Adrian had felt the void inside Celeste for some time. He had consistently acknowledged her remote, nearly analytical demeanor. She was determined, strongly self-reliant, and fearless in pursuing anything necessary to achieve success. But it wasn't her drive that concerned him-it was how she had abandoned the affection they once had for something more calculated and less warm. Their union, similar to his own wishes, was established on practicality instead of affection.
Adrian directed his attention to the opposite end of the ballroom, where several recognizable faces attracted his notice. There, on the outskirts of the crowd, stood Daniel Pierce-a name that had plagued Adrian's history and stirred something profound within him.
Daniel stood with confidence, his dark hair and well-defined physique ensuring he garnered attention even amid such a crowd. However, it wasn't solely his appearance that made him memorable-it was the power of his presence, how he could have anyone believe that everything was falling apart, while he stayed composed and untroubled.
Adrian sensed his heart speeding up. He last saw Daniel more than three years back. At that time, they were more than merely business associates. Their connection had been hazardous, fervent, and perilously intense. Daniel had served as his refuge, his hidden pleasure, a flame Adrian could never completely snuff out. However, following Celeste's marriage proposal, Adrian abandoned everything-the affair, the late-night encounters, the secret moments-and buried it all deep inside.
At least that was his belief.
He sensed the attraction now, just as he did years before. Daniel had never really escaped his thoughts, even when he attempted to move forward. The connection they shared was something he could never fully break.
For a fleeting moment, their eyes connected from different corners of the room. It was a fleeting meeting, but in that instant, Adrian felt a wave of yearning and remorse, mirroring the individual he used to be. The person he left behind.
Just as Adrian was preparing to approach, a soft voice interrupted his musings.
"Adrian, sweetheart, you look incredibly beautiful as ever."
It was Celeste, her voice infused with charm, as she gently rested her hand on his arm. Adrian shifted his focus from Daniel and offered a smile to his wife, coaxing warmth back into his demeanor. "Thanks, my darling." "You also look stunning."
Celeste offered him a brief smile with her lips pressed together before her eyes scanned the room again, briefly pausing on a figure at the end of the hallway. Selena Ward-a name that evoked a mix of eagerness and unease in Celeste.
Selena remained a short distance away, her deep eyes surveying the gathering. Celeste experienced a pang of unease. There was an intriguing quality about Selena-something dangerous. Selena always understood how to weave herself into Celeste's heart, and despite Celeste pulling away after their relationship concluded, Selena had a talent for making her feel vibrant in a manner that Adrian never managed.
"You know, I bumped into Selena earlier," Celeste remarked, her tone casual but purposeful. "She remains as enchanting as always."
Adrian's face showed a slight shadow of concern. He remained unaware of the details of Selena's relationship with his wife, but he felt it was something deeper than he could understand. He consistently sensed that their bond held deeper meaning than Celeste had disclosed, but he had never looked into it-until now.
"Is that true?" Adrian responded, his tone monotonous. "I have no doubt she's equally... delightful as always."
Celeste finally locked eyes with him, a brief flare of something nearly unreadable passing over her expression. "Adrian, sweetheart, I believe you're experiencing jealousy."
Adrian laughed quietly, the noise soft and laced with resentment. "Envieux de Selena ?" "Let's go, Celeste, I have no justification to be."
However, beneath the surface, he understood it was more than just jealousy-he felt fear. Fearful of the possible disorder if their carefully constructed world started to fall apart. Fearful of the concealed realities they both held.
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