In the Bridal Room – Night After the Wedding
Celestine sat on the large bed, surrounded by silence, with only the soft glow of the night lamp illuminating the room. The party had just ended, and the guests had begun to leave. She gazed out the window—her balcony, just like herself, was locked in place, trapped in Yeager's game.
Her fingers wrapped around her phone as she opened her photo gallery. She scrolled through the pictures taken during the event earlier.
Some photos showed her with Yeager—formal wedding photos, with smiles that she felt were somewhat forced. But among them, she found one photo that caught her attention.
It was taken earlier that afternoon, before the wedding. Jamie—with a nervous yet wide smile—stood beside her, handing her a box of chocolates. Celestine remembered how Jamie had been so jittery then, and how she had returned his gesture with a small smile, though deep inside, she felt uncertain about the wedding that was about to happen.
Celestine stared at the photo for a long time.
"What am I even doing?"
She touched the screen, zooming in on the photo. On one hand, she knew Jamie was just trying to make her feel a bit better with that small gesture—the chocolate—but on the other hand, she felt increasingly trapped in this forced marriage. How could she forget everything that had happened with Jamie and how she truly felt? Now she was married to Yeager, a man who still felt like a mystery to her.
Celestine sighed, putting her phone down on the bedside table.
On the Other Side of the House – Yeager
Yeager sat in the large living room, reviewing important documents on the table, but his mind wasn't fully focused. He kept glancing at the door to Celestine's room—would she come out to talk to him? What was she thinking about the marriage?
There was a concern hidden deep within him, but there was nothing he could show outwardly.
Back in Celestine's Room
Celestine finally pulled the blanket over her and lay down. Her thoughts of Jamie and the sudden marriage disturbed her. Slowly, she closed her eyes, hoping for a peaceful sleep, though she knew it wouldn't come easily.
Yet, in her sleep, her mind continued to swirl, trapped in the new relationship she had just entered. What did she really want?
Morning in the Bridal Room
The sunlight streamed through the cracks in the curtains, softly illuminating Celestine, who sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes closed for a moment, trying to calm herself after the whirlwind of emotions from the previous night.
As she began to open her eyes, the sound of the bathroom door creaking open broke the silence. Celestine quickly turned her head, and before she could look away, Yeager stepped out of the bathroom.
He was only wearing a white towel wrapped around his waist, his hair still damp and slightly messy, which made his already intense presence even more striking. He walked slowly toward the wardrobe in the corner of the room.
Celestine, who was still sitting on the bed, immediately covered her face with both hands, trying to suppress the overwhelming awkwardness that hit her all at once.
"Great, this is insane," she thought to herself, trying to avoid looking at Yeager, who was now busy sorting through his clothes.
But even though she tried not to look, the tension in the room became palpable, and it was impossible to ignore the strange feeling that filled the space between them. Celestine could feel the strong aura of Yeager, like a weight that seemed to press down on everything around them.
Yeager didn't speak right away. He glanced at Celestine briefly but said nothing, only the sound of him drying his hair with a towel broke the silence.
Celestine finally removed her hands from her face, slowly glancing toward Yeager. Although she felt uncomfortable, she knew she couldn't keep avoiding the reality of their situation.
Yeager glanced at her again, then spoke in his low, calm voice, "Why don't you go out? You can shower if you want."
His tone wasn't harsh, almost casual, as though he had grown accustomed to her presence, even in such an intimate situation.
Celestine remained silent for a moment, still feeling awkward. Her thoughts were racing. Even though she knew this marriage was not something she wanted, it was becoming harder to ignore the mix of emotions she was experiencing.
"What do you really want from me, Yeager?" she thought, but those words remained unspoken in her mind.
Bridal Room – Early Morning
After her shower, Celestine stepped out of the bathroom dressed in clean clothes. She wore a soft pastel blouse and simple pants. Her hair was still damp, falling loosely around her shoulders. Her face looked fresh, but her eyes held confusion and worry about everything that had happened.
She was brushing her hair slowly in front of the mirror when the bedroom door opened again.
Yeager entered, now dressed in crisp formal pants and a white shirt. One thing was still missing: a black tie hung loosely around his neck. He held his blazer in one hand, standing at the doorway, watching Celestine through the mirror.
"Could you help me with my tie?" he asked, voice cool but unusually gentle.
"I have to leave early today."
Celestine paused mid-brush and slowly turned to look at him. Their eyes met through the mirror.
"Are you serious?" she murmured.
Yeager nodded slightly, then took slow steps toward her.
Without a word, Celestine turned to face him. Her hands hesitated, but finally, she reached out, took both ends of the tie, and began looping it around his neck.
They were close. Yeager leaned down slightly to match her height, his face only inches from hers. The fresh scent from his skin drifted toward her, making her heart pound a little faster. She tried to focus, but her fingers trembled slightly.
"You wear ties all the time, but you don't know how to tie one yourself?" she asked, trying to sound unimpressed.
Yeager looked at her calmly. "I rarely have someone to do it for me. But now, I have you."
Celestine paused. Her fingers froze on the knot. His words—simple, yet so disarming.
At last, she tightened the knot and adjusted it neatly against his collar. She gave his chest a light pat, as if to say "done."
"All set, Mr. CEO," she said with mock indifference.
Yeager leaned down a little closer, his face near her hair.
"Thank you, Mrs. Yeager."
Celestine quickly looked up at him, eyes wide. But before she could say anything, Yeager gave her a small smirk, pulled on his blazer, and walked out the door.
Leaving her standing still, cheeks flushed, heart racing way too fast.