Chapter 234
Celestine hailed a cab right in the thick of rush hour.
The whole way there, Lance kept dropping hints–some subtle, some not so much–that he’d skipped all his meals just waiting for her.
She stared at their chat on her phone, lips twitching with disbelief.
Still, not wanting to arouse suspicion, she managed a polite, humanitarian reply.
By the time she arrived at the private hospital, dusk had settled over the city.
Celestine walked into the lobby with practiced ease.
Up ahead, she spotted a familiar figure.
Gideon stood there in a black shirt, looking nothing like his usual laid–back self. His eyes were gentle, a soft smile playing on his lips.
He leaned down, close and intimate, to speak with the woman next to him.
Curiosity piqued, Celestine watched from a distance.
She couldn’t see the woman’s face, but those glossy chestnut curls and the elegant, form–fitting lavender dress left an impression. The woman had a quiet, magnetic poise.
Celestine’s gaze drifted–there was a subtle curve to the woman’s stomach.
Instinctively, she glanced at her shoes.
Flats.
Surprise flickered through her eyes.
She watched as Gideon accompanied the woman into the maternity wing.
And in that moment, everything clicked.
Gideon’s wife was back in town.
And she was pregnant.
Celestine hesitated, debating whether to go over and say hello.
She wrestled with herself for a while, but ultimately, she stayed put.
She had to admit–even without seeing Mrs. Prescott’s face, she could sense the woman’s intelligence and grace.
Unapier
They made a striking couple, she thought.
Judging from that baby bump, Mrs. Prescott was likely four months along.
Sighing, Celestine pulled out her phone and sent him a message.
Celestine: Congratulations–looks like you’re about to be a dad.
Mr. Shield: ?
She hadn’t expected Gideon to reply instantly.
Maybe that was a little impulsive, she thought.
Best to leave it at that.
Carrying her food container, Celestine headed to Lance’s hospital room.
A soft knock on the door was met by a rustle from inside.
A moment later, Lance wheeled himself over and opened the door in person.
Pale and drawn, he still managed a faint smile. “You made it.”
Celestine nodded, glancing at his injured leg with concern. “You didn’t have to get up. I could’ve let myself in.”
“It’s no trouble,” Lance replied gently, his handsome features warm. “Thank you for coming.”
Something about his tone made Celestine uneasy–a slow–building tension, like the calm before one of Joanna’s signature dramas.
Sure enough, as she set the four take–out dishes on the table, Lance’s eyes grew suspiciously red.
“I’ll never forget the taste of these,” he said, voice thick with emotion.
“As long as you like them,” Celestine replied, forcing down the urge to roll her eyes.
She opened the plastic containers and popped them into the private room’s
microwave.
Soon, Lance was barely able to hold back his eagerness; he grabbed a fork and began eating.
He chewed slowly, savoring every bite as if he were at a Michelin–starred feast.
“It’s delicious,” he declared, utterly sincere.
And suddenly, Celestine understood.
14:24
Chapter 234
Oh, please.
She could have tossed anything in those dishes–he’d probably still call it amazing.
She almost regretted not being more devious with the menu. If Lance ever tried to outmaneuver her again, poisoning his food might be a tempting plan.
“Miss Selwyn, you must be starving after a long day. Won’t you join me?”
Lance offered her his fork, the gesture loaded with intimacy.
Alarm bells blared in her mind at the thought of sharing utensils.
“Mr. Blake, you go ahead. I made plenty, and I’m really not hungry yet.”
“Thank you,” Lance said, his smile genuine.
A new sapphire stud glinted in his left ear.
Celestine’s gaze lingered a moment, then she quickly looked away, suddenly self–conscious. “As long as you like it, that’s what matters,” she said softly.
Lance withdrew the fork, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face.
This inconvenient shyness of hers was infuriating.
Still, Joanna had insisted he keep Celestine around tonight.
If Celestine was willing, maybe this would be the perfect opportunity to make his
move.
4.04
