### Chapter 4 After an exhilarating day of shopping at the mall, Robin rolled her way into the vibrant atmosphere of the 1996 celebrating single women. Little did Celine expect that this moment of liberation would bring her face to face with Adam and his entourage. The air was thick with laughter, but it quickly turned sour as their mockery snagged her attention. She recognized the familiar faces in Adam's circle; they were a part of his life she had never truly entered. Tenmi, Adam's closest confidant, was there, recalling the days when Adam and Carly's high-profile romance lit up the town. Carly had been adored by all, while Celine was left standing in the shadows, haunted by names like desperate replacement and ugly duckling. The disdain radiated off the group, revealing their lack of respect for her simply because Adam did not love her. Robin's temper flared at the sight, her fists curling into tight balls. “I’m going to rip them apart!” she declared, rolling up her sleeves, her indignation palpable. “Let it go, Robin. I’m divorced now. They aren’t worth the trouble,” Celine replied, maintaining an icy calm that belied the turmoil inside her. Despite the hurtful comments, Robin’s fierce protective instincts began to temper under Celine’s stoic demeanor. Their eyes began to draw to Celine as whispers rang out, someone referring to her as an angel. Robin's mood instantly shifted, her excitement bubbling to the surface. “Time for a singles party!” she proclaimed, directing them to a nearby booth. “Bring me all your male escorts!” As the vibrant soirée continued, Adam and his friends found humor in their jests about Celine, only to be abruptly silenced by a piercing glare from Adam himself, who had been lazily observing from his seat. His expression transformed into one of cold displeasure, effectively freezing any further mockery. The laughter hung awkwardly in the air, and a palpable tension descended upon the group. Benjamin, caught off guard, glanced toward Adam. Although Adam had never really acknowledged Celine, there was a flicker of something—perhaps remnants of past affection—that suggested she still meant something to him, however buried that feeling may have been. Just then, the crowd erupted in excitement, declaring they spotted an angel, and Benjamin’s eyes widened in surprise, “Holy crap! That really is an angel!” The others joined in their astonishment. "When did an angel arrive in our city? How have we never seen her before?" Benjamin’s voice lilted with disbelief. “Adam, look at that angel!” he exclaimed, nudging Adam elbowed. But Adam's perspective was clouded by indifference; he had seen countless beauties, and most failed to draw him in. However, the moment he dared to lift his gaze, recognition crashed over him. Placed right across the room, Celine had shed her thick-rimmed glasses, her usual unassuming style transformed into radiant elegance. Celine's visage shimmered in the light, her natural beauty unwrapped, revealing a striking allure that contrasted sharply with her past over the three years of drudgery in Adam’s life. Her petite frame appeared delicate and ethereal, draped in a chic, short tweed dress that accentuated her captivating legs. To Adam’s surprise, his heart raced with an unexpected familiarity; it was almost as if he had encountered this angelic presence somewhere before. The moment hung in the air between uncertainty and astonishment until a line of stunning male escorts entered, tall and confident, directly in front of Celine. Robin, beaming with delight, turned to Celine. “Pick one!” Celine, thriving in her newfound independence, grinned. “You, you, you!” Benjamin ran a low count under his breath, bewildered as Celine boldly selected eight escorts at once. “What? Why spend the money? You just sit back, we’d gladly volunteer for free!” Laughter erupted around the booth. Suddenly, Adam's phone buzzed with a new transaction notification. He picked it up, glancing at the screen with narrowed eyes. **Der VVIP, your card ending 0975 has been charged 50,000 for eight escorts at Club 19.** His face darkened, and with a seething glance back toward Celine, he charged toward her booth, a storm brewing in his chest. At that moment, Celine was savoring the attention, drinking from a glass an escort held to her lips. But amidst the playful cheers, a strong hand clamped down firmly on her wrist. Adam pulled her up with an ease that sent shockwaves of disbelief through her. “Let go of me, Adam!” she protested, confusion flooding her system as she met his intense gaze, a mixture of anger and something unrecognizable swirling within him. Robin stood up, aghast. “What are you doing, Adam? Let go of Celine!” All eyes were on the scene unfolding before them. The group, initially disbelieving, couldn’t reconcile the two halves of Celine—the plain girl they knew and the breathtaking woman standing defiantly in Adam’s grasp. Benjamin stood frozen, grappling with the realization that Celine had transformed into an undeniable goddess the moment she shed Adam. Yet Adam's grip was unyielding, imprisoning Celine against the wall, his towering presence intimidating. Trapped in a whirlwind of emotions, he leaned closer, piercing her with his gaze, “Do you think I’m dead, Celine Tate? You’re here flaunting yourself with other men?” The intensity of his words echoed, sending a shuddering realization through the air between them.