Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 238

The scene landed like a resounding slap across Celestine’s face.

Everything Gideon had said was confirmed in an instant.

The people outside clearly hadn’t expected to run into them here—least of all to find Gideon cornering Celestine in the far side of the elevator, his tall frame casting her in shadow, trapping her against the mirrored wall. From the outside, it looked unmistakably intimate.

Before Chester could say a word, Celestine strode briskly out of the elevator, brushing past the pair. But as she passed, Chester caught her by the wrist.

“Nothing you want to explain?” His voice shook with barely contained anger, his whole chest heaving.

Celestine shot him a cool glance. “Nothing I need to explain to you. I’m already used to watching you and Miss Sinclair parade your affections.”

She tossed the accusation back at him with practiced ease.

Chester’s expression froze over, his eyes hard as ice. “Celestine, don’t play these word games with me.”

“Maybe you should take a page from Mr. Fordham’s book—he certainly doesn’t hide his intentions.” She glanced pointedly at Chester’s hand, still tightly clasping Joanna’s. “It’s almost May, and yet Miss Sinclair still looks so fragile.”

At her words, Chester’s grip on her wrist faltered.

He let go, both hands dropping to his sides, but his gaze stayed locked on Celestine.

Joanna’s face twisted with concern. “Celly, you’ve misunderstood. I nearly tripped, and Chester just caught me, that’s all.”

Gideon chimed in, his tone bone-dry. “Right, and that’s exactly the same excuse I used earlier—when I helped my niece.”

Unbelievable. The exact same line.

Did Celestine think he was lying to her now?

“I can get a DNA test to prove my niece and I are perfectly innocent,” Gideon added, deadpan.

Celestine felt herself unraveling.

For a moment, disgust for the two people in front of her warred with guilt toward the man at her side. She hadn’t even processed the news that he wasn’t engaged yet...

Meanwhile, Joanna’s forced smile only grew more strained under Gideon’s public dismantling.

“Mr. Prescott, what’s the point of being so aggressive and letting Celly and Chester keep misunderstanding each other?”

“Aggressive?” Gideon let out a low, mocking laugh. “Miss Sinclair, you might want to take that back. It’s almost nauseating.”

He was always gentle with her, it seemed.

Chester hadn’t expected Gideon to be so ruthless, not even bothering with the pretense of civility.

His face darkened with fury. “Mr. Prescott, leave yourself a way out—I look forward to facing you again in business.”

“Sure. Try making it through the Prescott Group’s front door first,” Gideon replied, utterly unfazed.

Chester’s face turned a mottled shade of purple. He swept Joanna into the elevator, slamming the button for the next floor.

As the doors slid shut, Joanna shot Celestine a resentful look.

She’d asked Lance to stall Celestine, so how had this woman still managed to show up?

Useless. Absolutely useless!

And as for Gideon—was he blind? Always trailing after a married woman. What a waste of time and money.

“Joanna, how did you know Celestine would be at the hospital?”