Chapter 33 - The Daughter Eleanor Never ClaimedCeleste forced them into the seven chairs while gas spread across the ceiling.
She had made an agreement with Agnes.
In exchange for delivering the founding keys, Celeste would be formally recognized as Eleanor Sutton’s daughter and inherit the visible estate.
“You believed her?” Mara asked.
“I believed the documents.”
“You just learned documents can be manufactured.”
“I learned blood can be manufactured too.”
Celeste revealed another DNA report. This one had been taken directly from the woman buried as Eleanor.
The result showed a maternal relationship.
Lillian Crowe—the final Eleanor replacement—was Celeste’s biological mother.
Not Eleanor.
Not Helena.
Lillian had surrendered Celeste as an infant before entering the identity program.
“That’s why she changed the succession plan,” Mara realized. “She wanted to leave something to you.”
“She left me a childhood without a name.”
Celeste’s voice broke for the first time.
Mara understood her anger but not her alliance with Agnes.
“Agnes used your mother until she died.”
“Agnes offered me the truth.”
“She offered you a chair.”
Celeste looked at the unmarked reservation seat.
The gas thickened.
Dr. Trent instructed everyone to breathe through damp fabric. Adrian worked at the restraint around his wrist.
Mara studied the table.
The warning had always been not to allow Patricia to control it.
But Patricia was not seated at its head.
She occupied the reservation-holder position beside Mara.
“Patricia,” Mara said quietly, “put your hand beneath the chair.”
Patricia found a hidden switch.
The table rotated.
Roles shifted between seats.
Celeste’s control panel moved to Patricia.
The restraints released.
Patricia seized Celeste’s weapon before she could react.
Mara activated the ventilation system.
Fresh air poured into the chamber.
Celeste sank against the wall.
“I had nowhere else to go.”
Mara crouched beside her.
“That is what every person controlling this family wanted us to believe.”
The registry displayed a message left by Lillian.
Neither Mara nor Celeste should inherit alone. Ownership without opposition becomes Eleanor.
Below it was a proposal:
Divide authority among all verified descendants.
Patricia looked at Mara.
“This could end the fight.”
Margaret shook her head.
“It would spread the danger.”
Rose laughed.
“It would create seven new wars.”
Before Mara could decide, the offshore hotel shook violently.
An explosion tore through the docking level.
Water rushed into the lower corridors.
May you like
Agnes’s voice returned.
“You have ten minutes before the Crown returns to the sea.”
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