Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 162

The man dropped out of the sky—literally.

No one could have seen it coming.

Celestine barely registered the blur of his face before her ankle twisted in shock, sending her stumbling straight toward the nearest rosebush, all thorns and tightly closed buds.

Early spring thorns can pierce right through you. Cold dread seized her. This is it, she thought, bracing for impact.

She thrashed in vain and, acting on instinct, shielded her face and squeezed her eyes shut.

One second. Two. Three.

The pain she expected never came.

Instead, a familiar hint of cologne drifted to her nose—subtle, clean, and oddly comforting. Her heart, which had been pounding with panic, started to slow.

Gideon looked down at the woman in his arms.

Her long lashes quivered against her cheeks. She was still frightened, looking for all the world like a startled fawn—helpless and innocent.

He swallowed, his voice low and slightly rough as he spoke. "It's me. Don't be afraid."

The sound of his voice made her lashes flutter again. Slowly, Celestine lifted her eyelids, her eyes wide with relief and disbelief.

"Mr. Prescott?" she breathed.

Gideon's face was close, those striking grey eyes fixed on her.

"That was dangerous…"

Celestine glanced up, following the path he'd taken.

Wait—he'd just jumped from the second floor?!

…

Upstairs, the commotion outside reached the ears of those inside.

Cicely Jenson, who had been irritably scratching at Vernon's face, froze mid-attack.

She bolted for the stairwell with the energy of a storm.

Vernon, clutching the fresh scratch on his cheek, went pale. Oh no, oh no, oh no! He hurried after her.

Cicely caught sight of dirty footprints on the windowsill, her eyes narrowing. "Unbelievable! You two are at it again—always with your ridiculous distractions!"

Just then, the driver pulled up with the car.

"Get in," Gideon said.

"What?" Celestine blinked, not following.

He opened the back door and leaned casually against it, eyes glinting with amusement. "Didn't you say you needed to buy something? I'll see it through."

Celestine was suddenly reminded of the message she'd sent him not long ago—and her face burned even hotter.

After a moment's hesitation, she slid into the back seat under his watchful gaze.

Back inside the hotel, Cicely jabbed her elbow straight into Vernon's gut.

"You witch! Let go of me—I'm going after her! I'll fight her for him! I want a duel!"

Right now, Cicely was like a wildcat gone berserk.

Vernon clung to her waist for dear life, refusing to let go even as she pummeled him.

All the while, he was desperately chanting to himself: Workplace injury, workplace injury, definitely a workplace injury…