Scatter Our Broken Love Among the Stars

"There's still half a year left before the contract is up. I'm getting ready to file for a divorce from Steven." As Celine Harlow speaks, she looks at the video which has been replayed on her iPad over a hundred times. In the video, her husband, Steven Kirk, keeps staring at his childhood sweetheart, Quinn Lambert, lovingly. "Oh, Quinn! I still can't forget about you at all! Will you please return to my side?" After that, he takes the initiative to capture Quinn's lips in a kiss. Meanwhile, Celine's son, Zane Kirk, whom she has risked her life giving birth to, keeps screaming at the top of his lungs, "Daddy, I want Quinn as my mommy!" Celine's resolve to leave her marriage behind is steeled even more. On the other end of the line, Steven's mother, Evelyn Kennedy, falls silent for a moment. She then advises Celine to think through her decision carefully. "You have to think this through. If you get divorced, not only will you have to give up on your current job, but you also won't be able to obtain any assets because of the contract." Celine doesn't hesitate at all. "I know. Since our marriage certificate is fake, I'll definitely get divorced without asking for a single cent. Don't worry." But Evelyn tries to get Celine to stay. "If you insist on getting a divorce, you won't get the custody over Zane. Are you sure you have the heart to never see him again?" Chapter 1 "I know you love Steven. With the child here, sooner or later, he'll turn his attention to you." Even Evelyn Kennedy, Steven Kirk's mother, who rarely saw her, knew that Celine Harlow was hopelessly in love with Steven. Yet Steven remained convinced that Celine was a calculating woman who only wanted to marry into a wealthy family for the glory and status. Bitterness spread through Celine's chest, but she kept her voice steady. "Zane carries the Kirk family blood. I trust that you and Steven won't mistreat him, so when I leave this time, I never plan to come back." "Very well. I'll arrange for your departure according to our agreement." Receiving the definitive answer, Celine finally let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, though the ache in her chest refused to fade. Her relationship with Steven was nothing more than a cursed arrangement born from desperation five years ago. Back then, Steven was head over heels for his sweetheart, Quinn Lambert. When Quinn suddenly married the head of a powerful Malvonian financial empire in a whirlwind wedding, Steven refused to believe she would abandon him. He chased after her to Malvonia, only to be involved in a terrible car accident along the way. He spent a month in intensive care before finally regaining consciousness. Evelyn forbade him from seeking out Quinn again and forced him to watch the video of her wedding ceremony. The heartbreak sent Steven into a downward spiral. He drank himself senseless, raced cars recklessly, and lost an alarming amount of weight. He lived like a man with a death wish. Terrified for Steven's life, Evelyn noticed that Celine bore a passing resemblance to Quinn. She tracked Celine down and presented her with a contract. The terms were straightforward. Celine had to find a way to keep Steven grounded for five years. In exchange, Celine would not only see her career flourish, but she would also receive access to the country's top medical team for a liver transplant. Celine suffered from hereditary liver disease. She'd grown up in an orphanage with nothing to her name. Years of hardship gave her a fierce will to survive, so she agreed without hesitation. After signing the contract with Evelyn, Celine began studying Quinn's style of dress and manufactured chance encounters with Steven at every opportunity. She even went so far as to shield him with her own body when he nearly got hit by a car. Steven was, at his core, a deeply loyal person. For a while, Celine thought she would never be able to fulfill her end of the bargain. But then, shortly after she took the hit for him and was discharged from the hospital with fractured bones, Steven suddenly agreed to be with her. At the time, Celine didn't question it. She convinced herself that her persistence had finally won him over. Although the marriage certificate they obtained was a forgery arranged by Evelyn, Celine still believed she could be happy. A month into the marriage, Celine learned the truth. Steven hadn't agreed to be with her because her devotion moved him. He agreed because on that very same day, Quinn had posted online announcing her pregnancy. Celine tried to guard her heart after that. She told herself to just fulfill the contract and nothing more. But when she became pregnant, Steven lit up with genuine joy. He stayed by her side for days, talking excitedly about their child's future. His happiness felt so achingly real. Around the same time, Evelyn found a matching liver donor for her transplant. So Celine went through with the pregnancy and gave birth to their son, Zane Kirk. She thought she could live like this indefinitely, existing in this strange, lukewarm marriage with Steven. It wasn't ideal, but it was survivable. Everything changed three months ago, when Quinn came back after her divorce. She and Steven rekindled their relationship almost immediately. Worse still, even Zane began gravitating toward Quinn, growing colder and more resentful toward his own mother. At first, Celine couldn't wrap her head around it. Five years of standing by Steven's side, and she still couldn't claim even the smallest corner of his heart. The moment Quinn returned, Celine's entire existence became an inconvenience. She'd