# Chapter 23: The Gown Worth Thirty Million
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 23 of "The Breaking Point of Love" – a chapter filled with shocking revelations, unexpected encounters, and a dress that costs more than most people's homes. So, get comfortable, because this story is about to take some wild turns!
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When Celeste handed in her resignation to Zeke, he was stunned. He never expected her to agree so decisively. But Celeste simply extended her hand and said, "Thank you for taking care of me over the years." Still in shock, Zeke shook her hand, muttering something about it being nothing. Then, as calmly as if she were stepping out for a cup of coffee, Celeste packed her things and walked out of Fleming Group.
Jacob couldn't believe it either. "She might be leaving now, but that doesn't mean she won't find a way to come back," he snorted. "I bet not long from now, she'll be back with help from Mrs. Heming Senior." But Zeke said nothing. Something about Celeste's demeanor made him think she might actually be serious this time.
Back home, Celeste waited for Jordyn to call – but the call never came. Her mother was probably too busy fussing over Wynn, the precious daughter who had just returned from Andostan. Celeste wasn't surprised. She had learned long ago where she stood in her mother's heart.
Then, late into the night, Lottie developed a fever. Without a second thought, Celeste grabbed her car keys and rushed out into the rain. It had been pouring all day, and the old town streets where Lottie lived were utterly deserted. After stopping at a pharmacy to pick up some medicine, Celeste was just getting back into her car when the passenger door suddenly swung open.
A tall figure slid into the seat beside her.
Before Celeste could react, a black gun barrel was pressed against her side. Her heart froze.
"Don't move."
The man was dressed all in black, his face hidden behind a mask and a hat pulled low. But his eyes – cold, sharp, dangerous – were impossible to miss.
"I won't harm you," he said, taking her bag and phone. "You can leave after you take me where I need to go."
Then, with a voice like ice, he ordered: "Drive."
The area was completely empty, the pharmacy far behind. Celeste quickly assessed the situation. That's when she noticed it – a strong, pungent smell of blood filling the car. This man was wounded. Badly.
"Where to?" she asked, starting the engine.
"Silverleaf Wharf. I'll give you directions."
"No need. I know the way."
And she drove.
For the next half hour, Celeste focused on the road while the man kept his gun trained on her. But something shifted in the way he looked at her as she navigated expertly through the rain-slicked streets. She didn't notice. She was too busy thinking, calculating.
Finally, he ordered her to stop under a tree ahead. Celeste pulled over smoothly. As he got out of the car, still holding the gun on her, she reached into her bag and calmly pulled out some medicine.
"I have something for your wound," she said quietly.
The man hesitated for just a fraction of a second – then ignored her, disappearing into the darkness. Celeste didn't push it. She turned the car around and drove away.
Minutes later, the man boarded a boat waiting at the wharf. He removed his hat and mask, revealing a handsome, hardened face. His phone rang.
"Beck! Are you alright?" Miles's panicked voice came through. "My men said they didn't get to you. Where are you?"
"Little incident. I'm at the wharf now."
"Good, that's a relief. What the hell happened?"
After a brief conversation, Beck hung up. He stared into the distance, toward the tree where he had gotten out of that woman's car. Something about her intrigued him. She didn't scream. She didn't panic. She even offered him medicine. Who was she?
Meanwhile, Celeste returned to Lottie's place and spent the night nursing her friend. When Lottie asked about the faint smell of blood, Celeste simply said, "It's not mine."
The next day, with Lottie recovering and the fever gone, Celeste went shopping for a banquet dress. She wasn't exactly an expert – Trevor and Queenie had never taken her to formal events, and Martha had long stepped out of the social scene. But thanks to Lottie's influence, she had developed a decent sense of style.
At a high-end boutique, her eyes fell on a gown that the attendants had been fussing over. It was breathtaking – a light purple semi-sheer chiffon gown with a waist-cinching design, adorned with intricate floral details. A necklace graced the mannequin's neck, elegant and luxurious.
As she reached out to feel the fabric, the store manager grabbed her hand – painfully – and quickly let go. "I'm so sorry, miss! This dress is a custom piece for a high-end client. It's one of a kind. Very expensive. If anything were to happen to it..."
"It's fine," Celeste said, though disappointment flickered through her.
