Her dad had stayed single for over twenty years after her mom passed, all for her sake. He gave up so much just to raise her right.

Now, he was lying in a hospital bed, again because of her. Compared to that, giving up her right to choose her own marriage? Honestly, it felt like nothing.

So, Celestia said yes.

There wasn't even a basic wedding. The moment they finished registering their marriage that afternoon, she moved straight into Jareth's villa by Serene Lake.

Somehow, the gossip sites caught wind of it. The second they stepped out of the marriage registration office, there were a ton of reporters waiting outside. Celestia had to push her way through the crowd for fifteen whole minutes before she finally made it into the car.

And the entire time? Jareth just sat there in the back seat, acting all chill, watching her with a smirk like he found it all amusing.

Night fell, and the Carrington estate was dead silent.

After dropping her off, Jareth just bailed without a word. The staff at the villa looked at each other, clearly confused, while Celestia quietly ate dinner alone and then went upstairs.

After showering, she slipped into her pajamas and stepped out onto the balcony, tilting her head to gaze at the night sky.

The moon was half-hidden behind thick clouds, and the stars were nowhere to be seen. Not even the faintest breeze stirred the air-it felt as lifeless as her mood.

She was really married now. That thought hit her again. Married to a guy she couldn't stand-a total playboy. Worse, he used to be engaged to her closest friend. The whole thing still felt completely unreal.

Celestia couldn't figure Jareth out. Why marry her? He'd been with Sophia for a whole year, then dropped that bomb on what was supposed to be their wedding day and chose her instead.

When Ethan asked him what he planned to do, he'd immediately said he'd take responsibility. Like it was no big deal? He made it seem like he didn't care about Sophia or the marriage at all. But then, why go through with any of it in the first place?

Thoughts tumbled through her head like tangled threads, no matter how she tried, she couldn't make sense of anything.

Out of nowhere, a strong gust of wind blew past, making her shiver in her thin pajamas. She hugged herself tightly, suddenly snapped back to reality.

Looking up, she saw the clouds pressing heavy and dark above, like a storm was about to break. She turned to go back inside-only to freeze.

With a loud bang, the bedroom door swung open, stopping her in her tracks.

Where Celestia stood, she had a clear view into the room, but the people inside couldn't see her. From that angle, she could see everything.

And what she saw made her eyes go wide.

Under the warm, dim lighting, a man and a woman were locked in a heated kiss, their clothes falling away bit by bit as they tumbled onto the massive waterbed in each other's arms.

The man-of course-was Jareth. The woman? Her back was turned, so Celestia couldn't see her face.

The whole thing happened so fast, she didn't even have time to react.

Should she storm in? Or walk away?

Celestia just stood there, face pale, staring straight at the bed.

In the end, she stayed where she was-no way was she going to interrupt whatever the hell that was.

Even though Jareth's flings technically had nothing to do with her, doing that with another woman in their bedroom today... there's no way Celestia didn't feel something.

At some point, the wind outside had started howling, sharp and cold against the windows, but inside the bedroom, the heat was practically suffocating.

Once the rush had settled down, the woman finally opened her eyes to look at Jareth. "Jareth, did you seriously marry that woman?" she asked, jealousy practically dripping from her voice.

Jareth gave her a lazy smirk. "Yeah, I did." Straightforward. No denial.

She didn't even try to hide her disappointment. "So... that means we're done now?"

"What do you think?" he said with a grin, making the woman giggle and squirm.

"You're so bad, Jareth!" she said in a sulky voice, leaning in for a kiss. But he turned his head away like always. Knowing he didn't like being kissed didn't make it any less awkward, but she didn't take it personally.

"Good thing I had that drug ready that night," she added coyly. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have gotten Celestia so easily. So... how are you gonna thank me, huh?"

Jareth paused, just for a beat. Then he looked up again, his face full of that familiar devil-may-care charm. "Aren't I showing you my thanks right now, sweetheart?"

"You're terrible..." she whined.

Outside, the wind howled even louder. But out on the balcony, Celestia stood frozen, like someone had pulled her soul right out of her body.

She stared blankly at the tangled figures on the bed, and finally, she saw the woman's face clearly.

It was her.

The same woman who'd brought her drinks at Sophia's engagement party, the same woman who'd walked her back to her room that night. Celestia never expected... she'd team up with Jareth to take her down.

That night, she didn't pass out from drinking too much-she was drugged. She'd been set up.

The truth hit Celestia so hard, her mind just went blank. Her whole body felt hollow, like someone had gutted her from the inside. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed like a broken puppet onto the floor.

Why? Why would he do this? She stared at Jareth's back, completely stunned, heart boiling with humiliation and rage.

