Chapter 5

Under the spotlight, Derek's face shifted from ashen to crimson. He shoved the security guard away, staggering towards the stage.

“Celeste!”

His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper.

“You’ve been lying to me this whole time?!”

I stood on the stage, my fingertip lightly caressing the cold facet of my diamond ring.

I looked down at him, a sneer curving my lips.

“Lying to you?”

I let out a soft, contemptuous laugh.

“Compared to the three years you spent acting out your pathetic love story, what’s a little secret of mine?”

A wave of hushed whispers swept through the guests. Derek’s fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white.

Valerie Sterling, her heels clicking, rushed forward and grabbed his arm, her bright red nails practically digging into his flesh.

“You’re making a fool of yourself!”

She hissed, her voice low, but her eyes were fixed on me, sharp and venomous.

“Celeste, do you really think marrying into the Hayes family makes you untouchable?”

Ashton casually adjusted his cuff, then looked up, his eyes suddenly chilling.

“Valerie,”

His tone was lazy, yet each word was a razor.

“I heard your company’s stock plunged this morning, hitting rock bottom?”

Valerie’s face instantly stiffened.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

Ashton suddenly smiled, pulling me closer by the waist.

“Thank you for taking such good care of my wife's ex-boyfriend. As a thank-you gift…”

He paused, leaned down to plant a kiss on my ear, but his voice carried clearly to the entire ballroom.

“Hayes Industries will be initiating a full takeover of your company.”

Valerie staggered back, her meticulously made-up face twisting in horror.

Derek violently shook off her hand, his eyes blazing crimson as he lunged for the stage, only to be grabbed by Ashton’s bodyguards, his shoulders seized, and he was slammed to the ground.

“Celeste!”

He struggled to look up, veins pulsed wildly in his forehead.

“You planned all this, didn’t you? Watching me like an idiot, letting me run around in circles!”

I crouched down, the train of my wedding gown billowed out like fresh snow. My fingertip hooked under his chin.

“Derek.”

I whispered.

“You still have her lipstick on your neck.”

His pupils constricted. I stood up, looking down at him imperiously.

“Get out. Don’t dirty my wedding.”

As the bodyguards dragged him away, he suddenly started laughing like a madman.

“You think Ashton Hayes is any better?!”

He shrieked, his voice swallowed by the soaring crescendo of the symphony.