Chapter 355

Ethan Caldwell's piercing gaze locked onto Celeste Rousseau, the woman who had once played him for a fool. Back then, he had genuinely believed he was at fault and had rushed to apologize like a lovesick puppy.

But what had he found instead?

Celeste and Gregory Thornton, flirting shamelessly as they strolled out of a hotel suite, fingers intertwined. The familiarity between them made it painfully obvious—this wasn’t their first rendezvous.

Later, when Ethan had tried to confront her, Celeste had vanished without a trace, transferring colleges like a ghost in the night.

She had ghosted him.

To Ethan, Celeste Rousseau was dead.

A permanent stain on his pride.

Now, the crowd’s shocked eyes darted between Celeste and Ethan, absorbing the explosive drama unfolding on the eve of Celeste and Gregory’s wedding.

This was scandalous.

Gregory’s fists clenched, his knuckles turning white. A chilling darkness flickered in his eyes, his entire body rigid with tension. No one could guess what storm brewed beneath his carefully controlled exterior.

Celeste clutched his arm desperately. "Gregory, I swear, I never lied to you! I love you—only you!"

Gregory remained stone-faced, his expression colder than ice.

Panicked, Celeste whirled on Ethan.

"It was just a few hundred thousand dollars! Are you really so petty that you’d ruin my happiness over money? What, did you expect me to pay you emotional damages after we broke up?"

Gasps rippled through the crowd. The sheer audacity!

Eyes wide with disbelief, the guests watched as Celeste trembled with rage, jabbing a finger at Ethan. "You wanted to marry me back then? With what money? Did you expect me to live like a pauper?" She scoffed, her gaze flickering to Evelyn Sinclair. "And look at you now—leeching off some rich woman. How are you any better than me?"

Evelyn smirked, her sharp eyes glinting. "So you cheated and dumped Ethan because Gregory was richer? Is that what you call a 'normal' choice?"

Celeste’s face paled the moment the words left her mouth.

She turned stiffly toward Gregory, whose expression had darkened into something terrifying. The warmth he usually reserved for her had vanished, replaced by something far more dangerous.

Gregory Thornton was not a gentle man by nature. Celeste’s supposed sweetness had softened him, made him believe in love.

But it had all been a lie.

The air thickened with tension. The soon-to-be Mrs. Thornton was nothing but a gold-digging fraud.

Ethan exhaled, a weight lifting from his chest.

No matter how well Celeste had played her role, the truth always surfaced. And tonight, it had come crashing down spectacularly.

Her frantic, unraveling expression was almost pitiful. Ethan chuckled, a lightness in his voice.

"Well, I suppose I was just unlucky. Consider that money charity—feeding a stray, if you will." He tilted his head, feigning thought. "Oh, and congratulations on the pregnancy. A shotgun wedding? Bold move. No wonder you outmaneuvered all those other socialites."

The implication was clear.

Celeste’s pregnancy had been a calculated play.

Her face twisted in fury. Gregory stiffened, realization dawning.

The woman he thought carried his child had trapped him.

Gregory’s jaw tightened, his glare shifting between Celeste and Ethan. "Are you done?" he ground out, voice laced with barely restrained fury.

Ethan smirked, draping an arm around Evelyn’s shoulders.

With a mock bow, he said, "Forgive the interruption. We wouldn’t want to spoil the festivities. Happy wedding!"

The crowd erupted in murmurs. How could anyone recover from this?

Evelyn leaned into Ethan, her lips curving.

"By the way," she added sweetly, "allow me to properly introduce Ethan Caldwell. He’s hardly a 'poor man.' He’s the sole heir to Sterling Worldwide—you know, the company behind SportiveWear? Their operations are primarily overseas, so perhaps that’s why you missed it, Celeste." She paused, emphasizing her next words. "So no, he’s not with me for money."

The room went silent.

Celeste’s face drained of color.

Game over.