CHAPTER 76: CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX: CHAO IN THE BLACK MANSION

Raymond’s POV

The morning air felt extremely sharp and cold on my skin when I stepped out of the car with Celeste by my side.

I looked at the Black family Mansion in front of me and a wave of nervousness hit me out of nowhere.

I adjusted my tie, trying to look composed even though my heart was pounding. The household staff froze at the sight of me and Celeste.

Some bowed slightly, others just stood awkwardly, exchanging glances filled with confusion and judgment.

They were all aware of what happened and probably didn’t expect me to bring Celeste over.

Celeste, on the other hand, stood tall in her tight red dress, one hand resting protectively on her still flat stomach, her lips were curled into a proud little smirk.

She was trying to look confident, but I could feel her fingers trembling when they brushed mine.

"This place makes me so uncomfortable," she muttered under her breath.

"It’s your home now," I said, forcing a calm smile even though my jaw was tightly clenched.

I had rehearsed this moment a hundred times in my head.

I would walk in, face Sameen, and tell her the truth. Tell her that I was done pretending, that Celeste and I were going to start a new life. That she should stop clinging to a marriage that had been dead for years.

Simple and straightforward, that was how I planned it.

But when the front doors swung open and I saw Sameen standing there, her hair loose, eyes red and expression twisted in disbelief, all my composure shattered.

"Raymond?" she said, her voice cracking in disbelief.

Her gaze darted from me to Celeste and then down to her stomach. Her lips parted in shock.

"You brought her here?" she asked me angrily.

"Sameen... " I said calmly.

Before I could even start talking, Raina appeared from behind her mother, and the moment her eyes landed on Celeste, she froze.

Her jaw clenched, and I could literally feel the air change.

"You," Raina said in a low, trembling voice.

"Raina, please.. " Celeste tried to explain, but Raina’s palm shot through the air so fast I barely saw it.

SLAP!

The sound echoed through the quiet house.

"You disgusting snake!" Raina screamed, as her chest heaved because of intense anger.

"You slept with my father? You ruined our family, you... " She said while glaring at her.

Celeste stumbled back a little, clutching her cheek, and the household staff gasped in shock. I saw one of the maids cover her mouth, another take a step back, whispering something under her breath.

"Raina, stop it!" I shouted, stepping between them, but Raina shoved me aside.

"Oh, I will not stop, Dad! How could you bring her here?" she yelled, tears brimming in her eyes.

Celeste’s eyes narrowed as she straightened her dress and her voice turned sharp. "Watch your mouth, Raina. You should be thanking me for giving your father the happiness your mother never could."

Raina lunged at her angrily and I couldn’t stop her on time.

She grabbed Celeste by the hair and yanked her hard. Celeste screamed, staggering backward as Raina pushed her toward the wall. "You homewrecking witch!" Raina shouted, her voice echoing through the grand hall.

"Raina!" I yelled, pulling her off, but she twisted out of my grip, slapping Celeste again, this time so hard it made Celeste cry out.

I snapped angrily and my hand moved before my mind caught up.

SLAP!

The sound was loud. Too loud.

Raina’s head jerked to the side, and for a moment, everything froze.

The staff gasped audibly.

Sameen’s scream tore through the silence. "RAYMOND!"

She ran straight to Raina, who stood there clutching her cheek, eyes wide and full of disbelief.

"You hit her?" Sameen’s voice trembled with fury. "You hit your own daughter for her?"

I tried to explain, but my throat was dry. "She attacked Celeste first... "

"Oh, shut your filthy mouth!" Sameen shouted, tears spilling down her face. "You brought shame into this house! You humiliated me! You..."

Celeste, still trembling, clung to my arm. "Raymond, let’s just go. They’re crazy.. "

That was when Sameen moved.

She grabbed the nearest vase from the side table and before I could react,

CRASH!

It hit me square on the shoulder. The pain exploded through my arm, sending me staggering back.

"Sameen!" I shouted, wincing. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"What’s wrong with me?!" she screamed, her voice breaking. "You brought your mistress into our home, Raymond! Our home! How dare you!"

