Chapter 315
Adam’s heart skipped a beat. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but before the words could form, his palm suddenly felt empty–Celine had already pulled her hand away.
She was swept up by a crowd of admirers, all young and successful elites.
Among them was Randall Potter, a fellow Haffard University graduate and a rising star in the tech world, the young CEO of a publicly listed company.
His gaze lingered on Celine’s breathtakingly beautiful face, and a playful smile appeared. “Celine, what’s your relationship status? Are you seeing anyone?
”
Adam’s attention sharpened, his eyes fixed on her.
Celine raised her delicate, arched eyebrows. Her voice was calm as she replied, “Single. Available”
Single. Available.
Those two words seemed to light a sparkle in Randall’s eyes. Wasting no time, he pulled out his phone. “Celine, since we’re fellow alumni, let’s exchange WhatsApp”
Celine nodded slightly. “Sure, Randall.”
The two exchanged WhatsApp contacts, the process effortless and casual
Adam stood off to the side, watching it all unfold.
His thought drifted to a different time, a time when Celine had rejected his friend request. She hadn’t wanted to add him.
But here she was, adding someone else.
Her voice even softened when she addressed him as “Randall”
But she never called him by his first name. To her, he was only “Mr. Alvarez.”
A hollow ache spread through Adam’s chest, gnawing at him with an inexplicable sense of loss.
“Celine!”
Sonia, Carly, Tracy, and Lucy had arrived, but they couldn’t get close. Celine was in the VIP section, and access was restricted.
The staff quickly stepped forward, holding up their hands to block them. “Sorry, ladies, but you can’t go any further.”
Sonia looked up at Celine, visibly emotional, and exclaimed, “I’m here to see Celine! I’m Celine’s grandmother!”
She had never imagined that Celine, the young woman she had always considered the disgrace of the Tates, would one day turn out to be a prodigy. She couldn’t walt to see her in personL
Hearing the commotion, Celine turned her head in their direction.
A staff member quickly approached her and spoke respectfully. “Ms. Tate, they’re here to see you. This woman claims to be your grandmother.”
Sonia forced an awkward smile as she stepped forward. “Linny, it’s me, Grandma!”
Linny?
It was the first time she had ever heard Sonia call her that. She couldn’t help but let out an incredulous laugh. “Grandma? If I remember correctly, didn’t we sever lies about an hour ago?”
Sonia froze, the color draining from her face.
Celine’s gaze shifted past Sonia to Hazel and Tracy, the mother–daughter pair standing behind her.
Hazel looked deeply uncomfortable, while Tracy, normally so proud and self–assured, stood like a lifeless shell, her confidence completely shattered.
Behind them, Lucy and Carly lingered in silence. Their expressions were dark and bitter, their eyes glinting with barely concealed jealousy and resentment as they watched Celine from the shadows.
Hazel tried to smooth things over with a nervous smile. “Celine, Grandma was just upset earlier. We’re family, after all.”
Celine stood there, calm and ethereal. She blinked slowly and fixed her gaze directly on Sonla “So what you’re saying is, you all want to be family with
Sonia’s face lit up with eager hope. “Linny, we’ve always been family-
“But,” Celine interrupted sharply, “this time, I don’t want to be family with you.”
Sonia stiffened, her expression freezing as the blow sank in.
Celine’s unyielding gaze swept over the group before her.
These were the people who had hurt her once–deeply, irreparably. The scars they’d left on her heart were etched so painfully that now, all that remained was a glacial indifference.
“You abandoned me when I was little. Other kids had grandmothers, mothers, and families.. but I always felt like an orphan. You said it yourself before,
Chapter 315
we’ve already severed ties. And now, it’s my turn to cut you off.”
Without another glance, Celine turned to the staff member standing nearby. “I don’t know these people. Please remove them.”
The staff member nodded briskly. “Ladies, I’m going to have to ask you to leave at once.”
“Linny, you can’t do this to us…”
