Chapter 5 Chapter 5: A Vibrant Private Life

"Dude, you got the wrong door."

The man in the gray suit ignored Gideon's remark and proceeded to kick at the door.

Enraged, Gideon swung a heavy punch. "Damn it, do you know who's inside? You're asking for trouble!"

The gray-suited man crumpled to the floor. Not satiated, Gideon delivered two additional kicks.

"The guy inside is Mr. Finch, the CEO of the Dynasty Corp! He could have you killed in an instant."

The man's face drained of color.

Mr. Finch?

There was only one Mr. Finch in Valoria. Dorian Finch!

Rumor had it Dorian employed ruthless tactics. Crossing him meant severe consequences.

Not wanting to invite trouble, the man scrambled to his feet and scurried away.

Watching him flee, Gideon chuckled mischievously before turning to the beautiful woman beside him. "No need to worry, honey."

The beauty smiled.

"Mr. Finch is waiting inside for you. Go on and attend to him properly."

As a notorious playboy, Gideon's lascivious grin exemplified his debauched nature. Yet his devilishly handsome looks rendered women defenseless against his charms.

The beauty shot him a coy glance before attempting to open the door.

Unsurprisingly, it was locked.

Pouting at Gideon, she whined, "Mr. Winter, it's locked!"

Gideon tried the handle, confirming it was indeed jammed.

Strange, he recalled leaving it ajar when he'd departed earlier.

"No problem. I have a keycard!" he assured with an arched brow.

Suddenly, he smacked his forehead.

"Damn, I left the keycard inside!"

...

Inside the bathroom.

Celeste leaned against the cold tiled wall.

Memories washed over her in torrential waves - the endless days she'd waited, culminating in this feeling of hollowness and solitude.

This emotion consumed her rapidly, filling her heart until she felt ready to burst.

Then, a sliver of moonlight pierced the relentless darkness, accompanied by an alluring, musky fragrance. Before Celeste could open her eyes, she stumbled into a warm embrace.

"Ah!"

She cried out.

In the shadows, a pair of sharp eyes flashed an icy glare.

"Who are you? How did you get in here?" Celeste's weakened voice tinged with panic.

She mustered all her strength to push the man away, but his towering stature rendered him as immovable as a mountain.

Dorian was in agony, his senses overwhelmed by her feminine scent, emotions spiraling out of control.

Icy water cascaded over them, unable to douse the raging fire between their bodies.

...

The next morning at first light.

Dorian's eyes flew open.

The window's glow allowed him to clearly see the woman in his embrace. He froze momentarily.

Celeste?

Recalling the previous night, Dorian felt agitated. Had it been any other woman, a payout would suffice to make her disappear.

But this was Celeste!

Before their divorce, they had remained civil and distant. He'd never even touched her. Yet here they were, intimate so soon after finalizing their split. The absurdity of it all rankled Dorian deeply.

The more he dwelled on it, the more unsettled he became, prompting him to leave the bed for the bathroom.

Celeste had blacked out from sheer exhaustion the previous night.

Roused by muffled footsteps, then the sound of running water, her innately cautious nature forced her eyes open.

Through the frosted glass, she glimpsed the man's silhouette and jolted upright, horrified.

Flashes of the previous night flooded her memory, causing her to recoil in shock!

Her delicate hands clutched the bedsheets tightly as hatred flashed in her eyes.

She wanted to kill the man in that bathroom.

Yet rationale prevailed - now was not the time for vengeance. She had to leave immediately.

If word spread of her indiscretion with this unknown man, it would devastate not only her reputation but Dorian's as well.

After all, news of their divorce had yet to be publicized.

To the outside world, they remained a happily married couple.

With that in mind, Celeste tore the bedsheet in half.

Her clothes must have been shredded amid their passionate tussle, leaving her no choice but to wrap the sheet around her body.

As she prepared to exit, the shower water stopped. The bathroom door swung open, revealing a man clad in nothing but a towel.

Upon seeing his face, Celeste felt as though struck by lightning, paralyzed where she stood.

Dorian!

"I never knew your private life was so vibrant. You couldn't wait to start selling yourself after our divorce." Dorian's dripping hair and bare feet padded towards the sofa, his cold, mocking tone cutting deep. "Tell me, how much did Gideon pay you?"

Celeste was initially relieved it was Dorian, but his derisive insinuations instantly ignited her fury.

What did he mean?

Did he view her as some prostitute?

He accused her of leading a scandalous private life!

A profound sense of injustice welled up inside Celeste.

Since marrying Dorian, her days were consumed by work while her evenings were dedicated to cooking for him - a caged songbird with no chance to "cut loose."

He, on the other hand, had indulged his wild side from their very wedding night, stumbling home drunk every single day this past year. Yet he dared accuse her private life of being overly vibrant?