Still fuming, Linda ordered a drink not long after takeoff. When the stewardess left, she hid the cup behind her back and started striding straight toward Celeste.
Lilian had already guessed she might try something. Before Lindaven got close, she noticed and frowned, giving her a subtle shake of the head.
But Linda, unwilling to swallow her anger, pressed on. Lilian’s expression hardened–she quietly sent a text. “Go back to your
seat.”
Though she hadn’t raised her voice, Linda could practically hear the finality in her aunt’s tone.
Sitting between them, Patricia caught on as well, patting Linda’s and in warning.
Linda pouted, brimming with resentment, but in the Shaws and the Lockets, Lilian and Wynn had the final say. She had long since learned not to cross them. 2
So, after one last glare in Celeste’s direction, she turned back and sat down, sulking. 2
Jordyn, unaware of what had nearly happened, didn’t notice a thing. 6
By the time the plane landed in Baumond, she couldn’t wait to run over. “Mom!”
Celeste stroked her daughter’s cheek. “Were you good during the flight?”
“Yes!” Jordyn replied proudly. 1
Their seats were just across the aisle from the Shaws.
Lilian turned at the sound of Jordyn’s voice, her gaze cold. Patricia Linda, and even Erin behind them all glanced over as well.
Jordyn looked up mid–conversation and accidentally met Lilian’s eyes. Lilian immediately looked away, her face impassive. 4
Jordyn didn’t recognize her–or the other elders–only Wynn and Linda. 2
So, when she caught that chill in Lilian’s eyes, she simply took it as the look of a stranger and thought nothing more of it. 2
After disembarking, Celeste and Ivan led their group out first. Watching their figures disappear, Linda couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Aunt Lizzy, Grandma–are we really just going to let her bully us like this? Why should we?”
3
Lilian’s tone was flat. “It’s only for now. She won’t be gloating for long.” 2
Once Celeste and Trevor were officially divorced, there would be plenty of chances to make her pay. 1
Ruby added gently, “Exactly. Didn’t you see how rattled she was just now? It means what you said earlier hit the mark.”
“That’s true…” Linda muttered.
The reminder soothed her pride. Thinking of how soon Trevor and Celeste would be separated for good–how Trevor’s heart had always belonged to Wynn anyway–Linda felt her mood lift, even turn gleeful. 1
The next morning, Jordyn left the Rodriguez residence to return to Trevor.
At the office, Celeste had just finished a major meeting when Matias leaned in to whisper,
“Yesterday, both InnovaTech and Locket Tech received several hundred million in new investments.”
Celeste paused, though she showed no surprise.
She had already suspected as much ever since overhearing Trevor phone call with Wynn on the day they went to the
courthouse.
2
1/3
Chapter 493
+15 BONUS
That evening, she and Matthias attended a banquet. The moment they stepped into the hall, they spotted Wynn and Harvey.
Trevor was absent, but the news of his large–scale backing for InnovaTech and Locket Tech had already spread.
Guests flocked around the two, eager to discuss partnerships.
4
After all, Trevor’s investment record was famous–if he had put so much money in, the companies must have real promise.
Several of Wynn’s old suitors were also present. With Trevor not around, they seized the chance to chat her up. 2
Wynn carried herself calmly, chatting with practiced ease. But when she caught sight of Celeste, her expression chilled at once- her family had already told her about what happened on the plane with Linda and Patricia.
She was different now from before. Even if she couldn’t match Celeste in AI, she had something else–Trevor. 7
Her own charm was a kind of strength and in her eyes, no less valuable than Celeste’s professional skills. 1
So, when she looked at Celeste tonight, there was no trace of the timidity she once had. 6
