Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 117

Stay calm. You have to stay calm.

If she lost control now, she'd only be giving that witch exactly what she wanted.

* * *

After the awards ceremony ended, Mirabelle clung to Celestine backstage for a long time.

Celestine gently patted her back, comforting her in silence.

Only when the dampness on her shoulder finally faded did Mirabelle murmur, "We're doomed, Celly. I'll never be able to pay back this mountain of emotional debt between us."

Celestine was startled.

Mirabelle snickered, amending, "I mean, favors owed."

Things had been chaotic even before the gala tonight—a string of mishaps, just as she'd predicted.

But despite the drama, the outcome didn't leave her heartbroken.

Instead, she'd met an intriguing girl.

Someone who, despite having no real stake in any of this, had chosen to stay and help.

In an industry obsessed with fame and fortune, where self-preservation was a reflex, kindness was a rare commodity.

And Celestine—she was Chester's wife. No one would have blamed her for walking away.

But that simple, genuine goodness… it was something Mirabelle hadn't felt in a long time.

"Thank you, Celly," Mirabelle said, her voice warm and sincere.

Celestine couldn't quite see her face, and assumed she was still upset about the awards. "If you shine, the world comes to you. If tonight was always meant to end this way, winning wouldn't have mattered anyway."

Mirabelle's eyes softened with a fleeting smile. "I know."

A knock sounded at the door.

The assistant peeked in nervously. "Mirabelle, Mr. Sterling would like to see you."

With that, Zeke strode in, not bothering to wait for an invitation.

His eyes were clouded and stormy as he looked at the two women, still close together. "Mirabelle. We need to talk."

Mirabelle glanced back at him, a flicker of sarcasm in her gaze. "Well, that was fast."

She paused, then said quietly, "Celly, I'll have Denton drive you home first. I need to talk to him for a minute."

Zeke, feeling thoroughly sidelined, mulled over her words.

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