As the wife of the Fordham family at the pinnacle of Portside City's elite, Celestine Selwyn and her husband Chester Fordham maintained a lukewarm but respectful marriage. For three years, she traveled between Oceanview City and Portside City, hoping to one day win over Chester and their two children. Yet what awaited her was Chester's devoted care for another woman. She watched as Chester held their children's hands, praying for that woman's well-being, casting aside all promises he'd made to her. Eventually, Celestine gave up. She filed for divorce without hesitation, leaving her family behind. With graceful elegance, she moved effortlessly among Oceanview City's wealthy elite. Even the city's most eligible heir fell for her charm, and his marriage proposal trended across Oceanview media. But Chester regretted his choices. That night, he cornered her against the wall, eyes reddened, and growled, "Celestine, we're still married. Do you really think I'd allow another man's proposal?"

Chapter 1The day Celestine Selwyn returned from Oceanview City to Portside was her third wedding anniversary.She'd come down with the flu before the trip, her cough persistent and rough. But it had been three months since she'd seen Chester Fordham, her husband, and their children, and she insisted on making the journey home.The Fordham family had always been locals in Portside. After the city's reorganization, their business expanded to Oceanview, so the family had moved there—though the old manor still stood, firmly rooted in Portside.When Celestine arrived at Fordham Manor, her phone lit up with a news alert: "Mr. Fordham Spares No Expense Throwing a Bonfire Party for Oscar Winner Joanna Sinclair."Celestine's expression cooled.The housekeeper, a woman from Oceanview, caught sight of the headline and rushed to comfort her. "Don't take it to heart, ma'am. Portside Media loves to stir up nonsense. Sir is busy with work tonight."Celestine said nothing.Before she'd returned, she'd gone out of her way to message Chester. That message now lay unread on her phone, not even a single word in reply.She wasn't the type to dwell on things, but sometimes she couldn't help wondering: just how busy was a man who stood at the very top of Portside's economic pyramid? Busy enough to ignore his own wife's message?She forced herself to stop thinking about it.Slipping off her coat, Celestine headed to the children's playroom to see her son and daughter.Three months apart, and the twins had both grown so much.She smiled, kneeling beside them as they played house—building little homes from sand, placing tiny figures inside. It was obvious at a glance who those little dolls were meant to be: the children's parents.Celestine decided to tease her daughter. "Sweetheart, who are these two?"Her daughter didn't even look up from her sandcastle. "Daddy and Miss Sinclair.""That's not right," her son piped up, shaking his head. "Miss Sinclair lives in my house. Mommy lives in yours.""But I want Miss Sinclair to be my mommy!" The girl pouted, lips trembling.Celestine's hand paused mid-reach as she gently rubbed her daughter's pigtails. "Isn't Mommy good enough?""Of course you are. But Miss Sinclair and Daddy look better together."Her son chimed in without missing a beat. The little girl nodded earnestly.Vain as ever, her daughter ducked away from Celestine's hand, frowning. "And Mommy, you have the flu—you should stay away. Don't mess up my hair. Miss Sinclair did these braids for me, and she'll be upset if they get ruined."Celestine touched her own mask, watching her children excitedly discuss what kind of outfit to make for Miss Sinclair. Meanwhile, the tiny doll meant to be ‘Mommy' lay abandoned in a corner, forgotten.Celestine's heart seized with a piercing ache, her mouth turning as bitter as the realization clawing at her throat.Miss Sinclair—the same Joanna Sinclair who was her husband Chester's first love. The pair that Portside Media never tired of calling a "match made in heaven."For all these years of her secret marriage to Chester, it seemed Joanna was the only Mrs. Fordham anyone acknowledged.She never imagined that after just a few months apart, even her own children would feel closer to Joanna than to her.Celestine lowered her gaze, silent for a long time, until the housekeeper's gentle prompt reminded her to head upstairs for a bath and some rest.Just then, Chester's secretary arrived. He paused when he saw Celestine, surprise flickering across his face."Mrs. Fordham, Mr. Fordham won't be home tonight. He asked me to pick up the gift he prepared for Miss Sinclair.""All right," Celestine replied quietly.When the secretary left, the pain in her chest grew sharper.Her husband had remembered a gift for another woman, but he hadn't remembered their anniversary.She called Chester on video.He answered almost immediately."What is it?"He was in his private lounge—opulent, gleaming under crystal lights, radiating the kind of decadence Portside was known for.Chester wore