[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-2603134E5B19-29":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},29,11,"Chapter 11: The Vanishing Act","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Who the heck is he?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">...\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante never saw it coming. After Celine bounced, she ghosted him completely.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Day one post-divorce? He slept like a baby, smugly expecting Celine to crawl back, totally defeated.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Month one? Still hitting the clubs, downing drinks, and burning rubber. He only vaguely noticed the void Celine left.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Month two? When asked about the divorce, he'd just scoff, \"She's playing hard to get. She'll be back, no doubt.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Month three? Celine was still MIA, and Dante was officially freaking out.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It was only after she left that Dante realized just how much he’d leaned on her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Even though she'd left a detailed guide, Dante figured she’d just waltz back in and didn’t bother with it.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Big mistake. The last three months were a total dumpster fire!\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He couldn't even find a decent tie!\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After parties, there was no one home to whip up a hangover cure broth!\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The cook’s meals? Straight-up inedible!\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He was losing his mind!\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">To top it all off, Celine had vanished, and there wasn’t a single sign she was coming back to admit defeat.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Mr. Williams, there's a dinner party tonight. You need to be there by seven.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">In his office, Dante was yanking at his tie, irritation radiating off him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Got it.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His assistant was halfway out the door when Dante called him back.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante’s face was a storm cloud. After a long pause, he finally blurted, \"Find out where Celine Evans is.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The assistant did a double-take, froze for a beat, then replied, \"Yes, sir.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante rolled up to the dinner party right on time at seven.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It was the usual glitz and glamour, champagne popping – a scene he used to live for. Now, he just felt antsy and annoyed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He was about to bail when he turned and saw a familiar face.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The woman who’d left him hanging for three whole months!\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She looked absolutely glowing. Clearly, she was thriving after ditching him!\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The worst part? She was practically glued to another guy’s arm.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante’s blood boiled. He stormed over, grabbed her wrist, and hissed her name through gritted teeth.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Celine Evans!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The woman in front of him blinked, looking utterly confused. Her eyes held zero recognition.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Sir, who are you?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Celine, you're seriously pulling this act?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante couldn't believe this chick was still playing games after three months.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I'm not acting, sir. I honestly don't know you. If that’s all, I’ll be going now.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">With that, she linked arms with the guy beside her, ready to sidestep him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He’d finally found her and wasn’t letting her slip away.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Celine, is it fun ditching your husband for another guy?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">So, she wanted to play innocent and pretend not to know him in front of another man? Fine. He’d rip that mask right off.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He snatched her hand, forcing her to face him, to confront him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Unexpectedly, Celine yanked her hand free with force and declared, \"I told you I don't know you!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">At that moment, the man beside her, who’d been quiet until now, let out a low chuckle.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Hold up, Dante. Are you hammered and causing a scene?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Only then did Dante actually look at the guy Celine was clinging to.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It was Archer Reynolds, his old high school classmate, the second son of the Reynolds clan.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But wasn't he supposed to be overseas?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">When did he get back? And how was he with Celine?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante scowled. \"Archer Reynolds? Since when are you back?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Two months ago,\" Archer said softly, murmuring something to Celine to wait for him outside.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But the second Celine turned to leave, Dante grabbed her again, leaving her bewildered once more.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante eyed her up and down. Her gaze was completely different now – wary, like he was a stranger.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">This Celine chick was full of surprises.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He took in Celine’s perfectly tailored apricot spaghetti-strap dress. Her dark hair was loosely swept up, a decorative comb tucked behind her ear. Subtle makeup highlighted her flawless features and delicate bone structure.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He’d never really noticed how stunning she was before, and she had a killer figure to boot.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The two of them together actually looked like a perfect match.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The thought sent a fresh wave of jealousy through Dante.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Didn't she claim to be head-over-heels for him? For ten years, no matter how he treated her, she never once complained.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">And now, just three months after their divorce, she’d forgotten all about him! Hooking up with Archer Reynolds, who’d just returned!\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Are we done here? She said she doesn't know you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Archer gently removed Dante's hand and signaled Celine to go ahead. Seeing Dante make to follow, Archer smoothly stepped in to block him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Dante, after all these years, you still haven't picked up a single ounce of gentlemanly conduct.\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272932188]