Never Forgive Never Forget (Celeste and Philip) novel Chapter 111

After Philip left, it finally dawned on Herbert what had just happened. He grabbed Amanda's arm, his grip tight with panic.

"Are you out of your mind? Do you even realize what you just said to Philip?"

"If he confronts Alfred about this, and tells him he heard it all from you, the Duncan family is finished!"

Amanda winced at the pain, but what was said was said—like water spilled, impossible to gather back.

She yanked her hand free, glaring at him. "So what do you expect me to do? The Hopkins family has made it clear they're not going to keep Celeste in check. If Philip doesn't step in to rein her in for us, she'll use the Hopkins name to climb as high as she wants!"

"Besides, Philip and Alfred can't stand each other. Let them fight over her—Celeste caught between her old flame and her new fiancé. That'll make her easy to control, isn't that what you wanted?"

Herbert couldn't deny her logic, but his worry ran deeper. If this drama blew up and the Hopkins family's elders found out, they might just return Celeste to sender—and then all his scheming would come to nothing.

He shook his head furiously. "This won't do! If the Hopkins family finds out her own parents are pushing her ex to sabotage her marriage, we'll be—"

"When did we ever push Philip?" Amanda cut him off, leaning in with a reassuring smile. "All we did was mention their history. We just hoped Philip would talk some sense into Celeste, that's all—not that he'd do anything drastic."

"And anyway, Philip never asked about her and Alfred. It's not like we told him anything he didn't already know."

The implication was clear: ignorance is innocence.

Herbert finally relaxed, nodding. "You're right. We didn't stir the pot, so if anything happens, it's not on us."

"Exactly. And once Celeste marries into the Hopkins family, it won't be easy for them to send her back. As long as she has an ex hanging over her, she'll be at our mercy."

Amanda smiled too, the two of them sharing a knowing glance. This couldn't have worked out better.

—

Under Herbert's subtle orders, Celeste found her projects at Duncan Group suddenly stonewalled by every department.

Her team leaders and deputies, at their wits' end, crowded into her office to complain.

"If accounting doesn't sign off on this payment soon, the whole project is done for! We're talking tens of thousands in costs."

"And this other project is almost at deadline, but the project management team still hasn't given us the data. Never mind the penalties—we'll ruin the company's reputation!"

They were as frantic as ants on a hot griddle.

Irma, standing by, frowned deeply. "Miss Celeste, it's not just these projects. Even the logistics and IT departments are ignoring our requests. We can't access vital files, and the new printers are still locked up. It feels like they're targeting us on purpose."

Celeste's head throbbed. She glanced down. On her phone screen was a text from Herbert.