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Moments later, they wheeled Celeste into the operating room.
But the moment the door closed, Vivian, her supposed severely burned thigh miraculously intact, stepped off the bed, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.
She addressed the doctor with chilling calmness. “Begin. And no anesthetic. I want to watch you peel her skin off, piece by piece.”
The doctor and nurse exchanged uneasy pl
but dared not disobey.
Terror gripped Celeste. She struggled, but was firmly secured.
I The first incision. Excruciating pain shot through b
“Ah-!” she cried, her body convulsing.
Vivian erupted in laughter, a demonic glee at
su
The second cut, the third…
Inch by agonizing inch, the blade sliced, fresh blood staining
Celeste was drenched in sweat, her face deathly pale, but the scre
silent grimace.
The ninety–ninth incision. Celeste fainted.
crimson.
the tears dried. Vivian thrived on her agony, her delight growing with each
alkaling table
She awoke in a private room, her thigh swathed in bloody bandages,
She stared blankly at the ceiling, numb, silently counting the days until release.
Celeste recovered quietly.
Xavier never visited, their usual cold war continuing, undisturbed.
Four days later, she was discharged.
As she gathered her things, preparing to leave, she overheard Vivian’s honeyed
boss… and my boyfriend.”
Celeste stopped dead.
movement
a torment.
more
days. Five days until freedom from Xavier.
oice nearby room.“Dad, Mom, I’m fine, thanks to Xavier. He’s my
Through the ajar door, she saw Xavier holding Vivian’s hand, his tone gentle. “It’s only right I care for her. Please, Uncle and Auntie, entrust Vivi to me. I will always protect her.”
“It must have been a long trip. Tomorrow, I’ll treat you both
to
a
nice
O Grace Bennett beamed.“Wonderful! Vivi’s so lucky to find a bomb Stroll.”
like you.
Celeste’s memory flashed back to Xavier’s proposal, his solemn words to hets:“Uncle and Auntie, please entrust Celeste to me. I will always protect her.”
Now, it felt like a cruel joke.
Celeste sneered, leaving the hospital, her sadness gone.
The next day, Xavier returned home, showered, changed into casual yet smart clothes, and announced, “I’m on a business trip. I’ll bring you a gift.” He attempted a kiss on her forehead.
Celeste avoided it.“Mm, go ahead.”
Xavier paused, sensing something was amiss but dismissed it, leaving with
The moment he was gone, Celeste left for the City Hall.
Obtaining her Divorce Decree, a wave of relief washed over her.
One copy went into her bag; the other was mailed to Sinclair Group,
She snapped her phone SIM card in two, got in her car, and drove She was no longer Mrs. Sinclair.
away.
44
