Celeste's POV
The gala is in full swing when we return to the ballroom.
Damien's hand never leaves my back as we move through the crowd. Guiding. Steering. Controlling every step I take.
I try to shake off Victoria's words, but they keep circling in my mind. At some point, protection becomes possession.
Mr. Ashford! A board member waves us over. I wanted to discuss the Singapore merger—
Damien releases me for the first time all evening. Celeste, get yourself a drink. I'll just be a moment.
Finally. Space to breathe.
I head toward the bar, but a voice stops me.
Ms. Ashford?
I turn. It's Robert Chen from earlier—the one Damien practically dragged me away from.
Hi, I say, trying to sound friendly despite my nerves.
I'm sorry if I made things awkward before. Your brother seemed... protective. He smiles, and it's genuine. Kind. I really did want to ask about the Asia expansion. Your analysis was brilliant.
Warmth spreads through my chest. You read my reports?
Of course. The way you identified the manufacturing gaps that everyone else missed? That's the kind of strategic thinking we need more of. He extends his hand. I'm Robert. Junior analyst in investments.
I shake his hand. Celeste. But you already knew that.
He laughs. Hard not to when your brother introduces you to literally everyone.
We talk for maybe five minutes. About work, about the Asia market, about his ideas for the expansion. It's easy. Normal. The kind of conversation I never get to have because Damien always interrupts.
So I was thinking, Robert says, maybe we could
There you are. Damien appears beside me like a shadow. His hand immediately finds my waist, pulling me against his side. I've been looking for you.
I was just getting a drink
Mr. Chen. Damien's voice could freeze fire. Shouldn't you be networking with people at your level?
Robert's face flushes. I was just discussing the Asia project with your sister
My sister doesn't discuss business at social events. And she certainly doesn't discuss it with junior analysts who should know better than to approach her without going through proper channels.
The humiliation on Robert's face makes my stomach turn.
Damien, he wasn't doing anything wrong
Excuse us. Damien pulls me away before I can finish.
That was so rude! I hiss once we're out of earshot. He was just being nice
Nice? Damien's jaw tightens. He was hitting on you.
He was talking about work!
No, Celeste. He was using work as an excuse to get close to you. His fingers dig into my waist. Trust me. I know how men operate.
You don't know everything
I know enough. He stops walking and turns to face me. You're too trusting. Too naive. You see someone smile at you and you think they're being friendly. You don't see the calculation behind it.
Maybe because not everyone is calculating! Maybe some people are just genuinely nice!
Not to you. His voice drops. No one is 'just nice' to Celeste Ashford. They're nice to your name. Your money. Your connection to me.
The words hurt more than they should. Because what if he's right? What if no one will ever see me as just... me?
I need air, I say, pulling away from him.
I'll come with you
No. Please. Just... give me five minutes alone.
Something in my voice makes him hesitate. Then he nods stiffly. Five minutes. The terrace. Don't wander off.
I escape to the terrace before he can change his mind.
The night air is cool against my flushed skin. I lean against the railing, trying to slow my racing heart.
Rough night?
I jump. A woman stands in the shadows, a champagne glass in hand. As she steps into the light, I recognize her.
Victoria. Again.
Are you following me? I ask.
No. I'm avoiding the vultures inside. She joins me at the railing. Your brother, specifically.
He's not that bad
Isn't he? Victoria takes a long sip of champagne. I saw what just happened with that poor analyst. Damien tore into him like he'd committed a crime. His crime? Talking to you.
He was just being protective
Stop. Victoria's voice sharpens. Stop making excuses for him. I did that for eight months, and it nearly destroyed me.
I should walk away. Go back inside. But something keeps me rooted to the spot.
What happened between you two? I hear myself ask. Really?
Victoria is quiet for a long moment. Then she says, I loved him. Actually loved him. I thought we'd build a life together. But I could never compete with you.
That's ridiculous. I'm his sister
Exactly. She turns to look at me. You're his sister. The one person in his life he's allowed himself to care about. The one person he's built his entire world around. There's no room for anyone else.
He just wanted us to get along
No, Celeste. He wanted me gone. Victoria's hand trembles slightly on her glass. At our engagement party, I caught him watching you. You were talking to some guy—I don't even remember who. And the look on Damien's face...