confronted him before. She'd broken down in tears. Nothing ever changed. Slowly, her heart grew heavy, waterlogged with sorrow, sinking deeper and deeper. Now, all that remained was disappointment. "What are you looking at?" A cold voice cut through the silence. Celine looked up to find that father and son had returned. She pushed aside her wandering thoughts and turned off the iPad screen. "Just some sales pitch. Where were you two? It's late." Steven walked closer, and Celine immediately caught the scent of perfume clinging to him. Soft, delicate, and nothing like his usual cologne. It was Quinn's favorite fragrance. "Business dinner." Steven loosened his tie, his tone clipped. Celine watched him lie to her face without so much as a flicker of guilt. She didn't press him. Instead, she turned to Zane. "Zane, drinking parties aren't appropriate for children. Next time your father has business, call me, and I'll come pick you up. Alright?" Zane trailed behind Steven like a miniature shadow. At his age, he couldn't hide his emotions well. Right now, his face was twisted with irritation. "I wanted to go with Dad! Can you stop being so controlling?" Celine's lips parted, but no words came out. The emptiness inside her spread a little wider. She'd never had parents of her own. When Zane was born, she poured everything she had into raising him. She loved him fiercely and set firm boundaries because she wanted him to grow up properly. But every rule she set became ammunition against her. She wouldn't let him eat fried chicken or stay up late playing video games. She made him read books and practice his penmanship. Under Quinn's whispered encouragement and Steven's indulgent silence, it all made Celine the villain. Celine tried to steer Zane back on course, but every attempt backfired spectacularly. Normally, she would have said something or pushed back a little. But after hearing Zane openly wish for Quinn to be his mother that day, Celine couldn't summon the energy to care anymore. Zane changed out of his clothes and immediately threw another fit. "Mom, what do you even do all day? You can't even pick up my toys!" He seemed to have forgotten that this morning, before leaving with Steven, he'd explicitly told her not to touch his things. Celine glanced at him briefly, then called over a maid to handle the mess. She was done doing everything herself. "All you do is boss people around! You don't even act like a real mom. Quinn is way nicer than you! "I wish Quinn were my mom instead!" Chapter 2 Every word cut deep. Celine leaned back against the couch with her eyes closed, saying nothing. Zane's smartwatch buzzed. His face lit up as he scooped up an armful of supplies and dumped them in front of Celine. "The teacher assigned this craft project. You finish gluing it. I'm going to find Dad!" he barked out the order and took off running. Celine opened her eyes and looked down at the mess. A bead mosaic kit. The project itself wasn't particularly large, but the beads were microscopic. There had to be over a thousand of them, all needing to be sorted by color and painstakingly placed one by one. The whole thing would take all night. In the past, she would have helped, but she would have made Zane sit with her and work on it together. She would have taught him that his responsibilities were his own and not to put off until tomorrow what could be done today. Now, she didn't move. About half an hour later, Steven emerged from his room, phone in hand, head bent over the screen. His expression was soft in a way it never was with her. Celine pressed her fingers against her throbbing temples. "Steven, are you free tomorrow?" "What for?" He glanced up, his face blank and cold. "There's something important I need to talk to you about." Even though she'd already decided to leave them both behind, she still instinctively wanted to shield Zane from the details of the contract. "Why aren't you answering me?" The voice that came through the speaker was bright and playful. Steven had turned down the volume, but Celine heard it perfectly. He immediately looked back at his phone, then gave Celine a vague nod without really looking at her. Apparently, that counted as agreement. Celine watched him disappear into the kitchen, then got up and went to the guest bedroom. When Steven came to bed that night, he found the master bedroom empty. Assuming Celine was sulking about something again, he climbed into bed, irritated and alone. … The next morning, Celine woke to raised voices. She shuffled out of the guest room in her pajamas and slippers, only to find Quinn sitting in the living room. Zane, who should have been at school, was bouncing around her in excitement. "Yes! Quinn is the best! I've been wanting to enter that competition forever! But Mom never lets me do anything fun. She's always like this. Such a killjoy!" Zane spun in a circle as he ranted, and when he completed his turn, he spotted Celine standing in the doorway of the guest room. He lifted his chin with smug satisfaction. "Dad said I can skip school today so Quinn can take me to the Ocean Park competition!" Celine knew the place. The mall had sectioned off part of the building for a sandbox amusement zone. She thought it was a breeding ground for germs, which was why she'd always refused to let Zane go. But a killjoy? Her gaze drifted sideways to the corner of the living room, where she'd painstakingly set up miniature versions of the exact same equipment from that park. Smaller models, sure, but the same experience without the crowds and bacteria. She almost laughed. She couldn't even muster anger anymore. There