Chapter 59
The car door shut with a heavy thud, sealing away the chaos on the other side.
Philip didn’t bother with pleasantries. “So you’d rather play mistress to Alfred than come back to me?”
He pressed on, voice almost pleading. “Celeste, we could still go back. We could sign the marriage papers–if only-”
Celeste cut him off, her tone icy. “If only I could get along with Viola, is that it?”
She looked him dead in the eye. “Philip, are you out of your mind? How is crawling back to you any different from being someone else’s side piece?”
Viola appeared then, her eyes red and watery, like a frightened rabbit. “Celeste, you’re blaming Philip unfairly. He’s just worried about you, about you making the wrong choices. Wouldn’t it be better if we could all just live peacefully together? My health isn’t good–I can’t take care of Philip for much longer. When I’m gone, he’ll be yours, completely…”
Celeste let out a dry, scornful laugh.
“Even cats and dogs know to wander off alone before they die. But you, Viola, you cling like ivy, refusing to let go. You don’t look like someone at death’s door to me. With Philip to hold on to, are you really ready to die?”
Viola’s lips trembled. “Celeste, how can you say that? I never wanted to come between you and Philip…”
“Oh, I know. You’re not here to break up the happy home–you’re here to join it. Well, I don’t want this home anymore. If you two want to play house, go right ahead, but don’t parade it in front of me.”
Celeste’s words fired off like bullets. She stalked straight up to Viola, looking her up and down. “Especially when your performance is so bad. Philip actually believes your act. He’d pour out his whole heart for you. I really can’t decide which one of you is more pathetic.”
“Celeste, you…” Viola couldn’t muster a retort. Her face went pale, and she clutched her chest, legs giving out beneath her.
Philip moved fast, catching Viola before she hit the ground.
Celeste, you know she has asthmal How could you talk to her like that?”
Celeste’s eyes were cold and steady. ‘Philip, you know I never sugarcoat things for
Chapter 59
outsiders. So why did you bring Viola to my face? If you didn’t want everything at once, she wouldn’t have had to hear a word from me today.”
Outsider.
Philip stared at her in disbelief. Thirteen years together, and now he was just an
outsider to her?
Just days ago, he’d tried to bring her a new project. Today, Celeste had slapped him square in the face with her words.
Fine.
Fury burning in his eyes, Philip scooped Viola into his arms and stormed off.
As he brushed past, his shoulder knocked hard against Celeste’s, sharp enough to sting. For a brief second, she almost felt a pang of hurt.
Why was it that even after leaving, she was still subject to their endless humiliation?
She pressed her lips together and called out, deliberately.
“Oh, and Philip didn’t you just say you wanted me back? I’ll give you a chance.”
He paused mid–step.
Viola clung to him, tense, heart pounding. Philip–he actually stopped for Celeste!
Celeste smiled, voice light. “Get rid of Viola, and maybe I’ll consider coming back. How’s that sound?”
At her words, both their faces turned so dark it was almost comical.
Philip, still cradling a pale and trembling Viola, said nothing. He turned, carried her back to his Rolls–Royce, and drove away without a backward glance.
Celeste remained where she was, a cold smile on her lips. “Just as expected.”
She slid into her own car. In the back seat, Alfred was leaning back with his eyes closed, silent.
He must have drifted off, exhausted.
Celeste quietly shut the door and signaled the driver to go.
The city blurred past the window. Suddenly, Alfred’s deep, magnetic voice broke the silence
Not going to explain yourself?:
Chapter 59
Celeste jumped at the sound, shoulders tensing.
She brushed off her shoulder where Philip had knocked into her, her expression
calm as ever.
“Just a pair of losers who deserve each other. Not worth mentioning.”
Chapter 60
