Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 166

Elena finally admitted defeat when it came to Chester's feelings for Joanna.

But Chester had never loved Celestine in the first place, had he? Why should she get to be the "official" Mrs. Fairfax, the one with the title and the ring, while Elena herself could only stand on the sidelines and watch? If Celestine could take that role, why couldn't she?

The unfairness of it gnawed at her.

It wasn't fair. Not fair at all.

"Miss Langley, do you know why you failed?" Celestine's voice was calm, almost detached, as if she could see straight through her.

Almost without thinking, Elena shot back, "Why?"

Celestine's lips curled into a cool smile. "Homewreckers always fight tooth and nail for what they want, didn't you know? Right now, instead of putting on a show for me, you should be on your knees in front of Chester, begging for the scraps of his affection he still has left for Joanna. But I suppose you could never bring yourself that low, could you, Miss Langley? That's why you lost. You care too much about your pride."

"You! You—!" Elena's face flushed crimson. Celestine's words had struck a nerve so deep it made her vision swim. Fury exploded inside her. "Stop spouting your nonsense! I have no feelings for Chester! And you—how dare you lecture me, you bitter woman whose own husband doesn't even love her!"

Celestine just shrugged, utterly unconcerned, and moved on to another section of the boutique.

As she passed a gleaming gold-handled cane, her eyes lit up.

Elena couldn't believe Celestine was still ignoring her! Gritting her teeth, she jabbed a finger at the cane and barked at the sales attendant, "Wrap that up for me. I'll take it!"

The saleswoman hesitated. "I'm sorry, miss, but that's a limited edition—we only have one in stock, and Miss Selwyn picked it out first."

"So what?" Elena snapped. "You think I can't pay? I want that limited edition. I'll pay three times the price."

She lifted her chin, shooting a triumphant glance at Celestine, who frowned in response. That only made Elena feel more smug.

But Celestine didn't let go of the cane. "I'll pay four times the price."

Oh, she wanted to play this game? Elena's lips curled. No way was she letting Celestine win—not over something as trivial as a cane.

"Ten times!" Elena declared.

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