Chapter 0898
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Valerie discreetly watched Peter. She didn’t make any move to approach him, but deep down, she wanted to ask if he was okay. She was curious to talk to him. She knew Peter was her past, but that didn’t mean she had stopped. feeling something for him.
Marcus had already told her that Peter didn’t remember her but she wanted to confirm it for herself. At one point, she had believed that putting distance between them would fix everything, but now, with Serenity and Alden together, avoiding him was going to be nearly impossible.
No matter how much therapy and self–acceptance she had gone through, she couldn’t deny feeling some relief when she saw Peter holding Celeste close. The way Celeste Smiled at him in understanding stung a little. She and Celeste had spoken briefly at the hospital while Peter was being operated on. She couldn’t quite place it, but she was sure she had seen her before.
Celeste, on the other hand, had noticed Valerie’s subtle glances. She tried to ignore them, but with her hormones all over the place, her mind started spinning with insecurities. She tried to calm herself down, but between the exhaustion and the increasing pain in her hip, Peter ended up taking her to lie down for a bit.
“Peter, you should go back to the gathering… You can’t leave Alden alone. I’m fine, I just need to rest for a bit,” Celeste said, trying to sound strong.
Π
“Celeste, what’s wrong? I’ve noticed you’ve been acting strange all night. I know this situation is complicated, but you don’t need to feel uncomfortable. Katherine is Alden’s mother–that’s something I can’t change. And yes, I know she was the only person I remembered at first, but I wouldn’t trade what I have with you now for anything, “he said, gently caressing her cheek.
At his words, Celeste’s eyes filled with tears. She felt like such an idiot. Her jealousy had completely consumed her, and yet this man–if she really thought about it–hadn’t left her side all night. He had been holding her hand the entire time.
“I’m sorry… I know I shouldn’t be acting like this. I know I look ridiculous, and honestly, I’ve never felt this way before. But no matter how much I try to fight it, I can’t help it. When I found out Alden’s mother was coming, I completely lost it. I know that you and she… well, you know…”
“We had a relationship… I know. But do you want to know something?”
Celeste could only nod, the lump in her throat making it impossible to speak.
“Yes, Katherine and I were together, but that relationship was purely physical.”
Celeste’s eyes widened in shock. If he thought that was reassuring, it really wasn’t. In fact, it was having the opposite effect.
“But these past few days with you… they’ve shown me something different. Celeste, I know this might sound unbelievable, but you need to know–I wouldn’t trade what we have now for anything or anyone. I truly believe that if life brought us together, it’s for a reason. You’re a wonderful woman. And as much as I regret how I reacted when we first met, I hope you know how sorry I am for that”
“Peter…” Celeste whispered.
“My love, it doesn’t matter how many women have been in my life. I’m happy with what I have right here. Having you, feeling our daughters… seeing my son and grandson, knowing he’s starting his own family–I wouldn’t tråde any of that for a past I don’t even remember,” Peter said, his voice filled with sincerity.
He could see the doubt in Celeste’s eyes, so he pulled her close, wrapping her in his arms before capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. A kiss he had been craving since the moment she had walked into the living room. The kiss
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Chapter 0398
lasted until one of them ran out of breath. All the tension that had been building up in Celeste throughout the night slowly melted away.
“Hey, let me go excuse us, and then I’ll come back to give you a nice, relaxing massage,” Peter said reassuringly.
Celeste lay back against the pillows, feeling a bit of relief wash over her. Her heart and body finally felt at ease. She let the exhaustion take over and closed her eyes, drifting off into sleep.
She didn’t know how long she had been asleep when a sharp pain jolted her awake. She had been feeling an odd discomfort all day, but now it was much stronger. Alarmed, she sat up and glanced at the clock on the nightstand.
Peter still hadn’t returned. It had already been a couple of hours. Struggling to her feet, she decided to go look for him. It was already 11:00 pm. By now, she assumed most of the guests had left, and maybe only Maximus and the kids were still around.
What she didn’t know was that nothing could have prepared her for what she was about to see–or hear.
She made her way down the long hallway toward the stairs when she heard voices. One of them was unmistakable
-Peter.
Her Peter was right there. For a brief moment, she felt relie–at least she wouldn’t have to go down the stairs alone, not with the pain getting stronger and more frequent
But then, as she got closer, she realized something was very, very wrong.
