CHAPTER 4 — THE WOMAN IN WHITE
Celeste was transferred to a secure medical unit two floors below mine.
Blood tests confirmed a fast-acting sedative mixed with a dangerous cardiac medication.
It had been inside the champagne she drank at Blackthorn Manor.
Nathan insisted he had not poisoned her.
For once, I believed him.
He had been drinking from the same bottle earlier that evening.
Celeste had used a separate crystal flute.
Someone had prepared it specifically for her.
Agent Mercer ordered every object in the grand hall reexamined.
At noon, he returned with another discovery.
A camera had been hidden inside the white leather chair.
Not one of mine.
Not part of Nathan’s security system.
The device had streamed the entire punishment to an encrypted server.
“Celeste was recording it too?” I asked.
“Possibly. But the server belonged to a company connected to Adrian Vale.”
My uncle.
My father paced near the window.
“Adrian wouldn’t risk this for forty-two million dollars.”
“Then the money wasn’t the objective,” I said.
Dad stopped.
He looked at me with reluctant understanding.
The attack had taken place at Blackthorn Manor, an estate held through my trust.
If I died there after being portrayed as unstable and violent, Nathan would inherit several controlling interests under the terms of our marital agreement.
Nathan could then transfer those interests to Celeste.
Celeste could pass them to Adrian.
“This wasn’t only abuse,” I said. “It was a transfer of power.”
Mercer nodded.
“The life insurance policy Nathan purchased on you six months ago strengthens that theory.”
My father’s face became dangerous.
“How much?”
“Eighty million.”
I closed my eyes.
The first shove had happened six months ago.
The policy had been purchased three days later.
Nathan’s flowers at the hospital had arrived with a handwritten note.
I cannot imagine a life without you.
Now I understood why.
A federal prosecutor arrived that afternoon.
Nathan was being charged with aggravated assault, unlawful imprisonment, conspiracy, financial crimes, and attempted murder pending further evidence.
Celeste had requested immunity in exchange for testimony.
“She wants to talk to Isabella,” the prosecutor said.
My father refused immediately.
“No.”
“She claims Nathan and Adrian planned to kill her after she completed the transfer.”
“She sat there and corrected the count,” Dad said. “She gets nothing.”
I looked at him.
“She gets whatever helps us find Adrian.”
Dad’s eyes met mine.
“You do not owe anyone your strength today.”
“I’m not doing it for her.”
Celeste was brought into my room under guard.
Without makeup, diamonds, or champagne, she looked smaller.
But not harmless.
Never harmless.
She sat beside my bed.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“No, you’re afraid.”
Her eyes flickered.
“Yes.”
“Start there.”
Celeste swallowed.
“Nathan was supposed to frighten you into signing over the trust.”
“He never showed me documents.”
“Because the plan changed.”
“Who changed it?”
“Adrian.”
My father stepped closer.
Celeste looked at him.
“Your brother decided Isabella was worth more dead.”
The silence that followed was absolute.
“Where is he?” Mercer asked.
“I don’t know.”
Celeste looked back at me.
“But he has someone inside this hospital.”
May you like
A sharp electronic tone came from the hallway.
The lights went out.
