"If you don't believe me, take a look for yourself. This is just a small piece-trust me, I've got plenty more." Jareth wore a calm, easy smile on his handsome face, but it sent chills down the spine.

Celestia stood frozen, staring at the folder on the floor with hesitation in her eyes. She wanted so badly to trust her father, but Jareth's smug confidence shook her. After struggling with herself for nearly half a minute, she finally bent down and picked up the folder.

"If any of this turns out to be fake, I swear, you won't get away with it so easily," she said coldly before flipping it open. As her eyes scanned each page, they grew wider with every turn. Her hands began to shake. "No... this can't be real... How could this be..."

The words came out like a dull ache, barely audible. Jareth stood behind his desk, arms crossed, watching her face drain of color with a mocking smirk. A sharp flicker passed through his eyes.

He'd been digging into Henry's background for a year now, and just as he'd suspected, that kind and genteel face hid some grim secrets underneath.

"Still think I made it all up? We can go to the prosecutor's office and get these authenticated if you want," he said, voice as biting as sleet.

Celestia stared at him blankly, his smug expression like a slap to the face. All those photos of shady deals... they drowned every ounce of doubt she had buried in her mind.

It took her a while to find her voice. "My dad and I never did anything to you. Why... why are you doing this to us?" Her voice cracked, laced with confusion and pain.

Jareth's smile faded, eyes darkening like a storm rolling in.

"Nothing?" he repeated, slowly. Then his look turned menacing, gaze sharp as a blade.

"Trust me, it won't take long before you figure it out."

No matter what her father had done, to Celestia he was still the same man who had given everything for her. And so, in the end, she gave in. After losing almost everything else, protecting her father was all she had left.

*****

July, which for most was a month of sunshine and ease, to Celestia felt suffocating. In just weeks, she'd gone from a respected heiress to a disgraceful "homewrecker" in everyone's eyes, and under Jareth's thumb, she was nothing but a pawn.

Since moving into the Carrington estate, it was like Jareth found joy in making her life hell. He made her do everything on her own, even forced her to take care of the house like one of the maids.

Meanwhile, he brought home a steady rotation of women, flaunting them like trophies. Celestia was shoved into a guest room next door, where she had to fall asleep listening to their shameless laughter and moans-worse yet, she was expected to serve them.

When her father woke up from his illness, it was the one piece of good news she'd clung to. She told him the family company was steady again but kept her marriage to Jareth a secret.

She made sure everyone stayed quiet about it too. She didn't want him burdened with guilt, thinking she sold herself for the company's survival.

Without her job at the company, Celestia suddenly had time. She began splitting her days between home and the hospital, pouring all her energy into caring for her dad.

Then one day-

As soon as she came down the stairs, she heard shouting from the living room. Curious, she walked over. What she saw made her frown: Natalie Young-celebrity model and Jareth's latest fling-was sprawled comfortably on the couch, barking insults at a maid on her knees.

The words coming out of Natalie's mouth were so nasty, Celestia felt embarrassed just hearing them.

Celestia hadn't planned to get involved, but Natalie's words were getting more and more out of line. She finally couldn't take it anymore and walked up to them, cutting her off.

"That's enough!" Ignoring Natalie's wide-eyed glare, Celestia reached down to help the maid up and said softly, "Go on, get back to work."

The maid lifted her tear-streaked face and thanked her repeatedly. "Thank you, ma'am. Thank you so much." She turned, ready to flee.

"Stop right there! Who said you could leave?!" Natalie's shriek rang out like a whip. The maid froze, not daring to move an inch.

"Ma'am..." she trembled as she turned back, her eyes pleading with Celestia.

Celestia gave her a warm smile. "It's okay, don't worry about it. If anything happens, I'll handle it. Just go."

With that, the maid didn't dare hesitate a second longer and bolted.

Natalie, watching all this, was seething. Her face turned pale then red, her chest rising with fury. She shot Celestia a venomous look. "Since when is disciplining the help any of your business?"

Honestly, she had had it with this woman. She'd been with Jareth for two years. When his engagement with Sophia fell through, she thought she finally had a shot-then this nobody came out of nowhere, ruining everything!

The rage that had been boiling in her chest burst out. Her eyes darted with an intensity that could've cut right through Celestia.

Celestia met Natalie's tirade with a calm gaze, her voice cool. "I don't care how much Jareth pampers you. Just remember, I'm still his wife-on paper, at least."

