Chapter 243
Cheryl shot Celena a bitter look before she unwillingly trailed after Reginald and the rest.
Before long, the crowd had cleared out, leaving Celena by herself in the grand hall. Her nerves finally eased. She exhaled deeply and shuffled back to her little courtyard, exhausted.
The moment she stepped inside, she caught sight of Liam and Jovie roughhousing on the couch, Jovie perched on Liam's neck, laughing with pure joy. The tender scene of father and daughter together touched Celena deeply.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtCelena knew exactly how she felt about Liam. It was not so much love as it was gratitude. She was thankful for their sweet daughter, Jovie, and for Liam being her beacon of hope when she was at her lowest.
However, it was not the deep, passionate love of fairy tales. It was simply gratitude.
With a firm tone, Celena looked Liam in the eyes and asked, "Liam, did you arrange for Mr. Fabish to bring Samara to the office to apologize to me? Was that what you're doing?"
Liam's face was a mask of confusion as he replied, shaking his head, "Mr. Fabish? I don't know what you're talking about. Maybe he just realized he should, so he took Samara to see you."
He paused, his voice laced with worry, "Did they upset you?"
Celena had been convinced Liam was behind it, but his genuine cluelessness made her doubt herself. She settled onto the couch, gently stroking Jovie's hair, her mind replaying the harsh words from her colleagues, a lump forming in her throat.
"No, they didn't really upset me. It's just... they're all callinga jinx, saying I've brought nothing but trouble to the Stone family since I cback."
Her voice was soft, her eyes brimming with tears. She took a deep breath and whispered, "Liam... am I really a jinx?"
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmCelena hung her head, a picture of wounded pride, but Liam just smiled and gently took her soft, pale hand in his. "Celena, you're not a jinx. You're the most beautiful, kindest woman in the world. Don't listen to them. They're jealous, that's all. Let them talk."
His words chased away the shadows in her heart. She nodded, her mood lifting, and her smile returned as she and Liam played with Jovie, laughter filling the cozy courtyard.
Meanwhile, Cheryl barged into the Abbott Group offices, her face a stormy shade of gray. The debacle with the Stone family company had her seething.
"Wasyl, what's the status? Are we just going to roll over? Celena's getting too comfortable in the Stone family. If we don't take action now, she and Liam will be untouchable!"
Wasyl's face mirrored her frustration as he shook his head. "I looked into it. Makson's arrest? That was Liam's handiwork. That guy, always messing up my plans. He won't get away with it.
"And Mr. Wafer is probably ticked because of my connection to the Makson mess. I've sent a hefty apology gift his way. He won't hold a grudge. Now, let's figure out how to handle Celena and Liam. He thinks he's untouchable because he's a vet with sperks, but I'm not buying it. He's not that tough!"