°The next one won¡¯t.¡± Se vouchers! Vincent leaned forward, his smile sharp as a knife. ¡°You hear that? Next time, it¡¯s your blood decorating this floor.¡± ¡°I¨CI¨CI¡¯m sorry!¡± Jesse¡¯s voice cracked as she shook. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry!¡± I let the silence stretch again until she was trembling in the dirt of the rug. Then I rxed back in my chair, voice low. ¡°Now you sound sober. Let¡¯s talk again.¡± **************************** I should have ignored herst night when she stepped out of the shadows at my home, when she dared speak to Celine. Celine had acted strong, had walked away with that smile of freedom I loved. But I wasn¡¯t fooled. I knew my wife. Even if she didn¡¯t show it, part of her was shaken. Part of her still wanted to understand why the people she once loved now only brought her pain. And that was enough reason for me to act. I wasn¡¯t going to let this rot linger. I wasn¡¯t going to let anyone risk Celine¡¯s peace. But I also couldn¡¯t erase them from existence. As much as I wanted to, these people¨Cthis woman curled in front of me¨Cwere still her family. They had raised her, even if poorly. They had shaped her, even if with cruelty. So I would not kill them. But I would remind them of their ce. I leaned forward, voice t. ¡°You¡¯re only breathing because I allow it.¡± Jesse whimpered. 11:15 Tue, Sep 9 ??? ???? ???? ¡°You¡¯re going to keep your promise,¡± I continued. ¡°You will stay away from Celine. Forever. If you don¡¯t¡­¡± let the words hang, then finished, cold as death. ¡°¡­then you¡¯ll be joining your mother in the hospital. Except unlike her, you won¡¯t be walking out again.¡± Jesse curled tighter, shaking violently. I stood. My chair scraped back against the wooden floor. Vincent stood too, stretching, smirking. ¡°Guess that¡¯s our cue,¡± he said. We walked past her, but as I reached the door, I felt a weak tug on my leg. Jesse¡¯s hand clutched my trousers, filthy and desperate. Derek moved instantly, ready to drag her off, but I crouched down instead. One knee pressed into the rug. I grabbed her hair, forcing her head up so her eyes met mine. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me with those filthy hands again,¡± I growled. Latest content published on find[f]ovel Her face twisted in pain, tears spilling, snot dripping. She was a ruin of herself. Vincent grimaced in disgust. ¡°God. Cry prettier, girl. Self¨Cpity is not your color.¡± I released her roughly, standing again, wiping my hand as though touching her had dirtied me. I was halfway to the door before I paused. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a bundle of cash and tossed it at her feet. The bills scattered across the floor. She looked at it like it was poison. ¡°That¡¯s thest money you¡¯ll ever see from me,¡± I said tly. ¡°Thest shred of respect I¡¯ll give you for being Celine¡¯s blood.¡± I turned my head slightly, eyes like steel. ¡°From here on, every tie is cut. If you ever approach my wife again¡­ I won¡¯t hesitate.¡± And with that, I walked out, Vincent¡¯s footsteps light beside mine, Derek mming the door behind us. Behind that door, Jesse¡¯s sobs filled the quietness, 11:15 Tue, Sep 9 broken, ugly. And for the first time, I felt nothing. Legacy 210 Chapter 210 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- Cash vouchers The elevator doors slid open with a dull chime. I stepped into my office, already loosening my tie. The drive into the city had been long, traffic worse than usual, and I hadn¡¯t even had my second cup of coffee yet. All I wanted was silence. Paperwork. A chance to breathe. But life never seemed to give me that anymore. Because there she was. Eleanor Reid. My mother. Sitting on my office couch like a queen returning to her throne. For a moment I just stared at her, too tired to even summon rage. She was wless, as always¨Cdark tailored dress, jewelry shing faintly under the morning light. She smiled, but her smile never reached her eyes. It never did. I sighed and dropped my briefcase on the desk. ¡°Of all ces,¡± I said tly. ¡°Your first day of freedom, and you choose to visit the son who locked you up.¡± Her lips curved faintly. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what mothers do? We miss our children. We long for those little moments of bonding.¡± ¡°Bonding,¡± I repeated, rolling my sleeves. ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re calling it now?¡± The truth was I had no choice but to let her out. Baron had reported she¡¯d been on her best behavior, no humiliations, no screaming at staff, no midnight plots. Keeping her locked up forever would have made me no better than her. Still, every nerve in my body screamed that this was a mistake. She tilted her head, voice soft, too soft. ¡°I¡¯ll be heading to Richard and Elizabeth¡¯s soon. I owe them an exnation for why I missed Caroline¡¯s big day.¡± I sat down at my desk, opening myptop. The blue light reflected against my face as I spoke. 11:15 Tue, Sep 9 468 755 vouchers ¡°No need. I already told Uncle Richard and Aunt Elizabeth you were¡­ upied.¡± Her smile flickered. ¡°upied.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± My tone was calm, clipped. ¡°And they believed me. They always will.¡± She let out a low hum. ¡°Still, I wonder¡­ what would they think if they learned their darling nephew kept his own mother prisoner? How would that story y at Sunday dinner?¡± I didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°They¡¯d understand. They always understand my reasons.¡± Silence stretched. Then her voice sharpened. ¡°So you really married her.¡± I stopped typing. Slowly, I lifted my gaze. Her tongue had almost slipped¡­maid¡­.but she caught herself when my re cut across the room. ¡°Celine,¡± she finally said, spitting the name like it burned her. ¡°Yes,¡± I said. ¡°Without my blessing.¡± I leaned back in my chair. ¡°Your blessing doesn¡¯t count.¡± Her eyes shed. ¡°Doesn¡¯t count?¡± ¡°Tell me, Mother,¡± I said calmly, ¡°would you have given it anyway?¡± Her lips pressed together. Silence was answer enough. ¡°All that matters,¡± I continued, ¡°is that I married the woman I love. I have the blessings that matter¨Cfrom the people who actually count in my life.¡± She said nothing, though I could feel the ice in her stare. Finally, she changed direction. ¡°So firing five percent of our staff? For her? Was it worth it?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I said without hesitation. ¡°And I¡¯d do it again.¡± Sheughed, but the sound was hollow. ¡°Well then. She seeded. That woman finally got what she wanted. A jackpot of a husband.¡± 11:15 Tue, Sep 9 That cut through me like ss. I lifted my eyes from the screen, met hers with steel. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that how you got Father?¡± My voice was low, sharp. ¡°The difference is- Celine never got her hands dirty like you did.¡± Her nostrils red. ¡°I earned my ce at his side.¡± ¡°No,¡± I said tly. ¡°You manipted and slept your way there.¡± Her hands tightened on her clutch. ¡°How can you speak this cruelly? Everything I ever did was for you.¡± I stood now, fists braced on the desk. My voice was steady, but rage boiled underneath. ¡°I never asked you to kill for me. I never asked you to send my father¡¯s first son into a psychiatric ward. Or to send my sister away with hush money just so she could disappear and forget the Reid name.¡± Her chin lifted. ¡°Ryan had health issues. Those pills only worsened things after his mother¡¯s death. And Lina¨CLina was in trouble. Better off gone than bringing shame to us all.¡± ¡°Health issues,¡± I repeated, a bitterugh in my throat. ¡°Like the sudden ¡®health issues¡® that started after you changed his doctor? And Lina? You didn¡¯t manage her, you threatened her. You couldn¡¯t control her.¡± ¡°You¡¯re desperate to see evil in me,¡± she hissed. ¡°But maybe it¡¯s because you¡¯ve inherited it.¡± ¡°Maybe you are evil,¡± I said coldly. ¡°And I¡¯ve just been pretending not to see it all this time because you¡¯re my mother.¡± For a moment, the room went deadly quiet. Then sheughed softly. ¡°You¡¯re like your father.¡± I shook my head. ¡°I am nothing like him.¡± ¡°Oh no,¡± she whispered. ¡°You¡¯re not him. You¡¯re worse. You¡¯re him and Sebastianbined.¡± 11:15 Tue, Sep 9 Her eyes glinted, cruel and sad all at once. ¡°Your father was a great man. But a devil in human form. A shit husband. A shit father. And now you stand here, thinking you¡¯re better, when all you¡¯ve done is be him twice over.¡± I opened my mouth, but the shrill ring of my phone cut the moment like a de. I nced at the screen. Sally. My heart jolted, but I answered. ¡°Yes?¡± Her voice shook on the other end. ¡°Young master¡­ Hunter, dear¡­¡± Something in her tone froze the blood in my veins. ¡°It¡¯s ma¡¯am Celine¡­¡± My grip tightened. ¡°What about Celine?¡± ¡°She¨Cshe was rushed to the hospital. It¡¯s bad. It¡¯s very bad.¡± The phone slipped from my hand, crashing onto the desk. The sound echoed in the silence of the room. AD Comment Send gift No Ads Follow current nov?ls on Find1Novel Legacy 211 Chapter 211 -CELINE¡¯S POV- Paint clung to my fingernails as I stepped out of my art room. The smell of turpentine followed me into the hallway. My baggy jeans hung loose on my growing belly. Paint stains covered my old t¨Cshirt like a rainbow explosion. Red, Blue, Yellow. Green. I touched my messy hair buns. Hunter always said I looked beautiful when I painted. Wild and free. The mansion felt too quiet. Caesar was upstairs with his nanny. The woman Hunter hired was strict but kind. She sang lubies in French. Sally had left for the grocery store twenty minutes ago. That left me alone with Ana and the other staff. Ana. Just thinking her name made my jaw clench. She still acted like I didn¡¯t belong here. When I asked her to bring me tea, she would roll her eyes. When I requested fresh flowers for the dining room, she would mutter under her breath. ¡°She thinks she¡¯s the queen now,¡± I¡¯d heard her whisper to the gardenerst week. I rubbed my belly. The baby kicked softly. Soon there would be two children calling this ce home. Ana would have to ept it. I walked toward the living room, nning to read by the window, when sounds drifted from upstairs. Footsteps. Heavy ones. A door closing with too much force. ¡°Ana?¡± I called out. Silence. ¡°Maria? Thomas?¡± Nothing. My heart picked up speed. I ced one hand on the banister and climbed the stairs. Each step echoed in the empty hallway. When I reached the top, I froze. Mia ckwood stepped out of my bedroom. My bedroom. The one I shared with Hunter. She wore a ck dress that cost more than most people made in a month. Her heels clicked against the marble floor. Her red lipstick was perfect. Not a single hair was out of ce. But something was wrong with her eyes. They darted around too quickly. Like a trapped animal. 9:51 Wed, Sep 10 B¡­ ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I asked. She turned toward me. Her gaze swept from my paint¨Cstained clothes to my bare feet. Disgust flickered across her face.. ¡°Geline.¡± She forced a smile. ¡°You look¡­ creative today.¡± ¡°How did you get inside?¡± ¡°Through the front door, obviously.¡± She adjusted her purse strap. ¡°Your security let me in.¡± My chest tightened. The security let her in without telling me? Without asking? Did they not see me as thedy of this house? ¡°I came to drop off work documents for Hunter,¡± Mia continued. I stepped closer. ¡°Work documents? What kind?¡± ¡°Business contracts. Very important ones.¡± She waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Nothing you would understand.¡± Her words stung. But I kept my voice steady. ¡°If it¡¯s work¨Crted, why didn¡¯t you go to his office? Whye to our home? To our bedroom?¡± ¡°Hunter wasn¡¯t at his office.¡± Her fingers drummed against her purse. Tap. Tap. Tap. ¡°What I had to deliver was urgent. It couldn¡¯t wait.¡± ¡°What made you think he would be here?¡± Her smile tightened. ¡°Are you calling me a liar?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking if you are lying.¡± The disguise slipped from her face. Raw anger shed in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t feel bad, Celine.¡± Her voice turned syrupy sweet. ¡°The people here are still warming up to the idea of you being Hunter Reid¡¯s wife. After all, it¡¯s unbelievable that he married someone like you.¡± My hands curled into fists. I said nothing. Once she left, I would have a long talk with all the staff. Mia began pacing. Three steps to the left. Three steps to the right. Her heels clicked faster now. ¡°You know,¡± she said, still pacing, ¡°Hunter and I have history. Real history. We would build his empire together. Side by side. Late nights. Early mornings. Shared dreams.¡± She stopped and looked at me directly. ¡°He told me everything back then. His fears. His hopes. His ns for the future.¡± Her voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°ns that never included a maid wife and children.¡± My heart hammered against my ribs. ¡°You¡¯re wrong.¡± ¡°Am I?¡± She started pacing again. ¡°Tell me, Celine. When he holds you at night, does he whisper sweet 9:51 Wed, Sep 10 B promises? Or does he just¡­ perform his duty?¡± I wanted to scream that she was lying. That Hunter loved me. That he chose me. But doubt crept in like poison. 55 vettholes ¡°Still so naive,¡± Mia continued. Her fingernails were bitten down to the quick. Red and raw. ¡°Do you really think this willst? This little fantasy marriage? Hunter Reid doesn¡¯t do forever. Trust me. I learned that the hard way.¡± Sheughed, but it sounded broken. ¡°Enough.¡± I stepped toward her. ¡°Whatever games you¡¯re ying, stop. Leave my house. Now.¡± ¡°Your house?¡± She spun around to face me. ¡°This was to be my house long before you showed up with your¡­ condition.¡± She looked at my belly with pure hatred. ¡°Mia.¡± My voice came out sharper than I intended. ¡°Get out.¡± She turned away from me and started walking toward the stairs. That¡¯s when I saw it. Something gold and delicate dangled from her closed fist. My ne. The one Hunter gave me on our night outing together. The small pendant shaped like a crescent moon. I had left it on my nightstand this morning. ¡°Stop.¡± She froze but didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°What¡¯s in your hand?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Her knuckles went white. ¡°Show me.¡± ¡°Celine, you¡¯re being paranoid.¡± ¡°Show me what¡¯s in your hand. Right now.¡± Slowly, she turned. The ne swayed from her fingers like a golden pendulum. My dating anniversary gift. My most precious possession. ¡°You went through my things.¡± My voice shook with rage. ¡°You¡¯re a thief.¡± ¡°I found it lying around.¡± Her words came too fast. ¡°Carelessly left on your nightstand. Really, Celine. If you can¡¯t take care of your jewelry¡­¡± ¡°Liar.¡± 9:51 Wed, Sep 10 B Her face twisted. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°You stole from me. In my own home. In my own bedroom.¡± 1903 ¡°Stole?¡± Sheughed bitterly. ¡°This cheap little trinket? Please. I have jewelry worth more than everything in your closetbined.¡± ¡°Then why take it?¡± She had no answer. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish. ¡°Give it back.¡± I held out my hand. ¡°Or what?¡± ¡°Give it back now.¡± ¡°Make me.¡± That¡¯s when I lunged. I grabbed for her wrist. She jerked away. The ne chain caught the light as it swung between us. ¡°Let go!¡± she hissed. ¡°It¡¯s mine!¡± We struggled. Her long nails scraped against my forearm, leaving red marks. I could smell her desperation mixed with expensive perfume. Her breathing was ragged. ¡°You crazy bitch!¡± she snarled. I managed to grab the chain. She pulled in the opposite direction. The delicate links stretched between our hands. ¡°You have everything!¡± she screamed suddenly. ¡°Everything that should have been mine! His ring! His name! His children! And you don¡¯t even deserve it!¡± Her face was red now. Tears streamed down her cheeks, ruining her perfect makeup. ¡°Hunter was mine first! Mine!¡± She yanked hard on the ne. I stumbled forward. And then¨CDid she push me? Did I lose my bnce? Did she mean for it to happen? Everything slowed down. The stairs rushed up to meet me. My body twisted in the air. The ne flew from both our hands. Original content can be found at I hit the first step with my shoulder. Pain exploded through my arm. Then my head cracked against the marble edge of the second step. The world spun. Colors bled together. 7.01 Wed, Sep TU I tumbled down. Down. Down, 1903 215 Vouchers! When I finally stopped moving, I was lying on the cold marble floor at the bottom of the staircase. Warm liquid spread beneath my head. Blood. So much blood. I tried to move. Nothing worked. My arms felt disconnected from my body. My vision blurred at the edges. Through the haze, I looked up toward the top of the stairs. Mia stood frozen. Her hands covered her mouth. The ney scattered in pieces on the steps between us. Her eyes were wide with shock. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± she whispered. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± But then another figure stepped into view. Ana. She moved slowly, calmly, like she had all the time in the world. Her arms crossed over her chest. Her head tilted slightly to one side. And she was smiling. Not a smile of concern or shock. Not the expression of someone witnessing a terrible ident. She looked¡­ pleased. Satisfied. Like she had been waiting for this exact moment. ¡°Oh my,¡± Ana said softly. Her voice drifted down to me like a luby. ¡°What a terrible, terrible ident.¡± Thest thing I saw before darkness took me was that smile. Cold and knowing. And I realized with growing horror that this was no ident at all. This was exactly what someone had wanted to happen. AD Legacy 212 Chapter 212 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- The phone felt heavy in my hand. Sally¡¯s words echoed in my head like a broken record. ¡°Master Hunter¡­ It¡¯s Miss Celine. She¡¯s at the hospital. It¡¯s bad. Very bad.¡± My chest squeezed tight. I couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± My Mother¡¯s sharp voice cut through the fog. She sat on my office couch, watching me with cold eyes. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost.¡± I grabbed my car keys from the desk. They slipped through my fingers and ttered to the floor. My hands were shaking. ¡®Celine.¡® Was she still alive? Please let her be alive. For the first time in years, I prayed. ¡°Hunter!¡± my Mother snapped. ¡°Answer me!¡± I turned at the door. My voice came out t and cold. ¡°Get out of my office. I want you gone by the end of the day.¡± Then I was running. The hallway blurred past me. Vincent stepped out of the elevator as I rushed by. ¡°Hunter? What the hell¡­.¡± I didn¡¯t stop. Couldn¡¯t stop. My mind was spinning with terrible thoughts. ¡®What happened to her? Who hurt her? Who dared touch my wife?¡® I made it to the parking lot and fumbled with my car door. My hands wouldn¡¯t work right. The keys kept slipping. A strong hand grabbed my arm. Vincent. His face was serious now. No jokes. No smiles. ¡°I¡¯m driving.¡± I wanted to argue. But my hands were shaking too hard to hold the steering wheel. I threw him the keys. The drive felt endless. I stared out the window, my mind racing through all the things Celine and I hadn¡¯t done yet. The honeymoon we never took. The dream wedding I never gave her. The quiet mornings we¡¯d nned. Watching our children grow up together. No. She couldn¡¯t die. Not before we had all of it. ¡°Hold on,¡± I whispered to the ss. ¡°Please hold on for me.¡± Vincent said nothing. He just drove faster. Hospital lights hit me like a p when we arrived. I jumped out before Vincent could park. I ran through the sliding doors, pushing past people. Maybe they recognized me. Maybe cameras shed. I didn¡¯t care. Sally paced outside the emergency room. Her face was white. Her hands twisted together. I forced myself to walk slower even though my legs wanted to run. ¡°Where is she? Where¡¯s my wife?¡± Sally turned. Tears filled her eyes. ¡°She¡¯s¡­ she¡¯s still in surgery.¡± My throat burned. ¡°What happened? She was fine this morning. How did this happen?¡± Sally¡¯s voice shook. ¡°I came back from the grocery store and found her. She was lying in blood near the staircase.¡± The words hit me like shots. My Celine. Bleeding and alone. ¡°Where was Ana? The other staff? Where were they?¡± ¡°They said they were working outside. They didn¡¯t hear anything.¡± Lies. Everything about it felt wrong. ¡°So how exactly did she fall down the stairs?¡± Sally¡¯s eyes filled with more tears. She didn¡¯t answer. Vincent walked up behind me. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Before I could speak, the emergency room doors opened. Doctor Lyon stepped out. He looked tired. His smile was weak and professional. The source of th?s content is find{n}ovel I grabbed his white coat. ¡°Tell me. How is she? How is my wife?¡± 900 The doctor took a breath. ¡°She¡¯s very lucky. If you hadn¡¯t brought her in when you did, she would have died.¡± My knees almost gave out. Vincent caught my arm. ¡°Thank God,¡± I breathed. But the doctor¡¯s face changed. His went dark. eyes Ice filled my chest. ¡°The baby?¡± The pause told me everything. His voice was gentle. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. She lost the baby. The fall caused too much. damage.¡± The words shattered something inside me. I stood there, unable to move or think. My daughter. Our little girl. Gone. ¡°Can I see her?¡± My voice sounded far away. ¡°Not yet. She was hysterical when she arrived. We had to sedate her.¡± I nodded but felt like I was floating outside my own body. Forty¨Cfive minutester, I sat beside her hospital bed. Machines beeped around us. Her face was pale as the sheets. Even in sleep, her eyebrows were pulled together with pain. She looked so fragile. Like she might break if I touched her. My chest ached. This wasn¡¯t the life I wanted for her. Not pain. Not loss. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± I whispered, touching her hand. ¡°This isn¡¯t what I wanted for us. I promise I¡¯ll do better.¡± Exhaustion pulled me under. When I woke up, she was calling my name. ¡°Hunter?¡± I sat up fast. ¡°Celine.¡± I pulled her into my arms, holding her tight. ¡°Thank you for staying. Thank you for not leaving me.¡± She looked around the room with confused eyes. Then her hand went to her stomach. Her eyes went wide. ¡°What happened?¡± Her voice was thin and scared. I swallowed hard. ¡°Sally found you at the bottom of the stairs. You fell.¡± She tried to sit up and groaned with pain. I helped her lie back down. ¡°The baby?¡± she whispered. My throat closed up. ¡°Hunter.¡± Her voice was stronger now. ¡°Tell me about the baby.¡± I couldn¡¯t lie to her. ¡°The fall was too severe. We lost her.¡± Her face went nk. Then sheughed, but it sounded broken. ¡°You¡¯re lying. This is some sick joke.¡± I reached for her hand. ¡°Celine¡­.¡± She pulled away from me. Her arms wrapped around her body like she was trying to hold herself together. The rejection hurt worse than a knife. But I kept my voice steady. ¡°You being alive is what matters most.¡± Her head snapped toward me. Her eyes burned with tears and rage. ¡°How can you say that? She was our baby, Hunter! Our little girl!¡± Her voice cracked. She started sobbing. ¡°This is your fault. All of it. If you had kept Mia away from us, our daughter would still be alive.¡± Her words broke me. But then something clicked. Mia¡¯s name. I went cold. ¡°What did you say?¡± She cried harder, clutching her stomach. ¡°Your precious Mia pushed me down the stairs. She killed our baby!¡± The world went red around the edges. My hands clenched into fists. ¡°She¡¯s always around us. Always watching. And I¡¯ve lost everything because I chose to love you!