CELINE


    I’m still shaking from my meeting with Eleanor when Caesar tugs at my sleeve, pointing excitedly at the chopping Bags <b>spilling </b><b>from </b>someone’s arms near the mall entrance.


    “Aunt Caroline!” Caesar shouts, breaking free from my hand and running toward the familiar figure.


    My heart stops. Of all the people to run into right now, when I’m barely holding myself together….


    “Caesar!” Caroline drops her bags without hesitation, catching him in a fierce hug that lifts him off his feet. “My favorite little man! <b>What </b>are you doing here?”


    Over Caesar’s dark curls, Caroline’s eyes find mine. Even from a distance, I can see the surprise and concern written across her face.


    I try to smile, but it feels wobbly and unconvincing.


    “Mommy bought me ice cream!” Caesar announces proudly, still wrapped in Caroline’s arms. “And we saw Grandma Eleanor! She was here


    too!”


    I watch Caroline’s face change, her smile faltering as she processes Caesar’s innocent words. When she looks at me again, her face is full of questions I’m not ready to answer.


    “Grandma Eleanor?” Caroline repeats carefully, setting Caesar down but keeping her hands on his shoulders. “That’s… interesting.”


    I avoid her eyes, focusing instead on Caesar as he chatters about his chocte cake and the toy car Caroline bought him months back.


    But I can feel her stare burning into me, full of worry and unstated questions.


    “Caesar, sweetheart,” Caroline says gently, “why don’t you go look at those stuffed animals in the window over there? Stay where Mommy


    can see you.”


    He skips off happily, and Caroline immediately moves to my side.


    “Celine.” Her voice is soft but urgent. “What happened? Are you okay?”


    I finally meet her eyes, and whatever she see


    there makes her face crumple with concern.


    “Come on,” she says, linking her arm through mine. “We’re getting coffee. Real coffee. Not whatever you were drinking earlier.”


    Twenty minutester, we’re seated in a <i>cozy </i>café with actualtte art and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to stay for hours.


    Caesar is in the y area, building an borate tower with foam blocks while I watch him like a hawk.


    Caroline and I sit infortable silence for a moment, both of us seemingly lost in our thoughts.


    “Celine…”


    “Caroline…”


    We speak at the same time, and despite everything, it makes meugh. A realugh, the first genuine one I’ve had all day.


    “You first,” I say, wrapping my hands around my mug for warmth.


    Chapter <b>153 </b>


    Caroline takes a deep breath, her usual confidence nowhere to be found. “I need to apologize. I know <b>my </b><b>actions </b><b>don’t </b>deserve forgivene but I have to try.”


    I start to interrupt, but she holds up a hand.


    “Please, let me finish. You trusted me, Celine. You were my best friend, and I…” She swallows hard.


    “I did something evil. I manipted you, drugged you, and put you in danger. All because I thought I knew what was best for everyone<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    Her voice cracks, and I see tears gathering in her eyes.


    “I’m so ashamed of myself. I’m angry at myself. I became exactly like the Reid family I’ve always hated—putting my own selfish needs <b>above </b>everything else. Because of me, you got thrown out by your family. Because of me, you suffered white trying to take care of Caesar alone<b>. </b>


    She looks down at her hands, her voice barely above a whisper.


    “I knew Caesar’s father was Hunter, and I said nothing. I watched you struggle, and I said nothing. No amount of sorry will ever erase what did to you.”


    I study her face, seeing the genuine remorse etched in every line. I should hate her, Part of me wants to. But…


    “Caroline, look at me.”


    She raises her eyes, and I see my friend….really see her….for the first time in months.


    “You shouldn’t hate yourself,” I say quietly. “It’s not like my shitty family wouldn’t have thrown me out eventually anyway. They were just looking for an excuse.”


    Caroline opens her mouth to protest, but I continue.


    “And if you hadn’t yed matchmaker that night, I wouldn’t have Caesar. I wouldn’t have met Hunter. Yes, the way you went about it was wrong, but…”


    I nce over at Caesar, who’s now making airne sounds as


    he flies a toy ne around his block tower<i>. </i>


    “I can’t regret having him. And I can’t regret… everything that came after.”


    “Celine, you’re too forgiving,” Caroline says, shaking her head. “You should be furious with me.”


    “I was furious. For a long time.” I take a sip of mytte, letting the warmth spread through me.


