Chapter 5 I Will Prove It, Celeste

• Everyone burst into laughter at Logan’s unexpected question.
• “Do you honestly think your family deserves an invitation? Have you ever done anything for the Sterling name?” Philip shot back, his voice sharp with irritation.
• “Yeah! Keep dreaming! How shameless can you get?” Robert added, his tone dripping with mockery.
• Celeste and her parents felt a heavy knot of shame in their stomachs.
• Celeste’s face tightened, her eyes burning. Richard’s shoulders slumped, while Elizabeth clenched her hands under the table. They all avoided looking at anyone.
• Logan, however, didn’t flinch. He let out a cold, short snort. “Those invitations were meant for my in-laws. You’re just holding them for now.”
• Robert’s face went red. “Have some dignity, Logan! Carl got those invitations through real connections. You have no right to claim them!”
• “Exactly! Who do you think you are?” Carl barked, his anger rising with each word. “How dare you take credit for something you didn’t do!”
• Robert jabbed a finger toward Richard. “Look at your son-in-law, Richard! Keep him in check! And don’t bring him to another family gathering — we won’t stand for this!”
• Logan opened his mouth, but Celeste grabbed his arm.
• “Come with me,” she said quickly, her voice tight and shaking.
• Out in the hall, she turned to him, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Logan, please, stop. You’re making a fool of me in front of everyone. I can’t take it anymore.”
• Logan’s tone softened. “Do you want to go to the banquet, Celeste?”
• Her breath hitched. “Of course I do. Who wouldn’t?” She glanced away, her voice low. “But did you see Mom and Dad’s faces? Even if we want to go, it’s not like you can get us in.”
• “I can,” Logan said, his voice steady.
• Celeste shook her head and tried to walk away. “How can I believe you when you act like this?”
• “Why don’t you trust me?” Logan asked, his gaze fixed on her.
• She turned back, frustration flashing in her eyes. “Because you always make these big claims.”
• Logan chuckled lightly. “I promise you — I’ll get you inside. Logan Pierce never breaks his word.”
• She hesitated, then nodded. “Alright. But if you fail, that’s it for us.”
• “Deal,” he replied without hesitation.
• Celeste wiped her face, her voice firm now. “Fine. I’ll go to that banquet, and I’ll tell everyone my husband earned his invitation fair and square.”
• “Ladies first,” Logan said with a small smile. “I’ll make a call.”
• …
• “Olivia, tell Conrad Owens I’ll be at the banquet tomorrow,” Logan said once the call connected.
• On the other end, Olivia’s voice lit up. “What? You’re coming? Thank goodness — the higher-ups were worried you’d refuse to give Conrad this honor.”
• “Yes, I’ll attend,” Logan replied. “But make sure some people are banned from the event…”
• “Understood, sir! I’ll handle it.”
• …
• When Logan walked back in, Celeste was standing tall, chin high, her earlier tears gone. She had clearly made her announcement — all eyes in the room were on him now.
• “Hey, how do you think this guy got an invitation? Stole it?” someone whispered.
• “Maybe he bought it just to look important,” another sneered.
• Carl laughed loudly. “You do realize one invitation costs over a million, right?”
• “Richard’s family owes Grandpa almost three million,” someone else added. “How could they afford even one?”
• No one spoke again. But the sting of humiliation still burned Richard’s family.
• Dinner was served, marking the official start of the banquet.
• “I say let those four just eat bacons. No need to spoil them,” Robert muttered.
• Carl chuckled. “Better feed them properly. Otherwise, Grandpa might get blamed for being unfair.”
• The other tables buzzed with laughter, toasts, and scheming, all revolving around Carl, while at Logan’s table, silence hung heavy.
• Richard glanced between Carl and Logan, sighing, “What’s the use of envy? Seems this is my fate.”
• Elizabeth shot a cold glare at Logan. Could this day get any more humiliating?
• Though humiliated, none dared to leave without the elder’s permission, silently enduring the heavy atmosphere.
• At that moment, Carl appeared carrying a glass of wine, trailed by admirers hanging on his every move.
• He walked past Logan and stopped right before Celeste. “I was planning to introduce you to my brother—he’s far better than me! But it seems luck hasn’t been on your side when it comes to men. Such an unfortunate taste you have.”
• Richard and Elizabeth sighed in resignation.
• If Logan hadn’t come back, Celeste might have been with Ladon, Carl’s brother, and our family’s fortunes would have turned around.
• What a difference that would’ve made.
• But poverty seemed to have settled in their home instead.
• Soon, the banquet came to an end.
• “Come to my place. I want to discuss the Sterling family’s future and the banquet tomorrow with my grandson-in-law. Everyone must be there; it’ll do you good,” The patriarch instructed firmly.
• Richard and Elizabeth exchanged hopeful looks, silently wishing for the Sterling family’s support to lift them out of their hardship.
• But the patriarch dismissed them abruptly: “Richard, you and your wife can head back yourselves.”
• Richard hesitated. “Father, but I—”
• “No excuses! We don’t need you here. Especially not with your ‘wonderful’ son-in-law fresh from prison. I won’t have bad luck brought into this house!” Robert snapped, walking away with the others.
• Before leaving,Carl , Melissa, and a few others confronted Logan, flaunting their invitation cards.
• “Don’t embarrass us tomorrow night. If you can’t get in, don’t claim to know us. I won’t have my reputation dragged through the dirt.”
• Logan smirked. “We’ll see who ends up locked out when the time comes.”
• “Sure, we’ll see,” Carl shot back.
• The crowd departed, clutching their invitations, leaving Richard’s family to groan quietly.
• Richard shot a piercing look at Logan.
• If only he could restore the family’s honor...
• But for someone just out of prison, even surviving was a challenge.
• Later, Logan followed Celeste home.
• Compared to the Fletchers estate, this was where he truly belonged — a place where a woman who had suffered scorn all these years had stayed.
• Inside, Logan offered to sleep on a mattress on the floor, but Celeste gently insisted he take the bed.
• While he rested, Celeste stayed at the desk, drafting plans.
• “What are you working on?” Logan asked.
• “A proposal for Urban Waterfront Redevelopment in Crestfall ” she replied, eyes shining with determination. “Even if the chances are slim, I’m going to fight for it! It’s my shot at gaining a spot amongst the Elites.”
• Logan didn’t say anything. He just nodded calmly.
• Meanwhile, all through the night before the banquet, days passed and Celeste showed no complaint or discouragement.
• But as the event drew near, her patience snapped one day after dinner .
• “Logan, I trusted you with everything, but where is the invitation? How can I believe in you when you haven’t moved an inch or made a call since we returned last night? You think the invitation will just appear out of nowhere?”
• Richard and Elizabeth added, “We’re counting on you. If this doesn’t happen, the Sterling family’s future will be bleak.”
• Glancing at the clock, Logan said, “It’s nearly time. Follow me.”
• Driving in Richard’s car, they arrived at Eden Villa, where the Supreme Commander’s welcome banquet was in full swing.
• “Celeste, I’m about to show you I’m capable.”
• Taking her hand firmly, Logan stepped confidently toward the entrance.