"Oliver," Ethan said flatly, still lying there looking unbothered.

He'd seen the guy at his grandfather's birthday party not long ago, though Celeste had still been locked up at that time.

"You probably met him once, three years ago when we got married." His tone was more guessing than stating-he didn't attend the banquet anyway.

The bedroom was eerily quiet, like seriously drop-a-pin-and-hear-it quiet.

Celeste clutched the golden-framed door, her nerves shot to the point her hands were trembling.

Sharp as ever, Ethan noticed something was off. He'd been about to shut his eyes, but now reopened them slowly.

Bracing himself with one arm, he sat up a bit. Ten meters away, Celeste just stood frozen there, fists clenched so tight her nails dug into her palms-completely unaware.

Oliver. That name burned into her chest like a searing brand.

"What's on your mind?" came Ethan's cold voice from behind. Of course he noticed that cocktail of hurt and anger written all over her face.

Snapping back to reality, Celeste turned and saw his face had gone cold again-talk about mood swings.

"Nothing," she said after pulling herself together. "Do I really have to go to that wedding? Like, can't skip it?"

"Yeah." His voice was indifferent, pretty clearly running low on energy. Supporting his upper body even a little was tiring, and he slowly lay back down.

"Fine."

Logic reminded her-she wasn't Isabella anymore. She was Celeste now.

If she wanted revenge, uncover her parents' deaths, and take back what was hers, she needed the Shaws. More specifically, Ethan.

Yet she, the daughter-in-law of the elite Shaw family, didn't even have the right to sleep in the master bedroom. No wonder even the maids looked down on her.

"I'll go," she said finally. "But I've got one condition."

Silence.

Ethan didn't seem to care-or maybe he just couldn't be bothered.

Celeste rolled her eyes. Honestly, talking to him felt like shouting into a void. Might as well act instead.

"You're not saying anything-I'm taking that as a yes."

With that, she spun around and headed back to her tiny room. After rummaging through a few drawers, she gathered a blanket and pillow, marched right back into Ethan's room, and straight-up claimed the only open space on the bed.

It was massive-nothing like her cramped single bed where turning over felt like navigating a maze.

"Now this is more like it," she sighed, flopping down with obvious satisfaction.

Ethan's expression darkened immediately. He was on the verge of exploding.

"Celeste, have you even heard of shame?" he practically growled.

She didn't even flinch. Acting like she belonged there, totally unbothered.

So that was her condition?

He was already regretting that moment of silence earlier.

"Shame doesn't feed you!" she shot back. "And come on, Mr. Shaw, we're legally married, marriage certificate and all. What's with the separate rooms? We're supposed to sleep here together. Besides, it's not like we can actually do anything..."

Her last words got stuck in his brain like a screaming alarm. That final line? Basically a slap to the face.

Three years in jail-how did her comebacks get so sharp?

Ethan wanted to shut her down so badly, but decided to just give her his back and not respond. Safer that way for his sanity.

Night deepened outside. The window cast faint moonlight across the room.

Lying beside him, Celeste had her eyes open wide-clear, focused, totally different from earlier.

'Oliver, maybe it's time I gave you a surprise.'

At 4 a.m., Ethan woke up.

He turned his head at the steady rhythm of breathing beside him. The woman next to him was sound asleep, her soft hair spread across the pillow, the beige comforter pulled up under her chin-still and quiet, like a sleeping kitten.

Without all the sass and snark from earlier, she was actually kind of... peaceful. He liked her a lot more when her mouth wasn't moving.

That cold heart of his, hardened from years of discipline, unexpectedly melted a little in that moment.

*****

Celeste had the best sleep she'd had in a while, waking up halfway into the day.

She sat up in bed, wrapped in the covers, yawning. For a second, she was confused at the empty space beside her.

Had she slept that deep?

Ethan got up and she didn't hear a thing?

Still groggy, she tossed off the blanket, went through a half-hearted morning routine, and headed downstairs for breakfast.

She had barely stepped onto the top stair when voices from the living room drifted up-Sophie chatting in hushed tones with a maid.

