Adam ryped a message, “Back on campus yet?”


    He was asking if Celine had returned to Yorhine University,


    After all, Randall had driven her back that night. Just the thought of her getting into another man’s car made him press his lips together.


    But in the next second, he froze. The WhatsApp message hadn’t even gone through. A red exmation <b>mark </b>appeared next to it, followed by a cold system notification


    <b>“</b><b>You </b>are not friends with this person. Please add them as a friend to start chatting.”


    Adam fell silent.


    His handsome face darkened as realization hit him. Celine had already blocked him. In fact, she had blocked him the day they got divorced.


    It was only now that the reality sunk in, they were divorced. It was over between them.


    She had loved him once, passionately and fiercely, but that was in the past. She didn’t love him anymore


    “Adam, 1 don’t love you anymore.


    Her <b>voice </b>drifted back to him, soft but resolute, echoing in his mind. She had told him that herself on the day they ended things


    Adam opened the chat with “C” Celine’s new WhatsApp ount. Without hesitation, he sent her a friend request.


    There was no response.


    Celine didn’t add him back.


    Just then, his phone began to ring Carly’s name lit up the screen. She was calling him.


    Adam didn’t answer. A bitter smirk curled at the corner of his mouth, dripping with self–mockery.


    12


    At Tate Manor, Adam still hadn’t answered his phone.


    Carly let out a sharp scream, and in a sudden tit <b>of </b>rage, she began smashing the vases in the <b>living </b>room.


    Shards of ss flew in all directions, scattering across the floor like tiny<b>, </b>jagged stars.


    Hearing themotion, Hayden and Lucy rushed in. Lucy immediately moved <b>to </b>restrain Carly, panic in her voice. “Carly, what are you doing? The floor’s covered in <b>broken </b>shards! You’ll hurt yourself!”


    Bur Carly shoved Lucy away with a violent push, her fury spilling over.


    “This is all your fault! Why did you have to give birth to Celine? Why does Celine have <b>to </b>be the genius girl? Look at how <b>Grandma’s </b>attitude toward her haspletely <b>changed</b>! Adam won’t even answer my calls because of her! I hate Celine so much!”


    Lucy stumbled back, swallowing the sharp sting of her daughter’s words. No one in the world loved Carly more then she did, but at this moment, Lucy felt utterly helpless


    Hayden quickly stepped in, his tone firm yet soothing. “Carly, calm down. Your heart can’t take it.”


    “Dad, I just can’t stand it! Celine’s just some girl from the countryside! She dropped out of school when she was 16! So why? Why is she suddenly this genius girl? I’m so scared, Dad


    “I’m scared Adam’s going to fall in love with her. Mrs. Alvarez Senior doesn’t like me. I’ve already offended Allie. Dad, when will I finally get to marry Adam?


    Carly couldn’t handle what had happened that <b>day</b>. Her delicate, beautiful face was twisted with anger and frustration, tears streaming down her cheeks.


    Hayden’s heart ached for her as he gently pulled her into his arms. “Carly, don’t worry. We’ll figuro something out. You will marry Mr. Alvarez”


    Once Carly had gone upstairs to her room and fallen asleep, Hayden returned to the living room.


    The housekeepers had already cleaned up the mess of broken vases. He sank into the couch, alone with his thoughts.


    The television was on, tuned to a financial news program. The host alternated betweennguages as he reported.


    Sources confirm that Nigel Hampton, the legendary business mogul, returned to the Capitol yesterday and was spotted at the Royal Cemetery.


    “Over the years, Mr. Hampton has been searching for his daughter, the cherished heiress to his vast fortune, who was lost to him as a child. To this day, her whereabouts remain undown.”


    The screen cut to footage of the Royal Cemetery shrouded in gloom on a rainy day. A tall, Imposing figure stood silently in front of a gravestone.


    Behind him, an assistant held a ck sunbre over his head, the rain dripping steadily from its edge and further obscuring the man’s face.


    The mncholic scene lent him an air of profound mystery-


    Hayden leaned forward and turned off the television.


    at that moment, Lucy entered d the room. Hayden nced up. “Is <b>Carly </b>asleep?” he asked.


    AE


    Lucy nodded, her expression heavy with worry. “She cried herself to sleep just now. Honey<b>, </b>Carly’s whole heart is set on marrying Mr. Alvarez. Can’t you just help her make it happen?”