“No,” he replied, his voice crisp and decisive.
It was as if her words hadn’t forced him to speak at all.
Without realizing it, Celestine’s hand trembled, making the lunchbox she was holding sway slightly.
“Thank you, Mr. Prescott. I know it’s not really my place, but for your wife’s sake, I think you should rein yourself in a bit. Don’t take things too far.”
Celestine’s gaze shifted to the young woman standing awkwardly beside him.
“Wife?” Gideon’s handsome brow furrowed deeply, latching onto the word.
“Yes.” Celestine finally let out what she’d been holding back. “I don’t know what’s really going on between you and your wife, but from the little I’ve seen, there’s no denying you love her. Maybe you just lost your way for a while, but she’s at a delicate stage right now. New mothers are especially sensitive. If you truly don’t love her, you owe it to her to be honest–don’t let her get hurt any more than she already has.”
The longer she spoke, the darker Gideon’s expression became.
Here we go again–this endless talk about wives and love.
He had half a mind to crack open her skull and see exactly what nonsense rattled around inside all day.
Wait a second.
Gideon’s eyes narrowed, sharp with realization.
This wasn’t the first time she’d mentioned a “wife.”
Did she think he was married?
The
young woman at Gideon’s side had gone pale with discomfort as well.
She could feel that this woman had clearly misunderstood her relationship with her
uncle.
But–Uncle, why aren’t you saying anything?
Celestine gave the two of them a final, searching look, then left in silence.
As soon as Celestine disappeared around the corner, Kathy couldn’t hold back
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anymore. She burst out, rapid–fire: “Uncle, why didn’t you say something? She totally thinks I’m your mistress! And since when did you get married? Why didn’t know?”
Gideon’s face was stormy as he let out a cold laugh. “I’d like to know which bastard decided to stab me in the back with that little rumor.”
“So you really are married?!” Kathy’s eyes widened in shock.
As far as she could remember, Gideon was always the one dodging the most bullets during the family’s annual ‘when–are–you–getting–married‘ inquisition.
If even he had tied the knot, did that mean she was next in the firing line?
“Like hell I am.” Gideon couldn’t even be bothered to look at her. “Once your sister–in–law’s done with her checkup, make sure she gets home.”
Without another word, he strode off after Celestine’s retreating figure.
Celestine felt even more suffocated after speaking her mind.
Why did she have to get involved?
Why couldn’t she just keep her mouth shut?
Whatever Gideon did in his marriage was none of her business.
He might be a disaster in the romance department, but he had saved her more
times than she could count.
Now, she was sure she’d made it onto Gideon’s blacklist–just one more name under “people never to trust again.”
The elevator doors slid open. Lost in thought, she stepped inside without really
seeing.
Just as the doors were about to close, a large hand shot forward, forcing them
open.
Celestine froze, startled. “That’s dangerous!”
Gideon looked at her anxious face, a roughness in his throat. “Dangerous? Not as dangerous as you, Miss Selwyn. Every word you just said was like a knife.”
“I didn’t mean it like that… I’m sorry.” Celestine dropped her head in shame.
Just as she’d feared, this was happening after all.
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Gideon wouldn’t actually hit a woman, would he?
He stepped into the elevator, his presence filling the small space with an almost tangible pressure.
Celestine had nowhere to run. She braced herself, neck stiff, waiting for the worst.
But instead, he spoke slowly, each word deliberate: “I’m not married. I don’t have a pregnant wife. And there’s no mistress in the picture.”
Celestine stood rooted to the spot.
“Miss Selwyn,” Gideon continued, his voice low and cutting, “I’m not your worthless ex–husband. Your judgment in men has always been terrible.”
As his words faded, the elevator arrived at the ground floor.
The doors slid open to reveal two faces she knew all too well.
Her worthless ex, who had just this morning promised he’d never see Joanna again–standing there with Joanna herself.
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