Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 190

"Shit, it's the cops! You bastards think you can screw with me?" The lead gunman yanked Celestine upright, lightning-quick as he drew his pistol and pressed it hard against her temple.

Chester hadn't expected this turn.

He hadn't called the police.

Did someone from the old estate call for help?

The robbers had been armed all along.

The gunman's eyes blazed with fury. "You think I'm just playing around? You really think I'm some harmless punk? I've killed enough people to fill this whole damn bay!"

"Don't do anything stupid! Let her go! I'll give you money—right now. I'll make sure you all walk out of here," Chester pleaded, clutching Joanna tightly, desperate to calm the wild-eyed man.

The gunman just laughed, reckless now. "Save it! You really think I believe you care about her? She's nothing but collateral in your little love affair. None of us are falling for that act. You want the truth? I only went along with your performance tonight because I—AH!"

"Bang!"

"Boss!"

A gunshot rang out, shattering the tension. The lead gunman dropped to one knee, clutching his leg in agony.

That single shot sent the robbers into a frenzy. "Damn it! If I'm going down tonight, I'm taking someone with me!"

Chester spun around, his voice sharp with panic. "Hold your fire! The hostage is still with them—are you insane?!"

The gunman just cackled, his voice twisted with pain and rage. "Looks like Mr. Fordham still has a bit of a soft spot for his wife. But too little, too late! Let's see just how pretty her brains look splattered across the floor!" He gripped his bleeding knee, but kept the gun trained on Celestine, his face contorted into a madman's grin.

He began to squeeze the trigger.

Celestine closed her eyes, preparing for the end.

She felt oddly calm, almost peaceful as death loomed. A wave of regret swept through her—she wouldn't get to see her grandfather one last time.

He was the only person she'd ever truly let down.

She'd broken his heart yet again.

Chester's face grew darker, voice trembling. "No!"

"Bang!"

Another gunshot exploded.

But Celestine didn't feel any pain.

Strange. Had her body finally gone numb?

Then, a scream—this time, the gunman's.

Something clattered to the rocks below, splashing into the dark water.

Celestine's eyes flew open.

Her children were calling for her.

Would Celia feel even a moment's regret after seeing her mother die? Would she remember what happened today?

Probably not for long.

After all, in their eyes, "Mother" had never meant anything good.

They hated her, resented her.

Her whole life—whether as a daughter, a granddaughter, or a mother—felt like an endless string of failures.

If there's another life… if there really is a next time.

Celestine sank into the deep blue, her half-open eyes slowly blurring as the sea swallowed her up.

Yet in the murky darkness, a beam of light broke through from above.

A figure dove after her, and memories she thought she'd buried long ago flickered to life in her mind.

Hadn't she… been through something like this before?

Nightmare memories swirled and tangled, blurring the line between dream and reality.

Celestine could no longer tell what was real—and what was just the ghost of her past.