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Chapter 33
Celeste didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she let herself get lost in the fragrant blooms and picturesque scenery, snapping a few photos as she wandered. She sent them off to her best friend, Janice–a friend she hadn’t spoken to in ages.
She and Janice had been inseparable in high school, joined at the hip through thick and thin.
After graduation, Celeste had thrown herself into life with Philip, helping him build Nova International from the ground up.
Janice, meanwhile, stayed on at the Asterwynn Museum of Celestial Arts, becoming a restoration specialist.
Silvercrest and Asterwynn were miles apart, but distance never dulled their friendship. They shared the small details of daily life, sent each other photos, and never let the conversation lapse for long.
Janice replied almost immediately.
“What a gorgeous field of flowers! Is this the latest Instagram hotspot? Or did Philip reserve the whole place to apologize to you?”
Celeste grinned as she typed her reply. “Nothing to do with Philip. I just needed a day out by myself.”
Her fingers paused over the screen as she suddenly remembered the bookmark that had fallen out of Alfred’s book earlier. She added, “Hey, do you remember that Ginkgo bookmark I loved in high school?”
Janice texted back in seconds.
“Hmm, I don’t think I remember that one. You have so many bookmarks, Cece! Or maybe I’m just bleary from working overtime and my brain’s gone mushy.”
Celeste smiled. That was fair enough–she did love collecting bookmarks. She had so many, especially those with ginkgo leaves, that even Janice, her closest friend, couldn’t keep track. Maybe her memory was playing tricks on her, or maybe the one Alfred had was just similar to the one she used to cherish.
Janice started typing again.
Celeste took the chance to snap a few more photos, but before she could, Janice sent over two screenshots of her chat with Philip, followed by a line of text:
“By the way, Cece, Philip’s been calling me nonstop asking where you are. Did you
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two fight again?”
The chat screenshots said it all.
Every message from Philip was full of “Celly.” He promised apologies, begged her to come home, poured out sweet nothings by the bucketful.
Janice hadn’t replied to any of them.
Whenever she and Philip argued, it was always the same tired script. Janice was sick of it. Now, so was Celeste.
Without much hesitation, Celeste poured her heart out, telling Janice everything about Philip and Viola.
Janice was so furious she called immediately.
“Damn it, Cece! I always knew Philip and Viola were both snakes in the grass! Ever since he started helping her, you two have been fighting nonstop! If you hadn’t still been in love with him back then, I would’ve ripped his smug face off myself…”
Janice’s voice exploded through the phone, full of outrage.
Celeste was about to answer when she saw Alfred walking toward her. She quickly
ended the call.
Janice instantly unleashed a barrage of texts:
“Why’d you hang up on me? You might not love Philip, but you still love me, right?!”
“Waaah, I’m sorry! Next time I promise I’ll play peacemaker and not take sides.”
“Ceceeeeee-
Celeste nearly laughed out loud at the nonsense. She barely had time to react to Alfred’s approach, ducking her head to text Janice back in a rush:
“It’s not that I don’t love you! I’m meeting his parents at his family home–can’t really
chat right now.”
Janice fell silent for a couple of seconds.
Alfred stopped in front of her, his gaze dropping to her phone.
“Am I interrupting something?”
“No, not at all. I was just sharing some photos of your garden–it’s beautiful back here.”
Celeste shook her head, just as her phone buzzed with another flurry of texts from
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Janice
“Wait–husband? You broke up with Philip and already have a new husband? Send me a photo in the next three seconds–height, looks, family background, all of it”
“Abs pics welcome, obviously.”
A string of messages popped up one after another.
Celeste’s heart skipped a beat.
Honestly, Janice would say anything! If Alfred saw these, she’d die of embarrassment.
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“Maybe we’ll meet again sometime.”
Chapter 34
