Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 295

“Such a chatterbox.”

Mack gave an awkward little wave. “Alright, alright, I’ll keep my mouth shut. I’ll get out of your hair.”

He’d come in a rush, and left just as quickly.

Celestine was still a little dazed, left clutching a bouquet of flowers in her arms.

Gideon moved to take them for her, but as he reached out, Celestine buried her face in the blooms. “It’s okay, I can hold them. They’re not heavy.”

Her lashes were long, and with her pale cheeks framed by the soft pink petals, she looked almost adorably earnest.

Gideon’s raised hand hovered for a moment, then slowly came to rest on her head.

After a long pause, he let out a low, heavy sigh. “I still failed to keep you safe.”

The night before Celestine’s accident, his people had already discovered that Joanna had hired someone to tamper with her car.

He chose not to alert anyone.

After Celestine’s people left, he’d quietly ordered his team to restore the car to normal, making sure she’d get safely to the courthouse before they backed off.

And yet, someone still found an opening.

He’d been so close—so close to losing her forever.

Celestine looked up, catching the flicker of sorrow in his storm-grey eyes.

Hearing Gideon’s words, her heart trembled.

So he really had never forgotten their promise.

“Mr. Prescott…” Celestine called out tentatively.

“Yes?” Gideon’s reply was gentle. He brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead, his voice soft. “Just rest easy in the hospital for a few days. Focus on getting better. Don’t worry about anything outside—I’ll handle it.”

Celestine knew exactly what “outside” meant: the accident. It involved her parents, which made things especially complicated.

If they weren’t family, no one in their right mind would get involved…

If she and Gideon hadn’t crossed paths again, if fate hadn’t given them another chance, she half-suspected he might have swooped in to save her right at the crash scene.

A swirl of emotions tightened in her chest, but she swallowed them down. “Gid… why are you so good to me?”

Whether his abduction as a child had been an accident or intentional—no one would ever know.

But maybe their reunion was fate’s doing.

Whether he was Gid or Mr. Shield, she truly wished him happiness for the rest of his days.

“Mr. Prescott, you’re quite the philanthropist,” Celestine said with a faint smile.

Gideon looked into her bright, blinking eyes and, unexpectedly, let out a laugh.

“Remember what I told you: don’t rush back to work, just focus on getting better. Understand?”

Celestine’s mind went blank.

Oh no. While she’d been unconscious, had she missed the second round of interviews at The Prescott Group?

A wave of regret washed over her, but she hid it, not wanting to worry Gideon.

Later that evening, Crystal Lennox came to visit. “The Prescott Group’s bid? Celly, you nearly died and you’re still thinking about that? Relax. They postponed the second round. We’re all just waiting for the new notice.”