Chapter 0890
+25 BONUS
Peter, wanting to avoid making things worse, stepped out of the walk–in closet and left the bedroom, giving Celeste some space. As he made his way downstairs, he spotted his brother, Maximus, already there, along with the rest of the family. Everyone looked sharp, dressed for the occasion.
He sighed, regretting that Celeste still wasn’t ready. He could tell her emotions were all over the place today- especially today.
“Hey, Peter!” Maximus greeted, but quickly noticed something was off.
“What’s going on?” he asked, picking up on the tension in his brother’s face.
“Celeste… She really wants to strangle me today.”
“For real?” Diana chimed in, having caught Peter’s response.
“Yeah… I left the room to give her some space. She still hasn’t decided what to wear, and we’ve been at this for hours. Nothing makes her happy. I keep telling her that everything looks beautiful on her, but she insists nothing fits right.”
“Can I go up and see her?” Diana asked calmly.
“Please do. If you can talk some sense into her, I’d owe you one.”
“I’ll check on her. Normally, she’s so easygoing–must be the pregnancy hormones.”
A few minutes later, Diana knocked softly on Peter and Celeste’s bedroom door.
“Celeste… It’s me, Diana. Can I come in?”
“Come in…” Celeste answered, her voice thick with tears. She was sitting on the floor, looking completely defeated.
Diana rushed over to her. “Celeste… What’s wrong?”
“Nothing…”
“Nothing? Look at you–you’re a mess. You’re sitting on the cold floor, and that’s not good for the babies. You’re not even dressed yet!”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me!” Celeste cried, wiping at her face. “Today, especially today, I hate the way I look. I feel ugly. I feel huge. I don’t know–I look awful! Just look at me–I’m a complete disaster.”
Diana softened her tone. “Celeste…”
Then, with careful precision, she asked, “Is this because Alden’s mom is coming?”
Celeste didn’t answer, but her expression said everything.
That was the reason.
The idea of Peter’s ex being in the same house made her stomach churn.
Sure, Peter never mentioned her. But the fact remained–when he first woke up, the only woman he remembered being madly in love with was Katherine.
“I don’t know, Diana!” Celeste groaned. “It’s everything! My emotions, my hormones, all the pastries I’ve been eating–they’ve gone straight to my hips! Look at my belly! It’s enormous! I’m huge and ugly! And can you imagine what she must look like?!”
26 BONUS
Chapter 0090
“Celeste,” Diana said, keeping her voice soothing, “you are not fat. You’re pregnant.”
“I’m trying to understand how you feel. I know this isn’t easy. The situation is complicated. But one thing you should be sure of–you are Peter’s fiancée. You are carrying his daughters in your womb.
“It doesn’t matter that Alden’s mom is coming. Whatever happened in the past is the past. It was a long time ago. You shouldn’t let it affect you now, don’t you think?”
Celeste bit her lip, guilt flickering across her face. “Diana…‘m sorry for acting like this, but I can’t help it. The idea of that woman being in this house–with Peter–it terrifies me!”
“Celeste…. Just think about one thing,” Diana said gently.
“When Peter woke up, he could have gone looking for her. But he didn’t. Instead, he stayed here, with you.
“I know this isn’t easy. I know you’ve been through a lot. But tonight, you need to be as strong as you were when you refused to give up in that hospital.
“So let’s find you a stunning dress–one that shows off that beautiful pregnant glow of yours. And you’re going to hold your head up high, the same way you’ve always fought for your little girls.”
Diana sifted through the pile of discarded clothes, searching for something that might lift Celeste’s spirits. As she did, she couldn’t help but remember how she felt when Maximus had introduced Valerie at Magnus’s house.
In the end, things had turned out fine. She and Valerie had gotten along well. The situation hadn’t been as bad as she had initially feared. But at first, she had felt intimidated–by a past she didn’t know, but one that was undeniably there. A past she couldn’t erase.
“Celeste, how about this one?” Diana held up a flowing, floor–length dress. “It’s loose, comfortable, and elegant. And trust me you’ll look gorgeous in it. That baby bump of yours is stunning.”
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0891
