Chapter 9 - the night before the vows
Adrian wanted to cancel the wedding immediately.
Julian advised against it.
If Celeste believed her plan remained hidden, she might bring the altered trust documents and expose whoever was helping her.
The wedding would continue as a controlled operation.
Plainclothes investigators would enter as guests. Every document would be copied before Adrian signed anything. Marcus would monitor the cathedral’s security system.
Lily was told to stay at the mansion with Mrs. Finch.
She agreed.
Then she hid the camcorder inside her flower basket.
On the night before the ceremony, Celeste hosted a private dinner for the wedding party.
She moved through the ballroom laughing, accepting compliments and behaving as though nothing had changed.
Adrian played his part.
He held her hand.
He smiled for photographs.
He spoke about their honeymoon.
Lily watched from the staircase.
Celeste noticed her and excused herself from the guests.
“You should be in bed.”
“I’m not tired.”
“Tomorrow will be a long day.”
“Are you going to make Daddy sign something?”
Celeste’s smile disappeared.
“You’ve been listening to conversations you do not understand.”
“I understand you want his house.”
“I do not want the house.”
“The recording says you do.”
Celeste looked toward the guests.
“What recording?”
“The one you tried to steal.”
Celeste grabbed Lily’s arm and guided her into the empty music room. Her grip was firm but controlled.
“Listen to me carefully. You are in greater danger than you realize.”
“From you?”
“From the people using you.”
“Who?”
“Your father. Margaret. Julian. Each one has hidden the truth.”
“You’re lying.”
“I have lied,” Celeste said. “But not about that.”
She released Lily.
“Why are you marrying Daddy?”
“To gain access to the Vale trust.”
“That’s what I said.”
“The trust contains sealed accounts. Your identity records are hidden inside one of them.”
“Why?”
“Because whoever controls the account controls the proof.”
“Proof of my mother?”
“Proof of several mothers.”
Lily thought of Evelyn’s recording.
“You helped Mom before she died.”
Celeste went still.
“You found the tape.”
“It shows you.”
“What else does it show?”
“Nothing. Someone cut it.”
Celeste turned away.
“My father cut it.”
“Where is the missing part?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did he hurt Evelyn?”
Celeste’s shoulders tightened.
“My father served powerful people. When he tried to leave, they reminded him that they owned everything he loved.”
“You?”
Celeste nodded once.
“Evelyn offered to help me escape. On the night she died, we were supposed to meet Ruth at the cathedral.”
“The same cathedral as the wedding?”
“Yes.”
“Why there?”
“There is a private archive beneath it. The Vale family used it before records became digital.”
“Is my file there?”
“It was.”
“What happened?”
“Evelyn never arrived.”
Lily looked at the camcorder.
“Why did you tell someone the mansion would become yours?”
Celeste’s face hardened.
“Because I need them to believe I am still following the plan.”
“Who is them?”
Before Celeste could answer, the music-room doors opened.
Julian entered.
He looked from Celeste to Lily.
“The photographer needs you both.”
Celeste immediately smiled.
“Of course.”
As she passed Julian, he whispered, “You are becoming careless.”
Celeste stopped.
“So are you.”
Lily watched them.
In that moment, she understood something none of the adults seemed willing to admit.
Celeste and Julian were not simply working together.
They were afraid of each other.
After midnight, Lily returned to the music room and retrieved the camcorder she had left recording behind the piano.
She took it to her bedroom and pressed play.
For the first ten minutes, the room was empty.
Then Celeste and Julian entered.
Their voices were low.
“The girl found Evelyn’s tape,” Celeste said.
“How much did she see?” Julian asked.
“Not enough.”
“You promised she would remain uninvolved.”
“I promised nothing.”
“Once Adrian signs after the ceremony, the mansion becomes ours.”
Celeste laughed coldly.
“And Vale Holdings?”
“Adrian won’t fight once I convince the court that he’s emotionally unstable.”
The conversation continued exactly as the cathedral would later hear it.
Then Julian spoke the sentence Lily could never forget.
“And the child must never discover who her real mother is.”
Celeste answered, “She is closer than Adrian thinks.”
A third person entered the room.
May you like
Only a shadow appeared on the wall.
The third person said, “Then make sure Ruth Bell never reaches the altar.”
