Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 185

Overnight, her little angel had turned on her, treating her like some kind of monster.

She'd become the demon reaching out for her with sharp claws.

Now, standing at this point of no return, Celestine couldn't even put into words where it had all gone wrong.

Maybe, just maybe, the mistake had been getting involved with Chester in the first place.

It felt as if she were trapped in a suffocating nightmare, unable to wake up.

But reality always comes faster.

Icy seawater splashed over her, shocking her back to consciousness.

Her arms and legs were tightly bound, her vision blocked by a strip of black cloth.

Someone yanked out the wad of cotton that had been shoved in her mouth.

"Well, Celestine, how does it feel to be betrayed by your own family?" a woman's voice dripped with malice from somewhere above.

"Your darling daughter Celia paid a cool hundred thousand, just to make sure you got a proper lesson tonight."

"Tsk, tsk, what a devoted mother and filial daughter you two are."

The voice was unmistakable—Joanna. Celestine recognized her instantly.

At last, she understood who had orchestrated Celia's hysterics today.

Any bitterness or heartache in Celestine's chest was swept away by a rising tide of hatred.

She kept silent, her face numb and expressionless.

Joanna only grew more infuriated. Teetering on six-inch heels, she kicked Celestine hard: "Drop the act! You bitch! I bet you're dying inside, aren't you? How dare you try to outsmart me in front of Chester. I'll make sure you get a front row seat as your husband, your son, your daughter—each and every person you love—turns their back on you!"

The blow sent Celestine sprawling on the ground, pain wracking her body. Before she could recover, someone jerked her up by the hair.

The darkness vanished as the blindfold was yanked away.

What Celia had meant as a simple hit job had become a full-blown kidnapping, the kind that could end with a bullet any minute.

In Portside City, these kinds of gangland kidnappings happened every day.

But once the Fordham family was involved, everything changed.

Joanna wanted the whole world to watch Celestine's downfall, wanted her to die in the moment of ultimate heartbreak, utterly abandoned.

Celestine lay trembling on the floor.

How could anyone be so utterly, venomously cruel?

Slowly, she inched her bound hands toward the edge of her pocket, almost close enough to reach her phone.

A sharp heel pinned her slender wrist to the ground.

Joanna sneered, grinding her teeth, "Don't even think about pulling a stunt, you idiot! I won't fall for your tricks twice. Only a fool like you could get duped again and again. Just sit tight and watch—see which one of you your darling husband chooses to save."