Chapter 217: I’ll Make You Crawl Back To Me

Celine drove back to the villa deep in thought, wondering how she could possibly help Natalia without pushing the latter too hard.

When she arrived home, she headed straight upstairs.

First, she took a shower and changed into comfortable clothes. Then she slipped quietly into the children’s room, checking to make sure Leo and Leah were both asleep in bed.

The housekeeper had put them to bed and fallen asleep on the sofa herself.

Celine tucked the blankets more securely around them, and gently placed a blanket around Nancy as well because the young woman looked too comfortable, she didn’t want to wake her, then she went to her own room.

The moment she settled into bed, her phone rang and a soft smile touched her lips.

She already knew who it was, he always called her at this exact time. Celine answered the call immediately.

“Hello.”

“Hey, darling. I’m guessing you’re already in bed.” His deep voice flowed warmly through the line.

“How did you know that?” she asked, giggling softly.

“I can tell,” Tristan replied smoothly. “Like I once told you, I know everything about you. I can tell how your voice sounds when you’re lying in bed, when you’re tired, when you’re happy, when something is troubling you.”

“Really?” she teased. “Then can you tell what I’m feeling right now?”

“Hm.” His voice lowered thoughtfully. “You sound exhausted physically… but there’s something on your mind too. Something bothering you?”

She gasped lightly.

“How did you know that?”

“Told you,” he said smugly. “I can always tell.”

“Tsk. Don’t be so smug. I can tell what you’re doing too, even without being there.”

“Oh?” he murmured. “Then tell me, what am I doing right now?”

Celine smiled, rolling onto her side.

“Let me think… You’re a little tired. You just got back from the office, and you’re loosening your tie while talking to me.”

Tristan stopped mid-motion, one hand still on his tie. A smile curved across his lips.

“Do you know it’s dangerous to know too much, Celine?”

“Oh?” she said playfully. “And what’s the punishment?”

“Are you sure you want to know?”

“Mm-hmm,” she hummed.

“First,” he said in a lower voice, “I’d kiss you until you couldn’t breathe. Then I’d lay you down in bed… and then…”

“Then?” she asked, breath catching.

“That,” he said with quiet amusement, “is for you to find out.”

Her cheeks warmed.

“I missed you, Celine.”

“I missed you too,” she whispered, smiling into the darkness.

His voice softened.

“So tell me, what’s bothering you?”

Celine hesitated. She wanted to tell him about Ryan sending someone to come get her earlier but she stopped herself.

Instead, she said quietly, “It’s nothing.”

He was tired, she didn’t need to bother him about that.

On the other end, Tristan paused in the middle of removing his coat.

“You know you can’t hide things from me, right?” he said gently. “Tell me.”

“I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

“Why tomorrow?” His tone sharpened slightly with concern. “Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing’s wrong,” she said quickly. “Tomorrow I’m taking Leo and Leah somewhere, and I’ll text you the address. You have to meet us there, okay?”

Silence lingered for a moment. She could almost picture the suspicious crease forming between his brows.

Finally he said, “Alright. I’ll come. But Celine…”

“Hm?”

“If something is wrong, don’t keep it from me. You know you can tell me anything.”

“Of course,” she said softly. “I’ll tell you everything tomorrow.”

“That’s good. Get some rest, you sound tired.”

“But I want to keep talking to you.”

“Don’t be stubborn,” he said, amusement lacing his voice. “I know how busy you’ve been with wedding preparations. Don’t exhaust yourself.”

As if summoned by his words, her exhaustion peaked at this moment and she yawned.

“Alright,” she murmured. “But make sure you come on time tomorrow.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

He paused for a moment, then his voice softened into warmth.

“I love you.”

Her heart melted, as it did everytime he said it to her.

“I love you too.”

—

Inside a luxurious hotel suite, atop a sprawling bed draped in silk sheets, two bodies lay tangled together.

After several heated rounds of passion, Ryan and Erica rested against each other in the dim glow of the room.

The television remained on, broadcasting the latest headline dominating public attention.

“…everyone is eagerly anticipating what the media has already dubbed the wedding of the century—between business mogul Tristan Grayson, founder and CEO of Grayson Corp, and the beautiful former actress Celine Roberts, who disappeared from the public eye five years ago but is now making a spectacular comeback…”

Images flashed across the screen of Tristan and Celine. They both looked elegant, and radiant, everyone seemed to think they were the ideal, model couple because they looked perfect together.

“…with her return, the entertainment industry has been shaken. Producers, directors, and major brands are all eager to welcome her back. Without a doubt, Celine Roberts is a name we will forever see on the big screen…”

Celine’s graceful face filled the screen, luminous and captivating.

“…the couple have also revealed they share two lovely children and have expressed their wish to build a larger family in the future…”

Ryan scoffed from the bed.

“Bullshit.”

Though contempt dripped from his voice, his gaze remained fixed on Celine’s image, burning with possessive obsession.

The desire in his eyes had never disappeared, not even now.

The words his bodyguard said to him earlier brought a light quirk to his lips.

’This sharp mouthed, feisty woman…’

“Do they really think we’ll just sit back and let that wedding happen?” Ryan began feeling fury fill his chest the moment the image changed from just Celine to another of her and Tristan. The looked so happy together, Ryan had never seen Tristan smile like that before.

“Of course not,” Erica drawled lazily, tracing circles over his chest. “Let them enjoy their happiness for now.”

Her lips curled into a venomous smile.

“Soon enough… we’ll strip it all away from them. Piece by piece.”

“Is everything ready?” Ryan asked casually.

“Yes,” Erica said. “Everything is in place. All we need now is for the mouse to walk into the trap.”

Her eyes gleamed darkly.

“And once they do… there’ll be no escape.”

Ryan smirked. “When this is over, we’ll be the ones standing at the top.”

Inside, his thoughts burned hotter with a firm determination:

’And I will have you, Celine. Whether you want it or not.’

Erica’s smile deepened with cruel delight.

’I’ll make you crawl back to me, Tristan. You will come back.’

—

The next morning.

Tristan had just arrived at the office.

“Cancel all my meetings after ten,” he instructed Kaleb as he entered his office. “I have somewhere to be.”

“Yes, boss.”

“Where are the files for Mr. Donald’s new project?”

“I’ve already filed them for review.”

“Good. Handle everything else today and…”

His phone beeped with an incoming text message.

The one he had been waiting for.

He picked it up, a small smile appearing on his lips.

Kaleb watched with quiet amusement. Even now, he still wasn’t fully used to this softened version of Tristan.

Love truly changed a man.

But as Tristan read the message, the smile vanished.

His expression darkened instantly. His entire face turned cold and tense.

Kaleb straightened, realizing something was wrong.

Celine had finally sent him the address where she wanted him to meet her.

But the moment Tristan saw the location, alarm flashed in his eyes.

Why there?

Why had she taken the children there?

That was a place he deliberately avoided.

A place filled with memories he never willingly revisited.

Without a word, Tristan rose abruptly from his chair, grabbed his coat, and strode out of the office with hurried steps.

Kaleb stared after him in confusion.

What just happened?

One moment he had looked happy and the next, like he had seen a ghost.

Did something bad happen?

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