Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 150

"No! Please, Mr. Prescott, there's no need!" Joanna cried out, her voice edged with panic.

Chester couldn't ignore the fleeting glances Gideon kept sneaking at Celestine. It made his skin crawl—like something precious of his was being eyed by someone else.

Suddenly, Joanna latched onto Chester's hand, her grip tight with desperation. Only then did he snap back to the moment, noticing how anxious she'd become. He recalled what the housekeeper had said earlier; his gaze darkened.

"That won't be necessary, but thank you for your concern, Mr. Prescott," Chester said stiffly. "The Fordham family can sort out its own affairs."

"Mr. Prescott," Celestine spoke up, her voice calm. "May I see what was recorded?"

Gideon paid Chester no mind, smiling as he handed her the small camcorder. "Of course. Do you know how to use it?"

Celestine nodded. She'd noticed him by the pool as soon as she'd arrived, assuming he was just relaxing, so she hadn't bothered him. She hadn't realized he was recording the whole time.

Well, that certainly made things easier.

Chester's expression turned stormy. "Celestine, what's the point? Everything's out in the open now. Are you really going to torture yourself by watching it back?"

Dahlia spat the words, her poise forgotten. "Let her watch, Chester! We'll hand all this evidence to the police soon enough."

Joanna's heart hammered against her ribs. Damn it! How could he have caught that on tape? She drew a deep breath, her eyes hardening with a flash of resolve—but when she looked up, her face was all sugary sweetness again.

"Celly, I'm sure there's been some misunderstanding," she cooed, inching closer. "Let's check the footage together. I want you to be cleared of any suspicion."

As Joanna sidled up to Celestine, she caught a sudden shift in Celestine's expression. Seizing the moment, Joanna quickened her pace, coming up beside her.

"Ah!" Joanna gave a yelp as her foot slipped. She grabbed at Celestine's sleeve for balance, and the two of them toppled backward—straight into the pool.

"Careful!" someone shouted.

It all happened so fast.

Joanna's lips curled in a triumphant smirk just before she hit the water. Go on, drown, you wretch! Let's see you produce any evidence when that camcorder's at the bottom of the pool!

But in the split second before she went under, Celestine flung the device onto the pool deck, right into Gideon's waiting hands. Joanna's triumph vanished, replaced by panic.

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