a tailored suit that probably cost more than most people's cars, a glass of red wine in hand, lounging on the sofa.There was nothing calculating or shrewd in his demeanor; his features were cool and aristocratic, his gaze as distant as winter frost.He was the kind of man everyone admired from afar, the one no one could reach.And Celestine had loved him, wholly and quietly, for six years.Celestine's voice softened. "It's been a long time since we last spoke. Tonight—""Chester—" Before she could finish, a sweet, lilting female voice chimed in from the other end of the line.It was Joanna.A moment later, the video call cut out.Before it did, Chester offered only four flat words: "We'll talk when you're home."Celestine's grip tightened around her phone.She stood at her window, staring out at Portside City's glittering skyline. Streams of headlights wove through the streets below, all that shimmer and bustle painting a dazzling tapestry across the night. It was a city that never slept—a city her husband, Chester, ruled like his own private empire, his fortune stretching into the billions.He had influence over everything and everyone in Portside City—except, it seemed, his own wife.For six years, Chester had been cold and distant with her, his patience always running on empty. Even when his gaze seemed gentle, the warmth was only a mask for indifference.For years, Celestine had tried everything to win back his heart. She'd bent and twisted herself into someone he might love, always hoping for a sliver of affection.But tonight, for the first time, she felt tired—so very tired—of trying.She didn't call him again. Instead, she drifted into a heavy, restless sleep.Morning light brought Chester's belated message: "Sorry. Happy anniversary."The line that followed: "This is to make up for it."Moments later, a notification flashed—a transfer, eight figures long, deposited straight into her bank account.She scrolled past it without a second glance.Right then, Joanna's social media update popped up on her phone."Custom made in Paris—eight months in the making. One-of-a-kind diamond ring, thank you Chester."Joanna smiled up at the camera, radiant and triumphant, the diamond ring flashing on her pale, delicate hand. Beneath the shadow of a tower, she twirled in a rose-red dress, the scene decadent and dazzling.He'd spared no expense.Celestine's mind drifted back to the day before their marriage.The old house had been hushed and somber. Chester had crossed the hallway, his eyes calm and inscrutable—yet in that moment, it felt as if he could see straight through all her secret longings.He'd said, "I'll marry you, but that's all there is."There was a time she'd scoffed at choosing love over money - such sentimental naivety, the stuff of cheap romance novels. But now, all at once, she realized: for six years, she'd longed only for Chester's love. She had never received it.Swallowing the ache, Celestine left her room and headed downstairs.In the small garden outside, she heard her daughter's voice—innocent, sing-song, and edged with complaint. "Why did Mom have to come back today? Miss Sinclair promised to take us to the concert hall to watch Teddy's ballet, and now we can't go. I wish Mom would just stay away forever…""Yeah, Dad definitely likes Miss Sinclair better. Uncle Steve said Dad only married Mom because he couldn't marry Miss Sinclair. Mom's pretty too, but I still like Miss Sinclair more…"Her son stood off to the side, disappointment written all over his face.The words stung, sharp as glass.Couldn't marry her?Celestine reeled, numbness giving way to a quiet, directionless ache.She looked at her children, the ones she had nearly died bringing into the world. The birth had been traumatic—hours of labor, blood loss, a body never fully healed. Both had been fragile as infants, and Celestine had spent countless sleepless nights nursing them back to strength, wrecking her own health in the process.Then, a crisis in Portside City had changed everything. Chester's father had fallen gravely ill, and Chester had moved back to take charge, bringing the children with him.For the past few years, Celestine had traveled back and forth between two cities, only to find her children growing more distant every time she returned.She didn't even remember how she made it back upstairs. The children had their private lessons, and the nanny whisked them away.Even so, Celestine made herself reach out to Chester again. She was Mrs. Fordham, after all. She deserved answers—about the children, about Joanna.But her message was brushed aside with a curt "Something important's come up. Let's talk tomorrow night."Celestine couldn't even summon the words for her bitterness.She left the house and wandered, almost by instinct, to the church where she'd first met Chester.The Portside City church was small and unassuming.As she stepped inside, her daughter's innocent voice drifted through the stillness, echoing off the stone."Miss Joanna, does it really work?""Of course