That hit a nerve. Natalie's expression twisted instantly. Her mouth opened, but-

"What's going on?"

The voice, low and cold, came from behind them.

As soon as she saw Jareth, Natalie instantly switched gears. Her face softened, and she ran to him with a pitiful look. "Jareth, finally! You're back."

Jareth gave Celestia, who stood motionless, a quick glance. Then he looked at Natalie, now clinging to him. His voice was flat. "What happened?"

Natalie sniffled and looked up with watery eyes. "A maid spilled something on my dress. I just said a few words to her, and suddenly I was being accused and disrespected. She even pulled the 'Mrs. Carrington' card on me."

Before she even finished, Jareth shot Celestia a sharp look. "Apologize."

"What?" Celestia stared at him, stunned. "You're not even going to hear what I have to-"

"No need." His tone was final, cutting. "I didn't marry you to play wife. In this house, your status is below the help. Don't forget your place."

Natalie could barely contain her glee watching her rival get chewed out.

Celestia let out a breathy laugh, eyes clear but filled with quiet sorrow. She'd always known she wasn't really a wife to him, but hearing it aloud stung in a way she hadn't expected.

Her half-smile only seemed to irritate Jareth more.

"Well? Why are you just standing there?"

Celestia forced herself to stay calm, answering evenly, "Not happening. Your drama isn't my problem. Love whoever you want, but don't expect me to just take this kind of humiliation-from you or anyone else."

The second those words came out, Jareth's face turned completely dark.

And Natalie? She was practically smirking with glee, like she couldn't wait to fan the flames. "Jareth, look at her. Forget about me, she doesn't even care about you."

Celestia didn't have the patience to keep going back and forth with them. She just tossed a sentence over her shoulder: "I'm not coming home tonight. Do whatever you want." Then she walked right past them and left.

"Jareth, did you see her attitude? Like she thinks she's some kind of queen or something..."

Natalie was fuming, glaring at Celestia's retreating back. But when she glanced at Jareth's expression, which was just as awful, her voice softened sweetly, "Well... since she's not coming home tonight, how about I stay?"

What Natalie didn't expect, though, was for Jareth to shove her away suddenly, spitting out just one word: "Out."

Natalie stared at him with wide eyes, "What?"

"I said get out!" His voice was low but clearly on the edge, barely holding in the fury.

Natalie took one look at his stormy, terrifying face and hesitated like she wanted to argue-but in the end, she forced down her pride and gave in. "You're clearly upset. I'll come by another day." She grabbed her purse and quickly walked out.

The moment she was gone, Jareth couldn't hold it in anymore-he let out a deep, angry yell like a beast backed into a corner, chest heaving in frustration.

Before heading to the hospital, Celestia popped back home for a bit. She made a pot of chicken soup and packed a few things before setting out. As she waited to cross the street, her mind wandered right back to what Jareth had said earlier that day.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the red light at all. It wasn't until a blaring horn snapped her out of it that she looked up-only to see a huge truck speeding straight at her.

Just as she thought to run, her legs froze up like someone had nailed her to the ground. She couldn't move an inch.

The truck got closer. Her eyes widened, and everything around her faded. The screams from the crowd barely registered. Her mind went totally blank.

Then, just when the truck was barely five meters away, a voice shouted behind her.

"Watch out!"

Next thing she knew, someone grabbed her hand and yanked her hard. She stumbled and landed by the curb, shaken.

"Celestia, what the hell were you thinking!" a sharp voice barked above her.

Still dazed, she looked up, squinting against the harsh sunlight. When she saw the familiar face, her chest tightened. "Ethan..."

Ethan didn't bother replying to her shocked whisper. He just grabbed her shoulders and helped her to her feet, guiding her off to the side. His hands ran quickly over her arms and legs, checking for injuries. Only when he saw it was just a scraped shin did his tense posture finally ease.

"What were you thinking? How do you not see a red light? Do you have any idea what could've happened if I hadn't pulled you away?" Ethan's brows were knitted tight, voice full of anger.

Celestia didn't say a word. She just kept her head down, looking like a kid who got caught doing something wrong, letting him scold her as much as he wanted.

Ethan had way more to say, but when he saw how fragile and defeated she looked, he couldn't bring himself to keep going.

