Chapter 87
“Sienna, she asked me to treat for a meal, but I thought it’s pricey and
scolded her a bit.”
Manuel immediately caught on this wasn’t a coincidence, but
intentionally arranged by Sienna to bring them together.
He playfully gave Sienna’s ear a tweak, “you have the audacity!”
Sienna pouted – she was doing it all for him! What an ungrateful brother!
As they took their seats, the waiter handed them the menu:
Manuel’s shirt sleeves were rolled up, and Celeste noticed a long scar
running from his elbow to the back of his hand, about twenty centimeters long.
“God, Manuel, what happened to your hand?!”
Manuel lowered his sleeve, “nothing.”
Sienna couldn’t resist chiming in, “it was during that hurricane…”
But Manuel swiftly hushed her, “Sienna!”
Sienna insisted, “during the hurricane, you were stuck in the hotel. When I
called you, actually Manuel was already on his way to find you… and then he had a car accident.”
“Manuel, you didn’t tell me…”
Manuel reassured her, “don’t worry, Cely, it’s not serious.”
Celeste felt a weight in her chest.
She stood up, suggesting, “the garden outside looks lovely. Manuel, how
about we take a stroll?”
Manuel nodded and followed her.
In the quiet garden, Celeste took her seat on a bench.
Manuel stood, his gaze on her. After a while, he broke the silence, “are you
really that scared of me?”
Celeste hadn’t expected such straightforwardness and quickly denied, “of course not.”
“No? Then why have you been avoiding me?”
Celeste’s avoiding his feelings had been an unspoken agreement between them. Manuel had never insisted on this topic so persistently before.
She sighed, “I haven’t.”
He chuckled, “I won’t do anything to you. I respect your will.”
Celeste was grateful he wasn’t making things more awkward. “Thank you.”
“But…”
He changed the tone, “we’re both unmarried. I have the chance to chase after you.”
His words made her feel uneasy, “Manuel, I…”
Manuel interrupted, “what? do you still have feelings for him?”
Celeste shook her head quickly, “of course not!”
He smiled, “then I get it.”
Celeste was about to explain further when a sudden noise pierced the air
Redeemed From Canelle
the sound of shattering glass, like a glass hitting the floor.
Manuel’s expression changed, and he looked in the direction where noise.
came from.
Only then did Celeste notice that, hidden behind the dense bushes, there
were people sitting across from them.
Kendric had recognized Celeste’s voice from the moment she spoke her first
words.
He was a frequent visitor to this restaurant, and today, Ezra had arranged a
meeting with some clients here for lunch.
But shortly after sitting down, they they found Celeste… and Manuel.
Celeste was shocked to see him here. What a bad luck!
Celeste was afraid of any conflicts, “Manuel, Sienna’s still waiting us. We better go back now.”
Kendric’s voice sounded, “Mr. Vader, what about having a cup of tea?”
Manuel wasn’t fazed. “Sure thing.”
Celeste sighed and sat down.
Kendric held a teacup. The engagement ring on his ring finger was particularly eye–catching.
off.
Since from the engagement ceremony, Celeste had never seen him take it
Manuel seemed to notice it too, as he gazed at the ring for a moment before casting a glance at Celeste.
Chapter 7
Tea wasn’t particularly Celeste’s thing, so she merely took a few sips.
She broke the silence first, “if there’s nothing else, we’re leaving.”
Kendric frowned at hearing the word “we.”
“I heard Mr. Vader was also at hurricane site back then?”
“Yeah.”
Kendric raised an eyebrow, “on business?”
Manuel smirked, “to find Celeste.”
Manuel’s words clearly crossed Kendric’s boundaries, but he didn’t seem to mind, giving him a challenging look.
Kendric sneered inwardly.
Celeste was startled and turned to look at Manuel. She had always seen Manuel as a gentle and considerate person in her presence, but she hadn’t
expected this aggressive side of him.
Tensions ran high between them.
Kendric drawled, “what a pity- at that time, Celeste was with me.”
A touch of surprise briefly flashed through Manuel’s eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. Kendric’s mockery didn’t bother him at all. “So what? You are already broken up,” he kept his cool and added, “okay, Mr. Melville, maybe you’ve forgotten, but Celeste turned you down at the engagement party. And
you heard her just now? She admitted she doesn’t like you anymore.”
Kendric’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. He sat there quietly with his head down, his eyes fixed on the ring on his finger. He wore an expression of
Chapter67
profound sadness.
Celeste couldn’t put her feelings into words. She had never seen Kendric
like this, so thoroughly defeated without a chance to fight back.
“Manuel, this is between him and me,” she reminded Manuel not to get
involved.
“Mr. Melville, you’re quite good at acting.” Manuel sneered and stood up. He turned to Celeste, “ready to go?”
Celeste was feared that there would be more conflicts between the two, so she didn’t hesitate to stand up.
Before she left, she addressed Kendric, “goodbye.”
Kendric gave a slight nod. Different from before, he didn’t force her to stay or uttering anything harsh. He even managed a faint smile as he watched her
- go.
Honestly, Celeste didn’t want to see him like this–so silent and holding
back, with a heavy shadow of sadness in his eyes.
His eyes followed Celeste until she vanished from his sight, and then there was a sharp crash.
This time, he smashed an entire tea set.
“Manuel Vader!” His smile vanished, replaced by fury.
