Chapter 5 Engaged To Him

• Celeste hadn't expected Hadrian to change the subject so abruptly. She caught her breath, nearly admitting she had been there.
• Celeste gently touched her wildly beating heart, shaking her head repeatedly. “I've never been there, never been there at all.”
• A hint of disappointment flickered in Hadrian's eyes.
• He paused for a few seconds before saying, “I can help you clean up this mess of yours, but you have to do something for me in return. I want you to enter into a fake engagement with me, for a period of one month. After one month, I will let you go.”
• What?
• Get engaged to Hadrian?
• Celeste was extremely shocked and taken aback.
• A faux engagement that would last a month, offsetting debts amounting to billions...
• Has Hadrian lost his mind? Why would he engage in such a losing business deal?
• Celeste felt a subtle unease deep within her. She couldn't shake off the feeling that Hadrian had some kind of ulterior motive concerning her. However, she was in a tight spot and it seemed that only Hadrian could help her solve all her problems.
• Forget it. Even if I had to go through hell, I have no choice but to brave through it.
• “All right. I agree,” she replied.
• Subsequently, Hadrian had someone draft an agreement, which both of them signed together.
• As Celeste looked at the agreement, a subtle unease stirred within her heart.
• “May I ask... why did you choose me?”
• Hadrian lowered his gaze, his deep eyes drifting over Celeste's face. “Because you are one of the few women I've ever wanted to get close to.”
• Want to get close to...
• The man's voice was deep and magnetic, possessing a unique, captivating charm.
• Celeste could only feel a burning sensation in her ears, gradually causing her face to flush.
• It was truly peculiar. It turned out that even Hadrian had those feelings for her.
• “By the way, I've had someone take care of your father's remains. Once you've recovered from your injuries, we can arrange the funeral.”
• After Celeste heard this, a deeper wave of emotion surged within her.
• Hadrian had even taken her father into consideration.
• A warmth filled her heart, and Celeste gave a soft smile. “Thank you, Mr. Lloyd.”
• “All right. Rest well.”
• Hadrian cast a deep gaze at Celeste, then instructed his people to take good care of her before he left with the agreement in hand.
• The major troubles weighing on Celeste's heart had been resolved, allowing her to finally fall into a deep, relaxed sleep.
• The following day.
• Celeste was jolted awake by a barrage of phone calls.
• Her soul-sucking boss had pleaded with her to spare his company, even mentioning something about five million.
• In a daze, Celeste saw that someone had transferred five million to her bank account.
• What's going on?
• Excitedly, Celeste sprang from the bed, inadvertently aggravating her wound in the process. The pain caused her delicate eyebrows to furrow tightly.
• Not long after, she received a call from Hadrian.
• The man's deep, magnetic voice carried over, seeming especially gentle in the dawn light.
• “Did you receive the money? That's the compensation from your company for their slanderous accusations of plagiarism, which tarnished your reputation.”
• Celeste hadn't anticipated the astounding twist in the accusations of plagiarism made against her by the company, a mixture of shock and joy overwhelmed her.
• “Got it! Thank you, Mr. Lloyd. I'm extremely grateful.”
• The man on the other end merely hummed in response. “It wasn't me, just some random subordinate I had assigned the task to.”
• “Oh, I appreciate it all the same.”
• True to his reputation as the ruthless Hadrian, his swift actions immediately turned the tables, transforming a dire situation into a safe one.
• “Your mother's medical expenses have been taken care of. Also, the financial gap in your father's company has been filled, and a professional team has been put in place. Once everything is running smoothly, the company will be transferred under your name for you to manage.”
• Shocked by the affection she received, Celeste was speechless for a long time.
• Surprisingly, Hadrian had actually gone to such lengths to help her.
• She had only just met him. It wasn't like she had saved his life or anything.
• Warmth filled Celeste's heart repeatedly, she wanted to express her gratitude, yet she felt that mere words lacked sincerity.
• But she had nothing to her name, so how could she possibly express her gratitude?
• Oh, right!
• “Mr. Lloyd, will you be coming back for dinner tonight?”
• The man's voice paused slightly. “What's the matter? Do you want me to accompany you for dinner?”
