Chapter 170
The woman gave Chester and Joanna a slow, scornful once–over. “Instead of policing your wife, maybe you should take a long, hard look at yourself. You’re both so obsessed with gender equality, but when it comes to cheating, the two of you are absolutely neck and neck. At least your wife was just chatting over dinner with that handsome guy–nothing inappropriate happened.”
Carole, whose father had cheated when she was young and whose husband strayed in middle age, had nothing but disgust for this kind of drama. So when those two girls stormed out earlier to confront Celestine, Carole had felt an immediate kinship.
But then Chester showed up, and somehow managed to be even more infuriating.
She’d just stopped by for a meal, and now she was listening to this circus.
The support from the crowd only made Chester angrier. “Joanna and I are just friends! Celestine, don’t twist our relationship with your jealousy!”
Celestine said nothing.
She simply sat there, eyes cast down, silent and composed–the very picture of the wronged wife.
Around them, the other diners were starting to exchange glances, their curiosity piqued.
Chester pressed on, his voice tight with frustration. “Celestine, if it weren’t for you, Joanna never would’ve fallen in the water! She even stood up for you earlier–insisted it must have been a misunderstanding. And you? You stir up trouble, spread rumors, and make a scene. I really couldn’t be more disappointed in
you.”
Celestine’s gaze was shadowed as she clutched the tablecloth. “Right. Last time I held her hand, it was because she was feeling faint from the cold. This time, I hugged her because she was weak. Chester, do you need me to remind you again why she fell in the water in the first place?”
Her words cut through the room. Silence fell.
Chester was, for once, lost for words, staring at her with a look far more complicated than anger.
The onlookers leaned in, eager for the next revelation.
14.18
Chapter 170
This wife definitely seemed to have a story worth hearing.
“Don’t change the subject!” Chester snapped, his glare icy. “Give me the name of that man, and I’ll handle it. If you cooperate, I’ll forget this ever happened. If you refuse–if you keep pushing me–I won’t hesitate to use force to make sure you behave as Mrs. Fordham should.”
The words sent a shockwave through the crowd.
Elena blinked, wondering if she’d misheard.
Chester doesn’t love Celestine–so why, when he’s supposedly caught her cheating, is his first thought not divorce?
Joanna, huddled against Chester, suddenly felt a chill run through her. What had she just heard?
What spell did that woman have over Chester? She’d been caught cheating and she still got to keep her position as Mrs. Fordham?
Even Serena was thrown by Chester’s response. This was the perfect chance to throw Celestine out for good, yet her brother insisted on preserving Celestine’s dignity for the sake of the family’s reputation.
After a moment, Serena composed herself and chimed in, backing her brother. “Celestine, know your place. Without the Fordhams, you’d still be just a struggling freelancer in Oceanview. My brother’s being more than generous–don’t push your luck. Call your lover here, now.”
Celestine bit her lip so hard it almost bled.
The four of them boxed her in, making it clear she wouldn’t be leaving until they got what they wanted.
“Lover? What lover? Miss Selwyn, if there’s some scandalous boyfriend, why don’t
you
call him out so I can meet him too?”
A man’s voice cut through the tension as he strode through the crowd and slid into the seat across from Celestine, his long legs stretched out with casual ease. His gray eyes sparkled with curiosity and amusement.
“That’s him! He was just having dinner with her!” someone gasped.
Those who recognized Gideon were already holding their breath.
Serena, in an instant, realized he was from the Prescott family.
14.15.
