Her gaze, however, stayed locked on the little girl clinging to her mother.
Suddenly, Cynthia let out a pitiful “Ouch!” as she grabbed her ankle. She leaned into Celestine, wrapping her arms around her.
“Miss Angel, my foot really hurts…”
“What is it, Cynthia? Did you get a cramp? Why does it hurt all of a sudden?”
Celestine’s tone shifted instantly from calm indifference to anxious concern.
She gently scooped Cynthia up into her arms, as if afraid to cause her even the slightest pain.
Watching this, Celia’s eyes stung, as though she’d gotten dust in them.
It had been so long since her mother held her like that…
Why did this brat get to steal her mom’s affection?
“I’m okay, Miss Angel, I just can’t walk anymore. Could you carry me for a little while?”
Cynthia snuggled against Celestine’s shoulder, acting cute and helpless. Over Celestine’s back, she even shot a triumphant face at Celia.
“Of course, sweetheart,” Celestine replied, completely oblivious to Cynthia’s act.
She didn’t criticize Cynthia for being spoiled at all.
Cynthia gleefully nuzzled Celestine’s neck, then kissed her softly. “Miss Angel, you’re so good to me.”
Celia couldn’t hold it in any longer.
She rushed up to stand in front of Celestine, pointing an accusing finger at Cynthia. “Mom, she’s faking! Can’t you see that?”
Celestine lifted her gaze, her tone even. “Yes, I see it. And?”
Celia hadn’t expected her mother to respond like that.
A surge of indescribable hurt welled up in her chest.
“She’s manipulative! You should stay away from her!”
As she spoke, she tried to pull Cynthia down from Celestine’s arms.
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Chapter 87
Celestine, still holding Cynthia, was standing at the top of a flight of steps, wearing high heels. Caught off guard by Celia’s tug, she lost her balance and began to sway, nearly falling backward with Cynthia in her arms.
At the critical moment, a strong arm caught her around the waist and steadied her.
Celestine’s heart pounded in her chest.
When she turned to look, she realized Gideon had appeared–she hadn’t even
noticed when.
Full of remorse, she handed Cynthia over to him and turned back to Celía, this time with anger in her voice. “You keep calling me ‘mom, but have you ever really treated me like your mother? Are you trying to make me end up in the hospital again? Last time, I hit my head and lost my memory. What is it this time? Are you trying to get me killed?”
Her words were heavy, and Celia blanched with fear, realizing how close she’d come to hurting her mother–maybe even fatally.
But if her mom hadn’t been holding that detestable little girl, she would never have
done it!
Torn between fear and fury, Celia glared daggers at Cynthia, then ran off in tears without so much as an apology.
Mom is the worst! The absolute worst!
She swore she’d convince Dad to hurry up and get divorced–only someone as gentle as Miss Sinclair deserved to be her mother.
Celestine watched Celia dart into an apartment building across the street, guessing it was probably the one Chester had bought for Joanna.
Her heart, which had only just begun to calm, was once again unsettled.
She collected herself and turned to the uncle and nephew. “I haven’t n strict enough with my daughter, but she’ll be living with her father from now on. I doubt something like this will happen again.”
“You’re getting divorced?” Gideon caught the key point immediately.
“Yes, we’re separated right now. Once the legal waiting period is over, I’ll file the
papers.”
Gideon quickly masked the hint of delight in his eyes and cleared his throat. “I happen to know an excellent divorce lawyer. Miss Selwyn, if you need help, I can introduce you. He has a hundred percent success rate.”
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Chapter 87
Celestine perked up at that.
A lawyer with a perfect record had to be truly exceptional.
But then she paused. Gideon wasn’t even married–how did he know a divorce lawyer?
Could it be… he once had a secret wife, a hidden marriage no one knew about?
