“Excuse me, sir, I really need to get to an important press conference. You’re driving so slowly that I might miss it. Would you mind letting me drive instead?” Celeste asked.
What? Let her drive? The driver raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Miss, I’ve been driving for twenty years. You’re barely out of college. Do you really think you can drive better than me?”
Just because I look young doesn’t mean I can’t drive better? Celeste thought. Then she took a thick stack of cash from her bag, waved it in front of him, and asked, “Will this let me borrow the wheel for half an hour?
When the driver saw the money, his eyes sparkled. He pulled the car over quickly, snatched the bills from Celeste’s hand, and said, “Sure, sure! Let’s switch seats.
It really was true: money could solve anything.
Celeste unbuckled her seatbelt and swiftly swapped seats with the driver, warning him. “Buckle up, hold onto the handle, and close your eyes.”
Close my eyes? Is she earnest about taking over the wheel?’ the driver thought.
ard in a blur
Before he could process what was happening, Celeste slammed her foot on the gas, launching the car forward
It was rush hour, and the highway was packed with cars inching along. But Celeste kept her foot on the gas, swerving and maneuvering in and out of lanes with perfect precision.
The driver clung to the handle, glancing at her nervously. “Uh…mind if I ask, Miss…what kind of car do you normally drive?”
“Race cars” Celeste replied casually.
“What the hell? Race cars? The driver’s face went pale as he watched her weaving between cars, narrowly avoiding a huge truck. He said, his voice panicked. “Help! I don’t want the money anymore. Just pull over! You’re going to get us killed!”
Meanwhile, Celeste kept her hands steady on the wheel, eyes sharp as she navigated the gridlock with ease. Half an hour later, she finally brought the car to a stop in front of the Kingston Grand Hotel,
Unbuckling her seatbelt, Celeste turned to the now visibly shaken driver and said, “We’re here. Thanks for the car
With that, Celeste strode toward the press conference hall confidently. The event was nearly over, and most of the reporters were parking up.
Just as they were getting ready to leave, Celeste pushed open the doors and, with a cold and steady voice, called out, “Wait a minute!”
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice, staring at the masked figure standing in the doorway curiously. “And you are…
someone asked.
Tm Celeste Sinclair, Celeste replied.
The reporters eyes widened in surprise, and they turned to Chloe quickly, microphones raised. “Ms. Sinclair, this woman claims to be Celeste. Do you have anything to say about that?”
Instantly, Chloe’s pleasant smile froze. She had just managed to salvage her reputation with the fake Celeste, and the press conference was almost a success. Now, the real Celeste had shown up to ruin it all.
Frustrated, Chloe sent Celeste a message quickly. The press conference is over. Even though you didn’t come to help in person, I got someone to take the fall for you.
[So you can keep that 20 million dollars. If you know what’s good for you, leave quietly before you cause any more trouble.]
Celeste glanced at her phone, a smirk forming on her lips. Then she said coldly, “I naturally have to do things for you since I’ve taken your money. If I got this money without doing anything, my conscience would be troubled”
What exactly does Celeste want to do? Chloe thought, a bad feeling in her heart.
Facing the crowd of reporters, Celeste continued, “You don’t need to press Chloe anymore. If you have questions, direct them to me. Or, I can just tell you what happened myself.”
1/2
10:34 AM c d
Chapter 19
Then the reporters didn’t hesitate, pointing their microphones and recorders at her. “Ms. Sinclair, the press conference is over, but you’re here claiming to be Celeste. So who was the person with Chloe earlier
Celeste sneered. That’s a fraud. I got held up and couldn’t arrive on time, so my dear sister found someone to impersonate me. She had her take all the blame for her plagiarism, and, conveniently, that meant she’d walk away spotless”
Chloe’s face paled. Is Celeste here to clear my name, or has she come to completely wreck everything I have set up? What does she want?” she muttered.
Frantically, Chloe typed out another message. [If you don’t want me to take back that money, you’ll shut up and get out of here now!
Celeste glanced at the message, unfazed. She continued to speak as the reporters fired questions at her.
“You said Chloe plagiarized your work. What exactly do you mean by that one reporter asked.
“It’s simple,” Celeste replied. The song One and Only is mine. I composed it. But right after I finished it, Chloe stole it and released it under her name.
“I didn’t realize she had stolen it until I heard it online. That’s when I found out she had passed it off as her work.”
The reporters looked at each other, exchanging surprised glances. “Wait, isn’t the work that Chloe copied Yesenia’s? How come you’re claiming it as your own now?” one reporter asked, dumbfounded
“Yes” Celeste said simply. “Because I am Yesenia.
Four simple words made the room erupt. Some reporters gasped, others stared, unsure if they could believe her.
The reporters held their microphones and looked at each other, as if asking each other a question “Do you know Yesenia?”
“This woman is really Yesenia?”
Is she telling the truth?”
Chloe’s calm expression cracked as she marched over to Celeste, sneering, “Who do you think you are Everyone in Kingston knows you’re a fool and a nobody.
“There’s no way you could be the award–winning composer, Yesenia. Stop lying and trying to pin your failure on me, or Yesenia herself will see this livestream and sue you for impersonation.”
hired
Celeste looked at Chloe and said coldly, “Shouldn’t I be saying that to you? You plagiarized my work, refused to admit it, and then b an imposter to destroy my reputation.
“If you don’t apologize right now, I won’t hesitate to take you to court and ruin you.”
Hearing this, Chloe laughed coldly, clearly unconvinced. “You keep saying you’re Yesenia. Where’s the proof?”
“Of course!” Celeste replied calmly. Then she took out her phone, opened Yesenia’s account, and showed it to the crowd.
“This is the official Yesenia’s account. I think you all recognize it. Does this prove who I am? Celeste added.
A