His eyes softened as he took a closer look. She looked way worse than she had a month ago-thinner, more fragile. Her body seemed so light it might get blown away by a stiff wind, her clothes hanging loosely on her. And her face... she didn't look well at all.

Looking at Celestia juggling a large tote in one hand and a lunchbox in the other, Ethan asked, "Where are you heading?" For nearly a month, she'd basically vanished-calls went unanswered, and even showing up at her office was a dead end.

He'd been loitering near her place, hoping she might show, and finally, he'd caught her. But she hadn't even noticed him until he ran up and grabbed her arm.

Celestia glanced at him coolly. "The hospital."

"The hospital? Are you sick?" Ethan's brows furrowed in concern.

Seeing his worried face made Celestia's chest tighten. Apart from her dad, the only person who had ever truly cared for her like this was him. Ever since their college days, he'd always been there, sharing everything-her laughs, her breakdowns, her awkward moments.

Even knowing she didn't feel that kind of love for him, he had never stopped caring. And now they were like this... Besides Sophia, he was the one she felt most sorry toward.

Not wanting him to stress over her, she shook her head and gave a small, gentle smile. "I'm fine. It's my dad who's sick."

"Your dad? Is it serious? Does it have something to do with the company stuff I saw on the news?" he asked, clearly connecting the dots.

"It's all been handled." She gave him a reassuring smile, then quickly checked her watch.

Noticing the time, she said, "Ethan, thanks again for earlier, really. I need to get going." She dipped her head lightly and turned to leave.

"Wait." Ethan stopped her, grabbing her wrist. She looked at him, surprised. He said, "Let me give you a ride."

Celestia didn't hesitate before shaking her head. "No need. It's close, I can walk." Her gaze dropped slightly, trying to hide the sadness in her eyes.

When they were still together, she could lean on him without overthinking it. But now? She was someone else's wife. She couldn't keep crossing lines.

However, Ethan completely misunderstood her reaction.

"So it's because of Jareth? That's why you're drawing the line with me now?" His words came out like sparks flying, eyes burning. "The papers say you two got married-was that for real?"

Her heart ached under his intense stare, but she still nodded. "Yeah."

And just like that, Ethan's anger gave way to pain. "Why?" he asked, voice low and strained.

"You told me you didn't want anything from him. That you couldn't stand the guy. So why'd you end up marrying him?"

A flood of questions crashed over her, leaving her overwhelmed, drowning.

She looked up at him-those furious, red-rimmed eyes-and the guilt just swallowed her whole. "I'm sorry." That was all she could say. She didn't mean for any of this. But it was the path she'd chosen the moment she asked Jareth for help-for her father's sake-knowing full well it would break Ethan's heart.

Seeing her eyes well up, Ethan couldn't even stay mad. "Hey... come on, don't cry. None of this is your fault," he said softly, willing the pain away. "It's Jareth who messed this all up."

But his words only made it worse. As soon as he spoke, Celestia's tears started falling like a dam had burst. And once they started, there was no stopping them. She sobbed so hard her whole body was shaking, and Ethan stood there, watching helplessly, heart twisting into knots.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. Please-don't cry." Gently, Ethan pulled her into a hug, wrapping her in warmth, his voice low and soothing.

What neither of them realized was that the entire scene had been quietly captured on camera.

Celestia ended up not letting Ethan take her to the hospital.

She had spent the night at the hospital with her father. Only after much convincing from him did she finally drag her exhausted self back home the next morning. But the moment she stepped into the Carrington estate, a mocking voice hit her straight in the face.

"Look who finally decided to show up." Jareth was sprawled on the couch, arms crossed over his chest, legs casually crossed, his whole posture soaked in arrogance as he stared coldly at Celestia with a twisted smirk.

"Come here."

Celestia, drained from the night, really wanted to just ignore him. But knowing him, he'd make an even bigger scene, so she let out a quiet sigh and stepped over to him. "What now?"

"Take a look at this!" Jareth snapped, then flung a pile of newspapers at her feet with a loud slap.

Celestia looked at him-he'd already gotten up, face darker than a thundercloud. She followed his sharp, stormy gaze down to the headline in blaring red: [Socialite Caught Cozying Up With Ex - Sparks Still Flying?] And right under it, a photo of Ethan pulling her into a comforting hug while she cried yesterday afternoon.

"You got anything to say for yourself?" Jareth's eyes were icy black, gleaming with a predator's anger.

