Chapter 3 - CELESTE'S OFFER

Celeste Monroe requested a private meeting the next morning.

With me.

I almost refused.

Then I remembered her counting the lashes.

"Let her come."

The meeting took place in a federal interview room.

Celeste entered wearing a cream-colored suit.

No champagne.

No diamonds.

No arrogant smile.

For the first time, she looked ordinary.

She sat across from me.

"I didn't know he would hurt you like that."

I stared at her.

"You counted."

Her lips parted.

"I was angry."

"You counted."

She looked away.

I continued.

"You corrected him when he missed two."

"I was frightened."

"You smiled."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"I made mistakes."

"No."

My voice remained calm.

"You made choices."

She lowered her gaze.

"I can help you."

"You can help yourself."

She looked at me.

"I know where the remaining accounts are."

I said nothing.

"I know who received the money."

Still nothing.

"And I know what Nathan planned to do after he destroyed you."

That finally caught my attention.

"What did he plan?"

Celeste hesitated.

"He was going to have you declared mentally unstable."

My stomach tightened.

"He had lawyers preparing the paperwork."

"What paperwork?"

"Guardianship."

The word hit harder than I expected.

"He planned to control everything you owned."

"I didn't own anything."

Celeste shook her head.

"That's what he wanted you to believe."

I stared at her.

"What did I own?"

She whispered the answer.

"A controlling interest in Ashford Global."

I froze.

"What?"

"Nathan used your marital assets to finance the first acquisition."

I felt the room tilt.

"That's impossible."

"He moved everything through trusts."

She leaned closer.

"But the original shares were yours."

My heart began pounding.

"How many?"

Celeste gave me a bitter smile.

"Enough to make you the largest private shareholder."

For four years, Nathan had called me powerless.

For four years, he had told everyone I had nothing.

And now I understood why.

He hadn't merely wanted my silence.

He wanted me to disappear before I discovered that his empire had been partially built with my money.

I looked at Celeste.

"Thank you."

She blinked.

"For what?"

"For finally telling me the truth."

Then I stood.

May you like

"The vanilla buttercream hit the hardwood floor with a sickening, heavy...

"The vanilla buttercream hit the hardwood floor with a sickening, heavy thud. I didn’t even register the sound of the custom glass...

"The perfect wife was about to commit the unthinkable. Then the front do...

"""""""The perfect wife was about to commit the unthinkable. Then the front door opened.""""The heavy bronze candlestick was raise...

"When my husband shoved me into the freezing pool in front of his entire...

"When my husband shoved me into the freezing pool in front of his entire family, I thought the cold water would be the worst part....

"Now tell the investigators everything."

---