Chapter 199: Be Happy

Celine walked out of the car as they pulled up in the driveway of her villa. Up ahead in front of her, standing by the fountain in the yard, was a man with his back turned to her.

Watching the desolate back from the distance, she felt a pang of guilt in her chest, nevertheless, she walked over with a deep sigh.

As if sensing her arrival, Julian turned around to face her, he beamed brightly immediately he saw her, however, if one were to look closely, they would see the emptiness in his eyes.

Celine stopped when she came to stand right in front of him, she had guilt written all over her face, she lowered her head while trying to find the words to say, but nothing came to mind.

“It was him, right? The man who broke your heart?” Julian suddenly asked, breaking the awkward silence between them. Whenever he saw pain in her eyes he’d known there was someone there, nestled somewhere warm in her heart he could never reach, he thought he’d heal her and slowly her heart would let him in, but the one who had always held her heart came back. He didn’t stand a chance.

Celine let out a sigh, but she nodded, “It was always him, when I agreed to marry you, I thought I could never be with him.”

Julian sighed, then casually tucked his hand into his pocket, turning around towards the fountain, however, when he had his back to her, his face showed an expression of pain, “There is no need for you to explain, he is after all the father of your children.”

Celine sensed the disappointed tone in his voice, the guilt further sunk into her. At that time, she had completely given up on Tristan, she had thought that he would be marrying Erica and that there could never be anything between them.

When they went to the Rowena Islands, she had hoped that if there was still a chance between her and Tristan, she would quickly call off the wedding without complicating anything. However, she had returned heartbroken, which led her to not make any protests as aunt Miranda insistedly began the preparations for the wedding even though it was happening too fast, she didn’t oppose to it because she was internally hurting.

She had decided that perhaps immediately starting a new Chapter wouldn’t be bad at all, perhaps it would be best to turn her back on it all and start all over again, even if she knew deep inside that Tristan was the one and only man she would ever love.

But like a fairytale dream come true, he had come for her, he loved her, just as much as she loved him, however, though she had realized her dream to be with Tristan, the realization that a lot of other people would get hurt in the process was just sinking in.

Julian, and aunt Miranda.

“Julian…” She began, but he was quick to cut her off.

“Like I said, you do not need to give me any explanations,” he turned to face her, his expression softened, “Neither do you need to feel guilty. Actually, I urged Mom to hasten the wedding preparations because I was scared this would happen…no man in the world would be stupid enough to let a woman like you go Celine. He would soon realize his stupidity, I knew you still had him in your heart, I wanted to make you mine before he comes for you…”

Celine was surprised at how calmly he spoke even though she had expected him to be furious, or at least hurt enough to not want to speak to her. Julian’s reaction further made her feel bad for him, she regretted agreeing to marry him in her moment of heartbreak, thinking about all of it now, it made her feel selfish.

Julian continued speaking, “I always knew that you had someone else in your heart, I had just hoped… that someday that person would be erased from your mind, and that I might take his place.”

Celine lowered her head guiltily.

“But I guess now that my fear came true, I can openly accept that I’ve lost you.”

“Julian…” He still didn’t let her speak and immediately cut her off.

“I guess we can say I’d already internally prepared for this, I just didn’t think it would happen this soon.” He chuckled bitterly, turning his head to the side to conceal his emotions.

Celine came to realize how humiliated he must have felt as well.

“Julian, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for everything.” She couldn’t find any other thing to say to him but to apologize for everything, she had put his hopes up only to dash them later, even though she truly regretted putting him through this, she couldn’t turn back the hands of time to take it all back, she could only apologize for it.

“Don’t be, Celine, don’t be sorry, at least you gave me a few moments of happiness. When I thought I would be your groom, when I imagined a life together with you, that’s enough. You can follow your own happiness, because you deserve it.”

Celine once again sighed deeply, “You’re a wonderful man, Julian, and I’m certain, the woman who ends up with you in the future, will be extremely lucky to have you.”

Julian smiled bitterly, but then opened his arms, “Can I at least get a final hug?” He asked playfully.

Celine smiled and walked into his arms subtly embracing him.

Julian let the look of disappointment and sadness fully settle on his face once she couldn’t see his expression.

’No Celine, the man who got you, is the luckiest man to ever exist.’

After a while, Julian broke off the hug, they exchanged a few more words of farewell and he waved her goodbye.

Aunt Miranda also walked up to her, though she looked extremely sad, she gave Celine one final hug as well. “I’m so sorry Aunt Miranda…”

She quickly shook her head, wiping Celine’s tears. “Be happy, my dear. I want nothing more.”

Aunt Miranda gave her blessings for Celine to be with the man she loved, especially because he was the father of her children. She wouldn’t be able to bear tearing apart a complete family no matter how much she wanted Celine as her daughter in law. Not to mention that Julian would never be able to compete with a man who already had her heart.

Celine stood watching from the distance as they drove away a while later

Celine stood staring out into space for a few moments before Natalia’s voice pulled her out of her daze.

“Celine, the children have been waiting for you inside.”

Celine stiffened. The children… She would have to officially introduce the children to their father.

“Oh, I’ll be right there.” She replied quickly

—

Inside the children’s bedroom at the villa.

“Godmother, can I go see my Daddy now?” Little Leah pouted, asking for the hundredth time.

“Just wait a bit, honey, let your Mommy come introduce you, she just has to finish speaking with Uncle Julian and she will be right back.” Natalia explained, though she didn’t want to keep stalling the children’s big union with their father, she wanted to have Celine there first, so she kept the kids in their room until Celine returned, but Leah was getting impatient.

The little girl pouted and crossed her arms, “Aww, don’t give me that adorable look, just wait a bit more, look at Leo, he’s not even complaining…” Natalia was trying to appease the little girl when she turned around only to find Leo was actually not in the room.

Sometime ago, he had just been there, sitting quietly without a word of protest, patiently waiting for his mother, all of a sudden, she realized he wasn’t there anymore.

“Where’s Leo?” Natalia asked incredulously.

Leah shrugged cluelessly.

—

In another room within the mansion, Tristan sat elegantly on a couch, his leg crossed over the other languidly.

His gaze was fixed directly opposite him, where a little boy whose face could be said to be the mirror of his own was sitting right in front of him. The only difference was that the boy had a head full of warm toned blonde hair, just like his mother.

Sitting here it felt like looking at a reflection of his own soul. He was astonished himself that he couldn’t stop staring at the child.

Tristan fidgeted in his seat, clueless at what to do or say in this moment. He gave a stiff smile, hoping that would warm up the kid’s rigid expression but it didn’t seem to help at all.

The boy was giving him a pointed look, his little features were coldly expressionless.

Tristan felt a swell of an unknown emotion in his heart. The more he looked at the boy, the more a strange tightness clutched his heart. Along with the pain, he felt a strangely sweet warmth.

This was his son, his own son.

The feeling spread all around his chest, and his expression softened deeply. However, he’d had absolutely zero interactions with children, he had no idea what to say to the little boy. A smile hadn’t helped though, he had to say something to break the ice.

“What’s your name?” Tristan asked softly, though he didn’t know much, he knew this much, that kids were said to be incredibly fragile and fickle.

The little boy crossed his arms over his chest and opened his mouth to say, “Since you claim to be my father, you should know what my name is, shouldn’t you?.” His childlike voice sounding straightforwardly cold.

Tristan raised a single brow, “Claim?”

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