She eventually chose a delicate ivory silk gown with floral embroidery. While paying, she overheard the attendants whispering:
"Can you believe the necklace and dress together are worth over 30 million dollars? That's like wearing a mansion."
"Rich people are so extravagant. They'll probably only wear it once."
Celeste couldn't help but shake her head. Even if no one claimed it, she could never afford such a dress.
Later that evening, after Lottie had helped her with her makeup and styling, Celeste looked stunning. When Matthias came to pick her up, he was speechless. "You look... stunning. The dress suits you perfectly."
"Thank you."
As they drove to the banquet, Matthias casually mentioned that the algorithm genius Wynn would be joining the company the next day.
Celeste's expression froze. "Wynn? Do you mean Wynn Locket? The one who just returned from Andostan?"
"Yes. Do you know her?"
"She's my half-sister."
Matthias's jaw dropped.
"And," Celeste added, her voice turning cold, "she's also Trevor's lover."
The car screeched to a halt.
Matthias stared at her in shock. "You – "
But Celeste remained composed. "I don't agree with her joining our company."
Matthias agreed without hesitation. "I support your decision."
"But that means you'll lose a genius," she pointed out.
He shook his head, looking at her with utmost sincerity. "She may be an algorithm genius, but compared to you, she's nothing."
Celeste was stunned. She thought he was exaggerating, but he insisted he was just being honest.
Then he revealed something that made her pause: "She mentioned our company's programming language. Said she was very interested in Cuap."
Cuap was the programming language Celeste had designed when she was seventeen. In recent years, it had become the company's most formidable asset – a benchmark in the industry that many had tried to analyze but none had cracked.
So Wynn had come for Cuap.
"Now that you mention it, many talented people have joined because of Cuap over the years," Matthias remarked.
Celeste hadn't realized that.
Matthias ruffled her hair with a smile. "That's why I say she's nothing compared to you."
They arrived at the banquet hall. Celeste's outstanding appearance and graceful presence immediately caught the attention of many guests. The host, Joshua Simpson, was about to greet Matthias when more guests arrived at the entrance.
The sudden hush that fell over the room told Celeste something important was happening.
She turned around.
There, at the entrance, stood Trevor, Beck, and Miles – three of the most powerful and elusive figures in the city. They rarely attended events, yet here they were.
And with them was Wynn.
Wynn was wearing the gown. *That* gown. The one Celeste had admired in the boutique – the light purple chiffon gown worth over 30 million dollars, shimmering with elegance and grace that made her look like royalty.
The whispers began:
"Is that Trevor's girlfriend? She's so beautiful!"
"I prefer the one in ivory, though. She's quiet and graceful..."
"Oh my god, that gown! The store manager said it was a custom piece for someone's girlfriend. Turns out it was Trevor! 30 million dollars!"
Celeste's gaze lowered slowly.
She had suspected it might be a gift from Trevor. The Locket family might be thriving, but they couldn't afford such extravagance for a single event. But thirty million dollars? That was nothing to Trevor.
He had ordered the gown two weeks in advance. He had planned to bring Wynn here long before tonight.
Matthias looked at her with concern. "Cel..."
But Celeste smiled calmly and shook her head. "I'm fine."
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**Reader's Impressions & Star Rating:**
This chapter was an absolute emotional rollercoaster! From the tense carjacking with the mysterious Beck, to the stunning revelation about Wynn being Celeste's half-sister *and* Trevor's lover, to that heartbreaking moment when Celeste realizes the gown she admired was a gift from her estranged husband to another woman – my heart broke for her. Yet Celeste's composure is remarkable. She doesn't crumble. She doesn't scream. She just... survives. And that takes incredible strength. The writing is vivid, the tension is palpable, and the character development is brilliant.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars
**Next Chapter Prediction:**
I believe the banquet will become a battlefield of hidden tensions. Celeste and Wynn will finally come face to face, and the sparks will fly – especially when Wynn realizes she's been denied the job at Matthias's company. Meanwhile, Beck, who we now know is the masked man Celeste helped, will likely cross paths with her again. Will he recognize her? And will Trevor notice his own wife standing just a few feet away, wearing a dress worth a fraction of what he spent on his lover? The storm is coming, and I can't wait to see how Celeste navigates it!
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