He let her get branded as the mistress, tossed her into this sham of a marriage, and for what? What did he even gain from doing this to her?

A deafening clap of thunder exploded across the sky. The wind suddenly picked up even more, and within seconds, the sky opened up, dumping buckets of rain. The storm was merciless.

The rain slammed against her thin body like icy needles, but Celestia didn't feel a thing. No matter how cold it got outside, nothing compared to the chill inside her.

She couldn't take her eyes off the two who were still wrapped up in each other on the bed. She didn't even know how long she'd been sitting there, getting drenched by wind and rain, until her chest tightened painfully and her body finally gave out. She toppled backward in a haze as total darkness swept over her and pulled her under.

The next day, it was one of the house staff who found Celestia passed out on the balcony.

A raging fever of 103.1°F, and Jareth had the heartless nerve to forbid anyone from calling a doctor or even looking after her. He just threw Celestia on the bed and left her there like she was nothing-left to fend for herself.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden hue over the cold, indifferent room.

Celestia slowly opened her heavy eyelids. The moment her eyes opened, everything spun wildly. Her head felt like it was being crushed under a ton of bricks, her whole body floating in a warped haze where she couldn't even tell if she was dreaming or awake.

"You're awake?" A cold, emotionless voice broke the quiet. A tall figure appeared in her blurry vision.

With great effort, Celestia lifted her drooping eyelids and stared weakly at Jareth's face twisted in a mocking smile. As the memories of what happened before she passed out hit her, rage rushed up in her chest.

Digging deep for what little strength she had left, she propped herself up and croaked out, "Why...? Why would you do this to me?" Her voice was hoarse, but each word was thick with pain. What had she done to deserve this cruelty?

Jareth looked down at her pale face without a trace of warmth in his eyes. His lashes flicked slightly. "No idea what you're talking about."

Celestia shook from head to toe-not from weakness, but from anger. She wanted to scream, wanted to fight, but even moving took all of her energy. Gritting her teeth, she forced the words out:

"I heard everything... You set me up. You had that woman drug my drink, and then-you forced yourself on me..." That last part came out in a hoarse scream.

"Why would you do that? I've never done anything to hurt you! Why?"

Each word she said felt like knives carving out her already shattered heart.

Jareth stood there unfazed, not even a flicker of guilt. Only after she fell silent, completely drained, did he finally speak, lips curling into a faint smile.

"Because I wanted you." His voice was almost gentle, his eyes locked on her tear-soaked lashes as he reached out and twirled a piece of her hair between his fingers.

The smile on his face wasn't reassuring-it was cold, twisted, terrifying.

"My dear little wife, do you really not realize how many men are dying to have you? How many are ready to kill just to get close to you? I'm just one of them." His tone was strangely soft, even affectionate.

"You really think I'm gonna buy that crap?" Celestia let out a breathless laugh, full of bitterness. Hatred blazed inside her, the pain almost knocking her out again. His face-twisted with that sick grin-blurred in her vision.

"Why wouldn't you believe me? Don't you know how gorgeous you are?" Jareth went on, still stroking her hair with that same obsessive look in his dark eyes.

"You're so beautiful it drives me mad-makes me want to ruin you..."

Celestia's breathing grew frantic, her chest rising with every harsh gasp. Looking at the man she should call husband, she rasped out, "So that's what you want? My body? My money? Is that what all this is for?"

Unexpectedly, Jareth fell silent. Then, something dangerous flickered in his eyes.

"Your pain."

Her pain-he did all this just to watch her suffer?

Celestia's rage finally broke loose. With all the strength she could muster, she slapped him-hard.

"You're a monster, Jareth!" she spat out, right before collapsing.

Her slap, weak as it was, still left a stinging red mark on Jareth's cheek. He touched his face with his fingers, looking down at her limp body. Amused.

"You actually hit me?" he murmured with a chilling smile-calm on the surface, but somehow far scarier than if he'd screamed.

Celestia could barely cling to consciousness. Her body was too drained to even lift a finger. She just stared at Jareth in silence, her lips unable to form a sound.

There was a cold glint in Jareth's eyes, something predatory, almost feral. The next second, without any warning, he lunged forward and gripped her slender neck tightly. His fingers locked around her throat, his whole aura radiating violence.

He glared fiercely at her, watching her eyes roll back from lack of air. There wasn't the slightest trace of mercy in his expression-only rage.

"No one gets away with laying a hand on me!" he growled, veins bulging on his forehead, his anger burning.

Celestia tried to fight back, but her body betrayed her. She couldn't even muster the strength to twitch her fingers, much less break free. Her vision started to blur, breath growing thinner with each passing second, until she felt herself slipping.

