Cutting Ties & Final Choices
Celeste had never felt this at peace in a long time.
Paris had been a dream—Adrian had been a dream. The way he held her, touched her, looked at her... It was like he was making up for years of distance in just a few days.
And damn him—it was working.
She hated to admit it, but Adrian had always had this effect on her. The way he could make her heart race with a single glance, the way he made her feel like she was the only woman in the world.
It scared her.
Because love like that? It made you vulnerable.
And Celeste had spent too long guarding her heart.
Now, back in the city, reality hit hard.
She had decisions to make.
And the first was standing outside her husband's office with a sickeningly sweet smile on her face.
Emily.
Celeste didn't wait for permission to enter. She walked straight past his secretary's desk and pushed open the doors to his office.
Emily was already inside.
But this time, Adrian wasn't standing by her side.
He was standing apart—arms crossed, jaw clenched, looking at Emily with something dangerously close to contempt.
And when his eyes landed on Celeste, everything softened.
"You're here," he said, his voice quieter, steadier.
Celeste nodded and stepped beside him, her presence calm but firm.
Emily's smirk faltered before she forced it back. "What's this?" she asked, feigning amusement. "A tag-team intervention?"
Adrian exhaled sharply. "No. This is me cutting the cord."
Emily blinked.
Adrian's voice was firm and unshakable. "You and I—we ended a long time ago, Emily. But I let you linger in my life out of guilt, out of misplaced responsibility. I thought I owed you something because of our past. But I don't. Not anymore."
Emily scoffed. "That's convenient."
"You married someone else. You moved on first," Adrian said coldly. "I did, too. The difference is, I didn't come back trying to ruin someone else's life."
Her lips parted in disbelief, but Adrian pressed on.
"Whatever we had—it died the moment you walked away. And I should've buried it then. But I didn't. That was my mistake. One I'm done making."
Emily's expression hardened. "You think Celeste's just going to forgive you because you're finally drawing lines?"
Adrian's voice dropped. "That's between me and my wife. But you? You're done crossing mine."
He turned slightly, linking his fingers with Celeste's. "This is the woman I love. The only one I want. So, for the last time, stay away from her. Stay away from me. And stay out of our marriage."
Celeste could feel Adrian's hand trembling ever so slightly in hers.
Emily let out a bitter laugh. "You'll regret this."
Celeste looked her dead in the eyes. "No. He won't."
Emily's gaze snapped to her, venomous and desperate. "You really think he's changed?"
Celeste smiled faintly, her voice cool and confident. "No. I think he grew up. And more importantly, he chose me. That's what matters."
Adrian added, "This is the last conversation we'll ever have, Emily. Goodbye."
Emily's nostrils flared, but the fire in her eyes had burned out. Without another word, she turned and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her.
Silence settled in the room.
Adrian looked at Celeste, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. "You okay?"
She exhaled, then nodded. "Yeah."
There was a pause before she added, "I saw what you did. And I appreciate it."
His brows lifted slightly. "You do?"
"Yeah. That was... big. And honest." She met his gaze, her expression unreadable. "I'm not saying everything's magically fixed. But that? That was a start."
Adrian's shoulders dropped, relief and emotion settling in his features. "You're worth fighting for, Celeste. Always have been."
Celeste looked down at their intertwined hands for a beat, then gently pulled away—not harshly, just enough to remind him she still had her guard up.
"But don't expect me to fall apart just because you finally learned how to take out the trash," she said, a small smirk tugging at her lips.
Adrian chuckled, the sound low and fond. "Fair."
—
Lucas was waiting for her outside the building.
She wasn't surprised. She texted him that they needed to talk.
"That looked intense," he said, pushing his glasses up. "Emily finally get what she deserved?"
Celeste nodded. "Yeah. Adrian handled it."
Lucas raised a brow. "Adrian, huh?"
She looked at him, her expression softening. "Lucas... I need to say something."
He studied her quietly.
"I don't want to doubt Adrian anymore," she said. "I'm his wife. I should trust him more than anyone else. And he showed me today that he's trying. Really trying."
Lucas's jaw flexed slightly. "So, that's it?"
She nodded. "I was unfair—to him, and to you. I let things blur because I was hurt. But that stops today."
He swallowed. "Do you love him that much?"
"I do," Celeste said without hesitation. "It's not perfect. It's messy and hard and painful sometimes. But it's real. And I want to fight for it—with him, not against him."
Lucas let out a quiet sigh. "I was hoping maybe..."
She shook her head gently. "I know. And I'm sorry. But I choose him. Not just in words—but in trust, too."
He held her gaze for a long moment before nodding.
"If you ever need a friend..." he offered.
She smiled. "I know where to find you."
Lucas gave her a last look, then stepped back, disappearing into the city crowd.
And for the first time in a long time, Celeste felt light.
The doubt—the weight—it was gone.
Because Adrian had chosen her.
And this time... she was ready to choose him, too.