Chapter 633
The damp, freezing basement had never seen the light of day.
A biting chill seeped from the walls, mingling with the suffocating scent of dust and decay.
Celeste Carlyle had been locked down here for days, stripping the once-pampered heiress of her refined elegance.
Tangled hair clung to her radiant, albeit pale complexion, as she curled her thin frame on the icy floor, though a stubborn gleam of defiance remained in her eyes.
The entire bunker was heavily guarded, the heavy bronze doors sealed tight.
Since the moment she was thrown in, Jarred Sterling had not stepped foot inside.
The grueling interrogations were handled entirely by Declan Ward.
Celeste did not even know where she was.
Declan stood tall in the center of the room, his expression completely devoid of warmth.
Several suited bodyguards flanked him, their intimidating presence suffocating the cramped space.
“Ms. Carlyle, there is no need to drag this out,” Declan said, his flat tone carrying an undeniable authority that hung heavily in the freezing air.
“Hand over the Poisoned Vintage Formula, and we can negotiate. Keep being stubborn, and you will rot down here p>
Celeste looked up, a faint spark igniting in her unfocused gaze.
Ignoring his threats, she bit her lip stubbornly.
“I won’t say a word until I see Jarred. I will only talk to him p>
For days, this had been her only demand.
Even imprisoned and pushed to the brink, her decade-long obsession remained deeply rooted in her heart.
She refused to believe that Jarred could be so heartless as to deny her a single meeting.
One of the bodyguards scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain.
“Who do you think you are? You really overestimate your own importance p>
“Mr. Sterling hasn’t left Sienna’s side for a second. He has no time for you. I suggest you confess now before you make things worse for yourself
Declan pulled up a chair and sat across from her, crossing his legs.
He brushed a piece of lint from his sleeve, his tone even. “Ms. Carlyle, Jarred used to be incredibly lenient · with you. Everyone in the Capital catered to your every whim.
“But it was never because you were special. It was purely because of that so-called life-saving favor p>
A suffocating wave of panic gripped Celeste’s chest.
She took a deep breath, forcing down her surging emotions, and met his gaze with newfound ferocity.
“Did I not carry him down from Azure Ridge myself? Since when did Sienna’s words become the absolute truth p>
“Who’s to say Sienna wasn’t the one who orchestrated his kidnapping, and I simply intercepted and saved him p>
Declan remained silent, watching her with a faint, chilling smile.
That smile sent a shiver down Celeste’s spine.
“Clinging to lies now will only make him despise you more,” Declan stated coldly.
“The truth is out. Your noble act of self-sacrifice was a meticulously crafted lie from the very beginning.
“You faked the rescue, manipulated from the shadows, and used your fragile victim persona to play Järred, his grandmother even the entire Sterling Group
Declan leaned forward, his predatory gaze locking onto hers with merciless contempt.
“Everything about you is fake. To him, you are nothing but a vile, calculating fraud!
“Why would he ever want to see you? You don’t deserve it p>
Every word struck her with devastating precision, shattering her illusions.
Yet, instead of forcing her surrender, the humiliation ignited a dangerous, unhinged desperation within her.