• Through the phone, Hadrian's voice seemed to have softened.
• When Celeste heard his somewhat affectionate words, a blush unconsciously crept up on Celeste's cheeks.
• “It's not about keeping me company. It's just that... I want to make you dinner.”
• The man hesitated slightly, then promptly agreed, “All right.”
• After hanging up the phone, Celeste inquired about Hadrian's favorite dish from the chef and began her preparations.
• At Regal Group, in the CEO's office.
• The tall, imposing man stood by the expansive floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze deep and thoughtful as he stared at the phone he'd just hung up.
• It seemed like this was the first time he had a conversation with a woman, and surprisingly, he didn't feel awkward at all.
• Upon seeing Hadrian's profoundly satisfied expression, Yves, who was waiting nearby, was utterly taken aback.
• Their CEO was acting strangely. Ever since he accidentally injured Celeste and brought her home, he had been exhibiting a series of unusual behaviors.
• In the lawsuit with the company Celeste was working in, Hadrian was clearly in charge of that himself, even deploying the exclusive ace legal team of Regal Group... Yet, Hadrian nonchalantly claimed he had no involvement.
• Tsk! What a huge ego!
• In the evening, just as Celeste had finished setting all the dishes on the table, Hadrian's Maybach pulled up into the estate.
• Celeste, filled with anticipation and anxiety, stepped forward. “Mr. Lloyd, you're back!” she exclaimed.
• “Dinner is all set!”
• When Hadrian noticed the apron on Celeste, a gentle look crossed his eyes.
• “Thank you for the effort.”
• With long strides, Hadrian made his way to the dining table and took a seat. Celeste sat next to him, feeling somewhat restless. She began to introduce each dish to him one by one.
• Hadrian was very respectful. Every time she mentioned a dish, he would taste it.
• His calm demeanor left her unsure whether Hadrian was satisfied or not.
• At that moment, the man set down his utensils. He elegantly wiped his mouth and spoke slowly. “I heard this is your first time cooking. You have quite the talent. However, this won't set a precedent! As the lady of the Lloyd family, you don't need to lift a finger to cook. You're free to do whatever you enjoy without any reservations.”
• The man's deep, powerful voice brought a profound impact to Celeste.
• She had never known that the formidable figure, rumored by the outside world, could possess such a tender and doting side.
• A warmth filled her heart.
• Even if her relationship with Hadrian was fabricated, everything he did for her was convincing enough to blur the line between fiction and reality.
• Celeste pressed her racing heart, striving to remain composed.
• “All right. I understand,” she replied.
• The following day, accompanied by Hadrian, Celeste held a funeral for her father.
• Although her father remarried due to her mother's vegetative state, he showered her with affection throughout her childhood. This emotional wealth he provided was one of the reasons Celeste remained resilient despite the numerous hardships she recently faced.
• “Dad, I'll take good care of Xenos Corporation. I won't let your years of hard work go to waste...”
• In the end, Celeste bid farewell to her father and departed with Hadrian.
• Halfway through her journey, Celeste received a call from her colleague and good friend, Desiree Taylor. She revealed that the company had thrown out all of Celeste's belongings. Desiree managed to secretly retrieve some of the items and wanted to return them to her.
• Upon learning the news, Hadrian immediately instructed his driver to take Celeste there first.
• At the cafe.
• By the time Celeste arrived, Desiree had been waiting for quite some time.
• Upon seeing Celeste's slim figure, Desiree couldn't help but have her eyes well up with tears.
• “Lestie, how did you get so thin? I've been grounded by my dad these past few days, so I'm really sorry that I couldn't help you out. Here's ten million. It's the monetary gift I've saved up since I was a kid. This is for you to use in case of emergency.”
• Upon seeing the check before her, Celeste felt a wave of both gratitude and astonishment washing over her.
• “Dessie, I truly appreciate your kind intention. However, I no longer have use for this money.”
• Celeste handed the cheque back to Desiree, all while narrating her own encounter and dealings with Hadrian.
• “What, you're Hadrian's fiancée...” Desiree exclaimed in surprise.
• Celeste's heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly emphasized, “It's not real! It's not real!”