Chapter 8: The Daughter Who Wanted Her Brother's Life
Celeste descended the staircase slowly.
Her heels struck the wooden steps one at a time.
Marcus moved in front of his mother.
“Stay back.””
Celeste stopped.
“Always so protective of her. You really are your father's son.””
“Where's Ava?””
Celeste tilted her head.
“Your daughter is perfectly safe.””
“Answer me.””
“She is with people who understand how important she is.””
Marcus felt his fists tighten.
“You're going to tell me exactly where she is.””
Celeste looked toward Margaret.
“Has she told you everything?””
Margaret stood with the help of her cane.
“Leave, Celeste.””
The younger woman laughed.
“After everything I did for you?””
“You imprisoned Elena.””
“I kept her alive.””
“You tortured her.””
“I needed the documents!””
Margaret struck the floor with her cane.
“You have gone too far.””
Celeste's smile disappeared.
“I went too far? You gave me the key. You told me to keep Elena quiet. You told me that if she exposed the trust, the entire family would be destroyed.””
Marcus looked between them.
“So you both knew.””
Margaret lowered her eyes.
Celeste shrugged.
“Your mother has always been very good at pretending to be innocent.””
Marcus stepped toward her.
“Where is my daughter?””
Celeste pulled a phone from her pocket.
She showed him a photograph.
Ava was sitting at a small wooden table, holding her rabbit.
Behind her was a window with heavy curtains.
Marcus recognized the floral wallpaper.
The old caretaker's cottage on the family estate.
“She's at Briarwood,” he said.
Celeste smiled.
“Clever.””
“Bring her here.””
“Not yet.””
“What do you want?””
She walked toward the sitting room.
“The blue envelope. The original trust certificate. The memory card.””
“You already have the memory card?””
“No. But I know what's on it.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Then why do you need it?””
“Because the files are encrypted. I need the original certificate to access the final ownership transfer.””
He remembered the detective's document.
Elena was listed as the beneficiary.
“Why would the transfer matter now?””
“Because your father made a mistake.””
Celeste took off her coat.
She looked tired, but her expression was composed.
“Your father intended to give you control of everything. He believed you would be a better businessman than Julian. But he also knew you would never agree to let me inherit the company.””
“Why would I?””
“Because you're selfish.””
Marcus gave a cold laugh.
“You spent eleven months holding my wife prisoner, and you want to lecture me about selfishness?””
Celeste's eyes sharpened.
“Your wife destroyed everything.””
“She exposed you.””
“She had no right to interfere.””
“She had every right. She's my wife.””
Celeste looked toward Margaret.
“Do you hear him? Still defending Elena.””
Margaret's voice trembled.
“She's done nothing wrong.””
Celeste stepped toward her.
“Then why did she steal the certificate?””
“She didn't steal anything.””
“Mother, please. Don't insult me.””
Marcus moved between them again.
“Don't speak to her like that.””
Celeste rolled her eyes.
“You really do believe you're in charge.””
She removed a folded document from her handbag and placed it on the table.
“Sign this.””
Marcus looked down.
The document transferred his voting rights in Vale Enterprises to Rowan Strategic Holdings.
In exchange, Celeste promised to release Ava and provide the original records.
He pushed it away.
“No.””
Celeste smiled.
“Read the second page.””
“I'm not signing anything.””
“Then perhaps you should read it before deciding.””
Marcus picked up the document.
The second page contained a clause that made his blood run cold.
The transfer would become effective immediately upon signature.
But the release of Ava was conditional.
Celeste could retain custody of the child until the full transfer was verified.
“You want me to sign away my daughter?””
“I want a guarantee.””
“You're insane.””
Celeste leaned forward.
“I'm the only person who understands what this family has become.””
Marcus looked at Margaret.
“Tell me the truth. Why did Father leave the company to me?””
His mother sat down slowly.
“Because he regretted what he had done.””
Celeste laughed.
“He regretted nothing.””
Margaret continued.
“Your father had discovered that Julian was using the company to fund private accounts. He wanted to protect you from the consequences.””
Marcus stared at her.
“And Celeste?””
“She wanted control of the trust. Your father promised her a settlement, but he changed the beneficiary at the last minute.””
Celeste's face turned dark.
“He promised my mother.””
“I know.””
“He promised that I would never have to struggle.””
Margaret shook her head.
“Your mother wanted you to have a normal life.””
“A normal life?”” Celeste laughed bitterly.
“I grew up watching Marcus get everything. The best schools. The best opportunities.
Your attention. Your husband's name.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Is that what this is about?””
“You had everything!””
“I didn't know you existed until you became my assistant.””
“You had a mother!””
The words exploded through the room.
Celeste's eyes filled.
“I had to visit her in secret. I had to pretend we were cousins. I had to watch you call her Mom while she called me her niece.””
Marcus looked at Margaret.
The older woman's face was pale.
“Celeste,” she whispered.
“I loved you.””
“You loved him more.””
Margaret shook her head.
“That's not true.””
“You let him inherit the company.””
“Your father made that decision.””
“And you supported it!””
Celeste grabbed the trust document.
“I'm done asking.””