¡± Her sobs filled the room. I couldn¡¯t stay there. Couldn¡¯t listen to her pain without doing something about it. I stumbled into the hallway. The bright lights hurt my eyes. My legs felt heavy, but rage carried me forward. Vincent saw meing. He grabbed my arm. ¡°Hunter, where are you going? You look like you want to kill someone.¡± I yanked free. ¡°Don¡¯t try to stop me.¡± My footsteps echoed as I walked toward the exit. My vision was red. My blood was on fire. Mia ckwood had murdered my child. I was going to destroy her life piece by piece. The elevator doors closed behind me. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I knew by heart. ¡°Derek,¡± I said when he answered. ¡°I need you to find Mia ckwood. Now.¡± ¡°Boss? What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Find her. Bring her to the warehouse on Fifth Street. And Derek?¡± ¡°Yeah, boss?¡± ¡°Make sure no one sees you do it.¡± Legacy 213 Chapter 213 -MIA¡¯S POV- My hands wouldn¡¯t stop shaking. The apartment door mmed behind me. I pressed my back against it, chest heaving like I¡¯d run a marathon. The quietness felt wrong. Too calm. Too still. I didn¡¯t push her. I didn¡¯t. The words yed in my head like a broken song. Celine had slipped. She lost her bnce. That¡¯s what happened. That¡¯s the only thing that happened. My phone buzzed in my purse. I jumped so hard I nearly dropped it. My fingers fumbled with the zipper. The screen lit up bright against my face. Eleanor Reid. I stared at the name. Why was she texting me now? After weeks of silence? After cutting me off like I meant nothing? I threw the phone onto the couch. Hard. It bounced once. I didn¡¯t want to deal with Eleanor. Not today. Not when my world was falling apart. My legs felt weak as I walked to the kitchen. The fridge door felt heavy in my hands. Wine. I needed wine- lots of it. The bottle was cold against my palms. I twisted the cork free and lifted it straight to my lips. No ss. No pretense. Just me and the burn. My reflection caught in the microwave door. Hair wild. Makeup smeared. Eyes too wide. I looked insane. ¡°This isn¡¯t my fault,¡± I whispered to my reflection. ¡°She should have let go. It was just a stupid ne.¡± My voice cracked on thest word. ¡°She made it ugly. She made me fight her. All she had to do was give it back.¡± The wine tasted bitter on my tongue. Or maybe that was guilt. No. Not guilt. I had nothing to feel guilty about. If Celine got hurt, that was on her. She didn¡¯t belong in Hunter¡¯s world anyway. She was too weak. Too naive. Too¡­mon. My phone buzzed again from the couch. 10 Vouchers. Eleanor. Still trying to reach me. I bit down on my thumbnail. What if Hunter found out I was at the mansion? What if someone saw me leave? What if¨CNo. They wouldn¡¯t talk. I paid them well enough. Ana especially. That woman hated Celine almost as much as I did. She wouldn¡¯t say a word. My hands were still shaking when I picked up my phone to call my assistant. ¡°Miss ckwood?¡± Her voice was crisp and professional. ¡°Book me a flight,¡± I said, pacing back and forth across my kitchen tiles. ¡°Switzend. Tonight.¡± A pause. ¡°But the charity shareholder meeting tomorrow¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask me stupid questions!¡± The words exploded out of me. Too loud. Too sharp. ¡°Just book the flight!¡± ¡°Yes, Miss ckwood.¡± I hung up and pressed the phone against my forehead. The screen was warm against my skin. I needed to get away from New York. Let things calm down. Let the dust settle. When I came back, everything would be different. Better. Hunter would realize that Celine was never right for him. He woulde back to me. Augh bubbled up from my throat. High and breathless. I stripped off my dress right there in the kitchen. Let it fall to the floor in a silk puddle. ¡°Alexa, y Happy,¡± I called out. The music filled my apartment. Upbeat and cheerful. Everything I wasn¡¯t feeling but needed to pretend. I danced to the bathroom. Forced my body to move. To sway. To act like everything was fine. The shower water was burning. I turned it hotter. Let it burn my skin red. Scrubbed myself raw with a loofah until I felt clean again. Clean of today. Clean of what happened. When I stepped out, I wrapped myself in my silk robe. The fabric felt cool against my heated skin. I twisted my wet hair up and padded back to the living room. The music was still ying. Too loud now. But I didn¡¯t turn it down. I needed another bottle. Something stronger this time. Champagne maybe. To celebrate my new n. My fresh start. The refrigerator light cast a yellow glow across the kitchen floor. I reached for the champagne on the top shelf. That¡¯s when it happened. A hand mped over my mouth. Hard. Rough. Tasting of leather and salt. Another arm wrapped around my waist, yanking me backward so violently my feet left the ground. Before I could scream, rough fabric covered my head. A bag. Scratchy and smelling of motor oil. 10 vouchers I tried to fight. Kicked my legs. wed at the air. But my attacker was too strong. Too fast. Rope bit into my wrists. My ankles. Tight enough to cut off cirction. The music kept ying. Happy. Upbeat. Mocking. Original content can be found at I tried to scream but the bag muffled everything. My voice came out as weak whimpers. Footsteps. Heavy boots against my marble floors. The elevator chimed. My heart stopped. Who was this? How did they get in? Nobody knew my door code. Nobody except¨CA car door mmed. I was thrown inside like luggage. The engine roared to life. My body bounced against the seat with every turn. Every bump. The rope burned my skin. The bag made it hard to breathe. This couldn¡¯t be happening. Not to me. Not to Mia ckwood. My father would find me. He had connections. Resources. Nobody touched his daughter and lived to tell about it. Unless this wasn¡¯t about money. Unless this wasn¡¯t random. The thought made my blood freeze. Hunter. His name echoed in my head like a death sentence. The car finally stopped. Brakes squealing. My door opened and hands dragged me out. My knees scraped against concrete. Sharp pain shot up my legs. I was carried like a sack of grain. Up stairs. Through doors. Then dropped hard onto cold floor. The bag was ripped off my head. I blinked against dim light. My vision cleared slowly. I was in some kind of restaurant. Empty tables. Abandoned chairs. The air smelled of whiskey and cigarettes and something else. Something dangerous. A voice cut through the silence. ¡°Hello, Mia.¡± I looked up. 9:07 Sun, Sep 14 10 vouchers Hunter Reid sat on a leather couch across from me. His shirt was wrinkled. His tie hung loose around his neck. His hair looked like he¡¯d been running his hands through it for hours. But it was his eyes that made me want to disappear. Cold. Dark. Empty of everything except rage. These weren¡¯t the eyes of the man I loved. The man I¡¯d dreamed of iming. These were the eyes of a killer. A ss of whiskey sat untouched on the table in front of him. He leaned forward. Elbows on his knees. Staring at me like I was something he¡¯d scraped off his shoe. ¡°We need to talk,¡± he said. His voice was quiet. Controlled. Terrifying in its calmness. I tried to speak but only a squeak came out. Hunter tilted his head. Like he was studying me. Like he was deciding exactly how he wanted to destroy¡¯me. The quietness stretched between us. Serious and deadly. I was going to die in this ce. And nobody would ever find my body. AD Legacy 214 Chapter 214 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- 10 vouchers The woman across from me looked like a shadow of her former self. Hair damp, robe slipping at her shoulders, wrists trembling against the ropes. My gaze followed a bead of water sliding down her check. It reminded me of blood. I let the quietness stretch. Mia shifted, throat bobbing. Her eyes flicked to the bottle of whiskey in front of me, then back to my face. ¡°H- Hunter¡­¡± Her voice cracked. ¡°I didn¡¯t¨Cthis isn¡¯t what it looks like¡­..¡± I leaned back into the couch, rolling my whiskey ss in my palm though I hadn¡¯t taken a sip. My voice came out quiet, dangerous. ¡°Do you know what I hate most, Mia?¡± She shook her head, her mouth opening to answer. ¡°Noise.¡± I set the ss down with a click, the sound echoing in the dim, empty restaurant. ¡°Excuses. Lies. Whining. It¡¯s all noise.¡± Mia flinched as though the word itself had struck her. I stood, slow and deliberate. My chair scraped against the floor, making her wince harder. I crossed the distance between us and crouched down until my eyes were level with hers. She smelled of expensive wine and soap. Underneath, I caught the sour tang of fear. ¡°You were in my house today.¡± My voice was soft, almost conversational. ¡°My bedroom. My wife¡¯s blood is on the marble staircase. She lost our child.¡± Mia¡¯s lips parted. ¡°It wasn¡¯t¡­I swear¡­.she slipped, Hunter. She came at me, screaming, grabbing¨Cand I¡­.¡± The crack of my hand mming the table beside her cut her words off. ss rattled. She jumped, a strangled cry leaving her throat. I didn¡¯t move. I simply watched her squirm, my face calm, my eyes merciless. ¡°You don¡¯t get to say her name. Not with that mouth.¡± Tears welled in her eyes. ¡°Hunter, please, you have to believe me. I loved you¨CI love you. I would never hurt. you. I would never¡­.¡± I straightened, towering over her. Myugh was low, humorless. ¡°Love? That word?¡± I turned away, pacing a slow circle. ¡°You bought my staff. Paid them to stay quiet. Walked into my home as if I belonged there. And you dare use that word in front of me?¡± Her sob broke the silence. ¡°I just¨CI just wanted you to see she doesn¡¯t deserve you. She never did! You were 3 supposed to be mine!¡± 10 vouchers My hands flexed at his sides. I imagined her falling down the same staircase, her body broken. It would be easy. So easy. One word to Derek, and she would vanish forever. But then I saw Celine¡¯s face in my mind¨Cpale, twisted in grief as she clutched her empty stomach. Her tears, her screams, her me: ¡®If only you had kept Mia away from us. I swallowed fire. Then turned back to Mia. ¡°You think I don¡¯t already know?¡± My voice dropped lower, cach word deliberate. ¡°Every partner tied to you- pulled. Your father¡¯s campaign? Dead in the water. Investors, charities, donors? Gone. I¡¯ve already stripped you bare, Mia. Piece by piece.¡± Her eyes widened, panic overtaking the defiance. ¡°No¨Cno, you can¡¯t¨Cmy father¡­.. ¡°I already did.¡± His tone was so casual that it made her shudder. Behind her, the door creaked open. Derek stepped in, dragging two security guards with him. The three mansion staff were shoved forward, trembling. Ana among them, her eyes darting anywhere but at me. ¡°Tell her,¡± I ordered. Derek shoved Ana forward. She copsed to her knees. ¡°She¨Cshe paid us. Paid us to keep quiet. To say we didn¡¯t hear anything. Please, sir¡­.I didn¡¯t¡­.I didn¡¯t touch madam¡­.¡± Mia¡¯s head snapped toward her, wild. ¡°You liar! You worthless¡­.¡± My hand shot out. I grabbed Mia by the jaw, forcing her face back to mine. My grip was iron, cutting off her words. ¡°Noise,¡± I said again, almost a whisper. Her chest heaved, her eyes watering as I released her with a shove. She slumped against the chair, trembling. I turned to Derek. ¡°Take them out. Fire them. They¡¯ll never work in this city again.¡± Ana sobbed as she was dragged away, begging, but I didn¡¯t flinch. I watched them go until the door mmed shut, silence flooding back into the room. Mia was pale, shaking so hard the ropes bit into her wrists. ¡°You see,¡± I said, adjusting my wristwatch like it mattered, ¡°your little army of rats abandoned you the moment I lifted a finger. That¡¯s the difference between you and me, Mia. You manipte. I end.¡± She broke then. Her sobbing filled the empty restaurant, ugly and loud. ¡°Please, Hunter¡­please¡­.I¡¯ll leave, I¡¯ll disappear, you¡¯ll never see me again. Just don¡¯t¡­.don¡¯t destroy me. Don¡¯t kill me.¡± Official source is find?novel I crouched again, my voice so low she had to strain to hear. 9:07 Sun, Sep 14 ¡°Kill you? No.¡± I tilted my head, studying her with predator calm. ¡°That would be too merciful¡± Her sob hitched, hope flickering and dying in the same breath. 8970 20 vouchers I leaned closer, my lips near her car. ¡°I¡¯m not going to kill you, Mia. I¡¯m going to let you live. And every day, you¡¯ll wonder when I¡¯ll finallye for you. You¡¯ll never sleep without looking over your shoulder. Every knock on your door, every phone call, every stranger on the street¨Cyou¡¯ll think it¡¯s me. That¡¯s worse than death. That¡¯s the only punishment that fits.¡± Mia whimpered, copsing into herself, shaking her head violently. ¡°No¡­please¡­.¡± I stood. My face carved from stone, my shadow long in the dim light. I turned to Vincent, who had been watching silently from the bar, sipping my untouched whiskey. ¡°Cut her loose,¡± Hunter said. ¡°Then throw her out.¡± Mia lifted her head, shocked. ¡°W¨Cwhat?¡± Vincent grinned, wicked and cruel. ¡°You heard the man.¡± ¡°How the great beauty had fallen, you have practically ruined your family, Mia, I always knew you were crazy but this level of crazy¡± Vincent added with a mischievousugh. ¡°Shut¡­shut up¡­.¡± Mia stuttered. ¡°Just shut the fuck up¡± I didn¡¯t wait to see her act crazy, I walked toward the exit, my pace steady, my chest tight w he fire still burning inside me. My wife was broken, my child gone, and this woman dared to still breathe. But as I pushed the door open into the cold night air, I let the thought settle like ice. Death would have been easy. Living with fear¨Cthat was the sentence. And Hunter Reid always made sure sentences were carried out. AD Legacy 215 Chapter 215 -CELINE¡¯S POV- The first thing I felt when I woke was pain. 20 vouchers. Not sharp¨Cno, it was heavier than that. A slow, dragging ache that sat deep inside me, like my body had been hollowed out and filled with lead. I floated in it, pinned down, trapped. The ceiling above me was white, too white. The kind of sterile brightness that made my eyes sting. Machines hummed around me, a steady rhythm, as if the world still had the nerve to keep moving when mine had stopped. My limbs didn¡¯t obey me. They felt drugged, sluggish, like I was trapped under water. A tube pressed against the back of my hand, taped in ce. For a moment, my brain refused to catch up. I was just a woman in a hospital bed. Just tired. Then memory crashed through me. My hand went instinctively to my stomach. t. Empty. My fingers dug harder, searching, praying, begging for a shape, for life. Nothing. My throat squeezed tight. Air jammed in my chest. ¡®No. No, no, no. My baby. My little girl. Gone. The sound that ripped out of me wasn¡¯t a scream. It wasn¡¯t even a real cry. It was small, broken, pathetic¨Clike my voice had splintered the same way my body had. Tears slipped sideways, wetting the stiff pillow under my head. The memories came jagged, like bits of ss: the fall, the shocking jolt of pain, the sound of my body hitting the floor, the metallic taste of blood coating my tongue. And Mia¡¯s face. Ana smirk. Her presence. I clenched my fists, nails digging into the nket. Rage surged hot through the grief, but it didn¡¯tst. It copsed in on itself, folding back into pain. She had taken everything from me. A sob wracked my chest. I bit down on it, but it still broke through, raw and humiliating. The door opened softly. A voice I knew floated in, trembling. 20 voucher ¡°Celine dear¡­.Mrs. Reid? You¡¯re awake.¡± I turned my head slowly. Sally. Her eyes were swollen, rimmed red, her hands clutching a paper bag like it was a lifeline. She set it aside and rushed over, fussing, pulling tissues out like she could wipe away more than just tears. ¡°Don¡¯t cry,¡± she whispered, though she was barely holding herself together. ¡°You need to rest. You lost so much blood.¡± I swallowed, my voice scraping out of me. ¡°My baby.¡± Her hands froze. Her lips pressed tight, trembling. She didn¡¯t answer. She didn¡¯t need to. Her silence was confirmation enough. I closed my eyes. Another wave of sobs wed out of me, sharper this time. When the storm of it eased, I forced one more question. My voice was weak, shredded. ¡°Where¡¯s Hunter?¡± Sally¡¯s pause was heavy. ¡°He¡­.he was here. All night. But he left.¡±¡± The words hit harder than they should have. My brows drew together. ¡°Left? Where?¡± She shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. He didn¡¯t say.¡± I turned my face away, jaw trembling. He¡¯d been here¡­..he¡¯d seen me broken, bleeding, clinging to life¡­and still he left. The anger came slowly, burning from the inside out. ¡°He should have kept her away.¡± ¡°Madam?¡± Sally leaned closer. Discover more novels at f?ndnovel I swallowed, voice tight and bitter. ¡°Mia. If he had kept her away¡­if he had listened¡­our baby would still be here.¡± Sally touched my shoulder carefully, almost afraid. ¡°This wasn¡¯t your fault.¡± But the words bounced off me. Empty. How could I believe her, when the truth pressed down on me like a stone? Silence filled the room, broken only by the steady beeping of the monitor counting out my failure. Each beat another usation: you couldn¡¯t protect her, you couldn¡¯t save her. Sally busied herself quietly, unpacking the bag, folding clothes, trying to fill the air with something other than grief. I stared at the ceiling, numb. But my mind refused to stay still. It circled Hunter, like a vulture. Where was he? What was he doing? Did he feel this hole in his chest the way I did, or was his anger louder than his grief? I pictured him in his office, pouring ss after ss, shutting himself down with whiskey. Or worse¨Cout there, chasing Mia. 20 vouchers A chill ran down my spine. Not fear for her¨CI couldn¡¯t care less what happened to her¨Cbut fear for him. Fear of what revenge would carve out of him. Hunter already carried shadows in his veins, and every time he let them out, they grew darker. And yet¡­another part of me wanted him to. Wanted him to make her bleed, to make her scream, to take from her the way she took from me. I hated myself for wanting it. I hated him for making me need it. Tears came again, quieter this time, leaking steady down my cheeks as I turned into the pillow. I didn¡¯t know what I wanted anymore. The ache in my body wasn¡¯t just physical. It was emptiness. My baby was gone, but her absence was alive inside me. A ghost in my womb. A silence in my chest. I¡¯d known loss before. Abandonment. Loneliness. Being unwanted. But this? This was different. This was my child. My hope. My future. Gone. The door creaked open again. Not Hunter. Just a nurse, checking charts, adjusting tubes. She said something soft, professional, meaningless. I didn¡¯t hear it. My ears were still echoing with the sound of a heartbeat I¡¯d never hear agai When she left, I let my eyes close. I wished¡­..selfishly, pathetically¡­. that Hunter would return, that he¡¯d sit by me, hold me, tell me it wasn¡¯t my fault. I wished for things I knew couldn¡¯te true. Wishing didn¡¯t bring babies back. Hours bled into each other. Sally eventually dozed in the chair, her head tilted, her breathing soft. Machines hummed on. I stayed awake, staring at nothing. My mind wandered to Jesse, to my mother, to the family that had never wanted me. To Hunter¡¯s vows of protection. Promises that felt like lies now. And most of all, to that tiny heartbeat¨Conce alive, now silenced forever. My chest tightened again, but the tears this time were soundless. Just wet trails on my face, proof of how empty I¡¯d be. The door opened onest time. Slowly, quietly, like a secret. A shadow stretched across the room. Hunter. He remained in the doorway, unmoving. Watching me. His tie hung loose, his suit wrinkled, his expression unreadable in the dim light. 9:08 Sun, Sep 14 : I didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t speak. I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep. Because for the first time, I wasn¡¯t sure if I wanted him near me at all. 20 vouchers AD Legacy 216 Chapter 216 -CELINE¡¯S POV- The steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound in the room. 43 EX 55 vouchers Iy still, my body heavy, my chest tight. Every time I drifted into half¨Csleep, I woke the same way¡­.my hand on my stomach, reaching, hoping. Every time, I felt nothing. Just emptiness. My baby was gone. I turned my face into the pillow, hiding from the bright light above. The air smelled of antiseptic and metal. I hated it. I hated this ce, this bed, these walls. I wanted to run, but my body had no strength. The door opened. My heart jumped. I didn¡¯t look right away. I was afraid. Afraid it might be him, afraid it might not. But then I heard his footsteps. Slow. Heavy. Familiar. Hunter. He didn¡¯t rush to me. He stopped by the door, standing in silence. I kept my eyes on the window, blinking at the blurred city lights. If I looked at him, I would break. The bed dipped. His hand hovered close to mine. Not touching. Not yet. ¡°Celine,¡± he said softly. His voice was rough, like gravel. My throat tightened. I didn¡¯t answer. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he whispered. ¡°For everything.¡± The words should have meant something. They didn¡¯t. His hand covered mine atst. Warm. Strong. Once, it used to make me feel safe. Now it burned. ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± I whispered. My voice cracked, small and broken. ¡°Then help me,¡± he said quickly, desperate. ¡°Help me understand.¡± I turned my head atst. Our eyes met. His were bloodshot, dark, empty of sleep. He looked ruined. But instead offort, all I felt was anger rising through the grief. ¡°You promised to protect me,¡± I said, my voice shaking. ¡°You said you would never let her touch me again. And yet¡­.¡± ¡°Mia,¡± he cut in, his jaw tight. ¡°Yes.¡± The word was quick on my tongue. ¡°She was in our home. In our bedroom. She should never have been there. If you had kept her away¡­¡± My breath hitched, tears burning. ¡°Our baby would still be alive.¡± 18:42 Mon, Sep 15 Hunter flinched. His grip loosened, but I didn¡¯t let go. I wanted him to feel it. ¡°Celine¡­.¡± 43 55 vouchers ¡°No.¡± My head shook, tears sliding down my face. ¡°Don¡¯t say it wasn¡¯t your fault. You let her circle us. You knew what she was capable of. And you still¡­¡± My words dissolved into sobs. Hunter leaned closer, voice rough. ¡°I didn¡¯t know she would¡­.¡± ¡°She pushed me!¡± My cry split the air. My hand ripped from his. I curled into myself, arms around my stomach, as if I could shield what was no longer there. ¡°She took our child from me. And I saw Ana watching. She smiled, Hunter. She smiled.¡± Hunter¡¯s face hardened. His fists clenched tight, resting on his knees. He looked like a storm about to break. But I didn¡¯t stop. The pain spilled out, unstoppable. ¡°Do you know what it feels like?¡± My voice trembled, cutting through the room. ¡°To wake up and feel empty? To know the heartbeat inside you is gone¨Cbecause someone hated you enough to steal it? And the man who swore to protect you wasn¡¯t there?¡± His throat moved, but no sound came. His eyes glistened, but no tears fell. He reached for me again, and again I pulled back. ¡°I failed you,¡± he said finally, hoarse. ¡°I failed her.¡± The silence was heavy, pressing down on both of us. I stared at him, trying to see my husband, the man I trusted, the man I loved. All I saw was guilt. And distance. ¡°What now?¡± My voice was bitter. ¡°Do you go after her? Kill her? Will that bring our baby back?¡± His eyes darkened. ¡°I want her to pay.¡± ¡°Of course you do.¡± I let out a brokenugh, sharp and hollow. ¡°But while you chase vengeance, I¡¯m here. Alone. Dying inside. Does that matter to you, Hunter? Or do I have to keep breaking for you to notice me?