Thorns Grow After Betrayal (Celeste and Chester) novel Chapter 74

"How many dinners have you had with the Seabay people? Was all that just for show? Now, at a time like this, the brand actually chooses to stand by a nobody like Celestine! Are they trying to tank their own label, or have they lost their minds?" Joanna's nails dug furiously into the wooden tabletop, leaving deep scratches in the finish.

Her agent's face was grim. "Joanna, be careful what you say. Someone could use this against you. We've already made inquiries at Seabay. The spokesperson has been decided."

"Who is it?!"

"Mirabelle."

"It's her? Seriously—her?!" Joanna shot out of her seat. "I knew it! That sanctimonious act of hers, always pretending she's above it all, and now she's suddenly sticking her neck out for Celestine? Turns out she just wanted to cozy up to the brand, that's what this is! You idiots—none of you saw this coming from the start?!"

The agent tried to explain, "Joanna, the Seabay team keeps things locked down tight. It took weeks just to get those two dinner invitations."

"I'm not interested in excuses. Get out!"

"Joanna, you need to calm down—"

But as soon as the agent left, Joanna, still seething, pulled out her phone and dialed Zeke.

The moment the call connected, her voice trembled with tears, the sound almost crackling over the line.

"Zeke, they're all bullying me—"

"What's going on, Joanna? What happened?" Zeke tensed as soon as he heard her crying, his heart knotting with worry.

Joanna only sobbed harder, refusing to explain.

"Joanna, don't cry. When you cry, it's like my heart shatters." Zeke coaxed her as gently as he could.

He'd been run ragged the past few days, scrambling to cover the gap in the shipping line, and hadn't kept up with the online drama.

Between hiccupped breaths, Joanna twisted the story almost beyond recognition. "Zeke, please don't blame Mirabelle. Maybe she just wanted that endorsement too much, so she went along with Celly's lies. As actresses, I understand how she must feel. I just… I just feel so alone—no one listens to me, so I had to call you."

Zeke's temper flared instantly.

"Joanna, don't worry about this. I'll make sure you get justice!"

Celestine's off-limits—she has a husband. But Mirabelle? His own girlfriend? She wouldn't get away with this.

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