Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 271

Suddenly, Vernon remembered something. “Mr. Prescott, yesterday Miss Selwyn arranged to meet Mr. Ivan Brady. On his way over, Mr. Brady’s car broke down. Someone took advantage of the situation, impersonated him, and met with Miss Selwyn under his name.”

Ivan Brady had been transferred from The Prescott Group’s legal department to assist with the case.

That meant Celestine’s divorce agreement had been reported to the top tier for review.

Gideon’s gaze darkened. “And you’re only telling me this now?”

Vernon hesitated, not daring to speak the whole truth.

He’d just had a massive argument with Mrs. Prescott last night—who would dare to bring more bad news to the boss after that?

“Don’t worry, sir. I’ve already put people on it. Miss Selwyn is sharp—she realized what was happening. Instead of sending out the incriminating affair video as planned, she intentionally swapped it for Joanna’s plastic surgery footage. I made sure someone quietly helped the video go viral.”

“Well done.” A faint smile played at the corner of Gideon’s mouth.

Vernon lit up, scratching his head sheepishly. “It was nothing, really.”

Gideon shot him a sidelong look. “I was talking about her.”

Still as clever as ever.

Vernon’s face fell.

Wait, what?

Right. He’d been a little too eager for praise.

“Look into what Joanna’s planning behind the scenes.”

With everything that woman’s done, there’s no way she’ll let Celestine’s counterattack slide. She’ll be plotting something bigger for sure.

He had a gut feeling there was more to this charity auction than met the eye.

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Celestine met up with Lance.

The cast was finally off his leg, and dressed in a cobalt blue suit, he radiated an air of effortless wealth.

She glanced down, feigning surprise. “Mr. Blake, you’ve ditched the cast already?”

Lance was just in the middle of admiring Celestine as she stepped into the car. At her comment, he self-consciously touched his leg. “Oh, the doctor said it could come off. As long as I stay in the wheelchair a few more days, I’ll be fine.”

Truthfully, he’d kept the cast longer, hoping for a little sympathy from Celestine.

But she’d been unmoved from the start. After that first visit to bring him dinner, she’d never once checked in on him again.

Even from a distance, Celestine spotted a few familiar faces.

She lowered her gaze and turned to the man beside her. “Mr. Blake, I’m going to use the restroom.”

“Of course.”

Celestine headed there alone.

As she stepped out, freshly washed hands still damp, she nearly collided with an all-too-familiar, unwelcome figure.

But honestly, she’d expected this.

A cool smile tugged at Celestine’s lips. “Here already? I thought you’d manage to keep your composure a little longer.”

Joanna glared at her with pure venom. “That video was your doing, wasn’t it? You bitch! I knew you kept those files all these years—you were just waiting for a chance to stab me in the back!”

Celestine found her words almost laughable.

All that kindness she’d once shown Joanna—utterly wasted.

“Not everyone thinks the way you do,” Celestine said, her gaze steady as she looked at the woman before her—someone who, over the years, had become unrecognizable in her memory.

“If I was really as scheming as you believe, do you think I’d have waited this long to let those things see the light of day?”