Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 248

After speaking, Gideon turned and walked back to his room.

Clifton stared at the firmly shut door and sighed. “I just don’t get it—those two act more like enemies than mother and son.”

This latest episode of Gideon’s mother’s illness had come on suddenly.

Treatments abroad had done little more than put a band-aid on the problem.

That’s why Finley had come back: partly to steady the company’s board of old-timers, and partly to bring Clifton over to see if there was anything he could do for her, maybe find a way to help her recover.

Finley shook his head. “Mom pushed Gideon way too hard back then. There are things I can’t figure out, even now.”

He often caught his mother looking at Gideon with a venom usually reserved for hated enemies.

It had started not long after their father passed away.

At first, he’d assumed she was just taking out her grief on Gideon. But deep down, he suspected there was more to it.

After Gideon’s kidnapping, their relationship had deteriorated beyond repair.

In all these years, they could count on one hand the number of times they’d sat at the same dinner table.

The tension in the air had left Cynthia so intimidated that she didn’t dare say a word.

But as she watched the three adults brood in silence, she finally worked up the courage to ask, in a small voice, “So... does that mean tomorrow I get to stay at Miss Angel’s house?”

Uncle Gideon had seemed to say as much just now.

Mamie ruffled her daughter’s soft hair. “That’s right, sweetheart. Your Uncle Gideon’s had a rough first half of his life—it’s up to you to bring him some happiness from now on.”

Clifton perked up, grinning. “Exactly! Celestine could very well be your future aunt, you know. This whole relationship might just depend on you!”

Suddenly, Cynthia felt the weight of responsibility settle onto her tiny shoulders.

She raised her hand in a solemn little salute. “Mission accepted!”

The three adults couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Meanwhile, in his bedroom, Gideon finished listening to Vernon’s work report for the day.

At the end, Vernon emphasized one particular matter.

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