Just then, Jareth flung her back onto the bed, hard.

The force of it knocked the air from her lungs. She let out a muffled gasp as pain shot through her entire body, almost passing out again.

"Don't think being a woman will save you. Next time, I'll make you pay double," he sneered, his gaze icy as it swept over her from head to toe. And just like that, he turned on his heel and left without a second glance.

Celestia stared at his retreating back, lips parted as if wanting to say something-but nothing came out.

Just as Jareth opened the door to leave, he paused, turning back with a cruel smirk tugging at his lips. "Oh, and if you wanna watch us getting it on again, no need to spy from the balcony. I don't mind giving you front-row seats next time."

The last thing Celestia saw before blacking out was that twisted grin on his face. Then-nothing.

When she woke again, four days had passed.

The first two, her fever raged unchecked because no one came to help. It wasn't until the third day that the housekeeper panicked and called a doctor, who finally gave her fluids. By the fourth morning, her fever finally broke.

When she first regained consciousness, she felt completely hollow inside-like she was just skin and bone. She laid there blankly, staring at the ceiling for a solid half hour before her mind started clearing bit by bit. Even getting out of bed felt impossible.

Her head was spinning, but she still managed to throw on something and drag herself slowly out the door, using the wall as support.

The walk from upstairs to the ground floor took mere seconds on a good day. But for Celestia, every step felt like she was trudging through miles. By the time she reached the bottom stair, her legs gave out and she slumped to the floor, completely spent.

Right then, the housekeeper, Amy, walked out of the kitchen and saw her. She hurried over in alarm, dropping what she was holding. "Ma'am! You're awake!" She helped Celestia up and settled her onto the couch.

"Yeah..." Celestia croaked weakly, leaning back against the cushions. After she caught her breath, she looked up at Amy and asked, "Can you make me some food?"

She hadn't eaten in days. Other than some water and nutrient drips, her stomach had been completely empty. Now that she was conscious, the hunger hit her like a brick.

Amy looked torn, her face full of guilt. "I... I'm so sorry, Ma'am. Mr. Carrington told us not to help you in any way."

Celestia stared at her, stunned. Her pale face flushed red with suppressed fury. Was Jareth really trying to starve her out now?

Fine.

If he wanted her to give up that easily, he was dreaming.

"Can you at least tell me where the food is? I'll cook it myself," she said, forcing herself upright.

"You know how to cook?" Amy looked surprised.

Celestia nodded and headed toward the kitchen, "Lived on my own in high school. I'm not totally helpless, you know."

Under Amy's wide-eyed stare, Celestia spent a solid two hours cooking a pot of homemade chicken soup. She also toasted a few slices of bread and scrambled some eggs. While it was still simmering, she slipped upstairs to soak in a hot bath. The warm water drove away the exhaustion, and afterward, she felt way more alert.

She changed into fresh clothes, then sat down at the dining table, spooning soup into her mouth while chatting casually with Amy about Jareth.

From what Amy said, Celestia learned that Jareth had moved out of his family home at just seventeen. After college, he started at the very bottom of the Carrington Corporation, and in just six years climbed all the way to the top, now reigning as CEO. With a sharp mind and even sharper methods, he'd turned the company into an industry powerhouse.

Sure, she could admit the man had talent, but as far as she was concerned? Jareth was nothing more than a cold-blooded control freak.

When she asked how someone like him ended up with such a frosty personality, Amy's face froze, and she fumbled for words, hesitating so long she barely said anything at all.

Just as Celestia was about to press her for an answer, her train of thought got cut off by her phone ringing-clear and crisp. She picked it up from the side, glanced at the screen. It was her father's assistant. Thinking it might be some company issue, she answered in a rush.

"Jolie..." Celestia had barely spoken when Jolie interrupted, sounding panicked.

"Ms. Brooks, something's happened-you need to turn on the TV. Right now. The Carrington Corporation just acquired Brooks Enterprises."

Her spoon slipped from her hand with a loud clink, falling back into the bowl. The hot soup splashed on her soft skin, turning it red, but she didn't even flinch.

"Acquired? What are you talking about?" she asked, already rushing toward the living room, grabbing the remote and flipping to the finance channel Jolie had mentioned.

The moment she saw the bold red banner on-screen, her pupils contracted hard.

There he was-Jareth, in a crisp Armani suit, standing tall in front of the Brooks Enterprises lobby, facing the camera. Even through the screen, his presence was powerful. His usual cool smile hinted at something ruthless beneath the surface, a king claiming his throne.

"I've authorized my legal team to proceed with the acquisition of Brooks Enterprises. Most major shareholders have already agreed. Now..."

Acquisition.