it does."Celestine looked up.Not far away, Joanna and Chester each held one of the children by the hand. The four of them knelt together at the altar, the picture of a happy family—one she'd never truly belonged to.The children's voices rang out cheerfully, "Then we hope Miss Sinclair and Dad will always be happy and healthy!"Joanna grinned, teasing, "Not going to ask for a blessing for your mom, too?""Mommy's mean! She's always picking on you. God won't bless her!" The younger one replied with a giggle.Celestine felt a chill run through her, as if she'd been plunged into icy water.For a long moment, she stood there in silence, watching her husband and children praying for Joanna in front of the church. That man—her husband for six years, the father of her children—was the one she'd loved so deeply. And yet, now, under the eyes of God, he was offering his care and prayers to another woman.Suddenly, Celestine stood up and walked away without hesitation.She had been stubborn for six years, waiting for Chester to come back to her. But all she got in return was his devotion to someone else.Holding on any longer would only be humiliating herself.Back at the old house, Celestine quietly packed up all her things. Then she sent Chester one final message: "Chester, let's get a divorce."She left her wedding ring on the nightstand, called a cab, and headed straight for the airport without looking back.***After leaving the church, Chester took the children back home. The street outside was crowded, people coming and going, when suddenly his phone started to ring.Just as Chester was about to check the message, a commotion erupted nearby."Stop! Thief!" someone shouted.Before his bodyguards could react, Joanna was pushed by the crowd and stumbled right into Chester's arms. His phone slipped from his hand and fell to the ground, trampled and shattered by the surging crowd."I'm so sorry, Chester—your phone…" Joanna said breathlessly.Chester frowned for a split second, his tone dismissive. "It's fine. I'll just get a new one."He only used that phone to keep in touch with family, and the Fordhams weren't exactly chatty. At most, Celestine would send him a message now and then. But her messages had never really mattered to him.On the way home, the kids couldn't contain their excitement.Celia, their daughter, tugged at his sleeve. "Dad, is Miss Sinclair really coming to stay with us in a few days? She promised to take me to the Candy Castle!"Raymond, their son, looked up hopefully too."Yes, she'll come," Chester nodded.Raymond hesitated, worry creasing his brow. "But Dad… Mom said the air at Candy Castle isn't good for us. She won't let us go. And… if Mom finds out Miss Sinclair's staying with us, she'll be upset…"Chester replied gently, "Miss Sinclair is a trained doctor. She once saved my life. With her around, you'll both be fine. Your mother won't be here long anyway, and Miss Sinclair is only staying as a guest for a little while, to help you get better."Both children's health had always been frail. Having Joanna around to help would surely make things better."Hooray!" the children cheered as they rushed into the house.But once inside, they found something even more exciting—Mom was gone. She'd gone back to Oceanview City.Chester noticed the wedding ring on the nightstand and paused in surprise. No matter how many arguments they'd had in their marriage, Celestine had never once taken off her ring—until now.She'd left without a word, leaving behind her wedding band. Was she upset because he'd been ignoring her again? He remembered how Celestine used to be gentle and patient, reserved in that old Oceanview City way. No matter how cold he was, she'd never lost her temper.But even a saint has their limits.Chester didn't give it much thought. He tossed the ring aside carelessly. "Mrs. Fordham won't be back for a while. Pack up her things. Get the guest room ready—Miss Sinclair will be staying with us in a few days."Celia and Raymond's eyes lit up with delight.Chapter 2The day Celestine Selwyn returned from Oceanview City to Portside was her third wedding anniversary.She'd come down with the flu before the trip, her cough persistent and rough. But it had been three months since she'd seen Chester Fordham, her husband, and their children, and she insisted on making the journey home.The Fordham family had always been locals in Portside. After the city's reorganization, their business expanded to Oceanview, so the family had moved there—though the old manor still stood, firmly rooted in Portside.When Celestine arrived at Fordham Manor, her phone lit up with a news alert: "Mr. Fordham Spares No Expense Throwing a Bonfire Party for Oscar Winner Joanna Sinclair."Celestine's expression cooled.The housekeeper, a woman from Oceanview, caught sight of the headline and rushed to comfort her. "Don't take it to heart, ma'am. Portside Media loves to stir up nonsense. Sir is busy with work tonight."Celestine said nothing.Before she'd returned, she'd gone out of