CHAPTER 16

The Newspaper Headline

I stared at the bold letters, my fingers tightening around the newspaper until the edges crumpled in my grasp. "The Wedding of the Century: Damian and Bianca Tie the Knot in a Fairytale Ceremony!" The words screamed at me, mocking, taunting, digging deep into wounds that had barely begun to scab over. My vision blurred, rage and betrayal warring within me like an untamed storm.

A slow, bitter chuckle rose in my throat. Fairytale? That was rich. A fairytale built on lies, deception, and broken promises. My hands trembled as I tore the newspaper apart, shredding it into pieces that rained onto the marble floor like fallen ashes. It wasn't enough. My chest heaved as I grabbed the remaining scraps and stuffed them into the fireplace. A flick of a match. The flames roared to life, devouring every trace of their so-called happiness.

"Celeste, stop!" Olivia rushed into the room, her eyes wide with concern. "You're burning things again."

I ignored her, watching the fire twist and curl around their smiling faces, turning them into nothing but smoke. Good. Let them burn.

"You need to breathe," Olivia insisted, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. "This isn't healthy."

Healthy? Was it healthy when he whispered promises against my skin, only to turn around and place a ring on another woman's finger? Was it healthy when he told me I was his world, only to make her his wife?

"They deserve this," I murmured, my voice dangerously soft. "They deserve so much worse."

Olivia sighed, kneeling in front of me. "Celeste, listen to me. I know you're hurting. But revenge won't make the pain go away."

I met her gaze, cold and unyielding. "No, but it will make them feel it too."

A long silence stretched between us before she sighed in resignation. "What are you planning?"

I stood, smoothing down my dress as a slow smile curled my lips. "Let's just say… Bianca won't be enjoying her honeymoon as much as she thinks."

---

The city buzzed with news of the wedding and every street, every shop window, every casual conversation was another dagger to the heart. I walked through town, chin high, back straight, letting whispers trail behind me like a shadow.

"She must be devastated."

"Did you hear? Damian didn't even invite her to the wedding."

"Poor thing. Betrayed like that."

"I wouldn't be surprised if she does something crazy."

I smiled at that last one. Oh, if only they knew.

As I reached the hotel where Damian and Bianca were set to spend their first night as husband and wife, I slid on my sunglasses and pulled my coat tighter around me. Security was tight, but people had weaknesses, and I had learned to exploit them well.

With a flick of my wrist, I dropped a neatly folded envelope on the concierge desk. "Deliver this to Mrs. Bianca Ashford," I said sweetly, my voice dipped in honey.

The man hesitated, eyeing me carefully. "May I ask who it's from?"

I tilted my head. "Just an old friend with a wedding gift."

He nodded, reaching for it. He had no idea that inside was a single photograph—one of Damian and me wrapped around each other in bed, a time-stamped memory from just a month ago.

Let the honeymoon begin.

---

The slap echoed through the grand hotel lobby, drawing gasps from nearby guests.

"How could you?!" Bianca's voice rang out, shrill and trembling. "I trusted you!"

Damian stood frozen, a guilty shadow flickering over his face. "Bianca, it's not what you think—"

"Not what I think?!" She shoved the photo against his chest. "This says otherwise!"

I watched from the bar, sipping my wine, as their perfect world began to crumble. Bianca's face twisted with fury and pain, tears threatening to spill as she turned on her heel and stormed toward the elevator.

Damian ran a hand through his hair, cursing under his breath. And then—his eyes met mine.

I lifted my glass in a silent toast, my lips curling into a slow, satisfied smile. Game on, darling.

He stalked toward me, his jaw clenched. "What the hell did you do?"

I set my glass down carefully. "Oh, nothing, really. Just told the truth. I thought honesty was important in a marriage?"

His hand slammed onto the bar, his eyes dark and wild. "Celeste, you don't understand—"

I leaned in, letting my voice drop to a whisper. "Oh, but I do, Damian. You played me. You lied, you cheated, and you thought you'd get away with it. But here's the thing about me… I don't lose."

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. "This won't fix anything."

"No," I agreed, standing and adjusting my coat. "But it's a start."

As I walked away, I could feel his gaze burning into my back. And for the first time in months, I felt lighter.

---

That night, my phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.

You made your point. Now stop before this gets ugly.

I smirked, typing back without hesitation.

Too late. It's already ugly.

Seconds later, another message. You don't know who you're messing with, Celeste.

I stared at the words, my pulse steady, my fingers tightening around the phone.

Neither do you.

I hit send, tossing the phone onto my bed. The game had just begun, and I was far from finished. Damian and Bianca thought they won. They had no idea the real storm was just beginning.

And this time, I wouldn't be the one left in the ashes.