Chapter 0554
Peter smiled as he watched Celeste, now so calm and seemingly at peace. She looked more relaxed than she had earlier in the day. He guessed that, like him, the day had given her time to settle her emotions and find some serenity in the comfort of her home.
Amazingly, Celeste devoured three slices of cake and then headed to the kitchen for a bunch of grapes, which she ate one by one until the bowl was empty.
Peter sipped his coffee, memories flooding back of the eight months they had spent together before she chose her past over their present. His thoughts were heavy with the weight of the bad decisions that had led him to this point. He was lost in these reflections when Celeste’s voice pulled him back.
“Well, now that the babies are satisfied, we can talk,” Celeste said, getting up and walking to a small bookshelf. She opened it and pulled out a folder stuffed with papers.
“Celeste… I… I don’t even know where to start.”
“Here,” she said, handing him a document. “This is my schedule for upcoming appointments. In a few weeks, I’ll be getting an ultrasound to find out the babies‘ genders. I want to know so I can prepare and buy the right things. You can take a photo of it and plan to come along if you want to, that is.”
“Celeste, I need to talk about us! I want to be there for our children, but I also want to be with you!” Peter said firmly.
The calm on Celeste’s face vanished, replaced by a serious expression.
“Peter, I said it in my letter, and I’ll say it again now: our priority must be the babies. But between you and me, nothing more will happen than a cordial relationship for the sake of our children. You need to understand that.‘
“Celeste, you have to hear me out. Things aren’t what you think. I didn’t cheat on you–I don’t have anyone else! Please, just listen to me…” Peter said, his voice laced with desperation.
“Peter, I’m not demanding explanations for what happened. Whatever made you disappear and leave without a trace is in the past. I’ve been on my own, and now I feel at peace. I don’t want to disrupt that–I’m happy here, just like this.”
“Celeste, I have to tell you what happened while I was gone I know you might hate me after hearing it, or maybe you’ll forgive me. But you need to know the truth.”
“Peter, I’ve made it clear–I only care about whether you’re willing to be there for your children.”
“Celeste, you know my children will always be my priority. But you… you’re my priority too! I love you! Please, forgive me…” Peter said, stepping forward and pulling her to an unexpected embrace.
Celeste felt the warmth of his body and caught the familiar scent of his cologne. Memories came rushing back, overwhelming her with a mix of emotions. For a moment, she let herself sink into the comforting sensation. But then, sharp recollections of a time when he was physically present but emotionally absent brought her back to reality. Feeling as though she had been an afterthought in his life, she stepped back and put distance between them.
“Peter, I’m asking you to leave,” she said, pointing toward the door.
Her voice was steady, but tears threatened to spill. She tried to hold them back, but one escaped, trailing down her cheek
“Peter, it’s not fair to either of us for you to pretend everything can go back to normal. I trusted you once, and in the end, I was lonelier than when I started. I don’t care what you’ve done or why. All I ask is that if you’re going to
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Chapter 6554
be part of our children’s lives, you do it without involving yourself with me.”
“Celeste, I shouldn’t have left you. I shouldn’t have let my past take precedence over us. I wish you had been there with me I needed you. But I was afraid something would happen to you. You have no idea how chaotic my life has become, or how much it’s affected my family. Please, let me explain. If, after hearing me out, you decide to stay, I’ll assign security to protect you and won’t bother you unless it’s about the children. Just let me tell you the truth.”
Celeste saw the frustration and worry in Peter’s eyes. She was on the verge of telling him to leave again but hesitated. His offer to leave the final decision in her hands gave her pause.
“After this, Peter, you’d better leave my house. From now on, your calls should only be about our children,” she said, looking at him directly, tears glistening in her eyes.
Chapter 0555