her way to message Chester. That message now lay unread on her phone, not even a single word in reply.She wasn't the type to dwell on things, but sometimes she couldn't help wondering: just how busy was a man who stood at the very top of Portside's economic pyramid? Busy enough to ignore his own wife's message?She forced herself to stop thinking about it.Slipping off her coat, Celestine headed to the children's playroom to see her son and daughter.Three months apart, and the twins had both grown so much.She smiled, kneeling beside them as they played house—building little homes from sand, placing tiny figures inside. It was obvious at a glance who those little dolls were meant to be: the children's parents.Celestine decided to tease her daughter. "Sweetheart, who are these two?"Her daughter didn't even look up from her sandcastle. "Daddy and Miss Sinclair.""That's not right," her son piped up, shaking his head. "Miss Sinclair lives in my house. Mommy lives in yours.""But I want Miss Sinclair to be my mommy!" The girl pouted, lips trembling.Celestine's hand paused mid-reach as she gently rubbed her daughter's pigtails. "Isn't Mommy good enough?""Of course you are. But Miss Sinclair and Daddy look better together."Her son chimed in without missing a beat. The little girl nodded earnestly.Vain as ever, her daughter ducked away from Celestine's hand, frowning. "And Mommy, you have the flu—you should stay away. Don't mess up my hair. Miss Sinclair did these braids for me, and she'll be upset if they get ruined."Celestine touched her own mask, watching her children excitedly discuss what kind of outfit to make for Miss Sinclair. Meanwhile, the tiny doll meant to be ‘Mommy' lay abandoned in a corner, forgotten.Celestine's heart seized with a piercing ache, her mouth turning as bitter as the realization clawing at her throat.Miss Sinclair—the same Joanna Sinclair who was her husband Chester's first love. The pair that Portside Media never tired of calling a "match made in heaven."For all these years of her secret marriage to Chester, it seemed Joanna was the only Mrs. Fordham anyone acknowledged.She never imagined that after just a few months apart, even her own children would feel closer to Joanna than to her.Celestine lowered her gaze, silent for a long time, until the housekeeper's gentle prompt reminded her to head upstairs for a bath and some rest.Just then, Chester's secretary arrived. He paused when he saw Celestine, surprise flickering across his face."Mrs. Fordham, Mr. Fordham won't be home tonight. He asked me to pick up the gift he prepared for Miss Sinclair.""All right," Celestine replied quietly.When the secretary left, the pain in her chest grew sharper.Her husband had remembered a gift for another woman, but he hadn't remembered their anniversary.She called Chester on video.He answered almost immediately."What is it?"He was in his private lounge—opulent, gleaming under crystal lights, radiating the kind of decadence Portside was known for.Chester wore a tailored suit that probably cost more than most people's cars, a glass of red wine in hand, lounging on the sofa.There was nothing calculating or shrewd in his demeanor; his features were cool and aristocratic, his gaze as distant as winter frost.He was the kind of man everyone admired from afar, the one no one could reach.And Celestine had loved him, wholly and quietly, for six years.Celestine's voice softened. "It's been a long time since we last spoke. Tonight—""Chester—" Before she could finish, a sweet, lilting female voice chimed in from the other end of the line.It was Joanna.A moment later, the video call cut out.Before it did, Chester offered only four flat words: "We'll talk when you're home."Celestine's grip tightened around her phone.She stood at her window, staring out at Portside City's glittering skyline. Streams of headlights wove through the streets below, all that shimmer and bustle painting a dazzling tapestry across the night. It was a city that never slept—a city her husband, Chester, ruled like his own private empire, his fortune stretching into the billions.He had influence over everything and everyone in Portside City—except, it seemed, his own wife.For six years, Chester had been cold and distant with her, his patience always running on empty. Even when his gaze seemed gentle, the warmth was only a mask for indifference.For years, Celestine had tried everything to win back his heart. She'd bent and twisted herself into someone he might love, always hoping for a sliver of affection.But tonight, for the first time, she felt tired—so very tired—of trying.She didn't call him again. Instead, she drifted into a heavy, restless sleep.Morning light brought Chester's belated message: "Sorry. Happy anniversary."The line that followed: "This is to make up for it."Moments later, a notification flashed—a transfer, eight figures long, deposited straight into her bank account.She scrolled past it without a second glance.Right then, Joanna's social media update