"It's all my fault, I should've done something to stop her. I'm so sorry. Please be mad at me instead." She continued, crocodile tears gathering in her eyes, making the act all the more convincing.
Celeste stared at her dear Lydia, watching her do what she did best. This wasn't new. Celeste had taken the blame for Lydia more times than she could count. So often that even when she told the truth, no one believed her. Marianne had never liked her, and she would always take Lydia's side, even when the evidence said otherwise.
It had become Celeste's role to take the punishment in Lydia's place. And she had done it willingly, because she loved her like a sister. Only now did she realize how foolish she had been.
Margaret's gaze shifted to Celeste. "Is what she said true?" she asked, her tone serious as she waited for an answer that would determine her reaction.
Before Celeste could respond, a servant came rushing in. He stopped short at the sight of Margaret, then quickly delivered his message.
"They're heading to the penthouse now. Mr. Blackwell tried to stall them, but it didn't work. He sent me to tell you to hurry!"
Hearing this, Margaret's eyes widened. She turned to the guards. "Quick! Take him to the penthouse now. We don't have time to waste. Use the back entrance!"
Celeste's brows knit together in confusion.
As Aiden was carried past her, she moved to follow, but a hand grabbed her arm, pulling her back. She looked down at it, then up at Lydia.
Lydia only smiled, and when they were alone, she finally spoke.
"Thank you, Cel," she said sweetly. "I thought I was going to get in trouble just now. What would Mrs. Blackwell think if she found out I gave the order?" She shivered at the thought. "What would I do without you?"
Celeste stared in return, her face devoid of expression. Then she slowly pulled her hand from Lydia's grip. "Why are you here, Lydia?" she asked.
Lydia's face faltered for a brief moment at Celeste's cold tone, but she quickly recovered, slipping back into that warm, familiar smile, one that had always worked before.
"To see you, of course." She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Celeste. "It's only been a few days, and I already miss you so much."
A laugh escaped Celeste before she could stop it. Everything she had learned all added up, and yet Lydia stood there, acting as if nothing had happened. Did they really think she was such a fool, still blind to the truth?"
Lydia pulled back when she heard Celeste laugh. This wasn't the Celeste she knew. The Celeste she knew would have buried herself in her arms, begging her not to leave. But she had done nothing but act cold instead. Had she perhaps figured something out? They had fooled her for years, this should be no different. Still, Lydia needed to be sure.
A hurt expression slowly spread across her face as her hands dropped to her sides. She looked at Celeste as if she had been wronged. "Cel..." she trailed off softly. "What happened? You're acting... different."
Celeste scoffed at her words. Different? She meant difficult to lie to right?
"How else should I act after learning my own family had sent me off to marry a mad man?" She took a step closer, her gaze unwavering. "You all lied to me. And now what?" Her lips curled faintly. "You expect me to run back into your arms like the fool you all think I am?"
Lydia shook her head, as if refusing to accept words that were anything but the truth. She had fooled Celeste for years, so she thought this time would be no different. But it seemed she would have to try a little harder. Not that it truly mattered. Their plans were already in motion, whether Celeste liked it or not. Still, Lydia was used to having her on her side. It made things easier, like it had just moments ago.
"What do you mean?" Lydia asked softly. "Cel, I came as soon as I could. I still can't believe you're married to Aiden Blackwell. There must have been some terrible mistake. I have questions too..."
"Questions?" Celeste raised a brow. "Didn't your mother answer them before you came here?"
"What do you mean, Cel? My mother wouldn't have known—"
"Right," Celeste cut in sharply. "So she was deceived too?" She let out a dry scoff. "Then who was I supposed to marry? Michael? The man you've admired all your life?" She shook her head. "You can't fool me anymore. So please stop."
Lydia's expression crumpled as if she had been deeply hurt. A tear slipped down her cheek, and for a brief second, it tugged at Celeste's heart.
But a second waa the longest it could go, as she didn't even trust her own feelings anymore.
"I'm sure my mother has a reasonable explanation for all this misunderstanding," Lydia said, wiping at her cheek.
"I'd rather she keep her reasonable explanation to herself," Celeste replied coldly. "It doesn't change the fact that you all lied to me."
"Cel—"
"Don't call me that!" Celeste snapped, her frustration breaking through. "I should have known. I really should have." She laughed bitterly. "Aunt Marianne suddenly acting nice to me? She only ever does that when she wants something." Then her voice dropped. "I was stupid to think it would be different this time."
"Then what is? Why did you trick me into signing the marriage papers?! Why was I sent here?!" Celeste asked, tears threatening to fall. "Now explain to me. Tell me, Lydia."
Lydia's sobs only grew louder. She couldn't possibly tell Celeste the truth. That it had all been planned. That they had wanted to get rid of her for so long, and an opportunity they could gain from came by. She needed Celeste in order to become Michael's bride. She needed Celeste to gain access to the mad heir's fortune so they could take it from her and live a comfortable life as newly weds. It had been her lifelong dream to marry a wealthy man, to become someone admired and envied. If everything went as planned, she would become the most talked about bride, married to the perfect Michael Blackwell.
That dream had to come true.
She couldn't let Celeste ruin it.
So what if they had fooled her into this marriage? Even though her husband was mad, he was still the heir to Richard's fortune. This was something she would never have dared to dream of. She should be grateful that they had made her worth more than just an orphan living off them.
"Cel... it hurts so much to see that you don't believe me," Lydia said between sobs. "It's me, Lydia. I came as soon as I heard about your situation. But instead, you're blaming us for hurting you, when we've done nothing but care for you since you were young."
"That doesn't give you the right to ruin my life."
Lydia stepped closer, cupping Celeste's face in her hands. "We would never do that, Cel. I love you so much."
Her hands were shoved away.
Celeste stared straight into her eyes. "And I hate you so much."
Without waiting to hear another lie, Celeste turned and walked away, ignoring Lydia's protests.
It wasn't hard for her to believe them again. She only felt she belonged when she held onto their words. That was the only time she felt she had a place in their home.
But doing that again, when everything pointed to her having been lied to, made her feel pathetic. She had nothing to cling to but lies, and she was tired of that being her only option.
Of course, she knew Aunt Marianne didn't like her. Even when she tried to believe otherwise, deep down she had always known the truth. But she still clung to the possibility that she might be wrong. But that did nothing to change the truth.
She was tired of having just scraps, of living on lies as her only option. She wanted something real. She was worthy of everything good, just like Lydia.
Celeste wiped away her tears as she stepped inside the penthouse. She needed to wash her face, the tears didn't seem willing to stop. Facing the truth would be painful, she knew that. That was why she had tried to avoid it for so long. But it was long overdue. Prolonging it would only make it worse.
For a moment, Celeste forgot she still shared a room with someone and entered without thinking. Her mind was too crowded, all she wanted was to shut the world out, even for a second. She opened the door to Aiden's room and froze. She was not alone.
Aiden lay unconscious on the bed while a doctor tended to him. On one side stood Charles and Margaret, both visibly tense as they stared at her. Celeste also noticed Margaret's finger pointing directly at her. At the foot of the bed stood four unfamiliar men dressed in black suits.
"There she is," she heard Margaret say. "She's the one who put him in this condition."