¡± The words cut him. I saw it in his face. His chest rose hard and fast, but he said nothing. Slowly, he moved closer. His hand shook as he reached for my cheek. This time, I didn¡¯t move away. ¡°I notice you,¡± he whispered. His voice was rough, torn. ¡°I see you, Celine. You are all I see. And I swear, I will not let her hurt you again.¡± Tears stung my eyes. I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to. But the emptiness in me screamed the truth. ¡°You already did,¡± I whispered back. Hunter froze. My words sank into him, sharper than any de. His head dropped. He pressed his forehead to the edge of my bed, his shoulders shaking with silent rage and grief. 18:42 Mon, Sep 15 Official source is f?ndnovel ¡­ : : 43 55 vouchers I turned my face up to the ceiling. Tears slipped into my hair. My heart tore itself apart¡­love, anger, me, longing¡­ all tangled together. I didn¡¯t know if I could forgive him. Not now. Maybe not ever. But in that sterile, silent room, with Hunter¡¯s hand clutching the sheets near mine, we both knew the same thing¨CSomething between us had shattered. And nothing would ever be the same. ** ******* -MIA¡¯S POV- The apartment felt too small. I sat on the couch, knees pulled up to my chest, phone clutched tight in my hands. My heart wouldn¡¯t slow down. Every sound made me jump¨Cthe fridge buzzing, the heater groaning, even the pipes in the wall. Shadows looked like they were moving. Watching me. ¡®Him.¡® Hunter. The thought of his eyes on me made my stomach twist. The phone buzzed again. I flinched so hard I almost dropped it. My screen lit up. ¡®Dad¡® I hesitated, then pressed it to my ear. ¡°Dad?¡± My voice came out small, shaky. ¡°MIA!¡± His roar filled my head. ¡°What the hell did you do?¡± My blood went cold. ¡°W¨Cwhat do you mean?¡± ¡°What do I mean?¡± His fury shook the line. ¡°I just got off the phone with two board members. Investors are pulling out. Overnight. ckwood Industries is bleeding money. My campaign is copsing. Donors are calling one after the other to withdraw support. And do you know what they¡¯re all saying?¡± I swallowed, my throat dry. ¡°W¡­what?¡± ¡°That Hunter Reid made one phone call.¡± His words dripped venom. ¡°One call, Mia. And now every partner, every investor, every donor we had is gone. He cklisted us. Do you understand what that means? Do you understand what kind of power you provoked?¡± My hands shook. ¡°Dad, please, it¨Cit wasn¡¯t my fault. I didn¡¯t push her. She slipped¡­.¡± ¡°You DID something!¡± he roared. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t destroy us like this for nothing. Tell me the truth, Mia. What you do to that woman?¡± did Tears burned my eyes. I shook my head violently, though he couldn¡¯t see me. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to! She grabbed 43 55 vouchers me, she wouldn¡¯t let go¨Cshe slipped, not me!¡± He let out a sound, halfugh, half growl. ¡°Goddamn it, Mia. Do you even hear yourself? Do you what you¡¯ve cost this family?¡± In the background, I heard her voice¡­my mother¡¯s. ¡°Edward, shouting won¡¯t fix it¡­.¡± understand ¡°Shut up, Victoria!¡± His voice cracked like a whip. ¡°This is your fault too. You spoiled her. You encouraged her games. And now look. Look where it¡¯s gotten us!¡± I pressed my palm against my ear, trying to block it, but his fury poured straight into me. His voice dropped, cold as steel. ¡°Fix this, Mia. Or you¡¯re finished. And you¡¯re dragging us down with you.¡± Then the line went dead. I stared at the ck screen, shaking all over. Hourster, the doorbell rang. My heart leapt into my throat. My breath stopped. ¡®He¡¯s here. Hunter. He came to finish it.¡¯ But then-¡°Mia?¡± My mother¡¯s voice. Relief crashed through me so hard my knees went weak. I dragged myself up and opened the door. My mother Victoria swept in like she owned the ce, silk dress brushing the floor, diamonds shing under the lights. She didn¡¯t even look at me at first. She looked around, lips pressed tight, like the air itself disappointed her. Finally, her gazended on me. Sharp. Cold. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk.¡± The sound sliced through me. ¡°You look pathetic,¡± she said tly. ¡°Curled up like a child. Crying over a man who was never yours.¡± My lips parted, but no words came. She stepped closer, heels clicking against the marble floor. Her eyes ran over me like I was dirt. ¡°After all the chances. After all the warnings. And still you couldn¡¯t get him. You wasted years chasing Hunter Reid like a dog after a bone. And now, not only did you fail, you¡¯ve dragged this family into ruin.¡± Tears spilled hot down my cheeks. ¡°You don¡¯t understand¨CI was close, Mom. I was so close. He¨Che would¡¯ve chosen me if she wasn¡¯t there¡­..¡± Herugh was sharp, cruel. ¡°Chosen you? He never wanted you. He pitied you. And now he despises you. Can¡¯t you see it?¡± I clenched my fists. ¡°No. He loved me. He did. Before she came¡­.¡± ¡°Delusions.¡± Her lip curled. ¡°Your obsession blinded you. I told you to let it go. There were other men- dozens of them. Rich. Powerful. Handsome. But you were too busy crawling after someone who never looked at you the same way.¡± ¡­ : 43 55 vouchers Her words cut, but anger burned hot under the tears. ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me like I¡¯m nothing. I¡¯m a ckwood. He should¡¯ve been mine.¡± ¡°Should have,¡± she echoed with disdain. ¡°But he isn¡¯t. And because of you, our name is mud, our fortune is bleeding, and your father¡¯s campaign is sinking like a stone.¡± My teeth bit into my lip until I tasted blood. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault,¡± I whispered. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault.¡± Her eyes narrowed, disgust curling her mouth. ¡°Keep telling yourself that, darling. Maybe one day you¡¯ll believe it.¡± Then she turned and left, her perfume trailing behind her, leaving me in silence. I stared at the empty doorway. My chest hurt. My eyes burned. My heart thudded hard and heavy, like it wanted to tear itself out. Alone. Abandoned. Cornered. And somewhere out there, Hunter Reid was waiting. I curled back onto the couch, clutching the ne I had stolen, the metal digging into my palm. Tears soaked the cushion beneath me. Over and over, I whispered to myself. ¡°I didn¡¯t push her. She slipped. I didn¡¯t push her¡­¡± But even as the words left my mouth, the walls felt like they were closing in. And for the first time in my life- I knew what it felt like to be hunted. Legacy 217 Chapter 217 -HUNTER POV- My phone would not stop ringing. ET 55 vouchers I ignored it, staring at the glowing screen on my desk. Call after call¡­investors, reporters, old business partners¡­..all wanting to know the same thing. The story was everywhere now. ¡®Hunter Reid¡¯s wife Celine rushed to the Hospital After a Mysterious ident.¡¯ I gripped my pen so tightly that it snapped in my hand. I didn¡¯t even flinch at the ink staining my fingers. How had the media gotten this? Who dared leak it? It didn¡¯t matter. I wanted it gone. ¡°Make it disappear,¡± I said tly into the phone. Vincent was on the other end. ¡°I¡¯m already working on it,¡± he replied, calm as ever. ¡°But it spread fast. Gossip sites, tabloids¨Chalf of them won¡¯t care aboutwsuits. They¡¯ll want the clicks.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care how much it costs.¡± My voice was ice. ¡°Take it down. Every single one. I don¡¯t want Celine seeing any of it. She doesn¡¯t need more poison in her life.¡± There was silence for a moment. Then Vincent said, ¡°There¡¯s more. Edward ckwood has been calling nonstop. He wants a private meeting.¡± The sound of that name ripped through my chest. Edward ckwood. The father of the woman who had destroyed everything. My jaw locked. My voice turned cold enough to freeze. ¡°If I haven¡¯t made myself clear before, let me make it clear now. I want the ckwoods erased. Buy their shares. Pull their partners. Cut their funding. By the end of this month, I don¡¯t want their name anywhere in this city. Am I understood?¡± Vincent did not argue. ¡°Understood.¡± I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. My body ached with exhaustion, but my mind would not rest. Nothing would ever be enough to pay for what we had lost. Not when I kept seeing Celine¡¯s face, wet with tears, screaming at me in the hospital. ming me. Flinching from my touch. My chest tightened until I could barely breathe. ¡°Are you eating at all?¡± Vincent asked carefully. ¡°Resting?¡± I gave no reply. ¡°Hunter,¡± he pressed, voice lowering. ¡°If you fall sick, or worse, it won¡¯t help her. It will destroy her. You know that, right? Don¡¯t punish yourself until you¡¯re gone too.¡± 55 vouchers My throat burned. I thought of Celine sobbing, pushing my hands away. Thought of the little body we had lost before it even had a chance to breathe. My daughter. ¡°Maybe she¡¯s better off without me,¡± I whispered. Vincent¡¯s sharp inhale cut through the line. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. She doesn¡¯t mean what she said. She¡¯s in pain. She¡¯s grieving. That doesn¡¯t mean she doesn¡¯t love you.¡± I said nothing. I didn¡¯t know what I believed anymore. Because the truth was simple: a world without Celine was not a world I wanted to live in. When the call ended, I buried my face in my hands. My shoulders trembled though no tears came. My body was too tired even for that. A small sound made me lift my head. At the doorway, a shadow stood. Pajamas, messy hair, clutching a green dinosaur teddy to his chest. Caesar. I straightened, forcing a smile onto my face though my heart cracked wider. ¡°Hey, little man.¡± Caesar padded toward me on small feet. His big blue eyes were wet and worried. ¡°Daddy¡­where is Mommy?¡± I swallowed hard. I bent down and lifted Caesar into myp, his little body warm and soft against me. ¡°Mommy got a little hurt, so the nice doctors are helping her get better.¡± ¡°Will shee home?¡± Caesar whispered. ¡°Yes,¡± I said, my voice breaking. ¡°Yes, she will. Once the doctors are finished, she¡¯lle home.¡± Caesar¡¯s bottom lip trembled. ¡°Can we go see her? Please? I miss Mommy.¡± I pressed a kiss to his hair. ¡°I miss her too. And yes¨Cwe¡¯ll go see her tomorrow.¡± That night, Caesar and I stayed in the kitchen together. I tried to remember how to measure flour, how to mix sugar and butter. Caesar was covered in white dust within minutes,ughing when he spilled half the bowl, but I didn¡¯t scold him. I onlyughed too, even though my chest still ached. ¡°We¡¯re making Mommy¡¯s favorite cookies,¡± Caesar said proudly, holding up the lumpy dough with sticky hands. ¡°Yes,¡± I said softly, kissing his forehead. ¡°She¡¯ll love them.¡± The next morning, I was strapping Caesar into the backseat of the car when my phone buzzed again. My mother. Eleanor. I ignored it. ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? FindN0vel It buzzed again, this time Caroline. My cousin, calling from Greece. I sighed and picked up. ¡°Caroline.¡± Her voice was urgent. ¡°Hunter, I just saw the news. What happened? Is Celine okay?¡± I gripped the steering wheel. For once, I told the truth. ¡°She¡¯s¡­.not okay. She¡¯s alive. But she lost the baby.¡± 19:01 Mon, Sep 15 ?? 40 55 vouchers Caroline gasped. ¡°Oh, my God. Hunter, I¡¯m booking the next flight back. I don¡¯t care if I¡¯m on my honeymoon. Frederick won¡¯t mind¡­..¡± ¡°No,¡± I cut her off. ¡°Stay. I¡¯m handling it. I don¡¯t want you here for this. I don¡¯t want you to see her like this.¡± Caroline¡¯s voice cracked. ¡°Hunter, don¡¯t shut people out. She needs you. You need support too.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m handling it.¡± My tone was final. I ended the call before she could argue. I looked at Caesar in the rearview mirror. The boy was humming to himself, holding the basket of misshapen cookies proudly on hisp. My throat tightened. I drove in silence. At the hospital, a doctor pulled me aside before I could go into Celine¡¯s room. ¡°Mr. Reid, your wife is healing well physically. But emotionally¡­it will take time. She may need therapy. Perhaps a couple counseling for both of you.¡± My face hardened. ¡°No. I don¡¯t need therapy.¡± The doctor studied me. ¡°Are you sure? Often the spouse is just as affected. Sometimes even more. You can¡¯t bury grief and expect it to disappear.¡± I said nothing. I turned away and walked to the VIP ward. Inside, Sally was sitting by Celine¡¯s bed, knitting with tired hands. She quickly stood when I entered, but I shook my head. ¡°Please, don¡¯t stress yourself.¡± My eyes went to the bed. Celiney there, thinner already, her face pale and fragile, lips pressed tightly as though even breathing was painful. She hadn¡¯t eaten. She hadn¡¯t spoken. ¡°How is she?¡± I asked quietly. Sally sighed. ¡°She hasn¡¯t touched food. She hasn¡¯t said a word. She just¡­ exists.¡± My chest twisted. I motioned to Caesar. ¡°Go say hello to Mommy.¡± The boy nodded eagerly. He carried the basket to the bed, standing on his toes. ¡°Mommy,¡± he said, his voice hopeful. ¡°Look, I made cookies for you.¡± Celine¡¯s eyes opened slowly. She looked at him. For a moment, I prayed. But then she turned her face away to the other side. Caesar froze, clutching the basket. His small face crumpled with confusion. ¡°Mommy?¡± he whispered again. My heart cracked wide open. I knelt beside my son. ¡°Sally,¡± I said hoarsely. ¡°Please take Caesar outside.¡± The old woman nodded, gently leading the boy away. Caesar kept ncing back at his mother, eyes full of tears. The door closed. The silence pressed down like a weight. 19:01 Mon, Sep 15 I moved closer to the bed. My voice trembled. ¡°Celine.¡± No answer. I reached for her hand, then stopped midair, afraid she would flinch again. 40 55 vouchers I lowered my voice to a whisper. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to fix this. I don¡¯t know how to take away your pain. But I¡¯m here. I¡¯m not going anywhere. Even if you hate me. Even if you can¡¯t look at me.¡± My voice broke, and I pressed my forehead against the edge of the bed. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± The silence swallowed my words whole. Celine didn¡¯t move. I stayed there anyway. Because even if she never forgave me, I would not leave her. Not ever. Legacy 218 Chapter 218 -MIA POV- My phone wouldn¡¯t stop buzzing. 37 B55 vouchers I sat on the edge of my bed, hair still damp from the shower, robe clutched tightly around me. The apartment was too quiet except for the insistent vibration echoing against the nightstand. I didn¡¯t want to look. I didn¡¯t want to hear. But I couldn¡¯t stop myself. I reached for the phone with shaky fingers. It wasn¡¯t a call this time. It was a voice note. My father¡¯s voice filled the room, loud, furious, impossible to ignore. ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve done? Our shares are crashing¨Cour partners are pulling out one after another. Edward ckwood being refused calls by Hunter Reid, humiliated like a beggar! Is that what you wanted for me, Mia? To beughed at?!¡± Another buzz. Another voice note. ¡°Fix this! I don¡¯t care what you have to do, you ¡®fix this!¡®¡± The sound of ss shattering in the background. Then silence. I pressed the phone to my chest, trembling. My father¡¯s rage was nothing new, but this¡­this was different. The panic in his voice. The helplessness. He had always been untouchable, but now¡­ he sounded small. And it was my fault. Or¡­ no. Not my fault. ¡®Celine¡¯s.¡¯ She slipped. She fell. She wasn¡¯t pushed. I repeated the words like a mantra, even as bile wed at my throat. The phone buzzed again. This time it was Jessica. I almost picked up. But I didn¡¯t want to hear the pity in her voice¨Cor worse, the gossip. Because by now Jessica knew. They all knew. The news of my father¡¯spany unraveling, the whispers about me being cut off by Hunter Reid. The thought made my stomach twist. I dropped the phone back on the bed. Sat frozen. Then¡­.without thinking¡­.I scrolled down my contacts and pressed ¡®Eleanor Reid¡® It rang once. Twice. No answer. My lip trembled. I was about to throw the phone when it rang again. Eleanor. I swallowed hard and answered. ¡°Mrs. Reid,¡± I breathed, trying to sound calm. ¡­ 12:48 Wed, Sep 17 . 37 E55 vouchers. A pause. Then Eleanor¡¯s cool, sharp voice: ¡°Mia. Why are you calling me?¡± It was like a p. Once, Eleanor had purred my name like an ally, a confidante. Now she sounded bored. Distant. I gripped the phone tighter. ¡°Please. Can we meet? I¡­.I need to talk to you. It¡¯s important.¡± Another pause. Then, reluctantly: ¡°Fine. Social club. Half past three.¡± The line went dead. *** By the time I arrived at the club, my nerves were raw. I had forced myself into my best designer dress, curled my hair, and painted my lips, but none of it hid the tremor in my hands. I pushed through the heavy ss doors¡­..and froze. Eyes turned. Heads tilted. Whispers rippled through the room like poison in water. Once, when I entered, envy had followed. Admiration. Now there was onlyughter muffled behind manicured hands. My heels clicked too loudly against the marble floor as I walked. My chest tightened. I wanted to scream, ¡®stop staring at me!¡®¨Cbut I kept my chin up, forcing myself forward. At the corner table, Eleanor sat like a queen. Perfectly dressed, a ss of champagne in hand. Around her, three other women from the old circles leaned in, whispering, giggling. My throat went dry. Eleanor¡¯s gaze slid upzily as I approached. She gave me a once¨Cover, slow and deliberate, then lifted her ss. ¡°Mia,¡± she said, with a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°What a¡­ surprise.¡± The other women chuckled into their drinks. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find_Novel(. My stomach knotted. I forced myself to sit, clutching my clutch so hard my knuckles whitened. ¡°Thank you for meeting me,¡± I said, voice trembling despite my effort to steady it. Eleanor sipped her drink, unbothered. ¡°Of course. I do worry about your family. What Hunter¡¯s done¡­.it¡¯s rather¡­ dramatic, isn¡¯t it?¡± The way she said ¡®dramatic¡® made the other women titter. I swallowed. ¡°You¡­you have to help me. You know your son. Please, talk to him. Tell him I didn¡¯t mean for any of this to happen. He¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Atst, Eleanor looked at me directly. And I hated the way it felt¨Clike I was a bug under ss. 12:48 Wed, Sep 17 .. ¡°My dear,¡± Eleanor said softly, ¡°Hunter doesn¡¯t listen to me either. Surely you know that by now.¡± I blinked. ¡°But¡­..¡± ¡°And,¡± she continued, voice growing sharper, ¡°I have no desire to get in the middle of¡­ this.¡± ¡°This?¡± I whispered. 37 55 vouchers ¡°You provoked him,¡± Eleanor said simply, adjusting her ring. ¡°You must understand, Mia. My son can be¡­ terrifying when crossed. I know this better than anyone. And yet¨Cyou still poked the beast.¡± The other womenughed. Not loud. Just soft enough to sting. My chest heaved. ¡°I didn¡¯t! I swear¡­.I didn¡¯t push her. She¡­she slipped. It wasn¡¯t me¡­.¡± ¡°Oh, Mia.¡± Eleanor almost sounded amused. ¡°Do you think excuses matter to him now?¡± My eyes burned. I leaned forward, desperate. ¡°Please. Please, you know I¡¯ve always been on your side. I stood with you when everyone else doubted you. I helped. Doesn¡¯t that mean anything?¡± Eleanor¡¯s smile was razor¨Cthin. ¡°It meant something when you were useful. But now? You¡¯ve only brought trouble. And Hunter hates trouble.¡± It was like the ground dropped beneath me. My heart pounded. The whispers, the stares, Eleanor¡¯s cold smile -it all pressed in until I could hardly breathe. ¡°You¡­you¡¯re abandoning me?¡± I whispered. Eleanor finally leaned closer, lowering her voice so only I could hear. ¡°I love my grandchildren, Mia. I will always fight for them. But you? You are not my child. You are not even his woman.¡± My vision blurred. I felt humiliated. Betrayed. Stripped bare in front of women who once envied me. My stomach churned like I might throw up right there on the marble floor. Eleanor leaned back, raising her ss. ¡°Good luck, Mia.¡± And that was it. I sat frozen, shaking, while theughter bubbled around me like daggers. For the first time in my life, I understood what it felt like to be prey. By the time I mmed my apartment door behind me, my knees nearly buckled. The hallway mirror caught me, mercilessly. Mascara smudged, lipstick fading, dress wrinkled. Not Mia ckwood. Not anymore. I stumbled into the living room and copsed onto the couch, clutching my clutch to my chest like it was armor. 12:48 Wed, Sep 17 My ears still rang withughter. Eleanor¡¯s cold smile. The whispers. 37 55 vouchers ¡°Useful,¡± I whispered to the empty room, voice breaking. ¡°I was ¡®useful.¡® That¡¯s all I ever was to her.¡± The phone buzzed again. Jessica. I ignored it. Couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her false concern, secretly delighting in my downfall. Then another buzz¨Cnews alert: ¡°Breaking News: ckwood Industries in Freefall. Edward ckwood is Silent.¡± My throat closed. I swiped the screen away, fingers trembling. The apartment suddenly felt too quiet. Too empty. The walls pressed closer. I stood abruptly, pacing the floor. Every creak sounded too loud. Every shadow stretched too long. My eyes darted to the balcony window. Was someone watching me? I pulled the curtain shut. Then opened it again, just to make sure. Nothing. Just city lights. Myugh cracked, brittle. ¡°You¡¯re losing it, Mia.¡± But the feeling wouldn¡¯t leave. The crawling awareness at the back of my neck. The certainty that Hunter was out there, somewhere, watching. I wrapped my arms around myself, pacing faster. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t¡­ He couldn¡¯t¡­¡± But the memory of his eyes thest time I saw him¡­.dark, cold, unblinking¡­.made me shiver so hard my teeth chattered. He ¡®could.¡® My phone buzzed again. Another voice note. My father¡¯s voice, harsher, more desperate. ¡°Everything is falling apart, Mia. Everything! Our name¨Cour legacy¨Cyou¡¯ve dragged it into the dirt. Hunter won¡¯t pick up my calls. Investors areughing at me. ¡®Do you understand?¡® You¡¯ve destroyed us!¡± The message ended with heavy breathing. Then silence. I dropped the phone onto the couch like it burned. My father hated me. Eleanor had abandoned me. Jessica circled like a vulture, And Hunter¨CHunter was waiting. I felt it in my bones. He was going to strike, and I wouldn¡¯t see iting. My pulse roared in my ears. I grabbed a wine bottle from the counter, sloshing liquid onto my hands as I poured it into a ss. I downed it in one gulp, gasping, then poured another. The alcohol burned, but it didn¡¯t calm me. My eyes flicked to the door. To the shadows by the bookshelf. To the sliver of darkness under the bedroom door. 12:48 Wed, Sep 17 ¡­ 37 65 vouchers Everywhere, I imagined movement. I staggered to the bedroom, flung the door open¡­.empty. I yanked the closet wide¡­empty. Dropped to my knees, pulled up the bedskirt¡­.empty. Myugh was high, shaky. ¡°See? Nothing. Nothing there.¡± But I didn¡¯t believe it. My phone buzzed again. I shrieked, flinching, clutching the wine ss so hard it cracked in my hand. Blood welled across my palm. The screen lit up. A text from Jessica: ¡°Mia, people are saying Hunter¡¯sing for you. Be careful.