5 years later
Standing on this stage, receiving the prestigious award for being the most accomplished and influential woman globally, I cannot help but contemplate the path that led me here. It has been an arduous and demanding journey, but one that has been immensely rewarding.
“Welcome everyone to our annual awardees night! I am thrilled to be here as the CEO of CLN skin care company. My name is Celine Winston, and I have had the privilege of leading this incredible company for the past five years. Throughout my journey, I have overcome obstacles and surpassed expectations to be where I am today. Tonight, let's celebrate our victory together!”
I remembered Half a decade ago, I took a leap of faith and embarked on the venture of establishing my own skincare company, CLN skincare. Back then, little did I know that it would evolve into the most sought-after and popular brand across the globe.
Stepping off the stage, I was greeted by the applause of the audience. There, I saw my little boy run towards me and hugged me.
“Mommy, you did great!” Connor exclaimed, running towards me and wrapping his tiny arms around my waist.
“Yes, sweetheart, I did,” I replied, smiling down at him.
“I'm so proud of you, Mommy,” he said, looking up at me with his big brown eyes.
“I couldn't have done it without you, my love,” I said, planting a kiss on his forehead.
Connor's brilliance at such a tender age is truly remarkable. I deeply cherish his constant admiration for my accomplishments, as it empowers me to remain resilient in the face of any challenges.
As we walked hand in hand towards the celebration, I couldn't help but reflect on the journey we had taken. From a struggling single mother to the most successful woman globally, it felt like a dream come true.
I engaged with the guests and received numerous congratulations. I felt a sense of duty towards other women facing challenges similar to mine. I aimed to utilize my success to empower and encourage women to pursue their dreams.
"Excuse me, Ms. Winston, may I speak with you?" a young woman approached me, her eyes filled with admiration.
“Sure, go ahead,” I responded, smiling at her.
“I just wanted to express my gratitude for inspiring me to launch my own business. You gives me hope that I can achieve it too,” she said, her voice quivering with emotion.
“That means a great deal to me. I have faith in you, and I believe you can do it,” I assured her, giving her a hug.
Amidst the loud music and the crowd of people shaking hands with me, my eyes were searching for my best friend, Irene.
Finally, I spotted her making her way towards me through the crowd. Her smile was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile back at her. As she reached me, she embraced me tightly and congratulated me on the success of the company.
"Congratulations, Celine! I'm so proud of you," she exclaimed, her eyes filled with genuine happiness.
Celine looked around the party, taking in the decorations and the joyful atmosphere.
"Wow, this is incredible. I can't believe how far you've come. I remember when we first started this company, it was just a small dream. And now, look at what you've achieved," she said, her voice filled with admiration.
I expressed my gratitude and asked her why she was late. She apologized, explaining that she had spent the family day at school with her husband and daughter, which caused her to be delayed.
"Family day? That sounds wonderful!" I replied.
"Yes, Celine. I want my daughter to have both her mom and dad on that special day," she said.
I couldn't help but glance over at my son, Connor, who was playing with another child. Irene noticed my sudden silence and paused for a moment.
"Connor is growing up so fast, and he's such a bright young boy. If you don't mind me asking, do you have any plans to tell him about his father?" Irene asked me.
Irene's question caught me off guard, and I hesitated for a moment before responding.
"Irene, I appreciate your concern. But I believe that I can raise him alone without a father. We don’t need Franco in our life," I replied, trying to hide my emotions.
Irene nodded understandingly, “I understand, Celine. But you know Connor is a smart kid, you can expect that question from him soon,”
I inhaled deeply while contemplating Irene's words. I am aware that I cannot avoid the truth, but I am determined to keep Franco away from my son.
"Franco doesn't deserve to be a father. If I have to find someone else to be Connor's father figure, I will!" I declared, my emotions running high.
I raised Connor all by myself, facing numerous challenges to provide him with a better life. Franco is just a painful past and a nightmare to me, and I will not allow him to claim Connor as his son.
The next morning, as I descended the stairs post my call to the secretary, I caught the distressed tone of Connor's nanny, Martha. I furrowed my brows and swiftly made my way towards them, noticing Martha's evident panic.
"What's wrong with Connor, Martha?" I inquired with concern.
Martha turned to me and recounted the incident.
"I apologize, Madam. Connor ventured out to the front yard without informing me and narrowly avoided being hit by a car. Luckily, the kind man managed to halt just in time."
I felt a surge of anger as I listened to her and scolded her for her carelessness.
"What?! You are irresponsible. What if Connor had been hit by that car?!" I exclaimed, my anger evident.
I paused in my speech as Connor interrupted me and said, "Mommy, stop blaming Nanny. It's my fault."
"But sweetheart, you were almost hit by the car," I insisted to him.
"No, mommy. Uncle Franco is very kind. He won't be able to hit me with his car.," he insisted.
My heart nearly skipped a beat upon hearing my ex-husband's name from Connor's lips.
