Her Return, His Regret

Ryan narrowed his eyes at Jason. He asked, "Did Celeste tell you about the kidnapping? Or you did a background check on me?"

"I found out about it myself. I'm offering my help only because I don't want the culprit to keep hurting people for her own gains," Jason replied.

"Her?" Ryan remarked, arching an eyebrow. "You know the culprit?"

Jason clenched his hands into fists. He said, "Trust me, I wish I didn't."

"Who is it?" Ryan asked although he already had an inkling.

Jason's troubled expression told him it was someone close to him. If so, was Jason really going to help him catch the culprit? Or did he want to get involved to protect the culprit?

"I can't tell you right now. I need to find proof first. Once I do and it's proven that the culprit kidnapped you and attempted murder, I'll lead the police to capture them myself," Jason proclaimed.

Ryan studied Jason's face again. His brows were furrowed, his jaw tight and his fists clenched.

Arching an eyebrow again, Ryan asked, "Are you sure you can catch the culprit? What if it's someone close to you?"

Jason's jaw tightened. He looked Ryan in the eye and answered, "No one is above the law."

When Jason left, Lora stepped into the office.

"Can you tell me what's going on?" Lora asked, a look of worry on her face. "What deal did you make with Jason?"

Ryan sighed and told Lora what he had offered Jason. After a few minutes, Lora frowned at her husband.

"I told you I'm never giving up on you. After I give birth, I can donate my stem cells to you," Lora replied. "We just need to take precautions and make sure you stay alive. No need of writing silent wills or giving other people the responsibility of taking care of our family." Ryan nodded, saying, "I know... I just wanted to be safe. You know, life is unpredictable. I needed to be prepared in case the unexpected happened."

"Let's not worry about things that have not happened yet, my love," Lora remarked. "What matters is us trying our best to survive. Whatever comes next is up to the heavens. All I know is that we will stay united and fight hard to stay together."

Ryan smiled, he held Lora's hand and pulled her closer. He said, "I'm sorry, baby. I was desperate. You have no idea the fear I have... the fear of leaving you and the children alone. I can't stop worrying about the future. I know you have a family and my family would be there for you but, I needed someone who would be a father figure to the children and someone you can rely on."

"We don't need someone else, love. All we need is you. So we are all praying that you get better and survive this," Lora proclaimed, looking intensely into Ryan's eyes.

"What did I do to deserve you? You're so perfect," Ryan squeezed Lora's hand. "You make me the happiest man in the world."

...

A little while later, at the Kingsley mansion.

Miles presented Celeste with some documents when he got home.

Celeste looked at the file and asked, "What is this?"

"Open it," Miles ordered, his face serious.

Celeste rolled her eyes. She opened the file and read the headline which was written in bold letters.

Glaring at Miles, she questioned, "Are you divorcing me?"

"Yes, Celeste. I've had it up to here with you. I never knew the real you since you're so good at pretending, but now that I do, you don't deserve to be a member of the Kingsley family," Miles responded.

Celeste's eyes flashed coldly with anger. She tore up the document and hissed, "Don't even think about divorcing me. You know I signed a prenuptial agreement because that was the only way your father would agree for us to get married. I won't divorce you and lose out on getting half of your property."

Miles scoffed in disbelief. He asked, "Are you hearing yourself? Not only are you greedy for the company, but you also want half of my assets? How far does your greed go, Celeste? Did you ever even love me at all?"

"You are one to talk, Miles," Celeste

snapped. "We both know you never really loved me. You still love your darned dead ex-wife! That's why you still keep her belongings in your private villa that you shared with her. When we got married, you never allowed me near that villa. That's because she's still the one you hold dear in your heart! I had to compete with a ghost for so many years and you have the nerve to ask if I really loved you?"

Celeste paused and added, "Just like you were using me to fill the void that your wife left, I was also using you to live a better life. It's a win-win for the both of us."

Miles sighed heavily, he shook his

head and said, "Celeste, I may not have loved you but I took care of you. I was on your side, I gave you everything you wanted. Before we got together, I told you I wouldn't be able to forget Ryan and Diane's mother. You told me it was ok... you said you could manage as long as I took care of you. So why did you become greedy and covet things which don't belong to you? Isn't it enough that you were my wife?"

"No! It wasn't enough! I thought you would become the CEO of the Kingsley Group and I would be the CEO's wife. But you turned out to be so useless that your father didn't have faith in you. You let me down first, so I had to do what I had to do to get the life I deserve!" Celeste yelled, her words echoing around the walls of the bedroom.

Miles felt his chest tighten. So this was the woman he had spent the last thirty years with? How could he not know her at all? Celeste was like a totally different person now. He now knew that she was fake. Whatever kindness she showed him wasn't real.

If only he had seen her true colours earlier, his family wouldn't be in such a mess.

Miles was filled with regret and all he could say was, "I'll ask my lawyer to draft another divorce agreement."Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Anger flashed through Celeste's eyes. She was about to reply when someone knocked at the door.

Miles went to open it and found the housekeeper who looked frightened.

"The police are here, sir. They are looking for Mrs Kingsley," the housekeeper reported.

Miles glanced at Celeste, confusion coursing through him. When they went downstairs, they found Jason and two police officers waiting in the living room. "What's the meaning of this, Jason?" Celeste asked.

Jason looked at his mother and said, "It's time for you to stop, Mother. The police are here to arrest you for your crimes."