Chapter 4

Celeste

After the meeting, I didn't return directly to my desk. The pain in my stomach was intensifying, and I needed coffee to help ease it.

Several colleagues had already gathered in the break room, the room smelled like fresh coffee. The moment I walked in, Riley rushed over to me.

"Celeste! I can't believe what just happened!" She sounded pissed". "This is so unfair! You've worked here for years—how can they just bring in some outsider and give her your job?"

Sarah nodded in agreement from nearby. "This is such BS. Everyone knows something's going on with her and Kieran."

I silently poured myself a cup of coffee, hoping the hot liquid would suppress the cramping in my stomach. But as soon as the coffee touched my lips, a sharp pain shot through me, causing my hand to tremble involuntarily.

Hot coffee spilled onto my white blouse, leaving an ugly brown stain. The pain nearly made me lose control, but I bit down hard on my lip to keep it together.

"Are you okay?" Riley asked with concern, handing me some napkins.

"I'm fine," I took the napkins, working to keep my voice steady. "Kieran must have his reasons."

"You're being way too cool about this!" Riley threw her hands up in frustration. "This is such obvious favoritism! We're not blind—everyone can see that woman got the job through connections!"

I didn't respond, just quietly dabbed at the stain on my blouse. Each breath sent sharp pains through my stomach, but I couldn't show it. I'd grown accustomed to hiding, to maintaining dignity through pain.

Just as I tried to change the subject, my phone rang. It was Kieran.

Seeing his familiar number, my heart immediately raced. He never called me unless...

"Hello?" I answered.

"Celeste, come to my office immediately." His voice was ice-cold, and he hung up without giving me a chance to respond.

Riley noticed my expression and asked worriedly, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just the boss calling," I forced a smile. "You guys keep chatting. I'll see what he wants."

Walking to the CEO's office felt like torture. The pain in my stomach seemed to remind me that my days were numbered—why subject myself to more suffering?

Still, I knocked on that familiar door.

"Come in."

Pushing the door open, I saw Kieran standing by the floor-to-ceiling window,his back to me. I could tell he was pissed. To my surprise, Delphine sat on the couch, her eyes slightly red as if she'd been crying.

"Sit down," Kieran turned around, holding a piece of paper in his hand.

I recognized the company's formal complaint form.

"Although Delphine is new here, she's qualified," he began by defending her. "Her project management experience in Boston is extensive. She's more than capable of handling this position."

I remained silent, waiting for what he really wanted to say.

Sure enough, he exploded the next second.

"But you?" He slammed the paper down on the desk. "Talking behind her back, rallying colleagues to isolate Delphine—is being nasty just who you are?"

Those words felt like sharp knives plunging straight into my heart.

"People will say what they want to say. It has nothing to do with me," my voice was surprisingly calm. "Besides, people aren't stupid."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kieran's gaze sharpened.

"Nothing," I said flatly. "Just stating facts."

Delphine sniffled quietly from the side: "Celeste, I know you're upset, but let's not let work damage our relationship... I honestly had no idea the company would offer me this position directly. If I'd known it was yours..."

Her performance was flawless as always. Tears perfectly timed, tone wounded yet innocent.

Looking at this scene, I suddenly felt exhausted. Not my body—my soul. I was sick of this whole game, sick of nobody getting me, sick of fighting a battle I'd never win.

I opened my handbag and took out a document I'd prepared earlier.

My resignation letter.

On my way home after receiving the diagnosis yesterday, I'd already made up my mind. With so little time left, why continue to waste it in this environment?

I gently placed the resignation letter on Kieran's desk.

When he looked down and saw the heading, his expression instantly changed. I saw shock, anger, and something else I couldn't read cross his face.

"What, are you having a meltdown?" His voice trembled. "Are you being a child right now?"

The expensive fountain pen on his desk was angrily swept to the floor, black ink splashing everywhere.

"I'll go to HR myself to process the paperwork," I said calmly, as if everything that had just happened was irrelevant to me.

Delphine quickly stood up: "Celeste, please don't do this... I can turn down the position. If you really—"

I laughed bitterly inside. She knows I won't let her do that, just as she knows Kieran would never let her actually give up this position.

I never had the luxury of throwing tantrums. All my life, I could only endure, adapt, accept. And now, I didn't even have time left.

"I'm not throwing a tantrum," I stood up. "I'm making a rational decision."

With that, I turned to leave. Kieran called my name from behind, but I didn't look back.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a hand reached in. It was Delphine.

She stepped into the elevator, breathless, tear tracks still visible on her face.

"Celeste, can we talk?" Her voice was pleading. "Let's not let work damage our sisterhood... I really didn't know the company would—"

The elevator doors closed, leaving just the two of us.

I turned to face her directly. In this small space, there was no audience, no Kieran, just the two of us.

"This little act always works for you, doesn't it?" I said with a cold smile.

I grabbed her chin and made her look at me.

Her whole act dropped instantly. The fake innocent look disappeared, replaced by calculation and smugness.

"You know perfectly well there's never been any sibling bond between him and me," my voice was soft as a feather, but each word was crystal clear. "If anything, you're more like his sister than I ever was."

Delphine tried to pull away, but I didn't release my grip.

"Eleven years, and you haven't changed a bit," I continued. "First you take what belongs to others, then you play innocent, and finally you cast yourself as the victim."

The elevator reached the ground floor, and the doors slowly opened.

I let go of her, straightened my clothes, and put my calm mask back on.

"Congratulations, Delphine," I said as I walked out of the elevator. "You win again."