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.

But Jareth didn't leave like she'd hoped. Instead, he pulled a gown out from behind his back and tossed it onto the bed, his voice cold and commanding. "Put it on. There's an event tonight. You're coming as my date." Every word rang with authority.

Celestia just glanced at the dress, her tone flat. "I'm not feeling well. Go with someone else." She knew he had no shortage of women dying to be his plus-one.

"I won't repeat myself." His voice dropped low and hard, leaving no room for negotiation.

Celestia ignored him completely, turned her back, and lay down on the bed, eyes shut tight.

For someone like Jareth, always surrounded by women falling over themselves to please him, being ignored like this lit a fire under him. His brows drew together in a sharp frown, and his eyes turned icy cold despite the blazing July heat-he looked like walking winter.

"Not gonna wear it? You really want me to force you?" He stormed over, reached out, and yanked her up from the bed. One hand gripped her shoulder, the other went straight for the silk nightgown on her body.

Before Celestia could react, she heard the nasty sound of fabric tearing. Her gown was ripped wide open.

Only then did she panic.

"Stop it!" she cried, trying to push him back. But she was no match-he was too strong, too ruthless. The more she struggled, the rougher he got. Within moments, her gown was in shreds, and her fair skin was marked with bright red scrapes from the scuffle.

Jareth's dark eyes flicked over her bare figure, desire burning hot behind his frosty gaze. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

Realizing his look was far from innocent, Celestia's heart sank. She instantly pulled her arms across her chest and scrambled backward.

"Wear it," he repeated, voice rough and low, something about it unmistakably intense.

When she didn't move fast enough, the corner of his lips curved up. "Or do you need me to help you change into it?"

"Fine! I'll do it, okay?" Celestia gave in, her voice shaky with frustration and fear.

"Hmph." His expression chilled again, satisfied just enough. "Don't forget to do your makeup." And with that, he turned and walked out.

The banquet was decadent.

She wore a floor-length black chiffon dress with an off-shoulder cut that showed off her pale skin like porcelain. Diamonds sparkled on the neckline, catching the light and making her delicate features shine like a star. Her soft smoky makeup added just the right amount of drama-she looked breathtaking.

When Celestia stepped into the ballroom holding Jareth's arm, all eyes turned to them instantly.

This was Celestia' first time attending an event like this after getting married, and she knew damn well that most people here couldn't stand her.

In their eyes, she was the scheming woman who stole her best friend's fiancé-a homewrecker, plain and simple. Of course she wanted to leave, but she had no choice. All she could do was grit her teeth and push through.

"Smile. Don't let everyone think I've been abusing you," Jareth leaned in, voice low but firm.

Celestia curved her lips into a smile, though it was more bitter than anything else. Abusing her? Was that even a question? From the second she married him, he'd been making her life hell.

She reluctantly let Jareth pull her close by the waist.

"Jareth! You're finally here-I've been waiting forever!" A shrill, sugar-sweet voice rang out before Celestia could even react. A glamorous figure shoved past her, forcing her aside like she wasn't even there.

Of course it was Natalie.

Natalie's gaze darkened the second she laid eyes on Celestia. "Why'd you even bring her? That scandal in the papers wasn't enough?"

Jareth shot Celestia, who was wearing a blank expression, a sideways glance. "No matter how much she flirts around, she's still my wife on paper," he said lazily, then leaned in and kissed Natalie full on the lips without a care for the audience. "babe," he murmured to her, "I'll come find you in a bit."

His "babe" came out so naturally it made Celestia's stomach twist.

Natalie pouted for a second before shifting back into a sultry smile. "Coming over after the party? Or should I come over to yours...?"

"Can't tonight," Jareth cut her off coolly. "Gotta take my wife home first."

The moment he said that, Natalie's glare shot straight to Celestia like daggers. And it wasn't just her-suddenly, every pair of eyes in the room seemed fixed on Celestia, like she was the one who'd done something wrong.

So that was the whole point of dragging her here? To humiliate her in front of everyone? Celestia's heart went cold. Without saying a word, she turned and walked toward the exit.

But Jareth moved faster, grabbing her wrist. "Where do you think you're going?"

She looked at him calmly. "You've already got a date. I'll just head home."

"Did I say you could leave?" His sharp glare silenced her instantly.

After Natalie begrudgingly walked off, Jareth slid his arm back around Celestia's waist, leading her somewhere without saying a word.

When they finally stopped, Jareth spoke, "Sorry we're late."

Celestia looked up-and froze. Standing in front of her was Marigold Carrington.

Out of all the Carringtons, Celestia had only met Marigold once, the night before Sophia and Jareth's wedding. Even though it had been brief, the woman had left a strong impression: strict, dignified-intimidating.

"Grandmother, this is Celestia. My wife," Jareth introduced her, then turned to Celestia. "What're you standing there for? Aren't you gonna say hello?"

Celestia blinked, her lips parting hesitantly. She managed a soft, "Gran-" but before the word was fully out, a sharp voice cut through like a knife.

"Who gave you permission to call me that?" Marigold's icy tone sliced the air. Her face was stern, commanding.

"So the rumors were true. You really stole your friend's fiancé. I don't accept you as part of this family!" A verbal slap right out of the gate.