Chapter 3

• "Miss?" The driver snapped me back to reality. A beat passed before he asked my destination.
• I pulled myself together and told him where I wanted to go. He nodded and said not a word for the rest of the trip.
• Minutes passed by in a blur. But then the silence was shattered when the driver spoke. “We arrived.”
• The cab skidded into a stop to the place I had promised myself never to step foot ever again. But promises are always meant to be broken, much like Crimson broke his promises and threw them away like a pile of trash.
• I handed the fee and hastened out of the car, before I changed my mind and fled. I've been fleeing all my life — fleeing from things that pains me, and I'm getting tired of it. Time has come for me to face my fears and this might be a good start.
• The family ancestral house looked exactly the same as I stored it in my memory and although a long time had passed, the memories of what took place the day I left played in my memory in clear, vivid details.
• "Elizabeth, he will only break your heart! Men from the Phoenix family couldn't be trusted! They were wolves in sheep's clothing! You'll end up miserable with that man - Crimson, believe me!"
• My grandfather stood on the porch, fists clenched tightly by his sides. Concern was written on his face but I shook my head, unable to comprehend why he was so against my happiness.
• "Crimson isn't like his family. He's flawed, sure, but he's kind and he'd never hurt me."
• "I see you made your choice. Leave the house this instant. Don't come back crying to me when the time comes and you realize you made a huge mistake."
• When I walked out of the house years ago, I would never have thought I'd be eating my words. But now, here I am trying to hold back the tears, with the words, 'Grandpa had been right all along,' playing in my head like a mantra.
• I speed walk towards the porch, the aging floorboards protesting under my weight while I struggle to unlock the door with a shaky breath.
• I pushed the door open, wondering if grandfather hadn't forgiven me yet. The thought crossed my mind that maybe he felt like I had abandoned him, and I couldn't blame him for it.
• The warm glow of the fireplace flickered across the wrinkled face of the man standing before me. His voice cut through the silence of the room, "Took you three years to return."
• "I made a mistake grandpa — "
• "No one's born perfect." He cut in. There was no judgment in his eyes, only love and forgiveness.
• "Everyone makes mistakes, but you should not dwell on it. Instead, use it as an opportunity to grow stronger."
• The tears I tried to suppress spilled down my cheek and I jumped into his arms. At that moment, I knew that I'm exactly where I belonged.
• Home.
• —
• Elysium Tower
• I took a deep breath, steadying myself when I burst through the condo — not mine. My cold shoes sank through the plush carpet, providing a temporary escape from the cold before my shoes came in contact with the flawless white floor.
• The living room screamed luxury, I gawked at it in appreciation before shaking my head to clear the fog that had settled in my brain. I didn't go there for that purpose.
• Celestine had just posted on her Insta and I know she was in the condo. I strutted towards her bedroom, and found her there, preparing for a photoshoot with the aid of her personal assistant Alice — Or was it Aliya? I can't remember her name.
• Both turned to me. Their eyes widening as though they'd just seen a ghost walk through the door.
• "Please leave us." I told the Assistant.
• She hesitated, unsure what to do so I pointed to the door, "Out!" Fear lit her eyes and she scurried out of the room like a scared cat. The sound of the door slamming echoed through the space.
• "H-how did you get in?" Celestine asked when we were alone.
• I held out the spare key card that she had given me before, without saying a word, tossed it on the bed.
• "We have to talk."
• Celestine shook her head, her perfectly styled locks bouncing with the motion. She rose from her chair and shut the heavy drapes to cover the floor to ceiling glass window.
• "You shouldn't be here. My manager warned me to avoid you. I have a big movie coming out. I can't risk my reputation being seen with you."
• My fists clenched at my sides as I spilled the question that had nagged me like an itchy bug bite.
• "How could you do that to me Celestine?"
• "W-what are you talking about?"
• If I hadn't witnessed her making out on the balcony with my ex-husband, I would have believed she was completely innocent. But I have seen everything, stood there for five minutes watching her as she unbuttoned his shirt while my heart tore apart.
• "You damn well knew what I mean, Celestine."
• It had taken me three long weeks to muster the courage to confront her, but now the words spilled forth. I fought to keep my composure, determined not to pounce on her like a cornered animal. "How long has it been going on?"
• "I really don't understand."
• "Cut the crap, I know what's been going on with you and my husband.."
• Celestine's body language spoke volumes as she slumped into the chair. Her eyes were filled with pain and sincerity as she voiced her regret. "I never meant to hurt you, Liz," she whispered.
• "You can have anything you want, can have any man you want, but why—" My voice broke. "But why Crimson? You know he meant the world to me."
• "We fell in love. We never intend to. It just happened before we knew it."
• "How long?"
• "A year," Celestine confessed.
• My heart sank as I tried to come to terms with the reality of the situation. I had thought that I was prepared for this moment, but hearing the admission directly from her was far more painful than I had ever imagined.
• I felt a lump form in my throat, and I swallowed it down. "If you truly care about me, please do me a favor and let him go."
• "I can't."
• The upholstered chair tilted slightly as she abruptly rose. For the fir
• st time since I got there she looked me in the eye.
• “I'm pregnant, your husband's the father.”