OUT OF THE ASHES

CHAPTER 4

When Celine heard that familiar voice, she felt as if she had just heard someone from hell summoning her. She shuddered as she hastened her steps.

"Let's go Annie. Hurry!" Celine's heart was howling in grief. She never thought that he would come to look for her again.

"Eh, he seems to be calling out to you. Isn't that the director of the Montenegro Group?" Annie turned around to look. She had a very good memory for handsome men.

"Celine Garcia."

The voice was still bleak and indifferent but anyone who knew him well understood that this was the tone Director Montenegro usually used before he flipped out with rage.

He had given Celine too much preferential treatment by staying away from her over the last few days of her exam period. But now, he wanted to have a serious talk with her.

Celine paused abruptly. She knew that if she took one more step, that man would certainly take further action.

She turned around and stared at Renan with a smile while he leaned against the car. "Ah, isn't this Director Montenegro? What a coincidence."

Once Celine was done smiling, the person next to her looked at her. The look in that woman's eye collectively conveying mocking words, 'Go on, keep on pretending. I'll give you a gunny sack so you can keep up with your pretense'.

Renan rose to his feet and slowly walked towards her.

Celine's heart skipped as fast as lightning. The urge to escape grew even more obvious in her feet as she looked at the figure who was slowly approaching her.

No matter how far apart they were, Renan still ended up standing next to her in just a short moment.

"So, what have you decided to do?" Renan did not bother with idle chit-chat and immediately raised this question. He only wanted one answer.

'Huh? Have I agreed to consider anything?' She wondered.

"It seems that I need to be the one to make the decision," Renan replied coldly. He then lowered his head to look at Celine before reaching out to grab her wrist. "Celine, if you enjoy having extramarital affairs, you'll need to be married before making those claims. Right?"

Those words had endless contempt weaved into them.

Celine bit her cherry colored lips and stubbornly looked him in the eye. "Director Montenegro, the road to marriage is bumpy. Haven't you already been trapped once? Why are you trying to fall into the trap a second time?"

"Since I've already jumped into it once, what's wrong with jumping into it again?" Renan's voice grew increasingly icy as his grip on her wrist tightened. "What were you thinking when you were giving birth back then?"

Celine listened to his indifferent tone and could not guess the meaning behind his words. Was he implying that she wanted to use this child to catch him again or was it really as straightforward as it seemed, devoid of any deeper meaning?

"What was I thinking? That I wanted to leave proof of an extramarital affair," Celine replied with a rakish grin.

"Say those words again, try it." He did not know why but each time he heard those words, Renan would feel extremely annoyed. Perhaps, it was because those words represented the scorn she felt for him.

Celine was shaken. Her wrist was stinging in pain from his grip. The spectators around them were increasing and Celine did not wish to become an internet sensation. So she growled softly, "Director Montenegro, let me go."

"Celine, there are some things that I don't intend to repeat twice. If I still don't see you and that child in the apartment tomorrow... You'll know the consequences." Renan finished his speech and released her hand. He then straightened his sleeve and looked at the indignant expression on her face but suddenly, he felt his mood improve.

After he left, the crowd who seemed as if they had been struck by lightning finally returned to their senses.

"Oh my god, that was Renan Montenegro, right? Right? Right?!"

"No, no, what were they just talking about?" The girls around them chimed in excitement.

Even the usually rational Annie was completely shocked. "Oh, so he's the father of the baby."

"He's not!!" Celine retorted loudly before she quickly turned around and ran out of the university gate.

'My child certainly isn't Renan's!'

Celine walked with large steps, seemingly unbothered by the person who was calling out to her from behind.

What right does this person have that he would receive what he wanted just because he asked for it? She had given birth to her child, does he think that getting this child was no different from ordering a glass of red wine?

Celine went home indignantly and Annie did not say anything else either.

Renan, who was in the car, watched as Celine furiously left. The corners of his lips perked up as he looked at the photographs taken several days ago. This child certainly looked overbearing and was just like a carbon copy of himself.

His mobile phone suddenly rang and Renan reached out to take the call. The person on the other end said something and Renan nodded gently. "Got it, I'll make my way over now. You guys can leave first." After he ended the call, he looked at the photographs once again. He had never thought of becoming a father but when faced with the sudden appearance of this child, he understood that what he felt was mostly a pleasant surprise aside from the initial anger.

A child... a child that was entirely his own.

How miraculous!

.........