Chapter 2

After learning that the identity erasure procedures would take two weeks to complete, Celeste discussed it with Thomas and Eleanor and decided to return to the Ashford residence first. For these two weeks, she had to continue staying by Damien's side without him noticing anything unusual. Otherwise, with what he was capable of, none of them would be able to leave unscathed. After returning to the mansion, Celeste began sorting through her belongings. She gathered everything—treasured photos, Damien's love letters, souvenirs from their travels together—and threw it all into the fireplace. The flames devoured the past, as if burning away a ridiculous dream. On the second day, Celeste went to the backyard. There was an entire grove of plane trees that Damien had planted for her with his own hands. He said plane trees symbolized loyalty, just like his love for her that would never wither. Celeste picked up an ax and chopped them down one by one while the household staff stood in the distance, not daring to approach or stop her. The dull thud of falling trees echoed through the yard, each crack as brutal as the obsession she was severing. Celeste went to Lover's Cliff on the mountaintop on the third day. There hung a love lock with their names engraved on it. Damien had held her and thrown the key off the cliff years ago, saying they would be locked together forever in this lifetime. Now, Celeste used bolt cutters to break the lock. The lock fell to the ground with a sharp sound. She turned and walked away, never looking back once. When she returned to the mansion, there were two additional people in the living room. Damien sat on the couch with Ophelia leaning against him, her figure slender and fragile as if a gust of wind could knock her over. Celeste walked past them expressionlessly and headed straight upstairs. "Stop," Damien's cold voice called out. Celeste halted but didn't turn around. "Do you know why I brought her back here?" he asked. "I don't care." "After you sent Lia abroad, she couldn't adapt to the environment or sleep properly for days." His tone carried reproach. "Celeste, apologize to her." Celeste finally turned around and looked at them. Ophelia timidly clutched Damien's sleeve, though a flash of smugness flickered in her eyes. "And if I don't apologize?" Celeste asked calmly. "Never mind. It's okay..." Ophelia spoke softly and weakly. "I don't mind suffering a little. After all, Celeste is the lady of the house." Damien immediately held her tighter. "Didn't I tell you not to be so understanding?" He kissed the top of her head. "From now on, I'll spoil you. You can do whatever you want." Celeste's lips curved into a sardonic smile, finding it utterly ridiculous. A maid then brought over a mug of calming chamomile tea, saying it was specially prepared for Ophelia. Just then, Damien's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and said gently to Ophelia, "You always get headaches when you hear me talk business. I'll go outside to take this call. Drink your tea." With that, he got up and left. Celeste stood there, feeling as if a blade had struck her heart. Damien never used to discuss business outside because it involved commercial secrets, but now he would even change his habits for Ophelia's sake. Now, only Celeste and Ophelia remained in the living room. The fragility on Ophelia's face instantly disappeared, replaced by the arrogance of a victor. "See that?" She laughed softly. "Even though you sent me away, Mrs. Ashford, Damien's body and heart are with me." Celeste looked at her indifferently. "If you want him, then take him." Ophelia was stunned for a moment before becoming furious. "I don't need you to give him to me! He'll be mine alone sooner or later, and your position will be mine too!" Seeing that Celeste remained unmoved, she became even more frantic. Just then, Damien's footsteps could be heard from outside. A flash of malice crossed Ophelia's eyes as she suddenly picked up the scalding chamomile tea and poured it on herself. She screamed, tears instantly streaming down her face. Damien rushed in when he witnessed the scene. Ophelia was in a disheveled state, the tea dripping from her clothes, and she was crying pitifully. "Celeste!" His brow furrowed with barely contained anger. "Forget apologizing, how dare you do this to her?" "I didn't do it," Celeste said calmly. "You can check the security cameras." "Fine, let's check it out!" he sneered. Ophelia immediately grabbed his arm, choking back sobs. "Damien, it's not Celeste's fault... I shouldn't have foolishly hoped to stay by your side. I'll leave right now..." She had just taken a step when Damien pulled her back. "I went through so much trouble to find you and bring you back, and now you want to leave my sight again? Are you trying to kill me?" He held her tightly, like he was embracing a precious treasure he had lost and found again. Then he looked at Celeste, his gaze terrifyingly cold. "I will make sure you pay for this." Celeste was then locked in the walk-in freezer. When the bodyguards dragged her in, she struggled desperately. "Damien! Check the security cameras! I didn't do it!" He didn't even glance at her, only saying coldly, "There's no need for me to check. She's the only person I trust." The freezer door slammed shut heavily. Darkness and cold instantly engulfed Celeste. She curled up in the corner, trembling all over, but her heart felt even colder than the freezer. Was this what he meant when he said she was the one he loved most? Tears couldn't help but fall from Celeste's eyes. She had always been sensitive to cold and feared it greatly. After their marriage, Damien had paid a high price to install a temperature control system throughout the house, keeping even the outdoor courtyard as warm as spring all year round. During winter, he would warm her cold hands and feet in his embrace, laughing as he said, "I'll keep you warm like this for the rest of our lives." Now she realized that promises were probably only true in the moment they were made.