Celeste froze. She looked up at James and Liam incredulously.
James picked Liam up, and his eyes were filled with a tenderness Celeste had never seen before. When he noticed Celeste looking at him, his arm jolted slightly as he held Liam, but he showed no other reaction.
Tears welled up in Celeste's eyes. James turned his gaze away to avoid meeting hers.
"Liam, you're being naughty again. You're always asking James to carry you. Come down now," Sophia chided and tried to get Liam to come down.
However, the young boy clung tightly to James' neck.
"No way! I like to be held by Daddy, and Daddy likes holding me too," Liam said. He kissed James' cheek loudly and stated, "I'm hungry. I want cake."
"Alright. We'll get you some cake. James, let's head in." Sophia smiled and followed James inside.
After taking a few steps, she turned back and called out. "Ms. Sloane, come on."
Naomi crouched down to check on Celeste, whose face was covered in tears. She tilted her head up and asked, "Mom, are they the people Mr. James loves?"
At that moment, Naomi could no longer hold back her sorrow. She pulled Celeste into her arms, and they cried together.
The scene was so cruel that Naomi could barely bear it, let alone a child like Celeste.
Naomi didn't answer, but Celeste already knew the truth.
"Mom, I want to take one more look." Celeste wiped away her tears and took Naomi's hand. "I want to see if the people Mr. James likes are nice."
"Can't we just go home, Celeste?" Naomi couldn't bear to let her get hurt again.
Celeste stubbornly shook her head. "I want to go."
"Alright." Naomi held her hand and entered the banquet hall.
The hall was lively, packed with people. James, Sophia, and Liam were at the center of attention.
Naomi and Celeste quietly sat in a corner. All the time, Celeste's gaze never left James. The gentleness and care he showed Liam were everything Celeste had longed for but had never received.
When she saw James feeding Liam fruit himself, she stood up.
"Mom, Mr. James loves them. He looks so happy. Let's go. We shouldn't stick around," Celeste said softly.
Naomi was immensely saddened to hear those words coming from Celeste. The overwhelming misery was so suffocating that it knocked the breath from her lungs.
"Let's go home then," Naomi said.
Celeste nodded. They held hands and walked toward the door.
"Ms. Sloane, please wait." James' assistant, Oliver Brown, intercepted them. "Mr. Hudson said he wants to take Celeste out. Please hand her over to me."
Oliver was the only person in the company who knew about their relationship.
"Mr. James wants to take me out?" Celeste's eyes lit up instantly. She looked past the crowd, searching for James.
Oliver nodded. "Yes, that's what Mr. Hudson said."
At the same time, James messaged Naomi, saying he wanted to take Celeste with him to watch the fireworks. It was the first time he had ever taken the initiative to do anything with Celeste.
Naomi felt uneasy. She didn't want to let Celeste go with James. But upon seeing Celeste's hopeful face, she couldn't bring herself to refuse her daughter.
She reminded, "Celeste, take care of yourself. If anything happens, call me."
Celeste was excited to go with James. She replied, "Don't worry, Mom. I'll behave and make Mr. James like me."
"Okay." Naomi stroked her head, her heart heavy as she quietly sighed at how Celeste still longed for James' love. She glanced in his direction, praying that Celeste wouldn't be disappointed.
And so, Naomi left alone. She had just gotten home when her phone rang. It was Celeste calling her.
"Mom! M-Mr. James left me behind!" Celeste sobbed helplessly.
Naomi's heart sank to her stomach as Celeste continued pitifully, "I'm so scared, Mom…"
"Where are you?" Naomi asked anxiously.
"I… I don't know…" She sniffled.
"Don't be afraid. I'm coming to get you right now. Don't hang up. Talk to me. I'll be there soon," Naomi comforted.
She tracked Celeste's smartwatch location and rushed over in her car. When she found Celeste, the latter was sitting alone by the roadside and covered in a thick layer of snow. She was freezing there!
Naomi couldn't hold back her tears. It felt like all the strength had been drained from her body. She scooped Celeste into her arms.
"Don't be scared, Celeste. I'm here now," Naomi said reassuringly.
"Mom, I was so scared. I'm so cold," Celeste sobbed uncontrollably as she curled up in Naomi's arms.
Her whole body was burning up, and she had already started muttering deliriously before they even got to the hospital.
"Mr. James, I'm sorry… I shouldn't have called you Dad… Please don't leave me… Please don't leave me…"
Naomi's hands trembled, and she was so overcome with grief that she was unable to speak. James had heartlessly left her alone by the roadside because she called him "Dad".
She couldn't believe he had done that. Celeste was only five!
"Don't cry, Celeste. I'll always be with you. I'll never leave you."
