Mad Love: My Ex-Husband's Second Chance

Celeste Finch stepped out of the shower and sat in front of her vanity, patting on some moisturizer.

The woman in the mirror wore a violet slip nightgown, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, accentuating her sensual, poised allure.

Her fair skin glowed, and her eyes shimmered beguilingly - a paradoxical mix of innocence and mystique that drew anyone's gaze.

Yet there was someone who never looked at her properly.

Today marked the first anniversary of her marriage to Dorian Finch. As usual, the clock on the wall showed past ten, and he still hadn't returned home.

Celeste was used to it by now.

She got ready for bed and lay down.

Bang!

The sound of the front door opening came from downstairs. Dorian was back.

His muffled steps approached and paused at the master bedroom before he glanced through the crack in the partially open door and walked away.

Celeste listened as the footsteps faded and the study door was kicked open.

She sat up, smiling wryly.

They had maintained this living arrangement for an entire year.

She had thought their mutual disinterest wasn't so bad, but now she realized there was no point prolonging a loveless marriage.

She slipped on a robe and headed for the study, knocking on the door.

"Dorian, it's Celeste."

"What is it?"

Dorian's rich, magnetic voice came through the door.

Expressionless, Celeste replied, "I need to talk to you."

A ten-second silence followed before he responded, "Come in."

Celeste pushed the door open.

Dorian was freshly showered. His muscular torso was exposed with a towel wrapped around his waist.

Water dripped from his hair as the crisp, woody scent of his cologne lingered.

Celeste stole a glance. Dorian's chiseled chest and shoulders tapered into a seductive V-line. His eight-pack abs were particularly alluring.

His physique rivaled top models - perhaps even surpassed them.

This was the first time she truly appreciated his body, and despite only a brief look, Celeste found it hard to tear her eyes away.

"I wanted to talk to you too."

Dorian said flatly, snapping Celeste's attention back.

Averting her gaze to hide her awkwardness, Celeste replied, "You first, or shall I?"

Without answering, Dorian cut to the chase.

"Celeste, let's get a divorce."

Although she had come to propose the same thing, hearing the words from Dorian's lips left her momentarily stunned.

Celeste had been prideful since childhood. With her high-powered career, she possessed a commanding presence and aloofness uncharacteristic of her age.

After a few seconds, however, she regained her composure with a smile.

"That's what I wanted to say too. Let's meet at City Hall in the morning."

With that, she turned and left.

Their marriage had been a farcical arrangement. The Atwood and Finch families had been allies for generations, which led to Celeste and Dorian's betrothal as children.

A year ago, Celeste returned to the country at her father's request to marry Dorian.

At the time, she had hoped for a happy life with him.

But on their wedding night, Dorian presented her with a contract for a marriage in name only.

Bewildered, Celeste nonetheless signed, believing time could change Dorian's heart. But as he increasingly neglected her, her feelings froze over.

To force herself to move on, Celeste immersed herself in work at the Atwood Group, letting the busyness numb her heartache as Dorian drifted farther away.

Over this past year, they led separate professional lives.

They left each other alone except for their appearances that required mutual cooperation.

To the outside world, they seemed deeply in love, but only they knew their marriage lacked affection.

Celeste knew Dorian would never love her, for his heart belonged to another woman.

...

That night, Celeste struggled to sleep.

Staring at her raccoon-eyed reflection, she applied eyeshadow and lipstick for the first time to mask her pallid complexion.

She intended to look her radiant best and deprive others of an opportunity to mock her.

Celeste chose a low-cut red dress that flattered her striking beauty. With her alluring make-up, she exuded an enchanting, ethereal sensuality.

Dorian gaped momentarily when she descended the stairs, clearly captivated despite knowing Celeste's beauty.

He had only seen her in natural, minimal makeup before - never this bold, fiery glamor.

The Celeste he had married possessed an understated appeal. After taking over the Atwood Group, her professional style made her appear more mature. But today, Celeste embodied a smoldering temptress.

Dorian stared heatedly for a full minute, his gaze betraying emotions unfamiliar even to himself.

"What, am I that dazzling?" Celeste smiled thinly, aware of his scrutiny.

Dorian said nothing. His eyes coolly returned forward as he grabbed his car keys and headed out.

Celeste followed him to the car.

Having slept poorly the previous night, she closed her eyes once inside.

Her lush lashes, coated with mascara, cast delicate shadows on her lids. But Dorian's gaze lingered hungrily on her smoldering red lips, his throat constricting slightly.

He was startled by his reaction toward his soon-to-be ex-wife.

Flustered, Dorian adjusted his tie.

This marriage had merely been a sacrifice for business interests.

He despised being controlled. He had only agreed due to his grandfather's ultimatum about inheriting the Dynasty Corp.

Now with the Dynasty Corp under his full ownership, Dorian could call the shots.

He could decide his marital status.

Plus, Violet Morland would return soon, and he had promised to marry her one year later. He must divorce Celeste!

Pushing those thoughts aside, Dorian averted his eyes just as Celeste opened hers.

She hadn't actually dozed off. She had merely feigned sleep to avoid the awkwardness.

Dorian's exquisitely chiseled features appeared tense, his imposing presence unchanged since their first meeting a year ago.

Celeste couldn't recall ever seeing him smile.

But it didn't matter anymore.

They were getting a divorce soon.

Celeste gazed out the car window as fleeting scenery rushed by, much like their business marriage arrangement.

The car soon arrived at City Hall.

It was Valentine's Day.

A long queue had formed outside, with young couples wearing joyful smiles, eager to get their marriage licenses.