was only numbness. She nodded without expression. "Go ahead." Quinn gave her an apologetic look. "Celine, why don't you come with us? You'd probably be bored staying home alone." Celine opened her mouth to refuse. "No! I don't want her to come!" Zane's voice shot up several decibels. "I don't want to go anywhere with her! All she does is complain about everything being dirty or dangerous. She's so annoying! Quinn, let's go without her." His tone in the second half softened noticeably, almost wheedling. "Kids just like to have fun. Don't take it personally." Quinn glanced toward the bedroom, where Steven had just emerged, freshly dressed and devastatingly handsome. His expression warmed considerably. "Alright, Celine. I'll take Zane out to play. Please don't be upset." Steven's gaze immediately snapped to Celine. He didn't say a word, but his look said everything. Quinn was doing her a favor by watching her kid. What was there to be upset about? The irony wasn't lost on Celine. She hadn't said a single word, and somehow, she was still in the wrong. She didn't bother defending herself. She just stood there in the guest room doorway like hired help. Steven grabbed Zane's hand. "Let's go." Zane clutched Steven's hand with one of his own and Quinn's with the other, practically skipping toward the door. From behind, they looked like the perfect family of three. Celine blinked away the sting in her eyes. She went back to her room, washed up, changed clothes, and left the house. Then, she went to the orphanage. Chapter 3 If there was anyone in Asterville that Celine couldn't bear to leave behind, it was the director of the orphanage. Serena Loftie was a woman whose hair had gone half gray, but her warmth and kindness never dimmed. When Celine told her about the divorce, Serena didn't ask questions. She simply took Celine's hand and offered quiet comfort. "You've made your decision, so walk forward with confidence. Don't look back." Celine nodded. For the first time since making her choice, the weight on her chest lifted slightly. She'd already received her liver transplant. She had the healthy body she'd once only dreamed of. What she was giving up now were just superficial things. She was smart and capable. She could build a good life for herself in a new city. "Oh, Ellie was asking about you the other day. That child really adores you. Are you still planning to…" Serena hesitated. "Adopt her?" Ellie Jabbs was a little girl Celine had met at the orphanage a year ago. She was small and timid, with a heartbreaking story. Her father had died in a construction accident. When her mother went to demand justice, she was shoved during an argument, fell, and died from a brain hemorrhage. Celine's heart had ached for Ellie. She'd decided to adopt her and brought it up with Steven. He'd agreed without much hesitation when she mentioned adopting a daughter. But when it came time to file the paperwork, Steven was always too busy and tied up with something else. The process dragged on and on until Celine grew tired of chasing him down. Eventually, the whole thing fizzled out. As if he'd really been too busy to spare a few hours for trips to the courthouse. His time just belonged to Quinn now. After chatting with Serena for a while, Celine felt lighter. On her way home, she passed by the mall and caught sight of Zane through the glass storefront, laughing and playing with Quinn in the sandbox arena. Steven was there, too. The man who was always so particular about cleanliness around her didn't seem to care one bit about the sand and dirt now. He crouched beside Quinn, shielding her protectively in case any of the other kids accidentally bumped into her. Celine's thoughts drifted. Right after Zane was born, she and Steven had shared moments like this. Back then, she'd been a brand-new mother, terrified of doing something wrong. The physical discomfort from giving birth left her anxious and sleepless. Steven had been patient with her then. He'd soothed the baby while reassuring her that no matter what she did, she was Zane's mother. He'd told her he believed in her. "Congratulations to Zane for winning first place! You're so amazing! Can you tell us what made you so good at this?" The host's voice crackled through the microphone, snapping Celine back to the present. She watched Zane grip the mic, his eyes bright as he looked down at Steven and Quinn standing side by side below the stage. Without a moment's hesitation, he spoke with pride ringing in his voice, "Because my mom and dad are amazing, so I'm amazing, too!" He called Quinn his mother. A laugh escaped Celine's throat. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. Thank God she'd already decided to let Zane go. Otherwise, hearing those words right now would have shattered her. Celine took a deep breath. The decision to walk away felt wiser and more correct with every passing second. The host gushed about what a polite, well-mannered child Zane was before turning her attention to the couple below. She commented on how handsome Steven was, how beautiful Quinn was, and what a perfect match they made. "So, Zane, do you think you can win the next round, too?" Zane nodded enthusiastically. Celine had seen enough. She turned to leave. "Celine?" Quinn's confused voice drifted over. Celine tried to pretend she hadn't heard, but Quinn called out louder. "Celine! You're here! Perfect timing. Zane still has one more game left. Why don't you take over for me?" Before Celine could say a word, Quinn had already grabbed her arm and pulled her inside. Chapter 4 "I don't need to…" Celine pulled her hand back. Quinn cut her off