"Bed companion?"
Those two words hit Celia like a bucket of cold water, dousing every flicker of warmth that had just stirred in her heart. The heat of Nathaniel's palm, which moments ago had felt almost tender, now felt like a brand—reminding her of what she really was to him.
So that's how he saw her. Just a woman to warm his bed.
Celia had nothing more to say.
Nathaniel glanced at her and added indifferently, "I'll be on a business trip. Take me off your blocked list. Call me if anything comes up."
With that, he got into his car and drove away.
Nathaniel really did leave for a business trip. Celia tried calling Sylvia, but all her attempts were ignored.
Meanwhile, the results of the Fu Jewelry spokesperson contest were announced.
The winner was Wanda Su.
Shortly after, Celia received a phone call from the Su family estate, inviting her back for a celebratory dinner. The entire Su family was gathering in honor of Wanda's success.
At the old Su mansion, Wanda basked in the attention of every relative. Matriarch Su held her hand, eyes gleaming with pride.
"Good, good, good," she repeated, barely able to contain her joy. "My dear Wanda, you've done it! Becoming the face of Fu Jewelry is already a huge achievement—and now you've secured a place at the Fu family's grand banquet. You're one step closer to becoming Mrs. Fu."
"Grandma, stop teasing me!" Wanda said, pretending to be shy, though she was clearly loving every second of the spotlight.
Jason Su, her older cousin, leaned against the wall with a smug smile. "Second Uncle, why are you so quiet? You do know the Fu family's dinner is invite-only. Did you get an invitation?"
Charles Su and his wife Lilian stood awkwardly in the corner, saying nothing.
Of course they hadn't been invited. With the Su family's current status, only Wanda had the privilege of stepping into the Fu family's circle.
Charles clenched his fists. He had always believed Nathaniel Fu belonged to their branch of the family. These honors were supposed to be theirs.
At that moment, Wanda's eyes lit up.
"Celia! You're back!" she called out with a sweet, venomous smile. "Uncle Charles, Aunt Lilian—did you know Celia has a boyfriend now? I saw them checking into a hotel together last night."
All heads turned toward Celia.
She met her cousin's gaze, cold and unmoved. So that's what this was—another setup.
"You have a boyfriend?" Lilian asked, clearly stunned.
Wanda whipped out her phone gleefully. "See for yourselves!"
She held up the screen. The photo showed Celia standing beside a bald, potbellied man who looked to be in his fifties.
Jason burst out laughing. "Hah! Your daughter sure has... unique taste. Is she into sugar daddies now?"
Another aunt smirked, covering her mouth as she whispered, "Well, what do you expect? She's just that clown-faced girl from the countryside. With scars on her face like that, she's lucky anyone wants her."
Matriarch Su's face darkened. She slammed her cane onto the floor.
"Charles! Lilian! This is how you raised your daughter? Wanda's about to marry into the Fu family, and this is what Celia's doing—shaming us all!"
Charles and Lilian flushed with embarrassment. They had already felt out of place tonight. Now, in front of the entire family, they were being humiliated.
"Celia, care to explain this?" Charles demanded.
Celia glanced at the photo. The man was indeed the same one she had accidentally bumped into the night before. Clearly, Wanda had staged the photo.
"I have no connection with that man," Celia said calmly.
"You're lying," Wanda sneered. She marched up to her, grabbed Celia's collar, and yanked it down.
Celia's shoulder was suddenly exposed—marked with faint, lingering traces of kisses and bites.
Wanda laughed triumphantly. "Look at the marks, everyone! You spent the night in a hotel with that bald old man!"
Celia stared at her coldly.
Yes, she had spent the night with a man. But that man was Nathaniel Fu—the very same one Wanda was so desperately trying to seduce.
Bald old man?
Celia almost smirked. She wondered what Nathaniel would think if he knew Wanda had just referred to him that way.
Wanda's hand was still clutching her collar, tugging at her shirt with pride.
Celia's eyes flicked to the hand.
Her red lips parted, her voice crisp and composed:
"Take your hand off me."