Celestine felt the grip on her wrist suddenly loosen.
Without hesitation, she shoved the man away and drove her knee hard into his side “Get off me! Get the hell away!”
She pushed Chester with all her strength, fingers digging desperately for the door handle.
One hand clung stubbornly to the car door.
“Celestine, don’t push me!”
Chester yanked her back, pinning her down. “Quit acting up. Don’t even think about running. Even if someone sees us, remember, we’re married. Legally married.”
A wave of despair crashed over Celestine.
Why was he still holding on, even when things were already so broken?
So it’s really possible, she thought, for a person’s body and soul to be completely disconnected.
To do this–without love, without conscience–just because you can.
Disgust rose, churning in her stomach.
As Chester moved in on her again, Celestine’s nausea finally overtook her and she
retched.
“Celly, what’s wrong?”
Chester froze, for once sounding almost concerned.
Celestine’s face twisted in agony. Clamping a hand over her mouth, she shoved him away and, in the chaos, slapped him twice across the face.
She flung open the car door and stumbled out into the night.
Chester, irritated and unsatisfied, scrambled after her.
He caught up just in time to see that the distress on Celestine’s face had vanished.
“You’re playing games with me!” He reached for her again.
Celestine was ready this time–she bolted.
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Chapter 110
But she ran straight into a solid wall of someone’s chest.
Startled, she looked up and met a pair of cold, stormy gray eyes.
“Mr. Prescott…” she muttered, breathless.
Gideon gently pulled her closer, tucking her head against his chest. His eyes narrowed, locking onto Chester as he approached.
Chester’s face was marked by angry red handprints, his neck bearing fresh teeth marks–evidence of the struggle that had just taken place.
Gideon’s fury was barely contained, his voice icy as he spoke:
“Really can’t wait, can you, Mr. Fordham? Planning to force yourself on a decent woman out here in the open?”
Chester recognized Gideon as one of the Prescotts.
But right now, the man was holding Celestine, his wife, in a protective, almost intimate way.
Chester’s tone turned cold, all pretense of civility gone. “Mr. Prescott, let her go. She’s my wife.”
“Is that so?” Gideon’s gaze was cutting. “Anyone who knows you might believe that. Anyone who doesn’t might think you’re committing a crime.”
Chester’s fists clenched. “You’re overreacting, Mr. Prescott. My wife and I were just having a little argument–it’s not as serious as you’re making it out to be.”
Gideon felt Celestine trembling in his arms, and something twisted inside him.
He didn’t waste time arguing with Chester. Instead, he looked down and asked, “Do you need me to call the police?“.
Celestine went rigid.
Anyone else would have run from this mess, but Gideon was standing up for her.
She wanted to nod, but the truth was, making a scene would only make things
worse for her.
Chester’s face was thunderous. He barked, “Celestine, don’t forget who you are. You’re my wife. Come here.”
“Whatever happened tonight–I can pretend you just lost your memory. None of this ever happened!”
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Chapter IU
He hadn’t meant for things to get this out of hand–he’d only lost control because Celestine pushed him so far.
If it weren’t for her amnesia, she’d never have fought back like this. She’d always just accepted whatever he did.
Celestine pulled away from Gideon’s steady, protecting embrace.
She turned to Chester, her eyes–usually so soft and yielding–now glittering with
cold hatred.
The look made Chester’s heart skip.
Her voice was calm, but every word was sharp as glass. “Chester, I never lost my memory.”
“Everything that happened just now was pure instinct. I’m disgusted by you. I hate you. Just seeing your face makes me sick.”
“No… That’s impossible!” Chester protested, refusing to believe it.
No matter how cunning Celestine might be, after all the years they’d spent together, he was certain she’d fallen in love with him.
If she wasn’t suffering from amnesia, she’d never say something so utterly heartless.