"He react at all?" Sophie clearly didn't want to be overheard, but unfortunately for her, Celeste was right at the perfect spot to catch every word.

Curious, Celeste craned her neck and peeked down-then froze.

'Wait a sec. Wasn't that the same maid from last night? The one who had on the little slip dress and literally ripped Ethan's boxers?'

Now this was getting juicy.

"I didn't get a good look. Sir didn't want to," the maid stuttered, cheeks blazing. "Then the missus came in, so I just... stopped."

"What are you afraid of her for?" Sophie sounded frustrated. "She's just a prop here. If Ethan actually cared about her, you think I'd need you?"

"Mrs. Larkspur, I really can't do this. Maybe... maybe find someone else?" The maid's whole face was red, words tumbling out in a nervous mess.

"Oh come on, we had a deal. I already paid you. You..."

Celeste had heard more than enough. Ugh. Forcing someone into that crap? Gross.

Without hesitation, she strolled downstairs, her voice light but clear enough to slice through the awkward tension. "Good morning, Mother."

Sophie instantly stopped mid-sentence and waved the maid away.

Then, brows furrowing, she walked up to Celeste, tone sharp. "You've got no sense of propriety, do you? Look at the time! Just out of prison and still sleeping in like this every day?"

She looked Celeste up and down skeptically. "Don't tell me you really just woke up..."

"Sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to sleep in, but taking care of Ethan last night really wore me out. And he didn't wake me this morning either, so... here we are." Celeste gave an exaggerated yawn, looking appropriately 'apologetic.'

Ethan wasn't home right now, so she might as well throw his name around a little. It's not like he'd know-and technically, she wasn't even lying.

Sure enough, her words hit like a bomb. Sophie's eyes went wide in shock. "Wait, what? You- You were in the same room as Ethan last night?"

"Yep." Celeste nodded firmly. She then lowered her voice, glancing toward the kitchen. "Shh, Mom, there are staff around..."

Watching Celeste act all shy and bashful, Sophie's face finally lit up with delight. "That's wonderful! You must be exhausted!"

Seeing the servants cleaning up the dining table, Sophie called out, "Hold up-bring out the fresh steak from the kitchen, Celeste hasn't eaten yet. Why were you clearing anything away?"

Celeste stepped off the stairs in her slippers, a sly smirk tugging at her lips as she glanced around the room. Let Sophie keep fussing around her.

Yeah, she was right. Ethan might be in a wheelchair, but his status in this household? Still untouchable. As long as everyone thought their marriage was real and solid, she'd hold the spot of first lady in this house-no question.

And that? That was just step one.

Celeste sat at the dinner table, slowly slicing her steak, taking sips of red wine now and then, actually feeling a bit relaxed for once.

It had been ages since she could just sit quietly and enjoy a meal. Back in prison, everyone scrambled just to grab a bowl before it disappeared. And in the Shaw house, it was always someone yelling or criticizing. Silence like this was a luxury.

Almost thirty minutes had passed, and just as she was finishing her last bite, footsteps echoed from the stairs behind her.

Grace strolled down, dressed in Chanel's latest tweed outfit, slipping a tiny bottle of perfume back into her purse after a final spritz.

Sophie called out right on cue, "Grace, heading out for a dress? Take your sister-in-law with you."

"Sister-in-law?" That one phrase made Grace's expression twitch-her face under those soft waves practically screamed "Did I hear that right?"

"What did you say, Mom?" she asked, squinting warily toward Celeste, who was calmly finishing off the last piece of steak at the table like she hadn't just dropped a bombshell.

Was the sun rising from the west today? Her mom just called Celeste "your sister-in-law."

Celeste cleared her throat and ignored Grace's laser-like glare, swallowing her bite as she said, sounding all gentle and considerate, "No need, Mom. I'll just wear something simple. We're not businesspeople, doesn't need to be anything too fancy."

"How could that be? This is about propriety," Sophie said, pulling out a glittering card and placing it on the table. "Take this-and don't forget to pick out something nice for Ethan too."

