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."

emotion. To Adam's left were Carly and Tracy, and to his right was the university's vice principal and head of

to the stage!" It was

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

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

her voice bubbling with excitement. "Adam, we're finally going to see Dr. C!" The curtain began to draw back

on? Where's Dr. C?" Tracy exclaimed. Jaines, standing stiffly at the podium, froze in

a message that she was backstage.

of the crowd. But his words did little to stem the chaos. Murmurs rose into panicked whispers, and the audience

his breath, he stood and briskly walked out of the lecture hall. The moment he answered, Hailey's

Something's wrong, Celine's in

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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