    “But I’m tired of hating people, Caroline. You’re my friend. Your intentions were pure, even if your methods werepletely insane.”


    That gets a wateryugh out of her.


    “I can’t afford to lose friends,” I continue. “Not when I have so few of them.” <f9d> Read full story at </f9d>


    Caroline reaches across the table to grab my hand, and I let her.


    “Now,” she says, her voice stronger, “what’s this about running into Aunt Eleanor? Did she hurt you? Say something mean?”


    I try to look casual, but Caroline knows me too well.


    “We just… ran into each other. You know, coincidence.”


    Caroline raises an eyebrow. “Ah, you ran into Aunt Eleanor in a ce like this? My aunt Eleanor?”


    <b>13:04 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b>8 <b>Aug </b>O


    “Maybe she had someone to meet here,” I say weakly.


    “Celine.” Caroline’s voice is t. “Aunt Eleanor doesn’t ‘run into‘ people. She summons them.”


    I fidget with my mug. “It’s not that bad of a ce. It has great shopping malls and nice cafés…”


    “Yes, for people like us. Not for Aunt Eleanor.” Caroline rolls her eyes. “That womanins about everything. She probably had the <b>driver </b>circle the block three times before she had even gotten out of the car.”


    Despite everything, I find myself smiling. “She did seem… out of ce.”


    “I still can’t believe someone like Hunter came from her,” Caroline continues, warming to her favorite topic of mocking her aunt<b>. </b>


    “Can you imagine if Hunter were more like his mother? He wouldn’t look at <i>you </i>twice, let alone want anything to do with you.”


    “I’m d he’s not,” I say softly.


    Caroline’s eyes sparkle with mischief. “Oh my God, you are so in love.”


    “Caroline!” I feel my cheeks burning.


    “It’s written all over your face! You get this dreamy look whenever someone mentions his name.” She leans forward conspiratorially.


    “So, things are good between you two?”


    Before I can answer, she gasps, her grip on my hand tightening.


    “Wait, I felt something. What-” She turns my hand over, studying my palm where something smooth grazed her fingers.


    Her eyes widen as she spots the ring on her hand.


    “Caroline.” My voice is barely a whisper. “Is that what I think it is?”


    Her smile could power the entire city. “Fredric proposed!”


    I cover my mouth with my free hand, staring at the gorgeous diamond sparkling on her finger. “Oh my God! Caroline!”


    “I was so happy, and I wanted to call you the moment it happened, but with our fight…” She trails off, looking guilty again.


    “I’m so happy for you!” I squeeze her hand, and this time the tears in my eyes are happy ones. “Tell me everything!”


    Carolineunches into the story, her face glowing with joy as she describes Fredric’s borate proposal at sunset on the beach.


    I listen, letting her happiness wash over me, grateful for this moment of normality.


    “And he wants a spring wedding,” she continues, practically bouncing in her seat. “Something romantic but not too over the top. He suggested a garden theme, maybe at the estate…”


    “That sounds perfect,” I say, meaning it. “You’ll be the most beautiful bride.”


    “I also heard about your news,” Caroline says, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Vincent mentioned that you’re pregnant


    I nod, unconsciously cing a hand over my still–t stomach.


    “Hunter must be over the moon,” she continues. “After everything with the doctors telling him about his… condition… this must feel like a


    miracle.”


    <b>3/4 </b>


    13:05 Fri, 8 <b>Aug </b>


    <b>“</b>It does,” I whisper.


    We sit there for a moment, both of us lost in thoughts of the future. Then Caroline starts describing Fredric‘ & ideas for the véné CANE find myselfughing at her animated gestures.


    For the first time in hours, I feel free. Light. Despite whatever happened with Eleanor, despite the threats and the fear, I have 1706


    I have my friend back, my son ying happily nearby, and the promise of new life growing inside me


    Sometimes, I realize, the sweetest momentse right after the darkest ones,


    “Mommy!” Caesar calls from the y area. “Look what I built!*


    I look over to see him standing proudly next to a tower that’s nearly as tall as he is, constructed entirety of colorful blocks


    “That’s amazing, baby!” I call back.


    “It’s for the new baby!” he announces. “So they have somewhere to y!”


    Caroline and I exchange a look, and she grins.


    “He’s going to be such a good big brother,” she says.


    “He already is,” I reply, watching as Caesar carefully adds another block to his creation.


    And for the first time in a long time, I let myself believe that everything might be okay.


    A..