HAPTER 34
Celeste’s POV
All eyes were on me.
I could feel the skepticism hanging in the air. And yet, I stood tall in the center of the hall. After all, I reminded myself that I wasn’t here to beg for belief. I was here to take it back.
“For those who still care about the truth,” I said clearly, wanting to reiterate my message, “the rumors about me are false. Deliberately crafted lies, fueled by someone who wanted to tear me down.”
The press murmured, and a wave of hushed gasps and judgmental scoffs rippled through the room.
“Oh please,” someone in the crowd whispered loudly. “Of course she says that.”
“She’s just trying to play the victim. Typical.”
Another voice chimed in with a bitter laugh. “This is what they all do when they get caught.”
I didn’t flinch. Let them talk. I had expected this.
But before I could respond, Theo stepped forward. “Enough.”
The room stilled. Even the most eager gossipers froze at the edge in his tone.
“Celeste doesn’t need to explain herself to anyone,” Theo continued, his gaze sweeping over the critics with calm menace.
Obviously, Theo’s support for me made people feel confusing,
“Since when does someone with his reputation stick his neck out for someone like
ike that?” I he
?” I heard someone whisper.
My heart skipped, not because of what the others were saying, but because of what Theo was doing. He wasn’t just defending me. He was daring anyone to speak against me again.
Across the hall, I caught Damien’s reaction.
He stood rigid, a drink still in hand, his expression unreadable but his eyes darkened with something he couldn’t quite hide.
ny grip on the folder. Theo had already laid the groundwork–now it was my turn. Nothing could stop me.
I tightened my
I reached into my clutch and pulled out a slim folder.
“This,” I said clearly, “is an official forensic report. Every photo, every clip, every headline you’ve seen was altered–doctored with the intent to defame. And here is the proof.”
Gasps sounded across the room as I held up the page, its seals and signatures unmistakable under the bright lights.
One by one, I laid it all out. The timelines that didn’t add up. The metadata from the original files. The inconsistencies in the
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shadows. Even the supposed dates and locations that were easily debunked by security footage and GPS logs. Every lie came
undone, methodically, mercilessly.
Several faces shifted. Some people looked down at their champagne glasses, others pretended not to be listening–but I knew
they all were.
From t
From the corner of my eye, I caught Harper beaming like the proud best friend she was. I passed her the documents with a steady
hand.
“All findings have been independently verified and are available to the public,” I said, my voice clear. Without missing a beat, Harpur moved through the crowd, offering the reports to those bold enough to take a closer look. And slowly, I could feel the tide beginning to turn.
I looked up and scanned the stunned crowd. “So… if you’re still unsure whether I’m telling the truth, feel free to read the evidence yourself. I came here tonight with more than a dress–I came with receipts.”
I could see Gracie shifting uncomfortably as she stood beside Genevieve and Damien. She reached for her clutch with trembling fingers, pretending to look for something–anything–to keep from meeting my eyes
Genevieve, on the other hand, stood stiffly, her red lips pressed into a thin line. She didn’t blink or breathe. Just stared at me like I’d slapped her with the truth.
Suddenly, a murmur rippled through the hall.
“Who exactly is slandering you behind your back?” someone called out from the left side of the crowd.
I let the questions hang in the air, just long enough for tension to coil again. Then quietly, I said, “It’s always the ones closest to us, isn’t it?” My tone was deceptively light as I stared at Genevieve pointedly.
“Imagine trusting a supposed friend, only to find out they were planning your downfall the whole time. That kind of betrayal?” 1 paused, my eyes flicking to Genevieve with precision. “It doesn’t come from strangers.
The room was dead
1 silent.
Until Harper stepped forward. “As a media producer,” she said coolly, “I can assure you–what happened to Celeste was a calculated smear campaign.”
“And that’s not all.” She cleared her throat. “As of this afternoon, we’ve officially filed lawsuits against several parties for defamation and malicious intent.”
I leveled my gaze at the audience.
“If any of you think you played even a small part in this, feel free to speak up. Continue the slander. Let’s see who’s lies hold up in court.”
I felt Theo shift slightly beside me. “For the record,” he said, addressing the room, “I’ve hired a private investigation team to pursue the individuals responsible. And let me be clear–none of them will walk away from this untouched.”
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1 could feel Damien’s sharp gaze on me, but I didn’t spare him a glance.
My focus stayed on the crowd, on the truth that had finally been dragged into the light
Let him look. Let him wonder if this fire I’d lit would burn everything down.
I gave one final nod, then turned away from the stunned banquet hall. Whispers of disbelief followed me as I slipped past the heavy doors and into the quieter corridor.
Only when I stepped into the lounge and saw Harper waiting did I finally let myself breathe. She wrapped her arms around me at
once
“You were brilliant,” she whispered. “Absolutely brilliant.”
I let myself exhale really long for the first time that night. My hands were still trembling, but my heart… It felt steady and strong. Moments later, Theo joined us. “You handled that with more grace than most people could manage under fire,” he said quietly. “I’m proud of you.”
“You even bagged Sebastain. Do you know how impossible that is?” Harper squealed.
Before the flattery could turn into a real moment, Theo’s phone buzzed. He glanced at it, brow tightening.
“I need to take this,” he said, already stepping away, “My secretary–it’s urgent. I won’t be long.
As soon as he disappeared through the glass doors, Harper’s head tilted toward me, grinning like she had a juicy secret.
“So…” she began, her voice sing–songy and full of mischief, “Theo’s proud of you, huh?”
I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the heat that climbed up my neck.
“Oh my God, you’re blushing.”
“I’m not blushing.”
“Mm–hmm. The man just vowed vengeance in your honor. That’s either terrifying or wildly romantic.”
“To you, maybe,” I said, standing abruptly. “To me, it’s… strategic”
“Sure it is.”
I narrowed my eyes at her, but the teasing glint in hers only deepened.
“Hmmm, I need to use the restroom,” I muttered, needing air–needing space–from both the chaos and Harper’s matchmaking
tendencies.
But as I rounded the corner toward the restroom, I stopped short.
Damien was there, leaning against the wall just outside the bathroom door, half–shadowed by the low light. From the look on his face, I really couldn’t tell what he was thinking
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“I was waiting for you,” he then said quietly.
My heart kicked in my chest. I reached for the bathroom door, intending to retreat, but he stepped forward and followed me in. Before I could protest, he reached out–his fingers brushing the wood–and gently pushed the door shut behind us.
