Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 144

The instant Raymond plunged beneath the water, he caught a clear glimpse of Celestine's face—shock, worry, and a pang of guilt flickered across her features.

A strange, secret thrill bubbled up inside him.

Serves her right, he thought. After all, she was the one who'd said all those cold, heartless things. If she was scared now, she deserved it.

Before he'd found Celestine, Raymond had been sulking alone in the guest lounge.

Earlier that evening, before the formal dinner began, Alistair had issued a strict order: Raymond was to stay put, not allowed to go anywhere. He'd been trapped like this for an entire month.

At first, his father and Miss Sinclair would at least call him once a week. But eventually, even those calls stopped. It was as if everyone had simply forgotten him.

At his lowest point, when the loneliness was almost too much to bear, there was a knock at his door. Joanna.

He was surprised—excited, even—but after so long without seeing her, he felt awkward and shy. He didn't rush into her arms the way he used to.

Joanna noticed and her expression softened, tinged with hurt. "Raymond, it breaks my heart to see you like this."

She knelt beside him. "The truth is, the person you really want to see isn't me. It's your mom, isn't it?"

Raymond shook his head in silence.

His mother hadn't even bothered to call, not once. Why would he want to see her?

Joanna came closer and gently stroked his hair. "Raymond, I know I'm not your real mom. I could never take her place. But you need your mother. Wouldn't you like her to come back and take care of you?"

He nodded almost instinctively.

He wanted his mom back—even if he didn't like her much, she was still better than any of the nannies in that old house.

Worried Joanna might misunderstand, he explained in a small voice, "I just… I don't want the tutors punishing me anymore, or to drink that awful medicine, or be stuck inside all day…"

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