Grace looked like someone slapped her with a brick. Was her mom running a fever or losing it completely?

Why was she being so nice to Celeste all of a sudden?

Celeste's gaze flicked to that shiny gold card, and for a second, her eyes lit up before she quickly composed herself, taking the card with a half-courteous, half-pleased smile. "Thank you, Mom, that's very kind of you!"

She made sure that "Mom" echoed loud and clear. Sophie blinked, slightly stunned, but by the time she processed it, Celeste was already at the entryway, slipping on her shoes.

"Ugh, what an act!" Grace scoffed under her breath, then stormed off in high heels clicking angrily against the floor, swinging her purse and slamming the door on her way out.

At a luxury boutique in Yannburgh-

The moment they walked in, Grace was swarmed by sales assistants. All five circled around her, tossing compliments like confetti.

Clearly someone had no clue what she actually wanted. She hadn't even tried anything on yet, but blinked once and there were already seven or eight shopping bags full of accessories by her side.

Celeste didn't mind being sidelined. In fact, she kind of enjoyed it. Alone, she strolled among the racks filled with designer gowns before stopping at a long silver-gray off-shoulder dress made of tulle.

It didn't really pop at first glance, but when Celeste asked to try it on, one of the salesgirls gave it a quick scan, then hesitated, asking cautiously, "Isn't that one a bit... plain?"

"No problem, I'll go with this one. Also, that necklace and those earrings over there-and those two rings-can I try them on?"

The sales assistant didn't quite know who she was, but since she came in right behind Grace, she clearly wasn't some random shopper. So they stayed polite and brought over everything she asked for right away.

Celeste used to study jewelry design, so she had a good eye for fashion. She knew exactly how to make an outfit shine, and what jewelry would give it that final touch-this was her element.

Meanwhile, Grace had also picked out her own outfit and accessories. The two stepped into their fitting rooms almost at the same time.

Ten minutes later, a curtain swished open.

Celeste stepped out, dressed in a silver-gray off-shoulder tulle gown that hugged her figure just right. The color brought out the porcelain tone of her skin, and with her hair swept up in a neat chignon, she looked like a vintage snow princess.

Thin silver thread earrings dangled at her jawline, and a single teardrop-shaped pendant-one of those trendy "mermaid's tear" necklaces-laid perfectly across her collarbones. The whole look was simple, stylish, elegant.

When Grace's curtain opened seconds later, the first thing she saw was all five shop assistants staring wide-eyed at the other fitting room across from her. Their gazes were locked, filled with admiration and envy.

Grace followed their gaze, then noticed Celeste. Her expression instantly darkened.

She hadn't really paid attention before, but now compared to Celeste's cool, effortless elegance, her own bedazzled get-up looked way too loud-like someone had tried to decorate a Christmas tree and went overboard.

She clenched her teeth, damn near grinding them.

"Who picked this outfit for me? It looks awful. Pick another one. Now."

The salesgirls scrambled like they were walking on eggshells, spinning away from her like tops, each one eager to stay out of the storm.

Celeste spun gracefully in front of the mirror, checked herself once more, then turned to the staff with a calm smile. "I'll take this one. Please wrap it up. And I'll take the jewelry as well. Oh, and that men's suit over there too-please pack that up for me."

Sophie had asked her to pick something for Ethan as well-she hadn't forgotten.

After paying for everything, she could still hear Grace yelling at the poor assistants in the fitting room. Celeste didn't bother lingering. She stepped outside, wanting some air.

No sooner had she exited than she heard the soft click of a camera shutter.

Without looking back, her peripheral vision caught a man near the store's display window, wearing a baseball cap and snapping photos like crazy with a DSLR.

Celeste paused, thinking. Showbiz probably hadn't had much drama lately, so a sudden extravagant shopping spree by Grace? Yeah, that could make the gossip headlines.

She narrowed her eyes, watching the sneaky paparazzo for a sec, then smirked as a thought flashed through her mind. Straightening her posture, she walked over to him without hesitation.