Chapter 6
“Rafael?”
Celeste said his name like it was an accusation.
As if he had wronged her by revealing himself after she showed the truth.
He pushed the wet hairpiece away and straightened his tie.
The motion was calm.
Almost formal.
That made the room colder.
Celeste reached toward him.
“Rafael, I didn’t know it was you.”
He looked at her hand until she lowered it.
“That was the point.”
Her face flushed.
“You tricked me.”
“No,” he said. “I removed my usefulness.”
The words spread through the ballroom.
Several donors looked down.
A few looked at Celeste with open disgust now that disgust was socially permitted.
Patricia stepped forward.
“This is an obscene stunt.”
Rafael turned his eyes toward her.
“No. Pouring soup on a man at a charity gala was obscene.”
Patricia’s lips parted, then closed.
For once, she seemed unsure which tone would work.
Celeste tried to rebuild herself.
“You came in dressed like that. You frightened people.”
“I asked for soup.”
“You were making a scene.”
“You made one.”
That silenced her.
Then the crowd parted behind Rafael.
Mara Chen approached in a fitted black evening suit, carrying Rafael’s phone and a sealed legal folder.
Her expression told Celeste the humiliation was no longer emotional.
May you like
It had become administrative.
Read the full story 👉 Celeste tried to blame Rafael for the disguise, but the ballroom had seen who chose cruelty first.
