Chapter 8
Patricia tried to save her daughter through outrage.
“This engagement is over,” she said.
Rafael looked at her.
“Yes.”
The simplicity of the answer startled her.
Celeste turned sharply.
“Rafael, wait.”
He did not.
Patricia’s voice sharpened.
“You will destroy the foundation over one mistake?”
Mara’s eyes moved to the soup stains on Rafael’s coat.
“One mistake?”
Patricia looked away.
Rafael spoke quietly.
“You’re asking the wrong question.”
Celeste’s phone kept vibrating inside her hand.
She finally looked down long enough to understand.
Access suspended.
Foundation portal locked.
Company credentials revoked.
Board emergency session initiated.
No readable text was shown to the guests, but Celeste’s face told the story.
She looked up at Rafael.
“What did you do?”
He took his phone from Mara fully and stepped closer.
Not threatening.
Not cruel.
Certain.
“And your access ended with it.”
Celeste’s mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
For weeks, she had believed Rafael was too in love to notice the doors she was trying to open.
She had mistaken affection for blindness.
May you like
That mistake was now vibrating in her palm.
Read the full story 👉 Celeste feared the recording less than the access alerts proving Rafael had already cut her out.
