What do you want in return?

Celine got into the car and let the butler drive her home. While inside the car, her thoughts lingered back to the man she saw. The same man in her dream.

***

Celine walked inside the castle while holding a souvenir bag that contained her wedding dress but to her dismay, her luggage was already parked in front of the entrance. 

Her father was already waiting for her at the door as if he was expecting her already.

"Father," Celine began, bowing her head. She raised it but King Ashford didn't return the greetings. Her stepmother astepmotherehind him.

"You should leave Celine before I dispatch the guards to throw you out," King Ashford said, but judging by the way the tension grew in the atmosphere, Celine guessed that her father was angry but why get angry at her when she was the victim?

 "I am the victim here, father! You betrayed me on my wedding day and…"

Slap!

It was the king who slapped Celine.

"You went ahead and followed him? Did you even know who he is?" King Ashford asked coldly but Celine wasn't a bit moved. She thought her father would at one point take her side but he never will.

"I don't know if you know him but he saved me when I thought I was going to die bleeding. Did you even see my head, Father?

Slap. Another one came again. This time, it was stronger. Tears trickled down Celine's face.

"I don't want to see you ever again. Leave and don't bother to come back here." King Ashford declared, and added. "I wish your mother didn't give birth to you. You this ingrate"

Celine only stood there, dumbfounded with the bag in her hand.

Celine retracted her gaze from her father. She dragged her bags out of the castle, one by one until there was nothing left.

Celine brought out the business card given to her by the strange man and reads the content. She realized he was actually the CEO of a big corporation in North America. Blinded by revenge, Celine wanted to call the number and ask for his help.

All of her cards weren't working, and she has been looking for ways to get a taxi but how is she going to pay?

When Celine stood at the roadside, Looking for a cab, a black latest model car stopped in front of her. She tried to look elsewhere, reminiscing but the car horn and Celine looked at the car.

"I thought you were going to ask for my help at some point, Celine. Get into the car and the offer is still valid." It was no one else but Vladimir and even now, he looked more handsome.

"You can still be my wife," Vladimir said.

Celine could remember vividly that she only saw sunlight until the age of sixteen. She has always been confined to the four walls of her room with no means of escaping.

And now, an offer is here. Right in front of her and she couldn't dare refuse it. She wanted to escape badly from her cruel father and sister but now that they let her go first, she considered paying them back.

Some part of Celine's memory was missing but she didn't know what but this was freedom right in front of her. A freebie for revenge on her cruel mate and evil sister.

Celine can finally live among the people without having to hide her intelligence or stay cooped up in her room.

Celine knew nothing about this man but why is her wolf telling and pushing her to just agree to the strange man's request?

"This is freedom right in front of you, Celine. Are you going to ignore it?" Celine asked herself, pulling her gaze back to him.

"I will help you take your revenge," Vladimir said with a faint smile. Celine cleared her throat and asked.

"Why?"

"Because I want to not that I pity you. I just need a woman by my side" Vladimir replied.

"And what would you gain by helping me?" Celine asked with a heart beating loudly in her chest. She just wanted to ask these questions but the truth is, she is ready to go with him.

"A lot," Vladimir replied, maintaining his composure.

"And what are those?"

"I can't tell you that but you are safe, Celine," Vladimir replied, with his index finger pressed to the crook of his nose.

"Then, what do you want in return?"

"Nothing for now but I will want something in return in the future and I know you will do it" Celine sees no harm in this and she believes she is not going to regret it.

"I will take your offer but don't regret it if I don't later accept what you want," Celine said aloud for Vladimir to hear, not having any ounce of regret in her.

A smirk graced Vladmir's lips when he heard Celine's reply. 

Slowly, Vladimir got out of the car and got Celine's luggage inside the car. 

"I'm glad you made the right decision," Vladimir said but the man wasn't smiling.

"Get your things ready yourself tomorrow morning, princess. We will be moving on to signing the contract soon, though there will be no official wedding. Welcome to my home, Celine," Vladimir said, stretching out his hand for a handshake.

Celine shook hands and the moment, they did. Her body was electrified to settle at the pit of her stomach. There were butterflies in her stomach and it made her shudder with a foreign desire.  It felt as if a fire was ignited inside of her.

Celine's hand involuntarily went to her cheek, trying to soothe the aching cheek. She couldn't mutter anything, as she got into the car with Vladimir. Vladimir drove the car towards the tiled road.

This is a new beginning for Celine Brown and this time, she plans to come back stronger. Celine threw her head to the back seat and reminisced alone about what happened today.

Celine could imagine Kelly and Kieran giggling as they make love. And this thought made a lone tear trickle down her face slowly.