"Franco?" I exclaimed, recalling my husband's name.Connor nodded and smiled in affirmation. I swallowed hard and turned to Martha, who unexpectedly began praising the man as if he were the most admirable person in the world."Yes, madam. He is incredibly handsome and masculine. He looks like a Hollywood actor," Martha gushed about the stranger."What on earth are you saying, Martha? Seriously? How dare you share that with me?" I scowled at her.Martha quickly covered her lips, clearly ashamed of her words. She looked down and apologized, "I'm sorry, madam. I couldn't help but admire him.""I don't care about him. Just do your job!" I raised my voice, expressing my frustration."And I don't want that to happen again. Do you understand?!" I asked her firmly, raising my eyebrow.Martha nodded, and as I turned back to Connor, I was taken aback by his teary eyes. I immediately embraced him, gently stroking his back."What's wrong, baby?" I asked, filled with concern."Mom, please don't be
FRANCO'S POVWhile driving home after a grueling day, the silence was shattered by the insistent ringing of my phone. Glancing at the caller ID, I let out a sigh. It was Liana, my secretary."Hello, Liana. What's the reason for your call?" I inquired."Sir, I'm afraid there's an emergency meeting called by the financial department," she responded, her voice filled with concern and urgency. "They've requested your immediate presence.""What?!" I furrowed my brows."Sales have plummeted by 30% this month, sir. There have been sudden losses of money," Liana explained.My mind raced as I contemplated the company's dismal performance. Sales had taken a significant hit, and the board was growing increasingly restless. It felt as though everything I worked turned to dust."I'm on my way," I declared, my voice heavy with a mix of dread and determination.After ending the call and getting lost in my thoughts for a moment, I failed to notice a young boy crossing the street in the distance. The
CELINE POVMy heart skipped a beat as I froze in my seat. The name repeated several times through my mind, a familiar echo from a past I had long tried to bury.A young man, his face etched with annoyance, emerged from the inner sanctum. “F*ck. I knew it he will not let me lend even a single penny!” he barked into the phone.“That guy is so selfish!”As he hung up the phone, I couldn't help but notice the name that he had repeated over and over again: Franco.A wave of irritation washed over me. Why did the universe insist on throwing that name in my face? It was like a constant reminder of a chapter in my life that I had desperately tried to close.“That name is a kind of b*llshit!” Irene glanced at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and concern. “Celine, you seem so affected to him,”“No I’m not. Today I hear that name too many t
FRANCO'S POVAs I strode into the conference room, my gaze swept across the assembled faces. A sense of urgency permeated the air as I immediately addressed the company's pressing problem.“Everyone please pay attention” I said calmly."Our financial struggles are a serious concern," I stated resolutely."We need to identify the root cause and implement solutions without delay."I instructed my team to conduct a thorough investigation into the financial department. "Leave no stone unturned," I emphasized. "We must find the anomaly that has led to these losses."As the team dispersed, one of the members approached me hesitantly. His eyes held a mixture of trepidation and concern."Sir," he began in a hushed tone, "I have something I need to share. It's... personal."I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."“You wife, Athena, has been receiving large sums of money from the company's account," he confessed, his voice barely a whisper.A chill ran down my spine as I processed this shockin
The woman turned, her face coming into view. It was Celine, her eyes wide and filled with a mixture of surprise and an indiscernible emotion. My heart raced in my chest, a chaotic symphony of feelings battling for control.I cautiously approached her, my steps unsure, my mind racing. But just as I was about to reach out, my phone buzzed in my pocket, abruptly interrupting the delicate moment. It was Harvey, his voice booming through the speaker, demanding to know my whereabouts."I'm right outside," I replied, my voice strained."I'll be there soon.""Get a move on, man!" Harvey barked before abruptly ending the call.I stared at the phone in my hand, my heart sinking. Celine had vanished. I frantically looked around, but she had disappeared as if she had never been there. Disappointment washed over me, leaving me feeling lost and disoriented.With a heavy sigh, I shook my head in frustration. It was a mere illusion, a figment of my imagination, I reassured myself. Celine was gone, a
"Can you say that name again?"I frowned."Ms.Celine Winston. Why?" I asked."She's my ex-wife," I stammered.The air hung heavy with a mix of shock and confusion. Harvey stared at me with wide eyes.“Is she your ex-wife? “he asked in disbelief as his eyes widened.“Y---Yes”“What the hell! Are you really serious about this? Is she really your ex-wife?!” Harvey's voice was a mix of disbelief and awe.My heart sank. I had never told him about Celine. The guilt of leaving her had been a heavy weight on my shoulders. “Yes, it's Celine Winston,” I confirmed, my voice a mere whisper.“The woman I left to marry Athena.”Harvey's reaction was a mixture of shock and disappointment. He had always admired Celine from afar, seeing her as a successful businesswoman, a powerful woman who had built an empire in the media world. He had even confessed to me earlier that he fantasized about her.“Celine, the CEO of CLN? The Celine Winston who is the most influencial woman in FTM media from the ground
CELINE’S POVIt was like a punch to the gut, a rush of memories and pain flooding back. I immediately turned my back and ran to the parking lot. My legs were shaky, and my breath came in ragged gasps. I could feel the heat of his gaze on my back, even though I was already halfway across the parking lot.It was an unfortunate twist of fate. Of all the places in the world, he had to be here. And of all the times, after all these years, I had to run into him. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. It's an unfortunate to see my fucking ex-husband again. I can't forget how he hurt me. How he filed for divorce, how he married another woman, how he accused me of being a gold digger."Fuck you, Franco!"I muttered under my breath."I will not let my son recognize you as his father. "Never!"The memory of his betrayal, his callous words, his cold indifference, still stung. It was like a fresh wound, raw and exposed. I had spent years rebuilding my life, trying to forget him, trying t
As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, a feeling of loneliness and emptiness envelops me. My husband Franco is away on a business trip, leaving me alone in our large bed. Despite his previous absences, this time feels different. It has been a year since our wedding, and our relationship has changed. I never expected things to take a turn for the worse after his grandfather's death.Despite my attempts to be understanding and give him space, it seemed like he had completely shut me out.Reaching for my phone on the nightstand, I scrolled through my contacts until I found his name. With a heavy heart, I dialed his number and waited for him to pick up."Hello?" His voice sounded gruff, and I could sense his irritation."Hey Franco, it's me, Celine," I replied, trying to sound cheerful."What do you want?" he snapped.My heart sank as his words hit me hard. I knew he was busy with work, but I had hoped he would be happy to hear from me. Ignoring his rude tone, I continued with what I ha