Never Forgive Never Forget (Celeste and Philip) novel Chapter 80

Philip hovered at the threshold for a long time, words on the tip of his tongue but never spoken. In the end, he couldn't even meet Celeste's eyes. He simply turned and walked out.

The front door slammed shut behind him, echoing through the room.

Beverly burst into laughter at once.

"Love and hate really do run deep with you, don't they?" she sneered. "Celeste, you must regret giving up everything for Philip now. The way he just lost his temper—honestly, it scared even me. With how quick he is to anger, has he ever hit you before?"

She advanced on Celeste, her stiletto heels clicking sharply, stopping so close her toes nearly touched Celeste's.

Celeste couldn't be bothered to answer. She treated Beverly's words like air, letting them pass by unheard.

The silence wasn't the response Beverly expected.

Unimpressed, Beverly leaned in, so close their faces nearly touched, searching Celeste's eyes for any crack in her composure.

"Philip's gone. Thirteen years wasted on him—a complete joke. Now your big project's finished before it even began. Just wait for the entire company to get called out and reprimanded…"

She didn't get to finish.

Celeste's hand shot upward, high and sudden.

Beverly yelped, instinctively shielding her head as she stumbled backward, shrieking.

But the blow never came.

When she gingerly opened her eyes, Celeste was only brushing some invisible dust from her shoulder, regarding Beverly with a faint, almost mocking smile.

"Why are you so jumpy? I was just dusting myself off. What are you flinching for?"

"You were about to—!"

"About to what?" Celeste feigned innocence, closing the distance between them in a few steady strides. Standing over Beverly, she let her height do the intimidating. "Did you want me to hit you?"

She flexed her wrist with a grimace, as if preparing to take action at any moment.

Beverly, suddenly unsure of Celeste's temperament, shrank back, stumbling until she nearly twisted her ankle. She grabbed the edge of the table for support, glaring at Celeste with a mixture of fear and outrage.

Her father had already suffered losses to Celeste, unable to get his revenge. If she got roughed up now, there was no way her father would stick his neck out for her. She'd just be getting beaten for nothing.

The realization struck terror into her heart. Her own parents had never laid a hand on her.

Panic overtook her, and with a frantic burst of energy, she bolted for the door, shoving past Irma with wild, flailing arms.

"Let me out! Move! Let me out!"

Irma hadn't planned to block her. She sidestepped Beverly's swinging hands and stepped aside.

Beverly all but stumbled out, nearly collapsing in the hallway as her wobbly legs threatened to give out beneath her. Her wild, desperate appearance drew stares from the employees outside. Gripping the wall, legs shaking, she screamed at them, her voice shrill and ragged.

"What are you all looking at? Mind your own business!"

Back inside the conference room, Celeste caught Beverly's trembling shouts and couldn't help but let a cold, satisfied smile curl at her lips.

"So quick to frighten. Why even try to pick a fight with me?" she murmured, almost to herself.