Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 318

Celestine took a deliberate step back, keeping a safe distance between them, her smile tinged with irony.

“First of all, your brother and I are already filing for divorce. Even if I stayed by his side, I couldn’t do anything to save him. If you’re so worried, maybe you should send him to a better hospital—see if they can fix what’s wrong with his head.”

“Second, do you have any proof that I’m seeing someone else? And even if I were, is that against the law? I haven’t stolen anything, I haven’t hurt anyone—so spare me your moral judgment. Whether I’m right or wrong, that’s for me to decide.”

Serena’s embarrassment was slowly turning to anger. “How did I never see this side of you before? You really are shameless! My brother’s like this all because of you!”

“Oh? Was I the one who forced him to get in my car? Was I the one who made him my driver?” Celestine’s voice was icy. “Miss Fordham, if you want to talk about undeserved misfortune, maybe you should consider who the real victim is here. You all keep insisting he’s suffering because of me, but where were you when he was with Joanna? Not a single word in my defense from your family back then.”

All these years living in the Fordham household, Serena had always looked down on her, never once acknowledging her as family in public or private. Back then, she was one of the first to hope Celestine and Chester would divorce as soon as possible.

Now, hearing these words from Serena’s lips, all Celestine could feel was bitter amusement.

Serena was flushed with a mixture of shame and indignation. “My brother and Joanna are soulmates! If she hadn’t left for Europe that night, you never would’ve had a chance! Do you know how many women throw themselves at men like my brother? Any man with his money and status—of course he’s surrounded by admirers! Joanna waited for him for years. Why should he suddenly become celibate for you?”

Truth was, Celestine’s recent accident at the lake had shaken Serena more than she cared to admit. Chester hadn’t mentioned divorce for years, and for a moment Serena had even wondered if her brother had truly fallen for this orphaned girl.

But when it came down to life and death, he still chose Joanna.

Serena’s friendship with Joanna had faded over the years, but she still defended her—partly out of self-interest. Chester was destined to become the next head of the Fordham family, and his stance would dictate her future. Serena knew her own position depended entirely on her brother, so she’d never bothered to consider Celestine as a real sister-in-law.

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