She trails off, shaking her head.
What kind of look? My voice comes out as a whisper.
Jealousy. Possessiveness. Rage. Victoria meets my eyes. The way a man looks at a woman he wants. Not the way a brother looks at a sister.
My stomach turns to ice.
You're wrong
Am I? Have you ever had a serious relationship, Celeste? A boyfriend? Hell, even a male friend who lasted more than a few weeks?
The question hits like a punch. Because no. I haven't.
That's what I thought. Victoria sets down her glass. Your brother has been systematically isolating you for years. Getting rid of anyone who might take you away from him. And you've been so busy defending him that you never noticed.
He's just protective
He's obsessed. She says it plainly, like it's an obvious fact. And someday, that obsession is going to cross a line. If it hasn't already.
You don't know what you're talking about.
Don't I? Victoria picks up her clutch. Fine. Don't believe me. But answer one question: when was the last time you made a decision about your life that Damien didn't control?
She walks away, leaving me alone with the question echoing in my mind.
When was the last time?
I return to the ballroom in a daze.
Damien finds me immediately. There you are. Everything okay?
Fine.
You sure? You look pale. His hand cups my face, tilting it toward him. Did something happen on the terrace?
No. Just needed air.
He studies me for a long moment, those ice-blue eyes seeing too much. You're lying.
I'm tired, Damien. Can we go home?
Of course. His arm wraps around my shoulders. Let's get you out of here.
As we head toward the exit, I catch Robert watching from across the room. He looks like he wants to approach, but one glance at Damien stops him cold.
And I realize Victoria's right about one thing: people are afraid of Damien. Afraid to get too close to me because of him.
In the car ride home, Damien takes my hand.
I'm sorry if I embarrassed you tonight, he says quietly. With that analyst. I just... I can't stand seeing men take advantage of you.
He wasn't taking advantage
Yes, he was. His grip tightens slightly. You just can't see it. But that's why you have me. To protect you from people who would hurt you.
The words should comfort me. But after everything Victoria said, they feel like chains wrapping around my throat.
What if I don't need protection? I ask softly.
Everyone needs protection, Celeste. Especially you. He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses it. You're too precious. Too valuable. I can't let anything happen to you.
The way he says precious makes my skin crawl.
We pull up to the penthouse. As we ride the elevator up, Damien stands close behind me. Too close. I can feel his breath on my neck.
I love you, he murmurs. You know that, right? Everything I do is because I love you.
I know, I whisper.
But for the first time, I'm starting to wonder what kind of love he means.
That night, I lie in bed unable to sleep.
My mind keeps replaying moments I'd dismissed before. The way Damien's hand always finds my back. How he positions himself between me and other men. The intensity in his eyes when he looks at me.
I think about my college friend David, who stopped calling after meeting Damien once.
My gym trainer Jake, who transferred states right after asking for my number.
The study group from Columbia that dissolved after Damien happened to stop by during one of our meetings.
A pattern. Victoria's right—there's a pattern.
I pull out my phone and search for Jake's social media. His profile is still public. I scroll through his posts.
Two years ago: Excited for my promotion to senior trainer!
One year ago: Unexpected transfer to Boston. New beginnings!
The transfer happened one week after he asked me out for coffee.
I search for David next. His LinkedIn shows he left his job at a consulting firm—the same week Damien met him.
My heart pounds as I search for more names. More people who disappeared from my life at convenient times.
All of them gone right after showing interest in me.
All of them eliminated by
No. I'm being paranoid. Damien wouldn't. He couldn't.
But Victoria's voice echoes in my head: He's been systematically isolating you for years.
I need to know the truth.
Tomorrow morning, I'll do something I've never done before.
I'll go through Damien's things when he's not home.
I'll find out exactly what my brother has been doing behind my back.
And if Victoria's right about everything...
I don't know what I'll do.
But I can't keep living like this. In this beautiful cage, with golden bars I'm only just beginning to see.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand.
A text from Damien: Sweet dreams, little sister. See you at breakfast.
The words that used to make me feel safe now make my skin crawl.
Because I'm starting to realize that Victoria's warning wasn't crazy.
It was a lifeline.
And I should have grabbed it when I had the chance.