before she could finish, "Actually, you should have been the one playing these games with him from the start. You seemed busy, so I just filled in for a bit. But it's not too late now that you're here." She spoke with such casual confidence, as if she were simply stating facts. She bent down and patted Zane's head. "Zane, why don't you let your mom play the last game with you?" The moment Zane spotted Celine, his expression soured with disgust. Now, hearing Quinn's suggestion, he bristled like an angry cat. "I don't want to play with her! Make her leave! Who told her to come here anyway? Did you put a tracker on my phone or something?" He hurled the accusation at Celine with venom in his voice. Celine barely recognized her own son anymore. He'd open his mouth and immediately insult her. She wanted to say something, but her mind flooded with memories of being ignored, dismissed, and met with silence over and over again. So, she closed her mouth. "Celine, I'll have the driver take you to the jewelry store next door." Steven got to his feet, positioning himself between Quinn and Celine with seemingly casual intent. The host had just finished praising the three of them as a family. Now, the legal wife had appeared. Was he worried people would start whispering that Quinn was the other woman? Celine saw right through Steven's calculations. She glanced at Quinn, who'd stirred up this mess and was now being protected behind him. "She's the one who called me in here. Isn't that right?" Celine hadn't wanted to come inside in the first place. She was tired of fighting and of the endless back and forth. But that didn't mean she was willing to be trampled on. Steven's brows furrowed. He lowered his voice. "Don't make a scene here. Zane's finally having a good time." She was making a scene? Which part of what she'd said was making a scene? Celine understood in that instant where Zane had learned to twist the truth. "The game's about to start. If you don't go now, you'll miss it. Celine, hurry and take Zane over. I'll wait outside." Quinn moved toward the exit. As she stepped over the knee-high barrier, her body swayed. "Ah!" Steven rushed over to steady her. "Quinn, what's wrong?" Zane ran over too. Quinn's brows creased in obvious pain, but when she saw Zane, she still managed a smile. "Zane, go play the game with your mom, okay? You promised me you'd bring back the prize today." Zane looked back at Celine, then at Quinn, and finally nodded with reluctance. Celine listened to Zane urging her to get on stage and prepare. She let out a long breath. Fine. She'd play along one last time. This would be the last time anyway. The game involved crossing a balance beam to retrieve objects from the other side. Celine had never had great balance, so her pace was slower than the others. Zane kept rushing her. He watched the other kids nearly finish while he lagged behind. The realization that he wouldn't get the prize made him furious. The moment Celine stepped onto the beam, he deliberately jumped up and down on his end of the platform. Celine had been moving carefully to begin with. The sudden shaking threw her completely off balance, and she fell from the beam. It was a children's play area, so the beam wasn't high, but there were plenty of building blocks scattered below. Pain shot through Celine's shin. "You're such bad luck! This is all your fault! You made me lose!" Zane ran over, shouted at her, and then immediately bolted toward Quinn. By the time Celine emerged from the play area, Quinn was consoling Zane, telling him it was fine and that they could come back another time. When Steven saw Celine, his brows furrowed in annoyance. "How can you not even keep up with a kid?" Celine opened her mouth to respond, but Quinn stood up, and the movement aggravated her leg. She let out a small cry of pain, and Steven's attention immediately snapped to her. "I'm taking you to the hospital." He scooped Quinn up in his arms and headed for the exit without another word. Zane grabbed Quinn's purse and followed. No one paid Celine any attention. She bent down and rolled up her pant leg. A dark purple bruise had already formed. But the pain in her leg was nothing compared to what she felt in her chest. Celine slowly made her way out of the mall and found Steven's car still parked outside. She hesitated, confused. The window rolled down. Steven called out impatiently, "Are you getting in or not?" Celine glanced at Zane in the passenger seat, then opened the back door. Quinn had one leg stretched across the entire seat. "Where exactly am I supposed to sit?" Celine asked. Quinn immediately looked apologetic. "I'm so sorry. My leg won't bend properly. Maybe I should just take a cab to the hospital instead." She started to push herself up as if to get out. "Stop being ridiculous. You'll make it worse if you keep moving around!" Steven scolded her, his tone firm but not harsh. Then, he looked at Zane. "I'm not sitting on her lap!" Steven's expression darkened. Celine had had enough of their games. She slammed the car door shut. "I'll get a cab." Steven hesitated for a moment. "I'll send the driver to pick you up." Before Celine could respond, Quinn let out another pained sound, and Steven started the engine. Celine watched the car speed away. She had to admit, even now, her heart still ached. Thank God she'd already decided to leave. Chapter 5 When Celine got home, she headed straight for the master bedroom and had the maid bring up several large cardboard boxes. She started packing up everything that belonged to her. Steven didn't return until 10:00 pm, and he came back alone. Celine glanced