SILENT VOWS

That morning was bright and calm.

Celestine wore a casual dress and a wide-brimmed hat as she helped the old maid water flowers in the backyard. Her gentle hands poured water over the blooming pink roses as she smiled softly, enjoying the peaceful moment.

Maid:

"Miss Celestine, you're becoming more and more graceful. The garden feels more alive when you're around."

Celestine chuckled softly.

"Oh please, I'm just helping a little. Better than being stressed out in my room all day."

Meanwhile, Yeager, already dressed in a sharp suit, stepped into his car with a serious expression. He told his driver plainly:

"To the office. We've got an important meeting today."

On the other side of town…

Jamie, true to his usual randomness, arrived at school in an oversized neon jacket and ripped jeans. His hair looked like it had wrestled the wind and lost. He jumped off a motorbike taxi while chewing gum.

His friends instantly burst into laughter.

Reno:

"Brooo, is that your jacket or a walking billboard?"

Jamie:

"It's a limited-edition jacket, man. Cyberpunk style—get educated!"

Tasya:

"Jamie, the PE teacher's gonna lose it if he sees you wearing mismatched shoes again—one green, one black?"

Jamie:

"It's called fashion. Balance, yin and yang, okay?"

Everyone laughed, and Jamie's presence brought instant chaos and color to the school day. But behind all that, his eyes briefly glanced toward the corner of the schoolyard—where Elora was quietly reading a book.

Jamie immediately swerved and took the long way around.

Jamie (muttering to himself):

"Crap… please tell me she didn't see me in this walking traffic light outfit."

After showering, Celestine stood in front of the mirror, still slightly damp. Her eyes caught a document on the table—it was Yeager's.

"I'm not seeing things, right? This is his document..." Celestine muttered to herself. "If this gets lost, things will get complicated."

She quickly grabbed some clothes. She settled on a fitted top and a slim skirt. As she looked in the mirror, she gave a small smile.

"Sexy. This should stop people from calling me a street vendor," she said as she tossed her bag over her shoulder.

Upon arriving at Aldric Cooperation, Celestine confidently walked in. Yeager's secretary, elegantly dressed, greeted her with a thin smile, eyeing her up and down.

"Mrs. Yeager... Mr. Yeager is in a meeting," the secretary said.

"Don't worry, I just need to drop this off," Celestine replied, showing the document.

The secretary glanced at her for a moment before knocking on the door and entering. A short while later, she came out with an irritated look and motioned for Celestine to enter.

Yeager closed his laptop as he saw Celestine walk in. He stood slowly and looked at her intently, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"You came alone. Are you upset?"

Celestine answered casually, "Upset about what? Your document was left behind, so I brought it."

Yeager folded his arms and studied her carefully. "Or... are you jealous?"

Celestine scoffed lightly. "Jealous? What are you talking about? I just walked by and thought, 'Poor husband, he forgot his document.'"

She sat down on the sofa in the office, pulled out a book, and started reading. "I'm just here to keep you company. I'll read my book while you work."

Yeager watched her for a few seconds. "Celestine, all the employees can see us through that glass."

Celestine smiled as she flipped open the first page of her book. "Who cares? Let them see that their boss has a wife this beautiful."

In the afternoon, while Celestine was sitting in Yeager's office, reading a book, her phone suddenly rang. She looked at the message from Rana: "Want to grab a drink at the bar?"

Celestine smiled widely, seeing this as an opportunity to unwind for a while. Without thinking too much, she quickly stood up from her seat.

Yeager, who had been absorbed in his work, raised an eyebrow and watched Celestine move so quickly.

"What's going on?" Yeager asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Celestine hurriedly replied, "I'm heading out early. Bye." She didn't wait for a response and quickly left the office, feeling a slight sense of relief at the thought of getting away from the tense atmosphere for a while.

However, as she walked out of the office, she felt Yeager's intense gaze following her from behind. For some reason, this time, there was a bit more tension than usual.

Celestine decided not to dwell on it. Once she reached the door, she grabbed her jacket and quickly made her way to the bar where Rana was waiting.

That evening, Celestine and Rana were at the bar, enjoying their drinks. Celestine, who had only intended to relax, ended up drinking much more than she should have. The more she drank, the more her eyes drooped, and her smile became wider, indicating she was getting drunk.

Rana, noticing her friend's condition, grew worried. "Celestine, you've had enough. Let's go home," she said with concern.

But Celestine only laughed loudly, not fully realizing her state. "I'm fine!" she replied with a slight slur. But her body swayed, and as she tried to stand up, her legs gave way. Rana quickly moved to support her, but after a few steps, she realized she couldn't carry her alone.

Sighing, Rana pulled out her phone and called Yeager. "Yeager, Celestine's drunk. I can't get her home by myself," she said urgently.

A few seconds later, Yeager answered the phone. "Where is she?" he asked in a firm tone.

Rana quickly told him where they were, and Yeager agreed without much hesitation. "I'll be there to pick her up."

Not long after, Yeager arrived at the bar. When he saw Celestine barely able to stand, he quickly approached. "Come on, I'll take you home," he said softly but firmly.

Celestine, half-conscious, just smiled weakly. "Yeager... I can't... go back home..." she mumbled quietly.

Carefully, Yeager picked her up and carried her to the car. Rana thanked him before quickly leaving, reassured that Celestine was in good hands.

In the car, Yeager looked at Celestine, who was slumped in his arms, feeling an unfamiliar discomfort. However, he pushed it aside, focusing on getting her home safely.

That night, after carrying Celestine into the room, Yeager gently laid her down on the bed. The room was lit only by a dim bedside lamp, casting a soft glow around them.

Celestine looked up at Yeager with half-lidded eyes, a small smile forming on her flushed face—partly from the alcohol, partly from emotions she couldn't explain. Slowly, she unbuttoned his shirt one by one, then rested her forehead against his chest.

"I know you're busy... but tonight, I want you here," she whispered softly.

Yeager didn't say much, only responded with a gentle touch on her cheek. He let the moment flow. When Celestine started to unfasten her own top, Yeager gently stopped her hands.

"I don't want you to do this just because you're drunk," he said quietly. "But if this is really from your heart..."

Celestine wrapped her arms around him tightly. There was a pause, a breath of silence, before they both melted into each other's embrace—an emotional, quiet night that even the stars seemed to witness without a word.