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, 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.”
is
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
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Chapter 318
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.
But now, with the family’s situation shifting, divorce was absolutely out of the question.
A light, steady rain began to fall, the breeze sweeping away some of the heavy summer humidity.
When Celestine stayed silent, Serena mistook it for weakness, thinking she’d finally
hit a nerve.
“Look, we’re willing to let bygones be bygones,” she coaxed, softening her tone. “All you have to do is drop the divorce. I’ll talk to Mom, smooth things over. Joanna’s taken the money–she’ll stay out of your way from now on, but you need to stop being so jealous. If something comes up, the Fordham family will still help her.”
Serena tried to sound both gentle and firm, hoping reason would prevail.
For the first time, a flicker of emotion broke through Celestine’s cool detachment.
“If Joanna loves your brother so much, why isn’t she the one at his bedside, proving it? And tell me, how much did it cost to buy her love? I’d like to know, since the divorce settlement hasn’t even started–I’m sure I’ll be entitled to my share of the payout.”
Serena was stunned. After all her careful pleading, Celestine hadn’t listened to a single word.
She still wanted to divorce her brother!
“That money belongs to the Fordham family–it has nothing to do with you! Fine,
you
don’t care about Chester, but what about Celia and Raymond? They’re your children! Are you planning to abandon them too?”
Lately, with both kids staying at the family estate, their grandfather didn’t trust the nanny, and their mother spent all her time at the hospital. It was always Serena left to look after the children.
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Chapter 319
