The next day, when Celeste went upstairs after breakfast, je noticed fondyn was on a video call with Trevor.
Jordyn looked up and called mit to her
Celeste hummed a soft reply, then opened herptop.
On the other end of the phone, Trevor asked, “Do you have any ns for today?”
Jordyn was lying on the bed. Cheerfully, she replied, “I want to watch a movie, and Mom will be taking me to see <b>one </b>this aftemoon!”
Celeste was engrossed in the materials she had organized the day before.
Moments <bter</b>, Jordyn came over holding the phone. “Mom<i>, </i>Dad wants me to give this to you.”
Celeste paused, took the <b>phone</b>, and nced at Trevor’s face on the screen. She didn’t feel like having a video chat, <b>so </b>she ced the phone on the desk, pointing the front camera at the ceiling. “What is it?”
Thank you for <b>taking </b>care of Jo these few <b>days</b><b>,</b>” Trevor sail.
Celeste didn’t reply. Her attention was still on herptop as she typed, adding in the ideas she had missed yesterday.
“Anything else?” she asked.
“No,” Trevor said. “Enjoy <b>your </b>Ember Festival.”
Celeste muttered a soft reply before ending the call. She handed the phone back to Jordyn.
As noon approached and she was just about to take Jordyn out, her phone rang.
It was Matthias.
She smiled slightly and picked up. The moment the call connected, Matthias’s voice dropped to a hushed tone. Shit, I just ran into those two again!”
Celeste stilled. She knew exactly who he <b>was </b>talking about,
Before she <b>could </b>speak, Matthias caught Trevor and Wynn looking his way.
Matthias was at a loss for words.
Secondster, he uttered, “They’re <b>heading </b>over. I’m gonna hang up.”
“Okay.
The moment she ended the call, Trevor and Wynn had already reached Matthias,
“Where are you off to, Mr. Yoder?”
<b>Matthias </b>didn’t answer. <b>Instead</b>, he <b>shed </b>a tight and insincere smile. “Mr. Fleming, Ms. Locket, we’re not exactly friends. Next time, feel free to just walk past me.”
<b>Wynn </bughed lightly. “Mr. Yoder, you really do have a way with words.”
Matthias quirked a brow, about to respond, when Wynn noticed his suitcase. “Oh? Headed abroad, Mr. Yoder?”
He let out a dry chuckle. “I don’t recall us being on speaking terms, so, no. Noments.”
开
Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed his suitcase and walked off, leaving them behind in the VIP <b>lounge</b>.
Once <b>he </b>was far enough away, he redialed Celeste. “What are you up to?”
Celeste had just changed into fresh clothes. “Getting ready to head out for a movie,”
“Sounds <b>good</b><b>.</b>”
He asked, “Going solo?”
“With Jo.”
Matthias was speechless for a brief moment.
“Wasn’t she supposed to be with the Flemings for the Ember Festival? Why’s she at your ce<b>?</b>”
While adjusting her makeup, Celeste replied nonchntly, “They dropped her off herest night.”
Matthias snorted. “So, Trevor wants some alone time with Wynn, but your daughter gets in the way, so they just dropped her off at your ce? Wow. No shame at all.”
Celeste didn’t respond.
Just then, Jordyn came bouncing over and grabbed her hand “I’m ready, Mom! Let’s go.”
“Alright.”
She then told Matthias, “Forget them. Just–have fun.”
Matthias sighed. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll be back <b>soon</b>–won’t leave thepany
all on you.”
Chuckling, Celeste replied, “Okay.”