¡± The ss slipped from my hand and shattered. My breath came too fast, too sharp. My hands shook violently as I backed into the wall, eyes darting to the door. He wasing. Of course he was. He¡¯d taken my father¡¯s power, our money, our respect. The only thing left to take was ¡®me. My mind spun. Should I pack? Run? Switzend¡ªyes, I had told my assistant Switzend. But what if Hunter already knew? What if he was waiting at the airport? My stomach lurched. I stumbled to the bathroom, barely making it to the sink before retching. When I lifted my head, my reflection stared back at me. Pale. Wild¨Ceyed. Not Mia ckwood. A ruined girl. Tears blurred my vision. I gripped the counter, whispering, ¡°I didn¡¯t push her. She slipped. She slipped. It wasn¡¯t me¡­¡± But even as the words left my lips, I didn¡¯t believe them anymore. I curled up on the bedter, in the dark, unable to move. Every sound outside¨Cthe hum of a car, the m of a door, footsteps in the hall¨Csent me bolting upright, heart racing. At one point, I swore I heard his voice. My name. Low. Right outside the door. I held my breath until my chest ached. When I finally dared to look¨Cnothing. Just silence. By dawn, I hadn¡¯t slept. My eyes were swollen, my throat raw from whispering excuses to the empty room, And still, the feeling never left. Hunter wasing. I just didn¡¯t know when. Legacy 219 Chapter 219 -CELINE POV- The room was too quiet. ?? 37 E56 vouchers Iy on my side, staring at the pale wall. The machine near my bed beeped softly, steadily, reminding me that I was alive when I didn¡¯t want to be. My body felt heavy, like stone. My stomach hurt, but not as much as my chest. Not as much as the emptiness. I had thought I would still feel her moving. That maybe it was all a mistake, and the doctor was wrong. But there was nothing. Only silence inside me. My throat burned. I wanted to scream, but no sound came out. My voice had died the moment they told me I¡¯d lost the baby. The door creaked. I didn¡¯t move. Hunter¡¯s footsteps came closer, slow and careful. He said my name softly, like he was afraid of breaking me. His voice used to bring warmth. Now it made me ache. The bed dipped when he sat beside me. I shut my eyes tighter. If I looked at him, I might hate him. I might forgive him. I didn¡¯t know which would hurt more. ¡°Celine,¡± he whispered again. ¡°Please eat something. Please talk to me.¡± My lips parted, but no words came. What could I say? That I med him? That I med myself? That I hated Mia so much my heart felt poisoned? My body shook. Tears slipped from the corners of my eyes, soaking the pillow. His hand hovered close, but he didn¡¯t touch me. He knew why. I had pulled away before. Good. Let him feel what it was like to be unwanted. To be helpless. My breath hitched. A sound escaped¡­.half sob, halfugh. I didn¡¯t even know which it was. Hunter¡¯s voice broke beside me. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I¡¯m so sorry, Celine.¡± I curled tighter into myself, wrapping my arms around my empty stomach. Sorry, couldn¡¯t bring her back. Sorry couldn¡¯t erase the picture of Mia¡¯s cruel smile before she fell. And worst of all, sorry couldn¡¯t erase the truth: I had chosen this life. Chosen Hunter. And because of that choice, my daughter was gone. The weight of that truth crushed me until I wanted to disappear. 12:49 Wed, Sep 17 -VINCENT¡¯S POV- 37 55 vouchers I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, ncing at the woman beside me. ke sat with her arms crossed, lips pursed, ring out the window like she hadn¡¯t spoken to me in days. ¡°Alright,¡± I sighed, ¡°what¡¯s the silent treatment for this time?¡± She didn¡¯t even look at me. ¡°The florist.¡± I blinked. ¡°The what?¡± ¡°That little shop across my apartment.¡± She finally turned, eyes narrowing. ¡°The one you slowed down in front of. Don¡¯t y dumb. You were practically eye¨Cfucking the poor girl through the ss.¡± I snorted. ¡°Jesus, ke. I was getting flowers.¡± ¡°Oh sure.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Getting flowers. That¡¯s what we¡¯re calling it now?¡± I gripped the wheel tighter, trying not tough. ¡°So you¡¯re jealous?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself.¡± She flicked her hair back. ¡°You just¡­ You just made it very clear from the beginning that this thing between us is casual. I¡¯m only giving you my time because you¡¯re good in bed. That¡¯s it.¡± I turned sharply at a light, smirking at her. ¡°So, yes. You¡¯re jealous.¡± Her silence told me more than words. The way her cheeks heated and she stared even harder out the window. I chuckled under my breath. ke scoffed but didn¡¯t fight back. After a beat, her tone softened. ¡°Is Celine still not talking to anyone?¡± I exhaled, some of my humor fading. ¡°No. Not even Caesar. Not even Hunter. She¡¯s¡­ shut down. Thinks pushing everyone away will ease the pain.¡± ke sighed, her hand tugging at her seatbelt. ¡°God. Poor girl. She was glowing, you know? The day she told me she was pregnant¡­ she was so happy. Like nothing could break her.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I murmured, my throat tight. ¡°Hunter too. He was¡­ softer. Different. Hopeful in a way I hadn¡¯t seen before. And now¡­¡± I trailed off, the steering wheel groaning under my grip. ke finished for me, whispering, ¡°Now they¡¯re both drowning.¡± I nodded. ¡°And if we don¡¯t pull them out, this grief will eat them alive.¡± **** The hospital loomed ahead, too white, too barren. I pulled into the parking lot, killed the engine, and for a moment neither of us moved. ke touched my arm gently. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out. We have to.¡± 37 55 vouchers Inside, I found Hunter hunched in a waiting room chair. He looked like hell. Dark circles under his eyes, beard unshaven, tie long forgotten. The Hunter Reid who usually owned every room he stepped into now looked like a man who¡¯d been hollowed out. ¡°Jesus, you look like shit,¡± I muttered, trying to keep it light. He nced up. His lips tugged half¨Cheartedly. ¡°Thanks, Vincent. Really needed that confidence boost.¡± ke nudged me with her elbow, shooting me a re, before she crouched beside Hunter. ¡°How are you holding up?¡± He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. ¡°Doctor thinks¡­ therapy might help.¡± He almostughed at the word, but it came out choked. ¡°Couples therapy. As if sitting in a room with strangers talking about it will fix¡­¡± He broke off, swallowing hard. I looked at him. ¡°And why not? You¡¯re already here, wasting away in this hospital chair. If it¡¯s the one thing that might bring her back to you, isn¡¯t it worth trying?¡± ke nodded firmly. ¡°She won¡¯t hear it from you right now. But maybe¡­ maybe I can talk to her. She needs a friend. Not a husband. Not a man. Just someone to sit beside her and let her be broken for a while.¡± Hunter¡¯s jaw clenched, but after a moment he nodded. ¡°Try. Please.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ke straightened and pointed at me. ¡°And you? Don¡¯t do anything stupid. Keep your dick in pants. This hospital is crawling with pretty nurses and I don¡¯t trust you.¡± your I grinned at her retreating back as she disappeared toward Celine¡¯s room. Hunter raised a brow. ¡°So¡­ you and ke, huh?¡± I shrugged. ¡°She¡¯s not bad.¡± A smirk tugged at my lips. ¡°And she fucks good.¡± Hunter groaned, dragging a hand over his face. ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡± We sat in silence for a while, just the sound of machines and distant footsteps echoing through the hall. Finally, I leaned forward. ¡°The ckwoods,¡± I muttered. ¡°Tonight, it all burns. Shares are already copsing. By morning, they¡¯ll have nothing left.¡± Hunter¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Edward¡¯s been calling. Causing a scene.¡± ¡°Want me to handle it?¡± I offered. ¡°No. Let him scream into the void. If he crosses a line, have him arrested. Disturbance of peace. But don¡¯t waste time on his tantrum.¡± I nodded, studying him. His fingers tapped against his knee, restless, but his face was unreadable. ¡°And you? 12:49 Wed, Sep 17 -CELINE POV- The room was too quiet. 37 55 vouchers Iy on my side, staring at the pale wall. The machine near my bed beeped softly, steadily, reminding me that I was alive when I didn¡¯t want to be. My body felt heavy, like stone. My stomach hurt, but not as much as my chest. Not as much as the emptiness. I had thought I would still feel her moving. That maybe it was all a mistake, and the doctor was wrong. But there was nothing. Only silence inside me. My throat burned. I wanted to scream, but no sound came out. My voice had died the moment they told me I¡¯d lost the baby. The door creaked. I didn¡¯t move. Hunter¡¯s footsteps came closer, slow and careful. He said my name softly, like he was afraid of breaking me. His voice used to bring warmth. Now it made me ache. The bed dipped when he sat beside me. I shut my eyes tighter. If I looked at him, I might hate him. I might forgive him. I didn¡¯t know which would hurt more. ¡°Celine,¡± he whispered again. ¡°Please eat something. Please talk to me.¡± My lips parted, but no words came. What could I say? That I med him? That I med myself? That I hated Mia so much my heart felt poisoned? My body shook. Tears slipped from the corners of my eyes, soaking the pillow. His hand hovered close, but he didn¡¯t touch me. He knew why. I had pulled away before. Good. Let him feel what it was like to be unwanted. To be helpless. My breath hitched. A sound escaped¡­.half sob, halfugh. I didn¡¯t even know which it was. Hunter¡¯s voice broke beside me. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I¡¯m so sorry, Celine.¡± I curled tighter into myself, wrapping my arms around my empty stomach. Sorry, couldn¡¯t bring her back. Sorry couldn¡¯t erase the picture of Mia¡¯s cruel smile before she fell. And worst of all, sorry couldn¡¯t erase the truth: I had chosen this life. Chosen Hunter. And because of that choice, my daughter was gone. The weight of that truth crushed me until I wanted to disappear. ¡­ : 37 B55 vouchers -VINCENT¡¯S POV- I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, ncing at the woman beside me. ke sat with her arms crossed, lips pursed, ring out the window like she hadn¡¯t spoken to me in days. ¡°Alright,¡± I sighed, ¡°what¡¯s the silent treatment for this time?¡± She didn¡¯t even look at me. ¡°The florist.¡± I blinked. ¡°The what?¡± ¡°That little shop across my apartment.¡± She finally turned, eyes narrowing. ¡°The one you slowed down in front of. Don¡¯t y dumb. You were practically eye¨Cfucking the poor girl through the ss.¡± I snorted. ¡°Jesus, ke. I was getting flowers.¡± ¡°Oh sure.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Getting flowers. That¡¯s what we¡¯re calling it now?¡± I gripped the wheel tighter, trying not tough. ¡°So you¡¯re jealous?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself.¡± She flicked her hair back. ¡°You just¡­ You just made it very clear from the beginning that this thing between us is casual. I¡¯m only giving you my time because you¡¯re good in bed. That¡¯s it.¡± I turned sharply at a light, smirking at her. ¡°So, yes. You¡¯re jealous.¡± Her silence told me more than words. The way her cheeks heated and she stared even harder out the window. I chuckled under my breath. ke scoffed but didn¡¯t fight back. After a beat, her tone softened. ¡°Is Celine still not talking to anyone?¡± I exhaled, some of my humor fading. ¡°No. Not even Caesar. Not even Hunter. She¡¯s¡­ shut down. Thinks pushing everyone away will ease the pain.¡± ke sighed, her hand tugging at her seatbelt. ¡°God. Poor girl. She was glowing, you know? The day she told me she was pregnant¡­ she was so happy. Like nothing could break her.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I murmured, my throat tight. ¡°Hunter too. He was¡­ softer. Different. Hopeful in a way I hadn¡¯t seen before. And now¡­¡± I trailed off, the steering wheel groaning under my grip. ke finished for me, whispering, ¡°Now they¡¯re both drowning.¡± I nodded. ¡°And if we don¡¯t pull them out, this grief will eat them alive.¡± The hospital loomed ahead, too white, too barren. I pulled into the parking lot, killed the engine, and for a moment neither of us moved. ke touched my arm gently. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out. We have to.¡± 12:49 Wed, Sep 17 37 E55 vouchers. Inside, I found Hunter hunched in a waiting room chair. He looked like hell. Dark circles under his eyes, beard unshaven, tie long forgotten. The Hunter Reid who usually owned every room he stepped into now looked like a man who¡¯d been hollowed out. ¡°Jesus, you look like shit,¡± I muttered, trying to keep it light. He nced up. His lips tugged half¨Cheartedly. ¡°Thanks, Vincent. Really needed that confidence boost.¡± ke nudged me with her elbow, shooting me a re, before she crouched beside Hunter. ¡°How are you holding up?¡± He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. ¡°Doctor thinks¡­ therapy might help.¡± He almostughed at the word, but it came out choked. ¡°Couples therapy. As if sitting in a room with strangers talking about it will fix¡­¡± He broke off, swallowing hard. I looked at him. ¡°And why not? You¡¯re already here, wasting away in this hospital chair. If it¡¯s the one thing that might bring her back to you, isn¡¯t it worth trying?¡± ke nodded firmly. ¡°She won¡¯t hear it from you right now. But maybe¡­ maybe I can talk to her. She needs a friend. Not a husband. Not a man. Just someone to sit beside her and let her be broken for a while.¡± Hunter¡¯s jaw clenched, but after a moment he nodded. ¡°Try. Please.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ke straightened and pointed at me. ¡°And you? Don¡¯t do anything stupid. Keep your dick in your pants. This hospital is crawling with pretty nurses and I don¡¯t trust you.¡± I grinned at her retreating back as she disappeared toward Celine¡¯s room. Hunter raised a brow. ¡°So¡­ you and ke, huh?¡± I shrugged. ¡°She¡¯s not bad.¡± A smirk tugged at my lips. ¡°And she fucks good.¡± Hunter groaned, dragging a hand over his face. ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡± ** We sat in silence for a while, just the sound of machines and distant footsteps echoing through the hall. Finally, I leaned forward. Checktest chapters at f?ndnovel ¡°The ckwoods,¡± I muttered. ¡°Tonight, it all burns. Shares are already copsing. By morning, they¡¯ll have nothing left.¡± Hunter¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Edward¡¯s been calling. Causing a scene.¡± ¡°Want me to handle it?¡± I offered. ¡°No. Let him scream into the void. If he crosses a line, have him arrested. Disturbance of peace. But don¡¯t waste time on his tantrum.¡± I nodded, studying him. His fingers tapped against his knee, restless, but his face was unreadable. ¡°And you? 12:49 Wed, Sep 17 How are you coping?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± I snorted. ¡°Bullshit.¡± ¡­ His lips pressed into a thin line. He didn¡¯t answer. Just stared at his hands. Then¨Che broke. 1373 E55 vouchers Right in front of me. He bent forward, covering his face with his palms, his shoulders shaking. I froze. I¡¯d known Hunter Reid since our first year of college. I¡¯d seen him tear apart boardrooms, dismiss women like they were disposable toys, and manipte billion¨Cdor markets with a flick of his hand. He was the untouchable one, the unshakable one. But this¡­ This wasn¡¯t the man everyone else knew. This was a father mourning a child. A husband terrified he¡¯d lost his wife¡¯s heart. A man crushed under the weight of a grief too big for him to carry. I almost reached out. Almost touched his shoulder. But my hand stopped midair, useless. I had no idea how to fix this. A voice cut through the silence. ¡°Hunter?¡± Both of us turned. Caroline stood at the door, suitcase by her feet, eyes wide. She stared at Hunter¨Cthe mess of him, the tears streaking his face. The bag dropped from her hand as she rushed forward, falling to her knees beside him. ¡°Oh my God.¡± Her arms wrapped around him tight, like she could hold his broken pieces together by sheer force. ¡°Hunter¡­¡± And Hunter finally let himself cry. Right there, in his cousin¡¯s arms. And for the first time since all this began, I saw him not as the Hunter Reid the world feared¨Cbut as a man who had lost everything that mattered. 11 Legacy 220 -CELINE POV- The world had shrunk to the size of a hospital room. White walls. The steady beeping of the heart monitor. The faint antiseptic sting in the air. That was it. That was my world now. Iy on the bed, curled slightly to one side, the nket tucked around me. My hands kept drifting to my stomach out of habit, brushing over the gown, searching for something that wasn¡¯t there anymore. Each time my palm met only tness, my chest tightened until I thought I might choke. I hadn¡¯t spoken in two days. Not to Sally. Not to the nurses. Not even to Hunter. Especially not to Hunter. Every time he came in, every time I heard his deep voice murmuring my name, I turned my face to the wall. I couldn¡¯t look at him. I couldn¡¯t hear the words he tried to say. If I did, I was afraid the scream inside me would tear its way out, raw and endless. I¡¯d lost my baby. And in my mind, in the part of me that refused to let go of me, it was his fault. The door creaked open. My body stiffened, expecting his heavy footsteps, the scent of his cologne. My throat closed up, ready to stay silent again. But instead, a lighter tread padded across the floor. Then a voice, soft but tinged with something sharp, like steel wrapped in velvet. ¡°Wow, you look like hell.¡± I blinked, my head snapping slightly toward the sound. ke. She stood at the edge of the room, a paper bag in her hand. Her Auburn hair was pulled back, her eyeliner slightly smudged like she hadn¡¯t slept much either. But her eyes¡­.those cutting, mischievous eyes¡­¡­studied me with something I didn¡¯t expect. Not pity. Not judgment. Just¡­ awareness. She set the bag on the table by the bed and dragged the chair closer, plopping down with a sigh. ¡°You know, I had to fight your dragon husband just to get in here. He practically wanted to frisk me.¡± A small huff escaped me, more air than sound. I wasn¡¯t even sure if it counted as augh or just a reminder that my lungs still worked. ke leaned back in the chair, crossing her legs. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I didn¡¯t bring balloons or flowers. Too clich¨¦. I brought contraband.¡± She reached into the bag and pulled out a small container. ¡°Chocte¨Ccovered almonds. Don¡¯t tell the nurse.¡± The smell drifted over¡­sweet, nutty, rich. My stomach twisted, not from hunger but from memory. I used to crave these in the early weeks, when the baby was just a little secret between me and Hunter. My eyes stung, and I quickly turned my face toward the window, blinking hard. ke¡¯s voice softened. ¡°He¡¯s worried about you, you know. Hunter. He looks like a wreck. Hasn¡¯t shaved. Vincent says he¡¯s starting to smell like he¡¯s allergic to showers¡± I swallowed, my throat dry. My lips parted, but no sound came out. ¡°He¡¯s breaking,¡± ke said simply, no dramatic ir, no sugarcoating. ¡°And so are you.¡± The bluntness made me flinch. I pulled the nket tighter around me, wishing I could crawl beneath it and disappear. ke leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. ¡°I¡¯m not here to tell you to forgive him. I wouldn¡¯t forgive him either. Not yet. Maybe not ever. What I¡¯m saying is¨Cyou can¡¯t keep punishing yourself like this.¡± My breath caught. I turned sharply, my eyes locking onto hers. ¡°Punishing myself?¡± My voice was hoarse, cracked from disuse, but the anger inside gave it fuel. ¡°I lost my baby, ke. My baby. Do you know what that feels like?¡± Her eyes flickered. A shadow crossed her face, quick and raw. She sat back, lips pressing together before she spoke. ¡°Yes,¡± she said quietly. ¡°I do.¡± The room went still. The monitor beeped steadily, filling the silence. I stared at her, my anger faltering, confusion slipping in. She didn¡¯t exin, but something in her voice told me it was true. Maybe not the same way. Maybe not the same loss. But pain was pain. ke shrugged, trying to act casual, though her eyes betrayed her. ¡°Point is¨Cyou can¡¯t shut the world out. Not Caesar. Not forever.¡± At the sound of my son¡¯s name, my chest constricted. ¡°He came here,¡± ke continued softly. ¡°He brought cookies. Your favorite. Hunter helped him bake them. Do you know how much of a disaster that must¡¯ve been? Flour everywhere. Burnt edges. The poor kid stood there holding that basket like it was a treasure, and you¡­.¡± She trailed off, biting her lip. Tears blurred my vision. I had turned away. I couldn¡¯t look at him. My little boy. My sweet Caesar. ke leaned closer, her voice firmer now. ¡°You think pushing him away will protect him? It won¡¯t. It¡¯s killing him. And it¡¯s killing you too.¡± 14:00 Sep 18 56 I shook my head violently, the tears spilling now. ¡°I can¡¯t. I can¡¯t look at him. If I do, I¡¯ll see¡­¡± My voice broke, a sob tearing free. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I lost. I¡¯ll see the little brother or sister he¡¯ll never have because of me.¡± ke¡¯s hand touched mine, firm but not forcing. ¡°Not because of you.¡± I pulled away, curling my fingers into fists. ¡°Because of Hunter. Because of Mia. Because I was stupid enough to believe I could have happiness in this house.¡± The bitterness in my voice shocked even me. ke didn¡¯t flinch. She nodded slowly. ¡°Then hate them. Be angry. You have every right. But don¡¯t shut out the people who love you. Caesar doesn¡¯t deserve that. And neither do you.¡± I broke then. The sobs ripped through me, shaking my body, soaking the pillow. I cried until my chest ached, until my throat burned. ke sat with me the whole time. No useless words. No false promises. Just her presence. When the storm eased, Iy there trembling, exhausted. ke finally spoke, her tone almost gentle. ¡°Do you love him?¡± My breath hitched. I knew who she meant. Hunter. The image of his face shed in my mind¡­.those broken eyes when he told me the truth about the baby, the way his voice cracked when he tried to touch me. Th?s chapter is updated by ?ovelFind ¡°Yes,¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible. ¡°But I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s enough anymore.¡± ke studied me, then stood, smoothing her clothes. ¡°That¡¯s for you to decide. But don¡¯t wait too long. Because that man out there? He¡¯s drowning. And I don¡¯t think he knows how to swim without you.¡± I closed my eyes as fresh tears welled. When I opened them, she was gone. The room felt too quiet, too big again. But her words remained, echoing through the hollow space in my chest. Did I love him enough to let him back in? Or did my grief matter more than whatever future we had left? I didn¡¯t know. ¨¢ll I knew was that the silence was unbearable, and for the first time since the ident, I wished I weren¡¯t alone. ** -HUNTER POV- I hated hospitals. The sterile air. The buzzing lights. The faint smell of disinfectant clung to your clothes long after you left. But most of all, I hated the way they made you feel powerless. 215 VOUGHNES Like money, power, status¨Call of it meant nothing when the person you lovedy behind a door you couldn¡¯t open. Celine was in there. And I was out here. I sat in the hallway, elbows on my knees, my hands pressed hard against my face. My beard scratched against my palms. I hadn¡¯t bothered to shave in days, hadn¡¯t bothered with anything beyond being here, in case she called for me. Except she hadn¡¯t. Not once. Every time I stepped into that room, she turned away. Her body went rigid, her silence sharper than any words she could have spoken. It gutted me. The sound of footsteps pulled me out of my thoughts. Vincent leaned against the wall across from me, arms crossed, wearing that annoyingly smug look he always wore when he thought he knew better. Beside him, ke adjusted her jacket and nced at me like I was some pathetic stray dog she wasn¡¯t sure was worth saving. Vincent grinned. ¡°Jesus, Hunter, you look like a homeless man who wandered into a billionaire¡¯s hospital by mistake. You ever heard of a razor?