Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 28

Celestine paused, sifting through her memory.

The person with the jet-black profile picture... If she remembered correctly, it was Gideon.

He'd messaged her at a perfectly timed moment—just after she'd submitted her manuscript today.

She tapped out a reply.

[Celestine]: Sure. Where should I drop it off?

His answer came instantly.

[X]: The hospital.

Learning he was still at the hospital, guilt gnawed at her. The next time something like this happened, she swore she'd be the one to take the hit first.

Shaking her head, Celestine ordered ingredients for meal prep on her food delivery app.

While she waited, she stepped out to the balcony to catch some air.

To her surprise, the pear blossoms in the garden had all burst into bloom overnight. The sight was breathtaking.

A gust of wind knocked one blossom loose; she reached out and caught it, and for a moment, the heaviness in her chest eased.

"Hey! Who's the flower thief this time?"

Mr. Clifton, the elderly gentleman next door who tended his garden with pride, strode over in a few quick steps.

Celestine grinned. "Not me! It came to me on its own."

"You little rascal," he chuckled, his eyes crinkling. "Haven't seen you in a few days. Business trip?"

"No, just been working from home. Haven't had a chance to get out."

"Celestine, they're working you to death, aren't they?" Mr. Clifton huffed. "Doesn't your company realize you're not a superhero?—You know, you could always meet my youngest son."

Celestine laughed, half exasperated. "I'm still waiting for my divorce to go through. Wouldn't be right."

"A date's not a marriage! No one's going to call the cops on you," Mr. Clifton insisted, launching into his well-worn pitch. "My son's handsome, successful. I'll tell you straight, there's not a single eligible bachelor in Oceanview City who can hold a candle to him."

Just thinking about it made Clifton grumble. Vernon had the nerve to say that Gideon was into married women! Did he really think that would scare him off? Ridiculous.

The name sounded oddly familiar to Celestine, but she couldn't quite place where she'd heard it before.

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