Chapter 25 Celeste's spine went rigid . She stared at Dominic in shock . Dominic gazed deeply at her . " Perhaps this is sudden. Perhaps it seems insincere . But this offer stands permanently . " [ ] He took Celeste's hand and lowered his head , slowly pressing a cold , light kiss to the back of her hand . [ ] " Celeste Wren , marry me . " " Marry me ... " " Tell me today , and we can get our license tomorrow ... " w ..." In an instant , Dominic and Adrian's voices exploded simultaneously in Celeste's ears . ] She bit her lip hard and jerked her hand back from Dominic's grasp as if waking from a nightmare . " No ! " ] ] " Bang bang bang- ! " At the same moment , violent pounding sounded at the door . Celeste stepped back two paces , putting distance between herself and Dominic . [] Under Dominic's heavy gaze , she turned hastily and walked to the door . The knocking was too loud to be Adrian . She took a deep breath , composed herself for a moment , then opened the door . The next moment , she froze . ] " Mom ? " Grace looked at her and immediately started crying . " Celeste ! Mom finally found you ! Have you been well these years ? Why didn't you tell Mom when you came back to the States ? Mom missed you so much . " [ ] Celeste's expression turned cold " Missed me dead ? " [] Grace sobbed , " What are you saying , child ? What mother doesn't love her own child ? What happened back then was Mom's fault . Mom came specifically to apologize . Don't blame Mom . If Mom hadn't pushed you back then , you wouldn't have met Mr. Ashford , right ? " ] A long speech , finally getting to the point in that last sentence . [ ] Celeste laughed coldly . " Stop pretending . We stopped being related six years ago . If you want money , go find your younger daughter . I won't give you a cent . " [ ] Grace's expression changed , dropping the act entirely . " Celeste Wren , I raised you for over ten years at least . Today your sister is getting married , and no matter what you say , you need to buy them a house ! Otherwise I'll sue you ! " ] Celeste nodded . " Fine . Go ahead and tell the judge exactly how you treated me all these years . I'll fight this lawsuit to the end - I'd rather give the money to lawyers than to you ! " " You ! " Grace was furious and raised her hand to slap Celeste's face . [ ] Celeste moved to block it , but another hand grabbed Grace's wrist faster than she could . ] Dominic looked at Grace coldly . " Get out . " Grace felt an inexplicable chill but immediately recovered her boldness . " You're Celeste's boyfriend now , aren't you ? Let me tell you , she's not clean ! She's cheap ! She was someone's mistress in England for three years she's already damaged goods . Who knows what diseases she caught from her sugar daddy, how many men have had her ! Ah ! " Grace cried out in pain . Dominic's fingers tightened bit by bit , as if he wanted to crush her wrist . He looked at Grace , his eyes so cold he seemed ready to flay her alive the next moment . ] ] " Say that again ! " His fury made Grace afraid to speak . She looked at Dominic in terror ] Celeste took a deep breath and reached out to lug Dominic's sleeve . " Let her go . " ] She'd heard such words countless times . They couldn't hurt her anymore . [ ] Chapter 25 Dominic's chest heaved violently for several moments , his jaw clenched tight . He turned to look at Celeste's calm expression , his heart torn between rage and heartbreak . He'd never known that in places he couldn't see , Celeste had endured such slander . Celeste said , " Let her go . " Dominic closed his eyes and released his grip . Grace escaped as if granted amnesty , rushing toward the elevator . When it arrived at the floor , she didn't forget to shout back . [ ] " Don't think being Dominic Ashford's mistress for three years makes you special . " [ ] Celeste pressed her lips together . She took a deep breath , about to move forward , when she saw the elevator doors open . ] ] Adrian's familiar figure emerged . Celeste froze , then heard Grace say right in front of Adrian : [ ] " Dominic Ashford played with you for three years and then dumped you - you're just a slut he fucked countless times ! " ]]