Inside the elevator, Chester spoke up suddenly, catching Joanna off guard.
She jumped, her voice trembling. “No, I swear, I just heard Lance was hurt and wanted to check on him. I didn’t expect to run into Celly here… let alone see her with Mr. Prescott-”
Her eyes flicked meaningfully to the spot where Celestine and Gideon had just been standing together.
“Enough. Don’t bring her up again.” Chester’s words were clipped; he tamped down his frustration..
What bothered him most was that Joanna didn’t seem remotely surprised to see Celestine here. If anything, she acted as if it were only natural.
He hated being manipulated–especially by people he cared about.
Tears welled in Joanna’s eyes, and her voice broke. “Chester, are you still angry at me because of what happened before?”
The sight of her tear–streaked face softened him, despite himself.
“Don’t overthink it. I was just asking. That’s all in the past. You never meant any
harm.”
Her sobs quieted a little, but worry still clouded her features. “But… are you really going to divorce Celly? The kids are still so young. She’s got those videos of us–if anyone ever saw them, your whole life could be ruined.”
Joanna looked torn, caught between hope and dread.
Chester sighed and drew her into his arms. “Relax. I’m not going to divorce her. As for the videos, I’ll find a way to make her delete them.”
Hearing this, Joanna’s heart sank.
She couldn’t help but wonder if Chester was spending too much time around Celestine. Had she somehow managed to change him as well?
Biting her lip, Joanna’s mind began to spin with a new plan.
Outside the hospital, a car Celestine had called pulled up to the curb.
Gideon, tall and imposing, slipped into the backseat beside her.
Celestine was still reeling from everything that had happened. “Mr. Prescott, aren’t
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you heading home?”
He let out a cold, hollow laugh. “Go home? After being painted as someone else’s husband, someone else’s father–the villain of the story–I’d have to be crazy to go back.”
Celestine felt a pang of guilt.
The woman he’d just accompanied to her checkup was his sister–in–law, and the little girl in his arms had been his niece. Yet somehow, all the coincidences had collided at once.
Gideon shot her a glare, irritated by her silence. “Celly, apologize for slandering my reputation.”
His use of her old nickname made her pause. It had been years since she’d heard him call her that–the same gentle tone he’d used when comforting her as a child.
Noticing her reaction, Gideon’s voice grew softer, yet still teasing. “What are you thinking about?”
His deep, charismatic tone was suddenly close to her ear, making her cheeks flush. Celestine shook her head quickly. “It’s nothing. I was just… thinking about how to apologize for ‘damaging your reputation‘.”
Gideon let out a low chuckle.
So serious.
He’d almost thought she was reminiscing about the past.
“Let’s hear it then–say, ‘Sorry, big brother, just like you used to.”
Celestine’s cheeks turned scarlet. Just hearing the words felt awkward and out of place now. She wasn’t that little girl chasing after her big brother anymore.
She squared her shoulders and met his gaze. “Mr. Prescott, I apologize. I shouldn’t have made wild assumptions about you, or said anything that might have hurt your… delicate feelings.”
She deliberately chose her words to needle him.
Gideon couldn’t help but laugh, exasperated. “You’re right. My delicate feelings could probably use some comfort right now. Maybe a bowl of fresh soup would help. Unless, of course, your new hero already finished off whatever w your place?”
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Chapter 239
His
eyes
drifted pointedly to the lunchbox sitting at Celestine’s feet.
“Or was it all for your new savior?”
Celestine followed his gaze and managed a sheepish smile. “I didn’t cook anything.”
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