Nothing more, nothing less

Battle lines

The next day, Celestiana woke up in Alicia's arms, the sunlight filtering through the window casting a soft glow on Alicia's peaceful face. For a moment, everything felt right in the world, as if the storm outside couldn't touch them here in the warmth of each other's embrace.

But the real world was waiting, and they both knew it.

Celestiana carefully slipped out of bed, trying not to wake Alicia as she tiptoed out of the room to check her phone. Sure enough, there were missed calls from her father—more than usual. The tension in her chest returned as she realized the confrontation was coming sooner than she had anticipated.

She had to tell her father about her decision. About Alicia.

As she stared at her phone, mentally preparing for the inevitable fallout, Alicia walked up behind her, wrapping her arms around Celestiana's waist. "Good morning," she murmured sleepily, her breath warm against Cel's neck.

"Good morning," Celestiana replied, leaning back into her embrace. "I need to talk to my dad today."

Alicia's hold tightened slightly, a silent show of support. "Are you ready?"

"I don't know," Celestiana admitted. "But I have to do it. We can't keep hiding. This is our life, and I'm not letting anyone take that away from us."

Alicia pressed a kiss to Cel's shoulder. "I'll be here when you're done. We'll figure out whatever comes next."

Celestiana smiled softly and turned around to face Alicia. "Thank you."

---

Later that day, Celestiana stood outside her father's office, nerves twisting in her stomach. She knew this conversation was going to be hard—potentially the hardest one she'd ever had. But she was determined to make her father understand that her life was hers to live, and that meant being with Alicia, no matter the consequences.

"Come in," her father's voice called out when she knocked.

Celestiana entered, her heart racing. Her father sat behind his desk, papers spread out in front of him, but his eyes immediately narrowed when he saw her expression.

"We need to talk, Dad."

He leaned back in his chair, his face hardening. "This better not be about Alicia again."

"It is," Celestiana said, standing tall. "I'm with her, and I'm not changing that."

Her father's eyes darkened, his hands clenching the edge of his desk. "Do you have any idea what you're doing? This relationship is already costing us partnerships, alliances. You're risking everything we've built."

"I don't care about the business if it means I have to give up Alicia," Celestiana fired back, her voice steady despite the anger simmering in her chest. "I'm not going to let you or anyone else dictate who I love."

Her father stood, his face red with fury. "You are throwing away your future for some... phase. Do you think she'll be there when this all crumbles? When you have nothing left?"

"She's not a phase!" Celestiana snapped, her fists clenched at her sides. "And if I lose everything else, then so be it. I'd rather have her than live my life without love."

The silence that followed was thick with tension. Her father stared at her, his face a mask of disbelief and anger. Finally, he sat back down, shaking his head. "I hope you know what you're doing. Because if you walk out that door, there's no coming back."

Celestiana's heart ached, but she didn't falter. "I'm not coming back, Dad. Not if it means living a life that isn't mine."

With those final words, Celestiana turned and walked out of her father's office, leaving behind the weight of expectations and the pressure of family obligations.

---

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