Chapter 14 - Celeste's Defense
Celeste slowly lowered the magazine, standing up to face her husband with an expression of deep, wounded betrayal.
“Of course my fingerprints were on it, Damian,” she replied, her voice steady and dripping with manufactured sorrow.
“When I heard noises coming from the floorboards that night, I went down there myself and tried to pry the lock open with my bare hands before the guards arrived.”
“You expect me to believe you went down into a dark, dusty hole alone in your nightgown?” Damian snarled, stepping closer to her.
“I was panicked, Damian! I was trying to save your son while you were busy answering phone calls from your corporate investors!” Celeste fired back, her voice rising to match his.
“If you want to doubt my devotion after everything I’ve done to hold this broken family together, then go ahead!”
May you like
She turned her back to him, lifting a delicate hand to wipe away a single, perfectly timed tear from her cheek.
Damian hesitated, the toxic seed of doubt planted by months of gaslighting suddenly seizing his rational judgment.
