Bound by law

Chapter 69: The Unraveling

Estelle sat in her apartment, her mind still buzzing from the confrontation earlier that day. Celeste's intense possessiveness had shaken her, leaving her body buzzing with adrenaline and emotions she couldn't quite name. It was always a whirlwind with Celeste—her dominance, her need for control, the way she could make Estelle feel so loved and desired, yet leave her wondering if she was too deep in something she couldn't fully understand.

She was trying to focus on her coursework, but her mind kept drifting back to Celeste. The weight of the past few days was pressing on her chest, and Estelle couldn't shake the sense that something wasn't right. It was like a shadow looming just out of sight—something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

Her phone buzzed on the table, pulling her out of her thoughts. She glanced at it, her heart skipping a beat when she saw an unknown number lighting up her screen. Frowning, she hesitated for a moment before picking up the phone.

Who would be texting me from an unknown number?

She unlocked her phone and opened the message, her breath catching in her throat when she saw the content. It wasn't a text. It was a photo.

Celeste... and Sabrina.

The photo showed the two of them—Celeste and her ex—standing far too close together, Sabrina's hand resting on Celeste's arm, their faces only inches apart. It wasn't just any photo. There was an intimacy to it that made Estelle's stomach drop. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared at the image, trying to make sense of what she was seeing.

Before she could even process the first picture, another one came through.

This one was worse.

Celeste and Sabrina were sitting at a restaurant, looking into each other's eyes. Sabrina was leaning in, her lips brushing against Celeste's ear as she whispered something, and the look on Celeste's face—relaxed, comfortable—made Estelle's blood run cold. The intimate familiarity between them felt like a slap in the face.

Her hands trembled as another message popped up below the pictures.

"I think you know who this is."

Estelle's chest tightened. She had a sinking feeling in her stomach, and it felt like her worst fear was coming true. Sabrina. It had to be her. But why? What was she trying to do?

She barely had time to gather her thoughts before another message came through.

"She doesn't love you. You're just a toy to her. She's using you to pass the time."

Estelle's breath hitched, her pulse pounding in her ears as she read the words again. Just a toy? Using me?

The room started to spin as a wave of emotions crashed over her—confusion, anger, betrayal. Her mind was racing, trying to make sense of everything. Was this true? Was Celeste still seeing Sabrina? Was she just playing with her the entire time? Estelle had been so sure that Celeste was hers, that their connection was real, but now... she didn't know what to believe.

Another message popped up, this one twisting the knife even further.

"She loves me. She always has. You're just temporary. Don't kid yourself. I'll always come first."

Estelle's heart clenched painfully, tears pricking her eyes as she stared at the words on the screen. She wanted to scream, to throw her phone across the room, but she was frozen in place. The pictures—those pictures weren't new, right? They couldn't be. Celeste had told her that Sabrina was part of her past, that their history was over.

Had. History.

But the way Sabrina was touching Celeste in those pictures didn't feel like history. It felt fresh, current. Like maybe... Celeste hadn't been as honest as she'd made it seem. Maybe there was still something going on between them.

Estelle's mind spiraled, the anger and pain bubbling up inside her. She stared at the pictures, her vision blurring with tears. Were they old? They had to be old, right? Celeste wouldn't lie to her. She wouldn't still be involved with Sabrina after everything she'd said.

But the messages, the pictures, the way Sabrina had so confidently kissed Celeste in the courtroom... it all started to add up, and Estelle felt like the ground was slipping out from under her.

Her phone buzzed again.

"You're just a phase, Estelle. She'll come back to me. She always does."

The words were like a dagger to her chest, and Estelle let out a shaky breath as she wiped away the tears that were now spilling down her cheeks. She wanted to believe that this was all a sick game, that Sabrina was trying to mess with her, but the doubts had already taken root.

What if it's true? What if I'm just... temporary?

She thought about all the moments she had shared with Celeste—the passion, the possessiveness, the way Celeste had claimed her so fiercely. It had all felt so real, so consuming. But now, with these pictures in front of her, it felt like maybe she had been living in a fantasy, blinded by her own desire for Celeste.

Estelle clenched her fists, anger coursing through her veins as she stood up from the couch. She wasn't going to let Sabrina get in her head. She wasn't going to let some ex ruin what she had with Celeste. But she couldn't just ignore this either. She needed answers.

With shaky hands, she picked up her phone and typed a message to Celeste.

"We need to talk. Now."

She hit send, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for a reply. Every second that passed felt like an eternity, her mind racing with a thousand different thoughts. She didn't know what she was going to say, but she knew she needed to confront Celeste. She needed to know the truth.

Because if there was one thing Estelle couldn't stand, it was being played.

A few moments later, her phone buzzed with Celeste's response.

"I'll be at your place in 10 minutes."

Estelle stared at the message, her stomach churning with nerves. In ten minutes, she would know the truth. And whether it was what she wanted to hear or not, she had to face it.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself as she prepared for the conversation that could change everything.