Chapter 132
Celestine sat in silence, listening to every word Murdock spat out. She didn’t rush to
answer.
Her silence only made Murdock’s temper flare. “Who taught you this attitude? When your elders speak, you pretend you can’t hear?”
Celestine pressed her lips together, then shook her head. “Uncle Murdock, did it ever cross your mind that Jade’s trouble finding a husband might be… genetic?”
She hesitated, tapping her finger to her temple.
The room charged with outrage.
Jade couldn’t take it any longer and shot up from her seat. “Celestine, what’s that supposed to mean?!”
Edna’s lip trembled, her eyes shining with tears. “Celly, I don’t know what I’ve done to make you think so poorly of me, but Jade’s innocent in all this.”
Uncle Murdock’s face flushed crimson. “Who do you think you’re insulting? Celestine, are you trying to start a war here? Just because you married into the Fordham family, you think I can’t lay down the law?”
Celestine shrugged, as if nothing bothered her. “Uncle Murdock, why are you so worked up? It’s not like she’s your biological daughter. Anyone listening in might think I was taking a jab at you.”
Everyone in the Selwyn family knew perfectly well that Jade was Murdock and Edna’s illegitimate child. But Murdock, ever the proud man, insisted on playing the part of her stepfather in public.
Even now, Jade’s name wasn’t even recorded in the Selwyn family registry.
Celestine sighed. “But me, I’m your real niece–your blood. And you talk to me like this? I’m honestly hurt.”
“And besides, Jade’s still young, her looks are perfectly fine–if she’s still single, maybe there’s something off up here. Haven’t you been setting her up with eligible men all these years? Anyone who knows she’s Mrs. Fordham’s sister should be lining up, even if it’s just to get on Chester’s good side.”
Celestine ticked off the points, then delivered her verdict. “So clearly, the problem’s in her head. Uncle Murdock, you should have her checked out sooner rather than later. Early treatment’s always best.”
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Murdock’s expression shifted through a dozen shades.
No one else knew, but he did. His daughter’s real issue was that her standards were sky–high. She wanted to follow in Celestine’s footsteps–marrying into money, becoming the queen of some billionaire’s mansion.
But with the Selwyns being a middle–class family, just arranging for her to meet a decent young man from a good family was already a stretch. Every promising candidate Murdock had introduced over the years was thanks to him swallowing his pride and begging for favors.
But Jade, spoiled and stubborn, was dead set on copying Celestine’s path. That’s why she was still single.
All Murdock wanted was to guilt Celestine into throwing a few resources their way. As Mrs. Fordham, she could casually flick some crumbs from her table and it’d last the Selwyns for years.
He never expected Celestine to turn the tables and put them on the spot.
Jade, unable to win the argument, burst into tears. “Dad! She’s lying! There’s nothing wrong with my head!”
Murdock waved her off. “Alright, I know what’s going on with you.” He couldn’t admit anything was wrong–she was his flesh and blood. If he admitted it, what did that say about him?
Jade glared at Celestine, refusing to back down. “Don’t think you can clear your own name by slandering me! You’re nothing but a gold–digging social climber–who did you sleep with at Seabay to get where you are? You’d better confess yourself, or when the Fordhams find out, you’ll drag the entire Selwyn family down with you!” “What?!” Murdock nearly stumbled, eyes flashing with panic. “You–you mean to say she cheated on her husband? Are you out of your mind?”
“If word gets out, it’s not just the Fordhams‘ reputation on the line. You’ll ruin the Selwyn name–and destroy your grandfather’s good name! Are you really that desperate for a man?”
He glared at Celestine, furious and disappointed, longing to slap some sense into her. But when he met her steady, unflinching gaze, his heart skipped–just for a
moment.
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