Veins bulged on Julian’s forehead: "Speak. What else did she do?"

"Sienna was jealous of Madam. On the very first day, she asked us to get sulfuric acid, put it in a teacup, and forced Madam to drink it. When Madam refused, she splashed it on Madam’s hand."

"Also, Sienna actually wasn't sick at all. The Taoist priest she invited was a fake. I saw her give that priest money to ruin Madam’s reputation..."

The maid spoke with increasing trepidation, for Julian’s expression was becoming more terrifying by the second.

Seeing the scheme exposed, Sienna scrambled to her knees to beg: "Julian, no, that’s not it! Listen to me, she and Celine are in this together..."

"Enough!"

Julian kicked her away without mercy.

"Even now, you still want to frame Celine. It’s all because of you that I... that I treated her that way..."

"Someone, take this woman’s hands and press them into the sulfuric acid. I want you to suffer twice the pain Celine endured!"

"Julian Sterling, you’re crazy!" After being dragged away, Sienna struggled like a madwoman. "Didn't you say I was the woman you loved most?!"

"I used to," Julian said with a look of disgust, his words hidden like knives, "but I never expected you to be such a vicious woman."

"I’m vicious? Julian Sterling, do you think you’re so kind? You tricked Celine into marrying you, but never touched her after the wedding, and then you brought me into the house. If you had even a shred of trust in her, I never would have been able to frame her... Ah!"

Before she could finish her cursing, her hands were pressed into the acid, followed by a scream that pierced the heavens.

By the time the bodyguards let her go, her hands were already corroded. She lay on the ground, pale and on the verge of death.

Julian stood before her, looking down: "This isn't over. There’s still the matter of you framing Celine for the miscarriage..."

Suddenly, a voice came from the door. A man walked in, saying: "Young Master Sterling, leave the rest to me. I have scores to settle with her as well."

Sienna looked up; it was her boyfriend, the notorious and ruthless Young Master Cheng.

If she fell into his hands, the suffering would be ten times worse than anything Julian would inflict.

Despair and terror flooded her eyes. She reached out for Julian: "No, Julian, save me! I can't fall into his hands—"

But Julian only watched her with cold indifference, allowing her to be taken away by Young Master Cheng’s men.

It was just as he had once coldly watched Celine collapse on the ground, bleeding profusely.

After dealing with Sienna, he ordered his assistant: "Check where Madam is now. I want to bring her back personally."

He had always thought he was merely utilizing Celine and that Sienna was the only one he loved, but only now did he realize he had long ago grown accustomed to her presence.

Once he brought her back and coaxed her, Celine would certainly not be able to bear leaving him again.

Chapter 14

On the other side of the globe, Celine was attending a concert.

Since moving abroad, the events back home felt as if they had happened in a past life.

Every day, when she opened her eyes, she breathed in fresh air, her mind occupied only by where she would spend the day.

During this time, she had visited the British Museum, coming face-to-face with ancient Greek sculptures and Egyptian mummies, feeling the awe that history brings.

She went to the London Eye, and this time, no one called her childish. Sitting in the giant Ferris wheel by the Thames, she discovered that riding a Ferris wheel alone could be just as romantic.

Strolling through the streets of Edinburgh, she felt as if she had returned to her teenage self—confident and vibrant.

It turned out that life outside was so wonderful, yet she had been content to trap herself within such narrow confines for so long.

She finally had the time to do things she was interested in, like attending today's concert.

Dressed in an elegant dress, she sat in the audience, listening to the piano piece she had adored for so long being played on stage, her mind and body completely entranced.

When the concert ended, she was still lingering, reluctant to leave. As she followed the crowd out, she saw that the area ahead was already packed with people.

A man stood in the center of the crowd, smiling and chatting; every gesture he made was imbued with an air of nobility.

He was the creator of the piano piece, currently engaged in conversation with piano enthusiasts from all over the country.

A reporter interviewed him: "Mr. Silas, may I ask why you named this piece 'Cloud-Nest by the Stream'?"

Celine subconsciously stopped to listen, as she had been curious about this question herself; the name of the piece was too similar to her own.

The man called Mr. Silas did not answer the reporter but stepped past him, casting his gaze toward Celine.

"Excuse me, miss, please wait a moment."

The man walked toward Celine with long strides.

Celine looked left and right; there was no one else around, so she realized he must be calling out to her.

"Is there something you need?"

Greeting her idol for the first time, she was filled with nervous tension but remained polite.

Mr. Silas smiled: "Miss, this is the second time I have seen you."

Celine was surprised for a moment, then nodded shyly.

It was indeed her second time attending; she truly loved this piece so much that she had gone to every one of his tour stops in the UK.

She never expected to be remembered by him.

"I mean no offense, but I can feel that you are particularly fond of my music. If possible, would you be willing to be the special guest for my next tour?"

The man’s tone was sincere.

Celine covered her mouth in disbelief; such a grand blessing had actually fallen upon her.

"Is it really me?" Her eyes filled with tears. "Thank you so much, Mr. Silas."

The man looked at her with focused eyes: "You are too kind. You may call me Adrian Silas."

Through her interactions with Adrian, she learned that he was also Chinese and had immigrated to the UK in his teens.

Celine had originally assumed such a genius pianist would be difficult to approach, but after spending several days getting to know him, she found him not only unpretentious but also incredibly witty and humorous.

She and Adrian got along very well, never imagining that, at the same time, Julian was searching for her everywhere.

Ever since Julian tracked Celine down to the UK, he had abandoned his company’s affairs, recklessly flying to the UK alone to find her.

The UK was not like his own social circle; finding someone was like searching for a needle in a haystack. But he always had his ways, and before long, he learned that Celine had appeared at a certain concert.

He should have guessed it sooner. Celine had always loved playing the piano and did so at home too, but after he complained about the noise, she played less and less.

Julian regretted his past actions, secretly vowing that once he brought her back, he would listen to her play every single day.

He imagined that Celine must be heartbroken from arriving in the UK alone and would certainly go to concerts to ease her sorrows.

Upon rushing to the concert venue, Julian scanned the audience but did not see Celine’s silhouette.

It wasn't until the concert officially began that a performer in a black tuxedo walked out from backstage, closely followed by a graceful woman with an outstanding appearance.

Julian’s eyes burned—that woman was Celine.

Chapter 15

On stage, Celine shone brilliantly. She exchanged a look with the man in the tuxedo, and then the two played a piano duet together.

The white stage light shone down on her head; her profile was quiet and focused. Her arms swayed with the rhythm, and her occasional movements revealed the smooth, slender line of her neck.

Her long skirt trailed on the floor, and her slim waist made her appear all the more graceful and moving.

Music flowed from her fingertips, and everyone present was intoxicated—only Julian couldn't manage a smile.

After three years of marriage, how had he never discovered that Celine possessed such a dazzling side?

It must have been there all along, but why did he only feel that her playing was noisy back then?

As the piece concluded, Celine walked to the edge of the stage to thank the audience. Julian subconsciously straightened his back, waiting for the moment she looked up and saw him.

He imagined her first reaction would be an uncontrollable expression, followed by tears. She might be aggrieved, she might be angry, but it didn't matter; in the end, she would forgive him and go home with him.