Chapter 20 âReally? Then explain why you were living at Navierâs Lakeside Villa during that whole monthâlong divorce waiting period.â
Lysander hurled his phone into Celesteâs lap. On screen was the damning investigation report about her.
âIf I hadnât dug deeper, Iâd still be in the dark.â
âYou and Navier coordinated quite brilliantly. This whole Ophelia impersonation actâyou were betting Iâd go soft over that face of yours, werenât you?â
He gripped Celesteâs throat violently, his mind a chaotic whirlwind of conflicting emotions, acting purely on instinct.
Though tears involuntarily sprang from her eyes from the pain, Celeste remained remarkably composed. Instead of panic, she displayed her first genuine smile in days.
âOf course, you were supposed to fall for it. You love Ophelia, donât you? I played my role perfectly. Why still chase after Navier? I can be your OpheliaâIâll play that role for the rest of your life if thatâs what you want.â
âNavier doesnât love you anymore. Sheâs finally started a new chapter. Stop disrupting her life, Lysander.â
She said his name in Opheliaâs exact intonation.
Lysander reflexively loosened his grip on her throat, disgust churning inside him.
But seeing the red marks forming on her neck, he felt a conflicting pang of regret and concern.
âCeleste Stanley, from now on, just be Opheliaâs standâin. I wonât love you, and I definitely wonât marry you! Get any ridiculous ideas out of your head.â
He shot her one final glare, signaled for his security team to watch her, then turned away without hesitation. He boarded the waiting helicopter, bound for England to bring Navier back.
One way or another, she owed him an explanation!
Celeste struggled against the security team, trying to break free.
The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights 24.8 The bodyguards reluctant to harm her, handled her with excessive care.
Recognizing this weakness, she made a desperate dash toward Lysanderâs helicopter.
But she was too late.
The aircraft had already lifted off.
She couldnât pursue him now, Celeste collapsed to the ground, watching the helicopter shrink to a distant speck. Silently, she prayed Navier wouldnât be found.
After sitting motionless for a long, she finally regained her composure and stood up.
With Lysander gone, she needed to accelerate her plans.
In England, Lysander had been searching for three days. Heâd walked the Bond Street from the photo countless times but hadnât spotted âNavier.
Wasnât like New Yorkâfinding someone here was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
The golden leaves scattered across the streets did nothing to calm his frustration.
He needed to see Navier, demand answers and bring her back to America!
Yet the more desperately he searched, the more elusive she remained.
Just as he was about to give up, convinced sheâd left England, he spotted them on that same familiar boulevard: Navier and a foreign man walking handâinâhand, unhurriedly crunching through fallen leaves.
The photograph hadnât prepared him for the visceral impact of seeing them in person.
His brain shortâcircuited. Everything around him blurred.
Nothing else existed except the sight of their intertwined fingers.
Jealousy clawed through his chest, burning through him like wildfire and drowning out every last shred of rationality.
Duined Pride of Velvet Nights 23.16 Chapter He had to take her back! She couldnât be with another mant Lysander charged toward Navier, swinging a furious punch at Aubreyâs face.
Aubrey effortlessly sidestepped the blow. Though he had a clear opportunity to counterâattack, he merely smirked provocatively at Lysander before ducking behind Navier.
Despite his tall, muscular frame, Aubrey dramatically shrank against Navierâs back, feigning distress like someone whoâd suffered a terrible injustice.
âNavier,â he whined with exaggerated vulnerability, his dangerous face completely at odds with his tone, âheâs bullying me.â