Chapter 10
Damien lowered his gaze, deep in thought. What Ophelia said made sense. Maybe it was exactly as she suggested–Celeste was waiting for him to worry about her.
He frowned, his heart full of irritation and impatience as he said, “How long is she going
to
keep this up? Is this kind of game fun?
“She’s nothing like you, Lia. You’re so well–behaved and obedient. I won’t indulge her. Let’s see just how long she can hold out!”
Damien suppressed the unease and surging anger in his heart and pulled Ophelia back into his arms. She wore a sexy, alluring nightgown, yet her expression carried an innocent shyness that was utterly captivating.
Her slender arms wrapped around his shoulders. Her red lips pressed against the corner of his mouth, about to explore deeper, but Damien seemed distracted. He kissed her casually and then pushed her away.
He picked up his clothes and put them on. After straightening himself in the mirror, he coldly said, “There’s an emergency at the company. I need to go handle it. You rest well today.”
With that, he didn’t spare Ophelia another glance and walked straight out the door, driving away.
Ophelia angrily pounded her pillow several times. “Damn you, Celeste! You really know how to manipulate him! I will never give him up to you!”
Damien indeed went to the company instead of going home. He stayed at the office working for two straight days, but his gaze often drifted to his phone nearby.
The
The phone did ring, but it was Ophelia calling. He hung up irritably.
However, Ophelia kept calling repeatedly. His phone lit up countless times, but none were from Celeste. Even though Monday had arrived, she still hadn’t sent a single message or made a single call.
The panic in Damien’s heart became increasingly palpable, and his anger burned fiercely, ready to explode at any moment. Just then, Taylor suddenly pushed open the door. “Mr. Ashford, someone wants to see you. It’s…”
Before Taylor could finish, he interrupted eagerly, “Is it Celeste? Just make her wait! After not messaging me for so long, she deserves to wait.” Taylor’s face was full of embarrassment. He bit his lip awkwardly as he said softly, “Mr. Ashford, it’s not your wife. It’s the business partner you’re supposed to meet today.”
Damien’s expression froze, and he couldn’t process Taylor’s words for a long time.
“How could it not be Celeste? You must be joking. Just bring her in and postpone the business meeting.”
He rubbed his temples irritably.
1
Taylor looked very troubled as he replied, “Mr. Ashford, Mrs. Ashford really isn’t here. If you don’t believe me, you can go see for yourself.” With those words, Damien could no longer deceive himself. He went to the conference room with a dark expression. After his meeting had concluded, he became increasingly agitated.
Damien never received a single call or message from Celeste, even until the end of the workday. His face was terrifyingly grim, and many employees who saw him trembled with fear, wishing they could hide in corners.
After waiting for a long time, Damien ran out of patience and drove home at top speed.
However, night had already fallen. While the entire city was lit up with brilliant lights, the hillside mansion was completely dark without a single light
- on.
He almost thought he was hallucinating for a moment. He double–checked multiple times before believing that the mansion truly had not a single light on. It was as if no one was there.
The panic in his heart became increasingly obvious, and his heart pounded wildly.
“Celeste,
what game are you playing? Playing hard to get won’t work on me!”
Damien pushed open the door and turned on the lights, frowning deeply as he searched throughout the mansion. However, the entire place was empty and desolate, so quiet that he could hear echoes.
A thin layer of dust had accumulated on the coffee table, and the flowers in the vase had long since wilted, leaving only yellowed stems. Clearly, no one had lived in the house for several days.
A sense of bewildered panic instantly washed over him. He pressed his lips tightly together, forcibly suppressing the panic in his heart.
This was impossible. Celeste couldn’t divorce him. He had power and influence, so she couldn’t escape even if she tried to run!
