Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 154

Mr. Ivan was the consummate professional—he drafted a divorce agreement for Celestine that fit her needs perfectly, covering every possible detail.

He was the same lawyer Gideon had recommended to her last time. Celestine hadn't put much faith in it; she decided to give it a try more out of resignation than hope.

The Fordham family belonged to a class of old-money aristocrats. Divorce was almost unheard of in their history. Even if the men sometimes had their scandals, the wife's position in the family remained untouchable.

Now that she wanted a divorce, the obstacles weren't just Chester—Alistair, the family patriarch, was an even greater challenge.

"Thank you, Mr. Ivan. We'll talk more at our next meeting," Celestine said, gathering her things before returning to her hotel.

During the evening, her grandfather sent a message to check on her. Not wanting to worry him or put him in a difficult position, she downplayed her troubles and only mentioned the situation around Alistair.

The next morning, she received a call from the family estate. Alistair had invited her back for a simple meal.

Celestine changed her original flight plans and made her way back to the Fordham manor.

But when she arrived, it was immediately clear this was no ordinary family meal.

The Fordham family's ancestral home stood in Sunderidge, an exclusive, hilltop neighborhood in Portside City where every square foot was worth a fortune. The manor itself was perched halfway up the hillside, its unique character a blend of Western and Eastern influences—a nod to Alistair's love of art and culture.

As Celestine stepped through the front doors, she noticed an unusually high number of luxury cars parked outside.

Inside, shadows moved across the grand foyer. While the gathering wasn't as crowded as the gala at the hotel the night before, many of the Fordham family's closest friends and prominent relatives were present—faces Celestine recognized all too well.

She guessed Alistair wanted to address the previous night's incident, to give an explanation and avoid fueling gossip. Besides, his birthday festivities officially began today; it wasn't too late to make amends.

Alistair had always thrown an extravagant party the night before his birthday. On the actual day, he preferred a cozier celebration—a family meal, warm and intimate.

"Isn't that the Fordham daughter-in-law who pushed her own son into the pool? How does she still have the nerve to show up?"

"I heard she's the reason Alistair fainted yesterday. Who knows if it's true."

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