Celestine had just received word that Gideon would be arriving any minute
By the elevator, the light above the tenth floor blinked on.
The doors slid open–and her smile froze.
“Mom?”
Celestine hesitated, her gaze falling on Dahlia and the entourage behind her
Since returning to Harborview, she hadn’t visited Dahlia in days. She knew her mother–in–law never cared for her, always looking down on her background and the fact she brought nothing to help Chester’s ambitions.
After their wedding, when Celestine was first introduced to the Fordhamn family, Dahlia set the rules. She made Celestine kneel all night in the tiny family chapel And whenever the mood struck, Dahlia would punish her with more kneeling–never mind that Celestine was eight months pregnant at the time.
Chester never stopped it. If anything, when Celestine’s knees ached so badly she couldn’t stand, he told her to endure it.
“If you just listened, Mom wouldn’t punish you for no reason.”
He’d even dressed her wounds himself that time.
Celestine, starved for his rare tenderness, swallowed all her suffering and said nothing.
It wasn’t until after Raymond and Celia were born that Dahlia’s attitude softened, just a little. The punishments eased up, and kneeling in the chapel became rare
Celestine dared hope she might finally win Dahlia over.
So when Chester took the children to Harborview, Celestine stayed behind in Oceanview to look after her in–laws, trying to prove herself.
But while everyone whispered that Chester and Joanna were a perfect match, Celestine alone remained in the dark, like an abandoned wife–clueless, left behind She lowered her eyes, forcing her thoughts away from those bitter memories.
Dahlia swept in, her posture rigid, eyes flashing. “Celestine, get on your knees:
Celestine didn’t move.
She looked at Dahlia with cool indifference. “Is something wrong, Mom?”
Not a hint of guilt or panic.
Dahlia’s fury only grew. She jabbed a finger at Celestine’s face. “You dare ask what’s wrong? Raymond’s burning up with fever–where the hell were you, you worthless mother! How did the Fordham family end up with someone as toxic as you? Get over here and kneel–if you don’t explain yourself today, I swear I won’t let this go!”
She must have been too soft on this little wretch that rundown family these
from
past two years–had Celestine forgotten her place? To leave the children behind and talk back to her mother–in–law!
Celestine met her threats with calm, a faint smile on her lips. “Mom, you really do love that punishment, don’t you? Do you honestly think you’re the queen around. here?”
“There are plenty of people looking after Raymond. What do you expect me to do–cure him with a magic touch? If a single look from me could heal him, I’d have
done it.”
She glanced briefly at Raymond, who had been waiting to see a scene. His eyes were still red and swollen from crying, but her gaze made him squirm.
That was strange–Mom was always the one most afraid of Grandma, always the most obedient. Why was she acting like this now?
“Celestine, what kind of attitude is that?” Dahlia’s chest heaved with indignation.
If she lost control now, this woman would walk all over the Fordham family by tomorrow!
“As long as you’re Chester’s wife, I’m your mother–in–law! I even tried to treat you like my own daughter. You ungrateful wretch–are you trying to disgrace us? Raymond’s been burning with fever for three days! Even if you’re useless, couldn’t you spare a single visit?”
Celestine was unfazed by the guilt trip.
If anything, her smile deepened. “Motherly love and filial piety–maybe you should take a good look in the mirror, Mom. If word of this gets out, the whole city will be laughing at us.”
*Smack!*
The slap landed hard and loud.
nklin had nut her full strength behind it, her palm striking Celestine’s cheek.
21:12
Celestine’s head snapped to the side. Red finger–marks bloomed on her fair skin:
It all happened too fast..
“Mom, what are you doing!” Chester rushed forward, grabbing Dahlia’s arm.
Raymond and Celia stood frozen in shock.
Joanna’s eyes flashed with smug satisfaction.
Slowly, Celestine turned her face back, wiping a trace of blood from her lip with her fingertip.
