Chapter 177
Chapter 177
Outside, the wind howled and rain battered the windows, casting wild shadows across the room–Celestine’s mind brimmed with images, inspiration blooming in the storm’s chaos.
The hotel had its own private gallery.
Gathering her sketchbook and pencils, Celestine headed straight for the studio.
As thunder rolled outside, she let the storm seep into her work; under her hand, the painting took on a haunting, apocalyptic edge.
It wasn’t until she paused for a break that she realized several children had gathered around, quietly watching her draw.
“Wow, you’re amazing!” one little girl exclaimed: “All these beautiful ladies in such lovely dresses–I wish I could have dresses like that! But I can’t even draw…”
The girl’s voice trailed off, disappointment in her eyes.
Celestine smiled gently and ruffled the girl’s soft hair. “It’s not hard at all. If you want to learn, I can teach you. How about it?”
The children’s faces lit up. In unison, they cheered, “Yes!”
So, Celestine spent the afternoon guiding her small students, showing them how to hold pencils, how to shape a figure.
Suddenly, an unexpected visitor stormed in.
Elena, arms loaded with shopping bags and parcels, entered the gallery. The moment she saw Celestine’s face, she fought the urge to hurl everything she was carrying at her.
This woman actually had the leisure to sit here and paint!
“Miss Selwyn, we need to talk.” Elena clutched her gifts, forcing her voice into polite restraint, though bitterness seeped through.
Celestine kept her eyes on the child’s hand, adjusting its grip on the pencil, and didn’t respond.
If Elena didn’t know Celestine was prone to ignoring people, she’d have thought the
woman was deaf.
Swallowing her irritation, Elena pressed on, trying for sincerity. “I’m here to
apologize. Please don’t be upset. Everything I said before–I didn’t mean any of it. I
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was just angry…”
Celestine paused, finally glancing up. “I understand. I’m a bit busy right now–why don’t you wait for me in the lounge?”
Relief swept over Elena, though it was quickly replaced by a flicker of annoyance.
Why did Celestine prefer teaching a bunch of kids to hear her, Miss Langley, pour out her heartfelt apology?
Celestine really didn’t know how to seize an opportunity.
“Celestine, come out. We need to talk.”
Serena swept into the gallery, her elegant brows drawn in a frown.
After yesterday, Chester had actually cut off half her credit cards! Her dividends from the Fordham family shares wouldn’t come until the end of the year–eight months away. How was she supposed to survive?
She’d thought it over and realized she had no choice but to come to Celestine.
None of this would have happened without her. Serena didn’t like the woman, but that wouldn’t stop her from trying to make peace–no one else needed to know.
Celestine didn’t even pause in her sketching, her refusal blunt: “There’s nothing to talk about.”
Serena’s expression soured, but she persisted. “I know you’re still upset about what happened at the restaurant. That was my fault–I let Elena mislead me. Celestine, I didn’t mean to target you. If I don’t play along with them, it’s impossible to get by in this crowd.”
At last, Celestine looked up, her smile unreadable. “Alright. Go wait for me in the lounge. I’ll come find you when I’m done.”
Serena took this at face value. As she passed, she caught a glimpse of Celestine’s casual sketch.
She can draw like that? Paintings of that caliber?
A wave of shock crashed through Serena, but she quickly composed herself and headed for the lounge.
There, she found Elena already waiting–her face as dark as storm clouds.
Chapter 177
Celestine finished teaching her second little student the basics of composition when a child tugged her sleeve. “Miss, someone else is here to see you.*
Celestine was genuinely surprised. On a night like this, with rain lashing the windows, she hadn’t expected so many visitors,
“Celestine. We need to talk.”
The voice was cool, unfamiliar in its restraint.
Chester’s eyes were dark and unreadable. When she didn’t look up from her painting, he stepped forward. “Regarding Mr. Prescott–Serena and the others were mistaken. You shouldn’t be caught up
my affairs.”
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