popped up on her phone."Custom made in Paris—eight months in the making. One-of-a-kind diamond ring, thank you Chester."Joanna smiled up at the camera, radiant and triumphant, the diamond ring flashing on her pale, delicate hand. Beneath the shadow of a tower, she twirled in a rose-red dress, the scene decadent and dazzling.He'd spared no expense.Celestine's mind drifted back to the day before their marriage.The old house had been hushed and somber. Chester had crossed the hallway, his eyes calm and inscrutable—yet in that moment, it felt as if he could see straight through all her secret longings.He'd said, "I'll marry you, but that's all there is."There was a time she'd scoffed at choosing love over money - such sentimental naivety, the stuff of cheap romance novels. But now, all at once, she realized: for six years, she'd longed only for Chester's love. She had never received it.Swallowing the ache, Celestine left her room and headed downstairs.In the small garden outside, she heard her daughter's voice—innocent, sing-song, and edged with complaint. "Why did Mom have to come back today? Miss Sinclair promised to take us to the concert hall to watch Teddy's ballet, and now we can't go. I wish Mom would just stay away forever…""Yeah, Dad definitely likes Miss Sinclair better. Uncle Steve said Dad only married Mom because he couldn't marry Miss Sinclair. Mom's pretty too, but I still like Miss Sinclair more…"Her son stood off to the side, disappointment written all over his face.The words stung, sharp as glass.Couldn't marry her?Celestine reeled, numbness giving way to a quiet, directionless ache.She looked at her children, the ones she had nearly died bringing into the world. The birth had been traumatic—hours of labor, blood loss, a body never fully healed. Both had been fragile as infants, and Celestine had spent countless sleepless nights nursing them back to strength, wrecking her own health in the process.Then, a crisis in Portside City had changed everything. Chester's father had fallen gravely ill, and Chester had moved back to take charge, bringing the children with him.For the past few years, Celestine had traveled back and forth between two cities, only to find her children growing more distant every time she returned.She didn't even remember how she made it back upstairs. The children had their private lessons, and the nanny whisked them away.Even so, Celestine made herself reach out to Chester again. She was Mrs. Fordham, after all. She deserved answers—about the children, about Joanna.But her message was brushed aside with a curt "Something important's come up. Let's talk tomorrow night."Celestine couldn't even summon the words for her bitterness.She left the house and wandered, almost by instinct, to the church where she'd first met Chester.The Portside City church was small and unassuming.As she stepped inside, her daughter's innocent voice drifted through the stillness, echoing off the stone."Miss Joanna, does it really work?""Of course it does."Celestine looked up.Not far away, Joanna and Chester each held one of the children by the hand. The four of them knelt together at the altar, the picture of a happy family—one she'd never truly belonged to.The children's voices rang out cheerfully, "Then we hope Miss Sinclair and Dad will always be happy and healthy!"Joanna grinned, teasing, "Not going to ask for a blessing for your mom, too?""Mommy's mean! She's always picking on you. God won't bless her!" The younger one replied with a giggle.Celestine felt a chill run through her, as if she'd been plunged into icy water.For a long moment, she stood there in silence, watching her husband and children praying for Joanna in front of the church. That man—her husband for six years, the father of her children—was the one she'd loved so deeply. And yet, now, under the eyes of God, he was offering his care and prayers to another woman.Suddenly, Celestine stood up and walked away without hesitation.She had been stubborn for six years, waiting for Chester to come back to her. But all she got in return was his devotion to someone else.Holding on any longer would only be humiliating herself.Back at the old house, Celestine quietly packed up all her things. Then she sent Chester one final message: "Chester, let's get a divorce."She left her wedding ring on the nightstand, called a cab, and headed straight for the airport without looking back.