¡± I didn¡¯t rise to the bait. Couldn¡¯t. My energy was gone. My voice scraped low when I asked, ¡°How is she?¡± ke studied me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. ¡°Broken. But breathing. You need to give her space.¡± Space. That was all she ever wanted from metely. And every time I gave it, I felt like I was losing her all over again. Vincent stepped forward, pping a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Man, you gotta eat. Sleep. You think falling apart is gonna help her?¡± I shook my head, the weight pressing down on me unbearable. ¡°She mes me. And she¡¯s right. I should¡¯ve seen iting. I should¡¯ve stopped Mia¡­..¡± Vincent cut me off sharply. ¡°You didn¡¯t cause this. Don¡¯t start carrying sins that aren¡¯t yours.¡± I let out a bitterugh, low and humorless. ¡°Says the man who hasn¡¯t watched the woman he loves flinch from his touch.¡± The words hung there, heavy and raw. 14:58 Thu, Sep 18 86 ke shifted ufortably, but Vincent just studied me with something close to pity. I hated it. I didn¡¯t want pity. I wanted my wife back. I wanted my child back. I wanted time to rewind itself and give me one more chance not to fail her. ¡°The doctor suggested couples counseling,¡± I muttered, my throat tight. ke raised a brow. ¡°And?¡± ¡°And she won¡¯t even look at me. How the hell am I supposed to sit her down in a room and ask her to talk about feelings when she won¡¯t say a damn word to me?¡± Vincent crouched so we were eye level, his usual arrogance dimmed. ¡°Then you wait. You fight like hell for her, Hunter. You don¡¯t let grief turn you into a coward.¡± Something inside me cracked. My hands trembled. For days I¡¯d been holding myself together, pretending I could carry this weight, pretending I could still be the Hunter Reid everyone expected¨Cthe untouchable billionaire, the ruthless shark. But I wasn¡¯t untouchable. Not anymore. My vision blurred, and before I could stop it, a tear slid down my cheek. Then another. My chest heaved, the sobs ripping out of me like a dam breaking. I hadn¡¯t cried in years. Not since my father died. Now I couldn¡¯t stop. Vincent¡¯s eyes widened, and for once he was silent. ke looked away, giving me the dignity of not watching me unravel. And then-¡°Hunter?¡± The voice was soft, female, and achingly familiar. I turned. Caroline stood at the end of the hall, her suitcase still in hand, her hair pulled back, her eyes wide with shock. She took in the sight of me..her cousin, always soposed, always in control¨Csitting there shattered. She dropped her bag. ¡°Hunter,¡± she whispered again, and then she was running. I barely had time to rise before she threw her arms around me. I clung to her like a lifeline, burying my face in her shoulder, shaking with grief I couldn¡¯t contain. Caroline¡¯s voice trembled as she held me. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t have to be strong right now. I¡¯m here. We¡¯ll get through this. Both of you.¡± For the first time since the world had fallen apart, I let myself believe maybe that was true. Maybe. But as I clung to my cousin in that hospital hallway, one truth echoed louder than all the rest: If I lost Celine for good, I wouldn¡¯t survive it. Legacy 221 : Chapter 221 -CELINE¡¯S POV- The quietness in the hospital room was deafening. A 87 55 vouchers Iy there, staring at the ceiling, letting the steady beep of the monitor fill the empty space. For days I had pushed everyone away. Even Caesar. My own son. The guilt of that alone should¡¯ve drowned me, but I couldn¡¯t bear to let him see me like this¡­fragile, broken, unable to smile. And Hunter¡­ I hadn¡¯t let him close either. But tonight, my chest ached with a different kind of need. I wanted him here. I needed him here. ¡°Sally,¡± I whispered, my voice hoarse from hours of silence. ¡°Can you¡­ can you find Hunter for me?¡± The old woman¡¯s eyes softened. She patted my hand gently, then slipped out. And I waited. My fingers curled in the sheets, my body tense with a mixture of dread and anticipation. The door opened. Hunter stepped in. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n F¦ÉndNovel My breath caught at the sight of him. His hair was unruly, his jaw dark with stubble. His shirt sleeve hung were half way unbuttoned, shirt was wrinkled. He looked nothing like the man whomanded boardrooms, who graced magazine covers, who carried power like a second skin. This man looked haunted. For a long moment, neither of us spoke. He just stood there, his gaze locked on me like he wasn¡¯t sure I was real. ¡°I asked for you,¡± I finally said, breaking the silence. Something shed in his eyes. Relief, maybe. He crossed the room slowly, as though afraid I¡¯d change my mind. When he reached my bedside, he sat on the edge, close enough that his warmth reached me. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± he murmured. His voice was rough, low. ¡°I¡¯ll always be here.¡± My throat tightened. I wanted to believe that, God, I wanted to. ¡°Hunter,¡± I whispered, my fingers twitching against the sheets. ¡°I don¡¯t want grief to ruin us.¡± 10:05 Fri, Sep 19 His head snapped toward me, eyes sharp, almost desperate. 55 vouchers ¡°But I don¡¯t know¡­¡± My voice cracked. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can ever forget. Or forgive. Not you. Not Mia. Not what happened.¡± I saw the way his body stiffened, the pain that carved deeper lines into his face. He didn¡¯t argue. He didn¡¯t beg. He just nodded once, slowly, like he¡¯d already prepared for this answer. ¡°I won¡¯t ask you to forgive me,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Or her. Not now. Maybe not ever. All I ask¡­¡± His hand hovered over mine, hesitant, then finally rested against my fingers. Warm, trembling. ¡°¡­is time. Let us heal together. One step at a time.¡± My lips parted, my chest aching with a thousand unsaid words. ¡°I don¡¯t even recognize myself anymore,¡± I whispered. He gave a faint, brokenugh. ¡°You think you don¡¯t recognize yourself? Look at me. Haven¡¯t shaved in days. Barely eaten. I look like hell, don¡¯t I?¡± I blinked at him, then let out a weak, wateryugh. ¡°You really do. You look like¡­ like some billionaire who got kicked out of his mansion and decided to sleep on a park bench.¡± The sound that left him was almost augh. Almost. His hand squeezed mine. And then the tears came. I tried to hold them back, but the dam broke, and I sobbed¨Cloud, ugly, heartbreaking sobs that shook my entire body. Hunter leaned forward, gathering me in his arms. His embrace was tight, desperate, like he was afraid I¡¯d vanish if he let go. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± he whispered into my hair. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Celine. For everything.¡± I buried my face in his chest, my fists gripping his shirt. ¡°I wanted her so much. Our baby. I wanted her.¡± ¡°I know,¡± he murmured, his own voice breaking. ¡°I wanted her too. More than anything. But you¡¯re here. You¡¯re still here. And I can¡¯t lose you too.¡± His lips pressed against my temple, tender, lingering. Then, almost hesitantly, he kissed me. Soft, reverent, full of aching love. When we pulled apart, both of us were shaking. ¡°I spoke with the doctor,¡± Hunter said, brushing a strand of hair from my face. ¡°He suggested¡­ couple¡¯s counseling. To help us through this.¡± I blinked at him, surprised. The idea of Hunter Reid¨Cthe most stubborn man alive¨Cagreeing to therapy almost made meugh again. ¡°You?¡± I asked, arching a brow through my tears. ¡°Couple¡¯s counseling? What, are you going to sit in a circle and talk about your feelings, Mr. Billionaire?¡± 10:05 Fri, Sep 19 ¡­ : 87 55 vouchers He gave me a half¨Csmile. ¡°If that¡¯s what it takes to keep you¡­ I¡¯ll do it.¡± My heart squeezed. I didn¡¯t answer. I couldn¡¯t. But I let my head rest against his shoulder. For now, that was enough. He breathed out, his arms tightening around me. Then his lips brushed my ear. ¡°You have guests.¡± I frowned, lifting my head. ¡°Guests?¡± As if on cue, the door creaked open. Caroline¡¯s voice rang out first, bright and teasing. ¡°Is it safe to enter, or are we interrupting some tragic love scene?¡± Iughed a genuineugh this time, watery but real. ¡°Come in.¡± Caroline practically sprinted to my bedside, dropping her handbag and wrapping me in a careful but fierce hug. ¡°Oh my God, I¡¯ve missed you. Are you okay? No, stupid question¨Cyou¡¯re not okay. But I¡¯m here. And Frederick too.¡± Her husband gave a gentle smile from the doorway, lifting a small gift bag in greeting. ¡°She made me cut our honeymoon short. Said her best friend needed her more than Santorini sunsets.¡± I grinned through my tears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­..¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare apologize,¡± Caroline cut in. ¡°You¡¯re worth more than a thousand honeymoons.¡± Behind them, ncey and Vincent appeared, followed by ke. The room suddenly felt warmer, brighter. ¡°Look at you,¡± I said, pointing weakly at ke. ¡°What are you doing here? What about work?¡± ¡°Apparently my boss decided i needed the off and I love being dragged into your circus,¡± she teased, sliding into a chair. Vincent smirked. ¡°Circus is urate. Especially considering ke and I¡­¡± Hunter groaned. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± ¡°What?¡± Caroline gasped, eyes widening. ¡°You two?¡± ke crossed her arms, rolling her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t make a big deal out of it.¡± ¡°Toote,¡± Caroline giggled. ¡°Oh my God, finally! I thought he might die single¡± Even Frederick chuckled, shaking his head. Hunter muttered something about his friend being insane. For the first time in what felt like forever, Iughed so hard my stomach hurt. The sound startled me, but it felt good. Healing. Then I asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Caesar?¡± The room quieted slightly. Hunter reached for my hand again. ¡°Sally took him home earlier, but she¡¯s bringing him here soon. He misses you.¡± 10:05 Fri, Sep 19 My chest ached. My sweet boy. I nodded, blinking back tears. ¡°I miss him too.¡± 487 87 E 55 vouchers And for the first time in days, I felt a fragile spark of hope. Surrounded by love, held by Hunter¡¯s steady presence, I thought maybe¡­.just maybe¡­..we could survive this. É« Legacy 222 Chapter 222 -HUNTER¡¯S POV- 55 vouchers The new staff stood in a line like recruits waiting for inspection. Their eyes shifted nervously, some gripping their folders so tightly their knuckles whitened. I sat across from them in my study, sleeves rolled up, jaw clenched. One week, three days. That¡¯s how long it had been since the hospital call that gutted me. Five days of bncing boardrooms and hospital rooms, revenge and regret. And now¡­..this. A house that needed order. I leaned forward, steepling my fingers. ¡°Let¡¯s get one thing clear,¡± I said, voice low but harsh. ¡°This house doesn¡¯t run on gossip. It doesn¡¯t run on secrets. It runs on discipline. You follow the rules. You give respect where it¡¯s due. Thedy of the house¡­¡­¡± I paused, letting their gazes follow the weight of those words. ¡°¡­.is away recovering, but she¡¯ll be back soon. When she does, she is your boss. If I hear otherwise, if I hear even a whisper of disrespect toward her, I won¡¯t fire you.¡± My mouth curled. ¡°I¡¯ll erase you. Understand?¡± Heads bobbed, nervous yes¨Csirs echoing around the room. Good. I waved Sally forward. ¡°Assign their duties. Make sure they learn the house inside out.¡± She nodded, taking over. I stood, buttoning my jacket, my chest already tightening at the thought of the hospital. Caesar and Celine. That¡¯s all that mattered now. I slid into the car and started down the drive, only to curse under my breath as a ck sedan swerved to block the gates. The guard detail shifted immediately, but I already knew who it was when the door cracked open. Edward ckwood, The man looked like hell. His once¨Cpressed suit was wrinkled, tie askew, the arrogance drained from him and reced with desperation. His eyes darted, wild. He stumbled forward, only to be caught by my security. ¡°Reid!¡± His voice cracked. ¡°We need to talk!¡± I pushed the door open, stepping out slow, deliberate. The spring air was cool, but inside me, fire burned steady. This was the man whose daughter had wed her way into my life, whose greed and games had cost me my child. Edward strained against the guards. ¡°You¡¯ve destroyed my family¡­.my business¡­¡­everything!¡± Th?s chapter is updated by find¡¤novel I smirked coldly, tilting my head. ¡°No, Edward. Your daughter did that. I only¡­finished the job.¡± 10:06 Fri, Sep 19 87 His face twisted, rage bleeding into despair. ¡°She made mistakes¡­.she didn¡¯t mean¡­..¡± 55 vouchers ¡°Save your excuses.¡± My voice cut like a de. ¡°You raised her. You taught her entitlement, maniption, obsession. You should¡¯ve known the fire you were feeding. And now you want me to pity you?¡± Edward sagged against the men holding him, his shoulders shaking. He looked less like the powerful ckwood patriarch and more like a broken drunk on the street. I stepped closer, lowering my voice so only he could hear. ¡°You thought the ckwood name was untouchable. It¡¯s not. I¡¯ll make sure your family¡¯s legacy is ash. You want someone to me?¡± I leaned in, eyes locking on his. ¡°me your daughter.¡± I straightened, flicking my hand. ¡°Get him out of here. If he resists, call the cops. Or deal with him quietly. I don¡¯t care which.¡± The guards dragged him back, his curses echoing down the drive as the gate swallowed him. I slipped back behind the wheel, pulse steady, face nk. But inside¡­inside, there was no satisfaction. Breaking another man didn¡¯t bring my daughter back. **** By the time I pulled into the hospital, exhaustion was dragging at my bones. I smoothed my jacket, grabbed the flowers from the seat beside me, and stepped into the lobby. The familiar antiseptic scent wed at my throat. I hated hospitals. Always had. And then, as if the universe wanted to mock me further, I saw her. ¡°Hunter,¡± my mother¡¯s voice floated across the lobby like poisoned silk. I stopped dead, muttering a curse. Of all days. She stood near the reception, diamonds glittering at her throat, hair pulled into her signature chignon. To anyone else, she looked the perfect society matriarch¡­poised, untouchable. But to me, she was poison wrapped in silk. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± My tone was sharp, tired. Her lips curved in a practiced smile. ¡°I came to see my daughter¨Cinw. Surely you can¡¯t begrudge a mother that.¡± I barked augh, humorless. ¡°Daughter¨Cinw? The one you refuse to acknowledge? Don¡¯t insult me, Mother. If you¡¯ve finally lost your mind, I¡¯ll be happy to reserve you a room in the madhouse. There¡¯s always space for one more Reid.¡± Her smile faltered, just a twitch, but she masked it quickly. ¡°Must you always be so cruel? I¡¯m only concerned. The poor girl¡­¡­.. 10:06 Fri, Sep 19 ¡­ 87 55 vouchers ¡°Stop.¡± I turned to face her fully, eyes sharp. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare pretend concern for her. Celine is lying in that bed because you forced Mia into our lives. You handed her the matches and then act surprised when the house burned.¡± Her eyes narrowed, her hand tightening around her clutch. ¡°Hunter¡­..¡± ¡°No.¡± My voice rose, sharp enough to draw nces from a nurse behind the desk. I didn¡¯t care. ¡°If you had a shred of conscience, a shred of decency as a mother, you¡¯d turn around and leave. Whatever drama you came here to stir¨Ctake it elsewhere. Because if you bring it near her, near my family, I swear you¡¯ll regret it.¡± For once, Eleanor Reid had no words. She stared at me, lips parting, eyes glittering with unspoken rage. I turned away, not sparing her another nce, and stalked toward the elevator. ** The ride up was silent, but my chest still burned. I gripped the flowers so tightly the stems snapped, water dripping onto my hand. I didn¡¯t even notice until the elevator doors slid open. The corridor smelled faintly ofvender cleaner, a poor attempt to cover the sterility. I walked toward her room, heart thudding faster with each step. The door cracked open just as I reached it. ncey stepped out. For a heartbeat, we just stared. He looked at me, then at the flowers in my hand, his expression unreadable. I braced myself for bad news, for words I wasn¡¯t sure I could survive. But instead, he offered a small smile. ¡°She¡¯s resting. You can go in.¡± The tightness in my chest eased, just a bit. I nodded, grip loosening on the ruined flowers. ¡°Thank you,¡± I murmured, and stepped past him into the room where the woman I loved¡­.and almost lost¡­.waited. AD Comment Send gift Legacy 223 -CELINE POV- :.. 420 12 50 vouchers The room was quiet, almost too quiet, the kind of stillness that makes your own thoughts sound louder than they should. The television hummed faintly in the background with cartoons, but Caesar had already drifted off, curled up on the small couch with his dinosaur teddy pressed tight to his chest. His lips were parted in soft sleep, checks flushed in a way that made my heart ache. Even in dreams, he seemed to wait for me to smile at him. I folded one of Caesar¡¯s little sweaters into the overnight bag. My hands trembled slightly. Not because of the weight of the fabric, but because of everything I still hadn¡¯t said out loud. Hunter wanted us to try couple¡¯s therapy. Tomorrow, he said. Together. The word echoed in my mind, pudgy and hopeful all at once. Together. A soft knock broke my thoughts. I turned, and ncey stepped into the room, his tall frame shadowing the doorway. ¡°You¡¯re still packing?¡± he asked gently, eyes darting to Caesar. I forced a small smile. ¡°Almost done. We¡¯ll be out of here soon. I think he¡¯sfortable though.. doesn¡¯t want to leave.¡± ncey¡¯s gaze stayed on the boy for a moment before he walked closer. His smile didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡°And you? Are youfortable?¡± The question caught me off guard. I hesitated, thenughed softly, a sound that felt brittle in my throat. ¡°Do I lookfortable to you?¡± His lips curved upward, but I could see the strain there. ¡°You do. At least, you make it look like you are.¡± For a second, I froze, my folded sweater pressed too tightly between my hands. The words almost made me falter. It was strange, the way grief could hollow you out and still leave you walking, talking, pretending. I set the sweater down and sighed. ¡°Hunter mentioned couple therapy. He thinks¡­ maybe it will help us.¡± ¡°Therapy,¡± ncey repeated, voice t. ¡°Yes,¡± I said quickly, as if defending Hunter. ¡°I told him we could try. Maybe it will stop us from falling into pieces.¡± I turned back to the bag, feeling his eyes burn into my back. My fingers fumbled with the zipper. Then, without warning, ncey stepped forward. 15:06 Sat, Sep 20 His arms slipped around me. :0 A 57 95 vauchers I froze. My whole body locked up as if the world had gone still. His warmth pressed against me, heavy, insistent, and yet my heart didn¡¯t flutter¡­..it raced with panic. ¡°ncey,¡± I whispered. My voice came out too soft, uncertain. He didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he buried his chin lightly against my shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t say anything. Just let me have this moment. Please.¡± The plea in his tone made my chest tighten, but it wasn¡¯t the kind of ache that came with love¡­..it was pity. Carefully, slowly, I ced my hands over his and began to ease them away. His grip tightened, reluctant, desperate. ¡°ncey¡­¡± He held on longer than he should have, and the silence stretched. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, I spoke again, this time steadier. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Truly. I know I don¡¯t look it, but I¡¯ve made a choice.¡± His arms loosened slightly. ¡°What choice?¡± This text is hosted at Find_Novel(. I turned in his hold just enough to meet his eyes. His face was close¡­¡­too close. ¡°The choice to keep moving forward. To stop letting grief eat me alive. I know nothing I do can bring my child back, ncey. Nothing. But I still have Caesar. I still have a family. And I won¡¯t let them see me break.¡± I let my gaze drift toward the couch where my son slept, peaceful in a way I hadn¡¯t been for weeks. A faint smile tugged at my lips. ¡°He¡¯s what I want to protect now.¡± ncey followed my gaze, but when he looked back at me, his expression was in. He reached fingers brushing lightly across my cheek. up, his ¡°Hunter doesn¡¯t deserve you, Celine. He¡¯s ruined you, hurt you more than anyone should bear. You¡¯re too good for him. Too good for this world. I pray that in another life¡­ you find love early, without the pain.¡± The tenderness in his words cut deeper than I expected. But it wasn¡¯t temptation¨Cit was sorrow. I swallowed hard and shook my head. ¡°I do have love, ncey. I have it now. Hunter may be wed, he may have hurt me, but his love¡­¡± I breathed in, steadying myself. ¡°His love for me is enough. It¡¯s all I¡¯ve ever wanted.¡± ncey¡¯s lips pulled into a pained smile. His hand remained, hesitant to leave. ¡°You really love that asshole, don¡¯t you?¡± Augh escaped me before I could stop it. It was soft, a little broken, but real. ¡°More than life itself.¡± The words left no space for doubt. ncey let out a low sigh, shaking his head. ¡°Then I envy him. Because if I had a woman who loved me like that¡­ I¡¯d never let her go.¡± 444 4767 2.4G voucher ¡°You¡¯ll find her,¡± I told him gently. ¡°A woman who¡¯ll return every ounce of love you give.¡± His eyes glimmered, but the smile that curved his lips was faint and weary. ¡°Even if the only woman I want is standing right here?¡± The air tightened between us. I stepped back slightly, creating the space I needed. My voice softened, but I kept it firm. ¡°I can¡¯t love you back, ncey. My heart belongs to one man. It always will.¡± The truth settled between us like ss¨Cfragile, sharp, impossible to ignore. For a moment, he didn¡¯t move. Then he nced at his watch, chuckling under his breath as though mocking himself. ¡°You really know how to break a man¡¯s heart, Celine.¡± He straightened his jacket. ¡°I have to go. Tell Caesar Uncle ncey left, alright?¡± ¡°ncey¡­¡± He waved me off gently, leaning down to brush a quick kiss against my cheek. The touch was brief, fleeting, but it left me stiff. ¡°Take care of yourself,¡± he murmured. I nodded once. ¡°You too.¡± He stayed at the door, onest look at me, then at Caesar, before he finally left. The sound of the door closing felt louder than it should have. Alone again, I pressed a hand to my stomach¨Can instinctive habit, one that still hurt every time. My eyes burned, but no tears came this time. I looked at Caesar, and whispered into the silence, ¡°We¡¯ll be okay.¡± I turned back to the half¨Cpacked bag, forcing myself to focus. That¡¯s when the door opened again. This time, it was Hunter. He stood there holding a bouquet of flowers, the sight so startlingly gentle it undid something inside me. His eyes found mine instantly, searching, questioning, almost as if he could sense the ghost of ncey still hanging in the room. ¡°I hope I didn¡¯t keep you waiting,¡± he said, voice low, cautious. A smile tugged at my lips, small but real. ¡°You¡¯re enough, Hunter. Always.¡± Legacy 224 : Chapter 224 -HUNTER POV- T 50 youchers The nurse had just finished signing off the discharge papers when I stood, flowers in hand, watching Celine gather herself slowly. She looked smaller somehow, like the hospital walls had pressed her into something fragile. Even now, as she pulled on her cardigan, I couldn¡¯t shake the image of her in that bed with monitors beeping around her. ¡°Ready?