Marcus stepped toward her.
“You are not taking my daughter.””
Celeste reached into her handbag.
She pulled out a photograph.
This time, it showed a woman lying in a hospital bed.
Elena.
Taken only hours earlier.
Someone had entered the hospital room.
Someone had stood beside her while Ava was being taken away.
Marcus's breathing changed.
“When was this taken?””
Celeste smiled.
“Not long ago.””
“Who took it?””
“Someone who knows how to get into places.””
Marcus looked at the photograph again.
A small detail caught his attention.
In the reflection of the hospital window, there was a figure wearing a dark uniform.
He recognized the shoulder patch.
Hospital security.
He looked up.
“You had someone inside the hospital.””
Celeste said nothing.
“That's why Julian could take Ava.””
She gave a tiny shrug.
“People are easier to influence than you think.””
Marcus took out his phone.
Celeste raised an eyebrow.
“Calling the police?””
“Actually, I'm calling someone who can help.””
She laughed.
“Nobody is coming to save you.””
Marcus pressed a number.
A voice answered almost immediately.
“Mr. Vale?””
It was Detective Harris.
Marcus put the call on speaker.
“Detective, I'm at the Briarwood estate. Celeste Rowan is here. She's admitting to abducting my daughter.””
Celeste lunged toward the phone.
Marcus moved it out of reach.
“She's also holding my mother hostage.””
Margaret looked up.
“Marcus—”
The detective's voice sharpened.
“Mr. Vale, stay where you are. Officers are on their way.””
Celeste's face changed.
She looked toward the front door.
Then back at Marcus.
“You really are your father's son.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You're under arrest.””
She smiled.
“Not yet.””
The lights went out.
A sharp metallic bang sounded from somewhere outside.
Marcus heard the front door slam.
When the emergency lights came on, Celeste was gone.
So was the document.
Margaret sat trembling in the chair.
Marcus rushed to her.
“Are you hurt?””
She shook her head.
“She's gone.””
“Where?””
Margaret pointed toward the kitchen.
“The caretaker's cottage. She keeps a second entrance through the garden.””
Marcus reached for his phone.
A notification appeared.
A live video.
Ava.
The little girl was sitting on a chair in the cottage, crying.
Celeste stood behind her.
“Hello, Marcus.””
He opened the video.
Celeste smiled directly into the camera.
“You have thirty minutes.””
Marcus felt his heart sink.
“Let her go.””
“Bring the envelope.””
“I don't have it.””
“Then find it.””
“Celeste, she's six years old!””
“And she's very important to you.””
Ava looked toward the camera.
“Daddy?””
Marcus moved closer to the screen.
“Baby, I'm coming.””
Celeste bent down and whispered something into Ava's ear.
Ava began crying harder.
“Daddy, she said Mommy is going to disappear again.””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“She won't. I promise.””
Celeste straightened.
“Thirty minutes, Marcus.””
The video ended.
Detective Harris arrived with four officers.
Marcus showed him the recording and explained the layout of the property.
“The cottage is accessible through the garden,” Marcus said.
“There's also a service tunnel connecting it to the old garage.””
Harris nodded.
“We'll approach from both sides.””
“My daughter is inside.””
“We know.””
“I want to go in.””
“You're too emotionally involved.””
“She's my child!””
“And that's exactly why I need you to let us handle this.””
Marcus gripped the detective's sleeve.
“Please.””
Harris softened.
“We'll bring her out.””
Margaret approached them.
“There's something you should know.””
Marcus turned.
“What?””
“The cottage has an old cellar. Your father used to store documents there.””
She reached into her pocket and removed another small key.
“Celeste knows about it.””
“What's inside?””
“Something she has been searching for since she was a little girl.””
Marcus took the key.
“Why didn't you tell me earlier?””
Margaret looked at him sadly.
“Because your father made me promise that you would never see it.””
Marcus stared at her.
A radio crackled.
An officer's voice came through.
“Unit two approaching the east entrance. We have visual contact.””
Detective Harris raised his hand.
Everyone fell silent.
Then another voice came through.
“Officer down! We have movement inside!””
Marcus rushed toward the garden.
Harris caught his arm.
“Stay back!””
A gunshot echoed through the property.
Then the cottage window shattered.
Ava screamed.
Marcus pulled free.
He ran across the garden, ignoring the detective shouting behind him.
He reached the cottage door.
It was unlocked.
Inside, furniture had been overturned. A lamp lay broken on the floor. The curtains were pulled back.
Ava's chair was empty.
Celeste was gone.
On the table sat the stuffed rabbit.
Marcus picked it up.
A small note had been pinned to its ear.
*You should have listened to your mother.*
Beneath the words was a second sentence.
*Ask her what happened to your real father.*
Marcus turned slowly.
Margaret stood in the doorway behind him.
Her face had gone white.
And for the first time since he had found her alive, she looked more frightened than Celeste.
“Marcus,” she whispered.
He held up the note.
“Who was my real father?””
Margaret covered her mouth.
Then she whispered a name.
“Julian's father.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Julian and I have different fathers?””
May you like
Margaret nodded.
“And your father was never the man who raised you.””
