Chapter 560 I Don't Want
The sharp sound of a slap echoed through the office. Celeste's hand was still suspended in mid-air, tears finally streaming down her face. "You can insult me, but you can't insult our first time."
Michael touched his burning cheek and suddenly laughed. "There it is, the real you." He stepped closer to her. "Last night, that submissive act—it must have been exhausting to keep up."
Celeste took a step back, hastily wiping away her tears. "I'm leaving." She turned to go.
But Michael grabbed her wrist. "Take the check."
"I said I don't want it!" Celeste struggled fiercely.
"Then never show your face in front of me again!" Michael roared.
Celeste suddenly stopped struggling. She slowly turned around, her eyes filled with a determination Michael had never seen before. "As you wish." She gently pried his fingers off her wrist. "Michael, you're such a coward."
With that, Celeste walked towards the door without looking back. As she opened it, she paused for a moment but didn't turn around. "I'll wait for you," she whispered so softly it was almost inaudible. "Until you stop lying to yourself."
The moment the door closed, Michael swept everything off his desk in a fit of rage. He stood amidst the chaos, panting heavily, and suddenly noticed Celeste's earrings on the sofa—a pair of small pearl studs he had casually given her for her birthday last year.
Michael picked up the earrings, feeling the lingering warmth from Celeste's touch. His mind flashed back to the joy on her face when she first put them on. What had she said then?
"This is the first piece of jewelry you've ever given me! I'll wear it forever!"
Michael clenched the earrings tightly, the sharp posts digging into his palm, blood dripping through his fingers, but he felt no pain.
"Fool," he muttered to the empty office. "I'm not worth it."
Outside, Celeste stood at the base of the building, looking up at the bright window on the top floor. Tears blurred her vision.
Zachary leaned against his sports car, a cigarette unlit between his fingers. He squinted, watching Celeste stumble out of the Russell Group building. Her steps were unsteady, her face pale, and her eyes red and swollen, clearly from crying.
"Michael, that bastard, bullied her again," he muttered, tossing the cigarette into a trash can and striding towards Celeste.
"Celeste!" He called out with his signature sunny smile, waving at her.
Celeste paused at the sound, forcing a smile. "Zachary."
Zachary approached, keenly noticing her slight wince as she walked and the faint red marks on her neck. His eyes flashed with understanding, but he kept his tone light. "What, did Michael make you cry again?"
Celeste shook her head, trying to hold herself together. "It's nothing. I'm just a bit tired."
Zachary sighed, ruffling her hair. "Come on, I'll take you home."
Celeste wanted to refuse, but her legs were too weak. She nodded. "Thank you."
After dropping Celeste off at her small apartment, Zachary didn't leave immediately. He went to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of water, opened it, and handed it to her.
"Tell me, what did Michael do to you this time?" He asked seriously, sitting across from her.
Celeste held the water bottle, her fingers trembling slightly. "It's nothing. It's my fault."
Zachary scoffed. "Come on, I know what Michael's like." He paused, then leaned in, staring into her eyes. "Did you two sleep together?"
Celeste's face turned crimson, her fingers tightening around the bottle until her knuckles turned white.
Seeing her reaction, Zachary was sure of the answer. He sighed, his tone unusually stern. "Celeste, do you know what you're doing?"
Celeste lifted her head, her eyes defiant. "I know."
"You know nothing!" Zachary rarely swore. "You know who Michael's heart belongs to, right? He'd die for Emma. You're only going to get hurt."
Tears welled up in Celeste's eyes again, but she stubbornly wiped them away. "I don't care."
Zachary stared at her, then suddenly laughed. "Celeste, you're... you're so stubborn it's heartbreaking."
Seeing Celeste's low spirits, Zachary stood up and patted her shoulder. "Alright, stop thinking about all this crap. Let's go out and get some fresh air."
Celeste shook her head. "I don't want to go."
"No way!" Zachary pulled her up. "Look at you, you look like a ghost. If you keep this up, you'll break down before Michael does."
Celeste stumbled, her legs too weak to stand. Zachary quickly caught her, frowning. "Are you okay?"
Celeste bit her lip, her face even redder. "I'm fine."
Seeing her like this, Zachary suddenly understood. He cleared his throat. "Maybe you should rest first. I'll take you out another day."
Celeste nodded quickly, relieved. "Okay."
Zachary sighed, helping her back to her bedroom. "You lie down. I'll get you some water."
Celeste obediently lay down, the soreness in her body making her wince. Zachary stood at the door, watching her curl up under the blanket, feeling a mix of emotions.
He turned to the kitchen, boiled some water, and found some painkillers, bringing them to Celeste's bedside.
"Take these," Zachary said, handing her the pills and water.
Celeste took them, whispering, "Thank you."
Zachary sat on the edge of the bed, speaking seriously. "Celeste, listen to me. Don't let Michael be the only thing in your heart. He's not worth it."
Celeste held the water cup, her voice low. "Whether he's worth it or not, that's for me to decide."
Zachary stared at her for a long moment, then suddenly smiled. "Fine, you're stubborn. I give up." He stood up. "Get some rest. Call me if you need anything."
Celeste nodded, watching him leave.
After leaving Celeste's apartment, Zachary drove straight back to Auris Group. He walked unimpeded to Michael's office and pushed the door open.
Michael was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, holding the pearl earrings. He didn't turn around at the sound of the door opening. "Get out."
"Why so angry?" Zachary closed the door behind him and flopped onto the sofa. "What, you made Celeste cry, and now you're feeling bad too?"
Michael spun around, his eyes sharp as knives. "Zachary, stay out of this."
Zachary shrugged, picking up an apple from the coffee table and taking a bite. "I'm not here to meddle." He crossed his legs. "I'm here to tell you to stop being so stubborn."
"What do you mean?" Michael narrowed his eyes.
Zachary pulled out his phone, swiped a few times, and tossed it to Michael. "See for yourself."
Michael caught the phone, his eyes scanning the screen. His expression darkened as he read the messages. "What is this?"
"It's a reality check," Zachary said, leaning back. "Celeste isn't some toy you can play with and toss aside. She's a person, and she deserves better than this."
Michael's grip tightened on the phone. "You think I don't know that?"
"Then act like it," Zachary shot back. "Stop pushing her away because you're scared of your own feelings. It's pathetic."
Michael's jaw clenched. "You don't understand."
"Maybe not," Zachary admitted. "But I do know that if you keep this up, you're going to lose her for good. And when that happens, don't come crying to me."
Michael looked away, the weight of Zachary's words sinking in. "What do you want me to do?"
"Be honest with her," Zachary said simply. "And with yourself. It's the least she deserves."
Michael nodded slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing. "I'll think about it."
"Good," Zachary said, standing up. "Because if you don't, someone else will."
With that, Zachary left the office, leaving Michael alone with his thoughts and the pearl earrings still clutched in his hand.
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