January 2029. A decade since Celeste's first album, Birth of a Popstar, had catapulted her into superstardom. Her label, Columbia Records, was pulling out all the stops to mark the anniversary.
The official email had arrived that morning: "Celeste, as we approach the ten-year anniversary of your groundbreaking debut, we are thrilled to propose a complete re-recording of your album along with an exclusive photoshoot, documentary, and other commemorative projects. This will culminate in a potential world tour in 2030, with an estimated payout of $70 million. We eagerly await your response."
Celeste read it three times, her hand resting protectively over her stomach. Three months pregnant, her growing bump was still small, but she could feel the life inside her with every passing day. This time, there would be no sacrifices. This child was hers to keep.
But the offer from Columbia tugged at her, tempting her to step back into the world she'd spent years trying to escape.
March 2029 brought warmer days and new challenges. At nearly three months pregnant, Celeste was glowing, her belly rounding ever so slightly. Clocksville remained her safe haven, and she had grown closer to Liam and Marcus. The three of them had settled into a strange, harmonious rhythm—one that blended secrecy, love, and the occasional ritual to appease The Circle.
Her home, now bursting with life thanks to their adopted animals and her expanding family, was a stark contrast to the cold, calculated world of Eleanor Vaughn and The Circle.
Eleanor hadn't contacted her since the last sacrifice. The silence was deafening, but Celeste wasn't naive enough to believe it would last.
One evening in mid-March, Celeste sat with Liam and Marcus in the library. They were reviewing the label's proposal together.
"You're seriously considering it?" Liam asked, his voice careful but tinged with concern.
Celeste sighed. "It's $70 million, Liam. That kind of money can't be ignored."
"It's not just about the money, though, is it?" Marcus chimed in. "It's about going back to the life you walked away from. Are you ready for that?"
Celeste looked down, her hand instinctively brushing over her bump. "I don't know," she admitted. "This is my ten-year mark. It's a milestone. And…it's not just about me. It's about my fans. The people who've stuck by me all these years."
"And The Circle?" Liam asked pointedly.
Celeste stiffened. "What about them?"
"You think they'll let you have this comeback without interference?" Liam's tone was firm. "You know how they operate, Celeste. If you go back into the spotlight, they'll want their piece of it."
Later that night, Celeste found herself alone in the nursery she had begun preparing. She ran her fingers over the edges of the crib, lost in thought. The prospect of a comeback tour filled her with equal parts excitement and dread.
Would Eleanor demand another sacrifice to ensure the success of the tour? Could she handle the pressure of being in the spotlight again, especially now that she was about to become a mother?
A knock at the door startled her. Marcus peeked inside.
"Can't sleep?" he asked, stepping in when she nodded.
"Too much on my mind," she admitted.
Marcus leaned against the doorframe. "You've built a new life for yourself here, Celeste. But part of you still misses the stage. I can see it in your eyes."
Celeste laughed softly. "You always were good at reading me."
"I think," Marcus said, his voice thoughtful, "that if you're going to do this, you need to do it on your own terms. No Eleanor. No Circle. Just you. Prove that you don't need their rituals to succeed."
Celeste looked at him, her heart swelling with gratitude. "You think I can?"
"I know you can," Marcus said. "The question is, do you want to?"
By the end of March, Celeste had made her decision.
She picked up her phone and dialed Columbia Records. When her manager answered, she took a deep breath and said, "Let's do it. But I have some conditions."
The ten-year anniversary celebration was officially underway. Celeste would re-record Birth of a Popstar, but she refused to involve The Circle or adhere to any of their demands. This comeback would be hers and hers alone.
Now, as she stood in front of her mirror, hand on her growing bump, she whispered to her unborn child, "This time, I'm doing it for us."
…..