Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 240

Gideon watched her with suspicion as Celestine pulled up her food delivery history.

“Oh…” Gideon’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “So that’s how it is, Miss Selwyn.”

Celestine’s cheeks flushed pink. “It’s not like I had a choice.”

A little trick, just to get by.

Gideon leaned back in his seat, taking his time as he eyed the tips of her ears, now bright red. “And that soup you brought me last time—was that also because you didn’t have a choice?”

“No!” Celestine replied so quickly it was almost a shout. “I made that myself.”

Willingly… She couldn’t bring herself to say the word out loud.

Gideon gave a low chuckle and let the matter drop.

Some things never change.

She still blushed when she was nervous, just like when they were kids.

Maybe it was better that she didn’t remember those days.

If she couldn’t remember, she wouldn’t be haunted by those old, painful memories, wouldn’t be kept awake by nightmares.

When they arrived at her apartment building, the two rode the elevator up together.

As soon as Celestine stepped out, her heart dropped—her front door was wide open.

The lock lay in pieces on the doormat, brazenly broken.

Panic shot through her.

Had someone broken in?

She glanced back at the man behind her.

He tried to placate them. “The owner just got this place today—she hasn’t had a chance to clear things out. If you decide to take it, I’ll talk to the other tenant about moving her stuff.”

The girl lifted her chin, eyes sharp and calculating. “She needs to move out of the master bedroom. I want to stay there with my husband. It’s ridiculous for one person to hog a room that big.”

“Exactly!” The skinny guy started rifling through Celestine’s drawers again. “Hurry up and bust open this bedroom door. Who locks their own bedroom at home?”

“Enough! Who are you people? What are you doing in my apartment?” Celestine’s voice trembled with fury as she rushed forward, fire extinguisher raised. “Touch anything else and I’m calling the police!”

The man froze, wrench in hand, and glared back at her. “Who the hell are you? What do you mean your apartment? Don’t try to scare us with the cops!”

Gideon stepped forward.

The moment he did, his presence pressed in—intimidating, dangerous. The man’s hand shook; the agent blanched, swallowing hard.

Trying to smooth things over, the agent stammered, “You two must be the current tenants, right? The landlord asked us to lease the place, but couldn’t get us a key in time, so we hired a locksmith. If you’re staying, let’s not argue about us coming in to show the place. Once it’s done, we’ll all be neighbors.”

“Why are you bothering with her?” Paula, the girl, gave Celestine a once-over, eyes narrowing with open hostility. “So you’re the other roommate?”