over her shoulder briefly but didn't ask any questions. Steven seemed oddly guilty and offered an explanation. "Quinn's ankle is pretty badly sprained. I left Zane there to keep her company." "Mm." Celine had been unusually quiet all day, and it seemed to unsettle him. For once, he kept talking. "I know you worry about Zane, but he's at that age where kids have a lot of energy. If you showed him a little more patience, he wouldn't dislike you so much." "Mm." He'd made two attempts at offering her an olive branch, and both had been met with the same flat, indifferent response. Irritation flashed in Steven's eyes. He watched her pack box after box without so much as looking at him, and his tone sharpened. "Celine, what are you trying to pull now? I didn't drive you home today because Quinn was injured and there was no room in the car." Celine found him standing there more of an obstruction than anything else. She finally stopped and looked at him. "I'm doing some spring cleaning. Do you need something? If not, move." Steven had never seen her that detached before. He found it completely unreasonable. He'd explained himself. Why couldn't she just be understanding for once? Years of this comfortable life had turned her into such a nag! Steven stormed out and slammed the door behind him. Once Celine finished clearing out the walk-in closet, she dragged the boxes to the recycling bins at the neighborhood entrance. When she looked up, she spotted Steven across the street in the yard of another house. She paused mid-step. Standing in front of Steven was none other than Quinn. "That newlywed couple has such a sweet relationship. They take walks in the yard together every afternoon. Makes you jealous just watching them." A voice sighed nearby. Celine turned. It was a neighbor from the next building over, Lydia Wilkins. They'd run into each other a few times and occasionally exchanged pleasantries. "I remember that house has the best layout in the whole neighborhood. I heard they even paid extra to get it. Oh, youth!" Lydia's face was full of envy. Celine didn't know what to say. She just smiled. It really was laughable when she thought about it. She'd been married to Steven for five years, and the neighbors didn't even know what her husband looked like. The outside world had never caught a single photo of her and Steven together. For five years, she'd been invisible. She'd taken care of everything for him, seemingly holding the title of wife, but it had all been nothing more than smoke and mirrors. When Lydia saw that Celine wasn't going to engage, she headed back home without another word. Celine turned back to look at the scene across the street. It made her sick that he was keeping his mistress less than 200 yards from their home. Steven really wasn't even trying to hide it anymore. In the small yard, Steven was talking to Quinn about something. Quinn laughed and threw herself at him. They embraced, and Celine figured a kiss would come next. She didn't want to watch any longer. She turned and left. Steven caught Quinn as she threw herself at him, his tone helpless. "Doesn't your leg hurt anymore?" "Just a little!" Quinn blinked up at him, her eyes soft and adoring. "Stand properly." Steven steadied her on her feet and looked away from her gaze. When he spotted Celine's retreating figure across the street, something like panic flickered through him. "Quinn, I just remembered something. I need to head back for a bit." Steven let go and strode out of the yard. Celine was about to close the door when resistance pushed back against it. She turned to find Steven standing there, slightly surprised. "I thought you weren't coming home tonight." Her expression was blank. "Quinn didn't have anywhere to go when she came back to the country. It's dangerous for a woman to live alone. The security in our neighborhood is good, so I rented her a place here. Don't read too much into it." Steven's explanation came quickly. Celine nodded with what seemed like genuine appreciation. "A neighbor just told me what loving newlyweds you two are. She even mentioned you paid extra to secure that house." The lie was exposed immediately, and Steven's face darkened with embarrassment and anger. "Celine, can't you be a little more generous? It's just a house. What's the big deal? "Why are you being so petty about every little thing? Quinn never makes a fuss over stuff like this!" Chapter 6 It wasn't a big deal? Celine let out a mocking laugh. "Right. She's virtuous, and I could never measure up. I'll never spend my life playing second fiddle to a man, wasting all my energy trying to keep him happy!" The words had barely left her mouth when Steven's expression changed. She followed his gaze and spotted Quinn standing at the bottom of the front steps. "I'm so sorry, Celine. This is all my fault. I've interfered with your life and caused you so much trouble. But I… I just…" Quinn looked at Steven with tears pooling in her eyes. "You didn't do anything wrong. She's just being petty." Steven finished comforting Quinn, then turned to Celine with a command. "Apologize to Quinn." Celine was exhausted. She'd been woken up early that morning, bruised her leg playing that stupid game at noon, and spent the entire afternoon packing. All she wanted now was to find somewhere quiet and rest. She had no interest in another pointless fight. But clearly, peace and quiet were too much to ask for in this house. Celine turned, grabbed her bag, and headed for the door. Steven had just helped Quinn inside when he saw Celine walking out with her bag. Her temper seemed to be getting worse by the day, and anger surged