Chapter 278
Celestine’s gaze darkened.
How much longer was Joanna going to keep up this act?
Without so much as a glance in Joanna’s direction, Celestine quietly sipped her freshly poured drink, refusing to acknowledge her.
But Joanna, undeterred, pressed on. “Celly, are you still upset? I really don’t know what I did wrong, but if you just tell me, I promise I’ll change. I’ll do anything you want–just, please, forgive me.”
She sounded utterly contrite, shrinking herself as if begging for mercy.
Celestine had chosen a secluded seat–out of the way, hardly anyone passing by. The air around them was cool, almost desolate.
She watched Joanna’s little performance in silence, her expression unread
Lance took in the scene, frustration and pity warring inside him.
If Joanna hadn’t insisted, he would never have tolerated Celestine’s attitude. Who did she think she was, acting so high and mighty? Without Chester, she was just an orphan with nothing to her name.
He’d seen the results from yesterday’s Prescott Group auditions. Sure, her work had a spark of talent, but she was nowhere near his level. These years he’d spent honing his craft abroad had not been wasted.
As Celestine’s silence stretched on, growing colder by the second, Lance finally snapped. “Miss Selwyn, Joanna’s being sincere. She truly wants to fix things between you. I think you two should sit down and talk this out.”
Celestine lifted her eyes and regarded him coolly. “Fine,” she said at last, voice
measured.
Joanna’s face brightened in hope.
But then Celestine added, “You said you’d do anything I want?”
Joanna nodded, eager. “Anything.”
“Then be my lapdog for life.”
A flush of shame and hurt spread across Joanna’s face. “Celly, do you really have to be like this?”
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There’s a second option.” Celestine set down her glass, her smile razor–sharp.
Joanna latched on, desperate. “What is it?”
Celestine met her gaze, and enunciated every word: “Go to hell.”
She would never forget the look in Joanna’s eyes that day in Portside City–the moment she realized Joanna wanted her dead. At first, Celestine had thought it was just about Chester, a love triangle she’d stumbled into. But it was so much uglier than that.
Predictably, Joanna’s eyes filled with tears at those words. “I really do want your forgiveness. I know the things I said before hurt you, but Celly, we’ve known each other since we were little. Can’t you at least remember our childhood and take those videos offline? I’m begging you.”
As she spoke, Joanna clung to Celestine’s sleeve, about to drop to her knees.
Celestine blocked her with a firm knee. “Don’t bother. I won’t accept it–and nothing else is up for discussion.”
Lance could hold back no longer. He pushed himself out of his wheelchair and
rushed to Joanna’s side.
Joanna was sobbing, barely able to breathe.
Lance gathered her into his arms. “Miss Selwyn, whatever Joanna’s done, it’s not a death sentence.”
“Oh?” Celestine’s lips curved in a mocking smile, her gaze lingering pointedly on Lance’s legs now bearing his full weight. “Maybe not, but it seems she’s got the power to raise the dead. Look at you–walking just fine.”
Lance realized she was referring to his supposed disability, and the color rose in his cheeks. He snapped, “Miss Selwyn, that’s not funny. Whatever else you believe, I know Joanna values your friendship.”
Values it? Friendship?
Celestine thought that was even more outrageous than Chester’s recent declaration of love.
If it weren’t for the setting, she might have slapped them both then and there.
She clenched her tingling palm into a fist.
“Mr. Blake, are you trying to say Joanna helped me out of the goodness of her heart, and that’s why you came to my rescue?”
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She wanted to see just how far this man would twist the truth.
Her question left Lance speechless.
“Mr. Blake,” she continued quietly, “I actually thought you were different from the
rest. I see now i was mistaken.”