¡± I asked, my voice lower than I meant. She nodded without speaking. Caesar had fallen asleep on the couch in the room, his dinosaur toy tucked under his chin, his mouth the innocent way only a child¡¯s could be. I scooped him up carefully, settling him against my shoulder. He stirred but didn¡¯t wake. open in I carried my son with one arm and reached for the hospital bag with the other. Sally made a move to help, but I shook my head. I didn¡¯t want anyone else touching Celine¡¯s things. Not today. Not ever again if I could help it. Celine walked beside me slowly. I didn¡¯t offer to carry her¨Cit would insult her¨Cbut I matched her pace, step for step, in case she faltered. She didn¡¯t. The hallways were too bright. Too white. I hated them. When we reached the car, I opened the door for her, set Caesar gently in the back, and buckled him in before going around to the driver¡¯s side. For a long moment, I sat there with the engine off, staring straight ahead, both hands on the wheel. ¡°Hunter,¡± she said softly. I turned to her. She looked tired, yes, but her eyes held something steadier than they had all week. ¡°Drive,¡± she whispered. So I did. The city slipped by in silence at first. Caesar snored lightly in the back. I kept looking at Celine, then back at the road, then at her again. The hospital smell clung to her clothes, and I wanted to rip it away. I wanted her wrapped only in things that felt like home. But words rose in my throat, too heavy to hold back. ¡°I let go of every staff member who failed you,¡± I started. My hands tightened on the wheel. ¡°The maids who 10:44 Sun, Sep 21 74 55 vouchers) took Mia¡¯s bribes, even Ana, the guards who turned a blind eye. They won¡¯t work in this city again. I made sure of it.¡± She turned her face toward the window, quiet. ¡°I¡¯ve already started recing them. Trained, loyal, discreet. I gave Sally the authority to arrange their duties, but they know¨Cyou¡¯re theirdy of the house. They answer to you.¡± Still silence. I pushed harder, words spilling faster now. ¡°The ckwoods are finished. Edward¡¯spany is crumbling, investors running. I told Vincent to buy out the profitable shares, bury them so deep they¡¯ll never w their way back. It won¡¯t undo what Mia did, but¡­¡­.¡± Her hand moved suddenly. She reached across the console and touched mine. I froze. The engine hummed beneath us, the city lights flickering across her face. Her palm rested lightly over my hand where it gripped the gear shift. ¡°Hunter,¡± she said, her voice steady. I looked at her, searching for anger, for the sting of old wounds. Instead, I found something else. Resolve. ¡°I don¡¯t want to know,¡± she whispered. ¡°Not about Mia. Not about her father. As long as I never see them again, I¡¯m fine.¡± The words cut through me. I¡¯d expected fury, or questions, or even bitterness. Instead, she was choosing peace. Choosing us. ¡°I thought you¡¯d want¡­¡­¡± I began, but she shook her head. ¡°No revenge. No shadows of them in our home. I want¡­¡± She swallowed hard, her hand still over mine. ¡°I want space to breathe again.¡± For a long second, I couldn¡¯t answer. My chest burned. Then I flipped my hand andced our fingers together. Her grip tightened just slightly, but it was enough. More than enough. ** *** Caesar stirred then, his voice groggy and small. ¡°Papa?¡± I nced into the rearview mirror. He rubbed his eyes, blinking at us. ¡°Yes, buddy?¡± ¡°Are we going home?¡± The word ¡°home¡± struck me deeply. I met Celine¡¯s eyes. She was smiling faintly at Caesar, but her fingers hadn¡¯t let go of mine. 10:44 Sun, Sep 21 A 74 E55 vouchers ¡°Yes,¡± I said. My throat felt thick. ¡°We¡¯re going home.¡± The mansion gates opened as the car rolled in, the new security team stiff at their posts. I¡¯d drilled them hard these past days¨Crespect, silence, loyalty. Nothing less. Celine¡¯s eyes flicked to the manicured hedges as we pulled into the driveway, as though she was trying to measure how much of this ce still belonged to her. I wanted to tell her all of it. Every inch. Every corner. I parked. Caesar was already wriggling free of his seatbelt, dinosaur clutched in his hand. ¡°Home!¡± he shouted, jumping out the moment I opened his door. His feet hit the gravel, and he ran toward the front steps with the wild joy only a child could summon. Celineughed softly at him. The sound was weak, but it was real. I came around to her side, opened her door, and offered my hand. She hesitated, then slid her fingers into mine and let me help her up. Her body leaned lightly against me for bnce, and I wanted to hold her there forever. Inside, the staff I¡¯d approved of stood waiting in a neat line¡­four housemaids, a butler, and a cook. Their faces were calm, their posture deferential. Sally stood just behind them, overseeing. ¡°Wee home, Mrs. Reid,¡± the butler said, bowing slightly. Celine blinked, caught off guard. She looked at me. I squeezed her hand. ¡°You heard him,¡± I said. ¡°This is your house. Always was.¡± Her lips parted, but no sound came. She just nodded and allowed me to guide her past them. The living room glowed with softmplight. I¡¯d had flowers brought in¨Cfresh arrangements of her favorites, white lilies and pale pink roses. Their scent filled the space. Celine stopped just inside the doorway, her gaze sweeping over the room, thennding on Caesar, who was sprawled across the carpet, dinosaur toy stomping loudly against the coffee table. She sank slowly onto the sofa, watching him, her hand lifting unconsciously to her stomach before she caught herself and lowered it. My chest twisted. I knelt in front of her, still holding her hand. ¡°Strange to be home again?¡± I asked quietly. Her eyes softened. ¡°Yes.¡± A pause. ¡°But good.¡± 10:44 Sun, Sep 21 of us. 74 65 vouchere I swallowed. ¡°I lost our baby because of Mia. Because she was in our home. Because you¡­¡­¡± My voice broke. ¡°¡­..you didn¡¯t see it. You didn¡¯t protect us.¡± The silence after was louder than any scream. Hunter¡¯s mouth twitched, but he didn¡¯t look away. ¡°And you think I don¡¯t carry that every second of the day?¡± His voice rose, raw. ¡°You think I don¡¯t rey it, wondering what if I¡¯d thrown create boundaries, what if I¡¯d guarded you better, what if I hadn¡¯t been so fucking blind?¡± The curse jolted me. His hand was clenched on his knee, his knuckles bone¨Cwhite. ¡°You were blind,¡± I spat, before I could stop myself. ¡°She walked into our bedroom. Our bedroom, Hunter. How do you think that felt? To see her there, to see her smirk and talk down to me like I was nothing?¡± His head dropped forward, like the words physically struck him. Then he looked up, eyes ssy with something fierce. ¡°I told you¡­..¡± His voice cracked. ¡°I told you she meant nothing. That you were everything. But you never believed me.¡± ¡°Because she was always there!¡± I snapped. My chest was heaving now, my palms damp. ¡°Always in your shadow, always in the corners of your world. Do you know what that does to someone? To feel like you¡¯re just¡­ a ceholder while everyone waits for the real woman to step in?¡± Hunter flinched, like I¡¯d pped him. ¡°You think you¡¯re a ceholder?¡± His voice dropped low, trembling with fury and pain. ¡°Celine, I built this entire goddamn life around you. I tore apartpanies, burned bridges, cut my own mother out¡­..because of you. And you still sit here and say you¡¯re nothing?¡± My vision blurred. I hated the tears rising. ¡°Then why wasn¡¯t it enough? Why wasn¡¯t I enough to keep safe?¡± Thest words ripped out of me, torn from a ce deeper than anger. They were grief dressed in rage. Hunter shut his eyes, pressing his fingers hard into his temples. His chest rose and fell too fast. For a long time, he didn¡¯t speak. Then, in a voice that was almost a whisper: ¡°Because I failed you.¡± Something in my stomach twisted. Hearing him say it¨Cnot defensively, not in anger, but as a confession- should have satisfied me. Instead, it made the air heavier. Dr. Maxwell finally leaned back, his eyes calm but sharp. ¡°What I hear,¡± he said, ¡°is two people drowning in me. One pointing outward, one inward. But me doesn¡¯t keep you afloat. It pulls you both under.¡± Neither of us spoke. Hunter¡¯s hand shifted slightly on his knee, like he wanted to reach for me. He didn¡¯t. (74) 55 vouchers Dr. Maxwell let the silence stretch before continuing. ¡°I¡¯m not asking either of you to forgive yet. Or forget. That¡¯s not the work of today. The work is honesty. You¡¯ve said what you¡¯re holding. Now sit with it. Sit with the ugliness. Sit with how much it hurts.¡± I clenched my fists in myp. The room was too warm, the air too stuffy. Every second beside Hunter felt painful and necessary all at once. ?????? ???? Find~Novel Finally, Dr. Maxwell stood, not dramatically, just enough to signal. ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. Next time, we¡¯ll start with the grief under the anger. But for now¨Cleave here knowing you told the truth. That¡¯s more than most couples manage.¡± Hunter didn¡¯t move. Neither did I. When the session ended, he rose first, offering me his hand automatically, like habit. I stared at it, trembling. Then, slowly, I ced mine in his. We walked out together, silent, but still tethered. Legacy 225 Chapter 225 -CELINE POV- The rain trailed behind us as we headed to the clinic that morning. E55 vouchers It wasn¡¯t pouring, just a drizzle that blurred the windows and cast a dreary shade over everything. Hunter remained quiet as he drove, one hand gripping the steering wheel and the other tightly held on his thigh, as if he might cause himself injury. I wanted to say something¡­.about the weather, about Caesar¡¯s new obsession with dinosaurs, anything that didn¡¯t matter. But my throat stayed locked, and the silence stretched until we parked. The same waiting room. The samemp glows. The same rug. I hated how familiar it already felt. Dr. Maxwell nodded at us when we entered. ¡°Wee back. Sit.¡± Hunter and I sat side by side on the couch. He was close enough that his shoulder brushed mine when he shifted, but his eyes stayed down. Dr. Maxwell folded his hands. ¡°Last time, we touched on anger. Today, I want us to move underneath that. Anger is often armor. What¡¯s it hiding?¡± My stomach twisted. My mouth was dry. I opened it, then shut it again. Hunter beat me to it. His voice was low, hoarse. ¡°It hides guilt.¡± I turned toward him, startled. He still wouldn¡¯t look at me. ¡°I keep thinking,¡± he went on, his fingers digging into his knees, ¡°about that day. If I had told the guards not to let anyone in. If I had made that decision sooner. If I had¡­..¡± His voice broke. He swallowed hard. 66 ¡°¡­¡­if I¡¯d just been there.¡± I stared at him. His jaw was trembling. Hunter Reid, who always looked untouchable, was trembling. Dr. Maxwell nodded gently. ¡°So you punish yourself with what¨Cifs.¡± Hunter gave a small, bitterugh. ¡°Every morning. Every night. I can¡¯t close my eyes without seeing her fall.¡± ¡£(57), 55 vouchers Something broke down inside me. I¡¯ve been so wrapped in my own pain, my own me, I hadn¡¯t stopped to see how haunted he looked in the quiet moments. The shadows under his eyes. The way he avoided the nursery. But then the words tumbled out of me before I could stop them. ¡°And I keep thinking maybe it¡¯s my fault too.¡± Hunter¡¯s head whipped toward me. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± ¡°I was the one who grabbed her,¡± I whispered. ¡°I saw that ne and I snapped. If I had just let it go, if I hadn¡¯t reached for it¡­..¡± ¡°Celine,¡± he said snappily, and his voice was shaking now. ¡°No. Don¡¯t you dare do that. Don¡¯t you dare put that on yourself.¡± The tears came hot, unstoppable. ¡°But I did. I fought her. I let her get maybe if I¡¯d been calmer, stronger, maybe¡­..¡± under my skin. And Hunter caught my wrist suddenly, his grip desperate. ¡°Stop. Just stop.¡± His eyes were wet, the kind of wet that made my chest ache. ¡°You think I can live with myself if you start carrying that too? You think I can breathe knowing you me yourself?¡± I blinked at him, stunned. His hand trembled around mine. Dr. Maxwell leaned forward slightly. ¡°Do you hear what you¡¯re both doing? Trading me like it¡¯s currency. Each of you trying to take the whole weight so the other doesn¡¯t have to. But all it does is bury you both deeper.¡± Hunter dragged his hand down his face. His shoulders slumped, his disguise cracking wide open. For the first time since I had known him, he looked small. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to fix this,¡± he said, his voice raw. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to fix you, fix me, fix us. And it kills me.¡± My chest twisted. For years, Hunter had been unshakable, the man who bent the world to his will. Hearing him admit helplessness made the room tilt. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to fix me,¡± I whispered. He looked at me then, finally, truly looked. His eyes were red, his face pale. ¡°I just want you to sit with me,¡± I said. My voice cracked. ¡°Sit with me in this pain. Don¡¯t try to carry it all alone. Don¡¯t shut me out.¡± For a long second, we just stared at each other. And then Hunter broke. His face crumpled, his ?? 57 55 vouchers hands covering his eyes. His shoulders shook once, twice¡­.and then the sob tore free. Not loud. Not dramatic. Just raw, ugly, broken. I reached for him before I could think. My arms wrapped around him, pulling him against me, and for once he didn¡¯t resist. He buried his face in my shoulder, his body trembling as if years of restraint had finally cracked open. I cried too, silently, my tears soaking into his shirt. We held on to each other like people clinging to wreckage after a shipwreck. Dr. Maxwell let the silence go on for a while, allowing us to gather our thoughts. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm and steady. ¡°This,¡± he said, ¡°is grief. This is the truth underneath the anger. You lost something you both loved. And love doesn¡¯t vanish because of me. It aches because it mattered.¡± Hunter¡¯s breath was ragged against my skin. My fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, holding tight. For the first time since that day, I didn¡¯t feel alone in my grief. It was unbearable¡­.but it was ours. *** ** -HUNTER¡¯S POV- I hated the drive to Dr. Maxwell¡¯s office. Three weeks in and it still felt like walking into an ambush. Not with her¡­.not with Celine¡­..but with myself. She sat next to me, silent, her hands sped in herp. In recent days, she had be less vocal, not the tense, cutting silence of rage, but rather the sort where her mind seemed to wander far off. And each time I looked over, the dread washed over me again: I was watching her slip away, one quiet moment at a time. Maxwell didn¡¯t waste time today. He leaned back in his chair, eyes steady on us. ¡°Last session, you both let yourselves feel the weight of what you lost. Today, I want you to tell me what you still want¡­.from yourselves, from each other, from this marriage.¡± My throat tightened. My instinct was to say ¡®her. Just her.¡® But before I could, Celine spoke. ¡°I want a life again,¡± she said softly. Her voice wasn¡¯t bitter. It wasn¡¯t broken. It was steady. She sat straighter, eyes on Maxwell, not me. ¡°I want to stop being defined by grief. I want to wake up with something to look forward to. Something that¡¯s mine.¡± My pulse jumped. ¡®Something that¡¯s mine. Maxwell tilted his head. ¡°Do you know what that something is?¡± Celine hesitated, then nodded. ¡°Art. I applied to schools again.¡± 55 vouchers The words hit me like a punch. My stomach knotted, my hand tightening on my knee until my knuckles ached. ¡®France. I already knew it, even before she said it. Maxwell nced at me, maybe reading my reaction, before asking, ¡°How does it feel to say that out loud?¡± ¡°Freeing,¡± Celine whispered. Her lips trembled¡­.not with fear, but with the courage it took to finally speak. I couldn¡¯t stay quiet anymore. ¡°France.¡± Her eyes flicked to me. ¡°Yes.¡± I leaned forward, heat rising in my chest. ¡°That¡¯s across an ocean, Celine.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°You¡¯d be leaving me. Leaving Caesar.¡± Her voice wavered, but she held my gaze. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be leaving forever. Just to study. Just¡­ to breathe again.¡± The room spun. My chest caved under the effect of it. She wanted space¡­¡­away from me, away from us. Maxwell¡¯s calm voice cut through the storm. ¡°Hunter. Tell her what you¡¯re feeling right now.¡± I dragged a hand down my face, every muscle in me screaming to shut down, to lock it away. But that was why we were here, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°I¡¯m scared as hell,¡± I admitted, the words rasping out of me. ¡°Scared that if you go, you won¡¯te back. That you¡¯ll wake up one morning in Paris and realize you don¡¯t need me. That maybe you¡¯d be happier without me.¡± Silence. My chest heaved, and I finally forced myself to meet her eyes. Celine¡¯s face softened, but her voice was steady. ¡°Hunter, I don¡¯t want to leave you. I want to find myself again so I cane back to you whole. Right now, I¡¯m¡­ half of who I used to be. And you deserve more than half.¡± I shook my head, voice rough. ¡°You¡¯re everything to me, even broken.¡± 13:16 Mon, Sep 22 : A 57 55 vouchers She smiled faintly at that, but her eyes were wet. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to be broken forever. If I don¡¯t do this now, I¡¯ll resent myself. Maybe even resent you.¡± The words cut me open. Resent me. Maxwell spoke again, quiet but firm. ¡°What I hear is this: Celine is asking for space to heal herself, and Hunter is afraid that space means losing her. Can either of you find apromise here?¡± N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find?novel Compromise. The word burned. I wanted to say no. I wanted to say she was mine, she belonged home, she belonged here. But when I looked at her, really looked, I saw the trace in her eyes I hadn¡¯t seen since before the fall¡­..hope. Hope terrified me, but it was also the only thing I wanted for her. I swallowed hard. ¡°If you go¡­ promise me one thing.¡± She blinked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Promise you¡¯ll let me in. Calls, visits, whatever. Don¡¯t shut me out.¡± My voice cracked. ¡°Don¡¯t make me live like a stranger while you¡¯re finding yourself.¡± Her eyes softened, and she reached for my hand. Her fingers slid into mine, warm, fragile, but there. ¡°I promise,¡± she whispered. Something inside me loosened, painfully slow, like a knot I had been strangled by for years. Maxwell¡¯s voice was calm, grounding. ¡°That sounds like the beginning ofpromise.¡± I didn¡¯t feel peace. Not yet. The thought of her on another continent still wed at me. But as I sat there, her hand in mine, I realized something I hadn¡¯t before. I would rather risk the distance than risk losing her altogether. And maybe¡­.maybe¡­.that was what loving her really meant. Legacy 226 -CELINE POV- (ONE MONTH LATER) It has been one month. 55 vouchers One month since that night. One month since the hospital, since the ache that nearly swallowed me whole. One month of wing forward. Life hadn¡¯t magically healed, but somehow, in the quiet corners of our days, Hunter and I found ways to breathe again. Tough again. To live. I sat on our bed that morning, sunlight pouring through the balcony doors like gold dust. I closed my eyes, letting it soak into my skin, imagining it seeping into the cracks of me that were still tender. When I finally pulled myself up, I slipped into my robe and padded downstairs. The house had been calmertely, almost¡­ content. The new staff Hunter hired were professional and efficient. Sally had retired atst, after decades of holding this house together, her wrinkled face glowing with joy when she told me her granddaughter had given birth. Hunter had been reluctant to let her go, but he¡¯d sent her off with a hefty retirement package and a grand farewell gift that made me tear up. Now, Sally¡¯s door would always be open, and mine would always be open to her. The house smelled of¡­ something. Something burnt. Something suspicious. I raised an eyebrow as I turned into the kitchen and froze. Hunter stood at the counter, bare chest flexing as he flipped something on the pan, sweatpants hanging low on his hips. A sight sinful enough to be illegal. Meanwhile, Caesar¡­..my sweet boy¡­.was standing on a stool, trying to whisk batter with a frown of deep concentration. The counter was covered in flour, eggshells, and what looked like a crime scene involving strawberries. ¡°Oh my God,¡± I muttered. ¡°What are you two doing?¡± ¡°Making breakfast,¡± Hunter said tly, without looking up, as if this disaster waspletely intentional. ¡°Helping Papa,¡± Caesar added proudly. ¡°Destroying my kitchen, more like.¡± 55 vouchers Hunter finally looked over his shoulder at me, lips quirking. ¡°Destroying? Woman, you wound me.¡± Before I could retort, Caesar hopped down carefully, his little hands immediately wrapping around mine. ¡°Come, Mommy! Sit! We made breakfast for you!¡± His excitement was impossible to resist. He pulled me into the dining room where he¡¯d set the table, forks on the wrong sides, napkins folded like crumpled socks¡­..and stood in front of me with his chest puffed out. ¡°Wee, Madame,¡± he dered, struggling with the word, ¡°to the Reids¡­ Re¨CRe¨Csidence Res¡­taurant.¡± I bit back augh, pressing my hand to my lips. ¡°Wow. I¡¯m honored.¡± He giggled when I bent to kiss his cheek, his little body wriggling under the attention. ¡°Hey!¡± Hunter¡¯s voice rang from the kitchen. ¡°No kissing the waiter.¡± Caesarughed louder, leaning closer. ¡°One more, Mommy.¡± I kissed him again just to spite Hunter. ¡°Cheating!¡± Hunter appeared, bncing a tray, shaking his head in mock offense. ¡°First thing in the morning and I¡¯m already being cheated on in my own house.¡± Caesar pped as Hunter set the tes down¡­pancakes, slightly lopsided, with strawberries piled on top. My stomach clenched nervously at the sight, but I forced a smile. ¡°Is it edible?¡± I teased. Hunter narrowed his eyes. ¡°Try it and see.¡± I cut into one pancake, took a bite¡­ and blinked. It was actually good. Not spectacr, but good enough to be edible. I grinned. ¡°Wow. You¡¯ve improved.¡± He took a fork and bit into his own te, shrugging like it was nothing. ¡°Vincent told me ke makes hers this way.¡± I nearly choked. ¡°Wait¨Chold on. You¡¯re taking cooking advice from Vincent?¡­. Vincent?¡± Hunter red at me, chewing slowly. ¡°Don¡¯t start.¡± Iughed so hard my stomach hurt. El 55 vouchers We ate together, Caesar talking nonstop about cartoons and boats, while I kept sneaking nces at Hunter. For once, his jaw wasn¡¯t clenched from stress. For once, his shoulders weren¡¯t heavy with the world. He looked¡­ happy. ¡°Don¡¯t you have work?¡± I asked cautiously. He leaned back in his chair, one arm resting on it casually. ¡°I took the day off.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been taking a lot of days off.¡± ¡°I own the damnpanies, Celine. If I decide to take a year off, every single employee under my name will smile and say yes, sir, or they can quit. Or get their sries cut.¡± I rolled my eyes, spoon¨Cfeeding him a bite of strawberry just to shut him up. ¡°Ruthless Mr. Reid.¡± His lips curved, and before I could pull away, he captured my wrist and kissed me¡­.slow, hot, leaving me breathless. ¡°Consider it apliment, Mrs. Reid,¡± he murmured. ¡°E.¡± Caesar scrunched his face, covering his eyes. I burst outughing. ¡°Okay, okay,¡± I said, pulling back from Hunter, though his smirk told me he would have gone further if Caesar wasn¡¯t sitting right there. ¡°So, what¡¯s the n for today?¡± Caesar¡¯s eyes lit up as if he¡¯d been waiting for this moment. He jumped up from his chair. ¡°We¡¯re going sailing!