through him. "If you leave, don't bother coming back." Perfect! Celine scoffed and kept walking. Quinn stood just beside the doorway, blocking a small portion of the path. Celine deliberately angled her body to slip past. She'd just gotten one foot over the threshold when Quinn screamed and fell backward. Celine's hand shot out instinctively to catch her, but she missed. She could only watch as Quinn tumbled down the steps and hit her head hard enough to draw blood. "Celine! What the hell is wrong with you?" Steven's furious voice exploded in her ear. He rushed over to check on Quinn. "Where are you hurt? I'm taking you to the hospital." Quinn swayed on her feet as if she were about to faint. She stood up, one hand covering her injury, the other pushing Steven away. "I'm fine, Steve. As long as Celine feels better, that's all that matters. You two should work things out. I'll go home and take care of this myself." Quinn was firm in her refusal. She insisted on drawing a clear line between them and absolutely would not go to the hospital. Steven looked frantic. When he saw Celine standing there completely unmoved, he strode over, grabbed her arm, and dragged her in front of Quinn. This time, his grip was even more brutal as he tried to force her down. "Apologize to Quinn!" "Steven, if your eyes don't work, go to the hospital and get them checked. You want me to apologize? Never." Celine wrenched herself free with all her strength. She'd just regained her balance when a sudden force at her waist sent her toppling backward. There were still two or three steps behind her. She hit the ground and rolled down before finally coming to a stop. Pain exploded at the base of her spine. The pain was so intense that she broke out in a cold sweat immediately. Her vision swam, and Quinn's shrill voice echoed somewhere in the distance. "Celine, are you okay?" "She's fine. She's just putting on a show because she doesn't want to apologize!" Steven's voice dripped with contempt. "But she looks like she can't get up…" "It's two or three steps. What's there to get up from? You fell down nearly eight steps, and you're still standing. Quinn, listen to me. That head wound needs to be treated right away. I'm taking you to the hospital." "I…" Celine couldn't hear the rest. Steven must have dragged Quinn away. … When Celine opened her eyes again, she found herself lying in a hospital bed. It took her a moment to piece together what had happened. She hadn't just stopped hearing them. She'd passed out. Lydia was the one who'd brought her in. The moment she saw Celine awake, she started fussing. "You scared me half to death! I was walking past your place on my way back from the market, and there you were, lying on the ground. You wouldn't respond no matter how much I called out to you. I thought…" The implication was too grim to voice, so Lydia trailed off and switched gears. "Now that you're awake, you should call your family and have them come stay with you. The doctor said you took a pretty bad fall and needed to be hospitalized for a few days. I have to get home now." Celine thanked her softly. Chapter 7 Celine didn't call anyone. She hired a private nurse and planned to recover in peace. Still, Quinn showed up at her door. A bandage was taped to her forehead, and when she looked at Celine lying in the hospital bed, all the warmth and gentleness from before had vanished. In its place was smug satisfaction and barely concealed glee at Celine's misfortune. "Celine, if you know what's good for you, you'll leave and make room for me. Clinging to your position won't end well for you. You can't win against me!" Celine watched her gloat and found it almost amusing. "If you're so confident, why bother coming here to tell me all this?" she asked with genuine curiosity. A flash of resentment crossed Quinn's eyes. The truth was, she'd noticed that while Steven treated her just as well as before, he'd been keeping a certain distance lately. It made her uneasy. That was why she was so desperate to get rid of Celine. "You should know him pretty well by now. He's stubborn and set in his ways once he's made up his mind. But he also hates people who are manipulative and ruthless. "What do you think would happen if he found out everything you've done? Do you really think he'd still treat you well?" After all these years, Celine felt she had Steven figured out completely. "Are you threatening me?" Quinn's expression darkened. She stared at Celine with undisguised hatred. Celine's tone remained calm. "I'm just telling you the truth." "Then, let's test it. Let's see who Steve believes, you or me. Just like this time, I fell down those steps on my own, but he didn't even ask questions before deciding you pushed me." Quinn brought it up herself, probably trying to regain some confidence. "Even your own son can't stand you. He likes me better. Celine, what do you have that could possibly beat me? You've already lost! "I'm giving you one last chance. Leave on your own, and as a reward for being sensible, I'll let Zane visit you from time to time. "Otherwise, I'll make sure he never acknowledges you as his mother for the rest of his life." After Quinn left, Celine pulled out the phone she'd kept hidden beneath the blanket and stopped the recording. Celine spent a week in the hospital. Aside from her rival's visit, Steven never once showed his face. Zane did come by once, though it was on Quinn's behalf. He demanded that Celine apologize to Quinn. He said the wound on Quinn's forehead might scar. He called her vicious for hurting someone's appearance. Perhaps it was all the time she'd spent lying in that