Upon hearing this, Julian didn't even care that he was mid-tuck with the quilt; he immediately rose and left.

After he was gone, Celine opened her eyes, her gaze filled only with disappointment and exhaustion.

He rarely cared for her so proactively; had this happened in the past, she would have been overjoyed for days.

But now, she only felt it was ironic. Everything was a sham. Every bit of kindness she had ever received was not even one-ten-thousandth of what Sienna had been given.

At night, Celine’s throat burned with thirst. She got up to pour some water and heard voices coming from the room next door.

The door wasn't fully closed. Through the crack, she saw Sienna lying on a bed while Julian sat beside her, gently rubbing her belly.

Sienna whined, "Julian, we haven't done it in such a long time."

Julian’s hand paused abruptly, his voice hoarse, "Be good, Sienna. You're pregnant; it’s not convenient."

Ever since Sienna became pregnant, he hadn't touched her, terrified of hurting her or the baby.

Sienna disregarded this, wrapping her arms around his neck and acting spoiled: "I don't care. Are you not wanting me because you're worried about Sister Celine?"

"How could that be? The only person I love is you."

She pulled Julian toward her, moving restlessly against him.

Not knowing what part she touched, Julian’s breathing hitched. As if he had lost his mind, he pulled her beneath him and kissed her fiercely.

The sounds of Sienna’s gasps suddenly filled the room.

Celine didn't dare watch any longer. She carried her cup back toward her room, her fingernails digging deep into her palms.

The water in the cup felt warm to the touch, but tasted cold—just like her marriage all these years.

She thought of Julian’s so-called azoospermia; there had been cracks in that lie long ago, but she had been blinded by love.

She had intentionally worn sexy nightgowns, hiding under his covers to show she didn't mind if they had children, but he had coldly rejected her.

She had carefully researched his condition, trying to find the best doctors, only to be chased away.

She had shouldered the shame of infertility alone, standing by silently when his parents mocked her.

She had once thought it all stemmed from a man’s pride, never realizing the source of his desire was never her.

That was all there was to it.

Celine couldn't sleep; she pulled out her phone to check the status of her visa.

The sounds from next door had already stopped. She saw a post Sienna had just made on her social media:

[I hope some people understand that a knock-off can never replace the original.]

The post was followed by a teasing emoji.

Many people below were guessing who she was talking about.

Soon after, Julian—who never looked at social media—commented: [I will only ever love Sienna.]

Celine slammed her phone shut and closed her eyes.

The night was cold, but the human heart was colder.

The next day, Celine was awakened by a commotion.

As she opened her eyes, she saw Sienna standing at her bedside, pulling at her clothes, her upper body already exposed to the air.

"What are you doing?!" Celine dodged, staring at her in shock.

Sienna introduced triumphantly, "This is a master I found, specifically here to exorcise your demons."

Celine looked at the so-called "master" behind her; he was clearly just a lecherous old man.

What kind of exorcism ritual required undressing? It was clearly obscene.

"Exorcise what demons? Sienna, are you sick?"

"You're the one who's sick," Sienna glared viciously. "You always shamelessly wedge yourself between Julian and me. I really want to know, if Julian saw you had been with another man, would you still be able to hold onto your position as Mrs. Sterling?"

She reached for Celine again, tearing at her clothes with malice.

Chapter 5

Celine had never suffered such humiliation. Fueled by sudden rage, she swung her hand and slapped Sienna across the face!

"Snap!"

The crisp sound echoed in the room. More striking than the sound was the entrance of Julian, who had just pushed open the door.

"What are you doing!" Julian strode over with a dark face. Without a second thought, he kicked Celine hard and instinctively pulled Sienna into his arms to protect her.

Celine fell onto the bed, clutching her stomach, cold sweat beading on her forehead, yet her gaze remained defiant:

"It was her! This woman in your arms, in order to pull me down, sent someone to ruin my purity..."

Sienna immediately cried out for justice in his arms, looking pitiful and tearful: "I didn't! How could I have such thoughts? Julian, you know I love you, so I’m willing to be your mistress; I would never covet the position of Mrs. Sterling."

Julian held her, his palm brushing over the red finger marks on her face, his eyes reddening with heartache:

"Sienna, I’ve wronged you. I will definitely give you an explanation."

He turned his gaze toward Celine, his expression suddenly chilling, like a freezing pool about to stir up a storm:

"Sienna is right. I know everything. She’s had trouble sleeping lately because you appear in her nightmares, which is why she invited a master to exorcise your demons. And you, not only ungrateful but trying to frame her? Celine, you have such a vicious heart!"

"Someone, tie her up!"

A group of bodyguards rushed up and pinned Celine down. Despite her desperate struggles, it was in vain; she was tied tightly to a chair.

The long-pent-up grievances and anger instantly burst forth. Celine questioned him: "Julian Sterling! Back then, you promised my parents you would never let me be harmed, which is why they put their whole hearts into helping the Sterling family through their crisis. Now that you’ve broken your word, can you face their spirits in heaven? Can you face me?"

Julian’s expression flickered with a moment of hesitation and reluctance, but he was quickly distracted by the delicate voice in his arms:

"Julian, she just hit me; my face is still hurting. You have to seek justice for me."

At Sienna’s acting spoiled, Julian instantly became cold and ruthless:

"As the head of this family, we have family rules; I cannot shield you. I won’t do it myself, but a small punishment is inevitable."

"Someone, take Madam to the roof of the company building and lock her up. Without my orders, no one is allowed to let her down."

Celine’s mind exploded with a "boom." By the time she was carried up there, she was completely stunned.

Her feet dangled over the edge of the hundred-plus-story building. Her face turned pale, and cold sweat broke out.

She had acrophobia—a severe fear of heights.

When she was eighteen, she had been kidnapped by robbers and hung from a dilapidated building, threatened and beaten for days and nights. Just as she thought she was about to die, Julian had arrived with the police.

The moment she was rescued, she had thrown herself into his arms, clutching his sleeve tightly and weeping.

At that time, he was the light of her life.

But after that incident, it left a shadow on Celine. Whenever she went to a high place alone, she would suffer an emotional breakdown due to fear.

This was her weakness, and Julian knew it better than anyone.

Yet, he still chose this method of punishment. His so-called "small punishment" was no different than tearing open her old wounds with his own hands.

"Julian Sterling, you are so cruel."

Celine closed her eyes and let bitter tears fall.

If she could go back to being eighteen, she would rather die than have him save her with an agenda.

The fear induced by the height quickly caused Celine to faint. As the wind blew, she looked like a swaying, fragile doll.

Inside the Sterling estate, Sienna was pointing at a piano, sighing: "What a beautiful piano. Where did you buy it, Julian?"

Julian paused as he looked at the piano: "This was left to Celine by her parents."

"Then I suppose I shouldn't touch it," Sienna said with an air of regret. "After all, it’s Sister Celine’s things, and with her parents gone, I’m sure she’s very attached to it."

"It doesn't matter," Julian reached out and pulled her hand to the piano keys with indulgence. "Her things are mine, and everything I have belongs to you."

Sienna, given permission, was overjoyed and sat down to play.

Having come from an ordinary background, she hadn't learned any elegant arts and couldn't play at all. She just slammed her hands against the keys, sliding haphazardly, and the piano emitted a screeching, dissonant "clatter."

The servants all covered their ears, unable to bear it, but Julian thought she looked as cute as a child.

Sienna couldn't handle his gentle gaze and acted terribly shy: "Julian, you really love me so much."

When their passion peaked, Julian pressed her against the piano, and they became entangled.