Chapter 3

Celine had been married to Leon Drake Bridgerton for one year, yet it felt like yesterday. The final scenario in her imagination is clear, particularly the day Leon saves her.

She reminisces about everything while sitting in the gazebo in the garden's center.

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(FLASHBACK)

"Uncle... Could you please explain why my parents did that?" Celine is in tears. Her imagination recalls the incident in which her parents leap from their house's rooftop.

She has learned nothing since moving overseas. Celine's relatives from both clans did not come there, so she went to her father's brother to find out what was going on after burying her parents.

"You have no right to come to my house! Your dad is a thief! He has brought shame to the entire family!" her uncle said angrily.

"Uncle! I know my father would never do something like that!" Celine shot back. She hadn't expected to hear it from his uncle since she recalled her father encouraging him when he was younger.

"Then you're mistaken! He has already done so, and worse, your father stole from the firm for which he worked. So, if I were you, I'd leave the city and never return!"

Celine was about to respond when the door opened, allowing a group of males to enter.

"Well... well... well, looks like you have a visitor?" said one guy, glancing at Celine.

"She is the daughter of my brother..."

"Yes, I recognize her... We went to the cemetery and saw her there,"

"Uncle, who exactly are they?"

"He is the guy your father robbed!"

Celine was startled and terrified; looking at the guys, she was certain they had done awful things.

"Uncle, I'll talk to you another time, I have to leave," she hastened, but one guy grabbed Celine before she could.

"I don't have the luxury of torturing your father because he kills himself! That is why you will replace him!" The guy yelled.

"What are you up to?! Allow me to leave! Do something, Uncle!" Celine yelled. But the guy he had anticipated would assist him did nothing. He simply stood there and watched as the guy dragged her up to the vehicle.

Celine has no idea where they are going since the guy continues to abuse her and she loses consciousness along the way.

Celine recalled being led to the mansion, placed into a freezing room, and tormented.

Leon, thankfully, came... She'd freeze to death if he arrived even a minute later.

(END OF FLASHBACK)

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She stretched after taking a long breath. Celine walked inside since it was already dark.

Despite the passage of a year, Leon kept Celine imprisoned in this home.

She never sought to flee for fear of repeating what occurred the last time she tried to flee.

Fortunately, the estate is too large for Celine to become bored, and Leon gives her access to everything, so she knows everything...

"Hmm, the new book will help me with my sleeping problem," Celine said quietly as she walked down the hall to the study room.

But as she got closer, Celine heard a Latin music; it was harmonic, so it piqued her interest.

"It's coming to the study room?" As she cautiously opened the door, her brow wrinkled.

This is Leon! Celine closed her lips, afraid of being heard by the guy who was concentrating on his maneuver.

Is he dancing salsa by himself? Leon puts his hand upward, pretending to have a partner while doing his beautiful spin.

Celine, on the other hand, spotted something...

Leon has sorrowful eyes... They'd been dating for a year, but Celine had never seen him like this...

Leon seems to be in danger right now.

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Celine couldn't sleep after the events in the study room, so she went to bed early.

"Does it appear that my lovely sister-in-law is deep in thought?"

Celine instantly grinned. "Luke! Finally, you've arrived..." she said, hugging him.

"Well, hearing your annoying voice in the middle of the night torments me... So, what exactly is the issue?" Luke inquired as he sat in front of Celine, pouring coffee into a cup.

"The thing is... Does Leon have a lover?" Celine inquired. Leon's half-brother is Luke, yet the latter treats him extremely kindly. Leon is so protective of his only brother that he never involves him in illicit activities.

Celine frowned as Luke burst out laughing. "Do you have a lover? You want to know whether LEON cheated on you? Are you crazy?" Luke says this with teary eyes from laughing.

Luke's evident enjoyment caused Celine to scowl. Her inquiry seemed to be a huge joke. "What's the big deal? Your brother is beautiful, wealthy, and powerful... surely many women adore him," Celine reasoned.

"You are correct... He is every woman's fantasy, yet he married you," Luke responded while sipping his coffee.

Celine remained silent...

"Can you tell me why you ask such a stupid question? Did you happen to see my brother with another woman?" Luke inquired, curiously. But he is skeptical...

Before responding to Luke, Celine took a big breath. "Last night, I saw Leon dancing alone in the study room. And his eyes--I can sense he's unhappy... so I assumed Leon missed his sweetheart," Celine turned away from the mirror out of shame.

"He misses his mother... yesterday was his mother's funeral. Leon will isolate himself in his study room and blast music every time this day arrives." Luke hesitated, a sorrowful expression on his face. "Leon adores his mother; he is always present and watching whenever she dances. They sometimes dance together..."

Celine was taken aback. He has been married to Leon for a year but is unaware of this aspect of his life. How would you know if you do not make an effort to understand your husband? She thinks to herself.

"And, like you, he also witnessed the deaths of his mother and our father..." Luke added, clenching his fist.

"They also committed suicide?" Celine inquired, surprised. She placed her hand on her lap to conceal its quivering.

"No, killed... That night, a horde stormed the home and murdered everyone. Only Leon escaped. With three gunshots in his body, he was fortunate to have no critical organ damage," Luke said.

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Celine couldn't sleep that night. She was still pondering about Leon's personality insights. "Perhaps Leon's family has a problem in the underworld, so that is what happened..."

Ring the doorbell...

"What exactly do you want?" Celine inquired as Leon approached.

Leon's lip raised as he kept walking and came to a halt near the bed.

"If I said I wanted you... Would you willingly give yourself to me?" Leon teasingly responded by touching Celine's chin and pulling her closer.