***After leaving the church, Chester took the children back home. The street outside was crowded, people coming and going, when suddenly his phone started to ring.Just as Chester was about to check the message, a commotion erupted nearby."Stop! Thief!" someone shouted.Before his bodyguards could react, Joanna was pushed by the crowd and stumbled right into Chester's arms. His phone slipped from his hand and fell to the ground, trampled and shattered by the surging crowd."I'm so sorry, Chester—your phone…" Joanna said breathlessly.Chester frowned for a split second, his tone dismissive. "It's fine. I'll just get a new one."He only used that phone to keep in touch with family, and the Fordhams weren't exactly chatty. At most, Celestine would send him a message now and then. But her messages had never really mattered to him.On the way home, the kids couldn't contain their excitement.Celia, their daughter, tugged at his sleeve. "Dad, is Miss Sinclair really coming to stay with us in a few days? She promised to take me to the Candy Castle!"Raymond, their son, looked up hopefully too."Yes, she'll come," Chester nodded.Raymond hesitated, worry creasing his brow. "But Dad… Mom said the air at Candy Castle isn't good for us. She won't let us go. And… if Mom finds out Miss Sinclair's staying with us, she'll be upset…"Chester replied gently, "Miss Sinclair is a trained doctor. She once saved my life. With her around, you'll both be fine. Your mother won't be here long anyway, and Miss Sinclair is only staying as a guest for a little while, to help you get better."Both children's health had always been frail. Having Joanna around to help would surely make things better."Hooray!" the children cheered as they rushed into the house.But once inside, they found something even more exciting—Mom was gone. She'd gone back to Oceanview City.Chester noticed the wedding ring on the nightstand and paused in surprise. No matter how many arguments they'd had in their marriage, Celestine had never once taken off her ring—until now.She'd left without a word, leaving behind her wedding band. Was she upset because he'd been ignoring her again? He remembered how Celestine used to be gentle and patient, reserved in that old Oceanview City way. No matter how cold he was, she'd never lost her temper.But even a saint has their limits.Chester didn't give it much thought. He tossed the ring aside carelessly. "Mrs. Fordham won't be back for a while. Pack up her things. Get the guest room ready—Miss Sinclair will be staying with us in a few days."Celia and Raymond's eyes lit up with delight.Chapter 3The day Celestine Selwyn returned from Oceanview City to Portside was her third wedding anniversary.She'd come down with the flu before the trip, her cough persistent and rough. But it had been three months since she'd seen Chester Fordham, her husband, and their children, and she insisted on making the journey home.The Fordham family had always been locals in Portside. After the city's reorganization, their business expanded to Oceanview, so the family had moved there—though the old manor still stood, firmly rooted in Portside.When Celestine arrived at Fordham Manor, her phone lit up with a news alert: "Mr. Fordham Spares No Expense Throwing a Bonfire Party for Oscar Winner Joanna Sinclair."Celestine's expression cooled.The housekeeper, a woman from Oceanview, caught sight of the headline and rushed to comfort her. "Don't take it to heart, ma'am. Portside Media loves to stir up nonsense. Sir is busy with work tonight."Celestine said nothing.Before she'd returned, she'd gone out of her way to message Chester. That message now lay unread on her phone, not even a single word in reply.She wasn't the type to dwell on things, but sometimes she couldn't help wondering: just how busy was a man who stood at the very top of Portside's economic pyramid? Busy enough to ignore his own wife's message?She forced herself to stop thinking about it.Slipping off her coat, Celestine headed to the children's playroom to see her son and daughter.Three months apart, and the twins had both grown so much.She smiled, kneeling beside them as they played house—building little homes from sand, placing tiny figures inside. It was obvious at a glance who those little dolls were meant to be: the children's parents.Celestine decided to tease her daughter. "Sweetheart, who are these two?"Her daughter didn't even look up from her sandcastle. "Daddy and Miss Sinclair.""That's not right," her son piped up, shaking his head. "Miss Sinclair lives in my house. Mommy lives in yours.""But I want Miss Sinclair to be my mommy!" The girl pouted, lips trembling.Celestine's hand paused mid-reach as she gently rubbed her daughter's pigtails. "Isn't Mommy good enough?""Of course you are. But Miss Sinclair and Daddy look better together."Her son chimed in without missing a beat. The little girl nodded earnestly.Vain as ever, her daughter ducked away from Celestine's hand, frowning. "And Mommy, you have the flu—you should stay away. Don't mess up my hair. Miss Sinclair did these braids for me, and she'll be upset if they get ruined."Celestine touched her own mask, watching her children excitedly discuss what kind of outfit to make for Miss Sinclair. Meanwhile, the tiny doll meant to be ‘Mommy' lay abandoned in a corner, forgotten.Celestine's heart seized with a piercing ache, her mouth turning as bitter as the realization clawing at her throat.Miss Sinclair—the same Joanna Sinclair who was her husband Chester's first love. The pair that Portside Media never tired of calling a "match made in heaven."For