I clenched my jaw, my entire body shaking. "You made me miserable for years, Sameen! Always nagging and always suspicious... "

"And you think sleeping with my daughter’s best friend is a solution?!" she shot back. "You’re disgusting!"

Celeste started crying now, her hands shaking. "I didn’t mean for this to happen..."

Raina turned on her again, voice full of venom. "You didn’t mean to sleep with a married man? You didn’t mean to get pregnant? Spare us your pathetic act!"

She moved toward Celeste again, but this time I grabbed Raina by the arm and pulled her back roughly.

"Enough!" I barked, my voice booming. "You have done enough, Raina!"

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Done enough? You’re defending her? Her?"

"Raina!" I shouted, my temper snapping. "Stop talking to me like that! I’m still your father!"

"My father died the day you chose her!" she screamed back, tears running down her face.

For a split second, the whole mansion went dead silent.

My heart clenched as that hurt more than the vase and more than anything.

But before I could speak again, a deep, commanding voice boomed from the staircase.

"What is going on in my house?!"

Every head turned towards the direction that the voice came from.

The last thing I needed right now was the old man getting involved. He stood at the top of the stairs in his robe, silver hair glinting under the chandelier light, his eyes were as cold as ice.

"Grandfather..." Raina whispered softly.

He descended slowly, each step making the tension thicker.

"Raymond," he said, his tone low and dangerous. "Explain yourself."

I swallowed hard. "Father, I.. "

"You brought your mistress,into my home?Did you get my permission?"he interrupted coldly.

Celeste shifted uncomfortably and bowed her head.

"Sir.. " she began, but he raised a hand sharply.

"Do not speak in my presence!" he commanded and she went quiet immediately.

Sameen stood beside Raina, holding her protectively, while I just stood there, my mouth opening but no words coming out.

"You have brought shame to this family, Raymond. Not only did you betray your wife, but you also dragged your disgrace into this house for everyone to see." he said sternly.

"I love her!" I blurted out. "I love Celeste, and she’s carrying my child. I won’t apologize for that."

"Love?" Grandpa scoffed. "You think this is love? You humiliate your wife, strike your daughter, and parade your mistress before the household? That’s not love...That’s madness."

"Have I been too tolerant with you that you have forgotten your place?" she asked me angrily.

Celeste wiped her tears, stepping forward. "With all due respect, sir, I didn’t ask for this.. "

"I said silence!" he thundered again.

The sound of his voice echoed through the hall, making even the maids shrink back.

He turned back to me. "You will pack your things and leave this house today, you, and your mistress."

My heart dropped. "Father.. "

"I said today, Raymond!" His voice was final, sharp as a blade. "I will not have your filth stain the Black name any further. I took you as my own son but you have never considered me in any of your decisions"

Celeste gasped. "But where will we go?"

"That is not my concern," he said coldly. "You made your bed, now lie in it."

Sameen crossed her arms, watching me with a look I had never seen before, she looked both broken and vindicated. While

Raina just glared at me as her lips trembled.

I tried to speak, to defend myself, but nothing came out. The humiliation burned through my chest.

"Father, please... "

"I said enough!" Grandpa snapped. "You will leave before the sun sets, or I will have the guards escort you out myself. You should be thankful that I am not throwing your wife and children out as well"

Then he turned and walked back toward his room, leaving behind a heavy silence.

I just stood there frozen.

The maids whispered among themselves, the butler avoided my gaze, and Celeste clung to my arm, crying softly.

Sameen stepped forward, voice low but sharp. "You heard him.,Get out, Raymond."

Raina just shook her head slowly. "You’re not my father anymore."

Those words hit harder than any slap ever could.

Celeste tugged my hand. "Let’s go," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please, let’s just go."

I turned one last time toward Sameen and Raina. My throat was tight and my pride was in shreds.

"I hope you are happy," I said bitterly.

Sameen glared at me. "No, Raymond, Happiness died the day you betrayed us."

I looked away as my chest tightened even more as I led Celeste toward the door.

As we stepped outside, the wind howled through the front yard.

Behind us, the mansion doors slammed shut with a loud thud.

For the first time in my life, I realized something bitterly true.

When you burn bridges, there’s no walking back.

Only ashes and I was standing right in the middle of mine.