hospital bed, but Celine had done a lot of thinking. She'd come to realize that compared to life and death, everything else was trivial. Hearing Zane say these things didn't hurt or enrage her the way it once would have. She was almost curious now, so she asked, "What are you going to do if I don't apologize?" Was he going to use violence like Steven? Zane glared at Celine, his voice loud and firm. "If you don't apologize, I won't call you my mother anymore! I don't have such a cruel and vicious mother!" Celine waved him off. "Bye, Zane." Father and son really were cut from the same cloth. Both of them wanted her gone, and so did Quinn. Perfect. All of them were working toward the same goal. "You're completely unrepentant!" Zane huffed and stormed out. He never came back after that. Once the pain subsided, Celine checked herself out of the hospital and returned to the villa one last time. Before going back, she made sure to check the security cameras and confirm that both Steven and Zane were out. She threw away everything she hadn't managed to get rid of the first time, grabbed her identification documents, and checked into a hotel. Just three more days. In three days, her contract with Evelyn would expire. Celine had planned to spend those three days resting peacefully at the hotel. Once the time was up, she'd take the passport Evelyn had prepared for her and leave. But on the final day, someone knocked on her door. It was Steven. "Celine, there's a limit to how long you can throw a fit." Steven tugged at his tie as he walked in, frustration simmering beneath the surface. When he saw Celine's indifferent expression, his anger flared even hotter. "You don't answer your phone, and now you're running away from home? Have I been too easy on you all these years?" "Sorry," Celine apologized immediately, and Steven's expression softened slightly. But then she followed up with, "I blocked your number. That's why I didn't get your calls." "You!" Steven's hands trembled with rage. "Did you need something?" The days Celine had spent in the hospital had been the most peaceful she'd had in five years. Now, seeing Steven again, she couldn't muster even a shred of patience. "If there's nothing else, you should go. I need to rest." "Celine, have you forgotten what tomorrow is?" Steven forced the question through gritted teeth. Celine drew a blank. What day? "Tomorrow is Zane's birthday. I'm throwing him a party at Fester Hotel. Be there at 6:00 pm sharp." Steven finished speaking and fixed Celine with a meaningful look. "After the party, we need to talk." Celine didn't hesitate. "I'm not going." "Celine, you're his mother!" Steven's voice rose sharply. "He doesn't see me as his mother. If I go, I'll just get dirty looks. I'm not that bored that I need to go looking for a bad time." As she spoke, Celine pushed him toward the door and shut it firmly in his face. The hallway fell silent. As for Steven wanting to talk? She almost laughed. When she'd wanted to talk before, had he ever given her the chance? No. And now Celine didn't want to give him one either. The idea that she'd once wanted a clean break, that she'd felt the need to hash everything out, seemed absolutely ridiculous now. She must've lost her mind. No one cared then. And now, she didn't care either. Steven must have complained to Evelyn, because that evening, Celine received a call asking her to attend Zane's birthday party. "Celine, just think of it as the last thing you have to do under our contract." Evelyn's tone was subdued, almost pleading. "This is the first birthday party Zane's ever had. The whole family will be there. Just show your face." Celine agreed. Evelyn was right. It was the last day of the contract. She could endure one more time. Chapter 8 Celine was the type of person who, once she made a promise, would follow through and do her best to see it done. She arrived at the venue an hour early and had even dressed up for the occasion. But as it turned out, there was absolutely no need for her to be there. Zane stayed glued to Quinn's side the entire time. As the birthday boy, guests naturally congratulated him first, but all the small talk that followed was directed at Quinn. When the servers had questions or needed clarification on arrangements, they asked Quinn. Celine stood in the banquet hall feeling more out of place than the actual guests. Fortunately, she'd already made peace with it all. With a calm mindset, she found a quiet corner and sampled the drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Rather than dwelling on the sadness of being excluded by her own son, Celine found herself looking forward to her new life. At 6:00 pm sharp, a massive seven-tier cake was wheeled in. Candles were lit, the lights dimmed, and the birthday song began to play. Zane stood in front of the enormous cake with his hands clasped together politely, making a wish with utmost seriousness. Quinn stood right behind him. Steven had walked in just one minute before the lights went out. He glanced at his son, who was surrounded by well-wishers, then made his way toward Celine in the corner. The moment the lights went out, Celine heard him ask, "Why aren't you over there?" She didn't bother answering. After the birthday song finished, the lights came back on. Next came the cake-cutting ceremony. Zane eagerly grabbed the knife and fork and was about to hand them to Quinn when Evelyn stopped him. "Zane, sweetheart, today is your birthday. Five years ago today, you met your mom for the first time. Shouldn't she be the one to cut the cake?" Evelyn bent down and spoke to him gently, taking the utensils from