Chapter 4

Staring at the word "positive" on the test report, Celestia felt like the whole world was spinning out from under her, and she might just faint right there. Pregnant. She was actually pregnant. Like getting slammed with accusations of stealing her best friend's fiancé wasn't enough, now she had a baby she never planned for brewing inside her. What the hell was the universe trying to do to her? Her mind went totally blank, all she could hear was a constant ringing in her ears. Everything else just faded-no sound, no sight, nothing. She stood there right outside the doctor's office with that paper in hand, frozen for what must've been half an hour, until the assistant, Jolie, came searching after waiting too long downstairs. Seeing Celestia looking like she was on the verge of passing out, face pale as a ghost and completely spaced out, Jolie's expression turned serious. "Ms. Brooks, are you okay?" Celestia slowly looked at her, dazed, completely forgetting to answer. All she could think about was the baby. The baby. Jolie's worry deepened. "If you're not feeling well, I can cancel the dinner with Mr. Caleb. You should go home and rest. I'll reschedule, your health is more important." That snapped Celestia out of it. She looked at Jolie's anxious face, quickly shoved the test report into her bag, and forced a shaky smile. "I'm fine. Let's go." Then, under Jolie's worried gaze, she walked unsteadily out of the hospital. As the last light of dusk faded away, the city by the sea was soon swallowed by night. At the heart of the city stood Ivory Table. "Mr. Caleb, as CEO of the Brook Group, I'd like to thank you for making time to meet tonight," Celestia greeted the approaching middle-aged man with a composed smile. She had swapped her daytime suit for a white chiffon dress from Chanel. Her naturally elegant features were lightly made up, and long hair spilled gently over her shoulders, giving off a polished yet gentle vibe. "Please, dinner with you is my pleasure, Miss Brooks," Mr. Caleb said, reaching out to shake her hand. His chubby face stretched into an insincere smile that didn't quite sit right. A flicker of disgust passed through Celestia's eyes, but she kept her game face on. Calmly, she slid her hand out of his grasp and motioned for him to go ahead. Once they were seated and the dishes were served, Celestia gradually steered the conversation toward the main topic of the evening. "Our company's been around for twenty-five years. Our track record is solid across the whole industry. What we're going through now is just a small hiccup," she said, voice steady but earnest, "I hope you could reconsider the loan for us..." She'd practically said everything nice she could think of, but her throat was getting dry, and Caleb looked like he couldn't be less interested. His lack of engagement made her want to just call it a night. "What do you need from me to make the loan happen?" She finally asked straight-up. That got his attention. He leaned in slightly, smirking. "Take a wild guess," he drawled, his eyes blatantly raking over her figure. His hand casually brushed against her exposed thigh, clearly not by accident. "The loan's not an issue." "Mr. Caleb, I think you misunderstood," Celestia said, forcing a polite smile while firmly removing his hand. "Oh, come on. Let's not play games here." His voice lowered, full of implication. "You need funding, and I'm happy to provide that. But I expect something in return-namely, you," he said without a shred of shame. "After all, everyone knows you already slept with Jareth. No one in our circle's gonna marry you now. Shame for someone as stunning as you to go to waste. Stick with me. I'll take care of you..." The overpowering mix of his cologne and the greasy smell of the food made her stomach churn. At that point, she knew the conversation had already derailed beyond saving. "I guess I shouldn't have come tonight. Since you clearly have no intention of helping Brooks Corp, I'll be leaving now," she said, standing up. But before she could take a step, Caleb grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him, locking her in his arms so tightly she couldn't move. His greasy lips were uncomfortably close to her ear, breathing hot against her skin. "Don't you think it's a bit of a waste to leave now?" he whispered suggestively. "One night? Nah, how about three nights? Spend three nights with me and not only will I help you, I'll marry you if that's what you want." His disgusting proposition made Celestia's face go pale. When his hand started creeping between her thighs, a wave of nausea hit her. "Let go of me!" she shouted, shoving at his chest with all her strength, trying to dodge his unwanted kiss. "Be a good girl. Just stay with me tonight, and I promise I'll make sure..." The stench of alcohol on his breath hit Celestia like a punch, thick and greasy enough to make her nauseous.