Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 229

He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that this woman truly loved him.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have stayed by his side all these years, not without a single complaint.

He could give her love—but if he agreed to that, he’d be giving up too much.

He was done with the promise to never see Joanna again.

Chester lifted his chin ever so slightly, signaling for Celestine to speak.

Celestine couldn’t stand that look on his face—the smug confidence, as if he controlled every variable.

“Except for those conditions you just listed,” she said coolly.

The ugly scowl on Chester’s face eased a little.

Celestine smiled, her lips painted scarlet as she spoke softly. “Everything else is off the table.”

Chester froze where he stood, his gaze fixed on her, unyielding.

Those four words twisted inside him, making his insides ache with a pain he couldn’t ignore.

This woman!

Did she really think she could push her luck forever?

“Celestine, is that really you? And these two kids—are they yours? What kind of mother just stands there, watching her own children kneel like this?”

Suddenly, a woman’s voice rang out from the crowd, sharp and shrill.

Celestine lifted her eyes.

Carmen emerged from the onlookers, caked in heavy makeup, strutting straight toward the scene.

She brushed past Celestine and rushed over to the two children, shooting Chester a look of disbelief. “Mr. Fordham, they’re just kids! You can’t punish them like this just because you’re angry at their mom. Come on, let them up.”

Chester’s face remained icy; he turned away, refusing to acknowledge her.

The children, waiting for Chester’s word, didn’t dare move a muscle.

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Carmen’s face, but she quickly recovered, assuming the air of a righteous do-gooder.

The same woman who, when that man tried to hit Celestine with a brick, viciously pushed her toward him.

That time, too, Gideon had appeared just in time to save her.

Looking back, his timing had been almost uncanny—like fate itself was at work.

She hadn’t gone after Carmen before because people like her weren’t worth it.

Carmen was like a viper, always scheming, always finding new ways to strike.

But Celestine had underestimated just how shameless people could be.

Carmen wavered, her face draining of color.

It had been so long since that night. How could Celestine have recognized her in the dark?

But even if she had—so what? She had no proof!

Clinging to that thought, Carmen scoffed, “Miss Selwyn, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”