Celestine twisted the doorknob again. Still locked.
Her heart raced in panic. She backed away from the door, whispering under her breath, "This man... he's dangerous. God, please protect me…"
Her eyes darted toward the balcony. She moved quietly, opened the glass doors, and peeked down. It wasn't too high. If she was careful, she could escape.
With trembling hands, she climbed over the railing, using the metal supports to carefully lower herself. Her foot slipped for a second—her breath hitched—but she managed to land on the ground, knees buckling slightly.
She looked around quickly and spotted the main gate at the edge of the vast yard. Her feet carried her silently toward it, her hope rising—until she tried to push the gate open.
Locked. Automatically.
"No, no, no..." she muttered, gripping her head in frustration. "Why is this happening to me? Who the hell is he...?"
Just then, footsteps echoed behind her.
She froze.
Turning slowly, her breath caught in her throat when she saw Yeager standing a few steps away, his figure tall, calm, unreadable.
"Don't come near me!" Celestine shouted, taking a few steps back, panic flooding her voice.
Yeager didn't say a word. Instead, he walked toward her in swift, firm steps.
Before she could run, he scooped her up—carrying her effortlessly in his arms.
"LET ME GO! YOU'RE CRAZY!" she screamed, hitting his chest, squirming and kicking, but he didn't flinch. He walked back toward the house with that same cold, composed expression.
She fought him all the way, eyes wild. "What did I ever do to you?! Why are you doing this?!"
Yeager said nothing. He opened the front door using a fingerprint scan, walked up the grand staircase, and brought her back to the same room.
He gently put her down on the bed. Celestine immediately jumped back, glaring at him, heart pounding.
Yeager met her eyes and finally spoke, his voice low and cool:
"If I wanted to hurt you, I would've done it already."
Then he turned, stepped out, and locked the door behind him.
Celestine sat on the edge of the bed, breathless—torn between fear, anger… and a strange, creeping curiosity.
Just who are you, Yeager...?
Yeager stood at the door of the room, his cold eyes fixed on Celestine. He pulled a phone from his pocket and tossed it towards her.
"Contact your family members," Yeager said in a flat tone, though there was an underlying force to his words. "In two days, I will marry you. Don't refuse."
Celestine stared at the phone, her confusion growing. "What nonsense is this?? I... I don't have any family!" Her voice almost broke, as if she was trying to convince herself.
Yeager remained silent, as if her words didn't matter. His gaze stayed fixed on her. "But you have a younger brother, don't you?" he added, not giving her a chance to argue.
Celestine paused. Jamie, her younger brother... the one she had always tried to protect from hardship. Hearing Jamie's name opened old wounds. She lowered her gaze, fighting to keep her emotions in check.
Yeager added, his voice unwavering. "Clean yourself up. We will go look for clothes and a ring. No objections."
Celestine wanted to scream, to fight back with all her might. But what could she do? It all felt like a trap. Cold and suffocating.
"Why me? Why do I have to be caught in this insane game?" she muttered to herself.
But there was no time for that question. Yeager had already left her alone in the room, and the door locked behind him. Celestine took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
At the Mall - After Shopping
Celestine and Yeager walked out of the store, with Yeager holding several shopping bags, while Celestine walked quickly beside him. They had just bought clothes and a ring for a wedding she never expected to have.
Her mind was a whirlwind, trying to make sense of the situation. After leaving the mall, they headed toward the car parked outside. Yeager opened the car door for Celestine, and she got in without saying a word. Once they were both seated, Yeager started the engine and began driving.
Inside the car, the silence was suffocating. Celestine, her hand trembling, reached for her phone. She unlocked it and dialed Jamie's number.
The phone rang briefly before Jamie picked up with his usual cheerful voice, "Hello, sis? What's up?"
Celestine exploded, though she tried to contain her frustration. "Jamie, this is insane! I don't know what to do anymore. Yeager... he's forcing me to marry him in two days! I need to find a way out, what should I do?!"
On the other end, Jamie listened patiently, though his voice seemed to have a resigned tone. "Sis, why not just marry him? You'll be rich, right? You won't have to worry about work or money anymore. Not everyone gets an opportunity like this."
Celestine held her breath, almost in disbelief at Jamie's response. "Are you serious, Jamie? How can you say that? This isn't about money or being rich! This is about my life, my freedom!"
But Jamie seemed unbothered, continuing, "Well, whatever. Just think about it, sis. Don't stress, just marry him. Anyway, I'm hanging up now."
The call ended abruptly, leaving Celestine in stunned silence.
She stared out the window of the car, occasionally glancing at Yeager, who was focused on driving, his expression cold and unreadable. Celestine felt more trapped than ever. Everything was happening so fast, and it seemed like she had no choice but to go along with Yeager's demands.
But her mind kept spinning. "There's a way out, I have to find a way out."
That Night – Celestine's Room
Yeager stood at the doorway, holding an elegant package. Without a word, he placed it on the bed and turned to leave.
"Wear this tonight," he said coolly.
Celestine raised an eyebrow, unwrapping the package to reveal a sleek, revealing dress.
"You're kidding, right?" she muttered, unimpressed.
Yeager glanced back at her. "It suits you."
Celestine rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Well, I'm used to wearing sexy stuff. No need to act all mysterious, Mr. CEO."
He didn't respond, just gave her a calm look before walking out.
She let out a sigh. "Seriously, what kind of boss does this?"
Later – At the Restaurant
Celestine sat across from Yeager and his parents at an upscale restaurant, wearing the dress with deliberate indifference. Her plan was simple: act cold and detached. Maybe then they'd call off this weird wedding idea.
But the opposite happened.
Yeager's mother smiled warmly at her. "You're very independent... I like that. Reminds me of myself when I was younger."
Celestine blinked, stunned. "What… this woman's actually into that?"
His father simply nodded with a pleased expression. Celestine glanced at Yeager for support, but he just calmly sipped his wine, as if everything was going exactly how he planned.
"Rich people are weird. The more I act uninterested, the more they like me."
Back at the House – Celestine's Room
Returning to her room, Celestine walked straight to the balcony. She tried opening the glass door—it was locked.
Frustrated, she muttered, "This CEO's house feels more like a prison…"
Suddenly, the door creaked open behind her. She spun around, tense, expecting Yeager.
But it was just a housemaid carrying a tray.
"Miss, if you're still hungry, here's some food."
Celestine gave a tired nod. "Thanks…"
Once alone again, she sat on the bed and glanced at her phone. No signal. Still.
"In two days, I'm supposed to marry a man I barely know. He's rich, he's cold, and everything about him screams secrets."
"And for some reason... I don't think he's just a CEO."