Serena’s feelings were a tangled mess.
She’d never cared much for Celestine–especially not after Celestine replaced‘ Joanna as her brother’s bride and entered the Fordham family. For a long time, Serena refused to acknowledge Celestine as her sister–in–law at all.
But until today, she’d never realized there was such a complicated history between Celestine and Joanna.
People always take their family’s side, reason be damned. Her brother was too blinded by emotion to see the truth, but Serena had noticed the holes in Joanna’s
story.
Most of the cruel things Joanna accused Celestine of–things that bordered on outright malice–had happened before Celestine even met Chester. Serena’s upbringing made it hard for her to imagine how one person could harbor so much hostility toward another.
And then she’d heard Celestine say she loved Chester so much, she’d put up with Joanna’s presence. For a moment, Serena wondered if Celestine wasn’t just as unhinged.
But she was a Fordham–she wasn’t supposed to question any of this.
Serena picked up her purse and strode out, heels clicking against the tile. At the door, she hesitated, then glanced back at Celestine. “If you have time… you should go home and see the kids more often.”
With that, Serena hurried out of the gallery.
Celestine blinked in surprise.
Serena hadn’t thrown a single icy remark her way today.
Maybe, after all the years under Joanna’s influence, her own acting skills had finally taken a leap forward.
Celestine’s mood lightened a little. She gathered her sketches and left the studio–only to nearly walk straight into a tall, broad–shouldered figure.
“Mr. Prescott?”
Gideon wore a silver–gray suit today, paired with the tie she’d given him yesterday. He looked every bit the aloof, untouchable executive. His handsome face was as
unreadable as ever, but Celestine felt a chill in the air–a tension so sharp she
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almost struggled to breathe.
His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Did I come at a bad time?”
Celestine shook her head, still puzzled. “Not at all.”
“A shame, really. I missed the grand scene of Mrs. Selwyn professing her undying devotion to her husband.” Gideon’s sharp gaze swept over her–eyes, lips, then lingered at her chest, as if he could see straight through to her heart.
Liar.
Not once had she told him the truth.
Celestine realized Gideon must have overheard her dramatic little speech to Elena just now. Embarrassment prickled up her neck; she had no idea what to say.
But in Gideon’s eyes, her flustered silence looked like guilt–a sure sign that everything she’d said was true.
What was he hoping for, anyway? After all these years, did he still think she’d remember that long–forgotten promise?
He cursed himself under his breath.
Before Celestine could even attempt an explanation, Gideon brushed past her and left the gallery.
She clutched her sketchbook to her chest, suddenly aware of the strange, stormy energy radiating from him.
Was he… angry?
But what could he possibly be angry about?
Trailing behind Gideon, Vernon could barely keep up. He let out a silent groan. The boss had been up before dawn, fussing with that expressionless face, even hiring a stylist to get his hair just right. He must’ve adjusted that tie Celestine gave him a
hundred times.
He’d even postponed á conference call just to come here. When he found out Celestine was at the gallery, he’d wrapped up the meeting early!
And what did he walk in on? Celestine making some melodramatic declaration about loving Chester enough to tolerate the other woman. As if anyone could really be that foolishly in love.
But love makes people blind–even smart people.
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Vernon had seen it the moment it happened: his boss’s mood turned pitch–black. If Chester had been there, Gideon probably would’ve killed him with just a look.
Vernon shivered, then hurried after him, careful to keep his head down.
That night, Celestine sat in front of her laptop, watching fashion show highlights online.