all these years of her secret marriage to Chester, it seemed Joanna was the only Mrs. Fordham anyone acknowledged.She never imagined that after just a few months apart, even her own children would feel closer to Joanna than to her.Celestine lowered her gaze, silent for a long time, until the housekeeper's gentle prompt reminded her to head upstairs for a bath and some rest.Just then, Chester's secretary arrived. He paused when he saw Celestine, surprise flickering across his face."Mrs. Fordham, Mr. Fordham won't be home tonight. He asked me to pick up the gift he prepared for Miss Sinclair.""All right," Celestine replied quietly.When the secretary left, the pain in her chest grew sharper.Her husband had remembered a gift for another woman, but he hadn't remembered their anniversary.She called Chester on video.He answered almost immediately."What is it?"He was in his private lounge—opulent, gleaming under crystal lights, radiating the kind of decadence Portside was known for.Chester wore a tailored suit that probably cost more than most people's cars, a glass of red wine in hand, lounging on the sofa.There was nothing calculating or shrewd in his demeanor; his features were cool and aristocratic, his gaze as distant as winter frost.He was the kind of man everyone admired from afar, the one no one could reach.And Celestine had loved him, wholly and quietly, for six years.Celestine's voice softened. "It's been a long time since we last spoke. Tonight—""Chester—" Before she could finish, a sweet, lilting female voice chimed in from the other end of the line.It was Joanna.A moment later, the video call cut out.Before it did, Chester offered only four flat words: "We'll talk when you're home."Celestine's grip tightened around her phone.She stood at her window, staring out at Portside City's glittering skyline. Streams of headlights wove through the streets below, all that shimmer and bustle painting a dazzling tapestry across the night. It was a city that never slept—a city her husband, Chester, ruled like his own private empire, his fortune stretching into the billions.He had influence over everything and everyone in Portside City—except, it seemed, his own wife.For six years, Chester had been cold and distant with her, his patience always running on empty. Even when his gaze seemed gentle, the warmth was only a mask for indifference.For years, Celestine had tried everything to win back his heart. She'd bent and twisted herself into someone he might love, always hoping for a sliver of affection.But tonight, for the first time, she felt tired—so very tired—of trying.She didn't call him again. Instead, she drifted into a heavy, restless sleep.Morning light brought Chester's belated message: "Sorry. Happy anniversary."The line that followed: "This is to make up for it."Moments later, a notification flashed—a transfer, eight figures long, deposited straight into her bank account.She scrolled past it without a second glance.Right then, Joanna's social media update popped up on her phone."Custom made in Paris—eight months in the making. One-of-a-kind diamond ring, thank you Chester."Joanna smiled up at the camera, radiant and triumphant, the diamond ring flashing on her pale, delicate hand. Beneath the shadow of a tower, she twirled in a rose-red dress, the scene decadent and dazzling.He'd spared no expense.Celestine's mind drifted back to the day before their marriage.The old house had been hushed and somber. Chester had crossed the hallway, his eyes calm and inscrutable—yet in that moment, it felt as if he could see straight through all her secret longings.He'd said, "I'll marry you, but that's all there is."There was a time she'd scoffed at choosing love over money - such sentimental naivety, the stuff of cheap romance novels. But now, all at once, she realized: for six years, she'd longed only for Chester's love. She had never received it.Swallowing the ache, Celestine left her room and headed downstairs.In the small garden outside, she heard her daughter's voice—innocent, sing-song, and edged with complaint. "Why did Mom have to come back today? Miss Sinclair promised to take us to the concert hall to watch Teddy's ballet, and now we can't go. I wish Mom would just stay away forever…""Yeah, Dad definitely likes Miss Sinclair better. Uncle Steve said Dad only married Mom because he couldn't marry Miss Sinclair. Mom's pretty too, but I still like Miss Sinclair more…"Her son stood off to the side, disappointment written all over his face.The words stung, sharp as glass.Couldn't marry her?Celestine reeled, numbness giving way to a quiet, directionless ache.She looked at her children, the ones she had nearly died bringing into the world. The birth had been traumatic—hours of labor, blood loss, a body never fully healed. Both had been fragile as infants, and Celestine had spent countless sleepless nights nursing them back to strength, wrecking her own health in the process.Then, a crisis in Portside City had changed everything. Chester's