The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights by Brick Moving Ant

Chapter 24

Lysander nearly crushed the phone in his grip. Only after several deep breaths did he regain a

semblance of control.

“Hang tight. I’m on it!”

He raced back to headquarters at breakneck speed, only to find Celeste lounging in his executive

chair.

“So, Lysander,” she drawled, “satisfied with how things turned out? I told you I didn’t want you bothering Navier.”

In that moment, everything clicked. This entire catastrophe was Celeste’s handiwork.

A bitter laugh escaped his throat as he snarled through clenched teeth.

“Well played, Celeste. I clearly underestimated you. But the Vanderbilt empire won’t going down because of your little games. You think I won’t throw you into a cell and leave you there to rot?”

Celeste’s smile remained soft and gentle–eerily similar to Ophelia’s–but her words cut like ice.

“You won’t.”

“Just imagine poor Ophelia in a jail cell, eating terrible food, sleeping on a hard bunk, being bullied by other inmates. You couldn’t bear it.”

Her smile brightened further.

“Relax, Lysander. This little mess? Consider it my gift to you. You should actually thank me–I just helped you get rid of the dead weight in your company.”

“I haven’t broken any laws. I simply revealed the rot that was already inside your organization.”

“Why not just stay here and fix your business? Why do you keep chasing after Navier? She’s happy

now.”

“Your beloved ‘Ophelia‘ is right here by your side forever. What more could you possibly want?”

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Celeste couldn’t comprehend Lysander’s inner conflict.

everything, but life doesn’t work that way.

means losing something else–n perfectly fair exchange.

to be

studied her, nearly

I won’t hurt that face of yours. But what happens

day comes, I won’t hesitate to destroy

perfecting

be the one with regrets and fear, not me. After all, you love Ophelia more

words left Lysander feeling utterly

as he stared at her face–a face he both loved

only she didn’t look

hold back. He

face was

dialed Navier’s number

you’re happy. And if Aubrey ever mistreats you, I’ll be the first one to set

straight.”

that Celeste’s first words after getting her

that along to Aubrey. But how are you doing

yourself to endure mistreatment. With that face, he’d never harm

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Chapter 24

stay by his side forever. I hope you

true self someday.”

a wave of warmth at

let myself be mistreated again. And this is my true self now–I don’t mind playing Ophelia occasionally. I actually enjoy it.”

great!” Navier felt

more

there, but

left

as though he’d been plunged into an icy abyss.

clarity that Navier truly no longer loved him.

have deluded himself that this was just another of her tactics to

attention.

Her claims about moving on had been genuine from

start.

only one stuck in the past was

arrangements to stabilize the company, Lysander bought several bottles of whiskey and placed a

the headstone and spoke in a

I screwed up. A