Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 172

Seraphina looked up, her tear-streaked face mirroring Celeste's shock.

She hastily wiped her eyes and asked tentatively, "Julian, Celeste has been doing a wonderful job. Why are you firing her?"

Julian shot Seraphina a look, his expression dark and unreadable. He then turned his full, chilling attention back to the housekeeper.

"Hester is my wife," Julian said, his voice dropping to a dangerously quiet pitch. "No matter how willful she might be, she is my woman. Who the hell do you think you are to judge her?"

Celeste turned deathly pale. In her wildest dreams, she never imagined Julian would defend Hester with such ferocity. Hadn't they been at each other's throats? A cold sweat broke out across her back. Julian paid three times the going rate for staff in Northwood City, and she couldn't afford to lose this job.

"Mr. Weston, I'm so sorry! Please, give me one more chance!" Celeste pleaded, her voice cracking in desperation. "I'll go apologize to Mrs. Weston right now. I completely crossed the line, but I only did it out of concern for the family! Please, I swear I will show her the utmost respect from now on!"

"I won't repeat myself. Get out. Now." Julian's tone was entirely devoid of warmth. Even without raising his voice, the sheer, crushing authority rolling off him was terrifying.

Realizing begging him was useless, Celeste rushed over to Seraphina and dropped to her knees. "Seraphina, you have the kindest heart. Please, beg him for me! My family member needs surgery, and I desperately need the money to cover the medical bills. I really can't lose this job..."

"Celeste, please don't panic," Seraphina said, hurriedly trying to pull the woman up. "I'll talk to Julian..."

"Seraphina," Julian interrupted, his voice slicing through the air. "Don't waste your breath pleading for her. My decision is final."

Celeste was left completely speechless. It was true—Seraphina had never explicitly spoken ill of Hester, nor had she ever ordered Celeste to disrespect her. Celeste had simply thought Seraphina looked pitiful... No, she had seen how much Julian seemed to value Seraphina. Knowing that Julian and Hester were on the brink of divorce, she naturally assumed Seraphina held the real power in Julian's eyes.

Besides, ever since Hester caught Celeste spying on her for Julian, Celeste knew her days at Stellamare Villa were numbered. She had planned to hitch her wagon to Seraphina, banking on the fact that Seraphina had Julian's protection. Sticking with Seraphina was supposed to be her golden ticket.

Who could have predicted that Julian, fresh off a heated argument with Hester, would march in here and fire her on the spot? And the reason? Because she didn't respect Hester?

Celeste felt a bitter mix of outrage and injustice. The person who disrespected Hester the most was Julian himself!

She cursed herself for trying to play office politics and picking the losing side. Looking at the iron set of Julian's jaw, she knew there was no salvaging the situation. Biting her lip hard enough to taste blood, she yanked her hands away from Seraphina's and stalked back to the staff quarters to pack her bags.