Capítulo 26: A Choice to be Made

Celeste heard the door fall shut and found comfort in being alone in the apartment. She lifted her head from her bent knee, then leaned her head against the door, eyeing her backpack under the bed.

Celeste hadn't liked how blunt Avond was with his words, but she couldn't help but find truth in them. Somewhere, she even guessed he held his own resentment. Although why, she didn't know. Did he hate his position as a boss? Wasn't that the best position to be in? Celeste thought.

She went to take her backpack, then began packing her things, making sure nothing was left behind. All the while, Avond's words echoed in her mind like a dagger twisting in her heart. But among his words, one sentence lingered the most: that since she didn't care, she didn't get to care.

A befitting statement. However, she did care.

It was her ignorance that had led her to run away. Celeste couldn't deny she had run without much thought or consideration. So when she heard Avond had no choice and understood it, Celeste realized only she could help the situation.

She needed to go home now, before Avond could reach her father. Then she wouldn't have to make him choose between fulfilling his duty or sparing her emotions. Then she wouldn't have to look at him any differently. He was still the Avond she had fallen in love with.

Celeste mustered a smile at the thought of that. Did she really just admit that to herself? That she loved him? Yes, she did. And this was a goodbye.

Celeste ripped a page from her notebook, and then began writing a letter to Avond. She couldn't leave things the way they were, not when there was a chance they might never be able to speak freely again. Before setting the paper on the kitchen counter, she left a kiss on it, remembering what it felt like to touch lips with him.

"Thank you, Avond. I will never run away again."

With that, Celeste threw on her backpack, and then left the apartment without a second glance.

The evening air outside greeted her with a cold kiss of freshness and country smells. Celeste walked down the road and, with her phone, managed to find the nearest bus stop, where she caught the last bus to the city.

Celeste entered the silent bus, where two other passengers were seated on each side. She took a seat at the back and felt a strange sense of sadness. Leaning her head against the glass of the window, she looked at the beautiful scenery outside. But despite the twinkling lights and mystery lying beyond the glittering hills, Celeste couldn't distract her mind.

It was what was best for everyone, but it would cost her her own life. Celeste never thought she would live a happy life, but she was content with finding at least peace. Marrying an ordinary man who loved her, and whom she in return loved.

Instead, she would have to deal with Tiel Brightwell. The thought itself didn't scare her as much anymore, not since the conversation she had witnessed yesterday.

The way his face had betrayed his emotions: the look of a wounded child, a regretful brother, an overconfident man, a mischievous younger brother, and lastly, how he had said sorry without intending for it to be heard.

There was more to Tiel than met the eye, and it felt as if she was intending to play with fire. But perhaps that was what it meant to want to know more of this man, to play with fire.

Celeste would live to regret it, but at least she could say she tried.

With resolution setting in her heart, the trip back home went by in a flash.

Celeste stepped out of the second bus and then walked calmly to her old home. She took a shortcut through a small alley, where she noticed three black cars parked neatly beside the side wall of the mansion.

Celeste paused, staring at them with a sinking feeling looming over her. She started to pick up her pace, jogging past the empty street to the main entrance, where the gate was left open.

"Daddy! No!" Celeste yelled as she sprinted past the gates and into the massive front yard. It was as if adrenaline had made her body lighter, sending blood to her brain and power to her feet.

Everything passed by in a blur.

Her heart pounded in her chest.

Her mind was empty.

Just like the gate, the front door was left ajar by the time Celeste reached it. A blood-curdling scream echoed through the house, sending a wave of coldness through Celeste's body, triggering haunting memories from her past in flashes of images.

This time, however, she was old enough to stand up.

Celeste jumped the stairs two steps at a time, getting closer to the library when something crashed. She half-glided over the marble floor, stopping just at the door—just in time to witness Orion on the floor, one half of her face reddened, with Tiel standing over her, his eyes as cold and empty as icy waters.

On the floor was her father, lying unconscious. His face was battered, blood dripping from his nose, a cut at one corner of his lips. Celeste opened her mouth, only to realize she had lost her voice again.

Tiel was about to land another kick on Jordan when Celeste lunged at him, putting her arm around his neck like a chain. Her shorter frame pulled him down like a bag of cement.

"What the—?!" Tiel yelled in surprise. Mina and Orion called out her name. Just as Celeste was about to force him away from her family, a hard kick to her side sent Celeste flying. Her grip loosened, and she fell with her back against the floor. A jacket cushioned her head.

It was Orion's jacket. She had thrown it.

"Stop! Stop!" Tiel yelled. His men, who were about to pile on her, stopped midway like well-trained dogs, though confused. It took them a few seconds to realize who she was before a wave of shock went through the room.

Celeste turned to face Mina, knowing the older woman would be furious at her, but instead, she caught Orion's gaze. There were tears in those doe-shaped eyes that had once offended Celeste enough for her to slap her.

"I'm so sorry," Celeste mouthed to her. But she was back now, and she'd take responsibility for the mess she had caused.

Mina nodded, although a layer of anger hid beneath the gladness in her eyes. Then Celeste looked up at Tiel daringly. Their gaze met, a shock of connection between them.

Celeste dared him to lay another finger on her, which made Tiel step back. For a moment, Tiel seemed genuinely confused.

"Tiel! Wait!" Avond called.

Everyone, including Celeste, looked over to Avond, who arrived at the door with his hair messy. His eyes widened at the scene—at Mina and Orion, at Jordan on the floor, and then at Tiel with his men—before finally landing on her.

Their eyes met across the room. The shock was visible in his gaze, mixed with hurt and confusion. Then she broke the eye contact.

She didn't want anyone to know they had any connection at all. It was better if she never looked at him again.

"What are you doing here?" Tiel demanded of Avond, although his gaze kept falling back on Celeste. He was still in shock from her sudden appearance.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming here?" Avond demanded in return.

"Why didn't you come here sooner!" Tiel shot back.

"Did you see my condition!? I needed time!" Avond said angrily, his face almost red. Tiel sucked in a breath, "I didn't ask for it. They were the ones who sent me!" he defended himself, their men standing there as if this was a common occurrence.

Celeste looked at the two brothers, one then the other.

"Are you serious right now?!" Orion cried, breaking their bickering. "My dad is on the floor! Help him!"

Avond was quick on his feet. He knelt beside Jordan, then moved to check his wounds.

He raised his eyebrows. "He's fine. Just a few bruises here and there, but he's going to be okay," he said, then looked at Tiel, who didn't look happy.

"I barely touched him when she… Celeste…" Tiel's tone softened at her name, "…decided to lunge at me." He offered a hand to Celeste, reaching down to help her up, but she slapped his hand away.

Tiel frowned. "Ouch."

"There's no need to bring him to the hospital. Give it a week; he'll go back to normal," Avond said, beckoning the other men to help him carry Jordan. He looked over to Mina. "Show the way to your bedroom."

"O-of course!" Mina stuttered, then ran towards the door, disappearing. Orion sat sheepishly, staring at Avond, but upon realizing he was more interested in Celeste, she decided to follow her mother.

Celeste ignored Avond. Instead, she turned to face Tiel, her mouth opening to speak, but the awful anxiety returned. It was like a blanket of darkness clouded her mind. Disappointed, she let her gaze fall.

"You need to come with me. My father would like to talk to you," Tiel said, his expression unreadable.

He grabbed her arm, which she yanked away from him. She nodded at that, willing herself to not show any fear when suddenly Tiel smiled at her—a charming, seductive smile as if she had dared him to take her to his bed.

"That's more like it. Let's go."