Chapter 249
He hurried to take her little hand and ushered her to breakfast.
After they’d eaten, Celestine dropped Cynthia off at school on her way to work.
“Bye, Miss Angel! See you tonight!” Cynthia waved cheerfully.
Celestine smiled warmly back. “See you tonight, sweetheart.”
Cynthia bounced towards the school gates, her tiny legs moving in a lively skip.
The scene caught the attention of several other children nearby.
Even Raymond and Celia, just stepping off their nanny’s minivan, noticed.
Raymond’s eyes lit up as he spotted Celestine. “That’s Mom!” he announced, delighted.
He was about to run over when he felt a sudden tug at his arm.
“Don’t go, Ray!” Celia held his sleeve with both hands, refusing to let go.
He looked down, puzzled. “Why not?”
Celia’s voice was low and sulky. “Can’t you have a little pride? Mom never used to drop us off at school, but now she’s here for someone else’s kid. She doesn’t care about us at all!”
Raymond frowned, her words stinging. “Don’t talk about Mom like that, Celia.”
It hurt because, in some ways, she was right. But Celia’s words were too harsh, too
unkind.
It wasn’t how a lady should speak. He had to say something.
Celia huffed, glaring at Cynthia’s retreating figure. “Well, I don’t want Mom anymore, anyway!” she snapped, storming after the younger girl, her little fists balled.
That afternoon in the apartment, after Celestine had left, Chester had forced them to kneel outside in the scorching sun as punishment.
Celestine hadn’t even looked back at them once.
If Mom really loved them, she wouldn’t have left them behind so easily.
Seething, Celia shoved past Cynthia, who was stretching up on tiptoe to scan her entry card at the gate.
Cynthia turned around, startled, expecting it was just a jostle by accident until the met Cella’s furious glare.
Oh, she thought, it’s Miss Angel’s little traitor,
Cynthia’s big eyes narrowed in challenge. Not to be outdone, she pivoted and gave Celia a hard bump with her hip, knocking her aside.
Celia hadn’t expected so much force from someone half her size; she landed hard on her backside, stunned.
Cynthia stuck out her tongue, making a face before dashing away, triumphant.
Celia’s eyes filled with angry tears. “Just you wait!” she yelled after her.
When Celestine walked into the office, Flossie immediately swept her into a giant
hug.
“Celly! I’ve missed you like crazy! You poor thing–you’ve been through so much. I swear, I’m going to treat you like gold from now on! I’ll never pester you to help me with color palettes every single day again!”
Celestine laughed, dabbing at her eyes. “Is that a promise?”
Flossie grinned sheepishly. “Well… maybe every other day.”
Back when Celestine had gone missing, the Fordham family had posted a reward online. Even though the photos were slightly altered, anyone who knew her well could recognize her in an instant.
Flossie was one of the first to notice. She’d quietly asked Crystal Lennox for news, worrying for days until she heard Celestine was safe.
Now, Celestine handed out gifts she’d brought from Portside City, prompting a round of cheers throughout the office.
Later that morning, a woman dressed in crisp white and black, with simple makeup and an easy smile, exited an office with Crystal Lennox, deep in conversation.
As soon as she saw Celestine, she exclaimed, “Our new chief! Finally, I get to meet you in person!”
Crystal, smiling, made the introductions. “Celly, this is Violet Rockwell–the designer I told you about, just back from the overseas shows.”
Celestine remembered her at once.
Chapter 249
Violet was the one who always complained about the awful food abroad in their conference calls, regularly sparring with Carmen. She’d wanted to meet her for
ages.
She smiled, extending her hand. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you.”
Violet took her hand with a delighted expression, blurting out something that caught everyone off guard.
“You… you look just like her.”
