Chapter 10 - CELESTE’S PERFECT LIE
The files recovered from Blackwood contained evidence of fraud, medical manipulation, and surveillance.
But they did not prove Celeste’s involvement.
Every payment led through shell companies.
Every forged document carried electronic signatures that could be denied.
Every direct connection ended with Owen Mercer.
Celeste went on the offensive.
Two days after the bunker fire, a news story appeared online.
BILLIONAIRE’S NANNY ACCUSED OF KIDNAPPING HEIRESS.
The article described Elena as an unstable former caregiver who had manipulated Sophie, stolen private records, and taken the child to a dangerous abandoned property.
Photographs showed Elena carrying Sophie from the hospital.
Another showed her entering the east wing.
A third showed her pushing Celeste in the bathroom corridor.
The image had been cropped to remove the moment Celeste grabbed Sophie.
Adrian’s attorneys demanded retractions.
More stories appeared.
Elena’s former employer gave an interview accusing her of destroying his family.
The court records proving the child had been abused were sealed.
Publicly, Elena looked guilty.
Sophie found one of the articles on a tablet.
“Are they taking you away?”
Elena turned off the screen.
“No.”
“They took Hannah.”
“Hannah may have chosen to leave.”
“She didn’t.”
Elena sat beside her.
“We’re going to find her.”
That evening, an envelope arrived at Vale House.
Inside was a signed statement from Hannah Price.
It claimed Sophie had invented accusations against Celeste and that Elena had encouraged similar behavior.
A second page accused Julian of coercing Hannah.
The statement was notarized in London.
Julian read it in disbelief.
“I never met her.”
Rosa crossed herself.
“Hannah did not go to London.”
Everyone turned toward her.
The housekeeper looked frightened but determined.
“The night she left, I saw Owen carry her suitcase downstairs. Hannah was crying. Celeste followed them.”
“Where did they go?” Adrian asked.
“To the old staff cottage near the south gate.”
“That cottage has been empty for years.”
Rosa shook her head.
“No, sir. The lights come on at night.”
They went after midnight.
The cottage stood beyond the formal gardens, hidden among overgrown hedges. Adrian’s new security team surrounded it.
The front door was unlocked.
Inside they found women’s clothing, medical supplies, and a laptop.
The bedroom window had been covered with boards.
There were scratches on the inside of the door.
Elena opened the closet.
Hannah’s suitcase was there.
So was a bloodstained blouse.
Sophie had been right.
Hannah had never gone to London.
The laptop contained video files.
In one, Hannah sat at a table while Owen stood behind the camera.
She read the statement slowly.
Her face was bruised.
When she reached the line accusing Julian, she stopped.
“I can’t do this.”
Owen’s voice came from off camera.
“You can, or your sister loses her medication.”
Hannah began crying.
The footage ended.
Another file showed Celeste entering the cottage.
Adrian leaned toward the screen.
Finally, proof.
Celeste sat across from Hannah.
“You were paid to care for a child,” she said.
“I saw what you did to her.”
“You saw a spoiled girl punish adults for setting boundaries.”
“You locked her in a closet for six hours.”
Celeste smiled.
“The camera says otherwise.”
“Because Owen deleted it.”
Celeste placed papers on the table.
“Sign the statement. Move to London. Begin again.”
“And if I refuse?”
Celeste looked directly toward the hidden camera.
“Then no one finds you.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
Julian whispered, “We have her.”
The cottage lights went out.
A gunshot shattered the laptop.
Everyone dropped to the floor.
Another shot struck the wall.
Elena pulled Sophie behind the bed.
Adrian fired toward the window.
Security officers rushed outside.
An engine roared near the trees.
By the time they reached the road, the shooter was gone.
The laptop had been destroyed.
The bullet had struck the hard drive.
Julian stared at the broken machine.
“That was our proof.”
Elena looked at the bloodstained blouse.
“No.”
She turned it over.
May you like
Sewn into the hem was a small memory card.
Hannah had hidden her own copy.
