Never Forgive Never Forget (Celeste and Philip) novel Chapter 123

"Such a racket."

Derek's voice cut through the room.

Magda's tears vanished instantly. She tugged on Jasper's sleeve, urging him to sit beside her.

Derek's gaze drifted to Celeste, calm and measured.

"Magda is a little hot-tempered and sometimes speaks out of turn. Still, the Duncan Group is hardly a minor family."

Magda stiffened.

For a moment, she'd forgotten that the Duncan heiress was sitting right there.

Disdain lingered in her eyes. To her, the Duncan Group would always be a second-rate family—unworthy of real attention.

Celeste could see her grandfather was trying to comfort her, just as she could sense Magda's hostility. She responded with only a faint, polite smile.

Satisfied that Celeste wasn't offended, Derek turned to Jasper.

"You're not getting any younger, Jasper. It's about time you started thinking about getting engaged."

Jasper's eyes flickered to Celeste for a brief second.

"Grandfather, I'm really not ready to—"

"Not ready to get engaged, or just not ready to give up your bachelor lifestyle?" Derek's tone was icy as he shot Jasper a look.

Jasper fell silent, completely at a loss. How could he refuse? Wouldn't that just confirm everyone's suspicions?

Derek, recalling that the woman in the photo was Celeste's sister, turned to her.

"Celeste, what do you think? Should Jasper be settling down so soon?"

He wasn't just asking about Jasper—he wanted to know how Celeste felt about her sister and Jasper being together.

Celeste understood immediately.

"I thought—"

"What did you think?" Magda cut in, unable to hold back. "You and the woman in that photo are real sisters. How could you possibly want your own sister to leave Jasper?"

Derek stood, and Alfred followed him out.

A servant approached Celeste, offering her dessert with practiced politeness.

Celeste laughed. "No more, thank you. I'm already full, and I'll need a walk to work it off anyway."

"Of course, ma'am."

The servant withdrew, leaving Celeste to head for the garden.

But before she could go, Magda called out.

"Celeste, you really know how to play the long game, don't you?"

Magda's voice was sharp. "You think if you sound noble in front of Grandfather, you'll have a free pass to let your sister keep seeing Jasper in private. That way, no matter who wins, you and your sister will have the whole Hopkins family wrapped around your little fingers, won't you?"

What an imagination.

Never mind whether Beverly had the brains to actually pull off a coup like that—Magda was definitely overthinking things.