Never Forgive Never Forget (Celeste and Philip) novel Chapter 139

"That's all I needed to know."

Celeste didn't care about the details.

She could never understand how Beverly's family operated.

She sent the surveillance footage to Herbert with a flick of her wrist, then turned off her phone, ready to call it a night.

"Thanks for helping me pull the security footage—even after all that drinking."

Celeste tossed the words over her shoulder as she headed to the kitchen, making a glass of honey water before yawning her way to her bedroom. "Honey water helps with hangovers. Make sure you drink it, or you'll feel even worse in the morning."

She knew Alfred was already awake.

This time, Celeste closed her door tight, making sure it clicked shut.

The living room was silent.

Alfred ran a hand through his hair—only making it messier—then wandered over to the kitchen counter. He picked up the warm glass of honey water, took a sip, and immediately frowned.

"Too sweet."

He never did like sweet things.

But even so, he finished every last drop.

...

The next morning.

When Celeste got up, breakfast was already waiting on the table, still steaming.

Alfred sat at the table in impeccable order—his suit jacket draped over the back of the chair, crisp shirt and trousers in place, and a pair of new Italian leather shoes gleaming beneath the table.

He looked nothing like the drunk from the night before.

He poured Celeste a glass of fresh soy milk.

"Mack wasn't sure what you like."

"I'm not picky about breakfast. You're dressed up today—got something important on the agenda?"

Celeste took her seat with easy confidence.

They chatted over breakfast, trading a few complaints about work, sounding every bit like business partners with a shared agenda.

Halfway through the meal, Alfred spoke up.

"Celeste! I swear, I'll never forgive you!"

"!"

Instinct kicked in before Celeste's mind could catch up.

She twisted Beverly's wrist behind her back, pinning her flat against the closed elevator doors.

The cold metal and the painful grip only stoked Beverly's rage.

"Celeste! You're the one who gave Dad that bogus footage, aren't you?"

"You made him think I slept with some old man! He actually slapped me… He's never hit me before! Why would you lie about me and ruin my reputation? I did everything you asked yesterday!"

By the end, Beverly was sobbing with indignation.

Celeste took a closer look and finally noticed the swelling on one side of Beverly's face.

Herbert hadn't held back with that slap.

"What did I accuse you of? Dad called me in the middle of the night asking for your whereabouts. I just checked the cameras. But whose room you went to—that was your choice, wasn't it? Who else is there to blame?"

"Shame I didn't get to see you take that slap myself," Celeste added with a smirk.