Bound by law

Chapter 66: Courtroom Chaos

Estelle sat in the back of the courtroom, her heart racing with anticipation. It was a high-profile case, and Celeste had insisted that Estelle join her to observe, to learn firsthand from one of the best. Celeste had been in her element all morning, commanding the courtroom with her sharp wit and confident presence. Watching her in action always left Estelle in awe—and a little weak in the knees.

As the trial unfolded, Estelle could barely tear her eyes away from Celeste, taking in every subtle move, every commanding word. But just when she thought she could relax and settle into the rhythm of the proceedings, the door to the courtroom opened.

A woman walked in—tall, statuesque, with long dark hair that cascaded down her back in waves. She was striking, with an effortless elegance that immediately drew attention. Estelle's gaze followed her, and she felt an uncomfortable twist in her gut. The woman had an air of confidence that was hard to ignore, and as she strode down the aisle, her heels clicking against the floor, Estelle's sense of unease grew.

But nothing could have prepared Estelle for what happened next.

The woman didn't just sit quietly in the back of the courtroom. Instead, she walked straight up to Celeste with a smile that sent a chill down Estelle's spine. And then—before Estelle could even process what was happening—the woman leaned in and kissed Celeste on the cheek.

"Hi, baby," the woman said, her voice low and intimate.

Estelle's world tilted.

Baby? Estelle's heart clenched painfully as she watched the scene unfold. The casual way this woman touched Celeste, the way she called her baby, was like a slap in the face. And what's worse—Celeste didn't react. She didn't push her away, didn't even flinch. It was like this was normal, like it happened all the time.

Estelle's breath hitched, her body going rigid as a wave of confusion and anger crashed over her. She could feel her pulse pounding in her ears, the courtroom suddenly feeling far too small. Her chest tightened as she tried to make sense of what she had just seen. Who was this woman, and why was she acting so familiar with her Celeste?

Her thoughts were spinning. Did I miss something? Was Celeste hiding this from me?

As Celeste turned her attention back to the case, completely unfazed by what had just happened, Estelle's stomach twisted in knots. She tried to keep her expression neutral, but inside, her emotions were spiraling out of control. She could feel the sting of betrayal, the anger simmering beneath the surface.

Who is she? Why didn't Celeste stop her? Why didn't she say anything?

Every second that passed felt like an eternity as Estelle sat there, frozen in her seat, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. She fought to hold back the tears that threatened to spill, her throat tightening with the effort. She couldn't break down here—not in the middle of the courtroom. But the jealousy and anger bubbling inside her were becoming harder to contain.

By the time the judge called for a recess, Estelle was on the verge of losing it. As the courtroom began to empty, she sat there, her eyes locked on Celeste, who was still speaking with her client as if nothing had happened. The woman who had kissed her—whoever she was—had disappeared, but her presence still lingered, like a dark cloud hanging over Estelle's head.

The moment Celeste turned toward her, Estelle stood up, her movements sharp and filled with the tension she'd been holding back all morning. Without waiting for Celeste to approach her, Estelle stormed out of the courtroom, her emotions boiling over.

She didn't care that she was making a scene now. She needed answers, and she needed them now.

She heard Celeste call her name as she rushed out of the courthouse and into the quiet hallway. Estelle's steps quickened, but Celeste caught up to her, grabbing her arm and pulling her aside.

"Estelle, what the hell is going on?" Celeste asked, her voice sharp with confusion.

Estelle yanked her arm out of Celeste's grip, her chest heaving with barely contained rage. "What's going on? You seriously don't know what's going on?" Her voice was shaking, but her anger was clear.

Celeste frowned, crossing her arms defensively. "I have no idea why you're storming out like this. What's gotten into you?"

Estelle's eyes flashed with fury. "Oh, I don't know—maybe it has something to do with that woman walking up to you in the middle of the courtroom and calling you baby and kissing you! Who is she, Celeste? And why didn't you stop her?"

Celeste's expression darkened, but she didn't immediately answer. She looked away for a moment, as if weighing her words carefully, and that only made Estelle angrier.

"Don't just stand there. Explain!" Estelle demanded, her voice rising.

Finally, Celeste sighed, her jaw clenched. "Her name's Sabrina. We... have history."

"History?" Estelle's voice cracked with disbelief. "What does that mean? She kissed you, Celeste! She acted like she still has a claim on you."

Celeste's eyes flickered with something—frustration, maybe guilt—but her tone was firm. "We were together. A long time ago. She's a colleague, and... sometimes she gets a little too familiar."

"A little too familiar?" Estelle's hands trembled as she tried to keep her composure. "She kissed you, called you baby, in front of me. And you just let it happen. How could you—" Her voice broke, the hurt finally spilling out.

"Estelle, it's not what you think—" Celeste started, but Estelle cut her off.

"No, you don't get to do that. You don't get to brush this off like it's nothing!" Estelle's eyes were shining with unshed tears now, her voice filled with raw emotion. "You didn't even stop her. How am I supposed to feel when I see another woman treating you like you're still hers?"

Celeste's face hardened, her frustration evident. "I didn't want to cause a scene in the middle of the courtroom."

Estelle's voice rose again, her anger flaring. "A scene? You think I care about a scene? She kissed you, Celeste! And you didn't even push her away. Do you have any idea how humiliating that was for me?"

Celeste took a step closer, her voice low and dangerous. "You think I liked it? You think I enjoyed her touching me like that in front of you?"

Estelle's breath hitched, her heart racing as Celeste's anger matched her own. "Then why didn't you do something? Why didn't you say anything? It felt like you were okay with it—like she still has a place in your life that I don't know about."

Celeste's eyes narrowed, and she took another step closer, closing the distance between them. "Sabrina doesn't have a place in my life. Not like that. I didn't stop her because I didn't want to deal with her bullshit in the middle of court. But don't you ever think for a second that she has anything over you, Estelle."

Estelle's breath came in short, shaky gasps as she stared up at Celeste, her emotions swirling between anger, jealousy, and confusion. "How am I supposed to believe that when you just stood there and let her kiss you?"

Without warning, Celeste grabbed Estelle's wrist and pulled her flush against her, her eyes blazing with possessive fire. "Because you're the only one I want, Estelle," she growled, her voice low and filled with barely contained intensity. "You're the only one I care about. And I'm going to make damn sure you never forget that."

Estelle's heart raced as she felt the heat of Celeste's body against hers, the tension between them crackling like electricity. She could feel Celeste's grip tightening, her eyes dark and full of raw, possessive emotion.

"You're mine, Estelle," Celeste whispered, her voice dangerous and filled with desire. "Sabrina doesn't get to touch what's mine. No one does."

Estelle's breath hitched, her body trembling as Celeste's words sank in. She wanted to be angry, wanted to hold on to her jealousy, but the intensity in Celeste's eyes—the raw, undeniable truth in her voice—was overwhelming.

"I'm yours," Estelle whispered, her voice shaky but full of conviction. "But don't ever let anyone else think they can have you."

Celeste's lips curved into a dark, possessive smile as she leaned down, her breath hot against Estelle's ear. "You don't need to worry about that, baby. I'm going to make sure everyone knows exactly who I belong to."