Chapter 10 - Celeste's Bargain.
Celeste stopped denying everything after Adrian placed the CHILD ACCESS payment record in front of her.
She sat at the long dining table where the gala dinner had been served only the night before.
The silver gown was gone, but Adrian could still see its torn thread around the brass key in his memory.
"Tell me what child access means," he said.
Celeste stared at the paper.
"It means exactly what you think it means."
Nora stood across the room with her arms folded.
Martin remained near the door.
Two detectives recorded the conversation.
Adrian felt no satisfaction in Celeste's surrender.
Only disgust.
"You married me because Gideon paid you."
"At first."
Adrian gave her a cold look.
"Do not insult me with a love story now."
Celeste swallowed.
"I was drowning in debt."
"So you sold access to my daughter."
"I was supposed to watch the house."
"You locked Lily in a cellar."
Celeste's face collapsed for a second.
"That was not part of the plan."
"It was a choice you made."
She looked at him then.
"Yes."
The simple admission was more powerful than excuses.
"Why?"
"Because she found the key."
Celeste explained that Gideon had ordered her to locate anything Evelyn left behind before the bank conducted a scheduled trust review.
For months, Celeste searched Adrian's office, Lily's bedroom, and the old family storage rooms.
She found nothing.
Then she saw Nora near Evelyn's cellar portrait.
She followed her and discovered the hidden compartment.
She still did not have the key.
The night of the gala, someone placed red roses along the route to lure Lily downstairs.
Celeste claimed she did not know who.
She followed and found Lily already inside the hidden room with the brass key.
"She was holding a document," Celeste said.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"What document?"
"A page from the ledger."
"Where is it?"
Celeste looked toward the grand hall.
"I gave it to Gideon."
"He was here."
"Yes."
"After he claimed he left."
"Yes."
Adrian's anger rose again.
"And then you locked Lily inside."
Celeste's voice dropped.
"She said she was going to tell you."
Nora stepped forward in disbelief.
"She is six years old."
"I know how old she is."
"Then you knew what you were doing."
Celeste looked down.
"I thought she would be there for two minutes."
Adrian's hands curled into fists.
"You heard her struggling to breathe."
"Yes."
"And you walked away."
Celeste began crying silently.
Adrian felt nothing for her.
Then she said the one thing that changed the room.
"I can give you Julian."
Martin straightened.
Adrian did not move.
"Where is he?"
"I do not know yet."
"Then you cannot give me anything."
Celeste shook her head.
"He contacts me through a private line."
"Why?"
"Because after Gideon disappeared, Julian thinks I still have the ledger page."
Adrian leaned forward.
"Do you?"
Celeste reached into the lining of her borrowed coat.
The detectives reacted instantly, but she withdrew only a folded piece of paper.
She placed it on the table.
It was a photocopy of the missing ledger page.
At the bottom, in Evelyn's handwriting, was a final note.
JULIAN KNOWS WHO CUT MY BRAKE LINE.
Adrian stared at the words until they blurred.
May you like
Celeste whispered.
"Help me make the call, and he will come for this."
