Chapter 222
Celestine lounged back against the couch, her fox–like eyes half–closed as she sized up the newcomer.
In the dim light, Zeke’s face looked thunderous–like some vengeful spirit clawed up from hell.
She took her gaze off him, ignoring his words, and calmly took another sip of her drink.
Zeke stepped out from the shadows, his eyes blazing with barely contained rage.
“You stirred up a storm in Portside City–made such a scene that everyone’s been worried sick about you. Are you satisfied now?”
Celestine finished her drink in one measured swallow. “Very satisfied.”
“Celestine, have you no shame?” Zeke spat, barely restraining himself.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s wrong, Mr. Sterling? Are you mourning for me or weeping at my funeral? You’re so worked up, I’d almost think you were my son,
grown up and throwing a tantrum.”
all
Zeke seethed. “How can you be so cruel? Why can’t you just let Chester go? Why do you have to steal your best friend’s man?”
Celestine’s smile faded, her tone turning airy as she swirled her glass. “Best friend? Where did you pick up that rumor, Mr. Sterling? You’re really stretching the meaning
of the word.”
She’d known Joanna since they were kids–push it far enough and you could say they’d been friends since elementary school.
Back then, maybe the word “best friends” could be used, if you squinted.
But after middle school, Joanna’s family business went under, and she’d transferred to another city with her parents.
When they met again in high school, Celestine had naively thought things would be just like before.
But Joanna, quietly and not–so–quietly, had started competing with her. About everything. Over everything. Always trying to outshine her, always taking what she wanted.
A knife wrapped in velvet is always the sharpest.
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Chapter 222
Zeke glared at her in cold silence.
“You ask why I won’t let Chester go? I think you’ve got your subject and object
confused. If he truly loved Joanna, do you really think he’d let her carry the label of ‘the other woman‘?”
Celestine’s eyes curved as she spoke, leaving Zeke caught between fury and frustration.
The whole mess had been splashed across the headlines for days.
He’d tried to tamp down the hateful comments online, but someone kept fanning the flames behind the scenes.
He already knew what had happened at the funeral.
Joanna had gone out of her way, supposedly for the Fordham family–for Celestine herself! Yet here Celestine was, drinking as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
“You really are heartless! A woman like you should’ve died at the hands of those robbers–you’re not even worth saving!”
“What’s wrong? Upset I didn’t die and make way for your precious Joanna?” Celestine drawled, her voice tinged with tipsy indifference. “Mr. Sterling, maybe you should check if there’s something heavy on your back. Carrying that big shell around every day must be exhausting–I almost feel sorry for you.”
“Celestine, you’re asking for it!” Zeke, beside himself with rage, pointed at her and lunged, his fist raised.
“Enough, Zeke!”
Suddenly, someone stepped in and blocked Zeke’s blow with practiced ease, halting him a few feet from Celestine.
“Going after a woman? That’s a new low,” Lance Blake said, frowning as he caught
Zeke’s fist.
Zeke let out a bitter laugh. “Perfect! Just perfect! Now everyone’s lining up to play hero for this woman. Let’s see how long that lasts.”
He shoved Lance aside and stormed out in a fury.
A flash of anger crossed Lance’s face, but it was gone as quickly as it came.
Turning back, he found Celestine sitting calmly on the sofa, perfectly composed,
not a hint of drunkenness about her.
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“You provoked him on purpose. Were you hoping he’d actually hit you?”
Celestine’s lips curled faintly. “Mr. Blake, I’m not that much of a masochist.”
Tonight, Lance wore a crisp white tracksuit–youthful, casual, and energetic. It was a sharp contrast to his usual polished, aristocratic style.
But he didn’t look convinced. “Zeke’s the kind of guy who lets his temper do the thinking. He’s capable of things you can’t control. You really pushed him tonight–and there’s no going back. You got lucky in Portside City, but if he sets his sights on you, luck won’t save you.”
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