Chapter 7 [6]

"Who did you meet earlier?" asked Giselle as soon as they got into the car. Ever since the departure of her best friend, who left in a rather suspicious manner, Giselle had not stopped worrying. Crimes can happen anywhere, right? Especially considering Celine's rising name. Crime is not only about physical harm, but also mental harm and threats.

Although it can be dealt with immediately. Justin wouldn't stay silent if it happened between them.

Celine turned her head but then chuckled as she leaned back. "Are you having fun?"

Giselle frowned. "You're this, ask me what and answer me what. I need answers from you. You have me worried."

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm just sitting in the cafe provided by Hotel Alden anyway."

Giselle still did not accept Celine's answer just now. "You know what my question means."

"Just meeting an old friend." Celine adjusted her seat again. "I'm a bit tired, Giselle. Can I sleep for a while? You know, two days ago I really lived without rest."

"You can overdo it." Giselle laughed but then extended one of the blankets available in the car to her best friend. "I'll wake you up when we arrive."

"Use your time to get back to dating, Giselle," Celine said with an ignorant glance. Seeing Giselle who was again spluttering in disapproval, made her laugh. Slightly covering the bottom of the slightly revealing dress. She re-comforted herself and closed her eyes, although she was sure she would not fall asleep but at least Giselle would not talk to her.

Her memory was dragged to the conversation that had not passed twenty-four hours. especially when Jacob apologized to her for who knows how many times. What did he say? Sorry?

"I really am a stupid man, Celine." She ruffled her hair. It was a bit messy but he didn't seem to care. What he focused on was Celine who was still staring sarcastically. "Since that day, my life has been shrouded in regret."

"None of my business," Celine said in a reluctant tone. "Is that all you want to talk about?" She prepared to move on from the conversation that she thought was useless. although she could expect something like this to happen but at least, she resolved her curiosity. also... there was one thing she wanted to know.

"I canceled our wedding," Jacob said as he stood up. "Please, sit down. I still want to talk."

Celine's eyeballs rolled in annoyance. "Do I want to know that?"

"Ta-but, Celine."

The girl pushed up her dress rather roughly, no longer sitting meekly. She briefly shed her elegance. Her eyes became more sardonic as they pierced Jacob, who looked relieved that Celine had abandoned her intention.

"I feel like someone who is so cowardly in front of you. I should be ashamed, that's true. but really, I'd love to meet you."

Celine folded her arms across her chest.

Since the girl still did not want to talk, Jacob said again. "It may sound like bragging but since the last day we met, I regret doing what my mother asked."

"Weren't you promised something?" asked Celine with a reluctant look. "You know, I lost the firm and principled Jacob Desmond that day." She grinned slightly. The memory of the day when he was humiliated because of the case involving his parents, which never moved from his life, and became a dark shadow in this life he was living. "I don't know what your mother said about me back then. I tried to explain but you took my voice for granted."

Jacob looked down slowly.

"Three years we were in a relationship. Everyone gave us their blessings and we were one step away from marriage but you..." Celine pointed without hesitation. "You disappointed me." She chuckled.

"I was promised this hotel if I broke our engagement," Seeing the shock on Celine's face, Jacob spoke again. Don't let his explanation be paused because really, just seeing Celine with a disappointed face hurt his heart. If he could restore his stupidity and continue to be by Celine's side, he was sure his life was much happier.

Not like now, which is filled with feelings of guilt and other suffocating things.

Including...

"But those are just my mother's words." Jacob pulled the corners of his lips slightly. "I've gained nothing but regret."

Celine gasped in disbelief. "You... what? regret?"

"Yes, I really regret obeying my mother. Leaving you with a ridiculous obsession that unfortunately could not be fulfilled because of one or two things. And my heart is still attached to you, Celine." She ventured closer, no... just leaned towards Celine and pulled the girl's hand into her grasp.

Unfortunately, Celine dismissed it immediately. "Are you crazy?" her eyes glared with emotion at this ignorant man. gosh, why was she so stupid to fall in love with a man who had no firmness in his heart.

"I'm not crazy." Jacob didn't care if his hand was swatted away for now. But later, he made sure she would come back. The Jacob who is now is not like a cowardly man and wavering between goals and what he wants for his life.

Experience had taught him many valuable lessons.

"You dumped me on the basis of two things, right? I only knew one at the time; the problem involving my parents back then. I told you they were slandered, you didn't believe me. Even though I haven't been able to prove it until now, I swear, my parents weren't that deceitful. You... the person I trusted the most after my parents actually got rid of me for your mother." Celine squeezed her hand firmly. no matter the pain from the tip of the nail hitting her palm. "And now? I understand more and more why you left me back then. I was exchanged for a sweet promise that you used for personal gain? This hotel?"

She laughed. The kind of laugh that was so horrible.

"Oh my God, oh my God. What a fool I was to have loved you then."

"But I'm so sorry," Jacob cut in immediately.

"Not that you didn't get this hotel?" Celine laughed dismissively.

Jacob who heard the sarcasm could only sigh softly. "This hotel has been managed very well by my uncle. You know, Bryan Desmond."

"I don't care about your family. Are we still related?" Celine folded her arms across her chest. The laughter she had let out earlier was under control.

"This may sound disgusting to you but I really lost you. It has nothing to do with the hotel or my mother's request."

"Oh, obviously there is." Celine chuckled once again. "Now you're regretting that you didn't get your dream. Begging me for forgiveness because of your foolishness in the past. For what?"

Jacob was silent.

"Because I'm at the top?"

"That's not true. Your accusation makes me unacceptable."

Celine again folded her arms across her chest. "So, am I going to accept your treatment that easily? Pretend that everything never happened?"

"No," Jacob interrupted immediately. "Please give me one more chance. This time, I'll do it right like a man who deserves you."

Celine clucked in displeasure.

"Even though this hotel hasn't fallen into my hands yet, but someday, Bryan will give it to me. This is Papa's legacy. There's no way I'd let someone else rule it for so long, even if he is my uncle."

"What do I care?"

"You do care, Celine. You have a soft heart unlike any other woman. You should have left me a long time ago, right?" Jacob regained his confidence. He took Celine's hand, which was now on the table, and tried his luck once again.

And ... Celine no longer pushed away even though her eyes stared at the hand link with a look of dislike. But it didn't matter, just like this was already a good start for Jacob.

"Give me one more chance to make up for my mistakes. I will make sure that all your disappointments are erased."

"Can you?" asked Celine in a dubious tone. She used her free hand to remove Jacob's hand that was clasped tightly. The hand that was touched, she immediately wiped it with a tissue as if the touch was full of mud. Dirty. And she no longer wanted to feel how Jacob touched her. "For me, what you said earlier is pointless. The Celine you knew is dead. I came and was willing to talk to you, not to make you big-headed. Oh... come on. If you weren't the same man, who is much smarter and understands how cruel the world is, you would understand that I just want to hear the real reason."

Jacob was stunned.

"Now that I know, I'm even more grateful that you dumped me in the past." He stood up and wouldn't sit in the same place again this time.

"I still love you, Celine!" Jacob also got up. But the girl didn't care, continuing to waltz away from him. "I won't give up! Make it clear!"

Before the elevator Celine entered closed, the man was still chasing her. gasping but Celine didn't care. He kept pressing the button for the doors to close but Celine could still hear his words, "This time, I will make sure you will be mine again."