Chapter 24: Chapter 24

When you realise you are no longer appreciated, stay away. If you are no longer loved, go away. If you feel like you don't belong, avoid. Be strong enough to accept the reality that no matter how worthy you are some people will never love you. So you need to save your worth and self respect before you finally let them go. Don't beg. Just smile and go away and that's exactly what Celeste decided to do as she watched Liam's back disappear from her sight.

Even though her heart was aching like someone was squeezing it with their own hands she still had a smile on her face.

Smile Celeste, just smile.

She slowly turned around and moved into the living room. Slowly, one by one she turned on all the lights. She picked up her phone and played a song before proceeding to clean the mess she had created.

But I can't help falling in love with you

Oh shall I stay?

Would it be a sin

If I can't help falling in love with you?

The music kept playing on the repeat mode as Celeste slowly yet steadily moved around the living room while cleaning it. She listened to the song and hummed along with it. She couldn’t help but wonder, why did she fall in love with Liam Rodriguez? How could she forget about the contract? How could she forget it was all about just one year? How could she forget about that day?

Suddenly she remembered Amy's words from the day of her birthday. She was right. She was absolutely right. It was just about five more months. As soon as those five months ended, it all ended. She tried to forget it as much as she could in the past five months. But in the end Amy was right.

She wondered how Amy knew about their contract. As she thought deeply she already got her answer. She must have eavesdropped when Liam was talking to her on that day and that's why she was so confident.

But nevertheless it was true that now she has to go away. So it was better if she left early. Maybe in three days or tomorrow? She didn’t know.

For a moment Celeste closed her eyes and tried to take deep breaths but she couldn’t. She tried to assure herself but all went in vain.

So this is how broken hearts feel like?

Who was responsible for her heartbreak? No one but her. Because it was her who fell in love with Liam Rodriguez. It was her who forgot about their contract. It was her who started to daydream about her future with Liam Rodriguez.

But how could she not? He was like a hope for her sinking clouds. He gave her so much care, respect and most of all a family. He was so gentle and kind towards her. How could she not fall in love with him?

Why did it feel so amazing to be in love with him in the first place? And if it was truly an amazing feeling then why was it hurting now? Why was it hurting her so much?

Celeste slowly sat down on the floor and rested her head on the sofa as she finally let the tears fall. She didn’t sob. She didn’t make any crying sound. She just sat there, closed her eyes and let the tears fall silently in a hope that this pain would end soon and tomorrow she would again be as strong as she was yesterday.

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The next morning when Liam came downstairs, he found Celeste working in the kitchen with Tracy while laughing. Her hair was wet and opened meaning she just took a shower awhile ago. Liam couldn’t help but look at her while wondering if he was going to miss her or not.

Probably.

"Good morning. You are up already? Come sit. I will just serve breakfast. Also I need to talk to you about something important." Celeste said in a cheerful voice with a smile. Liam nodded and smiled back.

"Good morning. Yeah just got up. I was tired last night and didn’t know when I fell asleep. Did you sleep well?" Liam asked while taking a seat on the table.

"Yes. You were already asleep when I went back." Celested replied with a smile while serving a few dishes. Liam also helped her by placing a few dishes on her plate.

"Thank you." Celeste said as she started eating her breakfast.

"So what do you want to talk about?" Liam asked as he took a bite of his food.

"Oh about that. Actually I was wondering if you could ask your lawyer now for the signing process. I got a call from Maggie in the morning. She informed me that granny has caught fever again so I need to go and check up on her." Celeste said while looking directly at Liam. Liam frowned.

"Is she okay? Do you want me to take you there? It's okay, you can sign it later." Liam proposed with a concerned voice. Celeste shook her head and smiled.

"No it's alright. You just ask your lawyer to come after breakfast so I could sign the papers before I leave for Elora." Celeste said as she finished eating her breakfast. Liam also finished his breakfast and nodded.

"Okay. I will just talk to him." Liam said before leaving the kitchen. Celeste didn’t look at his retiring back instead she picked up the dirty dishes and put them into the sink.

"I will miss cooking with you, Tracy." Celeste said while hugging Tracy from the behind. Tracy, who was washing some vegetables, became surprised.

"Oh dear. It's just about a week. You are talking as if you are really going away forever." Tracy said chuckling while putting her hands on Celeste's. Celeste didn’t say anything just hugged her with a smile. She was really fond of that old woman. She was like another mother figure to her and she was going to miss her for sure.

"Just take care of you and your family." Celeste said while breaking the hug. Tracy looked at Celeste with a smile and nodded.

"I will. You too take care of yourself and return soon after your grandmother recovers." Tracy said with a smile while caressing Celeste's hair in a motherly way. Celeste smiled but nodded anyway.

If only she could return.

If only Liam Rodriguez had fallen in love with her.

If only she didn’t fall in love with him. But did she regret it? No. Absolutely not.

She loved him but it didn’t mean he had to love her back. She chose him but it didn’t mean he had to choose her back. She wanted to hold him but it didn’t mean he should hold her too. He didn’t have to. He didn’t need to.

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Celeste rang the doorbell of her grandma's house and waited outside for her grandma to open the door. After a while the door opened and an anxious looking Maggie came into view while holding the phone.

"Celeste! Thank God you are here. I have been calling you since the past two hours. Why haven’t you answered the phone. I was so worried. I didn’t know what to do, whom to call." Maggie was blabbering anxiously. She looked as if she was about to cry. Celeste frowned looking at her. She had left her phone on silent mode for a peaceful journey and didn’t bother to check it.

"Calm down, Maggie. What happened? Why are you so tense and where is grandma?" Celeste asked while entering the house.

"Marielle, she fainted. And Flyn took her to the hospital. I have been calling you to inform you of this. I went to the hospital too and the doctor said he needs to talk to the patient's family." Maggie informed half crying, making Celeste freez.

"What!! No!! Let's go!!" Celeste shouted and threw her luggage in the living room before running towards the exit. Her heart was beating like crazy as she ran through the streets. She didn’t even wait for Maggie. All she could hear around her is her grandma has fainted. She felt like her world had finally collapsed and It's not going to be the same anymore.

She felt like she was going to lose everything at the same time and all she could do was watch…