That word hit her like a brick, knocking the color from her face.

What did this even mean? He promised to help, didn't he? But now... staring at Jareth's confident smirk on the screen, Celestia realized the truth-he'd played her.

Saying he was helping her? What a joke. His real goal was clearly to take over the company. Celestia burned with rage, her eyes gleaming with a fire that couldn't be put out.

She could let a lot of things slide, but not this. Not the Brooks Group.

Her father had built this company from the ground up-it was his life's work. There was no way she was going to just sit back and watch Jareth snatch it away.

She barely touched her food before rushing upstairs, quickly throwing a few things together, then stormed out and grabbed one of Jareth's limited-edition Ferraris from the garage without even blinking.

She gunned it straight toward Brooks Group, but when she finally got there, they told her Jareth had already left.

With no time to waste, she drove another two hours to Carrington Corp. After a whole runaround at the front desk, someone finally agreed to let her go up to his office.

Celestia didn't bother with pleasantries-no knocking, nothing. She shoved the door open and there he was, sitting behind his desk, just as cold and distant as always.

Her brows furrowed tightly as her hands clenched at her sides. She took a deep breath, marched right into the office, and stopped just in front of him, ready to tear into him.

But before she could get a word out, she realized he hadn't even noticed her-his eyes were locked on something in his hands.

She blinked, surprised by how focused he looked. It made her curious-what could have him this zoned in? Letting her mouth close, her gaze drifted down until she saw it.

A photo. He was holding a photo.

Celestia squinted and tried to take a good look. There was a woman leaning against a tree, smiling so brightly, with a soft, gentle face.

But before she could make out the entire image, Jareth abruptly looked up and caught her staring.

The moment their eyes met, she was caught completely off guard.

Was this really Jareth? The same cold, untouchable man?

Because right then, his face held this rare, almost tender look, soft enough to throw her off for a second.

He, too, was startled by her unexpected appearance. The moment he realized what she was looking at, he quickly tucked the photo into a drawer and shut down whatever warmth had been on his face.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was icy, eyes sharp and unreadable again.

His sudden change pulled Celestia right back to reality. That usual coldness, that disdain in his eyes-it hit her like a slap.

Her expression darkened as she snapped, "You bought the Brooks Group? Care to explain how that makes any sense? You promised you'd help us, and now this? How could you just go back on your word like that?"

The image of him, all smug and confident on TV, announcing the acquisition like some kind of victor, flashed through her mind-and it set her blood boiling all over again.

Celestia stared daggers at Jareth, waiting for his reply. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

"So you came all the way here just for this?" Jareth shot her a sharp glance, raising a brow with a mocking smirk. "I only promised to keep your company afloat. I never said I'd give it back to your father." His voice was calm, matter-of-fact, like it was no big deal.

"You-!" Celestia was seething, her pale face tinged with red. She couldn't even argue-he wasn't technically lying. Back then, she'd only been desperate to save the company, and made a verbal deal with him. She just hadn't expected him to be this ruthless.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Celestia forced out, "So you're saying you're not giving Brooks Corp back at all?"

Jareth glanced over with a cold look. He didn't answer directly.

"I've got loads of work to do. If you're done talking, you can leave now." His tone was final, as if she was just wasting his time.

Celestia glared at him, her eyes gleaming like a storm was brewing. Her brows pinched slightly as she bit her lip and hissed through clenched teeth, "If your word means nothing, then don't expect me to keep mine. I'll have the divorce papers ready soon. Whatever deal we had-it's over."

She turned on her heel, heading straight for the door.

Jareth didn't even flinch. He raised one brow lazily, his smirk smug as ever. "Sure. Unless you want your father in handcuffs." Did she really think he'd be that soft? Not a chance.

Celestia stopped cold.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She spun around. Jareth stood there, his handsome face twisted into a smug, sinister grin. That look sent chills down her spine.

"Hurting my dad and putting him in the hospital wasn't enough for you? What are you trying to pull now?" Her voice lifted, anger and fear bubbling in her chest.

Jareth didn't react. Instead, his eyes darkened for a second. When he looked back at her, the smile was gone, replaced with something much colder.

"You really think your dad's some untouchable saint?" he snapped. "I've got evidence of all the shady deals he's done-bribes, embezzlement, all of it. Enough to put him away for good. If that doesn't bother you, feel free to walk out that door."

Bribes? That couldn't be. Her father?

"No way," Celestia shot back without a pause.

Her father had always been by the book, generous to charities-he wasn't the kind of man who'd take a bribe. She didn't buy a single word Jareth said.

But Jareth, still as calm as ever, reached into his drawer and casually tossed a thick stack of documents onto the floor right in front of her.