father had fallen gravely ill, and Chester had moved back to take charge, bringing the children with him.For the past few years, Celestine had traveled back and forth between two cities, only to find her children growing more distant every time she returned.She didn't even remember how she made it back upstairs. The children had their private lessons, and the nanny whisked them away.Even so, Celestine made herself reach out to Chester again. She was Mrs. Fordham, after all. She deserved answers—about the children, about Joanna.But her message was brushed aside with a curt "Something important's come up. Let's talk tomorrow night."Celestine couldn't even summon the words for her bitterness.She left the house and wandered, almost by instinct, to the church where she'd first met Chester.The Portside City church was small and unassuming.As she stepped inside, her daughter's innocent voice drifted through the stillness, echoing off the stone."Miss Joanna, does it really work?""Of course it does."Celestine looked up.Not far away, Joanna and Chester each held one of the children by the hand. The four of them knelt together at the altar, the picture of a happy family—one she'd never truly belonged to.The children's voices rang out cheerfully, "Then we hope Miss Sinclair and Dad will always be happy and healthy!"Joanna grinned, teasing, "Not going to ask for a blessing for your mom, too?""Mommy's mean! She's always picking on you. God won't bless her!" The younger one replied with a giggle.Celestine felt a chill run through her, as if she'd been plunged into icy water.For a long moment, she stood there in silence, watching her husband and children praying for Joanna in front of the church. That man—her husband for six years, the father of her children—was the one she'd loved so deeply. And yet, now, under the eyes of God, he was offering his care and prayers to another woman.Suddenly, Celestine stood up and walked away without hesitation.She had been stubborn for six years, waiting for Chester to come back to her. But all she got in return was his devotion to someone else.Holding on any longer would only be humiliating herself.Back at the old house, Celestine quietly packed up all her things. Then she sent Chester one final message: "Chester, let's get a divorce."She left her wedding ring on the nightstand, called a cab, and headed straight for the airport without looking back.***After leaving the church, Chester took the children back home. The street outside was crowded, people coming and going, when suddenly his phone started to ring.Just as Chester was about to check the message, a commotion erupted nearby."Stop! Thief!" someone shouted.Before his bodyguards could react, Joanna was pushed by the crowd and stumbled right into Chester's arms. His phone slipped from his hand and fell to the ground, trampled and shattered by the surging crowd."I'm so sorry, Chester—your phone…" Joanna said breathlessly.Chester frowned for a split second, his tone dismissive. "It's fine. I'll just get a new one."He only used that phone to keep in touch with family, and the Fordhams weren't exactly chatty. At most, Celestine would send him a message now and then. But her messages had never really mattered to him.On the way home, the kids couldn't contain their excitement.Celia, their daughter, tugged at his sleeve. "Dad, is Miss Sinclair really coming to stay with us in a few days? She promised to take me to the Candy Castle!"Raymond, their son, looked up hopefully too."Yes, she'll come," Chester nodded.Raymond hesitated, worry creasing his brow. "But Dad… Mom said the air at Candy Castle isn't good for us. She won't let us go. And… if Mom finds out Miss Sinclair's staying with us, she'll be upset…"Chester replied gently, "Miss Sinclair is a trained doctor. She once saved my life. With her around, you'll both be fine. Your mother won't be here long anyway, and Miss Sinclair is only staying as a guest for a little while, to help you get better."Both children's health had always been frail. Having Joanna around to help would surely make things better."Hooray!" the children cheered as they rushed into the house.But once inside, they found something even more exciting—Mom was gone. She'd gone back to Oceanview City.Chester noticed the wedding ring on the nightstand and paused in surprise. No matter how many arguments they'd had in their marriage, Celestine had never once taken off her ring—until now.She'd left without a word, leaving behind her wedding band. Was she upset because he'd been ignoring her again? He remembered how Celestine used to be gentle and patient, reserved in that old Oceanview City way. No matter how cold he was, she'd never lost her temper.But even a saint has their limits.Chester didn't give it much thought. He tossed the ring aside carelessly. "Mrs. Fordham won't be back for a while. Pack up her things. Get the guest room ready—Miss Sinclair will be staying with us in a few days."Celia and Raymond's eyes lit up with delight.