Reborn to Rule: From Doormat to Dynasty

"What are you taking pictures of?"

Celeste suddenly showed up right in front of the reporter, scaring her so badly she lost her balance and landed on the ground with a thud. She stammered out,

"I-I didn't really take anything..."

"Nothing? Then let me have a look." Celeste held out her hand.

Instinctively, the young reporter hid her DSLR behind her back, glanced at Celeste, and scrambled to her feet, trying to bolt.

"You're snapping pics of Miss Shaw, huh?" Celeste was quick-she grabbed the strap of the camera and leaned in, tone low and serious. "Don't run, unless you want me to call the cops."

"I'm not running, I'm not! I'll delete it, okay?" The reporter looked like she was about to cry.

She knew messing with the Shaws was asking for trouble.

But Celeste just gave her a knowing smile.

"No need to delete anything. Honestly, what's the big deal about the second daughter of the Shaw family buying stuff? You think that's newsworthy? Since you're into scoops, how about we make a deal?"

*****

Night had fallen, and Yannburgh was glowing under neon lights.

By the time Ethan came home, Celeste had already finished dinner. She was in the bedroom, humming while picking jewelry to go with her dress. Spending other people's money always felt great-spending money that once belonged to someone who hated her? Even better.

The look on Sophie's face when Celeste handed her the credit card earlier today-that pained expression was just priceless.

"Where've you been all day? Didn't see you at home."

Celeste casually asked when she heard Ethan come in.

But he shot her a cold look. "Don't ask about things that don't concern you."

Her good mood evaporated in an instant. If this had been the old her, she would've raised hell.

She held herself back, took a suit out of the shopping bag, and said, "Fine, I won't ask. But can I tell you what I did today? I bought you a suit. Try it on."

"I'm not interested."

Ethan didn't even look at it. He just rolled his wheelchair toward the bathroom, like he had no patience for her.

That did it. Celeste grabbed the armrest and yanked him to a stop. "Like it or not, you're trying it on."

Ethan glanced at her hand, then slowly looked up at her. "Why?"

"Why? Because I'm your wife. I got you an outfit, and you know what they say, married couples-"

She paused midway, realizing that might not have been the best direction. Ethan was giving her a strange look too.

She cleared her throat and changed the tune, "Anyway, we're a team, right?"

"A team?" He raised an eyebrow and gave her a skeptical look.

"I picked that suit to match my gown. We're going to that wedding together, and it's the perfect chance to show everyone how tight we are. We'll look amazing together, crush them with our looks, and shut down all the gossip. Not to mention, stomp on the shady schemes some folks might be cooking up. Isn't that what being a team means?"

Her words were part sincere, part calculated.

She really didn't like how Ethan's birth mother was trying to mess with him using such underhanded tricks. So yeah, she wanted to have his back. That was the honest part. The not-so-honest part was she needed his help putting on a show at the wedding to gain some credibility in their social circle.

Who knew how much of it Ethan believed, but he eventually said,

"Leave it there. I'll try it on later."