Chester’s eyes flickered in shock as he stared at the video playing on her phone.
“Joanna, enough! This is going too far–you’re making us both look ridiculous!“
Joanna shoved her phone right up to Chester’s face. “Look! Take a good look! That’s Celestine making out with another man! Chester, why are you lying to yourself? Just because you love her, you’re willing to throw away your self–respect?”
Chester’s voice dropped, heavy with disappointment. He took the phone from Joanna’s hand and angled the screen toward her. “I never realized you could be so childish.”
A cold jolt ran through Joanna. It was only then that she saw what was actually playing. The first few seconds showed a hotel corridor, but suddenly the footage cut to Peppa Pig dancing across the screen.
Who did this?
Who tampered with the video?!
Joanna’s chest tightened with fury. “Chester, you have to believe me! The video–it was Celestine and another guy, I swear! I don’t know how it changed! I really don’t know!”
“That’s enough. Celestine is my wife.” Chester’s tone was final. “If you care at all about the years we’ve known each other, stop slandering her.”
He gave her a long, searching look, then turned and walked away before Joanna could muster a response.
She stood rooted to the spot, all the fight drained from her limbs.
Why? Everything had been set up perfectly. Where did it go wrong?
Her face twisted with rage as she pulled out her phone and dialed the thugs she’d hired.
“Where the hell are you? I went to the room and you were gone! Where’s lestine?” She fired off question after question.
“Miss Sinclair, you want this job, you pay extra. We’re all in the hospital now! You owe us for the trauma, ten times what we agreed, or everyone’s going to hear what
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you’ve been up to!”
The man’s voice was full of venom.
Joanna’s breath caught. “What did you say?!”
Meanwhile, in the room next door, Celestine cracked the door open just enough to watch the chaos unfolding in the hallway. She saw Joanna, wild–eyed and desperate, and a faint, satisfied smile tugged at her lips.
The moment she found that mysterious hotel keycard, Celestine knew Lance’s invitation wasn’t innocent. She’d gotten wise to their plan before they ever expected.
She’d avoided the security cameras and never set foot in the trap they’d prepared. After watching the three thugs swagger into the room, she’d texted Gideon for help. “Mr. Prescott, I need your help.”
Within minutes, the men were dealt with–swiftly and discreetly. Celestine hadn’t
even had a chance to confront them herself. But she didn’t need to–she knew
Joanna was behind this, probably aiming to have those men assault her.
She shuddered at the thought. What kind of person could be so vicious?
Not long after, Celestine overheard a woman down the hall complaining to her
boyfriend about the freezing air conditioning. Spotting her chance, Celestine struck
up a conversation and managed to swap room keys.
Just in time for Joanna to drag Chester upstairs, feigning concern with her little
act.
Celestine let out a cold laugh. If she hadn’t been prepared, she’d be the one losing her mind in that hallway right now.
“All taken care of?”
A man’s lazy, familiar voice sounded behind her.
“Celly?”
When she didn’t answer right away, he called her name again, more firmy.
Celestine felt her knees go weak at the sound. She managed a soft reply. “Yes… I think so. Thank you, Mr. Prescott.”
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Chapter 284
She hadn’t known what else to do; there was no way she could have gotten those sleazy creeps out of there by herself.
Gideon had been lightning–fast. Not only did he get them out, but he even sent
someone to tidy up the room afterward.
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