Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 273

Joanna was seething with barely restrained fury, her composure hanging by a thread.

“Celly, you’ve already slapped me—please, I’m begging you, take those videos down. I can’t show my face in this industry anymore.”

She dropped to her knees, clutching Celestine’s hand in desperation.

“If you really felt any shame, you wouldn’t have shown up here in the first place,” Celestine replied coldly, refusing to play along.

She could see right through Joanna’s act; it was obvious she’d planned this whole scene with Lance as her audience.

Joanna’s expression twisted, her nails digging so hard into her palm she nearly broke the skin.

That conniving witch!

Why was she suddenly so impossible to manipulate?

Chester, ever the observer, cut to the chase, confusion flickering in his eyes. “So those videos online about Joanna’s plastic surgery—did you post them?”

“What?” Celestine shot him a look of icy annoyance. “Why would I do something that stupid?”

She wasn’t about to make herself the target of all that backlash. Joanna had used her dirty tricks to steal the videos, but no matter how many stories she spun, there was never any real proof.

Chester seemed to relax a little, but Joanna couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Celly, we’ve known each other since we were kids. You’re the only one who could have those videos! Why are you lying to Chester? If you have nothing to hide, let him see your phone!”

Celestine rolled her eyes. “Miss Sinclair, you know, sometimes you’re not just shameless—you’re delusional.”

“Who do you think you are? Why would I bother holding onto anything of yours for years?”

“And if, as you claim, I really wanted to ruin you, why wouldn’t I just leak the footage of you and Chester cheating? That would destroy your reputation much faster, wouldn’t it?”

Her words were calm but merciless, each one a dagger that left Joanna with no chance to argue.

Chester’s face darkened with every word, his mood shifting palpably.

“Joanna, we’re already talking to whoever’s behind this. Celly isn’t like that. Don’t jump to conclusions.”

His tone carried a heavy note of reproach, like a hammer blow. It was a wake-up call Joanna couldn’t ignore.

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