Chapter 5 - The Bride Who Knew Too Little
Celeste locked herself inside the bridal suite and called her mother.
Vivian answered immediately.
“Where are you?”
“In my room. Adrian knows about the transfer document.”
Silence.
Then Vivian said, “Daniel.”
“He showed it to him.”
“I told Julian that Mercer was becoming a problem.”
Celeste closed her eyes.
She had spent most of her life obeying her mother.
As a child, she had obeyed because she feared Vivian’s anger. As an adult, she obeyed because Vivian had convinced her that the Beaumont family’s survival depended on it.
But Celeste had never agreed to murder.
“You said Adrian would become ill,” she whispered. “You said the doctors would diagnose exhaustion.”
“That was the original plan.”
“What changed?”
“Adrian changed. He began questioning the documents.”
“So you poisoned him?”
“The amount was carefully measured.”
Celeste gripped the phone.
“To do what?”
Vivian’s voice remained calm.
“To create a medical emergency. Nothing more.”
“Can it kill him?”
Another silence.
“Mother?”
“Only if he has an unexpected reaction.”
Celeste felt the room tilt.
“You promised no one would be harmed.”
“I promised to restore what was taken from us.”
“Adrian didn’t take anything from us.”
“His father did.”
The words came with decades of bitterness.
Vivian had told Celeste the story many times. Adrian’s father, Richard Vale, had betrayed Julian during a joint venture and destroyed the Beaumont fortune. Julian’s supposed death had followed.
Celeste had grown up believing the Vale family owed them everything.
Then she met Adrian.
He was not arrogant like his father had been described. He listened. He remembered small things. He had quietly paid for surgery for the hotel gardener’s wife without allowing anyone to know.
Celeste had told herself the marriage served both love and justice.
Now the lie was collapsing.
“Where is Elena Marlow?” she asked.
“She will no longer interfere.”
Celeste’s blood went cold.
“What did Julian do?”
“That is not your concern.”
“Is she alive?”
“Focus on the ceremony.”
Celeste walked toward the mirror.
She barely recognized the woman in white staring back at her.
“Adrian asked whether I knew about the documents.”
“What did you say?”
“I said no.”
“Good.”
“But that isn’t true.”
Vivian’s voice sharpened.
“You knew the transfer was necessary.”
“I knew about a temporary proxy. I didn’t know you forged his signature.”
“A technical distinction.”
“I didn’t know you drugged him.”
“Lower your voice.”
“I didn’t know my father was alive until six months ago.”
Vivian exhaled slowly.
“Celeste, everything we have done was for you.”
“No. Everything you’ve done was for the Beaumont name.”
A knock sounded at the door.
Celeste turned.
“Who is it?”
No answer.
Her mother said, “Do not open that door.”
The handle moved.
Celeste backed away.
The door opened.
Daniel Mercer entered.
He locked it behind him.
Celeste lowered the phone.
“What are you doing here?”
Daniel’s gaze moved to the screen.
“Talking to Vivian?”
Celeste ended the call.
“You cannot be in here.”
“Adrian has a forged transfer document bearing his signature.”
“I know.”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“You know?”
“I learned a few minutes ago.”
“That is not what I asked.”
Celeste lifted her chin.
“What do you want?”
“The truth.”
“You won’t believe me.”
“Try.”
She looked toward the door.
“If my mother discovers I told you anything, she’ll destroy me.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Your mother may have attempted to murder the man you’re about to marry.”
Tears rose in Celeste’s eyes.
“I didn’t know about the poison.”
Daniel studied her face.
“But you knew the wedding was connected to Vale Holdings.”
Celeste said nothing.
“That silence is an answer.”
She turned away.
“My father is alive.”
Daniel froze.
“Julian Beaumont?”
“He has been living under another identity.”
“What identity?”
Before Celeste could respond, Daniel’s phone vibrated.
A message appeared from Adrian.
SECURITY OUTSIDE. DOOR COMPROMISED.
Daniel reached for the handle.
Celeste caught his arm.
“Don’t trust hotel security.”
He looked at her.
May you like
“Why?”
“Because the director is my father.”
