Chapter 137
When Luther asked again, Celestine casually made up an excuse and dragged Chester away, distracting him completely with the promise of pastries from Southern Cross Patisserie.
At the hospital, Joanna kept track of Chester, who had shown up later than usual today.
A gnawing sense of unease and impending crisis grew inside her.
Stein informed her that Chester had gone to Selwyn Manor that day.
That was where Celestine’s grandfather lived.
Her instincts told her that Chester had been summoned there for something to do with him and Celestine.
Joanna had a creeping suspicion that their marriage was far from over.
But–she’d never let that happen.
She’d schemed for years, worked her way in, and now she was so close to finally getting what she wanted.
Just one last push.
Lying in her hospital bed, her eyes glinted with calculation.
On the tenth day, Alistair’s seventieth birthday arrived.
The celebration was set at Eon Heights Hotel, a luxurious six–star venue in Portside
City.
Celestine booked a ticket straight to Harbor Bend.
Her grandfather’s gift for Alistair was quite large, so it had already been shipped to
the hotel in advance.
Celestine ignored Chester’s message from the day before, inviting her to arrive together.
Instead, she checked into her hotel, freshened up, and set out for Eon Heights on
her own.
The Fordham family had gone all out: they’d reserved the third, fourth, and fifth
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Chapter
floors of the entire hotel for the occasion.
When Celestine arrived, luxury cars lined the drive outside.
The guests entering were all A–listers–the crème de la crème of society.
Everything about the Fordham family’s gala radiated prestige.
At the entrance, uniformed staff checked every guest’s invitation.
Celestine only discovered at the door that an invitation was required for entry.
Apparently, Alistair must have assumed she’d arrive with Chester, so she hadn’t received one of her own.
And Chester hadn’t even mentioned it.
One of the hostesses noticed Celestine’s awkward hesitation and leaned in kindly. “Ma’am, did you forget your invitation? There’s still time before the event–you can have someone bring it over if you like.”
“Sorry,” Celestine replied, “the invitation is probably with my husband. He didn’t give it to me, and he’s already inside.”
The hostess nodded. “And your husband’s name?”
“Chester.”
As soon as she spoke, a male attendant who’d been watching with thinly veiled contempt couldn’t help scoffing aloud. “Ma’am, do you even know who you’re talking about? Chester is the host of tonight’s gala!”
The hostess hesitated, uncertainty flickering across her face.
Not long ago, Chester had entered with Joanna and their child.
So how could there be another Mrs. Fordham suddenly showing up?
“Ma’am, could you please give us your name? We’ll double–check for you,” the hostess said, still doing her due diligence.
Celestine gratefully gave her name.
The male attendant rolled his eyes. “Why bother? There are always women trying to climb the social ladder at events like this. Look, Miss Fordham is coming over–you can ask her. She should at least recognize her own sister–in–law.”
At that moment, Serena stepped out of the elevator, radiant in a scarlet evening gown, laughing with several friends.
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She and her companions breezed through the entrance, no invitation check required.
Seizing the opportunity, the male attendant called out to her. “Miss Fordham, excuse me, could you clarify something for us?”
Serena glanced briefly at Celestine, who was staring down at her phone, and replied coolly, “Never seen her.”
The male attendant straightened, bowing slightly. “Thank you, Miss Fordham. We’ll take care of her right away.”
Nearby guests passing through couldn’t help but cast sidelong, disdainful looks at Celestine.
To them, she was just another social climber, a gold–digger exposed and humiliated by the real heiress.
As soon as Serena walked away, the male attendant’s expression hardened.
He waved over security. “Get rid of this woman causing trouble, now!”
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