Never Forgive Never Forget (Celeste and Philip) novel Chapter 105

Leaving the Duncan estate behind, Celeste stood at the edge of the road, phone in hand, waiting for a ride.

Footsteps echoed behind her.

She turned. A man was striding toward her, his jacket flung over one arm, wearing nothing but a thin dress shirt. The lamplight caught in his tousled hair as he stopped directly in front of her.

"I'll give you a ride," Philip offered, brushing a stray lock from his face, his eyes fixed on hers.

For a moment, it felt like old times. He had always come running after her, just like this.

But now, the night wind felt suddenly chill, and Celeste pulled her coat tighter around herself, fingers never pausing as she kept searching for a ride on her phone.

"No need," she replied coolly.

The Duncan estate was a little off the beaten path, and the ride app kept searching in vain, failing to find any available cars.

Philip noticed. He edged closer, showing off a bruised forearm as he pressed his lips together.

"Celly, your family's rules… they hurt, you know."

"You deserved it. It wasn't your family's business—so why did you butt in?" Celeste replied, her eyes never leaving her phone, her voice icy cold.

A flicker of pain crossed Philip's face.

In the past, if he'd just softened a little, played up his misery, Celly's heart would have melted.

Why not now?

A sharp ache stabbed through his chest. He reached out to stop Celeste from calling another ride, desperate to buy himself a little more time.

"Celly, I was wrong."

"Yesterday, Viola explained it to me. She hadn't noticed the pollen in the hallway and lost her balance on the stairs—she admitted it was her fault. I misunderstood you, and I'm sorry."

Celeste's fingers froze mid-tap.

Philip's face lit up with hope. She really was soft-hearted—she was already forgiving him…

Celeste turned, a cold smile on her lips.

"So, whatever Viola says is gospel now? You just believe anything she tells you?"

She scoffed. "A grown man with no mind of his own, those eyes of yours are just for decoration?"

Philip's hopeful smile faltered.

A car roared up from the distance, coming to a smooth stop in front of them.

The wind whipped Celeste's hair across her face. She tucked it behind her ear, frowning at her phone—surely her ride hadn't arrived yet?

The window slid down.

In the backseat of the sleek sedan, Alfred looked out at her.

"Get in."

She nodded.

Celeste shut off her ride app and slipped into Alfred's car without a backward glance.

Philip snapped out of his daze, reaching out, desperate for another chance to speak, to explain.

But Alfred's cold gaze cut him off.

"If it's business, take it up through the proper channels. Don't bother her privately again."

With that, the window slid up, shutting Philip out in the night.