Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 145

As the last traces of air slipped away, Raymond was struck by a thought—one he'd never considered from the very beginning.

Miss Sinclair had forgotten to tell him… how to save himself.

The edges of his vision blurred. Terror clawed at him, and his hands flailed desperately for anything to hold onto.

He wanted to live.

He had to live!

"Cough—cough—cough—"

A gush of water burst from his chest, and he gasped for air.

Slowly, Raymond's eyes fluttered open. Celestine, soaked to the skin, hovered over him, her face alight with relief. "Raymond, you're awake!"

"Mom…"

The word slipped out, his mind a blank slate.

As consciousness returned, sluggish thoughts began to form. He'd nearly died just now. His mother had saved him.

But soon, he'd need to keep lying—to say it was his mom who'd pushed him into the water.

Yet…

He parted his lips, wanting to say something to Celestine.

Suddenly, a noisy crowd swarmed the edge of the pool.

Leading the charge, Dahlia wailed with abandon. "My darling boy! Oh, my precious! Granny's here—are you alright?"

Celestine was jostled aside, left disheveled and stranded beyond the throng.

"Mother, that's enough!"

Chester, arriving just in time, paled at the scene.

Raymond tugged at his grandmother's sleeve, his voice gentle. "Grandma, I'm okay. Really."

Joanna addressed them calmly. "Dahlia, Chester—Raymond is old enough to know the dangers of a pool. How did he end up here, and in the deep end, no less? Thank goodness Celly was there to pull him out. Someone clearly wasn't paying attention."

Her words were measured, not outright blaming Celestine, but enough to stir doubts among the onlookers.

Chester glanced at Celestine, her clothes dripping wet, and the angry handprint vivid on her cheek. His gaze drifted lower—her stomach still rose and fell with each breath, no sign of anything amiss.

He let out a silent sigh of relief. She didn't know she was pregnant yet. If she had, she'd never have risked her life for Raymond.

A voice rang out from the crowd. "I saw it! Mrs. Fordham pushed the young master into the pool!"