BESTFRIEND-LOVER

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Celine is almost always in a wheelchair because Duke doesn't allow her to walk, claiming it speeds up Celine 's recovery.

Duke takes great care of Celine . Even though Celine says she's okay, Duke insists she doesn't walk. One day, Duke caught Celine just out of the bathroom after a shower.

"Good evening, wife—wow," Duke said, finding Celine wrapped in just a towel.

"Hey, Hon," Celine replied, kissing Duke' cheek.

"Are you okay now? Is it still hurting?" Duke inquired, concerned about Celine 's lower back.

Celine laughed. "Of course, I told you I'm fine."

"Really?! So can we do it again?!" Duke seemed like an excited puppy.

Celine furrowed her brow and gave him a stern look.

"I've been almost unable to walk for two weeks, and you're telling me to do it again? You won't get another chance," Celine declared. Duke felt like the world collapsed after hearing Celine 's words.

"But wife, I endured two weeks," Duke pleaded like a puppy seeking sympathy.

"No buts, Duke, and that's final," Celine said, heading to the walk-in closet to get dressed.

Duke could only sigh and sleep without scoring this time.

'Never mind, next time I'll make sure you end up naked in my bed,' Duke evilly smiled.

They spent the entire night cuddling until they fell asleep.

CELINE'S POV

"Die!"

"You're worthless."

"Don't be shy, it's just once."

"Liar!"

"You're a curse!"

"Don't be shy; it's just once!"

"You damn child!"

"You're a murderer!"

"Mommy!"

I jolted awake from recurring nightmares. It's still haunting me.

Unnoticed, a tear rolled down my cheek. I wiped it away with the back of my hand, crying silently. In this moment, my mask fell, revealing the fragile Celine .

I looked at the man who gave me a new reason to live.

The man I love and am willing to fight for until death claims me.

I gently touched his face.

"If ever you discover my actions and secrets, I hope... I hope you'll still love me."

I shed tears that night with all my heart, silently.

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Celine freely roams around their mansion. She inspects every corner as if it's her first time there.

Duke is at work that morning. While Celine is cooking, she hears the doorbell but lets Nanay Martha, the housemaid, open it for her. Soon after, she hears voices and decides to take a peek.

"NANAY Martha! Long time no see! I missed you!" A beautiful, well-built woman is hugging Nanay Martha.

'Who is she?' Celine wonders.

"Oh dear, miss, I missed you too. I'm sure Señorito Duke misses you as well," the old lady replies.

"Oh, you're always like that. But where is he? Where is my BABY?" The woman asks, smiling.

'Baby? When did Duke become a baby?! Tsk!' Celine thinks to herself.

"Oh, he's at work, dear. Only us housemaids, and Celine , are here," says Martha.

"Celine ? Who's that? Another new maid here? Isn't Duke satisfied with his numerous maids?" The woman wonders. When Celine hears her name, she hides behind a wall.

"Oh no, dear, not a maid. She's Ma'am Celine , Señorito Duke' WIFE," the housemaid explains.

"WIFE?! WHY DIDN'T I KNOW ABOUT THIS?! Duke has a wife already?! But... But... I thought." The woman is confused.

'I thought I was the one Duke loved.' She thinks to herself.

Celine quickly returns to the kitchen to continue cooking. She hears footsteps approaching her.

"HI!" Beatrice said.

"Uhm, hi? May I know who you are?" Celine smiles.

"Ah, me? Hehe, I'm Beatrice Wolkzbin, Duke' girl best friend." Beatrice says.

"Oh, Hi, I'm Celine Brown-Knights Duke' WIFE." Celine said.

"Wait, did you say Wolkzbin? Are you somehow related to Doctor Wolkzbin?" Celine innocently asks.

"Ah yeah, she's my mom. So you met her? As her patient? Why, what happened to you?" Beatrice asks. Beatrice is nervous because her mom is an OB-GYN, and judging by Celine 's flushed cheeks, her suspicion might be correct.

'So something happened between them?!'

Gradually, anger and resentment build up within Beatrice. To prevent herself from crying, she restrains her emotions.

"You don't have to answer if you're not comfortable," Beatrice says.

"Besides, YOU'RE JUST A BED PARTNER." Celine is taken aback by Beatrice's words, but she just smiles, irritating Beatrice.

"I didn't know that BED PARTNERS had to get MARRIED and make all sorts of promises IN FRONT OF GOD, right?" She mockingly smiles at Beatrice, clearly getting under her skin.

"You—" Beatrice doesn't finish her sentence when they hear a car approaching. Duke enters the house.

"WIFE, I'M HOME!" Duke shouts.

"I'M IN THE KITCHEN, HONEY!" Celine elegantly responds.

When Duke enters the kitchen, he notices someone else, and Beatrice, instead of following him, is stopped by Celine .

"BABY CLOUD, you're home!" Beatrice exclaimed.

"Beatrice, we are in front of my wife, please. Hey, there, my beautiful wife." Duke lightly pushed Beatrice and greeted his wife.

Celine just smiled, and Duke approached her, kissed her lips without minding Beatrice's presence.

"Hey Honey." Celine smiled. "Are you hungry? Don't worry; the food is almost ready. Go upstairs and change your clothes." Celine said, and Duke followed her, heading to their room. When Duke went upstairs, Beatrice intended to follow him, but Celine stopped her.

"Where are you going, Beatrice?" Celine asked her.

"Are you following him?" Beatrice said arrogantly, but Celine just raised an eyebrow.

"He's still changing his clothes. Just wait here, or you can go ahead to the dining area; we'll have dinner there." Celine said, smiling widely.

'I hate her smile.' Beatrice thought to herself.

"Tsk. I don't need your permission; besides, I'm used to this. I've seen him naked, so it's okay." Beatrice smirked. But it seemed Celine was unfazed and just smiled back.

"Who are you again?" Celine asked her without looking at her as she prepared vegetables for their meal.

"Beatrice Wolkzbin, THE BEST FRIEND, AND THE FIRST LOVE OF Duke!" Beatrice proudly said. But Celine just gave her a creepy smile.

"And who am I again?" Celine asked Beatrice, but Beatrice couldn't speak. Celine turned to her and smiled.

"I am the WIFE. In between us, I am more important to you, and I'm the only person who can't allow you to do everything you want. So please? Sit down. Don't worry; my HUSBAND will come out soon." Celine said and smiled.

Beatrice had no choice but to sit at the dining table.

"Wow, your food smells so good, wife." Duke smiled widely as he descended the stairs.

Celine just laughed.

"You're a charmer again." Celine shyly said. When Duke reached the bottom, he went to his wife and hugged her from behind.

"I am indeed lucky to have a PERFECT wife like you." Duke said and kissed Celine 's shoulder.

Celine just smiled, touched by her husband's sweetness.

"I am more than lucky, Duke. Believe it or not, I am luckier." Celine said meaningfully.

"Go entertain your best friend; she's here just for you." Celine said again and smiled.

"Okay, then, but I'll just get something from our room." Celine nodded, and Duke left immediately. Celine didn't notice that Beatrice was already looking at her.

"You looked happy; make the most out of it." Beatrice threatened.

"I make the most out of it every day, don't worry." Celine smiled.

"You're talking nonsense." Beatrice said.

"So are you making sense?" Celine sarcastically replied, still smiling.

"You're INSANE!"

"And you're sane?" Celine just smiled, and because of Beatrice's annoyance, she turned away and left.

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