Never Forgive Never Forget (Celeste and Philip) novel Chapter 73

Celeste returned to Moonwater Grove.

She'd already arranged for someone to carry her things upstairs, preferring instead to take a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood before heading home.

As she approached her building, she noticed a familiar figure standing beneath the streetlamp.

Dressed in a suit and tie, the man looked oddly disheveled, his eyes dull and tired—until he spotted Celeste. Only then did a spark of hope flicker in his gaze.

"Celly, I've finally caught you!"

"The last time at the Hopkins Group, I got carried away. I said things I shouldn't have and upset you. I came here tonight to apologize, I—"

Before he could finish, Celeste raised a hand to silence him.

"I settled the score with you right then and there. You don't owe me anything. You can save your breath and leave."

She brushed past Philip without another glance.

She hadn't made it two steps when Philip turned, his voice thick with longing.

"I know seeing me probably ruins your night, but I truly meant to apologize."

"If things can't go back to how they were, maybe we could at least try being friends again. Like when we first met."

That low, gentle voice always threatened to stir up old memories. The brush of fingertips beneath dappled leaves. Summer's cicadas, winter's first snow. But memories, no matter how tender, are still just the past.

Celeste's heart ached for what was lost, but her mind remained sharp. She drew a deep breath, turned, and tore straight through the hope in Philip's eyes.

"You're not apologizing because you regret hurting me."

"You're apologizing because you're afraid of losing the Hopkins Group contract."

She knew Philip too well.

Even now, she could see the greed flickering in his gaze, the subtle guilt in the way his pinky finger stiffened.

"If your apology comes with strings attached, don't pretend there's anything genuine left in your heart."

"And what's more— You look down on me, convinced I'm Alfred's mistress, but here you are, shamelessly begging for my help with a project. Has it really only been a few days since you lost all self-respect?"

Celeste hadn't even made it into the elevator when she heard the telltale beep of the door behind her.

Philip and Viola had followed her inside.

She frowned, baffled.

Viola lifted her chin in a smug little gesture. "We're not following you! Philip just liked this neighborhood so much, he bought me a place in this very building!"

The need to show off was almost laughable.

Celeste didn't spare them a glance as she stepped into the elevator.

Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.

Philip needed her help, and still he let Viola rub salt in the wound?

Viola, frustrated by Celeste's silence, felt like she'd punched a pillow—no satisfaction at all. She opened her mouth to say something else, but Philip reached over and squeezed her hand, stopping her.