Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 258

Jade leaned against the elevator buttons and let out a dramatic yelp of pain.

The other women in the elevator rushed to her side, alarmed.

“Jade, are you okay?”

“Did you hurt your foot?”

Jade put on a pitiful face. “I’m fine, I just pressed the wrong button with my hand.”

While speaking, she shot a taunting glance at Celestine. “Sis, you’re not mad at me, are you?”

Celestine flexed her fingers, her foxlike eyes glittering with a dangerous amusement. “Why would I be mad at you?”

The glare she gave Jade could have sliced glass.

A few women who usually sided with Jade couldn’t help but chime in.

“Wait, you’re Jade’s sister? Your little sister’s hurt and you don’t even care?”

“No wonder Jade’s always by herself. I bet you’re horrible to her at home!”

Celestine had no patience for their nonsense.

She took a step forward.

But Jade deliberately blocked her path.

“What’s wrong, sis? Are you upset now? I swear I didn’t mean it. Oh, and look—the deadline’s in just three minutes. Maybe you’re just not meant to work here.”

She was fully aware that the company’s bid submission ended at 9:30. She was dying to watch Celestine miss it.

“Where’d this little viper come from? Smells like she’s been marinating in bitterness her whole life,” Celestine said with open disdain.

Jade’s expression twisted in anger.

Before she could retort, Celestine suddenly twisted her ankle and pitched forward, straight toward Jade.

Jade jerked out of the way—but not fast enough. Celestine’s hand whipped across her face with a sharp, resounding slap.

The sound echoed in the elevator.

Celestine drew her hand back, lips curled in a half-smile. “Sorry, sis—twisted my ankle.”

A vivid red handprint blazed across Jade’s cheek.

The other women stood frozen in shock.

Someone murmured under their breath.

Jade’s face darkened. “She’s my cousin. Because of the mess between me and my mom, she and my brother can’t stand me. I just thought working with her would make things miserable for everyone.”

The others knew Jade had a troubled brother and usually felt sorry for her.

Hearing Celestine was on his side, their sympathy shifted.

“In that case, you did the right thing,” one of them said.

They certainly didn’t want someone like Celestine at The Prescott Group.

“Look! The CEO’s elevator is moving!” another woman gasped.

Everyone knew Gideon was out of the country—nobody else had access to that elevator.

But now, the display showed it rising, stopping at the twelfth floor.

Judging by Celestine’s timing, it had to be her.

Jade’s brow furrowed in disbelief. “Impossible! Even if she figured out the elevator wasn’t broken, there’s no way she has a keycard for the executive floors!”