Chapter 8 - Charles Wynn’s Confession
Adrian stepped between Charles and Nora.
“Lower the weapon.”
Charles laughed.
“You are still trying to play the honorable man.”
“You were about to marry my daughter while hiding another woman in your private apartment.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
Celeste looked at him.
“What woman?”
“Nora’s sister,” Charles replied.
Nora felt the floor shift beneath her.
“My sister died ten years ago.”
Charles’s smile was almost pitying.
“No.”
“Your father placed her in witness protection.”
“He told you she died because Helena Cross’s killers were looking for both of you.”
Nora’s sister, Grace, had supposedly drowned when she was seventeen.
No body had ever been recovered.
Nora had spent years believing the river took her.
Adrian spoke quietly.
“Grace Bennett came to me six months ago.”
“She was investigating Michael’s death.”
“You knew she was alive?”
“I promised not to tell anyone.”
“Including me?”
“She believed someone was watching you.”
Charles raised the pistol.
“She was correct.”
Celeste stared at Adrian.
“You hid a woman while we planned our wedding.”
“I hid a witness.”
“You could have trusted me.”
“You were reporting everything to Julian.”
The accusation struck her silent.
Charles moved closer.
“Give me the watch.”
Nora refused.
Charles aimed at her leg.
Adrian stepped forward again.
“You shoot her, and the ballroom witnesses everything through the archive feed.”
Charles glanced toward the camera.
The red light was on.
Hundreds of guests upstairs were watching.
His composure cracked.
“You think public opinion matters?”
“I built the politicians who will investigate me.”
“I financed the judges who will sign the warrants.”
“I kept Richard alive long enough to sign away control.”
“And when he changed his mind, Samuel completed the work.”
Dr. Pierce stood at the tunnel entrance behind Charles.
His face had gone pale.
“You promised my name would never appear.”
Charles did not turn.
“You should have destroyed the records.”
Pierce drew a small syringe from his pocket.
He moved toward Charles.
Nora saw him first.
“Behind you.”
Charles turned.
The syringe struck his neck.
He fired wildly.
The bullet hit the ceiling.
Adrian tackled him.
Marcus restrained Pierce before he could inject a second dose.
Charles collapsed but remained conscious.
Celeste knelt beside him.
“Where is Ethan?”
Charles looked at his daughter with contempt.
“You allowed Julian to manipulate you.”
“You were never strong enough to inherit anything.”
A new alarm sounded.
The estate’s fire system activated.
Julian appeared on the monitor again.
“Charles finally confessed.”
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“Now the building has served its purpose.”
Flames appeared behind Ethan’s chair.
