Chapter 119
Gideon gently slipped her foot out of the high heel.
Celestine stared, transfixed, as he slowly eased the shoe off, inch by inch!
It was late spring, the warmth in the air unmistakable.
On either side of the apartment complex’s pathway, crabapple blossoms drifted down in soft waves, carried by the breeze.
Celestine felt her cheeks grow inexplicably hot.
From where she sat, she could see Gideon’s profile–sharp, handsome features, impossibly flawless from every angle.
There was a soft pop as the heel finally came free.
Gideon’s brow, which had been creased in concentration, relaxed. He slipped the shoe back onto her foot and reminded her, “All done. Next time, slow down–no
need to rush like that.”
Celestine was too flustered to answer right away. After a moment, she mumbled,, “Oh… okay.”
She pulled her hand away, only then realizing just how warm her skin had become.
“Celestine?!”
The shout pierced the quiet night–angry, shocked.
Startled, Celestine turned around.
She saw Chester, his face twisted with anger, standing beside Joanna, who looked concerned but couldn’t quite hide her delight in the drama.
Celestine’s gaze dropped to their interlocked hands, just as Chester blurted, volice tight with accusation, “It’s late. Why are you here with him? What were you doing just now?!”
He had just walked Joanna up to her apartment when he spotted a familiar figure in the distance–Celestine, unmistakably. But there was a man crouched beside het, his face hidden, posture ambiguous and–Chester thought–far too intimate.
The longer he looked, the stiffer his expression became.
Joanna’s incredulous gasp broke the silence: “Isn’t that Celly? What is she doing here, this late? And who’s that guy with her?”
Chapter 119
Her words hit Chester like a sack of bricks, leaving him breathless.
He didn’t love Celestine, but that didn’t mean she could betray him!
No wonder she’d been so desperate to get a divorce, even faking amnesia to fool
him.
So this was it–another guy.
Chester was livid.
Before Celestine and Gideon could walk away, Chester stepped in, blocking their path.
Celestine rolled her eyes, not even bothering to reply.
Her indifference only made Chester angrier. “What, too scared to admit what you’ve done? Who is this guy? Explain yourself!”
He didn’t wait for her answer–he lunged forward, intent on grabbing the stranger and giving him a piece of his mind.
But before he could lay a hand on him, the man straightened up, his cool, haughty face coming into view.
Those familiar gray eyes were calm, almost amused. “Mr. Fordham, who are you calling ‘some guy‘?”
Chester’s clenched fist faltered, his anger curdling into something heavier. “You–why is it you?!”
Their encounter in the parking lot earlier hadn’t exactly been cordial.
Recently, his father’s health had improved, and the old man was thinking of returning to the company. Chester had already taken over most of the business in Portside, but he’d sensed trouble brewing and had been trying to get on the Prescott family’s good side.
But now, it seemed this man had set his sights on Chester’s own wife.
From the look in Gideon’s eyes, Chester was sure his intentions toward Celestine were anything but innocent.
When had the two of them gotten involved?
Did Celestine even know this man was married?
“Mr. Prescott, does your wife know what you’re up to?” Chester asked, voice low and threatening.
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Gideon just smiled lazily. “Whether my wife knows, I couldn’t say. But Mr. Fordham, I imagine your wife has a pretty good idea what you’re up to.”
His gaze drifted meaningfully to where Chester and Joanna’s hands were still tightly clasped.
Chester stiffened, suddenly aware of their entwined fingers. He flushed, looking away. “There’s a reason for this,” he muttered.
