Suddenly, Vernon remembered something. “Mr. Prescott, yesterday Miss Selwyn arranged to meet Mr. Ivan Brady. On his way over, Mr. Brady’s car broke down. Someone took advantage of the situation, impersonated him, and met with Miss Selwyn under his name.”
Ivan Brady had been transferred from The Prescott Group’s legal department to assist with the case.
That meant Celestine’s divorce agreement had been reported to the top tier for
review.
Gideon’s gaze darkened. “And you’re only telling me this now?”
Vernon hesitated, not daring to speak the whole truth.
He’d just had a massive argument with Mrs. Prescott last night–who would dare to bring more bad news to the boss after that?
“Don’t worry, sir. I’ve already put people on it. Miss Selwyn is sharp–she realized what was happening. Instead of sending out the incriminating affair video as planned, she intentionally swapped it for Joanna’s plastic surgery footage. I made sure someone quietly helped the video go viral.”
“Well done.” A faint smile played at the corner of Gideon’s mouth.
Vernon lit up, scratching his head sheepishly. “It was nothing, really.”
Gideon shot him a sidelong look. “I was talking about her.”
Still as clever as ever.
Vernon’s face fell.
Wait, what?
Right. He’d been a little too eager for praise.
“Look into what Joanna’s planning behind the scenes.”
With everything that woman’s done, there’s no way she’ll let Celestine’s counterattack slide. She’ll be plotting something bigger for sure.
He had a gut feeling there was more to this charity auction than met the eye.
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17:21
Chapter 271
Celestine met up with Lance.
The cast was finally off his leg, and dressed in a cobalt blue suit, he radiated an air
of effortless wealth.
She glanced down, feigning surprise. “Mr. Blake, you’ve ditched the cast already?”
Lance was just in the middle of admiring Celestine as she stepped into the car. At her comment, he self–consciously touched his leg. “Oh, the doctor said it could come off. As long as I stay in the wheelchair a few more days, I’ll be fine.”
Truthfully, he’d kept the cast longer, hoping for a little sympathy from Celestine.
But she’d been unmoved from the start. After that first visit to bring him dinner, she’d never once checked in on him again.
The cast had outlived its usefulness.
“Miss Selwyn, could I trouble you to push my wheelchair when we go in later?” Lance’s tone was earnest.
Celestine nodded. “Of course. It’s no trouble.”
When they arrived at the auction venue, the entrance was already lined with luxury cars. The flashes from the press cameras were relentless.
Celestine frowned.
Lance noticed her discomfort. “Let’s head in from the parking lot instead.”
Relief flickered across Celestine’s face. “Thank you.”
Tonight’s charity auction was being held in a six–star hotel’s grand ballroom.
The guest list was a who’s who of Oceanview City’s elite.
Even with money, getting an invitation to this gala wasn’t easy.
Celestine was hoping for a stroke of luck.
Even if she couldn’t reclaim what she’d lost, just seeing it again would be enough.
They reached the auction hall without a hitch.
Even from a distance, Celestine spotted a few familiar faces.
She lowered her gaze and turned to the man beside her. “Mr. Blake, I’m going to use the restroom.”
“Of course.”
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Chapter 271
Celestine headed there alone.
As she stepped out, freshly washed hands still damp, she nearly collided with an all–too–familiar, unwelcome figure.
But honestly, she’d expected this.
A cool smile tugged at Celestine’s lips. “Here already? I thought you’d manage to keep your composure a little longer.”
Joanna glared at her with pure venom. “That video was your doing, wasn’t it? You bitch! I knew you kept those files all these years–you were just waiting for a chance to stab me in the back!”
Celestine found her words almost laughable.
All that kindness she’d once shown Joanna–utterly wasted.
“Not everyone thinks the way you do,” Celestine said, her gaze steady as she looked at the woman before her–someone who, over the years, had become
unrecognizable in her memory.
“If I was really as scheming as you believe, do you think I’d have waited this long to let those things see the light of day?”
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