¡± I blinked. ¡°We¡¯re what?¡± He bounced on his toes, his curls flying. ¡°Papa said we¡¯re going sailing today!¡± I turned to Hunter slowly, one eyebrow raised. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Hunter stood, making his way towards the kitchen to get syrup before walking toward me, and cupped my face with his hand. His thumb brushed my cheek, and his eyes sparkled with that dangerous mix of confidence and mischief that had once undone mepletely. ¡°Yes,¡± he said simply. ¡°We¡¯re sailing.¡± My mouth parted. ¡°Since when do you have a yacht?¡± His smirk widened, leaning closer until his lips brushed the corner of mine. ¡°Since always, sweetheart.¡± 13:16 Mon, Sep 22 57 55 vouchers. The first thing I noticed when we pulled up to the harbor wasn¡¯t the sunlight bouncing off the water like melted gold. It was the size of the yacht waiting for us¡­.white, sleek, towering like something out of a dream. ¡°You have got to be kidding me,¡± I murmured, clutching Caesar¡¯s small hand as he bounced beside me. Hunter, of course, looked smug. His shirt was rolled up to the elbows, his sunsses catching the light, his whole presence screaming ¡®I¨Cown¨Cthe¨Csea¨Ctoo¡®. He slipped the keys into his pocket, leaned closer, and whispered like he¡¯d been waiting for this moment all morning. ¡°You never asked,¡± he said. ¡°I didn¡¯t think to,¡± I shot back. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly normal to casually ask someone if they happen to own a yacht.¡± Caesar tugged at my arm, practically dragging me forward. ¡°Mommy, look! It¡¯s like a hotel on the water. Can we live here? Please?¡± Hunter smirked. ¡°Careful, buddy. If you ask her sweetly enough, she might say yes.¡± I rolled my eyes but couldn¡¯t fight the smile tugging at my lips. The truth was¡­.it was breathtaking. And for the first time in weeks, my chest didn¡¯t ache quite so much. The crew greeted us, but Hunter waved them off quickly. ¡°We¡¯ll manage.¡± ¡®Of course we will,¡¯ I thought. The man could take over empires; surely, he could handle a yacht. Once on deck, Caesar darted around like an explorer, his giggles carried by the wind. I followed, my zer brushing against my legs, until the sea stretched out before me, endless, shimmering, alive. Hunter came up behind me, close enough that I felt his warmth even with the salty air brushing over my skin. His hand slipped against my lower back, grounding me. ¡°Well?¡± he asked, voice low. ¡°Do I get to keep my bragging rights, or are you unimpressed?¡± I nced at him over my shoulder, arching a brow. ¡°I¡¯ll admit¡­ It¡¯s a little better than your pancakes.¡± His lips curved, wicked. ¡°I can think of other ways to impress you.¡± 55 vouchers ¡°Hunter,¡± I warned, but the corner of my mouth betrayed me, twitching into a smile. We spent the next hour watching Caesar discover every corner of the yacht. Hunter let him ¡°steer¡± with the captain, his little hands on the wheel, his voice bubbling with excitement. I watched them from a distance, my heart folding over itself at the sight¨CHunter, powerful and untouchable in boardrooms, looking so undone by a boy with his same blue eyes. Eventually, Caesar ran off with one of the crew to look for dolphins, leaving Hunter and me alone on the deck. The silence felt different then. It was heavy, but not hard to bear. The sea had a way of making people share their truths. I leaned against the railing, eyes on the horizon. ¡°You nned this, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Guilty,¡± he said,ing to stand beside me. His arm brushed mine. ¡°I thought¡­ maybe you needed something else to hold onto. Not just the house. Not the therapy rooms. Something that feels alive.¡± I swallowed, the sea blurring in front of me. ¡°Hunter¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± His voice was gentle, almost a plea. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me thank you. Just¡­ breathe with me. For once.¡± I took a deep breath of the salty air and listened to the waves. For a moment, I felt calm and rxed. I didn¡¯t feel like I was falling apart anymore. *** When I finally turned to him, I found his gaze already locked on me. Not hungry. Not demanding. Just watching, like he was memorizing the way the wind tangled in my hair. This text is hosted at FindN0vel ¡°You¡¯re scaring me,¡± I whispered, half¨Cteasing, half¨Cnot. His jaw tightened. ¡°I¡¯m scaring myself.¡± I blinked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± He leaned against the railing, head tilting toward me. ¡°I¡¯ve built my whole life around control. Everything. Everyone. If I wanted something, I made it mine. If something threatened me, I destroyed it. But you¡­¡± He exhaled sharply, almostughing at himself. ¡°You¡¯re the one thing I can¡¯t grip too tightly, or I¡¯ll lose you. And I¡­.¡± His voice cracked, just enough that I felt it in my chest. ¡°Hunter¡­¡± My hand found his without thinking, fingers threading through his. youchers He looked down at our joined hands, then back at me. ¡°I don¡¯t want to lose you. Not again. Not to grief, not to distance, not to your dreams¨Chell, not even to yourself.¡± I felt something change inside me. For weeks, I had been holding myself together with willpower. But here, with the sea around us and Hunter¡¯s words hitting hard, something shifted. I reached up, cupping his face. ¡°You won¡¯t lose me,¡± I said, though my voice trembled. ¡°But you can¡¯t cage me either. I need to breathe too.¡± His eyes searched mine, stormy, unreadable. ¡°Then we¡¯ll learn together.¡± And before I could reply, his mouth was on mine, deep, desperate, salt and heat blending until the world narrowed to just him. We only broke apart when a small voice yelled from the other side of the deck. ¡°E! Gross!¡± Hunter groaned against my lips, forehead dropping to mine. ¡°He¡¯s going to be the death of me.¡± Iughed, breathless, turning to see Caesar clutching a juice box, scrunching his face in mock disgust. ¡°No muah¨Cmuah allowed!¡± he dered. Hunter straightened, ring yfully. ¡°That¡¯s it. No more cartoons for a week.¡± ¡°Papa!¡± Caesar squealed, running before Hunter could scoop him up. I covered my mouth, trying not tough too hard as Hunter stalked after him, pretending to be far more serious than he was. For the first time in what felt like forever, our little family sounded alive again. Later, as the sun began to dip, Hunter returned to my side, a shadow of a smile on his lips. His arm slid around my waist, pulling me into his chest. ¡°You know,¡± he murmured against my hair, ¡°I was going to wait until tonight to tell you.¡± ¡°Tell me what?¡± I asked, suspicious. ¡°That this yacht isn¡¯t just for me.¡± He tilted his head, eyes catching the fading light. ¡°It¡¯s ours. Yours. Caesar¡¯s. A ce where we leave everything else behind. Where it¡¯s just us.¡± I blinked, stunned. ¡°Hunter¡­¡± He smirked. ¡°So? Still think it¡¯s not impressive?¡± 13:17 Mon, Sep 22 ¡­ 57 EX 55 vouchers I hit his chest, but my throat hurt. For the first time, I understood something scary¡­.he wasn¡¯t just fighting for me. He was creating a future for us. And I wasn¡¯t sure if I was ready¡­ but God, I wanted to be. Hunter kissed the side of my head, his voice low and certain. ¡°Tonight,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯m going to show you the rest of my surprise.¡± I turned to him, heart thudding. ¡°You¡¯re unbelievable, you know that?¡± He only smiled, the kind that promised trouble. IL Legacy 227 ¡­ -CELINE POV- : 52 55 vouchers The ride back from the harbor was very quiet. Caesar was asleep in the backseat, holding the little sailor hat Hunter had bought for him. His cheek was against the window, and his soft breathing made me feel something nice in my chest. Hunter took my hand during the drive and didn¡¯t let go. He gently rubbed my palm with his thumb, almost without thinking. But I noticed every little touch made my heart race and my chest feel tight. When we got to the mansion, Caesar woke up. ¡°Are we home?¡± His voice was groggy, soft. ¡°Yes, buddy. We¡¯re home,¡± Hunter answered, ncing at him in the mirror. His tone was gentler as always. The nanny was already waiting at the door. Caesar jumped out with surprising energy, rushing to show her the sailor hat like it were a treasure from the bottom of the sea. Iughed, the sound slipping out before I realized it, but when I turned to follow them inside, Hunter¡¯s hand caught my wrist. ¡°Not you,¡± he murmured. I turned back, brows knitting. ¡°What do you mean?¡± He leaned close, his mouth almost brushing my ear. ¡°He¡¯s safe tonight. I want you to myself for a while.¡± The words made my stomach flip looked into his eyes. They were dark and intense, just like I remembered. He wasn¡¯t asking. He wasn¡¯t demanding either. It was softer¨Csomething between a plea and a vow. Before I could respond, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a silk strip. My brows rose. ¡°Hunter¡­¡± ¡°Trust me?¡± His voice was low, careful, like he knew my heart was already racing. I nodded slowly, letting him tie the strip around my eyes. Darkness wrapped me instantly, my senses sharpening. His hand slid into mine, firm and warm. He led me carefully up the stairs, murmuring instructions so I didn¡¯t stumble. When he finally stopped, I heard the click of a door opening. He guided me in. The smell hit me first¡­vender and roses. The faint sound of soft music followed. ¡°Hunter, what¡­.¡± ¡°Shh,¡± he whispered near my ear. His fingers brushed my cheek, waiting before tugging the silk free. 17:54 Thu, Sep 25 ¡­ The sight stole my breath. 52 55 vouchers Our bedroom was transformed. Candles twinkled from the dresser and bedside tables, their mes dancing. Petals scattered across the sheets. My favorite ylist hummed quietly in the background. I turned toward him, stunned. ¡°You¡­ you did all this?¡± He gave a half¨Csmile. ¡°I wanted to remind you that this room isn¡¯t just about grief. It can be about us again.¡± The words snuggled in my throat. My fingers tightened in the fabric of my zer, nerves pricking up my skin. ¡°Hunter¡­ I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m ready.¡± He stepped closer, stopping just short of touching me. His eyes searched mine, deep and unrelenting. ¡°Then we don¡¯t go any further. Not tonight. Not ever. This isn¡¯t about rushing, Celine. It¡¯s about us. Just us.¡± Something in my chest broke. I didn¡¯t realize tears had welled up until his thumb brushed one from my cheek. ¡°I miss you,¡± I whispered. His jaw tightened as the words struck him hard. ¡°I¡¯ve been right here.¡± ¡°But not like this,¡± I said. My voice was trembling. ¡°Not like us.¡± He swallowed hard. Then, slowly, he lifted my hand and kissed it. Not hurried. Not hungry. Just reverent. Like he was afraid I would slip away if he wasn¡¯t gentle enough. He kissed my palm. My wrist. My shoulder. Every touch was counted, as if asking permission without words. By the time his lips reached mine, my body was already leaning into him, my zer forgotten between us. I should¡¯ve hesitated. I should¡¯ve thought about the effect of the past month, about the wound that still hadn¡¯t closed inside me. But when his mouth pressed softly against mine, when his hands framed my face like I was fragile and fierce all at once, all I could think about was how much I still wanted him. The kiss deepened. My hands found his bare chest, warm and solid beneath my fingers. His heart thudded wildly under my palm, matching the beat in my own chest. He broke the kiss, searching my face. ¡°Are you sure?¡± I answered by pulling him back down to me. What followed wasn¡¯t rushed. It wasn¡¯t desperate. It was slow, unhurried, like rediscovering each other after being lost in a storm. His hands explored with patience, his lips tracing paths over my skin. Every time he paused, I pulled him closer. Every time doubt flickered in my chest, his voice grounded me. ¡°You¡¯re safe. I¡¯ve got you.¡± When we finally gave inpletely, it wasn¡¯t about desire. It was about forgiveness and two broken people 17:54 Thu, Sep 25 trying to heal themselves through touch and quiet promises. 52 55 vouchers When it was over, Iy with my head on his chest, tracing circles absently over his skin. The steady rise and fall of his breathing calmed me, anchored me. ¡°I thought I would never feel whole again,¡± I admitted quietly. His arm tightened around me. ¡°We¡¯ll never forget what we lost. But we¡¯ll make new memories, Celine. Brighter ones. Strong enough to carry both the pain and the love.¡± Tears burned the back of my throat. I pressed my lips against his chest, right over his heartbeat. ¡°I don¡¯t deserve you.¡± He huffed a quietugh, kissing the top of my head. ¡°No, sweetheart. I don¡¯t deserve you.¡± The candles flickered and the music yed softly. For the first time in weeks, I felt my body rxpletely. My eyes grew heavy. I drifted into sleep in his arms, cocooned in warmth and love. *** *** Morning came softly. I blinked awake to pale light spilling through the curtains and the steady thump of Hunter¡¯s heartbeat under my cheek. His arm was heavy over my waist, his hand resting protectively against my stomach as if even in sleep he was afraid I might slip away. For a long while I didn¡¯t move. I listened to his breathing, steady and even, and let myself sink into the warmth of his skin. Last night felt like something out of a dream¡­. fragile, surreal. Part of me was terrified I would wake up and find it had been nothing more than my mind trying to soothe me. But then Hunter stirred, nuzzling into my hair with a sleepy groan, and I smiled against his chest. ¡°Morning,¡± I whispered. He hummed, voice gravelly. ¡°Mmm. Don¡¯t get up yet.¡± His hold tightened as if he could anchor me to him. ¡°I wasn¡¯t nning to,¡± I teased, though eventually my dder forced me to peel myself from his arms, His hand brushed down my back as I slipped off the bed, his eyes cracking open just enough to watch me shuffle toward the bathroom in my robe. By the time I returned, he was sitting up, hair a mess, looking entirely too good for someone who hadn¡¯t shaved in days. His smile waszy but it lit something inside me, ¡°Stay home today,¡± he murmured. I tilted my head. ¡°And do what?¡± 17:55 Thu, Sep 25 He smirked. ¡°Me.¡± I threw a pillow at him,ughing when he caught it easily. This content belongs to F?ndNovel 52 55 vouchers The kitchen smelled like coffee when Caesar came in with the nanny. He jumped into myp, wearing his sailor hat, talking excitedly about boats and pirates until Hunter messed up his hair and gave him a te of pancakes. Watching themugh and Hunter pretending to take bites from Caesar¡¯s te made me feel really happy. But the morning wasn¡¯t all fun. After breakfast, Hunter carried arge stack of folders to the living room table. ¡°Kindergarten applications,¡± he announced, dropping them with a thud. Caesar groaned. ¡°Boring!¡± before darting off with his teddy. Hunter and Iughed, then exchanged a nce that said ¡®this is serious, though.¡¯ We sat on the couch side by side, sorting through schools, brochures spread everywhere. Hunter looked infuriatingly good in just a ck t¨Cshirt that hugged his muscles and a pair of short pants. I was in leggings and a baggy sweater that kept sliding off my shoulder, but the way his eyes remained on me made me feel like I was in silk. ¡°This one has a strong art program,¡± I said, holding up a glossy folder. He took it, brows raised. ¡°Already nning to make him follow in his mother¡¯s footsteps?¡± I nudged him with my knee. ¡°Better than making him a miniature CEO before he can tie his shoces.¡± He chuckled, flipping through. ¡°Point taken.¡± We spent the next hour making phone calls, looking at tuition costs, locations, and schedules. I saw him use the same charm and control on the phone that he used in meetings. He spoke clearly and confidently. It made me smile to think that this strong man was here discussing snack choices at a kindergarten for our son. He caught me staring. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®nothing¡® me.¡± His voice was teasing, but his eyes narrowed yfully. I shrugged, pretending to refocus on the papers. ¡°Just¡­ you look ridiculously serious about nap¨Ctime policies.¡± He leaned closer, his lips brushing my car. ¡°Everything concerning our son is serious.¡± The heat that climbed up my neck had nothing to do with school. I swatted at him, but he only grinned, smug. Before I could retort, my phone buzzed on the table. Another application response. I mouthed the name of the school to him. 17:55 Thu, Sep 25 ???? (52 55 vouchers Hunter raised a finger as if to say ¡®hold on¡®, quickly wrapping up his call with an assistant, then he set his phone aside and came back to me. But instead of picking up my phone for the details, he kissed me. It was quick but warm, his lips firm and sure against mine. Then he pulled me into his arms, pressing me into his side like I belonged there and nowhere else. I blinked at him, flustered. ¡°What was that for?¡± ¡°For being mine,¡± he said simply. I rolled my eyes, though my chest melted. ¡°You¡¯re insufferable.¡± ¡°And you love it.¡± His hand slid down my arm, twining our fingers together. His expression shifted, softening into something more vulnerable. ¡°Come out with me tonight.¡± I blinked. ¡°Out? Like¡­ a date?¡± ¡°Yes. Just us.¡± He said it like a vow, like a promise carved into stone. I raised a brow, teasing to mask the way my heart fluttered. ¡°Since when is Hunter Reid sweet?¡± He smirked, leaning closer until our noses brushed. ¡°Since his wife made him believe in second chances.¡± My breath caught. He never used words lightly, not like that. I bit my lip, searching his face. ¡°And if I say no?¡± I teased. He kissed me again, slower this time, his voice a whisper against my lips. ¡°Then I¡¯ll keep asking until you say yes.¡± Iughed, unable to resist. ¡°Fine. Yes.¡± His grin spread wide, boyish and devastating. ¡°Good answer.¡± For the first time in weeks, I felt lighter. The sadness was still there, but it didn¡¯t feel so heavy. Sitting with him, with papers and pens around us and his arm around me, I felt like we were starting to be ourselves again. And tonight, I would let him take me out and remind me of all the reasons I had fallen in love with him in the first ce. Legacy 228 -HUNTER POV- 5 vouchers I had just put Caesar to bed. He snuggled into his nket, breathing softly. I stood there for a moment, watching him, feeling calm. Lately, I have been staying away from meetings, not answering calls from investors or business partners, and dying big deals. The world could wait. My family was more important. Things had been good. Stable. I still felt unsure about the calm times, but I learned to appreciate them. Celine was back at home, and I could hear Caesarughing in the halls. The scary thoughts that used to keep me up at night were fading away. I had given her ckwood Industries, shoved the empire I seized into her hands, though she had told me she didn¡¯t want it. I forced it on her anyway¨Cbecause if anyone deserved to sit atop the ruins of those bastards, it was her. She¡¯d eventually agreed, only after I said the shares would sit in a trust under her name, for Caesar, for whatever came after. Edward ckwood was trying to stay important, but no one wanted to deal with him because they were afraid of me. And Mia? She left New York pretending to be on ¡°medical leave.¡± I had considered cklisting herpletely, but Celine stopped me. ¡®I want peace, Hunter. I want her name erased from our lives.¡¯ So I erased her. The only remaining thorn was my mother. Eleanor never changed. The woman was hell¨Cbent on introducing me to some other woman, calling and texting with her endless schemes. I shut her out of everything except her allowance. A leash, short and tight. But tonight wasn¡¯t about any of them. Tonight was about Celine. I shaved, showered, and dressed carefully. A dark, expensive shirt that clung across my shoulders, a pair of fitted pants. Nothing shy, but deliberate. I wanted her to see me, really see me, not the ruthless mogul or the broken man in therapy. Just me, her husband. I paced the living room with a small velvet box in my hand. Inside, a ne. Simple, elegant, with a 12:29 Sun, Sep 28 AC 6 vouchers diamond that would catch the light just enough. It wasn¡¯t about the price¨Cit was about her. Something to rest against her skin, something she would know I had chosen just for her. I was restless, running a hand over my jaw, adjusting my buttons, checking my watch though the time hadn¡¯t moved. Then¡­. ¡°Hunter.¡± Her voice. Soft, floating down the stairs like a song. I turned¨Cand for a second, I forgot to breathe. She stood by the staircase, wearing a floral dress that hugged her curves and reached her knees. Her long legs looked elegant in those heels. Her hair was cut into a bob that just touched her jaw, giving her a fresh, youthful appearance. She had transformed part of herself, and she looked amazing. I stared like a fool. My chest tightened. ¡°You¡­¡± My voice came out rough, husky. ¡°You look incredible.¡± A shy smile touched her lips, and she smoothed her dress as if nervous. ¡°You think?¡± ¡°Celine,¡± I said, stepping closer, ¡°you could walk into any room and own it.¡± Color touched her cheeks, and I slipped the box from my pocket, flipping it open. ¡°For you.¡± She blinked at the ne, her lips parting. ¡°Hunter¡­¡­¡± ¡°No arguments,¡± I murmured. ¡°Turn around.¡± She hesitated, then did. I brushed her short hair aside, fingers grazing the nape of her neck, fastening the sp. The diamond caught the light against her skin, but all I could focus on was the way she shivered under my touch. My lips hovered dangerously close to the shell of her ear. ¡°Perfect,¡± I whispered. She turned back, her fingers brushing the pendant. Her eyes met mine, soft and shining, and for a second I wanted to forget the whole evening and drag her upstairs. But I forced myself to step back. ¡°Ready?¡± She nodded, and I led her out. I insisted on driving. She had wanted to, but I wasn¡¯t ready to let her behind the wheel, not yet. My protectiveness made her roll her eyes, but she didn¡¯t argue. Not tonight. We arrived at the gallery, and when we stepped inside, people turned to look at us. They recognized Hunter Reid¡­..a billionaire known for making headlines¡­..walking in hand¨Cin¨Chand with his wife. I saw Celine stiffen. I cursed myself. She hated attention, hated being watched like an exhibit. I leaned down, murmuring, ¡°We can leave. Say the word.¡± 12:29 Sun, Sep 28 She surprised me by squeezing my hand tighter. ¡°No. We¡¯re here. Let¡¯s enjoy it.¡± I searched her face. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± 5 Vouchers Her smile was small but steady. Then, before I could push, she rose on her toes and kissed me. Quick, soft, but enough to silence my doubts. I chuckled, stunned, brushing my thumb across her lip. ¡°Alright, Mrs. Reid.¡± We walked through the gallery. I gave her champagne and saw her eyes brighten as she looked at the paintings. Dancers were in the corners, music was ying, and for once, I wasn¡¯t thinking about work or problems. Just her. Then I saw him¡­.a famous artist she loved. I had seen his books in her little studio home. She gasped when he came over, smiling kindly. They talked, her voice excited and her hands moving. He asked her to his show in Paris, and I saw her shine. My chest felt tight. Paris. The idea of her being away made me tense, but then I saw her happy smile. So, I held it in and forced a smile back. If she wanted Paris, I would do anything for her. At the same time, some women were watching us. One heiress I knew touched my arm and said something about business, but I didn¡¯t pay attention to her. I was focused on Celine across the room,ughing with someone who loved art too. I excused myself without a word, crossed the floor, and slid my arm around Celine¡¯s waist. She looked up, startled. Before she could speak, I kissed her. Deep, unapologetic, iming. My hand never left her. The whispers broke out, shes from phones catching us. I didn¡¯t care. Let the world buzz. When we left, she was still glowing. Talking about the artist, the show, and the details. I listened, watching her light spill into the night. ** Dinner was at a small pasta restaurant, hidden but the best in Manhattan. I had reserved the quietest corner, away from prying eyes. She twirled spaghetti on her fork, still buzzing from the gallery. I leaned back, watching her. ¡°Would you ever want your own gallery?