The Perfect Hold

Chapter Five

Celeste woke up later than usual that morning. She stretched beneath the covers, her body still heavy with the warmth of sleep, before reaching for her phone on the nightstand.

The familiar notification of Silas's text caught her eye, and she smiled softly as she read it:

Good morning, my angel. I love you more today than I did yesterday. Can't wait to see you later tonight. Be sure to eat something. All my love, S.

Her heart swelled at his words. Silas had a way of making her feel cherished, even when he wasn't physically with her. The way he always remembered to check in, to remind her to take care of herself, made her feel loved in ways she hadn't known before him.

She texted him back:

Good morning, my love. I love you most. I'll see you tonight.

She set the phone down and slid out of bed, padding quietly into the bathroom. The day stretched ahead of her, a quiet day before the dinner that evening with her friends and Silas. She had mentioned the dinner to him and he sounded enthralled.

She wanted her friends to meet him so they could see him for themselves that SIlas would never do something as heinous as locking her in their home. He would never.

After her morning shower, Celeste dressed in her workout clothes, ready to burn off some energy. She spent the next hour moving through a yoga routine, her body relaxing as she stretched and flowed through each pose. The rhythmic movements helped clear her mind, easing some of the tension she hadn't realized she'd been carrying.

Once finished, she headed to the kitchen for a light breakfast, a smoothie bowl and toast. The anxiety of the past week seemed to fade, replaced with a quiet sense of anticipation for the evening to come.

It wasn't until late afternoon, after Celeste had spent the day leisurely running errands and enjoying her time alone, that Silas came home earlier than expected.

She had just finished tidying up the living room when she heard the door click open, her head turning in surprise.

"Silas?" she called, walking toward the entryway. "You're home early."

He stepped inside, a soft smile on his lips, dressed in his work attire but carrying a subtle excitement in his expression, something more than the usual.

"I couldn't wait to see you, my angel," he said, his green eyes sparkling as he set his briefcase down. "I have something for you."

Celeste 's curiosity piqued as he reached into his bag, pulling out a velvet box and handing it to her.

"Open it," he said softly, his voice warm and full of affection.

When she lifted the lid, her breath caught. A tennis necklace. A delicate string of sparkling diamonds, precisely the one she had been added on her private Pinterest board, something she hadn't even mentioned aloud. It was as though Silas had reached into her thoughts and brought her wish to life.

Her lips parted in awe, her fingertips grazing the diamonds. "I love it," she said, meeting his eyes, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. "It's perfect."

"Just like you," Silas replied, his smile widening as he stepped closer, brushing his thumb across her cheek.

Celeste 's heart swelled with a mix of love and appreciation—not because she doubted her worth, but because Silas always knew exactly how to make her feel seen.

"And there's more," he added, his voice low, as he took out a silk dress from the shopping bag, the deep shade of scarlet bordering on maroon—his favorite color on her. The fabric shimmered softly, its elegant sweetheart neckline perfect to showcase the necklace. The way it caught the light felt luxurious.