Fallen General's Omega (BL)-Chapter 190: Carlton and Celia 3

Carlton found himself returning to the red-light district far more often than he’d ever imagined. At first, he told himself it was mere curiosity. The enigmatic dancer, Celia, had left an indelible mark on his thoughts. But with every visit, his reasons became clearer. He wasn’t just curious—he was captivated. Each time, he paid the exorbitant fee without hesitation, not to indulge in her body but to bask in her presence.

Celia, on the other hand, couldn’t comprehend why this wealthy, handsome man kept coming back. At first, she assumed it was a game—rich men often grew bored of their toys and cast them aside. But Carlton was different. He asked her questions about herself, not in the predatory way she was used to, but with genuine curiosity. He wanted to know her favorite colors, the books she read, and the songs she loved. He listened to her answers, even when she replied curtly or with disinterest.

One evening, as they sat together in the opulent room he always reserved, Carlton poured them both glasses of wine. The room was quiet, the faint hum of the city outside barely audible. Celia expected the usual questions, but instead, he surprised her.

"Do you ever wish to leave this place?" he asked, his voice gentle but firm.

She stiffened, her hands gripping the wineglass tighter. "What’s the point of wishing for something you can’t have?" she replied, her tone harsher than intended.

Carlton leaned forward, his gaze unwavering. "Because sometimes wishes have a way of coming true."

Celia scoffed, but his words stayed with her long after he left that night.

***

Over the weeks, their meetings evolved. Carlton began taking her on outings, though they had to be discreet. One evening, he took her to a quiet restaurant tucked away in the city. She wore a simple dress he had sent for her, far less extravagant than the gowns she danced in, but she looked stunning nonetheless.

As they dined, Celia found herself laughing at his stories, her guard lowering inch by inch. It was a sound she barely recognized—her own laughter. Carlton watched her with a mixture of awe and delight. He had never seen her like this, her eyes sparkling with genuine emotion. In that moment, he realized he was utterly, irrevocably in love with her.

***

The more time they spent together, the more Celia began to change. She no longer drank the bitter red liquid to numb herself before seeing him. She began looking forward to their conversations, the way he made her feel seen and valued. But with these feelings came a deep-seated fear.

One evening, as they sat on a balcony overlooking the city, Celia turned to him. "Why do you keep coming back?" she asked, her voice trembling. freewebnoveℓ.com

Carlton looked at her, surprised. "Do you really not know?" he asked softly.

She shook her head, her raven hair catching the moonlight. "I’m nothing more than a... commodity. You could have any woman you want. Someone from your world—someone noble, someone worthy."

Carlton reached out, taking her hands in his. "Celia, you’re not a commodity. You’re not an object or a toy. You’re the most extraordinary person I’ve ever met." He paused, his gray eyes searching hers. "You’ve made me feel something I didn’t know I was capable of."

Her heart raced, but her insecurities clawed at her. "But I’m—"

"Stop," he said firmly, cutting her off. "I don’t care about your past, your status, or anything else. All I care about is you. The woman sitting here with me."

Tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly turned away, unwilling to let him see. Yet Carlton didn’t need to see them to know the walls she had built around herself were beginning to crumble.

***

Some nights, they didn’t speak much at all. They would sit together in comfortable silence, Carlton’s hand resting on hers as they watched the stars. Other times, they would talk for hours, their conversations ranging from lighthearted banter to deep, vulnerable confessions.

***

Every moment they spent together only deepened Carlton’s feelings for her. He admired her strength, her resilience, and the glimpses of vulnerability she allowed him to see. She was like no one he had ever known, and the thought of a life without her was unbearable.

For Celia, falling in love with Carlton was terrifying. He represented everything she thought she could never have—kindness, respect, love. But slowly, he was teaching her to believe in herself again, to see herself as more than the sum of her past.

And so, night after night, they continued to meet, their love growing quietly but steadily. Carlton knew he would do whatever it took to free her from the chains of her past, and Celia, though hesitant, began to dream of a future where she could stand beside him—not as an object, but as a woman worthy of his love.

