Chapter 184
Celestine could already picture it–her little girl, Celia, all alone in that dark, cramped room, bad people outside chasing her, terrified and on edge every second. The thought made Celestine’s stomach twist with guilt.
No matter what Chester had done, the child should never have been dragged into
this. After all, Celia was just a kid herself.
Tears slid down Celestine’s cheeks as she choked out, “Driver, please, can you go faster? I’ll pay you triple.”
By the time she finally reached Oceana Park, she realized it had been abandoned for years. Wild grass choked the paths, and thick groves of trees cast everything in deep shadow. Even though the ocean was close by, almost no one ever passed through here. If someone wanted to do something in this place, no one would ever
know…
The more Celestine thought, the more her fear grew. She forced herself not to imagine what could happen.
While keeping in touch with her daughter, she followed Celia’s directions and found the little cottage on the southern edge of the park. Celestine scanned the area, tense and wary, but didn’t spot anyone suspicious.
She snapped a quick photo of the cottage and sent it to Celia.
Celestine: Celia, are you in here?
Celia replied instantly.
Celia: Yes, Mom, I’m inside! Hurry up!
Meanwhile, in the Fordham family living room, Celia lounged contentedly on the sofa, popping pieces of fresh fruit into her mouth as she watched cartoons. She giggled at the silly antics on the screen. When her phone chimed, she glanced at it–and instantly frowned when she saw it was another message from Celestine.
Mom was always so naggy! All these messages were so annoying! If she’d known her mother hadn’t changed her old habits at all, Celia would’ve just pretended her phone died and hurried her to the cottage instead.
She really hoped the muscle she’d hired online would do the job–her mom needed a good scare. Then maybe she’d finally stop being so stubborn and quit making
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Chapter 184
everyone–Grandpa, Dad, her brother–worry all the time.
Honestly, Celia thought, her mom was supposed to be the grown–up, but she really didn’t act like it.
After sending a final reply to Celestine and making sure her mom had arrived, Celia blocked her again and went right back to her cartoons, grinning. Cartoons were way more fun than dealing with Mom!
“You–who are you? Where’s my daughter?!”
Celestine had barely stepped into the dim little cottage when a heavy blow struck the back of her head. Pain bloomed sharp and hot, but she grit her teeth, clinging to consciousness for her daughter’s sake. She managed to catch a second swing, her hands locking around the rough wood of the club, blood trickling from her temple as she desperately tried to spot Celia’s tiny form in the darkness.
Celia, please please be safe.
A man’s raspy voice rang with mockery. “This one’s got some fight in her.”
A second man sneered. “She doesn’t even know we’re the ones her daughter hired to teach her a lesson! Hahaha!”
In that instant, Celestine’s world collapsed into silence–every sound faded out.
This was… Celia’s doing?
Celia had lied to her. Set her up. Hired strangers to hurt her own mother.
For a moment, Celestine couldn’t grasp it. She couldn’t breathe, as if all the air had been ripped from her lungs. Her heart pounded, her chest heaved as she ught to pull herself together.
But the weight of betrayal and heartbreak crushed her. Her strength failed. Her hands dropped limply, and the second blow landed hard on her skull.
Celestine drifted into a long, winding dream.
Her daughter, only a year old, had just learned to walk. She’d wobbled over to Celestine, grabbed her hand–the one she’d accidentally nicked while slicing fruit–and blew gently on the cut. Still too little to speak clearly, she’d murmured, “Mommy… blow… no more pain.”
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Chapter 184
Celestine’s heart had melted on the spot. Mothers always cried over their children.
Even in her dream, a tear slid down Celestine’s cheek.
Her daughter had once been her little angel.
How had it come to this?
