Chapter 3 - A Door Left Unlocked
Eleanor stepped backward.
“Long enough.”
Celeste moved into the hallway and pulled the bedroom door behind her, leaving only a narrow opening.
Her expression remained controlled, but the color had drained from her face.
“You misunderstood a private conversation.”
“I heard you discussing twelve million dollars.”
“You heard fragments.”
“I heard Adrian say you married my father to change his trust.”
Celeste lowered her voice.
“You should be very careful about making accusations you cannot prove.”
Eleanor held up the phone.
“I recorded everything.”
The bedroom went silent.
Then Adrian spoke from behind the door.
“Celeste?”
Eleanor looked past her stepmother.
Celeste quickly blocked her view.
“Delete the recording.”
“No.”
“You have no idea what you’re interfering with.”
“My father’s life. My family’s money. His company.”
“It is not your company.”
“That doesn’t give you the right to steal from it.”
Celeste’s careful mask slipped.
“You grew up with everything. You never had to earn a place in this world. You inherited your mother’s name, your father’s protection and enough money to fail a hundred times without consequences.”
“I haven’t taken money from my father since I graduated.”
“Because you enjoy pretending you are ordinary.”
Eleanor stared at her.
“This isn’t about me.”
“It has always been about you. Every room in this house contains your mother’s memory. Every decision Richard makes begins with your approval. I have spent six years competing with a dead woman and her suspicious daughter.”
“You could have left.”
“And return to what?”
“The truth.”
Celeste laughed bitterly.
“Truth is a luxury for people who already have power.”
Eleanor turned toward the staircase.
Celeste grabbed her arm.
“Where are you going?”
“To call my father.”
Celeste released her immediately and softened her voice.
“Eleanor, wait.”
Eleanor looked back.
For an instant, Celeste appeared almost vulnerable.
“Whatever you think of me,” she said, “this will destroy Richard.”
“You destroyed him. I’m going to tell him.”
“Adrian made the transfers. He controlled the documents. I only learned about them recently.”
Adrian appeared briefly through the gap in the door, now wearing trousers.
“That is not what happened.”
Celeste turned sharply.
“Go back inside.”
Eleanor almost laughed at the absurdity of it. They were already betraying one another before they had even been exposed.
Adrian disappeared from view.
Celeste faced Eleanor again.
“Give me the phone. We can settle this privately.”
“You mean you can erase the evidence.”
“I mean we can protect your father.”
“You don’t get to use that word.”
“What word?”
“Protect.”
Eleanor pulled away and continued down the corridor.
Celeste followed.
When Eleanor reached the staircase, she heard a car outside.
May you like
Headlights swept across the high windows.
Richard had returned.
