Celine woke up with puffy eyes from crying all night. She knew today would be difficult, but she tried to stay strong. After taking a shower and getting dressed, Celine decided to stay in the guest room that was now her bed.

Nico and Ruby were still sleeping in the same room, in the master suite. Even though they were not officially married yet.

Just then, the door to the room opened, and Nico entered with a serious face. He closed the door carefully, as if he didn't want anyone to hear their conversation. Celine stood up from her seat and looked at Nico, trying to calm her heart that was still beating fast.

"Nico, what's wrong?" asked Celine in a low voice.

Nico looked at Celine coldly. "I came to tell you something. From now on, I don't want to see you appear in front of the guests or my coworkers who come to this mansion," he said matter-of-factly.

Celine frowned, trying to digest Nico's words. "But why, Nico?"

"I don't want them to know that you're still here," Nico replied firmly. "Everyone already knows you were fired, and that's what they have to believe. So, you're going to stay in this guest room or somewhere else in the house for as long as they're here. Do you understand?"

Celine looked at Nico with teary eyes, feeling a new wound open in her heart. She nodded slowly, holding back the tears that were about to spill over. "Okay, I understand," she replied weakly.

Before Nico could say anything else, the bedroom door opened again, and Ruby walked in with a sweet smile on her face. She immediately hugged Nico from behind, resting her chin on Nico's shoulder in a spoiled manner. "Nico, I was looking for you. Why are you here?" she asked while glancing at Celine with a dismissive look.

Nico placed a hand on top of Ruby's hand that was wrapped around his waist. "I'm just telling Celine the new rules. She can't show up when there are guests," Nico said in a flat tone.

Ruby smiled contentedly, then wrapped her arms around Nico's neck and kissed him passionately on the cheek. "Good, dear. We don't want people to think badly of us, do we?" she said in a sweet yet sarcastic tone.

Celine felt a sharp pain in her chest, seeing the intimacy between Nico and Ruby. She clenched her fists, trying to hold back the mixed anger and sadness. "I understand," Celine said hoarsely, trying to straighten herself up.

Ruby smiled widely, then turned to look at Celine with a satisfied expression. "Good, then, just enjoy your time in this room, Celine," she said in a mocking tone. "We're going to be very busy with our wedding preparations, so you'd better not interrupt."

Nico didn't say anything else, just gave Celine a cold stare before leading Ruby out of the room. The door closed, leaving Celine alone in the room that felt increasingly cramped and cold.

Celine sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the door that had just closed. The tears she had been holding back finally fell, streaming down her cheeks. She looked at herself in the mirror, seeing the image of a once confident woman now looking broken and fragile. But underneath it all, there was a determination that continued to strengthen within her. Even though Nico had abandoned her, Celine still decided to persevere, even though she knew there would be even more pain she would have to face.

"Honey... " Celine stroked her still flat stomach, "You be strong. For now, Mommy will keep your presence a secret. I'm sorry, but... but I hope you understand..."