his hands. She waved at Celine through the crowd. "Celine, come cut the cake." The guests seemed to suddenly remember that Celine was the biological mother. All at once, curious eyes turned toward Quinn with unspoken questions. Quinn struggled to keep the smile on her face. She instinctively looked at Steven. "Mom's asking you to cut the cake." Steven was currently looking down at Celine, repeating the instruction. Celine's temper had really gotten out of hand lately. Celine took a deep breath, stood up, and walked over. Steven followed her movements. The crowd parted to let her through. Hatred flashed through Quinn's eyes, but it was gone in an instant. The moment Evelyn handed the knife and fork to Celine, Quinn let go of Zane's hand. Zane turned to look at her. Seeing her hurt and upset expression, he immediately started making a fuss. "I don't want her to cut it! I want Quinn to cut it for me!" He lunged forward, trying to snatch the utensils back. Evelyn blocked him, her tone growing stern. "If you want, we can bring out a new cake in a bit and let Quinn cut that one." Zane refused, "I want this one!" "Zane Kirk!" Steven used his full name, and Zane stopped his tantrum, looking at Steven with a trace of fear. "Let Mom cut the cake." Steven's tone left no room for argument. "But I already promised Quinn she could cut it!" Zane's voice turned whiny with grievance. He turned on Celine, venting all his frustration at her. "Who told you to come? I never asked you to be here! You're so annoying! All you do is ruin everything for me! Go away! Just go away!" Zane broke free from Evelyn's grasp and shoved Celine. Kids never knew their own strength. Celine's injuries had only just healed. As he pushed her backward, he forgot that behind her was an elaborate display of wine glasses arranged in neat rows. The whole thing came crashing down. "Celine!" Steven had been standing right behind her and immediately reached out to catch her. Celine had been standing too close. Even though Steven managed to keep her from falling into the pile of broken glass, shards still scattered across the floor and cut her. Pain shot through her legs. Evelyn quickly called the servers over to clean up the mess. Guests scattered as the scene erupted into chaos. "Zane, are you okay?" Quinn rushed over to check on him. Zane looked shaken. He was scared. Quinn watched Celine intently as Steven helped her up. She looked down at Zane. "Don't be scared. Let me take you outside." She bent down to pick Zane up. As she stood, her body swayed, and she collapsed. "Quinn! Dad! Dad, Quinn's hurt!" Zane immediately spotted the blood and cried out for Steven in panic. Steven's attention snapped toward them instantly, and he let go of Celine. He didn't notice Celine sway the moment he let go. Chapter 9 "Quinn, are you alright?" Steven rushed over to help her up. "I'm fine. Is Zane hurt? As long as he's okay, that's all that matters." Quinn's voice trembled with pain. "You can't just worry about him when you're this badly injured! I'm taking you to the hospital!" Without waiting for a response, Steven scooped Quinn up in his arms and left. Zane broke into a small jog to keep up, never once looking back. Celine watched the scene unfold with a strange sense of loss. She couldn't quite tell if what she felt was sadness or relief, but one thing was certain—there wasn't an ounce of reluctance left in her. She'd wanted to give Zane one last proper birthday. "Let me take you to the hospital to get that bandaged up." Evelyn walked over, clearly unsure what else to say. She'd seen everything clearly. When Steven let go of Celine, he hadn't even checked to see if she could stand on her own. The broken glass scattered around Celine's feet was far worse than what Quinn had stepped on. If Celine hadn't reacted quickly enough to steady herself, she'd be the one lying in a pool of blood right now. Celine snapped out of her thoughts and glanced down at her ankles. Blood had soaked through the hem of her dress. A smile of relief spread across her face. "I can go by myself. Are you planning to keep me here until midnight?" Seeing that her mind was made up, Evelyn said nothing more. She handed Celine an envelope. "Your ticket and documents are inside." Celine took it, nodded, and turned to leave without looking back. Steven had carried Quinn to the banquet hall entrance when his steps suddenly faltered. For reasons he couldn't explain, he turned to look back. He caught sight of Celine heading toward another exit. An uncomfortable feeling twisted in his chest, like something precious was slipping through his fingers. "Zane, go…" Steven looked down, intending to tell Zane to go apologize to Celine. Zane had been way out of line tonight. But before he could finish the sentence, Quinn's head lolled to the side in his arms. She'd passed out. Steven didn't dare waste another second. He bolted toward the parking lot. Celine stopped by a pharmacy to treat the cuts on her feet. The clerk watched her and finally spoke up, "Miss, it looks like there might be glass fragments still stuck in those wounds. You should really go to the hospital and have them cleaned out properly." "It's fine." Celine didn't want to spend another moment in this city. She disinfected the cuts haphazardly, slapped on some bandages, and caught a cab straight to the airport. Sitting in the back seat, she watched the scenery rush past the window. The towering skyscrapers and bright lights gradually disappeared from view. Once they got onto the elevated highway, Celine rolled down the window, pulled the ring off her finger, and tossed it out without hesitation.