CELESTINE’s P O V

‘‘Hey! What are you doing?’’ I said it in a commanding tone, carefully controlling my volume in anticipation that another person might overhear us. ‘‘Put me down!’’

And at that moment, we heard footsteps coming down the stairs, at which point Arnold quickly hid behind a wall while lowering me to the ground in a controlled manner.

‘’I will never let you marry my cousin…’’ he groaned in my ear before pecking my lips and vanishing as he opened a door that was situated beneath the stairwell.

‘‘Good morning, Celestine…!’’ I jumped when I heard Julian’s voice, and I looked up to see him at the...