CHAPTER 8
Celeste’s POV
“Celeste!”
The sound of my name, spoken in that voice, sent a shudder through me.
Theo Mercer.
For a second, I could only stare, unable to process it. God, it had been so long since I’d last seen him.
He had changed. Sharper. Stronger. The confident posture, the controlled intensity in his gaze–it was different from the young
man I once knew.
But one thing hadn’t changed.
The way he looked at me.
“How are you?” His voice was gentle, but full of concern. “You look pale…”
“Uh, 1…” I began to answer. But no other words came out. I honestly didn’t know what to say. Or perhaps I was still
How was I?
in shock.
I had been beaten, drugged, abandoned, and left to rot in a place that wanted me erased. And what brought me here in the first
place were the two people I trusted and cared about my husband and best friend. Those traitors.
And yet, I was still here.
–
I forced a tight, unreadable smile. “I’ve been better.”
Theo’s expression darkened. He came forward and took my hand in his for a short while. Then taking a deep breath, he gazed into my eyes. “Celeste, I was so worried when I got that call from you. You sounded like you were in danger, and I needed to find out
where you were.”
I nodded, a lump forming in my throat as tears threatened to fill my eyes.
He went on to explain. “I had the call tracked, traced back here. My people used satellite positioning, leading me to this place.” He hesitated for a little bit, then asked, “Why are you here, Celeste? What happened?”
Before I could reply, a nurse came forward, a fake smile plastered across her face. “She’s been well taken care of here,” she said. “We have experts who make sure that every patient is given the best treatments.”
So that’s why the nurses suddenly cleaned me up. Maybe they feared him.
After all, Theo wasn’t just some visitor they could brush aside. He was a billionaire. A man with power, wealth, and influence.
Someone they couldn’t afford to anger..
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But even knowing that, I couldn’t bring myself to feel relieved.
My time in this place had changed me.
“Are you sure about that?” Theo responded with obvious doubt. His jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with something dangerous.
He wasn’t buying it.
“You think I don’t know when someone’s been mistreated?” he snapped in a cold, threatening voice. “Look at her!”
He was seconds away from confronting them all, from tearing this entire place apart.
But I stopped him. I reached for his wrist, gripping it firmly,
“Not now,” I whispered.
He turned to me, looking confused and frustrated.
I am sure Damien has a deep connection with this mental institution. Otherwise how dare they follow his order, even though it is against the law?
Moreover, the nurse just threatened me with the old janitor. I hadn’t seen him these days. Had he been under supervision? I
couldn’t take the risk. It wasn’t a good time to break up with the institution now
“Please, Theo,” I pleaded. “I just need to get out of here and go to the hospital to check on my Auntie. Just take me there.”
Something in his gaze shifted. He exhaled sharply but gave a tight nod. “Alright”
Without another word, he led me out.
The moment I stepped outside, the sunlight struck me.
I froze. It had been so long since I’ve felt it on my skin. I tilted my head up, letting the golden rays wash over me, feeling something I had almost forgotten.
Life.
A breeze brushed through my hair, carrying the distant sounds of the city. I turned my head slightly, glancing back. The asylum
stood behind me, looming in the shadows.
The old Celeste had died there.
I wasn’t her an
her anymore. I was someone NEW.
During the car ride, Theo and I were both silent. It felt strange to reunite with him under these circumstances. But I was glad that he came through for me.
I could feel him stealing glances at me, like he wanted to ask something–but he didn’t.
Maybe he’s afraid of upsetting me. Maybe he knows I’m not ready to talk.
+20 Bonus
I didn’t tell him about the medications. The beatings. The days spent locked away, starving.
Not yet.
I leaned against the cool window, watching the world outside. I should have felt relieved. But instead, all I could think about was
Auntie.
Please, let her be okay.
We pulled up to the hospital, and the moment the car stopped, I reached for the door handle, eager to get out. But in my haste, I
nearly collapsed. My knees buckled and dizziness came over me.
Before I could hit the pavement, though, Theo caught me. His arms wrapped around me, steadying me effortlessly.
“Careful,” he murmured with concern.
I tried to push away, to stand on my own, but my body was still weak, still recovering from the hell I’d been through.
Then, a sharp voice sliced through the air, freezing me in place. “What are you doing here?”
I’d know that voice anywhere.
My dearest husband Damien.
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