Compared to him, Celestia seemed calm, almost detached. She slowly lifted her head and met his furious gaze, lips pressing into a line. "If you're taking some tabloid trash seriously, then I've got nothing to say." Her face was unreadable as she turned to walk away.

"I only believe what I see with my own eyes!" Jareth snarled as he yanked her wrist hard, veins twitching at his temple. "So tell me, where the hell were you all night? Spent it with him, didn't you?!"

Celestia didn't even flinch at his rage. Instead, she smiled faintly, almost mockingly. "Didn't you say I'm not even worth a servant in this house? So why should I explain anything to you?" She threw his own words right back at him, cool as ever.

Her indifference hit a nerve.

"Celestia!" he roared like a wild animal, the living room echoing with the sound.

But she didn't even blink. That smile still sitting on her lips.

"What? Not true? If you really think I'm cheating, then just divorce me." She sounded almost casual now. Because deep down, Celestia already knew-Jareth would never let her go that easily.

Sure enough, his face turned an ugly shade right after she said it.

"Divorce? Not a chance in hell!" His gaze narrowed dangerously, the menace in his stare practically radiating. "You think I'll just let you walk away like that? Forget it. Get that idea out of your head right now."

Then Jareth's cold expression shifted. He swept his eyes over her in a calculating way, a wicked grin slowly spreading across his face.

"Wanna prove you didn't mess around behind my back? Easy. I'll check for myself."

Before she could even process what he meant, Jareth tugged her hard into his arms, one hand gripping the back of her head while his lips descended with a twisted sort of amusement.

Unlike last time when his kiss was gentle, this one from Jareth was all about dominance and punishment.

"Mmph..." Celestia tried to push him away, but he only held on tighter.

Her eyes widened with panic, but all Jareth showed was a dark amusement flickering in his gaze.

Seeing that, something flipped in Celestia's eyes. She bit down hard on his lip without hesitation. She expected him to flinch or shove her off in pain-but he didn't. The amusement in his gaze faded, replaced by something cold and dangerous, and he kissed her even harder.

The sharp, metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, making her gag. Her stomach churned violently, and before she could make it to the bathroom, she turned her head and vomited right there.

Her body trembled from nausea, and because she hadn't eaten all day, all she could throw up was bitter stomach acid. Her face turned pale as she dry-heaved under Jareth's icy stare, tears welling in her eyes.

What he saw is-how disgusted she was by his kiss.

Humiliation cut through Jareth like a blade. His jaw clenched, and a storm of anger surged beneath his skin. His brow twitched, veins bulged at his temple-he was furious.

Until now, no woman had ever dared treat him like this.

His eyes narrowed, cold and dangerous.

"I'm letting you go this time. But if I catch you tangled up with another guy again, don't expect me to play nice." He threw out the words and spun on his heel, storming out without another word.

Celestia watched his back disappear down the hall, then collapsed to the floor with a thud, too weak to stand.

After that night, she didn't see Jareth around again for days.

The early signs of pregnancy were hitting full force now. Celestia had become hypersensitive-even the smell of grease made her nauseous. Daily vomiting left her drained, barely able to move, spending most of her time curled up in bed.

She was already thin, but now she looked even frailer.

One evening, Jareth walked into the room right as she was hunched over the toilet, throwing up. At the sound of his heavy, distinct footsteps, she quickly tried to gather herself, flushed the toilet, and started running water to cover the noise.

Bang, bang, bang-he knocked hard on the door, his deep voice cutting through like a blade. "What are you doing in there?"

Celestia leaned over the sink, frantically rinsing her mouth to get rid of the bitter taste. She took a few deep breaths to keep from gagging again before opening the door.

"Need something?" Her voice was flat as she looked at him and stepped past, trying to keep her head low so he wouldn't pick up on anything strange.

"What were you doing in there?" Jareth stared at her, like he was trying to read every line on her face. The housekeeper had already told him she'd been acting weird-barely eating, locking herself in the bathroom for long stretches. It was obvious she was hiding something.

Celestia avoided his suspicious gaze, lowering her eyes and tossing back, "What else would I be doing?"

Jareth opened his mouth like he wanted to argue, but ended up saying nothing.

"If that's all, please leave. I need some rest," she said, lifting the blanket and easing onto the bed. After throwing up like that, her whole body felt drained-she just wanted to lie down and shut her eyes for a while.