Chapter 141
141
Celine entered the backstage area. Following her instructions to Jaines, it had already been cleared out. She was completely alone. She sat in front of the vanity and began tying her long, silky black hair into a low ponytail, revealing her slender, graceful neck. Then, she applied a light, refined layer of makeup. A final touch of lipstick brought the look together.
Celine rarely wore makeup, as her natural features were already pure, delicate, and almost ethereal. But now, with just a subtle enhancement, her beauty seemed otherworldly. From outside, Jaines’s voice echoed through the lecture hall.
“Good morning, everyone.”
Celine rose from her seat and walked to the stage curtain, lifting a corner to peek out. Her gaze swept across the massive hall. Every seat in the thousand-capacity auditorium was filled, a sea of faces buzzing with anticipation. Cameras clicked and whirred incessantly, with several television stations broadcasting the event live. At the podium stood Jaines, speaking into the microphone.
“Good morning, everyone. Today, we are gathered here to welcome…” The crowd erupted in unison.
Dr. C. Jaines smiled. “It’s an incredible honor to have Dr. C here at Yochine University to deliver this lecture.”
Celine’s eyes scanned the crowd. Adam sat in the front row, dead center in the main section. His tall, elegant frame exuded effortless authority, and his cold, chiseled features betrayed no emotion. To Adam’s left were Carly and Tracy, and to his right was the university’s vice principal and head of academics. No matter where Adam went, he was always the center of attention, always in the spotlight.
Jaines’s voice rang with excitement. “And now, let’s welcome Dr. C to the stage!” It was time for Celine to step into the spotlight.
For three years, she had been gone. For three years, her title had been Mrs. Alvarez. But today, she was reclaiming her identity as Dr. C. She couldn’t help but imagine Adam’s reaction when he saw her. And Carly’s. And Tracy’s. And Melody’s. It would be a sight to remember.
Celine prepared to make her entrance. She was ready. But before she could take a step, a sudden sharp pain exploded at the back of her neck. The blow came fast, a blunt object striking her from behind. Her vision blurred, and before she could react, everything went black as her body crumpled to the floor.
Adam sat in the center seat as Carly leaned in close, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Adam, we’re finally going to see Dr. C!” The curtain began to draw back slowly. Adam’s gaze followed, but the stage was empty.
A wave of confusion spread through the auditorium. “What’s going on? Where’s Dr. C?” Tracy exclaimed. Jaines, standing stiffly at the podium, froze in disbelief.
“Just moments ago, Dr. C confirmed via a message that she was backstage. How could she simply—”
“Everyone, please remain calm,” Jaines attempted, his voice strained as he struggled to regain control of the crowd. But his words did little to stem the chaos. Murmurs rose into panicked whispers, and the audience buzzed with speculation.
Amid the commotion, Adam’s phone lit up. He glanced at the screen; it was Hailey. Cursing under his breath, he stood and briskly walked out of the lecture hall. The moment he answered, Hailey’s panicked voice cut through the line.
“Adam! Something’s wrong, Celine’s in trouble!”
Adam’s features darkened instantly, his thin lips pressing into a line. “What happened to her this time?”
“I just saw her! She was hurled into a car! I couldn’t catch up to the vehicle, but it was Elijah’s men—Elijah has taken her!”
“What? Elijah has taken her? Not long ago, she was abducted by that scumbag Larry. And now, she is in the clutches of the notorious playboy, Elijah. How many dangers does she have chasing after her?” A wave of frustration ignited in Adam’s chest. Trouble seemed to follow him like a shadow, dragging him into chaos time and time again.
“Adam, you’d better find Celine now! I swear, Elijah seems very interested in her. If you don’t act quickly, she might be stolen from under your nose.”
Hailey had seen Celine being lured into the car and wasted no time before calling Adam, desperate to warn him. Adam didn’t respond. Ending the call, he slipped the phone back into his pocket just as Len approached him.
“Mr. Alvarez, should we lock down the pads like we did last time?”