Celia stared at the two adults locked in a close embrace, her brow creasing in the slightest frown
These days, she’d managed to disagree with her tutor on almost everything. Yet, despite her stubbornness, the teacher’s lessons had started to seep into her
mind–whether she liked it or not.
One lesson in particular stuck with her: “Charity begins at home, but don’t let loyalty turn you into a fool.” Ms. Brown had told her a story about a married man entangled with another woman–a homewrecker who forced out the rightful wife. The interloper had her own child and treated the first wife’s child with cruelty. Despite everything, that child never fought back, caring for the stepmother in her old age, while neglecting her own mother completely.
When Celia heard the story, she immediately thought of her own dad and Miss Sinclair. But Miss Sinclair was nothing like the wicked stepmother in the tale–she was far too kind for that.
So Celia had scoffed at the so–called lesson, brushing it off. She never saw herself as the foolishly loyal child from the story.
As the relentless tutoring wore on, Celia had begged Joanna several times to take her away. Joanna always agreed without hesitation, but when the day came, she’d find a new excuse–usually something about a film shoot–to put Celia off again and again.
After a while, Celia grew a little resentful.
Now, seeing the scene before her, an uncomfortable feeling twisted in her chest.
Chester, unfazed, turned to her and said, “She tripped, and I was just helping her up.” Celia eyed them both, suspicion flickering in her gaze.
Sure, Miss Sinclair had stumbled before, and Dad had helped her, but today something felt off. There was an odd sense that if she hadn’t shown up, something else might have happened.
She couldn’t put her finger on it, but the thought only made her more agitated.
Joanna noticed Celia’s shift in mood. “What’s wrong, Celia? Are you finished with your lesson?” she asked gently, slipping out of Chester’s arms and approaching her.
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Mentioning her lessons only soured Celia’s mood further.
She stomped between the two adults, tugging on Chester’s sleeve. “Dad, where’s Mom?”
Chester was caught off guard by her direct question about Celestine. “What’s the matter?”
Celia pouted, as if the answer should be obvious. “Didn’t you promise me Mom would come back to take care of me? I just saw her go upstairs. Where is she?”
For the first time, Joanna felt truly ignored by Celia, and her heart thudded with alarm.
All this time, she’d deliberately stalled, hoping to keep Celia out of the way so her relationship with Chester could progress. She hadn’t expected that in just these few days, the girl would grow so distant!
Ungrateful little brat.
Joanna hid her irritation, smoothing Celia’s hair with practiced tenderness. “Celia, your mom already left. She went home a little while ago.”
“What?!” Celia cried, gripping Chester’s arm even tighter. “Dad, you promised Mom would stay this time! You said she wouldn’t leave again! Did you just lie to me?!”
Chester’s face darkened at his daughter’s sudden outburst. Unbidden, the memory of his last conversation with Celestine flashed through his mind–her clear refusal to play the role of a live–in “nanny” any longer.
His voice turned cold and stern. “Celia, you have a whole house full of people looking after you. Isn’t that enough? Your mother is not your personal servant–she doesn’t have to drop everything for you. Clearly, your tutor hasn’t been strict enough. I’ll be having a word with her.”
Celia had never seen her father this severe. All she’d wanted was her mother by her side–was that so wrong? But under Chester’s icy stare, she found herself unable to say a single word in her defense.
She opened her mouth, but all that came out was a wail.
“You don’t love me! None of you love me! No one wants me–I hate you, Dad!”
“Celia!” Chester snapped, exasperated.
Joanna quickly pulled Celia into her arms, gently patting her back. She shot Chester a reproachful look. “Chester, she’s just a child. How can you say something like
that to her? I don’t think the tutor is the problem–if anything, she’s under too much
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pressure. You’re always busy, and she doesn’t have her mother around to talk to. Of course she lashed out today–she’s hurting.”
Chapter 79