The black Maybach pulled up smoothly, quickly drawing numerous admiring glances.

Celeste glanced at her watch. The drive from home to City Hall took thirty minutes - the longest stretch they'd spent together in a year.

Sadly, this reunion wasn't motivated by love. They were here for a divorce.

"Let's get out."

Celeste remarked, allowing Dorian to open his door and exit first.

As she emerged, her fiery red dress commanded attention, captivating the gentlemen present.

When Dorian approached, the ladies erupted into shrill shrieks.

Today, Dorian donned his signature handcrafted, high-end black suit ensemble, his striking aura amplified by the monochromatic palette. Wearing black sunglasses, one hand casually tucked into his pocket, he strode with an elegant gait befitting nobility.

The gathered women were mesmerized by this regal figure, much to the chagrin of their envious partners.

Dorian simply pursed his thin lips, an aura of chill surrounding him - an untouchable presence further reinforced by his entourage of bodyguards. Anyone could discern these two were no ordinary couple.

Having made prior arrangements with City Hall, they bypassed the queue entirely through the VIP entrance.

At the registration desk.

The clerk asked without looking up, "Do you have all the required documents?"

The pair simultaneously produced their marriage certificates without a word.

The clerk reached for the paperwork but paused. "You're not here to get married, are you?"

"Divorce."

"We want a divorce."

Celeste and Dorian stated in unison.

The clerk felt awkward. It was Valentine’s Day. Most couples were there to obtain marriage licenses, not divorces.

She patiently tried to counsel them, but their resolve was firm. Ultimately, she relented, "Alright, I'll process this for you. There's a one-month cooling-off period before a divorce can be finalized, so come back then for the certificate."

The clerk collected their marriage certificates, completing the initial proceedings to semi-finalize their divorce.

Outside City Hall, Celeste watched the newly married couples excitedly taking photos with their licenses and posting them on social media. She recalled her own experience a year prior.

When she and Dorian had obtained their license, they'd eagerly photographed it, announcing their marriage to the world.

Yet here they were, that very marriage lasting a mere year.

Celeste stole a sidelong glance at Dorian. The sunlight bathed him in a captivating radiance that stirred her heart.

Born into high society, Dorian exuded an innate nobility far beyond the average person's bearing, enhanced by his impeccable upbringing and grooming.

His breathtakingly handsome looks alone could turn heads without effort. As the Finch family heir who'd ascended to business dominance in Valoria at a tender age, he embodied every woman's fantasy partner.

Dorian had once fulfilled all of Celeste's romantic dreams. She'd believed possessing him meant possessing the world, but now she realized it had been a prolonged reverie.

One month's cooling-off period...

Did their marriage still have a chance to be salvaged?

"For this month, I'll be staying elsewhere. Once the divorce certificate is issued, I'll have my lawyer send you the asset division paperwork."

Dorian stated matter-of-factly, his words a brutal dousing of her residual hopes.

"Our marriage consisted solely of a piece of paper. Neither of us invested anything worthwhile. There's no need to divide assets," Celeste replied coolly. "After the divorce, we'll go our separate ways without interference. I have no interest in any compensation from you."

With that, she strode towards the street with poise.

Suddenly, she glanced back at Dorian with a faint smile. "Remember, I dumped you."

Dorian's expression darkened imperceptibly.

He knew Celeste's strong, aloof personality but hadn't expected such unreasonable pettiness.

She dumped him?

Hah...

So this too had to be framed as a contest of winners and losers?

Unaware of his reaction, Celeste elegantly hailed a taxi. As its exhaust billowed white smoke, the vehicle swiftly disappeared from sight.

Seeing her departure without the slightest hesitation rankled Dorian. Flustered, he undid two buttons of his shirt and marched towards his car.

The driver turned to him. "Home, Mr. Finch?"

"The office!"

...

Celeste took a taxi back to their villa. The housekeeper peeked out from the kitchen to greet her respectfully. "Ma'am, would you like breakfast?"

"No, thank you."

Celeste waved her off, slipped out of her heels in the foyer, and headed upstairs.

Suddenly feeling drained, she flopped onto the bed, staring up at the opulent crystal chandelier.

On this very day one year ago - Valentine's Day - she and Dorian had gotten married. Now, a year later on Valentine's Day, they were getting a divorce.

Their relationship mirrored that of passersby crossing paths. They just exchanged cursory nods before becoming strangers once more.

This marriage had been her solo performance.

Celeste numbly closed her eyes, intending to sleep, but memories of spending three hundred and sixty-five solitary days in this home surfaced.

Though their marriage held no resolution, she had expended a year of her youth for Dorian's sake.

A year ill-spent and unworthy of regret.

Celeste rose from the bed, overwhelmed by an urge to vent her frustrations.

Reseating herself at the vanity, she rummaged through a drawer for earrings, inadvertently finding an unused credit card.

It was Dorian's wedding gift.

"Celeste, marrying you wasn't my choice. I can't offer you love, but I can provide money and status," he said.

Then he presented her with this card for unlimited use.

With her own company and income, Celeste had no need for it and stashed the card away, leaving it untouched this entire year.

Now, however, she had a change of heart.

Since it was Dorian's gift before their permanent parting, not utilizing it properly would be a shame.

She would consider it compensation for her year as Mrs. Finch!

Celeste pocketed the card and left the villa.

Within half an hour, she was on a shopping spree at the nearby mall, arms laden with luxurious boutique bags.

...

At the Dynasty Corp.

Dorian was conducting an executive meeting.

His phone continuously pinged with text notifications that echoed incessantly throughout the high-end conference room.