***

Celia stared at her reflection in the mirror, applying makeup with practiced precision. Her fingers trembled slightly as she smoothed the rouge onto her cheeks. She hated the effect he had on her—the way her heart raced when she thought of him, the way her chest warmed when he smiled. No matter how hard she tried to suppress it, the heart she thought had long turned to stone was beginning to stir. The idea of seeing Carlton tonight made her feel... excited. The emotion was foreign, terrifying even, but it was there, undeniable and persistent.

In the hallways, whispers surrounded her. The other women watched her with a mix of pity and caution.

"Don’t let yourself fall for him, Celia," one said. "Men like that don’t stay. He’ll leave, and you’ll be left with nothing but the pain."

Celia nodded, offering a polite smile, but it was too late. She was already drowning in him. When he eventually left her—as she knew he must—she would embrace the pain as the price of loving someone like Carlton.

***

Carlton noticed the change in her one evening as they sat together in the quiet of their usual room. He reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing her cheek. To his surprise, her skin turned faintly pink under his touch.

Her cheeks were red.

The sight made his heart race. Celia, who had always been detached, resigned, and guarded, was blushing because of him. It was the smallest crack in her walls, but it felt monumental. Excitement buzzed through him—she was letting him in.

"Are you all right?" he asked softly, a smile tugging at his lips.

"I... I’m fine," she murmured, looking away, but the blush remained, and Carlton couldn’t stop himself from grinning.

---

Their first kiss happened later that evening, a moment that felt both inevitable and surprising. Carlton leaned closer, testing the waters, his gaze locked on hers.

"May I?" he asked, his voice a low whisper.

Celia froze, her breath catching in her throat. No one had ever asked her permission before, not for anything. Slowly, she nodded.

When his lips met hers, it was gentle at first, tentative. But the tenderness quickly gave way to something deeper, more desperate. Celia clung to him, her hands gripping his shirt as if he were the only solid thing in her world. For the first time in her life, a kiss wasn’t an act—it was a connection.

Carlton felt giddy, like a boy experiencing love for the first time. The taste of her, the way she melted into him—it was everything he had hoped for and more. He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his thumb brushing her cheek.

"You’re incredible," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

***

The first night they spent together was unlike anything Celia had ever known. For the first time, it wasn’t an obligation or a transaction. It was her choice, her desire. Carlton was attentive, gentle, and patient, treating her like she was precious.

Afterward, she lay in his arms, her head resting on his chest. She felt vulnerable, exposed, but also... safe.

"Are you all right?" Carlton asked, his fingers tracing patterns on her bare shoulder.

Celia nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "I didn’t know it could be like this."

Carlton pressed a kiss to her forehead, his heart swelling with love. "You deserve nothing less."

***

Their happiness was short-lived. One evening, Carlton received a letter from his family in Vitra. Duty called, and he was expected to return immediately.

"I want you to come with me," he told her, his voice earnest. "Leave this place, Celia. Come with me, and we’ll start a new life together."

Celia’s heart twisted. She wanted to say yes, to run away with him and leave behind the shadows of her past. But fear gripped her, and the weight of her insecurities held her back.

"I can’t," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.

"Why not?" Carlton demanded, his frustration evident. "I love you, Celia. Don’t you see that?"

"I’m not like you," she said, her voice breaking. "I don’t belong in your world. You’ll regret bringing me there. I can’t handle seeing you do that to me."

Carlton’s jaw tightened, hurt flashing in his eyes. "You’re wrong," he said firmly. "But if you need time, I’ll give it to you. Just... don’t push me away forever."

He left that night, his departure a gaping wound in her chest.

---

Not long after, Celia’s worst nightmare came to life. Robbens, the father of her son, requested her as a client. She had no time to prepare, no numbing red liquid to shield herself. The moment she saw him, memories of the pain and betrayal flooded her.

The night was brutal. Robbens was cruel, taunting her, reminding her of everything she had tried to forget. By the end of it, Celia was broken, shattered into pieces she wasn’t sure she could ever put back together.

But as she lay there, her body aching and her soul screaming, one thought crystallized in her mind. She couldn’t stay here. She couldn’t endure this life any longer.

When Carlton returned, she would go

with him. She would leave this place, not just for herself but for the hope of a future she had never dared to dream of before.