¡± Her fork paused. She blinked at me. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Your own gallery. Or a pastry shop. Or whatever you want. Tell me, Celine. I¡¯ll make it happen.¡± She stared at me, lips parting, like I had stripped her bare with words alone. un, sep 28 For more chapters visit FindN()vel ¡°I¡­¡± She faltered, then smiled softly. ¡°I think¡­ I would love a gallery. And maybe a pastry shop doesn¡¯t sound so bad either.¡± Across from us, a family sat. Father, mother, a daughter, and a baby in the mother¡¯s arms. I froze, panic rising. Would it hurt her? Would it rip her open again? But when I looked at her, she was smiling. Gentle. Peaceful. She reached across the table, taking my hand. ¡°Let¡¯se here with Caesar sometime. Just the three of us.¡± I felt a rush of relief that was intense. I squeezed her hand and couldn¡¯t speak for a moment. The second the front door closed behind us, the restraint shattered. I pressed her back against it, mouth iming hers with a hunger that had been chewing at me all evening. Her lips parted instantly, a gasp swallowed by my tongue. My hands roamed her sides, gripping her waist, sliding lower until I hooked her thigh and pulled her flush against me. ¡°Hunter¡­.¡± she breathed, but the way she arched into me told me it wasn¡¯t a protest. I caught the edge of her floral dress and dragged it upward, my fingers brushing the silk of her thigh. She shivered, nails digging into my shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ve been hard for you all night,¡± I muttered against her mouth, biting her lower lip until she whimpered. ¡°Watching you walk around that gallery, smiling, glowing¡­.fuck, Celine, do you have any idea what you do to me?¡± Her answer came in the way she tugged my shirt, desperate, pulling it over my head. My chest pressed against her soft curves, skin on skin, heat sparking like gasoline. I lifted her without breaking the kiss, her legs wrapping around my waist instinctively. I carried her upstairs, every step a struggle not to take her right there against the wall. When Iy her on the bed, I paused just long enough to take her in. Her dress was wrinkled, her hair tousled, the ne I had given her glinting between her breasts. My mark. ¡°God, you¡¯re beautiful,¡± I growled, and then I was on her again. I kissed down her throat, sucking hard enough to leave bruises, my hands tugging the straps of her dress down. The fabric slid away, revealingce that made me curse under my breath. ¡°Did you wear this for me?¡± I asked, tugging at her bra, freeing her breasts. Her cheeks flushed, but her voice was steady. ¡°Maybe.¡± I sucked a nipple into my mouth, her back arching off the bed, a cry spilling from her lips. My other hand slid between her thighs, pressing against the damp fabric of her panties. 12:29 Sun, Sep 28 B S vouchers ¡°You¡¯re already wet,¡± I rasped, pushing thece aside, sliding a finger into her heat. She clenched around me, gasping my name. ¡°Hunter¡­please¡­.¡± I fucked her with my fingers, slow, deliberate, curling until she was moaning, squirming, begging. Then I pulled away, earning a desperate whimper. ¡°Not yet,¡± I whispered darkly. I stripped her bare, dragging the ruined panties down her legs, spreading her thighs wide. I kissed the inside of her knee, then higher, until my mouth found her soaked center. She bucked, a strangled cry tearing out of her throat as I licked her, tongue circling her clit, sliding into her. I devoured her like a starving man, holding her hips down when she thrashed, fucking her with my tongue until she was trembling, chanting my name like a prayer. ¡°Hunter¡­oh God¡­I¡¯m¡­¡± I didn¡¯t let up. I sucked her clit, fingers pumping into her at the same time, until she shattered, screaming, her body jerking under my hold. I licked her through it, savoring every drop, before crawling back up to kiss her swollen lips. She tasted herself on my tongue, moaning as she clutched at me. ¡°Condom¡­.¡± she whispered weakly. ¡°No,¡± I growled, aligning myself with her. ¡°Not tonight. I need you raw. I need to feel you everywhere.¡± Her eyes widened, then softened, and she nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± That one word undid me. I pushed inside slowly, groaning at the tight, wet heat gripping me. She gasped, nails raking down my back, thighs tightening around me. ¡°Fuck, Celine,¡± I breathed, burying myself to the hilt. ¡°You feel like heaven.¡± I pulled out, thrust back in, hard. She cried out, clutching me, and I lost control. I fucked her deep, relentlessly, my hips mming against hers. Every thrust drew a moan, every moan fed the fire burning through me. She clung to me, body writhing, head thrown back. ¡°Harder, Hunter¡­..please¡­.¡± I obeyed, pounding into her, her breasts bouncing with each movement. I bent, sucking one nipple into my mouth as I fucked her mercilessly, her cries filling the room. She tightened suddenly, her walls gripping me, and I knew she was close. I slid a hand between us, rubbing her clit fast. Her scream was raw, her body convulsing around me as she came undone. The feel of her pulsing around me, milking me, was too much. I groaned her name, thrusting hard, and spilled inside her, filling her with every 12:30 Sun, Sep 28 drop. We copsed together, sweaty, trembling, tangled in sheets. My chest heaved as I buried my face in her neck, kissing her feverishly. ¡°I¡¯ll never get enough of you,¡± I whispered hoarsely. Her fingers tracedzy circles on my back. ¡°Good. Because you¡¯re mine.¡± And in that moment, with her body still wrapped around mine, her ne glittering against her skin, I knew she was right. I wasn¡¯t the ruthless Reid the world feared. I was just a man hopelessly, irrevocably hers. ¡°Whatever you want, Celine¡­¡± I whispered into the quiet dark. ¡°The world, the stars, Paris, galleries, everything. I¡¯ll give it to you. All of it.¡± She smiled against my skin, her hand clutching mine. ¡°I already have everything I want.¡± AD Legacy 229 -CELINE POV- (Three Weeks Later) 5 vouchers The morning sunlight spilled across the kitchen tiles, bright and far too cheerful for the mood of the little boy sitting across from me. His arms were crossed tight across his chest, his cheeks puffed out in stubborn protest, and his lower lip was doing that wobble that always made me want tough and hug him at the same time. It was Caesar¡¯s first day of kindergarten, and instead of bouncing with excitement the way I had pictured in my head, he looked like someone had just told him Christmas was canceled. I crouched down in front of him, brushing my fingers through his messy dark hair, trying to sweet¨Ctalk his gaze up to mine. ¡°Aren¡¯t you happy, Caesar?¡± I asked softly, my tone that patient sing¨Csong I had learned was the only thing capable of disarming him when he was in one of these moods. ¡°You will get to meet kids your age¡­like Tommy from down the street¡­.and make new friends.¡± I added a smile for good measure. His little frown deepened. ¡°But I want to stay home with you.¡± My heart melted instantly, traitorous thing that it was. As much as I wanted to scoop him up and say ¡®Fine, no school, let¡¯s just bake cookies all day and never leave each other¡¯s side,¡¯ I knew I could not. He needed to learn that the world was bigger than his father¡¯s mansion and his mother¡¯s arms. Find the newest release on find?novel I tilted my head, exaggerating a pout. ¡°Oh, Caesar¡­ that is so sweet. But if you stayed home, Mama would be sad.¡± I tapped my chest dramatically. ¡°And you don¡¯t want Mama to be sad, do you?¡± He hesitated, chewing his lip before giving me a reluctant shake of the head. ¡°Good boy,¡± I whispered, pulling him into my arms for a long hug, breathing in the faint scent of his strawberry shampoo. He clung to me just as tightly, his small hands gripping the back of my sweater like he could anchor himself to me and never let go. One of the maids appeared at my side, handing me his tiny backpack and lunchbox. I took them, forcing my smile brighter, and jangled my car keys in my hand. Hunter had finally¡­finally¡­given in and let me drive again. I swear the man had aged ten years in the two weeks he spent giving me lessons. I sent two of his cars to the repair shop before he stopped looking at me like I was a ticking bomb behind the wheel. 12:30 Sun, Sep 28 5 vouchers To celebrate my victory, I had picked a sleek ck BMW for today, the kind of car that practically whispered confidence the second you slid into the seat. I ushered Caesar into the back, kissing his check before shutting the door. He giggled, his earlier pout cracking just slightly, and I grinned in triumph. I slid into the driver¡¯s seat and gripped the wheel as if it might vanish if I did not hold on tight enough. The new¨Cleather smell wrapped around me, clean and sharp, grounding me. If anyone had told me a year ago that I would be here, driving my son to his first day of school, wearing a wedding band that marked me as Mrs. Hunter Reid¡­I would haveughed. Or cried. Maybe both. My gaze shed briefly to my stomach. A shadow passed through me, a pang I carried daily. The child I had lost. The pain of it was still there, but softer now, dulled by time and by Hunter¡¯s relentless devotion. We hade far, and yet, I knew, there was still farther to go. The school gates were crowded, parents and children buzzing with first¨Cday nerves. As soon as I stepped out with Caesar, the atmosphere shifted. I felt eyes on me, the quiet whispers, the quiet double takes. Being Hunter Reid¡¯s wife had that effect. There was respect, yes, but also something else. Curiosity. Envy. And sometimes, barely hidden dislike. I kept my head high, Caesar¡¯s hand in mine, smiling at him rather than anyone else. ¡°Celine? Celine Brown?¡± I froze. Brown. The name tasted strange now, a reminder of a girl I no longer was. When I turned, I found myself staring at a vaguely familiar face: a woman in her thirties, wearing a teacher¡¯s badge clipped to her blouse. Recognition hit a beatter. Lauren, a ssmate from high school. And because fate had a cruel sense of humor, another familiar face appeared behind her¡­. Tracy, another former ssmate, this one with a child tugging at her skirt. ¡°Oh my God, it is you,¡± Tracy gushed, eyes darting instantly to the diamond on my finger. ¡°Wow. Mrs. Reid, now.¡± I braced myself. I knew that tone. Within minutes, I was cornered into an invitation to join them for coffee at a nearby caf¨¦ once the kids were settled. 828 5 vouchers 12:30 Sun, Sep 28 Against my better judgment..and because part of me wanted to prove I was not the timid girl they remembered¡­.d agreed. The cafe smelled of burnt espresso and sugar. I sipped at atte, already regretting this decision, while the two women leaned in with conspiratorial smiles. ¡°So,¡± Lauren began, ¡°we saw your sister Jesse the other day.¡± I stiffened but forced a casual shrug. ¡°She said she hasn¡¯t heard from you in months. That you have¡­ cut off the family. And with your mother sick¡­cancer, poor thing¡­it seems cruel, you know?¡± Tracy nodded gravely, her eyes shining with false sympathy. ¡°She said your husband doesn¡¯t like her. That he¡¯s keeping you from them.¡± Ah. There it was. I set my cup down slowly, folding my hands together. ¡°You know,¡± I said, keeping my tone light, ¡°it¡¯s funny how people forget. Jesse made my life hell in high school. Constant ridicule, constant cruelty. And as for that woman? She¡¯s not my mother. She made sure I knew that every single day I grew up under her roof. So forgive me if I don¡¯t suddenly y the doting daughter now that karma finally caught up.¡± Their eyes widened, mouths opening and closing like fish. They were not expecting me to fight back. The old Celine would have stammered, apologized, shrunk into her chair. Not this one. I leaned back, smiling sweetly. ¡°So no, I don¡¯t feel guilty. Not for protecting my peace. Not for building a life away from people who never gave a damn about me. And if that makes me cruel?¡± I lifted my cup again. ¡°So be it.¡± The silence that followed was delicious. They exchanged stunned nces, clearly at a loss. I stood, gathering my bag. ¡°Thanks for the coffee. You both take care now.¡± And with that, I left them blinking after me, their mouths still half¨Copen. When I got home, the guards at the gate handed me a parcel. I carried it inside, setting it on the console table. Before I could open it, my phone buzzed. Hunter. The second I answered, his deep voice washed over me like a balm. ¡°How was Caesar¡¯s first day?¡± I smiled, sinking onto the couch. ¡°He staged a whole protest. Arms folded, pout in ce, the works. Told me he did not want to leave me.¡± Hunter¡¯sugh rumbled through the line, low and warm. ¡°That¡¯s my boy.¡± ¡°And how was your day, Mr. CEO?¡± I teased. ¡°I hated it,¡± he admitted immediately. ¡°Vincent¡¯s dragging me through meetings. I miss you.¡± My chest tightened, a mixture of affection and longing. ¡°We miss you too.¡± ¡°Tell me everything when I get home,¡± I promised, and he reluctantly hung up, muttering something about Vincent ring at him. Alone again, I turned back to the parcel. Tearing it open, I unfolded the letter inside. My breath caught. ¡®Congrattions. You have been epted into the ¨¦cole des Beaux¨CArts in Paris. Orientation begins in two weeks.¡¯ France. Art school. A dream I had hidden under my worries and sadness is now close to being real. I sat down on the couch, holding the letter with shaking hands, feeling both excited and scared. AD Comment Send gift Legacy 230 -HUNTER POV- I was done. Completely done. 35 vouchers Three weeks back in the CEO chair and I was already choking on boardroom air, fighting the urge to walk out of every damn meeting. I had spent the entire morning with men in expensive suits who thought they were smarter than me, tossing graphs across glossy tables as though I did not own the table itself. Vincent sat across from me, twirling a Montnc pen and looking bored out of his mind. He did not even pretend to hide his yawns anymore. ¡°You know what I hate about ke?¡± he blurted, in the middle of some financial advisor¡¯s dull monologue about quarterly growth. The room went silent. All eyes swiveled toward him. Vincent leaned back in his chair,pletely unbothered. ¡°She wakes me up at six. Six, Hunter. She says the world belongs to people who rise early.¡± He pressed his palm to his chest like it was a personal tragedy. ¡°I belong in bed. Preferably until ten. Why the hell did I agree to date her?¡± The advisors looked horrified. I nearlyughed. Nearly. But I had to keep my face straight, or they would think I had lost control of the room. ¡°Focus,¡± I muttered. Vincent grinned. ¡°I am focused. Focused on the fact that you are grumpy and I am sleep¨Cdeprived. We are both suffering, brother.¡± By the time the meeting ended, I was massaging my temples. But the day was not done. Lunch with an investor waited, one I could not avoid unless I wanted to spark rumors that Reid Enterprises was slipping. I sat through the sd course withoutint. Then the bastard across from me leaned forward, lowering his voice like we were about to share a state secret. ¡°Hunter,¡± he said smoothly, ¡°I have been in talks with Edward ckwood¡­¡± The fork fell from my hand and made a loud noise on the te. I looked at him, my heart racing and my jaw tense. The whole room felt smaller, and everything went quiet. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± I said, voice like steel. ¡°Don¡¯t ever bring that name to me.¡± The investor blinked, startled. ¡°I only meant¡­..¡± P 93 35 vouchers ¡°I don¡¯t care what you meant.¡± My tone was sharp enough to slice through the linen tablecloth. ¡°That man does not exist in my world. Not in business. Not in life. Not anywhere near me or mine.¡± The atmosphere was very tense. My fists curled against the table. I was two seconds away from walking out and burning the deal to ash. Then Vincent¡¯s hand pped down on my shoulder. ¡°Alright, alright.¡± His voice was easy, light, as though he had not just watched me go volcanic. ¡°Let¡¯s not ruin my lunch over bad taste. Why don¡¯t you head out, friend?¡± He nced at the investor with a smile that was both charming and deadly. ¡°Meeting¡¯s over.¡± The man stammered something about following upter, then practically tripped over himself to leave. Vincent sat back down, sipping his wine as if nothing had happened. ¡°You know, one day you¡¯re going to burst a vein and I will have to give the eulogy. And I will make it terrible on purpose.¡± I breathed out slowly, pushing away from the table. ¡°He brought up ckwood.¡± ¡°Yeah, and you scared him half to death. Consider it handled.¡± He tilted his head. ¡°Now, let¡¯s redirect. Tell me -how was my godson¡¯s first day at kindergarten?¡± The question tugged at something deep in me, softening the hard lines of anger. My shoulders loosened, just slightly. ¡°He did not want to leave Celine. Pouted the whole way, apparently.¡± Vincent chuckled. ¡°Kid¡¯s smart. If I had a mom like Celine, I would not want to leave her either.¡± I shot him a look. ¡°Rx,¡± he said, grinning, ¡°She¡¯s family. Besides, ke would murder me if I so much as looked sideways.¡± By the time I finally pulled into the mansion driveway, I was carrying a bouquet of lilies in one hand and a box of choctes in the other. I needed to see them. My wife. My son. That was all that mattered. The house smelled of dinner and warmth when I walked in. I followed the sound ofughter to the kitchen. Celine stood at the counter, apron tied around her waist, Caesar perched on a stool beside her, both of them giggling like conspirators over something only they understood. ¡°Now, what are my two favorite people talking about?¡± I asked, leaning in the doorway. Caesar turned instantly, his face lighting up. ¡°Papa!¡± He bolted across the kitchen, flinging himself at my legs. I scooped him up with one arm, pressing my face into his hair. The stress of the day vanished in an instant. Celine walked toward me, her smile soft. She kissed me lightly, taking the flowers from my hand. ¡°These are beautiful.¡± A 93 35 vouchers I brushed a strand of hair from her face, studying her as though I had not seen her that morning. ¡°Not as beautiful as you.¡± Caesar groaned dramatically. ¡°Eww, Papa. Stop kissing Mama all the time.¡± We bothughed, though my eyes stayed on Celine¡¯s. Later, when Caesar was tucked in bed and the house was quiet, I found myself pressing her against the wall of our bedroom, her lips soft and urgent against mine. The stress that started when I saw her in the kitchen faded quickly. Finally. My fingers dug into the wool of her sweater, her skin a furnace underneath. ¡°Been waiting all fucking day to get you out of this.¡± Sheughed into my neck, the sound muffled and warm. ¡°A whole day? That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Feels like a fucking year.¡± I tugged the sweater up and over her head, tossing it blindly into the dark room. Her short hair fell around her shoulders in a messy, beautiful cascade. My mouth found the soft skin beneath her ear. ¡°I have been hard since you walked out of the bedroom this morning.¡± ¡°Prove it,¡± she whispered, her breath hot against my cheek. My hands slid down her back, grabbing two handfuls of her ass through her jeans. I pulled her tight against my cock, the denim a rough, frustrating barrier. I groaned into her mouth. ¡°You feel that? That¡¯s what you do to me. All fucking day.¡± She rocked her hips, a slow, deliberate grind that made my knees weak. ¡°I want to feel it without the jeans.¡± This content belongs to F?nd-Novel Her fingers went to her waistband, but I smacked them away. ¡°My turn.¡± I made quick work of the button, the rasp of the zipper loud in the quiet room. I shoved her jeans and panties down her thighs in one rough motion, my knuckles grazing the wet heat between her legs. She gasped, her head falling back. I dropped to my knees, my hands running up the backs of her calves, her thighs. ¡°Look at you,¡± I breathed, spreading her ass cheeks. The dim light caught the glistening pink folds of her pussy, already swollen and slick for me. Her asshole was a tight, dark star just below. ¡°Fuck, you¡¯re so wet. Is all that for me?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she panted, her voice strained. ¡°God, yes.¡± 93 35 vouchers I didn¡¯t tease her. I buried my face in her cunt, my tongue driving into her, fucking her with my mouth. She tasted like salt and sweat and pure fucking need. Her hands twisted in my hair, holding me against her as her hips bucked. My tongueshed her clit, circled it, sucked it. ¡°I¡¯m going toe,¡± she choked out, her thighs starting to tremble. ¡°Right fucking now.¡± I stood up, grabbing her by the waist and spinning her around. I pushed her forward, bending her over the arm of the sofa. ¡°Not yet.¡± I fumbled with my own pants, my cock springing free, thick and aching. I spat into my palm, slicking my length, then pressed the head against her soaked entrance. ¡°You¡¯re going to take my dick first.¡± I pushed inside her with one deep, relentless thrust. She cried out, her back arching, her inner muscles clenching around me like a hot, wet fist. ¡°Oh fuck, you¡¯re so deep.¡± I set a punishing rhythm, my balls pping against her with every drive of my hips. The room filled with the sounds of our fucking: our ragged breaths, the wet p of skin, the creak of the sofa. I reached around, my thumb finding her clit, rubbing hard, frantic circles. ¡°You feel that cock stretching you open? That¡¯s mine.¡± She was beyond words, just a series of broken moans and pleas. I felt her body start to tighten, her cunt milking my dick. I pistoned into her, fucking her through her climax, my own release coiling at the base of my spine. I wrapped my hand in her hair, pulling her head back. ¡°I¡¯m gonna fill this tight little pussy up,¡± I growled. ¡°You want that? You want my fucking cum?¡± ¡°Yes! Please!¡± With a final, brutal thrust, I came, my orgasm erupting. My vision whited out as I pumped my release deep inside her, pulsing again and again. I copsed over her, spent, my forehead resting between her shoulder des. We stayed like that for a long moment, our harsh breaths the only sound. Slowly, I softened and slipped out of her. She shifted, turning onto her side on the couch to look at me. Her expression was unreadable, her eyes dark and wide. She just watched me, saying nothing. Her finger traced a line through the sweat on my chest, her touch making my skin prickle. ¡°What is it?¡± I asked, brushing a kiss over her forehead. : 4200 35 vouchers She hesitated, biting her lip. Then she reached over to the nightstand, picking up the folded letter I hadn¡¯t noticed before. She ced it in my hand. I frowned, unfolding it. My chest tightened as my eyes scanned the words. ¡®Ecole des Beaux¨CArts. Paris. Orientation in two weeks.¡® I stared at the page, then at her. She was watching me nervously, her teeth digging into her bottom lip, as though bracing for my reaction. Celine. Paris. 1 AD Comment Send gift No The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!